December 24, 2013

December 24, 2013

From Anonymous:

We didn’t do any as inspiring as so many who contributed to Theo’s Stocking this year but we do give to Saint Jude’s and the Red Cross each year (or throughout the year) and also donate new toys through a drive sponsored at our health club.

            The other day, though, I did have the opportunity to perform a small act of kindness when I noticed a man ahead of me driving erratically. The sun was such that I suspected he might be having difficulty seeing (this street in our neighborhood presents the sun shining directly into your eyes on the horizon in the morning this time of year) and it looked like he was about to drive off the road into a ravine. I honked repeatedly and he pulled over just before going off the road. I pulled up alongside him and asked him if he was having difficulty seeing. He said that was the case and I asked him if he’d allow me to pull ahead of him to guide him since I knew the street (I told him that just a few days before I’d found myself driving in middle of the road before realizing). He agreed and I got to start my day by doing something nice for someone I didn’t know.

            I think of you (and Theo) often.

From Christiane Morecock:

I just returned home from two shifts packaging meals for Meals on Wheels. The FeedMore Richmond. Not necessarily random though.

            Random act of kindness: My boyfriend just yesterday found a one hundred dollar bill in Seven Eleven. The only other person in the store was the man right in front of him in line. He asked the man in front of him if it was his and the clerk, both responded with a no. And even though he has been looking for a job for two months (and that's money that could have gone towards a flight for him to come to see me in Ecuador!!!) he gave it to man sitting on the floor outside of the store in the cold with only a sweatshirt.

            I'm hesitant to call him homeless only because I don't know for sure. Don't want to make that assumption, could be an insult to assume! But I would think he was homeless. I was waiting in the car and didn't know what happened. I thought it was a single he gave to the man. It was a very nice thing to watch, although boyfriend almost immediately regretted it when he saw how low his gas tank had become.

            Merry Christmas Mr. F! Have a wonderful New Year!

From Jada Toote':

Hello Professor F.,

            Merry Christmas Eve! I frequently hold doors open for strangers especially if they're struggling, I pick up items dropped by individuals in a hurry, and  I allow pregnant women to sit down on the bus before me if there aren't  lot of available seats. Basically I tend to unthinkingly do random acts of kindness, so I didn't know what exactly to write about. Then I gave Ms. Brenda, the cleaning lady in my building (who I talk to often), a Christmas card, candy cane, and wished her a merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I could tell my gift had brightened her day. Ms. Brenda even said she would put my card on her calendar. I'm not sure if she has a lot of family or who she spends the holidays with however I'm happy I was able to cheer her up.

From Lydia Armstrong:

The other day, I pulled out of a gas station downtown and came to a red light at the intersection. I had my window down because it was nice out. As I pulled up, a panhandler on the corner nodded at me and said, "Merry Christmas." I waved and said merry Christmas back. He took a step forward and said, "You know, I've been out here since6:30 this morning and have said merry Christmas to everyone who came by, and you are the first person to actually say it back. Thank you." I didn't have any money, but he didn't ask for any and genuinely seemed more concerned with the fact that I acknowledged he exists. Since then, I've made it a point to nod or wave or say hello or merry Christmas to people on the street that usually get ignored.

            Merry Christmas.

From Leah Moore:

My act of kindness this year actually started right before Thanksgiving. A few days before the holiday my father passed. While I am dealing with my own grief I am also trying to be there for his girlfriend.  Because she was living there, I think she is taking this the hardest.  So right now, the simple act being a friend and confidant the gift I can offer her.

I hope you and your wife have a Merry Christmas. Happy 2014.

                   Best,

                        Leah Moore