Random Act of Kindness

[Elaine Glimme]

September 22nd is Random Act of Kindness Day. If you want to participate, just do one random act of kindness. It need not be anything big.

[Elaine Glimme]

About ten years ago, I read about random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty, and I liked the idea. For fun, I folded five one-dollar bills into paper airplanes and stuck a note into the folds of the plane (anonymous). I left four of these notes for strangers, and I heard one person find the plane and appreciate the note. I stuck the fifth note on top of juniper bushes ouside the home of someone whom I had hurt. As I was leaving, a very large man asked me what I was doing. I giggled nervously, guiltily "I guess you think I'm casing your house, heh, heh."
"Yes." It turns out he was a police officer.
I explained about the random act, and he found the airplane and it turned out I had the wrong house. Puts a damper on the old random acts idea.
Years later, the person whom I had hurt died, and the note was mixed in with cards and letters she had kept.
So a random act of kindness is a neat thing to do. Just be careful about looking like a robber!

[Scenario Thinker]

I almost did one today on the train. A young woman who I never saw before got on my car and SAT IN MY NORMAL SEAT. (No, that part was OK, but it's funny how we want our normal seat). So, I just sat in the one in front of her.

The conductor came by, and he asked where she wanted to go, she told him and he said the price of the ticket which was noticeably higher than I would think. Well, my guess was that it was $3 higher, since if you don't buy the ticket in the station, they charge $3 if the conductor has to do it. Then, she called someone on the phone and said she guesses that they charge more during the work week. Well, I couldn't help but turn around and explain to her that it was $3 more on the train VS the station. So, she tells the person on the phone and then I hear her saying she still has just enough for the return ticket and she'll buy it at the station on the way back.

Well, I got out $3 in bills and folded them twice and put them right at the front of my pocket. My plan was to somehow slip them under her bag, or something like that, where she would discover it when she got ready to leave. I didn't know how I was going to do it without her seeing me, or thinking I was invading her space while I did it. Also, I didn't want to just offer her $3, I could have done that right away to help out a novice train rider. She might not have accepted, anyhow. Well, when I got up, she glanced at me, and I had to get right off the train, so my $3 remained in my pocket.

Almost did it, darn.

[Tituba]

Every now and then, I pay the toll for whoever is behind me on the turnpike. I get a kick out of watching their reaction in my rear view mirror. And, of course, they speed up to see if they recognize who paid for them.

I read about this guy who walked down a city street with a bag of quarters and put them in all the meters. He got arrested. I'm not sure why it was illegal to do this.

I think the idea behind "random acts" is that they are anonymous and strangers.

[Scenario Thinker]

I think the idea behind "random acts" is that they are anonymous and strangers.

That's why I didn't want to just hand that lady the money this morning and wanted her to "discover it" somehow and then realize it MIGHT have been me (but it could have been the conductor or anyone who overheard, too).

[Scenario Thinker]

Well, good thing I didn't do it, the lady is ending up being a regular, and she seems to have money enough so now she's getting the hang of it and buying the 10 ride tickets and I even heard her ask the ticket agent about the monthly pass' cost.

The next day she sat in the seat in front of my "assigned seat", so I sat in my "assigned seat". Then, the next day, I don't know where she sat, but I saw her in the station.

[Tituba]

She seems to have your attention.....hmmmm.....possible new romance?

[Scenario Thinker]

No, she's fairly young, and I think the person she called on her phone the first day was her boyfriend, because there was a lot of I love yous on the call. But, she did grab my attention, because she is cute and she took my seat!

[Unity1]

Anymore talk about her ST and I'll be getting jealous

[Scenario Thinker]

Don't worry, I think it's a done (as in over with) deal.

[Tituba]

You should go talk to her ST. A new romance would be good.

Unity - someone on the same continent as you live would probably be a tad more practical

[Unity1]

Tituba,

It might not be practical but could be interesting, it's all ST's fault for often calling me 'hot' in his posts

You do realise it's all a joke between us don't you.

[mango]

My ex-husband's birthday is on September 22nd.
Is sending him a gift considered a random act of kindness?

Unity and ST, you are a match that was made in heaven.
Practicality be d*mned!

[Tituba]

Is sending him a gift considered a random act of kindness?

Not unless you sign him up to AARP.

[mango]