Writer's Block: Random Acts of Kindness
The Writer's Block topic is: What is one of the nicest things you've ever done for another person?
Who cares? Like I keep track of the nice stuff I do for people? Oh my gosh, that's just crazy talk. I CAN tell you some of the nicest things that have been done for ME though!
In no particular order:
My friend Marja swept in at just the right moment and saved me with a really big loan of some cash. I finally was able to pay her back recently, which really makes me feel good. She is always there for me, emotionally and otherwise, and really cares about me. I'm really grateful for it.
Dave H. really went out of his way to help me in my job search, extending his hospitality to me when I interviewed where he works -- all of this after he spoke well of me to the HR guy and got me the interview in the first place. That was really nice.
Judy's always been there for me, day or night, rain or shine. She's helped me move, held me when I cried, and taught me so much.
Lee came and picked up Paul and I when we had our accident (and drive to get our rental, later), and then he and Laura and Inger and Harald took care of us all weekend. I was a complete and utter emotional wreck. I don't know what I would have done without those guys. I'm so grateful.
My mother doesn't get me at all. I'm a total mystery to her -- we have very little in common. But one year she did a ton of research, and at Christmas, I opened my present to discover that she'd bought me a serger. Now, she doesn't sew and doesn't know anything about that stuff, but somehow she knew that I would love it. *sniff* I was so surprised. It was a beautiful gift.
Paul helped change my father's bloody johnny in the hospital after Dad's transplant. That's big, man. I tear up sometimes when I think of how great a friend Paul's been to me.
Of course, anytime someone pays close attention to the things that are special to me, that really touches me. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while someone really demonstrates that they listen and know me well. A long time ago, I had a boyfriend who knew one of my favorite books is Brave New World. He fought and fought to get me a signed copy, trolling eBay constantly and reading about book auction listings, etc. I found out about it accidentally, and while he never managed to beat out the competition to get the book, that he even thought to do it meant a tremendous amount. See, even ex-boyfriends have a place in my fond memories.
Melanie always finds time to listen to me. I don't know how she does it, or why she does it, but she does. *sniff* Sometimes I'm not fun to talk with, but she sits through it anyway, because I need a friend.
The Hutz changed his plans to help me, simply because my life was sucking. There I was in New York, a mess because of something that had nothing to do with Mike, and he was very good to me. I don't think he knew quite what to do with a weepy Jenny, but cheery-happy-sunny Jenny eventually came back. It especially meant a lot to me because I didn't think he was particularly comfortable with my level of upset, even if it WASN'T with him, but he still stuck with me.
My father gave me one of his ships. He took untold hours making it, and it's an amazing piece. It's so beautiful, it's awe-inspiring. I love that ship so much and I can't believe he gave it to me. Recently, my father bailed me out so that I could continue with school. He didn't have to -- I'm 30 years old for God's sake -- but he does everything he can to encourage me and help me to succeed. It's another one of those situations where I just couldn't have made it without his help. I'm so lucky to have him around, especially considering all he's been through.
Speaking of ships, back in my NERO days, I played a sailor character who had a ship. The first Christmas my ex-husband and I were together, he made me a treasure chest, and drew, carved, and painted my character's ship on the box. I cried over that one. Who would think to do that?!
Meg very kindly threatens the men I date. It's so touching. *grin*
My sister and I are not particularly close, but once, she sent me a picture of us as children, with a cute frame that said "Sisters are different flowers from the same garden". I love that thing. She's not very sentimental, but that was very sweet.
Dan's mother spent months making a blanket for the house. She surprised us with it on Paul's birthday -- I hadn't done anything for my own, but we had a party for Paul's a few weeks later. Being someone who knits and stuff, I knew how long it took to knit that blanket. I couldn't believe someone would go out of their way like that. Unbelieveable.
Tori, a friend from EverQuest, sent me a box of colored pencils simply because she thought I'd have fun with them. She'd seen my artwork online on our guild site, and mailed me these beautiful pencils. I was so surprised and touched. It was perfect, and I really enjoyed them.
There are so many little things and big things that people do for me all the time. I'm so grateful for it all and I just can't believe what a lucky person I am. Even when life is mega-sucking (as opposed to regular old sucking), there are still people who are there for me, and who are doing their best to make MY life a little better. So honestly, that's what really should be tallied, not the things I have done. I assure you that the number of special things done for me FAR outweighs the kindnesses I've visited on others. I'm just one person. They are so many.
Who cares? Like I keep track of the nice stuff I do for people? Oh my gosh, that's just crazy talk. I CAN tell you some of the nicest things that have been done for ME though!
In no particular order:
My friend Marja swept in at just the right moment and saved me with a really big loan of some cash. I finally was able to pay her back recently, which really makes me feel good. She is always there for me, emotionally and otherwise, and really cares about me. I'm really grateful for it.
Dave H. really went out of his way to help me in my job search, extending his hospitality to me when I interviewed where he works -- all of this after he spoke well of me to the HR guy and got me the interview in the first place. That was really nice.
Judy's always been there for me, day or night, rain or shine. She's helped me move, held me when I cried, and taught me so much.
Lee came and picked up Paul and I when we had our accident (and drive to get our rental, later), and then he and Laura and Inger and Harald took care of us all weekend. I was a complete and utter emotional wreck. I don't know what I would have done without those guys. I'm so grateful.
My mother doesn't get me at all. I'm a total mystery to her -- we have very little in common. But one year she did a ton of research, and at Christmas, I opened my present to discover that she'd bought me a serger. Now, she doesn't sew and doesn't know anything about that stuff, but somehow she knew that I would love it. *sniff* I was so surprised. It was a beautiful gift.
Paul helped change my father's bloody johnny in the hospital after Dad's transplant. That's big, man. I tear up sometimes when I think of how great a friend Paul's been to me.
Of course, anytime someone pays close attention to the things that are special to me, that really touches me. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while someone really demonstrates that they listen and know me well. A long time ago, I had a boyfriend who knew one of my favorite books is Brave New World. He fought and fought to get me a signed copy, trolling eBay constantly and reading about book auction listings, etc. I found out about it accidentally, and while he never managed to beat out the competition to get the book, that he even thought to do it meant a tremendous amount. See, even ex-boyfriends have a place in my fond memories.
Melanie always finds time to listen to me. I don't know how she does it, or why she does it, but she does. *sniff* Sometimes I'm not fun to talk with, but she sits through it anyway, because I need a friend.
The Hutz changed his plans to help me, simply because my life was sucking. There I was in New York, a mess because of something that had nothing to do with Mike, and he was very good to me. I don't think he knew quite what to do with a weepy Jenny, but cheery-happy-sunny Jenny eventually came back. It especially meant a lot to me because I didn't think he was particularly comfortable with my level of upset, even if it WASN'T with him, but he still stuck with me.
My father gave me one of his ships. He took untold hours making it, and it's an amazing piece. It's so beautiful, it's awe-inspiring. I love that ship so much and I can't believe he gave it to me. Recently, my father bailed me out so that I could continue with school. He didn't have to -- I'm 30 years old for God's sake -- but he does everything he can to encourage me and help me to succeed. It's another one of those situations where I just couldn't have made it without his help. I'm so lucky to have him around, especially considering all he's been through.
Speaking of ships, back in my NERO days, I played a sailor character who had a ship. The first Christmas my ex-husband and I were together, he made me a treasure chest, and drew, carved, and painted my character's ship on the box. I cried over that one. Who would think to do that?!
Meg very kindly threatens the men I date. It's so touching. *grin*
My sister and I are not particularly close, but once, she sent me a picture of us as children, with a cute frame that said "Sisters are different flowers from the same garden". I love that thing. She's not very sentimental, but that was very sweet.
Dan's mother spent months making a blanket for the house. She surprised us with it on Paul's birthday -- I hadn't done anything for my own, but we had a party for Paul's a few weeks later. Being someone who knits and stuff, I knew how long it took to knit that blanket. I couldn't believe someone would go out of their way like that. Unbelieveable.
Tori, a friend from EverQuest, sent me a box of colored pencils simply because she thought I'd have fun with them. She'd seen my artwork online on our guild site, and mailed me these beautiful pencils. I was so surprised and touched. It was perfect, and I really enjoyed them.
There are so many little things and big things that people do for me all the time. I'm so grateful for it all and I just can't believe what a lucky person I am. Even when life is mega-sucking (as opposed to regular old sucking), there are still people who are there for me, and who are doing their best to make MY life a little better. So honestly, that's what really should be tallied, not the things I have done. I assure you that the number of special things done for me FAR outweighs the kindnesses I've visited on others. I'm just one person. They are so many.