"I was as the grocery store and the person behind me only had a few items, so I let him go in front of me.  Then, before the checker had a chance to start ringing up my groceries another person showed up behind me with only one item (he already bought groceries but forgot one item), so I let him go in front too.  I wasn't running late or in a hurry, so it was a pleasure to be able to take the time to let them go first."   Annette Saunders

I had some computer needs that were beyond my rudimentary scope so I hired an old friend as a consultant to help me. She responded immediately which really reduced my stress. Then she tried out the things I needed to do on her own computer. Then she came right over like a doctor making an emergency house call and walked me through the traumatic episode...but it wasn't traumatic! She made it fun and easy. What a difference a great teacher makes to a daunting task... and then she wouldn't take payment, but instead, instructed me to pass it forward.

So, today when a group of corporate bullies wouldn't move out of the way to make room for one more passenger on the crouwded subway, I backed up into them and invited the greatful young woman to step on.

 "We just had a couple of rooms inside our house painted by two painters who seemed very eager to have the work.  They were kind and did a good job.  When they were done we paid each of them $200 as promised.  Although we are tight on money right now - we figured they were even tighter -  so we tipped each of them $50.  They looked very surprised and happy.  We watched them from our upstairs window as they walked to their truck - they were so happy they were jumping up and down and jubilantly kicking their legs up in the air.  Worth every penny."    Anonymous

My daughter and I were having lunch at a small but popular Indonesian cafe.  My daughter noticed that 3 people entered, but seeing there were no tables large enough available, they started to leave.  My daughter and I had been seated at a table for 4, so we motioned to the people to take our table and we moved to a table for two.  The people were surprised but happy - I guess the restaurant owners probably were too!

This is a DOUBLE ROAK!
First Roak: a former quartet member of California One (a quartet my dad sang in for ten years) took the time to write a very nice letter about our dad and sent along copies of a sketch he had made of Jim all suited up for a bike ride. It was especially nice because it arrived on my birthday. Thank you Rene'! But how did it get delivered with the incorrect street number 17 shown in the address?

Second Roak: The letter and sketches were misdelivered to an address four blocks away on a street where there was a number 17.  The customs tag on Rene's envelope specified "sketches done by sender and a sympathy letter" so the resident of #17 felt compelled to find the correct recipient. She tried the internet but came up empty because the envelope was addressed to my maiden name. She went on foot and canvassed the neighborhood for anyone on the correct street who might know a Kathleen Saunders. A few people knew of a home where a Kathleen lived and so she delivered the envelope there. Then she used reverse directory to get the phone number and called to alert the residents of #14 about the envelope. Happy ending!

That is exactly the kind of thing Jim would have done in the same determined fashion until he had made things right.

As I was leaving CVS in Half Moon Bay, I saw a small, elderly woman whose car was parked in a handicapped spot outside the drugstore.  She had only one item in her cart, a carton of 7-Up.

 

I put it in her car for her and suddenly thought of Jim (coincidentally, this happened in August, the month of his birth).

 

The carton was a lot heavier than I expected and I was happy that I did it.

 

Peg Nordensten

This is about a ROAK that is still appreciated five years later! A former student of mine from Saudi Arabia returned recently to thank me for bringing her a cup of honey-lemon-ginger tea to class when she had a cold. Five years later she still remembers it and continues passing the kindness on to others.

A blonde straight-haired Dutch woman at my work was at a loss to manage the mostly African hair of her two-year-old daughter. She believed people were standing in judgement and looking askance at her because of the apparent lack of effort made to do something with the wild hair. I brought her samples of the three products I use to tame my own thick curly locks and the full set of instructions I received from my salon which posts in their window, "Love What Your Mama Gave You." (In my case it was my father) A few days later She happily showed me pictures of her daughter's beautifully enhanced curls!

I hung my laundry on the line in the morning and meant to get back mid day to take it off the line. However, I got caught up in the day and couldn't get home until after 10pm.  When I got home I found all my laundry folded neatly and stacked on the back porch.

My daughter and I had separate plans for this morning, but only one car.  So my daughter dropped me at the high school to play tennis and took my car so she could go running on the coastal trail.  When she picked me up just before noon, she surprised me with my favorite kale salad that she had just bought from a local store.  I was very happy about the salad and her thoughtfulness.

Because of Jim, a community garden thrived at my home in Half Moon Bay. He and his friend, Cookie, helped build raised beds, plant seeds and celebrate a bountiful harvest with neighborhood children. I was deeply touched by Jim’s patience and dedication. He came faithfully, week after week, during the six month project that brought all ages together in healthy living. Vegetables towered up to my art studio window where we finally celebrated with food made from our flourishing garden. 

 I took many pictures of Jim while he leaned over to a child’s side and carefully showed them how to plant a seedling. Jim's love continues to grow. The other day a nine year old boy came to my studio for tutoring. He asked me about the photo of Jim sitting on my table. I told him about how Jim helped with the garden project, his generosity, and that Jim had recently died. We both went outside to the raised bed soon after and I watched as this young boy delighted in a ripe tomato that I let him pick. I felt Jim smiling with the sunshine that made a guest appearance by our side. 

Carla Brooke

Half Moon Bay

Today I was in my car leaving the Safeway parking lot around noon.  I had just started eating a sandwich I had purchased as a treat from the deli when I saw a man standing on the curb 15 feet ahead with a sign that said "anything helps".  So I called him over and gave him the second half of my sandwich - still pristine in its wrapper.

My random act of kindness is staying positive.
Anonymous

My husband bought me a bottle of hand sanitizer for Relay for Life today. When Michele asked to have a bottle in the Survivor's Booth, I gave him mine.
Mary Kay Jolley

I gave up my seat on the bus to an elderly woman every day on the way to school.

anonymous

I first met your father while working for Census 2000; he was a member of my crew.  A few years later I saw him again when my sister Rene met her future husband, Larry Weinman, at Leslie Gardens where Larry and Jim had become acquainted.  He was introduced to my mother, Dorothy Herringshaw (born in 1922), and they spent some time together (see picture).  We all went to some of the Golden Chordsmen performances and had dinner together a few times either at Larry and Rene's or at my mother's.  I heard he had been in an accident on Hwy. 92 and given up driving for bicycling.  I ran into Jim occasionally when at Leslie Gardens, but then heard from Cookie that he was up in Napa.

I enjoyed knowing your father and am sorry for your loss.

 Janet Herringshaw

Hello,

I had  the  pleasure and honor of working with your dad.  Together we assisted the special needs students in the general education classes.  I remember him taking me, along with the graduating 8th grade students to lunch.  We were celebrating their graduation from  middle school.  He was always concerned about one particular family and took a family member to his first Giant's game.

I will always appreciate his kind and gentle manner.

Linda Souza

My neighbour's mom has been visiting over the last week as she has needed surgery for complications following a hysterectomy. Leading up to the surgery she was unable to eat any solid food and so I wanted to provide a nice treat for her when she returned from the hospital. Knowing that she is a conscientious eater and that my neighbour's partner is vegan, I adapted a blueberry muffin recipe I have to be made with flax instead of eggs and soy milk instead of dairy milk. The muffins were a hit and I believe a welcome part of their family gathering.

While I don't know Jim as having been a baker or cook, I saw how accommodating and caring he was. I can only imagine how great a neighbour he would have been as I have witnessed how great a father and grandfather he was.
--
Matthew Thompson

"Today I dressed up as a fairy and gave away sunflowers on the streetcar and subway! Some people were scared of me, but most were really touched and amazed. A few people asked for extra flowers to take to work and give away to colleagues, security guards and friends. I had a few left when I got to work so I used them to brighten up people's offices. Thank you to Grandpa Jim for inspiring magic and kind gestures."

Love Anna, Jim's Granddaughter

This post is actually some of Jim's own Random Acts of Kindness as remembered by Erica Lemieux when she and her university friends met up with Jim in Half Moon Bay on their bike trip across the continent.

I feel blessed to have met him... and see him again at at his 80th birthday party, and again a couple of years ago in his Half Moon Bay old-age community while on my biketrip.

He made our visit SO SO SO special, complete with meeting us ON THE BEACH and parading through town, a tour, tacos for dinner, mingling with his best friends - many of whom were characters like himself, and then back to his place to listen to a cassette of his barber-shop quartet.

And wouldn't you know, before he sent us off the next morning - after he so graciously got us a spot to sleep on the ping-pong room floor - he gifted us an angel-food cake for the road.  Impractical for bikers, but one we would never forget.

When I was working door to door in Montreal, a very old man opened his door to me and began telling me all about his life: his adoption, childhood, family, WW2 and even though I needed to get on with my calls, I stayed and listened for about 30 minutes. I'm not sure this is an act of kindness, because he wanted to talk and I was interested in knowing him so we both appreciated the meeting.

Jim's Grandson Stephen

Let me be the first to post a random act of kindness on my dad's memorial kindness blog!

July 20th - Walked by a young mother with toddler in stroller. Mother had run into someone and was trying to have a conversation. In response, Jr. was doing the bucking bronco while emitting the cry of the Banshee. I got down next to him and started singing one of my dad's faves...I know a little pussy, her coat is sliver grey, she lives down in the meadow, not very far away, although she is a pussy, she'll never be a cat, for she's a pussy willow, now what d'ya think of that? Meow meow meow meow SCAT! He loved it. The women were completely thrown but eventually got back to their conversation while the kid and I meowed ourselves silly. Kathleen