Saturday, December 24, 2011

There's no such thing as a random act of kindness.


Honestly, I don't watch a lot of the news. 
I never have - I'm really more of an entertainment girl - but especially once I got to New York the local news was just too horrible and depressing.
But alas, I went and fell in love with a newsman.
I love that Brian Williams and sometimes, just sometimes, I'm willing to tune out the bad news for that sparkle in his eye. 
So imagine my surprise when today's news stories went something like this.

The "layaway angels." This rampant good-deed-doing sweeping the nation, this paying it forward, this desire to make yourself feel better (and that is not a bad thing, not at all) - all started by some woman in Michigan. Go figure.

One hundred... and one. We do a great job collectively, I think, of rallying around a cause. Until the next cause comes along (and one always does). Or until our own lives get in the way. Until we forget. But this guy said nope. Nope - I made a commitment when Katrina's devastation was everywhere, and even though the images are gone from the minds and TVs of most of the country, he hasn't forgotten. He promised to build 100 homes in one of the most ravaged parts of New Orleans. Until someone told him about the New Orleans lagniappe tradition - think a baker's dozen - and he went the extra mile, to 101.
Oh, did I mention he's the CEO of Barnes and Noble? Just goes to show you - books make everybody better.

Fairy dogparents. Do I really even need to say anything else?

There are good, good people in this world. Everywhere. I hope to be the kind of person that makes other people want to do good things.

Merry Christmas to all you beloved do-gooders!
(Especially you, Brian Williams, you cute thing.)