Five or six years ago when I worked in Washington, D.C., it was (and still is) a big, anonymous, not-always-friendly city. In fact, it's a place where someone like me with my Midwestern U.S. roots, who grew up saying hello to and making small-talk with strangers, is constantly reminded that people in Big Eastern Cities simply don't speak to people they don't know. So I was flabbergasted one Valentine's Day when I went into a bakery/deli at Dupont Circle in the heart of D.C. to buy myself a chocolate treat. I was chatting with the guy ahead of me in line, and made a crack about being sure I got my Valentine's chocolate by buying it for myself. He got up to the register, told the clerk to put my chocolate on his check, turned around and said "Happy Valentine's Day," then left me standing speechless at the counter. Bowled me over.

Closer to our Mudcat home, my beloved friend Big Mick, aided and abetted by WYSIWYG, our dear Rick Fielding, and others, helped turn a really miserable situation, where I had been taken advantage of by one of Mudcat's habitual "users," into a truly heartwarming outcome. The details are not for discussion here. What IS important, though, is the snowballing series of events put in motion by Rick and Mick that were a testament to goodness, goodwill, generosity, and the kindness of strangers. The love evident in those events as they unfolded some three years ago still moves me to tears (oh, Rick, we miss you!), and it lives on every time Mick plays his guitar. Blessings to all of you, and all those like you.

Thanks, Jerry. We need more threads about gratitude and kindness.