Blogger Author Remembering the Tic Tac Gift

That's right, I am a writer. I am an author. I am a blogger and you know what that means. You, all of YOU, who have entered my life are a part of my story, a partner in my journey. And, place your bets, I most certainly will be writing about YOU.

You have changed my life, altered my path, helped me reinvent myself, molded my past. As I begin writing about you, there is so much to express. You have made me happy when I was sad, lifted me up when I was down, jolted me when I was relaxing, and always, always made me stop and think. I love that about you, who wouldn't? Your personal stories enthralled me so much that I sacrificed time that was supposed to be spent elsewhere.

When I start my writing, this one moment comes to mind, over and over---a reader mailed a box of Tic Tacs to me. I had simply mentioned my problem finding them and she mailed an entire case to me. It may seem silly that I couldn't find them on the vast information highway, but for some reason I couldn't. I had recently moved to an assisted living/retirement community, no small feat and under extremely unpleasant circumstances. I keep recalling that day.

My caregiver and I had gone out to explore the new neighborhood and found a mom-n-pop convenience store a few blocks away. On that day I had my first beef jerky ever, and they sold Tic Tacs! Searching the world, and a few blocks away-- there they were.

But the store was across a very busy street, the cross walk had a flashing yellow light, but drivers were not terribly alert to stop. It would not be the safest trip for me, all alone, and they barely stopped for my caregiver! Oh, well, a Tic Tac in the hand is worth two in Neverland on the Internet.

Then I got home and had a brown box waiting for me. Who had sent it? My name was spelled wrong. I was very suspicious. Inside were the boxes and boxes of Tic Tacs. I searched for a clue to show who sent them. I saw a familiar address of a reader of my blog. I recalled my post.

How can I tell you how much that generous act of kindness meant to me? My readers were real people and they cared about ME! I still am trying to wrap my mind around that. I have family and friends who have not showed such unselfish generosity. Nothing was required from me in return. She would never have told me. It was a gift. A gift.

My, THOSE, Tic Tacs stay in my fanny pack whenever I leave my apartment. They are in my mouth during bridge games, before council meetings, at doctor appointments, when I sing, when I chat with friends. Yes, I know it sounds corny, but not to me. Every time I reach for one I think of kindness to strangers, how far reaching it is, in ways we never can imagine.

I can not thank her enough and I know I don't need to. But, I doubt I will ever forget her. She lives far from me, yet I feel close to her. She doesn't really know me, yet I think she must.

That is the joy of acts of kindness to strangers--it brings us together in humanity towards one another. We become one.

Yes, I believe that will start my book about you.