Someone renewed my faith in humanity.

I try to do for people – I do because I really like to – I like to make people happy. It’s not some twisted need of mine – it’s not to make people like me – it is HONESTLY because I genuinely like to do things for people. It is hard for people to grasp that concept.

I don’t get or see much of that in return. For example, my neighbor has three children ages 40 to 50 – all computer literate – one works about six hours a day, one is a housewife and another does something but apparently naps at work- she comes to me for help ordering shoes on line because she says they don’t want to do anything for her (one “child” still lives with her). The other day I ordered her a pair of shoes – took me a couple phone calls and a little trouble – but I did it. Last night, her daughter passed me as I walked home in the rain from the train station. I move the car there about five p.m. so that Jim can drive it home as he works late every night and Andrew is asleep and I have no one to sit with him. (She comes home at 5:10 from the train station and lives right across the street — she wasn’t going anywhere but home). You think she would have stopped to ask me if I needed a ride – she didn’t know that my other neighbor was meeting me and giving me a ride – all she knew is that I was walking in the rain without an umbrella toward home. Example of how she could have done something MINOR to help another and she didn’t.

A few weeks ago I casually mentioned to my friend (only made this year while waiting to pick up our kids), Margaret, that next time she goes to Ireland let me know – I would love for them to bring me back some Sheridans (a delicious coffee liqueur that you can only buy in Ireland). I never gave it another thought.

Yesterday Margaret, Danny (her husband) and their youngest son, Michael, come bolting down the hall – Michael running to me “Jenny, Jenny” because I give him some change every day. I did have some MegaBlocks and Thomas cups for him so happens that day – and occasionally I have given them extras of books I find but I don’t do anything out of the ordinary for them.

Margaret hands me a package – it’s a bottle of Sheridans. I was over the moon – I asked “How?” “And how much do I owe you.” She wouldn’t hear of me paying her and then told me Danny’s best friend and his wife DIED this weekend and he had to fly back to Ireland for the funeral. This man with a job, two kids and his best friend passing flew to Ireland on Sunday night and back Wednesday and remembered to stop for a bottle of Sheridans for me – and he hardly knows me – I’ve talked to him a minute or two. NEVER in a thousand years would I have even dreamt that they would remember such a request for a fun trip to Ireland but on such a horrific occasion – they remember to do something nice. I think I got the facts right about the death etc. I was so dumbfounded by all of it – I’m not sure if I remember correctly. There are tears in my eyes for his friends as I type this – and tears for their generosity of spirit.

Thank you Danny and Margaret. God Bless You and may your friends rest in peace in God’s hands. You’ve renewed my faith in humanity.