The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
Today’s something good is White Castle wedding.
Jamie West was put into foster care at the age of four. After eight years and 94 foster homes, Jamie ran away when she was 12 and lived on the street. She roamed around the country in the 90s as a homeless teenager, battling addiction and facing the world on her own, according to the Washington Post.
One day, when she was 16, she walked into a White Castle to ask for a cup of water. Jamie doesn’t remember exactly where it was, probably Kentucky or Tennessee, but the woman behind the counter was kind. Jamie was told to go to the restroom and clean up. After having a cry and washing up, she found several bags of sliders waiting for her at the counter.
After that experience, Jamie knew where to go if she needed food – through the years, anywhere there was a White Castle, she was able to get a bit of kindness and a bite to eat.
“I was always so grateful to them for treating me like a human being,” Jamie said. “It was a shiny spot at a very bad time.”
When she turned 17, an aunt in Arizona took her in and Jamie found stability. She got off drugs and got a job. There were no White Castles in Arizona, but Jamie made a point of going to one whenever she traveled, now able to pay for her food.
Years later, in 2006, she met Drew Schmitt and they fell in love. In March 2020, Drew proposed to her while they were being honored by White Castle for being such big fans. The pandemic stalled their plans but last month, Jamie and Drew finally were married at their local White Castle, free of charge.
The bride wore a blue and gold princess-style wedding dress and Drew wore a kilt and body armor in accordance with the medieval themed wedding, and they both were decked out in crowns as the royalty they were that day. Their guests brought swords for them to pass under, the flower girl threw dehydrated onions, there were sliders for everyone and a giant burger shaped wedding cake.
Jamie said, “I want other girls out there who are going through what I went through to know that it’s going to get better, and they can find hope.” She continued, “I was able to break free of the pain and be happy, and they can too.”
“We’re so thankful that we found each other and have become each other’s partners and best friends,” said Drew. “Jamie has been through a lot of tough challenges in her life, so it’s wonderful that she’s now in this happy place.
While a White Castle wedding might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the path that led to this one shows that a tiny bit of kindness bestowed on a person who needs it can make all the difference.
Now it’s your turn… tell me something good!
