We have enough bad behavior going on. Forget that noise. What’s one of the nicest things someone ever did for you?
12 thoughts on “Reader Friday: Nice”
How do I choose?
1. The teacher who came and stayed with my three children when I was in hospital so they wouldn’t be sent to foster homes? (I was a single mum)
2. The police superintendent who offered to be my “go to” person for police procedures in my novel?
3. My editor who hasn’t charged me anything for editing my novel?
4…
5…
Ad infinitum
A few years ago, while I was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, my brother came to visit. After talking for a while, he offered to give me a shave. He was so careful with the razor, and the act was so strangely intimate and loving that it brought tears to my eyes. This from two brothers who were seldom touchy-feely with each other growing up.
A boy held he door open for me at Starbys. I said “Thank you,” he said, “You’re welcome.” He was about 12. Gave me hope.
One of my favorite coffee cups was given to me by my middle daughter for Christmas when she was about 12 (she’s 24 now with kiddos of her own.) It had a picture of van Gogh Bedroom in Arles on it. Right size, shape, loved the image.
She told me before Christmas this year that she got the cup because of the painting. She felt bad that I worked so much and never had a weekend off to just sleep in.
My father shared Jesus with me at 5 years old.
Can’t get much better than that Phil 🙂
One Christmas our cat climbed the tree and toppled it over, breaking years worth of special ornaments. I was so upset when I walked in and saw what had happened that I just turned around, got in my car and drove away. I went for coffee and composed myself, preparing to return home, clean up and decorate with whatever ornaments survived. When I arrived at the house, my living room was already clean and the tree was back up, decorated and bolted to the wall. I felt the love.
Thank you for asking this question. It is such a smile generator! 🙂
There are so many wonderful things and gestures I receive as gifts from strangers and loved ones. Like a beautiful stranger dressed in sari, looking intently at me, smiling, bringing momentary confusion to me, then ironing away my frown and bringing me wonderful memories and smile ever since she gave me that wonderful and compassionate smile.
My two boys (my husband and my son) noticing and acknowledging me (including the way I look). My husband said that he likes seeing me dressed pretty everywhere and every time, also while no -one else sees us. I took this to heart and dress nicely (and comfortably; recently it became almost a synonym to me) also when I am alone. I do feel better then myself and smile when I see myself in the mirror. And when my husband comes home from work, he notices it often and compliments me. This often comes as a pleasant surprise.
Recently my 4-year old son told me one morning that he liked what I had on and wished that I put the same cloths on for his birthday party, which is end of October. And he told me that several weeks ago. 🙂
It is wonderful to be seen.
And as a writer it is absolutely thrilling to hear from my readers that they read and like what I write. And how friends report me on purchasing and reading my first novel.
I’ve been blessed with many kindnesses and have appreciated them all. However, one of the nicest things was an editor who accepted my first fiction short story. When I look back, it was a good story, but not great:)
Frances
The toughest instructor in college that I had was the Creative Writing instructor. This was in the late 1980’s-early 1990’s. He told the class on the first day that he’d only seen one A paper, and HE wrote it! Many left his class, but I took it as a challenge. I got an A- on my final project–a short story. I asked him why the minus, and he told me that in writing, you can never be perfect and the minus was a reminder that there is always room for improvement. He later wrote a glowing recommendation for my application for a scholarship. I didn’t get it, but I was so touched by what he said. He said, in part, that if I kept writing, he had no doubt that I would be published. I am sorry that I didn’t believe in myself and I did quit writing for many years.
That leads to #2: My roommate told me when I got my computer that I had no more excuses. She said you have been talking about writing as long as I’ve known you and now you have no reason not to do it! So, I started to write again. She is my biggest (and only so far) fan. Knowing that someone believed in me made all the difference.
People have done so many nice things for me, I could fill a book. But several years ago, when my Dead-End Job series first went into hardcover, I was about to go on tour when I had six strokes and needed brain surgery. While I was in a coma, my mystery writer colleagues held a tour by proxy for me and sold my hardcovers at the expense of their own books. They saved my career. I made a full recovery but I’ve never forgotten this community’s kindness.
Okay, I lived next to the Jewish Community Center and this guy was trying to erect a “Bingo” sign on their front lawn using masking tape. So I go over there with some sturdy screws and an electric screw gun and help him fix the sign so it don’t fall apart. He asked me what I did, since I was home in the middle of the day. I said I had gone back to school to study computer programming after six years in the real estate business. I was 39 at the time. He said that his friend managed the data processing division of asked giant insurance company and all his technical writers had just quit. Would I be interested in on-the-job training as a tech. writer? You betcha! This was in 1982 and I took the job. I worked as a contract tech. writer for over 20 years all over the world on some of the nuttiest projects you could possibly imagine.
It all started with me helping this guy fix his stupid sign. So that just shows to go ya.
We have enough bad behavior going on. Forget that noise. What’s one of the nicest things someone ever did for you?
How do I choose?
1. The teacher who came and stayed with my three children when I was in hospital so they wouldn’t be sent to foster homes? (I was a single mum)
2. The police superintendent who offered to be my “go to” person for police procedures in my novel?
3. My editor who hasn’t charged me anything for editing my novel?
4…
5…
Ad infinitum
A few years ago, while I was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery, my brother came to visit. After talking for a while, he offered to give me a shave. He was so careful with the razor, and the act was so strangely intimate and loving that it brought tears to my eyes. This from two brothers who were seldom touchy-feely with each other growing up.
A boy held he door open for me at Starbys. I said “Thank you,” he said, “You’re welcome.” He was about 12. Gave me hope.
One of my favorite coffee cups was given to me by my middle daughter for Christmas when she was about 12 (she’s 24 now with kiddos of her own.) It had a picture of van Gogh Bedroom in Arles on it. Right size, shape, loved the image.
She told me before Christmas this year that she got the cup because of the painting. She felt bad that I worked so much and never had a weekend off to just sleep in.
My father shared Jesus with me at 5 years old.
Can’t get much better than that Phil 🙂
One Christmas our cat climbed the tree and toppled it over, breaking years worth of special ornaments. I was so upset when I walked in and saw what had happened that I just turned around, got in my car and drove away. I went for coffee and composed myself, preparing to return home, clean up and decorate with whatever ornaments survived. When I arrived at the house, my living room was already clean and the tree was back up, decorated and bolted to the wall. I felt the love.
Thank you for asking this question. It is such a smile generator! 🙂
There are so many wonderful things and gestures I receive as gifts from strangers and loved ones. Like a beautiful stranger dressed in sari, looking intently at me, smiling, bringing momentary confusion to me, then ironing away my frown and bringing me wonderful memories and smile ever since she gave me that wonderful and compassionate smile.
My two boys (my husband and my son) noticing and acknowledging me (including the way I look). My husband said that he likes seeing me dressed pretty everywhere and every time, also while no -one else sees us. I took this to heart and dress nicely (and comfortably; recently it became almost a synonym to me) also when I am alone. I do feel better then myself and smile when I see myself in the mirror. And when my husband comes home from work, he notices it often and compliments me. This often comes as a pleasant surprise.
Recently my 4-year old son told me one morning that he liked what I had on and wished that I put the same cloths on for his birthday party, which is end of October. And he told me that several weeks ago. 🙂
It is wonderful to be seen.
And as a writer it is absolutely thrilling to hear from my readers that they read and like what I write. And how friends report me on purchasing and reading my first novel.
I’ve been blessed with many kindnesses and have appreciated them all. However, one of the nicest things was an editor who accepted my first fiction short story. When I look back, it was a good story, but not great:)
Frances
The toughest instructor in college that I had was the Creative Writing instructor. This was in the late 1980’s-early 1990’s. He told the class on the first day that he’d only seen one A paper, and HE wrote it! Many left his class, but I took it as a challenge. I got an A- on my final project–a short story. I asked him why the minus, and he told me that in writing, you can never be perfect and the minus was a reminder that there is always room for improvement. He later wrote a glowing recommendation for my application for a scholarship. I didn’t get it, but I was so touched by what he said. He said, in part, that if I kept writing, he had no doubt that I would be published. I am sorry that I didn’t believe in myself and I did quit writing for many years.
That leads to #2: My roommate told me when I got my computer that I had no more excuses. She said you have been talking about writing as long as I’ve known you and now you have no reason not to do it! So, I started to write again. She is my biggest (and only so far) fan. Knowing that someone believed in me made all the difference.
People have done so many nice things for me, I could fill a book. But several years ago, when my Dead-End Job series first went into hardcover, I was about to go on tour when I had six strokes and needed brain surgery. While I was in a coma, my mystery writer colleagues held a tour by proxy for me and sold my hardcovers at the expense of their own books. They saved my career. I made a full recovery but I’ve never forgotten this community’s kindness.
Okay, I lived next to the Jewish Community Center and this guy was trying to erect a “Bingo” sign on their front lawn using masking tape. So I go over there with some sturdy screws and an electric screw gun and help him fix the sign so it don’t fall apart. He asked me what I did, since I was home in the middle of the day. I said I had gone back to school to study computer programming after six years in the real estate business. I was 39 at the time. He said that his friend managed the data processing division of asked giant insurance company and all his technical writers had just quit. Would I be interested in on-the-job training as a tech. writer? You betcha! This was in 1982 and I took the job. I worked as a contract tech. writer for over 20 years all over the world on some of the nuttiest projects you could possibly imagine.
It all started with me helping this guy fix his stupid sign. So that just shows to go ya.