Kindness on a Bus

Green Light and a Blind Woman..., originally uploaded by cmac66.

Lately I've been lamenting the lack of "real world" material to add to the Bonnieverse. I'm always on the lookout for unexpectedly kind, warm, or just polite behavior--someone going out of their way to make life just a little more personal. Either it hasn't happened a lot lately, or I just haven't been tuned in enough.

Finally I found myself in the middle of such a moment. I was on the shuttle at the LaGuardia airport in NY, and everyone had been quietly resenting the driver for taking so long to leave the terminal. He makes one last stop, opens the shuttle door, and tells everyone that our final passenger is blind and needs to sit in the back. This would have meant about four rows of climbing over people, seat belts, puffy winter clothing, luggage, etc. One woman in the front row assertively tells the driver, "If she's blind she needs to sit in the front," and gives up her front seat to move to the back. When the woman with the visual impairment approached the van, the previously rigid, unapproachable passengers near enough to reach her all held out their hands. They simultaneously pulled her into the van, covered her head so she wouldn't bump it on the door, guided her into the seat, and buckled her in.

For just the minute that it took to accomplish this, everyone in the van who had previously seemed to want nothing to do with each other were communicating verbally and physically, touching each other and touching this woman as if they had been working together on this sort of effort for years.

Maybe this doesn't seem so far fetched to any of you, but think about how easy it would have been to ignore the situation, stay in their seats, sit back, and quietly watch the new passenger fumble her way into the vehicle. Instead, these strangers unabashedly reached out to help her.

Hey Jude, Don't Make It Bad

Link to accompanying article on Salon

The video and the article attached are rather self-explanatory... The author of the article waxes poetic, Bonnie-verse style.

Samwise Gamgee

Samwise Gamgee, originally uploaded by heatherXXLL.

Watch Sam's Speech



This link and clip in the Lord of the Rings movies sums up the heroism of Samwise Gamgee's character. Sam is loyal, kind, and is content simple pleasures untill called upon to sacrifice for the greater good.

I Love You

This scene was such a heart-warming gem in the middle of a comedy. I think friends should say "I love you" to each other. Friends are the family you choose, and there is nothing shameful in becoming aware of that affection then sharing it with the people you feel it for. One day when I am old I will be able to explain why this is important, but I don't think I should wait until then to start.

Sheepy keen

Jobs kind of suck, but the Bonnieverse is pretty realistic. We have to have them. Here are some people (cleverly named the "Baaa-Studs") who add some fun to the fundamentals.

Do-ray-weeee!

I'm not entirely sure this needs any sort of justification for being in the bonnieverse. suffice to say i hope this is a reminder that the boundaries of routine we think inhibit our lives are not as strong as we think they are.

I found this leaf, just as you see it here, on a tree while I was taking a walk. In case you can't tell, there are holes made by catterpillars in the shape of a smiley face. This belongs in the Bonnieverse for several reasons.

1) It is something delightfully whimsical that appeared in real life. This is as close to a unicorn as we will ever get.

2) It is a reminder that we can still smile even when life chews on us a little bit.

A Special Thanks.....

I had grown very attached to the picture accompanying the post of Kurt Vonnegut running along the beach with his dog:

Scroll to November 2nd Post
When I noticed that the picture was no longer available through flickr, I tracked down the person who had posted the picture.

Our correspondence is as follows:

Subject: Vonnegut Photo

Hi C---,

This may sound very strange, but I'm wondering if there is any way I could access that photograph you once had of Kurt Vonnegut running along the beach with a dog.

That picture (and Vonnegut himself) cheers me up so much when I am down. I've recently had some rough luck lately, and seeing a man who I know experienced much hardship in a moment of joy is just so inspiring.

Can you help me?

Thanks so much! I've really enjoyed looking at your photos!

Bonnie



Re: Vonnegut photo

Hi, Bonnie, I took that photo off flickr because i decided
to remove all the photos I didn't take, myself even though
I credited it to the artist, Jill Krementz, Vonnegut's wife
and pro photographer. [...] I hope your luck improves aand I certainly know
what you mean. Vonnegut is one of my soul allies, since I
first picked him up at age 12. I hung at his buidling in nyc
where I grew up but i never had the courage to talk to him.
He was a deeply alive person and your comment about the
paradox of knowing hardship and joy simultaneously rings
true to me. best, C---


The kindness and empathy of strangers is one of the most valuable things in the world. So thank you, C---. The Bonnieverse means a lot to me, and I appreciate you helping me share it with others.

Hurling Smiles at Each Other? Well that's ok with me!

What a lovable cultural trend. Imagine doing this every day when you woke up instead of drinking too much coffee or reading the news. These people are effectively taking care of each other and themselves. By smiling. Brilliant.