We’ve all seen that ubiquitous bumper sticker “Practice Random Acts of Kindness”. Generally, you’ll find this exultation plastered on the rear bumper of an old Volvo station wagon driven by some guy wearing white socks and Birkenstocks.To the right or left, depending on your point of view, of that sticker you’ll find the environmentally explicit explanation “Cows Kill Salmon”.
Ok, that sticker is probably a PNW thing but I love the image it conjures in my mind. As I’m stuck on 5 North breathing the French Fry scented bio diesel fumes of said Volvo parked in front of me… a herd of cows stream side, hoofing salmon onto the beach with evil abandon where the hapless salmon flop wildly, awaiting their torturous demise via calf cud.
Maybe salmon killing Gary Larson cows are a vision for me produced by an over active imagination, a really dumb ass bumper sticker or pain meds. What has struck me is the sticker, depending on your point of view, to the right or left of Cows Kill Salmon.
Has anyone unexpectedly held the door open for you? I use a cane now and am always surprised by how many doors are held open for me now. Surprised you walk through and somewhere between your thank you and their you’re welcome you get this little “GLOWY” feeling. It is an unexpected little nice thing that happens during the course of perhaps a great day or the whirlpool of a not very good day.
Kindness works both ways and so does the little "GLOWY" feeling. My mother raised me to be a gentleman. I don’t think about it much. Being a gentleman just isn’t that difficult. However someone commented on it recently.
The other day coming out of radiation, magically, upon my push of the button, the elevator door opened on demand. After I got over the shock of the immediate appearance of the elevator, I regrouped, stepped in and held the elevator door for another patient ten feet behind me who was extolling the virtues of a very pretty flower on the receptionists desk. She saw I was holding the door and said “Oh gotta go, a gentleman is holding the door for me.” “GLOWY”
In the Cancer Center I attend there is a fountain in a major intersection of the hospital. Without fail when I visit I pitch a coin and a wish “for us all”. Without fail I do this!
The other day while, at the intersection standing before the fountain, I found myself digging through my pockets for a coin and became worried. Left pocket revealed as it should: thumb drive [my guess is that would float] and the “clicker” to open my pick up doors [need that]. Crap. Panic! Right pocket, where change should be, revealed: my worry stone [that’s never ever going] and a dollar bill [how unseemly, a floating dollar bill]. I’m sure I looked about a little wildly. I’m serious, this ritual is beyond important to me and by judging the coins that are there each day, important to others. It’s a random act of kindness.
A guy with no pockets bumps my shoulder [“No Pockets” are what I call the hospital folks in blue mostly surgeons and op nurses] and hands me a dime. Perfect! I’m guessing he felt “GLOWY” I know I did.
I pitch it. Lands center top bowl!
“GLOWY”
Practice random acts of kindness. I never used get that bumper sticker but I do now and I don’t think you have to get sick to do get it, to do it. You get that “GLOWY” feeling both ways. Giving and with a smile taking what's given.
Well, I see a cow headed for the creek and the salmon are running. Hmm, will it be veal or grilled salmon with dill sauce?
Talk to you later.
Hello Sir Mike!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I find your blogs very charming and very sweet! You are right, your mother did raise a gentleman! Since I started working at the liquor store Feb of 2010 where I met you, I started learning week by week just a little more about you. Then as it often happends, in passing conversation between employees, about people who come and go, someone mentioned you had cancer!
I started paying more attention. Then I started talking to you, a little more than thank you and please come again..... and found the man inside you to be quite refreshing! Then come to find out We share a comon love, "man's best friend" my pooch! Whom you once mentioned to me, she reminded you of a pooch you once had that practically raised your daughter when she was little and when said, there was a tear in your eye! This was our common ground, our breaking of the ice and striking up a little more conversation. So one day I said "do you face book Mike" without hesitation you gave me your profile name!......well of course I had to check it out, and It brought me to your blogs and would you believe I log on to facebook sometimes just to see what you may have written that day.
For all you are going threw, and for all the anguish you feel and how deminning this cancer must sometimes make you feel YOU are truly a very inspirational and incredible man. I say that because I see a man in pain, and yet he smiles and comes up with light hearted catches to cover what is really going on. Then you sit and write about some very personal and deep feelings that you having for the world to see. Not only that you open yourself up for comments; I mean who knows what a person could take away from the things they read that you jot down. For me..... inlightenment, Thank you!
I wish you nothing but the best, I have started praying for you and when I don't see you for a week or so, I start looking for you then when you appear, its a silent "whew"!
I wanted you to know if something happens to you and your unable to come to the liquor store anymore or I leave the store and don't get to see you anymore I wanted you to know you have touched my soul with your words, you matter to me, I hope that is ok.
Good luck on your long day of tests and best wishes for a good outcome!
J.