My latest loss is my longtime foot doctor I’ve been seeing for 20 years. The part time space he rents has tripled, so that’s it, he will be my doctor no more.
He’s the sweetest man not to mention greatest footman, if you will, I’d from time to time send a note to…
Dear Dr. Steve…we love you, thanks for making us feel so much better.
Love, Susannah’s feet.
When I saw him for the last time, he gave me all his subway cards since he won’t be needing them anymore, his formal practice being in New Jersey where alas, he’ll stay from now on.
So, when I got off the train, I ambled over to the machine to see what was on them.
Next to me was a young man of color who had a good dozen he must have picked up off the ground hoping he’d find a fare.
One could say I had a good poker hand with four of a kind, $5.50 each, which comes out to two rides a card.
As we stood side by side after seeing his face, I knew, he folded.
“How’d ya do?” I asked, though knowing the answer.
He shrugged.
“Here,” I said, handing him one of the cards. “Someone gave these to me, so how bout I give one to you?”
His face lit up like a fireplace.
As I watched him breeze through the turnstile, I felt better having shared the goodness, graced to me by a man I’ll always remember, feet first. 
SB
Well done, Madam Feet.
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Hi Frank. Madam Feet. I like that. 🙂
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Susannah, I don’t know how you do it, picking up on people’s vibes like you do. Actually I do know. You are attuned to the people and actions around you. You are aware. And the world, well NYC at least, is a better place with you in it.
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I must have been a telescope in another life because I do tend to notice what other seem oblivious to. I truly believe, kindness attracts kindness. The doctor to me, me to the kid…you writing such nice things. 🙂
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SB,
Our feet are so important, we should never take them for granted.
And as soon as you started playing subway card poker with that fella sitting at the same ‘table’ . . I KNEW what you were going to do. And it always feel so damn good to read about these kindnesses in your random acts. You’re an angel dressed in style who supplies the one thing we all need on a daily basis, hope.
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Next time you’re found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant
But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you’re gettin’ low
‘Stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call, and your back’s to the wall
There’s a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he’d punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin’ that dam
‘Cause he…sing it Frank! 🙂
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You best watch it SB or you’re gonna cause a panic! At the disco . . .
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A stampede perhaps?
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A dolled up and ready to paint the town stampede . . yeah, that.
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I see you in Guys and Dolls again tap dancing across the stage in pinstripes and a Fedora. You’re whistling. 🙃
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Pinstripes and a Fedora? I’m in.
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It suits your sass and bluster. Will revisit heroes of the week. There was just too much to take it. Your penning prowess could overwhelm a girl. 😳
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Nothnig stops you from taking a little trip to Jersey if your tootsies need it, right? It’s just a train ride away? Or is it just too dang far…
And to go with Skinny above, I add:
Absolutely, Susannah…What goes around comes around and karma is a bitch only if you are…
So the world in your circle is a much more beautiful place.
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I thank you and Skinny. It’s far but certainly not impossible but I’m trying to learn that all things end one way or another, sooner or later, as graciously as possible. Might be my hardest life lesson till now. sigh
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Well…. if you really, REALLY need him, then he is within reach, so to speak.
I know what you mean, though. I had a great doctor who left to work in the States. I saw him for everything and then poof! Was heartbreaking for many of us.
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Yeah…he’s not dead, he’s just in Jersey, though some people would view it that way. My comeback is always…HEY DUDE…BRUCE IS FROM JERSEY.
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Buahaha!
Yes, I have heard that is the attitude taken by New Yawkers…
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Yes, there’s just something about Jersey that irks people. Go figure.
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Strange. I have fond memories of the shore…
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Me too. Had a love affair there one summer I can still recall with teenage clarity. He had hair like James Dean and drove a souped up yellow GTO right outta the movie Grease. I was SO ENAMORED.
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How could you NOT be? I’m swooning at the thought!
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I was such a hound. I’ll admit it. I lived for boys. sigh
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Normal, I say… Course I was, too.
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We were healthy girlie girls. You’re supposed to be boy crazy when you’re 16. Right?
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Very healthy! I definitely was! 😉
Still kinda like ’em…
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I know what mean. They’re like Oreos or warm socks, they never go out of style. Those men. Sigh.
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Mmmmm hmmmm!
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I’m sending your feet condolences. New Jersey might as well be in South America for the trouble it would take to get there. I subbed for an organist friend once who had a church in NJ. It took HOURS to get there from Queens via subway and bus. Never again! I wouldn’t have done it the first time, except John went with me.
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Things always seem easier with a buddy along for the ride. My feet will be wearing only black socks for a while. They just love Dr. Steve. 😥
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I. finally, have a Dr. whom I adore. She’s an MD and takes excellent care of me, knows her stuff, and won’t take much from anyone. I like that.
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Hard to find anyone to trust nowadays, especially a doctor. Happy for you.
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Right now I think I am set with doctors, they are relatively young so not retiring in the near future. Except for my dermatologist, he is about my age so I expect to get a letter any time telling me he is retiring. That will be a bummer, I really like him.
Sweet to share your bounty with the young guy. You made his day for sure!
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I’ve lost several already that are still hard to replace. You don’t realize how personal it is till you have to replace them. sigh
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I’m sure you’re the source of hundreds of random acts of kindness stories in NYC over the years. A saint on the subway, I say. 🙂
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Or a nosy girl lookin’ for a headline. 🙂
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