Weave the Web
Recording Family Legends for Generations to Come
A Simple Act of Kindness
by Janet White
What a year 2016 has been! There have been horrible political fights, wars, and street killings. Sadly, my husband of 49 years died in November. I was ready for the year to end. But then, out of nowhere, something so nice and unexpected happened; I met a truly kind person.
They know me well, and when I pull up in my red Chevy Cruze they all come running, lining up for me as I go down the line giving each one some bread. Each waits patiently for a turn. Bread was getting costly so I also fed them dry cat food which they love.
After many months I was able to coax a beautiful white crane to join us and now he stands right next to me for his bread. Occasionally his twin will come too.
I found out from a good friend that he is a Woodstock Crane. His thick black neck is fascinating and he carries himself as if he were a Royal.
Every day a woman, driving a little yellow school bus, passes by and watches as she drives by. One day she stopped and said I was doing such a wonderful thing for these beautiful creatures and she wanted to help supply food. The next day she stopped and gave me ten loaves of bread. I was touched by the generosity of this total stranger. It was so nice and thoughtful. A few months later she brought me bags of real wild bird food. We introduced ourselves, and I knew I had a special friend in Sandy. She keeps me stocked in food because she thinks I am wonderful for doing this for the ducks. How kind is that?
In November, I missed a few days when Jeff was in hospice. She stopped and asked my substitute guard where I was and was told my husband was sick. When I returned down the road she came in her little yellow bus filled with kids.
She stopped and asked how my husband was. When I told her he had died she put her gear in park , stood up, walked down the steps of the bus, held up traffic, and gave me a huge warm hug. Then she turned, went up the stairs and got back in her seat, and with all the noisy kids off she drove. It meant so much that someone I hardly knew cared so much.
Sandy is a crafter, and she brought me some of her handmade jewelry: colorful bracelets, one with a good luck charm on it. She is kind through and through. The Christmas holiday is almost here. I had given Sandy some notecards with pictures of eagles from the sanctuary in Washington DC. as a token thank you. She loved them. Today she brought me a glass candle holder with the Eagles photos on them. So pretty, clever, and thoughtful.
I don't think there are many people like Sandy. How lucky am I to be on the receiving end of a simple act of kindness. Such a good way to end 2016. It meant so much I wanted to share it with all of you. I feel so lucky to have experienced this. Maybe we can “Pay-It-Forward” and do random acts of kindness in 2017.
Thank you Sandy for your Gift of Kindness.
Merry Christmas to all.
Love,
Janet
December 2016
