One of my favorite blogging buddies has a regular feature in her weekly blog. It’s called “Good People Doing Good Things,” and she culls stories about folks around the country and even the world who do good things each day — to remind us all that there are good people out there doing good. We need the reminder and I always enjoy reading about those remarkable.e people.
But one need not venture far to find good folks. Consider the following:
A few months ago a started chemo treatment to deal with a nagging cancer. I live in a small town and word soon got out. And then remarkable things started to happen. We looked out one morning after a snowfall to discover that the driveway had been plowed. I have no idea whatever who did that. But there’s more. A neighbor cut our lawn and shows up after every snowfall to offer to clean up the driveway and the sidewalks. He insists that we call him and he will be there. So far so good.
Another neighbor loaned me a walker to help me with my rehab after I fell twice and couldn’t leave the family room downstairs. She also went to the grocery store twice and brought back groceries since my wife thought it best not to leave me alone ion the basement! She also picked up prescription drugs for me. Twice. Another neighbor spent two hours also shopping for groceries. Several other people have offered to help out any way they can.
All of this is voluntary and simply a sign of good folks doing good things.
We really don’t have to look that far.
Have a great New Year!
hughcurtler 
Hugh, thanks for sharing the kindness of your neighbors and your plight. Take care my friend. I know you are posting less, so I want to say we miss your pearls of wisdom and perspective, even if you are merely revisiting a previous post. Keith
What a wonderful way to start the new year. After such a disastrous year, a new president on the horizon, and your uplifting blog post, we can finally say, “This is who we are.”
Happy New Year!
Dr. Curtler,
The point you make is both sound and reassuring: Good people doing good things are never far from us.
If we are fortunate, they come unbidden to offer assistance when we need help.
If we are truly fortunate, then it is we who are in a position to offer assistance to others in need.
In my experience, and, it would seem, in yours, life in a small rural town offers evidence of such “neighborliness” on a routine basis. Slayton and Cottonwood are probably quite similar in this respect.
My mother and I used to chuckle a bit about the finer — and better — points of life in a small town. We agreed that if a disaster would befall us and we had to leave our home, then we would always leave by the front door — just to check if a neighbor had left us a casserole.
In dark times the glow of kindness will burn brightly.
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year with regards, respects and best wishes to all,
Jerry Stark
Hi Hugh, I really hope your treatment is going well. Thinking of you.