Random Acts of Kindness

Random Act of Kindness #1: Cheryl McKeon, of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA, gave away her very own signed copy of the Two Bobbies to Wally Lamb. That's why I adore/love/worship indie booksellers!

When I learned that Mary Nethery would be coming to the Seattle area for a school visit, I emailed Cheryl, offering up a joint bookstore visit (a rare thing for co-authors who live hundreds and hundreds of miles apart). She said yes.

Mary and I did indeed appear at Third Place, relishing the opportunity to talk together about a book that is so important to each of us, because of the story and because we got to write it together. Our mutual love fest blossomed and when it came time to do a reading (we alternated pages -- I made Mary read the sad page!), people in the audience who had copies of the book shared with those who didn't.

Random Act of Kindness #2: Afterward, I heard from a former student who was in the audience. She said that the lady in the row in front of her shared her book with a young woman. They didn't even know one another. After the reading, the older woman said, "You need this book." And she bought it for the young woman.

This is what story can do. It can turn complete strangers into friends. It can soften hearts. It can help us be our very best selves.

Random Act of Kindness #3: I don't know what my very best self will do tomorrow. But I can only hope it's something as dramatic and powerful as buying a book for a complete stranger.

Walking and Wondering

I'm trying to ignore the irony of the fact that I read The Lost Art of Walking by Geoff Nicholson during several evenings of walking on the treadmill.

Mr. Nicholson is my peeps. I don't do very well if I go too many days without a walk. I prefer my walks neat, thank you very much, without earbuds or iPods or any such. They are my time to wonder and wander. And Geoff (I feel we're on a first name basis) feels the same way.

This book perambulates through many topics, including "The Lost Art of Falling Down," (I am in complete agreement with his premise that falling down is child's play. . . and that it wreaks havoc on adults); literary walks and folks who actually have made money from walking.

What made spending $25 (at my local indie bookstore!) all worthwhile, however, was his discussion of street photographers, who shoot from the feet rather than from the hip. Some shoot randomly, some set up shots but all of them work out of doors, and in the streets. Just as I was bemoaning cutting a huge chunk out of WIP, I read this quote from street photographer, Martin Parr: "The thing you've got to remember is, most of the time there's nothing happening and suddenly it will happen, but you can't have the time when it happens without having all the dull time, so even though you're not taking good pictures, you're in the rhythm."

Yes! Most of the time I'm writing away and nothing good is happening. BUT if I'm not writing away, there is absolutely no chance of anything good happening.

Okay, so I know the economy is tight but I would suggest this is another great addition to your personal library. Especially if you buy it at your local indie bookstore. And think of the amazing karma if you walk to that bookstore to buy it! And feel free to read it while walking anywhere, even on a treadmill. From reading his book, I think Mr. Nicholson would get a kick out of that.

Back stories

Saturday, daughter Quinn and I drove 90 miles north to Bellingham for a baby shower for my niece. Baby Eliza Mae is due to arrive on March 28, 3 days before my grandma's birthday. That got me to thinking about family and bloodlines and such. I come from a long line of strong, smart, beautiful women. My darling aunt Mary Lou (in the teal v-neck) is the kindest woman you could ever meet. It takes a lot to make her angry. The only time I ever saw her lose her temper was when my grandma was in hospice and a visiting nurse made a big deal of the fact that my aunt was only 15 years younger than Grandma. That nurse will never do that again! Auntie Lou recently had shoulder surgery and she says she's doing great except for the fact she has to lift her right arm with her left to eat or drink. Now, me, I'd think that was one huge inconvenience. She just smiles and shakes her head.

The other bookend in this photo is my Auntie Alix. She's the baby of the family. When she was born, her big sisters took a pact to take good care of her and they have never failed in that. Alix was an amazing nurse, working an ICU unit (night shift) for a bajillion years. She's the family go-to-girl for recipes and health care questions.

In the middle is my favorite Brown girl: my mom. When I was little, my grandma kept Mom's high school graduation photo on her dresser. I saw it one day and said, "That's my mom. Isn't she beautiful?" And she is. If you looked up "kind" in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of my mom. When we were growing up, our friends were always welcome at our house, for a meal or for a month. She could never turn away a stray, two-legged or four-legged. She *only* had a high-school education which kept her from advancing in her job, but that didn't stop her former employer (a big retailer that I will never, ever shop at in my life) from having her train the twerps who became her managers. She's smart, witty and writes so much better than me it's not even funny. But she never had a cheerleader like the one she's been for me so she doesn't believe she can write. Karma is delicious, however: she's been the topic of more than one paper for her college-age grandchildren. And, if you met her, you would walk away and never, ever know she was legally blind.

I can't trace my lines to the Mayflower; I don't come from fancy pedigrees. But I am honored that I come from strong, good women who may not make headlines but they have made huge differences in the lives of so many.

With material like this, I have stories to tell for the rest of my life!

Who do you celebrate and honor in your work? Whose stories are you hoping to tell?