The Basket Lady

“How sweet it is,” to quote Jackie Gleason, that folks in the Good Humor Town are showing a kindness to others just because…they want to.

To wit, on my way out of a Rumford Performing Arts meeting recently and in a hurry to get out of the cold, I noticed Greg Buccina’s vehicle was parked next to the red truck.

There wasn’t enough room for both of us to squeeze by so I decided to let him go first because he was on his way to a selectman’s meeting loaded down with an armful of “very important” papers.

He stepped out of his vehicle and immediately reached over and pulled on the door handle and opened the door for me.

He noticed my look of surprise and said, “I haven’t opened a door for anyone in a long time. That’s my kindness for the day.”

Several days ago, as a customer at the Mexico Dead River Food trend, a man came in to use the restroom. One of the deli employees, busy as a bee making sandwiches, looked up at the exact moment the guy walked down the aisle next to the deli.

She recognized him as the injured party of a hit and run accident. She spoke to him and wanted to know how he was doing. Then, I heard him say that he’d like a cup of coffee but he didn’t have enough money to buy a cup.

Without hesitation, she told him to get whatever size cup of coffee that he wanted and she’d pay for it. The man left the store happy.

The Lewiston Sun Journal photo of Robert Munzner, undeterred by ole man winter, biking through the blustery cold to shovel snow for seniors in need comes as no surprise to me.

Robert’s trusty travelling bike and shovel have shown a benevolent kindness to others for years and yes, he’s shoveled out the Basket Lady a time or two.

After the last snow storm, Louise Stickney went the extra mile to show a kindness by calling to ask if the bolt on the snow blower had been repaired. I had to admit that it wasn’t.

A few minutes later, Louise drove up in her very big Kubota and proceeded to push that heavy snow way out back and cleared our driveway and George’s, too.

Louise enjoys driving her Kubota. Bob, Her sweetheart, gifted that Kubota to her and I think she just waits for it to snow so that she can drive that heavy machine.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and thoughts of flowers, chocolates, love and romance come to mind.

That’s all good, too.

However, showing a kindness anytime without needing a holiday or special occasion is the hallmark of the human heart and spirit.

Kindness not only counts but it adds up! Remember the theme: Get a basket-Give a basket.

We miss you every day, Dot Sanchas! Until then, smile and live in the present.