Random Act of Kindness?

David and I were driving up Guadalupe (a busy street that runs through Austin for those of you non-locals reading this) to lunch the other day.  Shortly after 30th, I had to come to a complete stop (at a place where I really shouldn't stop) because there were several large cardboard boxes in the road.  I noticed a small group of college age students on the sidewalk and one of them was looking at the boxes and then looking at the traffic, trying to find a time to go out and get them.  I figured that the boxes were theirs, that they had fallen off their vehicle, and now they were trying to reclaim them, but were having difficulties in the heavy traffic.  So rather than move to the left lane and go around, I stopped and waved at the young man and gesturing for him to get the box.  I would be a good citizen and block the traffic.  The young man smiled and ran out and retrieved the boxes and David and I drove on.  I felt good -- random act of kindness for the day -- check!

But after just a moment of warm fuzzy silence...

David: I think that guy just did you a really big favor.

Me: What?

David: You just waved at him and made him move those boxes out of the road.

Me: So, those weren't his boxes?

Side Pocket: C.B.

My colleague was organizing her upcoming trip and sent me the following iChat message:

seriously. just had the American Airlines agent tell me that Tiger Woods' wife has the recipe for living well - having babies and having the man support you, even if he is cheating.

Customer. Service. Fail.

Pocket Susan Response: Seriously?  And the answer to that question was apparently, yes, the travel agent was serious.  This helps me to understand why the movement for equality for women hasn't been a complete success.

The Other Side of Campus Life

I went out on campus to check on an event, but then got side tracked by the lowering of the Texas State flag for the passing of a student.  It was one of those surreal moments with so many players in the scene and so many emotions.

His family was present and clearly devastated.  I can't begin to understand their loss.  From a visual estimate, the student was likely the baby of the family.

When the tower clock chimed 10, ROTC students in uniform paraded onto the mall and performed the lowering with military precision and stoicism.  But really, they're just students too.  How do they feel knowing that they were lowering the flag for the death of someone their own age?  How many times have they performed or will they perform this ceremony?

Another student in khakis and a t-shirt stood in the far corner of the mall and at the last clock chime, began playing taps on the trumpet.  My colleague in Student Emergency Services informed me that this student first played this song of mourning a year ago when his own friend passed and a flag was lowered.  He has volunteered to play at every flag lowering since, even if that involves missing class.  When a family of the deceased paid him for his troubles, he felt uncomfortable and immediately gave the money to charity.  When he plays, is he thinking of his friend?  Was that death as senseless as the one commemorated today?

The flags are on the Main Mall in front of the Tower in the busiest part of campus.  It is a beautiful day and students are out in full force.  Candidates for Student Government elections are campaigning 50 yards to the West.  Our campus is 50,000 students strong and it seems that most of them are rushing either to or from a class.  Set up continues for the event on the South Mall 50 yards in that direction.  I take a deep breath and head that way.  The solemnity of the moment is lost in hustle and bustle of daily activities, but my heart still aches a bit when I envision that scene and know that it is far too regular an occurrence.