Re being afraid to stop: Sometimes you just have to go with your gut. On several occasions I've seen a car stopped - sometimes on the side of the road, sometimes blocking a lane - on my short drive to/from work. The car is literally held together with duct tape and bungee cords. It's the most pitiful looking vehicle I've ever seen. There is always a man standing nearby who will be gesturing wildly, frantically trying to get someone to stop. He is genuinely scary-looking, and I do make it a point to not judge someone by their appearance (some of the wildest looking people I know are wonderful souls). However, there's something just not quite right about this whole scenario. The man's eyes are crazy and bloodshot. In the car sits at least two, sometimes three, women passengers. They all look completely derelict, and at first glance, you'd think they were just in a broken down car and asking for help. On one occasion when I saw this group, the man had managed to stop a couple in a van. I came upon them just as the person on the passenger's side was quickly rolling up the window and the van was getting out of there as fast as they could. The "wildman" spotted me and frantically attempted to flag me down, even approaching my car at a fast past. I sped off. That whole scene just reeks of scam, although a small part of me still goes out to those people who, for whatever reason, have a "need" to do what they do. Anyway, I do think that sometimes you have to gauge the situation carefully and act as your instincts tell you to act.

mscsippy's cat story reminded me of a RAOK I did 4-5 years ago. A local elementary school had closed due to budgets and attendance -- the school was a couple miles out of town, so the school was consolidated with the larger one in town. In August/September that year, I was at the school to vote on something since it is used as an election precinct. Upon walking around the school (very nice, new construction, such a shame it was closed), I came upon a very hungry semi-feral cat. Nearby empty cat food cans were evidence that someone was coming by every now and then to feed it, but not very often. I started coming by at least every other day to leave a can and a bowl of dry food in a somewhat protected area. In time, I worked up a schedule on a calendar so that other visitors would know when the cat had been fed. Custodial workers removed the signs several times, but I persisted. At times the cat would come towards me, but never close enough to pet. In time it seemed content to hang out at the end of an 8 foot bench, with me at the other end. In November, while feeding the cat, I ran across a mother and daughter -- the mother, Katy, told me about the cat -- she had been the school mascot and she was named "Banshee", and until the school closed she had been taken care of by the school custodian, who of course no longer worked there. Winter was upon us by this time, so, since Banshee had once been a sociable cat, Katy and I decided to try and capture her and find her a home. It was quite an endeavor, with two tries over two days no luck at all. We had luck on the third try, with some subterfuge in getting Banshee into the cat carrier, but we did it. We took her to a vet and paid for vaccinations and Feline Leukemia test/vaccination. Thank goodness she had already been spayed. After spending $100 or so on getting her up to snuff, which neither of us could really afford at the time (she a single mother, me unemployed), I took her home, tried to bath her (no go), and sequestered her in a bathroom since my two cats would NOT have been happy to make her aquaintance. They were VERY curious though. I put an ad in craigslist seeking adoption of this wonderful cat who would require some long needed TLC. After a couple of inquiries, I found the right couple who would give her the time needed to completely socialize her again. I know I can do more for my fellow human, but somehow helpless animals need our attention too.

when DD was 5-6 she overheard my parents arguing, my dad raised his voice (pretty common). my mom was very upset. DD came up to him and said: grandpa this is not a nice way to talk, you aren't nice to grandma and it hurts her feelings. You need to go apologize and promise to be nice. She dragged him by his hand to grandma's and made him to apologise nicely. he did. my mom was very happy, so was DD and grandpa and everyone lse. DD was very poud. :)

Little acts of kindness are the best and I'll say it again....many of you are like my family. I have a couple of really cool brothers!!! You KNOW who you are!!! And...I'll ask one more time...has anyone heard from Devon? All attempts to contact him via email have gone unanswered and he has bulbs from last year waiting for him.