I saw a man I hadn’t seen in a while I’ll call Ted, who’s very active in the church I sometimes go to.
When he sees me he does everything but genuflect, like I’m one of the Apostles, because I had helped him once, way back when.
It was on the eve of Hurricane Irene, when the media had us scared shitless, people buying everything off the shelves as if it were the 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis.
I remember being calm, since I flip out over more important matters like, my roots are showing, cheerfully on my way to lunch.
There was Ted standing on the corner, almost in tears because he needed flashlight batteries that were sold out everywhere. I just happened to have a mini flashlight in my purse my shoemaker had just given me, so I gave it to him. You would have thought it was a kidney, because after that, Ted wouldn’t leave me be.
He wrote me letters of thanks. He had a mass for me. When they asked during the Prayer of the Faithful, is there anyone you’d like to pray for, Ted would rise up and say…for Suzann’ah, the kindest girl in the world.
No I’m not making this up. I finally had to speak to a priest to kindly tell him to please curb the over-the-top adoration, which brings me to Baskum Dernfield, a Beagle I used to know.
He belonged to a very Orthodox Jewish family at the end of our street. I was about 11 at the time, on my way home from school, when I encountered Baskum sitting on a step mewling. The poor guy had something stuck in his front paw, so I, the future Joan of Bark, without paws (couldn’t resist), took it out.
You’d think that would have been the end, but Baskum, like Ted, had so much gratitude that he just wouldn’t leave me alone.
They’d let him out and he’d race to my house, guarding it like a furry, speckled sentry. Mr. Dernfield would have to come get him, when finally, the only solution, was to keep him fenced in.
There’s so much poignancy in both these stories, when you think, nowadays, the world’s appreciation is down several quarts, so when I saw Ted this morning, I just let him gush when he passionately grasped my hands and said…
“It’s the lovely Suzann’ah,” doing everything short of showing me his paw.
🙂
SB
Their response is commensurate with their inner relief, sooner than your contribution. I think that’s just as it should be. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I give and don’t look back. Hard to stand still for praise.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers to kindness! … but my favorite line hit a homerun. … “the world’s appreciation is down several quarts” … wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is it not true Frank, you Sire of Music you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, it’s very true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But we’ll be the change we want to see, like Gandhi. Of course, look what happened to him. sigh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nonetheless, I still believe the majority of the world is good. 🙂 … thanks for being part of that goodness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You seem to have a Pollyanna in you Frank, same as me. But the male, heavy medal, I mean metal, Elvis version. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just a believer in the fact that many leaders are not examples or representative of their people. Although US and Iran have rocky relationship, I believe most Iranians are good … as are most Afghans … and Syrians, Lebanese, Chinese, Venezuelans, Cubans, Mongolians, South Africans, Egyptians, and so on .. but I did say most, not all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m moved by your point of view Frank. It’s hard to maintain optimism these days, with so much negativity before us. My faith in others is currently doing the hula, however, I’m always open for change beginning with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your hula analogy. The news pulls us down and down – lower and lower. That’s why is refer to people as a whole. For instance, in this video – many don’t have a common spoken language – yet I see many smiles, acceptance, and kindness. It’s gets to me each time I watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk … Enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see why. Grace is very bilingual 🙂
LikeLike
And smiles and kindness cross language boundaries
LikeLiked by 1 person
The universal language.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 … Thanks for sharing your thoughts … Vibes tell me your a good person … Cheers!
LikeLike
I make it a point to treat others the way I want to be treated. It’s challenging though Frank. Rudeness, impatience, shunning often prevails however…we still don our halo even if it’s slightly tarnished. 🙏
LikeLike
Joan,
Kindnesses are fuel for the cosmos. If that sounds too much like a hippie talking, I don’t really care. The world needs more kindnesses if it wants to keep breathing, and you supply . . gallons worth.
That name . . . Baskum Dernfield! It sounds like a famous literary character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved him. He had gotten hit by a car so he limped, like Chester from Gunsmoke. He was such a great dog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So the name was well deserved. Because it’s not the kind of predictable name gifted most pets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forget what Baskum means in Hebrew, but he’s lucky they didn’t make him sport a yarmulke, the Derfields were that holy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It means brave little warrior. Okay, I made that one up. But it fits the little guy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s the reason I’m such a Beagle/Basset fan. They are so cute, and loyal to a fault as he displayed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have bittersweet memories of my boyhood Beagle. My parents gave her up when I had the croop. I still remember the day, ugh. I can’t even . .
They are great dogs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no…they gave away your Beagle. Croop this ma…sigh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some things just never leave you.
Yeah, I was the boy in the bubble until I was six years old and we moved to Florida. Spent a lot of time in the hospital with that crap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry. But baby, look at you now…that bubble burst into an array of creativity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s why I volunteer at the Humane League. A constructive way to deal.
And thank you, you are sweetness. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t remember the last time I heard that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I call ’em as I see ’em. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sound like an auctioneer or a sports announcer. In the batter’s box we have…
LikeLiked by 1 person
. . . The Thin Girl. This lithe and feisty cat can curl her words in the most provocative ways. Aaannndd here’s the pitch! . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
You give me too much credit. She’s not at her best presently, but thanks for being sweet. It’s noted. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are much too humble. I do find such a trait to be attractive, and I do relate to it. I am not into the peeps who never stop talking about themselves, even when they’re NOT talking about themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So often what seems a small act to us has a tremendous impact upon the receiver. We would do a disservice to the receiver if we pooh-pooh or try to diminish the importance of the act. Perhaps you could carry a small rug in case you run into him in the future, so he can kneel on it, ha ha. After all, you seem to have everything else in that purse!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My purse is the size of Guam, come to mention it. 🙂
LikeLike
I know you are not big on receiving thanks and kudos and praise and stuff like that…
However, I shall agree with Frank and Marc that the world needs more kindness – and, though you think your little acts are nothing or no big whup, they were something to the receivers. And that’s a good thing.
Keep being you, Miss Suzann’ah!
LikeLike
Attention all Beagles…:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Your sweet remarks deserve a longer response. I was very tired when I received it. It’s funny how one incident brings up another. My beagle story inspired by a little old man. Art, as you know, comes like a comet when you least expect it. Like what you find yourself seeing through that magical lens of yours. 😊
LikeLike
See? Another sign of your own sweetness, coming back to add to your comment. Yes. It is funny how chain reaction-like one incident inspires another (ofttimes in a seemingly random, nonsensical way!)
It does. And I thank you for that. 😊
And wish you a beautiful Saturday!
LikeLike
To you as well. Cold here but clear. Ran, wrote, will now burrow for a nice long read. Have my teeth into a bio on Babe Ruth called, The Big Fella. HOW I LOVE TO READ….SIGH
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fairly mild (for us) here and the sun is glorious. Wish I enjoyed running, though it would be a risky affair with the crevasses of ice and slush and snow and… ugh.
I love to read, too. Do not spend half the amount I would like to. I’m hoping once this house is officially sold and I am comfortably ensconced in my new abode, I shall carve out time designated for such…
LikeLike
I highly recommend that. Like John Adams said…when you have a book, you always have a friend. 📘📕📗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, them thar is true words!
And yes, I do so love to read. I think I don’t give myself permission enough, lately. I do every night before bed, though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your mind is a muscle too, like the rest of you…it’s worth the care. I give you permission…:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That it is. I thank you… 😉 I shall heed your suggestion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It just goes to show how much of an impact we can have on someone’s life with small gestures. You’ve always been great at spotting those little moments, so I’m sure there are hundreds of people in New York that feel similarly (even if they don’t have a mass for you). 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was so panicked, the poor guy. I should have been more concerned myself but wasn’t. Something told me we’d be okay and we were. Manhattan more or less was spared. Little things mean so much. Sigh
LikeLike
I really was thinking you made up that story about Ted, not because you hadn’t shown kindness, but that you don’t see that kind of gratitude. Ever. Wow.
LikeLike
He’s a little guy now well into his 70s. Never married. More priestlike than most priests. Spent his whole life in service. Now is a devoted hospice worker. Attends mass daily. He’s so selfless. Any act of kindness random or otherwise I’m most certain, knocks it outta the park for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are getting some of the adulation you deserve.
LikeLike
Stop that. I’m like the little skinny bird who heard the sky was falling. She laid down with her tiny feet up to help hold it up. A warhorse came by and said, what are you doing? When she told him he said, do you really think that’s gonna help? And she said, one does what one can. 😊
LikeLike
Oh! That’s a good one. Not everyone does what one can, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, we do….me and my pal Anne…:)
LikeLike
You are on duty much more often than I am.
LikeLike
You need to get out more. 🙂
LikeLike
You are right, Susannah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We love to right, don’t we? 🤨
LikeLike
LOL! Good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it funny how something so small to one person is immeasurable to another?
As you can see I’m catching up with my reading, and I’m glad I decided to do it on this quiet Sunday morning. I’ll be heading to Meeting shortly with a lot of good things to ponder on in silence. Kindness, grace, humanity at its best and lessons, many lessons. Thank you, Grasshopper ❤
LikeLike
I get that. Jehovah Witnesses who blog have a bigger following than mine because I don’t read anyone. Just now someone commented…read my post…I deleted it immediately. Go away…I just have no tolerance as good as I may be at helping others. Writing and what you read is very personal. I don’t care much what people say as a rule. Sometimes I think of pulling the plug on a Thing Girl but then don’t. I’d lose almost 2000 essays and my gymnasium to work out at, which is really what it is for me. See what you tapped into? sigh
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have had students so happy over some tiny praise (or big one) that I gave them. They would listen intently and do anything to be around me for awhile. I used that time to teach them about things. Sometimes it worked; sometimes, they left – either way was okay…
Scott
LikeLiked by 1 person
Either way was okay. Wish you could apply that to everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No reason not to try…
LikeLike
at least, try…
LikeLike