Our household at Casa de Canterbury has suffered a post-Election Day Depression that has cast a pall on our happiness in the past week. Charly and Spike and I have tried to rally to lift her spirits, but Pretty has wrestled with her grief and discouragement and basic lack of faith in the goodness of the American people. We are a political household – actually activists in the LGBTQ movement for 30 years – and so have lost battles in our lives to bigotry and bullying rhetoric before, but I think we had wrongly believed we had as a nation moved past the hateful and harmful to the more harmonious.
In the midst of this overwhelming gathering of dark clouds of despair, we heard a knock at our door this afternoon. Pretty went to the door and saw a younger friend of ours named Travis who stood outside the door holding a gift bag and purple flowers. Attached to the gift bag was a wonderful letter, and I wanted to offer a portion of his letter as a perfect example of what is meant by trying a little kindness.
Hello my friends,
I have been thinking of you. While I have seen a lot of craziness posted on Facebook and through other media over the results of the Presidential Election, I wanted to spread hope and comfort. So, that is why this Democrat Care package has landed on your stoop…
Purple flowers – look at the beauty of these fine gifts of our Earth…today I want you to see how beautiful the purple is when red and blue come together…
Chocolate…lifesavers…a nice pen…you know the pen is mightier than the sword. Use it and your voice to protect reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal reform, healthcare reform…
…if the chocolate does not work, ditch the flowers, wash the glass and pour a big glass of your favorite drink (wine, bourbon and Diet Coke all count). Drink that one glass and during that drink allow for anger, self-pity and worry, BUT never despair! When you are done reach out to me and let’s see how we can make a difference!
All my love,
Travis
Pretty and I were both moved by the letter, flowers, gift bag goodies and a card that all combined to make a Care package we will never forget. As he left, I looked at the sky and thought I detected a few rays of sunlight piercing the darkness that had been hovering over the gigantic oaks in our front yard. I think Pretty saw them, too.
Kindness really matters to everyone. Pass it on.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Comments
19 responses to “Try a Little Kindness”
Travis is the kind of medicine we all need — how lucky you are 😀
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Honestly, Annie – we truly are! I so wish we lived closer so we could get together and gossip about how ridiculous our politics are!!
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Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a long natter!
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I think so, but I’m not sure what a natter is!! 🙂
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Chat / gossip / gas bag!
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Perfect!! – I’d love a natter!! 🙂
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Beautiful story! What a wonderful friend! Thanks, as always, for sharing!
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Nan, thanks so much for reading and taking a moment to comment – always appreciated very much.
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What a beautiful thing to do. I don’t want to say gesture because it was more than a gesture. And I say wine, bourbon, and diet Coke all together might help. Add a liberal amount of Mountain Dew, please, since I like it only second to wine.
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Yes, it was a beautiful thing to do, and think Mountain Dew is equally acceptable!!
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I think I have to switch to diet Coke from Mountain Dew for the next few months. My son’s wedding is in April, and my stomach is too well featured in my mother of the groom dress. I figure if that’s all I do–remove the Mtn Dew–it’s do-able.
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Our son Drew got married on April 25, 2015 – you may or may not remember. Your most important act is the selection of the mother of the groom dress. Good for you for being so far ahead of schedule!! Hang on – it’s a wild ride – you may need that Mtn Dew!!
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I do remember! I got the dress right away (bride doesn’t have hers yet haha) because I was so stressed out over it and had to get it over with. Ugh.
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OMG – you are the BEST, Luanne…Pretty agonized over it for MONTHS!!!
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I had to put a stop to that agony right off the bat. So that is why I ended up with a dress in a color I never wear, but at least it’s DONE.
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Hilarious – what is the color you never wear?
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I kept trying to write from my ipad, but it was not to be. So here I am at the computer. Lavender. It washes me out (along with yellow/gold tones) so that I look like a zombie. But I am DONE.
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I can hardly envision a color that would make you look like a zombie. Regardless, lavender is it, and you are DONE.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and T, as well! And the critters!
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