Kindness: A Tale

I've recently been going through some very tough times. I'm an optimist who prefers to try and spread hope and kindness and try my hardest not to spread negativity. This time there was an attempt to drag my family down with me. It stops there. Say what you will about me, I have thick skin, but leave my family out of it.

Thankfully, as I explain to the Punk Glam Princess, our friends are the family of our choice. We can choose wisely, and cull the toxicity should it ever rear it's ugly head. And my friends are all amazing. Even the ones I've not met in person and only met online through blogging or my many other online gigs.

One of these amazing people is my fav local barista at Starbucks. She always has a smile for everyone, and is truly a burst of sunshine brightening my day whenever I see her. A few years ago she went through a tough bout with cancer and treatment and I remember her working through it and thinking what a courageous and remarkable woman she was. Last week she told me she was hoping to see me as she's moving down south to North Carolina, and she had a vintage coat she wanted me to have. The coat belonged to her grandmother and she had a feeling it would fit me perfect. It's a vintage seal coat from the 30's so she knew she'd have no use for it in NC. I was completely blown away, She wouldn't accept any money, and just wanted it to be loved and worn. Since she's seen me in my myriad vintage clothes, she knew I would treasure it.

Last week I picked it up. I couldn't accept it without giving something in return so we made up a moving/housewarming basket of all sorts of goodies, meals, relaxing candles, fun pool toys for her son, snacks, whatever I could think of that might be welcomed when just moving. And I wrapped everything and put it into a fun beach bag.

When I saw the coat I cried. It was not only beautiful and fit as if it was made to measure, but I felt like I had been made a part of a new family. Like the fur coats I inherited from a family member, I felt like I was being hugged by a new loved one, hard to describe but that's the closest I can describe the feeling. The kindness was overwhelming to me. A week later, I'm still stunned and tears of joy still spring to my eyes when I think of this amazing act of kindness and generosity. I'll let the pics speak for themselves...

Beautiful Bakelite button.

Pink embroidery!

We even found out that the furrier may still exist in NY!

Not only will this coat be treasured and worn, one day passed down to the Punk Glam Princess but I feel as if I've made a new lifelong friend. We plan to keep in touch, and had a lovely evening last night picnicking at the yacht club with a birds eye view of the 4th of July fireworks our town puts on over the Hudson. It was a lovely evening filled with good company and great conversation!

Kindness comes in all forms from the little things to the bigger kindnesses. I sincerely believe that the tough times I'm dealing with now has a direct relation to this most kind gesture. Like attracts like, and if we all take the time to spread small kindnesses each day not only will our lives be greatly enriched, but others will catch on and it will spread making the world a much kinder place! My friends are treasures to me, and I hope to make more great friends in the coming years!

XXX