“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair….” Charles Dickens, The Tale of Two Cities
In these difficult times that we are experiencing, I take a moment to acknowledge just a few acts of kindness:
A new Facebook page, Kindness Outbreak in Conifer, includes posts from neighbors about where you can find such treasures as toilet paper, thermometers and masks while others offer diapers, clothing and encouragement.
Ace Hardware store in Aspen Park left wood pellets outside the locked gate for anyone to take on the honor system, and then a man on Next Door offered to deliver them to community members.
Mountain Resource Center staff is handing out boxes and boxes of food to anyone in the community who needs it, serving 57 families in just one hour last week. And Jennifer is asking Zoom yoga participants to consider a donation to this cause. She never takes payment for her Wednesday class; it’s always a charitable donation. (If you would like to help with the Resource Center’s efforts, go to mrcco.org)
Beth Evergreen set up a buddy system where members call to check on each other. Lucky me to get a call from Debra who has moved out of state and is still participating remotely.
I found a card from a neighbor in our mailbox with two packets of flower seeds inside. The message: “Happy Spring. Let me know if you need anything.”
My college friend Helen sent a lovely video of the orchid tour at the New York Botanical Gardens.
I’ve received so many text messages, phone calls and emails from friends that make me laugh, make me cry and make my heart sing.
Alan Morinis, founder of The Mussar Institute, kindly read my manuscript, offered suggestions and provided a testimonial. So I sent him a copy of the newly published book and got this email, “Your book arrived in the mail today. It looks so nice! Mazal tov on this “birth” into the world. May it spread far and wide, and do much good.”
Thank you, dear readers, for your kindness and support. Now it’s my turn. I will call a friend who lives alone, write an email to someone who has made a difference in my life and think about how else I might pay it forward.
My book, Your Love Is Blasting in My Heart: A Grandmother’s Journey, is now available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0578638231