The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Thankful for Safety
I live in the midwest where we get a lot of snow. One night I got off work late and it was nearly a white out with all the driving snow. I caught up to a county snow plow and followed him the next 20 miles to my home town. We were the only two vehicles on the road. He pulled into the same gas station I did to fuel up. When I went inside to pay I picked out a big chocolate chip cookie and told the clerk to give it to the plow truck driver when he came in to pay. I appreciated that he was out working late in terrible conditions so that I could make it home safely!

[kuhio98]

Nancy Lawlor collects bouquets—flowers from hotels and weddings and corporate events, in cities like New York and Los Angeles. Then she gives them away to people in need, often breaking down larger bouquets so there’s more to go around.

Lawlor was inspired to start her nonprofit organization, FlowerPower, eight years ago. Sitting in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, she was riveted by its towering floral displays. Where did they go at the end of the day? After getting her answer — a Dumpster — Lawlor volunteered to take them away instead. Once the hotel agreed, Lawlor delivered $2,000 worth of large pink bouquets to a New York City hospital. “It all started with one person saying yes,” she says.

To date, FlowerPower has distributed more than $2.5 million worth of flowers to hospitals, rape crisis centers, and rehabilitation clinics. The bouquets last several days, giving patients a healthy dose of good cheer. “I’ve seen thousands of people transformed,” she says, “all over a simple bouquet of flowers that originally would’ve been thrown away.” Now, that’s a beautiful arrangement.

[kuhio98]

[pomtzu]

Lisa - thank you for your dedication to this thread, and thank you to others that have posted stories too. We read of so much bad in the world today, that it is refreshing to read of the good all around us that would otherwise go unnoticed and unacknowledged.

[kuhio98]

Lisa - thank you for your dedication to this thread, and thank you to others that have posted stories too. We read of so much bad in the world today, that it is refreshing to read of the good all around us that would otherwise go unnoticed and unacknowledged.

It's heartening to hear that people are reading and enjoying. I love hearing stories from others and am enjoying searching for more stories.
I set a personal goal this year to not forward on any of those sad, awful e-mails we get daily. I found myself getting so depressed reading sad stories about man's inhumanity to man and animals. Who does it help to spread that sick news around the globe? I've found that I'm happier these days since I've been concentrating on sharing stories about people and animals who help make the world a kinder, nicer place to be.

[kuhio98]

The world seems to have its values skewed sometimes. Like, people will buy a celebrity a round of drinks or comp them dinner. The celebrity could probably buy everyone’s dinner and not miss the money. Heck, they could probably buy the restaurant itself with just their pocket change. But, people will give a rich person something “on the house” instead of giving it to the homeless person who might not have eaten for a while. So, I’ve always wondered about this and one day found myself in a sorta similar situation.

No, I’m not rich and I’m not a celebrity, but whenever I got my hair colored and cut, my hairdresser would load me down with a bag of free products and samples that she wanted me to try. Sure, she was hoping I would fall in love with some of them and become a repeat customer, but I’m not a girly-girl and ended up just throwing them in my car trunk and forgetting about them. I could well afford these products but because we are friends, she gave me lots of freebies. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by turning them down.

After my hair appointment, I go next door and pick up a pizza for dinner. Bobcat loves their pizza but it is on the far south of town where we hardly ever go, but that’s where my hairdresser is so we have a monthly routine of hair and pizza.

A young lady with thin, limp, lifeless hair scraped back and secured with a rubber band started waiting on me. She is a single mother and can’t afford all the pricey products they sell next door. So, after I ordered my pizza, I asked her if she wanted to try some of the samples. She jumped at the chance. Now, each month I give her the bag of freebies and we visit for a few minutes while I wait for the pizza. She tells me about her little girl and her life. Between working full time and going to school part time, she is a very busy lady and can’t afford the little things that make life a little nicer. Her hair looks so much better these days. Still haven’t told my hairdresser that I give the products away to someone who can really appreciate them. I about fell over when she told me her name – Cat. It’s not short for anything. Her name is actually Cat! And you know how much I love cats.
Lisa Tennison ~ Anchorage, AK

[carole]

Aww Lisa what a heart warming story ,isn't it wonderful how people come in to our lives,through different circumstances,and how they can enrich our lives and vice versa,you are always a very caring and giving person ,and it is so lovely you can bring some joy in to cat"s life,how gorgeous her name being that.