Random Acts of Kindness

I experienced one today.

Shortly after 1:00 am, Ginger, my loving golden retriever and matriarch of the herd, lost her battle with cancer. I felt like I was punched in the stomach. I couldn't breath. When my wife and son went to bed, I stumbled across the backyard to my office, where the sounds of my grief wouldn't keep my family awake. After the tears ran dry, I felt very alone. It was too late to call my sisters or brother, so I decided to check in with my AW family.

As seen from my post total, I don't contribute very much. I'm still learning from others. But for nearly every post, I've received a rep from Susie. And early this morning, when I felt all alone, I had a random rep from her, telling me hi and hoping all was well. I smiled. I then repped her and let her know all wasn't well. Having someone to share my grief with at that moment really helped, and that's why Susie's smilie has wings. Thanks, Susie.

I don't normally post about my problems, but I thought I'd share how a random act of kindness helped to ease my pain.

Share your experience with random acts of kindness - those given and those received.

BTW - Ginger is still in the dining room. She's covered and her head is resting on a small pillow. I've buried too many pets. The last one, Redd, my male golden, nearly killed me. I can't force myself to put Ginger in a hole. Prayers for strength, please.

Yesterday, my son and I went to 5:30 pm Mass. My wife stayed in bed with a back sprain. I said my usual prayers, then prayed for those AW members I read about who mentioned specific problems. Then, because I know how difficult it is to be a writer, and, because I know the power of the written word, I prayed for all AW members, that God may comfort them in their times of need: when they're sick or suffering, when they feel like they are a failure, when they feel alone, unloved, or have been abused. I then prayed for writers everywhere, that God inspires them to excellence.

I then brought Communion to a few homebound parishioners. One, a navigator on a bomber during WWII, now a shell of a man, always makes me grateful for our service men and women. Another, an 82 year old women who lost everything in Katrina, is living with her deceased husband's 90 year old high school classmate. Her daughter lost her house too, and is living there and helping to take care of her mother. In spite of their age, sickness, and loss, these people remain positive and grateful for what they have. I always leave feeling blessed.

But last night, I returned to my dying Gingy-girl and my grief was too much. For the first time since I lost my parents, I had to reach out. I needed help and I needed prayers. Since posting this, I've checked in a few times. Your kind words and prayers gave me the strength to dig that damn hole. I told Gingy-girl that I loved her. I thanked her for all the joy she brought to our lives. And I told her goodbye.

Maryn asked that I tell what made Ginger Penny L. special. She was our first dog. We adopted her as a puppy when the original owner said she was too agressive. She kept me company when I first started my landscape business. She was my PR expert - always wandering off to meet my clients' neighbors, which led to more than a few jobs.

My wife stopped during a rainstorm because one of my kids yelled they saw Ginger. (my wife thought she was working with me and wandered off) They opened the door to the minivan and yelled her name. The drenched golden jumped in the van and shook dry. A block away, my daughter said, "Um, mom, this isn't Ginger." It was a male. We couldn't find the owners so we took him to the vet to get him checked out before we tried to find a home for him. Since we didn't plan to keep him, we called him Redd - not to creative, I know. The vet said he had been abused and neglected. We paid for the adult heartworm treatment, knowing he wouldn't be adopted otherwise. In the weeks it took to complete the treatment, we fell in love with Redd and decided to keep him. At first, he couldn't relax. He'd stand and stare at us. It was kind of creepy. We worked with him, tried to get him to play, but we didn't have any luck. But Ginger did. Before long, they were best buddies. Then, he opened up to us. He was the only one to greet me when I came home from work. He'd follow me around and when I went to bed, he'd circle two or three times then lay down and let out a deep breath, like he was finally off the clock.

Ginger also made friends with our two cats. One a job, she made friends with a client's cat. I asked them why their cat had sores behind its ears. They said it wasn't their cat, that they just fed it. I asked if I could take it to the vet and have it checked out. They said sure, he's yours. Turned out to be nothing more than ear mites. And that's how we got Patch.

When my wife went to visit her grandmother in Crystal Springs, MS, she found two abandoned kittens. One died, but one hung on until she got it home. When my wife wasn't feeding it, it stayed warm, cuddled up by Ginger's tummy. Now grown, Tiger Lily has social issues, but she always loved Ginger.

I'll always miss the way she did her backwards dance and shook her head when she had to potty. I'll miss the way she attacked the towel when I dried her off after a bath. I'll miss her warning bark, the nudge of her nose, her submissive run to make new friends and greet old ones.

I'm better now and I'd really like to thank those who responded. You helped me through a very difficult time. I'm always touched by acts of love or kindness - from animals or people. Xyrventalagn's example is a beautiful example. Any more?