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.