Smashwords edition

In November 2013, Redditor I_Am_Ziggy made a Good Guy Greg meme to post on Imgur about his father. The text on the meme — titled “Love You, Dad” — stated, “DRIVES 3 HOURS TO HELP ME FIX MY CAR, CAN’T FIX IT THAT NIGHT / STAYS THE NIGHT AND SPENDS 6 HOURS AND 300 DOLLARS WORKING ON IT THE NEXT DAY. DOESN’T LEAVE TIL IT RUNS.” On Reddit I_Am_Ziggy added, “I should have added this was all spur of the moment. He dropped what he was doing and was on the road 15 minutes later. I called him and had a mini freakout since I need my car to get to class and I have a couple job interviews next week. All he said was ‘I’ll leave soon and call you when I get into town.’” Another Redditor commented, “I remember the first time I took the reins working on my truck with my dad. I could tell that he was so proud that I could finally just tell him to hold the flashlight. But I could also tell that in a way it definitely bummed him out that I didn’t need his help anymore, because working on that truck was our only way of bonding through my teen years (so it means a lot to the both of us). So now I make sure to have him around if I’m working on it and to ask a lot of questions, even if I understand exactly what needs to be done.” (47)

Sometimes, a person can’t accept a relative’s child because the child is of a different race. Redditor zowievicious created a Good Guy Greg meme about his grandfather. The meme was titled, “Saw the post about the evil aunt who can’t accept her niece’s child and it made me appreciate how awesome my grandpa is.” The text of the meme stated, “HAS 7 KIDS, 17 GRANDKIDS AND 20 GREAT-GRANDKIDS SO FAR / DOESN’T DIFFERENTIATE STEP-GRANDKIDS FROM BLOOD AND IS PROUD OF THE DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES AND RACES HIS KIDS MARRIED. CALLS HIS FAMILY ‘THE LITTLE UN [UNITED NATIONS].” Here are some explanatory/additional comments that zowievicious made on Reddit:

• “We are lacking Asian. Don’t think that will be for long. My cousins are obsessed with South Korean and Japanese culture.”

• “[…] he’s proud of his family’s diversity. He’s white, came from a really white area and his kids didn’t let the times they grew up in or the racism that was around them affect who they loved.”

• “My grandparents (and all their kids) are Caucasian. It’s the kids that started to branch out.”

• “[…] the first generation married Mexican, Brazilian, Nahua Indian, and African American. The next generation has continued much in the same vein. Despite divorces or marrying someone with kids, there is never a distinction made. Once you become a member of the family, you’re in for life.” (48)

“When You’re So Down and You Have Something Like That to Bring You Back Up, Just Like That, It was Just a Beautiful Thing He Did”

On the eve of Thanksgiving in 2013, the insurance company of Frank Costantini, a 76-year-old who is battling stage-four gastric cancer in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, denied coverage for his daily pain medication — something he and his wife, Elisa, who have been married for 55 years, discovered when they went to Broomall Rite Aid in Broomall, Pennsylvania, to get his prescription filled. Pharmacist Kevin Leszega delivered the bad news. He said, “She was so upset and with very good reason. I felt absolutely horrible.” The Costantinis did not think that they had the money to pay to have the prescription filled. Elisa Costantini stated, “I said, ‘You have to give me medication because my husband is in pain.’” Together, Mr. Leszega and Elisa Costantini were able to get Frank Costantini enough pain medication to get him through the holiday. Mr. Leszega applied a discount card to the prescription to save the Costantinis money, and then he went above and beyond that. Elisa Costantini said, “I went to get money, and he got his own credit card, swiped [it,] and he paid for everything.” Fortunately, Elisa Costantini discovered that she had enough money to pay for the discounted prescription, so she left the money on the pharmacy counter. The Costantinis appreciate Mr. Leszega’s kind gesture. Elisa Costantini said, “When you’re so down and you have something like that to bring you back up, just like that, it was just a beautiful thing he did.” Mr. Leszega said, “I figured that would cheer them up and give them something to talk about.” (49)

“Stranger’s Good Deed Shows City [Buffalo, New York] at Its Finest”

On 21 January 2014, the Buffalo News (New York) published this letter to the editor by Carol Lee Grady of Williamsville:

“I recently had the occasion once again to see that Buffalo is indeed the City of Good Neighbors. My son and daughter-in-law, from Raleigh, N.C., sent a Christmas card and $20 in cash to a nephew living in a group home here in Buffalo around the first week in December. He watched for it, but it never arrived. Everyone assumed it was lost in the mail.

“The first week in January, my daughter-in-law called to say she had received the card back from a Buffalo State address, opened, with the following note: ‘Hello. I received this card in the mail and opened it without looking at it closely. The address must be wrong. I do hope it finds John soon. Happy holidays.’

“The money was still intact. As it was, the address was wrong. I have to say kudos to the sender for his honesty.” (50)

Chapter 2: Stories 51-100

“Their Faces were Just Lighting Up. I Mean, It Just was a Beautiful Event, a Real Blessing”

On Christmas Eve of 2013, Holy Family Home, a residence for senior citizens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, received a semi-trailer load of fresh flowers from an anonymous Good Samaritan. The CEO of the residence, Jean Piche, estimated that the fresh flowers cost more than $10,000. Holy Family Home gave the flowers to residents, residents’ families, and staff. Piche said, “Their faces were just lighting up. I mean, it just was a beautiful event, a real blessing. It just made a really lasting and positive impact on the people who live here.” (51)

“Merry Christmas and Thank You for Your Very Kind and Thoughtful Donation. I Live in Des Moines But am Not Homeless or Destitute or Without A Job”

On Christmas Eve of 2013 in Des Moines, Iowa, Rob Taylor of Johnstown, Iowa, saw a man wearing a hoodie in freezing weather. Mr. Taylor rolled down his car window and gave the man some money. The man in turn gave Mr. Taylor an envelope that contained $10 and this note: “Merry Christmas and thank you for your very kind and thoughtful donation. I live in Des Moines but am not homeless or destitute or without a job.” The man in the hoodie was a Des Moines businessman named Jonnie Wright, who gave away 50 envelopes containing $1,000. Most envelopes contained $10; a few contained $100. A woman who said that she had only $16 and did not know how she was going to buy Christmas presents for her children got an envelope containing $100. Mr. Wright donated the money that people gave him to a local emergency shelter. He said, “This has been a bucket list thing for me for some time, and I’ve always known that I wanted to give back. I thought this was also a good way to acknowledge people who give. Who do so anonymously.” (52)

No Cold Feet

On 26 December 2013, Redditor tompritt81 posted on Imgur a photograph of some socks and a note with this caption: “My grandparents included this note in their Christmas gift to my sister’s fiancé.” This is the note: “Ben, We did not want you to get cold feet before the wedding. Love, Nona & Gramps.” (53)

“I Never had Anything Like This Happen to Me Before. I Want that Man to Know His Generosity Helped Many More People than Myself”

On 22 December 2013 at a Target store in Whittier, California, the debit card of Jessica Zuniga, age 23, was declined. She was embarrassed: “I had the funds [in her bank account]. I had plenty for the purchase.” A man then offered to give her $60. Ms. Zuniga said, “He offered to give us $60, and I said, ‘No, no, no, I have money.’” He was insistent: “‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘It’s fine. Take this money and buy your kids something.’” He handed her the money and then disappeared, but Ms. Zuniga did not want to use the money for herself or her children. She decided to use the money to help the homeless. Ms. Zuniga said, “I never had anything like this happen to me before. I want that man to know his generosity helped many more people than myself.” She and her brother went to an Old Navy store that was having a sale and bought 30 sets of stocking hats and scarves, which they then passed out to the homeless in Central Park in Whittier. She said, “There’s quite a few homeless people in Whittier, and they’re freezing at night when it gets cold. [The man in the Target store] wanted to help someone at Christmas, and he ended up helping many more.” (54)

On 18 December 2013, this letter by Mary Robinson of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, to the editor of the Lima News in Lima, Ohio, was posted online: “There are two children on Santa’s ‘Good’ list. Wednesday afternoon, as I was in Dollar General’s parking lot trying to get my windshield wipers unstuck, a little girl came by first and offered to help me. Then a few minutes later, a little boy came by and also offered to help. It was so cold and he said he was walking home from school, and it was freezing out. If these are your children, you have done a marvelous job teaching them and they were wonderful to offer to help. Sorry I didn’t get their names.” (55)

“As a Nurse I Know How Hard It is to Work on Christmas!”

On Christmas Day of 2013, Redditor jefejet posted on Imgur a photograph with this caption: “I’m an airline pilot — Today, a passenger gave our crew Christmas cards with this note inside.” This is the note: “As a nurse I know how hard it is to work on Christmas! Thank you for being away from your family today so I could spend the last week in my small VA hometown with my family, & head back to NYC tonight so I can take care of my cancer patients at NYU Med Ctr tomorrow. Your job is important!” Redditor CountCaffeine commented, “As someone who flies a lot I have to thank you as well. You guys on the flight deck and the cabin crew put up with people at their crankiest, fly through crazy weather and spend an untold amount of time away [from] your loved ones. Thank you, guys, and your loved ones as well for doing what you do to get us to where we need to be safely and comfortably. This passenger expressed what all us travellers feel, especially on days like today.” Redditor MonorailBlack commented, “As a former FA [Flight Attendant], I can confirm that it is always appreciated when passengers were nice, or acknowledged us in this way. Flying over the holidays isn’t fun — missing Christmas with your family for more than 10 years gets really old. The little things made it more tolerable. Passengers showing some respect or appreciation really did take a bit of the sting out of it.” (56)

“’Twas the Day of Christmas and All Through the House / My Heart Wasn’t Beating Despite Mouth to Mouth. XD”

On Christmas Day of 2013, hollinsirishrose posted a photograph on Imgur of her making a peace sign while lying on a gurney in the emergency room of a hospital. The photo caption stated, “Merry Christmas from the ER.” The photo was also accompanied by this poem: “’Twas the day of Christmas and all through the house / My heart wasn’t beating despite mouth to mouth. XD.” (XD = LOL = Laughing Out Loud.) In the comments, she added, “I have a brain condition that sometimes forgets to make it [my heart] beat soooo it stops at random times.” Imgurian igetanxiouscomingupwithusernames commented, “There is nothing like humor in the face of crisis. Makes me think you’re in the medical field, too, OP [Original Poster]. Hang tough, Merry Christmas!” We are fortunate that emergency rooms stay open on holidays. (57)

“I Wanted to Bless You This Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas!”

On 24 December 2013, Twisted_Villa posted a photograph of a letter and money on Imgur. On Reddit, she explained, “A girl I wasn’t familiar with from my [high] school knocked on my door yesterday afternoon. She said, ‘I wanted to bless you this Christmas. Have a merry Christmas!’ She handed me an envelope containing a letter and $220! I recently got in a car accident and am currently struggling with depression, so it means a lot to me knowing I’m important to some people somewhere. I’m not religious but I still have a lot of respect for whoever thought I deserved this. This is what Christmas spirit looks like.” Redditor Learnincurve commented, “Oh god I’ve seen this before as one of my childhood friends was in a church that did this and it’s sweeter than you think. It’s a thing with certain churches to do a big fund raiser and then they get people (in this case the kids who did the fund raiser) to nominate people to receive gifts or money and the congregation discusses it, if your nominee is chosen you give them the envelope. Basically this girl stood up in front of all her friends, family and peers and gave a speech as to why she felt you deserved it (this is what is making me well up). Knowing these things I would bet that she said it’s because you were brave and didn’t complain about your injuries. If it were me I would spend some of that at a craft store and make a thank you card as it’s the kind of thing this sort of Christian communities really like. :).” This is what the letter said: “This Christmas, a group of high school students raised money. God laid it on their hearts to give some of it to you! In the envelope you have a 200$ $220. The fundraiser was done to show God’s great love for you, no matter who you are or what you’ve done. Jesus will always love you. This fundraiser was done in remembrance of Jesus this Christmas season. As you spend this money, remember the reason you received it: Jesus’ birth. He humbly came among us sinners, as a human himself. As his time drew near on the Earth, He told us of eternal salvation in Heaven and He suffered and died so that we may inherit it. We are told ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ and ‘If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.’ (Romans 3:23 and Romans 10:9-10) The gift of 100$ probably won’t last long, but the gift of eternal salvation from the Lord, as well as the love, security, joy, abundance, and hope that He provides, will last forever! Have a very Merry Christmas! God bless!” (58)

“Attention, Kids, Today Only You can Take Home One Toy for Free”

In December 2013, an anonymous male Good Samaritan bought the entire kids toy section of the Goodwill at 315 Pavilion Lane in Fort Collins, Colorado. The man has done this for a few years, always around Christmas. Goodwill store manager Todd Wakefield announced over the loudspeaker, “Attention, kids, today only you can take home one toy for free.” Vanessa Clark, Goodwill of Denver’s director of public relations, said about the Good Samaritan, “We applaud this gentleman, and all of our donors and supporters at the holidays and all year long.” Joel Espinosa, age seven, went to the part of the store that had stuffed animals and selected a white Christmas bear to take home. A mother who heard Mr. Wakefield’s announcement on the loudspeaker told her young daughter, “Did you hear that? You get to pick out a toy.” She paused and then added, “Because you’ve been so good today.” (59)

“This Made My Day”

On 20 December 2013, Redditor krayzin posted on Imgur a photograph of a note and a small package of chocolate. The photograph had this caption: “I work as a janitor at a large university; this made my day.” The note stated, “Dear Mr. Janitor, Thank you for a clean floor this semester. Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” Redditors made some interesting comments: 1) ihamil64 wrote, “Last year our RA had us each donate $1 to buy one of the janitors a Christmas present. He really deserved it, too; some of the things people left in the halls and bathroom were just disgusting.” 2) Switche wrote, “I can’t even clean my own house without wanting someone to thank me.”

“I Can’t Even Put It Into Words How Thankful I Was”

In December 2013, a man who wishes to remain anonymous donated $25,000 to pay off approximately 100 layaway accounts at the Walmart in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Most likely, this was the same man who had donated $25,000 to pay off layaway accounts at the same Walmart the previous year. Kim Summers of Bellefontaine had paid $100 of her $272 bill and received a telephone call telling her that the rest of her bill had been paid and to come and pick up her layaway items: an iPod and a Barbie Horse Stable. She said, “It brings back the spirit of Christmas and makes people believe again. We have given food to our local pantry, and I have [a] friend in need that I have helped her out, too.” Stefanie Evans of De Graff, Ohio, and her family of eight children also benefited from the generosity of the layaway angel. She had just paid another $20 on the $200 remaining on her layaway account when she got called to customer service over the intercom. She said that she thought, “Oh Lord, what is it now?” After being told that her layaway account had been paid off, she was incredulous at first and then happy: “I can’t even put it into words how thankful I was. Eight kids come with eight long Christmas lists. It is a relief to be done with Christmas this soon because usually we go right up to the day.” She and her husband are both self-employed, and 2013 had been a rough year financially. Ms. Evans said, “This is a wonderful gift, and there is no word that expresses it for families like mine and others out there that we needed it.” Walmart store manager Jennifer Schumacher said, “Some of those customers, instead of just picking up their layaway, they actually paid on other people’s layaways.” (61)

“PS: Sorry for the Apple iPad on My Wishlist — That was Really Awkward”

In December 2013, Redditor goulaWhat learned that her Secret Santa was billionaire Bill Gates, who overnighted her a seven-pound package. The first thing that goulaWhat saw when she opened the package was a stuffed animal: a cow. She wrote, “I thought Bill sounded like a friendly fellow. In fact, I had this whole image of this poor guy named Bill trying to navigate my wishlist full of makeup, nailpolish, glittery things to buy me. Quite frankly I felt bad for this ‘Bill’ since I’m a self-identified pain in the [*]ss to shop for.” The stuffed animal was actually a symbol of one of her gifts: A donation made in her name to Heifer International, a charitable organization that gives animals to impoverished families. A note that Mr. Gates enclosed with the gift stated, “Jo Rachel, My Secret Santa present to you is a cow. Don’t worry, you will not have to build a barn. This cow will be given to a family in need, in your name, through Heifer International. It will provide them with income and dairy products, and it will help them help themselves. Happy Holidays, Bill Gates.” He also enclosed a photograph of himself holding the stuffed animal and the note so that Jo Rachel would know that he really was Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft. He also sent her another gift: a National Geographic coffee table travel book titled Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips. She had mentioned that she wanted to see the world in her Secret Santa post, and on Reddit, she wrote, “This gift was perfect!” The last thing she saw was the note by and photograph of Bill Gates, and then she realized who her Secret Santa was. She wrote, “Wait. Holy sh[*]t. Time out, and then it finally hit me. All the presents I just tore open, the charity, the everything — was from Bill GATES … my jaw hit the EVER LOVING FLOOR.” She also wrote, “It makes me so happy that he was able to donate to a charity on my behalf that helped people with both needs and educational benefits. Nailed it, Bill!” A spokesperson for Mr. Gates stated that he wanted to draw attention to Heifer International. Jo Rachel also wrote, “PS: Sorry for the Apple iPad on my wishlist — that was really awkward.” (62)

“While Digging in Your Garden We Found Some Gold Coins. Hope You Enjoy Them”

On 19 December 2013, Redditor ISitOnAThroneOfLies posted a photograph on Imgur with this caption: “A friend is having the gas pipes on his street replaced. His son asked them to look for buried treasure in his garden and they came home to this.” The photograph showed a little bag of chocolate coins wrapped in gold-colored foil; it also showed a note that said, “While digging in your garden we found some gold coins. Hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas from the gas men.” On Imgur, privs commented, “Kid’s going to be so disappointed to find out it is real gold and not chocolate,” and hendeaux commented, “When you’re a kid, chocolate gold > real gold.” On Reddit, Superschutte commented, “Sweet now, but when the pirate who buried that comes looking for it, there might be some problems.” (63)

“Sometimes When a Person Dines Alone, the Waiter Treats Them as a Less-Important Ticket. You Did Not Do That and I am Grateful”

On 18 December 2013, Redditor RipRoaringRay posted on Imgur a photograph with this caption: “This man came in to eat alone on Sunday. He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever waited on. When he finished his meal, he politely asked for his check and after paying, he quietly slipped out the door. A few minutes later, I opened the book to find this.” The photograph showed this handwritten message on the back of the slip from the receipt roll: “Sometimes when a person dines alone, the waiter treats them as a less-important ticket. You did not do that and I am grateful. Merry Christmas!” Some Redditors have not experienced less-good service while eating alone, but Redditor Irrepressible 87 explained that in some places in the United States, “It’s math. Since many/most people tip based on percent-value of their ticket, a hundred-dollar ticket from a five-person table earns a bigger tip (theoretically) than the lone dude with the $20 tab. Not always sound math, but easy to reason.” (64)

“He was Talking About the Toy and He Said, ‘Well, Would You Buy it If You had the Money?’ And I Said, ‘Yes, But I Don’t Have It’”

In December 2013, Jenni Shubbuck of Lockport, New York, was at the Wal-Mart in Williamsville, New York, trying to buy a toy for Chase, her one-and-a-half-year-old son. At the end of October, she had lost her job, and so money was tight. She said, “I didn’t even pay my November rent, that’s how bad it is. November or December’s rent.” She scanned a Thomas the Train toy, but after discovering that the price was $48, she put it back. Fortunately, a man and his young daughter went over to her. Ms. Shubbuck said, “He was talking about the toy and he said, ‘Well, would you buy it if you had the money?’ And I said, ‘Yes, but I don’t have it.’” He then gave her three $25 Walmart gift cards. She said, “I told him he didn’t have to and he said that him and his daughter were blessed so much this year and they just wanted to help somebody else out.” Unfortunately, Ms. Shubbuck did not get the Good Samaritan’s name. She said, “I’m just so thankful that he was there. And when I got home, I wrote to you guys [WIVB (Buffalo, New York)]. And when I went to bed, I actually prayed and thanked God for having that man sent to me.” She planned to upload video of Chase opening the present on Christmas to social media and hopes that the Good Samaritan will see the video and know that he made that happiness happen. She also put the used Walmart gift cards in Chase’s baby book and plans to tell him the story of this Good Samaritan in years to come. (65)

“She Just had the Warmest Look and She Said, ‘Thank You So Much, You have a Merry Christmas’”

On 11 December 2013, a woman walked into an Applebee’s in LaGrange, Kentucky. Waitress Lola Snyder was almost at the end of her shift, but she decided to wait on the woman. Ms. Snyder said, “She asked me what I liked and I recommend[ed] it to her and she was happy about it. And I looked at her and she just looked up at me, and there was a connection and she just had the warmest look and she said, ‘Thank you so much, you have a Merry Christmas.’” The woman’s bill came to $12, but she left a big tip. Ms. Snyder said, “I had to do a double-take because she had written ‘Merry Christmas, God bless you’ and left me a $200 tip. You don’t see the random act of kindness every day and it’s never happened to me.” Ms. Snyder did not get to thank the mystery woman, but she told reporter Tim Elliott at WLKY (Louisville, Kentucky), “I would throw my arms around her, and thank her and tell her that she brought my Christmas spirit to me this year, so I’m very grateful.” She said on TV, “Whoever she is, you know who [you] are, thank you from me and my family.” Ms. Snyder planned to use the money to buy many presents for her 10-year-old son. (66)