May we run to the beat of Daniel's Drum

26 Acts of Kindness
Act #25 and # 26

I have been reluctant to post my final acts in this series honoring the victims of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School  because I am selfishly holding onto two little boys.  If I don't write this - I won't loose them.  I know that's not true but somewhere in this heart and head I just want to hold them a bit longer.

Daniel Barden loved drums.  The drum, the beat - so basic, clear, the rhythm of our hearts.  It hurts.  My heart hurts.  I think of this young boy when I hear the drums.  And in my world of children's librarianship - the drums play twice a week during story time.  Kids love drums.  We will remember Daniel Barden.

And Chase Kowalski, seven years old, a runner who loved baseball... steals home today.  My final "shout out" goes to this young man as I imagine him running the bases.  Running has been "my thing" most of my life.  Maybe this is why Chase is my last person to honor. It's funny how after a decade of no longer being a runner - it is still the picture in my brain of just who I am.  This will be the same for Chase - I will imagine him in full stride.

If you've followed the blog through my 26 Acts of Kindness you may remember that I joined this movement established by Anne Curry because I was feeling quite solo at home on medical leave.  I missed the world.  I decided that doing kind acts honoring the victims and blogging about it would help me re-connect with this great big gigantic world.  It has.  It's worked in more ways than I could even try to explain. Trust me on this.

During a recent medical appointment I noticed that there were plenty of magazines but no children's books. This needed a remedy!  

In honor of Daniel Barden and Chase Kowalski: a basket of 20 books available for kids to read.  I did check with the staff before bringing in books.  Providing the basket was key...it gave the books a home and makes them easy to move from examining room to waiting room to wherever needed.  

From my view - Daniel's beat is the steady thrum of heart and life and learning and loving.  And Chase, you have brought" home" to the doctor's office where those little ones with injuries will hopefully cuddle and read with mom or dad and heal to run another day.  Thanks guys.  Up high!!  

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On a closing note - the memory of Chase Kowalski running has brought me right to Boston and more Acts of  Kindness.  The world always needs more Acts of Kindness.  Amen.  

Plan to Be Kind

Best Made Plans

26 Acts of Kindness

Last Friday I made a plan to pay it forward.  I planned to pay for coffees for the next two people behind me in line.  That was the plan I made.  But you know how that goes sometimes.

Prior to getting to the coffee shop I encountered a gentle man who needed some sunshine.  I just knew that the intended coffee money would brighten his day immensely  Although it wasn't the plan, it was the right thing to do.  It was peaceful and perfect.  Amen.

Benjamin Wheeler - peaceful and perfect.

Act #24
In honor of Benjamin Wheeler, student
Sandy Hook Elementary School

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A Girl Can Dream

26 Acts of Kindness
A place for your dreams

When my daughter was young she had a number of different journals, spiral bound notebooks and pads of drawing paper.  She wrote stories about horses, she created endless lists of horse facts and she drew pictures of horses, again and again and again. She dreamed of wild horses and a someday trip to Chincoteague. She knew horses, she adored them and filled pages with all her high hopes.

Today I am thinking of two little girls at Sandy Hook who were in love with horses, Avielle Richman and Jessica Rekos.  I have such a sense of "them" having raised my own pony-tail -wearin' horseback riding girl.  .

I placed a Legendary Moleskine Journal engraved with the image of Leonard Cohen into a blue gift bag for a niece today.  I know she writes everyday.  The funny thing is - I don't know if she actually puts pen to paper daily or if she is using a keyboard sometimes.  She writes and she's a fan of Leonard Cohen and this is for her.  I hope this gift will bring a smile and provide a new place for words and maybe wishes.

Act # 22
In honor of Avielle Richman, student
Sandy Hook Elementary School

And for another writer, dreamer, drawer...I tied a bow on this journal.  I think it will inspire someone to do something!  I don't know who is getting this one.  I may just leave it somewhere to be found by the perfect person. 

Act # 23 

In honor of Jessica Rekos, student

Sandy Hook Elementary School

I will write out the notes now and tuck them into their ribbons.  I can only imagine that Avielle and Jessica are forever running with wild horses.  Amen.

Chincoteague Island ponies - Google image

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Cookie Kindness!

26 Acts of Kindness 
Cookies again!

Truth be known, making these cookies is making me happy.  I am not sure when, if ever before, I have eaten so many chocolate chip cookies.  (I'm really an oatmeal-raisin cookie gal)  This winter has proved something different - I am looking for the chocolate.  And they have to be homemade and yes, I use butter. 

I decided to make cookies for a friend (and one time college football player) who was feeling under the weather.  18 Cookies all dressed up in a bucket and bow...leaving about 20 cookies for me. Ut-oh.  I ate 6 for breakfast, I gave 8 to my niece - who knows what happened to the rest.

26 Acts of Kindness
Act # 20 Cookie Kindness
In honor of New York Giants fan Jack Pinto, age 6
Student, Sandy Hook Elementary School

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The Sister Act

26 Acts of Kindness



The sister act is hard to follow! In this photo, each of my brothers has a corresponding sister! ( I don't think I ever looked at us this way before.) So obviously, each sister has a corresponding brother.  How nice to have a best bud growing up. Really, I mean it!  The difficult days were the divide and conquer days.  When the boys believed they ruled the cottage.  The girls automatically lost.  We never joined forces to do battle against our brothers, we were just more mature!  (That's our story and we're sticking to it!)

Look closely at the photo and you will see that the two in the front are almost joined together!  They are so proud of their bond.  The next two stand close but not really and the oldest have space between them.  Ah, yes, independence fostered with years of knowing that someone has your back.  Or maybe it's just "girls have cooties"  (and what the heck are cooties anyway?)

For the record, three years after this photo - another sister joined our family.  Yay!  I got to be a big sister.

And that is what today is all about - BIG SISTERS.

26 Acts of Kindness
Act # 18 in honor of Josephine Gay, student
Sandy Hook Elementary School

I needed to walk through my favorite Barnes & Noble for inspiration to honor Josephine.
This book called her name.

I'll send it in the mail this week to a brand new big sis.

Well, the sister act can't stop here.  For another family, this one living in North Carolina...a special book for a big sister.  I read that Caroline Previdi's grandparents live in NC.  This book is headed that way in memory of Caroline.    

26 Acts of Kindness
Act # 19  in honor of Caroline Previdi, student
Sandy Hook Elementary School

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Hats on my Head

26 Acts of Kindness 

This week began with a blizzard, or was it last week ended with a blizzard?  However you look at it, there's a great deal of snow in CT and it has totally messed with my mental calendar.  So, what day is it??  It's today.  A gorgeous, creative, colorful, beautiful day.  A day to honor a teacher from Sandy Hook Elementary School.   In memory of Rachel D'Avino I knitted a funky, crazy, happy hat for a Special Education instructor in Connecticut.

Oh but the knitting didn't stop.  I knitted all week, that's what we do in a blizzard in New England.  Well, we bake too!  Anyway, you may or may not know that the Blizzard of 2013 had a couple of names.  The National Weather Channel named the storm Nemo and WFSB the local CBS affiliate named the storm Charlotte.

The name, Charlotte Bacon, is at the top of my 26 Acts of Kindness list.  I had not decided on a action to make in her memory until they named the storm.  A one of a kind wholloping storm in Connecticut should have the name Charlotte?  I guess so.  A name we will remember.

In memory of a lovely 6 yr. old student who loved dresses and school  - I knitted hats for a pair of little girls, sisters.  The older loves dressing up, and the younger is just 3 months old.

I'll put them in the mail on Monday.  

Act of Kindness # 16

In honor of Rachel D'Avino, Teacher

Sandy Hook Elementary School

Act of Kindness #17

In honor of Charlotte Bacon, Student

Sandy Hook Elementary School

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Warm Kindness

26 acts of Kindness
Warmth

This is the tiniest hat I have ever made.  It is difficult to judge scale here...but believe me...this is a newborn size.  This hat will go to a baby born just before the Blizzard of 2013. (a snow-white pom-pom reminder)  He is a first born, first grandchild and brought sweet baby love a month ahead of schedule.

I have not met this family, only heard of their joy.  I will need to tag team some of my family to get this hat delivered.   Wear it in good health little one.  

I read that the beautiful Noah Pozner was the Light of Life in his family.  And now a little family welcomes their new light, their new life to warm their hearts and I will honor you Noah.  

26 Acts of Kindness # 15

In memory of Noah Pozner

Student, Sandy Hook Elementary School

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Tea, talk and therapy!

26 Acts of Kindness
Act # 14

Last Friday I learned that my amazing physical therapist loves Starbucks Chai Tea Latte. This happens to be one of my favorite things as well, maybe that's how we got to talking about it.

 I have done the rounds of physical therapy in the past, as many people have, but never with a therapist this good, this dedicated or this caring.   I see her 3-4 times a week since my accident and she works wonders, (she won't let me call it a miracle).

She is incredibly smart, very positive and listens patiently.  She graciously hands out healing hugs along with  homework exercises!

Act of Kindness #14 
In honor of Mary Sherlach, School Psychologist
Sandy Hook Elementary School

I have a feeling that Mrs Sherlach and my therapist would have many things in common.  Amen.

I dropped this off for my physical therapist.  

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26 Acts of Kindness
Sing, sing a song

These are currant buns, and they're made of felt to be placed on the flannel board when you are singing the song Five Currant Buns.  They provide a visual for the children as you sing together.  I discovered the Currant Buns and their song on  Loon and Quines at Library Time .  Please link to the blog to sing the song!  You will note that I changed the cherry on top to a heart and took the liberty of writing that into the song.  (sing to the tune of Five Little Ducks Went Out to Play)

Five currant buns in the bakery shop

Big and round with a heart on top

Along came a boy with a penny one day (or on Valentine's Day)

Bought a currant bun and took it away!

Four currant buns ....

Three currant buns....

Two...

One....

A dear friend and former colleague of mine has taken a new library position in another town.   We "do lunch" regularly and she was feeling a bit glum about not having a fancy new Valentine flannel story...hmmm.  I just made myself a set of these currant buns and I knew I could make another readily - so, I did!  

It's heart warming to know that she will sing the song with many children over the years.  

As I packaged things up I just knew something was missing...

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

Act # 13

In honor of Ana Marquez-Green

Student, Music Lover

Sandy Hook Elementary School

I will drop these off on Monday, weather permitting.  If you would like to follow 26 Acts of Kindness of facebook, please click here.

Sweet Kindness

26 Acts of Kindness
Act #12

Yesterday a friend gave me a bag of lollipops to use in my 26 Acts of Kindness.  It's very cool when others join in.  Love it!  So I took one of those cute little green buckets that I picked up at Target and filled it with the lollipops, placed a pretty ribbon on it and wrote out the card. 

Act #12
I am calling this one Sweet Kindness...a little sugar goes a long way!  
In honor of Victoria Soto, Teacher
Sandy Hook Elementary School

Today I stopped into a friend's restaurant in Waterford, CT - Filomena's.   And that is where I placed this bundle of sweetness, at the host/hostess stand.  

If you think about this one...3 friends put it together.  I bet Victoria Soto would like that.  (My thanks to my friends. xoxx))   

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Purple Butterfly Kindness

26 Acts of Kindness
Act # 10 and #11

I maintain an image of something dear in all the misery of Sandy Hook.  I read that a child was found in the arms of a loving teacher, protector.  I keep this image in both my mind and my heart whenever Sandy Hook thoughts become too painful.

Dylan Hockley's favorite color was purple and I read that he told his family that he was a beautiful butterfly.
Today I would like to honor Dylan Hockley by doing something my nephews asked me to do.  I will leave $5.00 in each of two envelopes and  tape them to gas pumps.

Act #10
In honor of Dylan Hockley
(Although I can't help anyone fly like a butterfly, I can help them make their cars go! )

So, that image of a loving teacher holding a child had my brain trying to find inspiration in something where two things go together.  You know, like peanut butter & jelly, milk & honey, Fred & Ginger.  While running this through my head - I came to Good & Plenty...the candy!  So tomorrow I will leave a box of Good & Plenty with each of the envelopes with the $5.00.  

Act # 11

In honor of Anne Marie Murphy, Teacher
Sandy Hook Elementary School

I have no doubt that her love for her school family was both Good & Plenty.

Tomorrow I will bring my tape and attach the candy with the envelopes to the gas pumps.  (I have to pick up the candy first.)  I will try to take a photo when I get this done!

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Kind and Brave

Animal Lovers = Kind 
Teachers = Brave
26 Acts of Kindness


Today I prepared two acts of kindness and they both make my heart smile.  I love animals, especially dogs.  Piper feels the same, I assure you.  We are also very partial to a black & white kitty named Speedo as well.

We are honoring six-year old Catherine Hubbard, animal lover, today.   I placed some beginner reader books featuring dog characters inside the bag.  I am looking forward to meeting a child to take this bag away and enjoy the stories.

 Act # 8  animal lovers 
In honor and memory of Catherine Hubbard, Student 
Sandy Hook Elementary School


And then... there is this: A Magical Moment!

Just last evening one of my colleagues asked me if I had my Acts of Kindness all mapped out or do I wait for inspiration?  In my "A" game days I would have these mapped out because my creativity would be inspiring me.  But currently, with this post concussive syndrome, my "super-power", LIST MAKING, has disappeared along with the daily dusting of  magical fairy inspiration!  So, my colleague called it - I wait or I look for inspiration.  As stated in an earlier post, I find info in the on-line bios of the students and that guides me in a way to make the Act somewhat related to the person.  I also adore my Barnes & Noble book store where ideas jump off the shelf.

This next act of kindness includes the last of my purchased books.  I did not have a person in mind to honor but I knew where NEW BOOKS were needed.  I had just said to my co-worker that I find it harder to do Acts in memory of the adults.  I set out the books in front of me and pulled up the camera...snapped a few shots and checked the digital screen.  WOW...Sheila Rae...a book I love, an author I adore, (Kevin Henkes), spoke to me loud and clear...Sheila Rae The Brave.  And it is even in the center of the photo!  Thank you magic fairy dust!

So I filled out a card and tied the books with a ribbon, took their photo again...and here we have:

Act of Kindness # 9

In honor of Lauren Rousseau, Teacher

Sandy Hook Elementary School

This little stack of books is headed to the East Lyme Starbucks - they have a basket of books for children to read while visiting...and it is in dire need of replenishing.  

Thanks to Sheila Rae for inspiration to honor the beautiful Lauren Rousseau.  My heart holds dear all 26 brave souls from Sandy Hook Elementary School

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She loved to read

26 Acts of Kindness
Act #7  Reading 



This act of kindness is one of my favorites because it's books.  And Piper and I love books.  Madeleine Hsu, a student at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was an avid reader.

Twenty (beginning reader) books, representing the twenty children at Sandy Hook, are ready to be delivered to the Charter Oak Academy Family Resource Center in West Hartford, CT tomorrow afternoon.  This Act of Kindness is done in memory of Madeleine Hsu, age 6.  Here are the books!

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Kindness counts

26 Acts of Kindness
Kindness comes in quarters

Tomorrow morning after my physical therapy appointment I am headed to town to leave quarters at the parking meters.  A beautiful boy from Sandy Hook Elementary School, James Mattioli, made a point of telling people that he was 6 and 3/4 years old. This will be my 6th act of kindness and it will be in honor and memory of James Mattioli.  I will tape 75 cents to 6 parking meters.  

I do remember telling people when I was 8 and 3/4 years old.  Those quarters count!!

20 more acts to go.  

Creative Kindness

3 Acts of Kindness
Remembering Creative Girls

Yesterday I enlisted the help of my two teenage newphews. I arrived at their home with a stash of supplies I picked up at Target: crayons, glitter, glue sticks, scissors, coloring books, pads of paper, etc.  I also found an assortment of green bags and mini green buckets - they're perfect.  Green is the Sandy Hook School color.

With my nephews' assistance -we put our gifts together with ribbons and cards.

And decided where we would visit in town to give our gifts.

Our plan:  The Library, Starbucks and then McDonalds

We stopped at the East Lyme Library and found no children.  Wow!  We searched out a library staff member and let her know that we were doing 26 Acts of Kindness in memory of those lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  I asked her if she would please pass this particular gift along to a young girl (this one included a Hello Kitty coloring book) sometime soon.  The librarian was so happy to say yes...

We moved on down the road to the East Lyme Starbucks and saw the sweetest young girl in line with her parents.  My nephews were ready...I first checked with the parents to be sure we could give a gift to their daughter as one of our 26 Acts of Kindness...they said yes.  You could read the happiness and sadness in the eyes of the mom and dad.  So I leaned over to the little girl and told her that my nephews and I thought that she looked very creative and artistic (honestly - she is a girl who likes color in her wardrobe!)  and we were doing kind acts today in honor of creative and artistic students.  She beamed and thanked us.  Does it get any better than this?  I loved it all.  I especially loved how the dad made eye contact with each of my nephews to say thanks.   As we walked away - one of my nephews said " that felt good."   He's right.

  

Our last stop for the day - The Flanders McDonalds.  My nephews saw a dad having lunch with his young boys and by now - we all knew how to do this.  We checked with the Dad, he agreed, and these two young boys and their beautiful smiles said thank you, thank you, as we handed them their coloring crafts.

Act #3 in honor and memory of Olivia Engel

Act #4 in honor and memory of Emilie Parker

Act #5 in honor and memory of Allison Wyatt

Their on-line biographies let me know that they liked being creative and artistic.  Our 3 Acts of Kindness yesterday were intentionally creative gifts to inspire other children.  

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Thank you for visiting Piper Loves the Library.  I am thinking that Piper needs to get involved in these 26 Acts of Kindness.  Maybe we can visit a library!  21 more to go.

Firefighters need milk and cookies

26 Acts of Kindness

Act #2 Thank you Firefighters

Firefighters are amazing.  Firefighters are brave.  Firemen and women are emergency responders every day.  Today I prepare to give my thanks to the firemen and women for their courage, initiative and their ability to stay calm and take charge.  

I decided to make cookies for all the brave men and women who work at my local fire station.  I will pick up a gallon of milk before I stop by the station house tomorrow.  I hope to provide them a Milk and Cookie moment!  Something a mom would do.  

My thanks to firemen and firewomen everywhere for responding to calls for help, entering burning buildings, administering CPR and all the life-saving measures you perform to protect the citizens of your community.  You make the world a safer place.  

This Act of Kindness #2 is done in honor of an  adventurous and courageous Jesse Lewis, a student, from Sandy Hook Elementary School.

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Milk and Cookies

Hello to the world!
aaah...hemm,  HELLO world!
Would you like some milk and cookies?

I don't think I know where to begin this post.  I have been missing the world since November 8th.  Oh, I am here...but I am feeling so very little. Like the little characters in some of my favorite books - The Indian in the Cupboard, The Castle in the Attic.. that is the sort of" little" I am feeling.  Tiny.  I feel like I need to YELL in order to be heard.  This isn't necessarily unfamiliar territory.  I am the #6 child of 7 and as my siblings would tell ...I was barely audible until age twenty something!

Today I will be audible!  I will speak again.  And hopefully the speaking will help the brain make sense.  But then there is that saying my mother always said..."think before you speak"  and  that other one..."if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all"  Hmmm, so now I wonder - back to being in the house of 7 children - was I a slow thinker or was I a kid full of negative thoughts?  Why didn't my words come out?

Well, if the decision were to be made on the observation of the last two months, one would say: "slow thinker"   I have entered 2013 with post concussive syndrome and I don't like it at all.
Yes, this explains why I have not been blogging.

But today I have something to say...I have a plan to help my brain heal and to rejoin the world.  And I have Ann Curry, the journalist, to thank.  Yes, I am about to embark on 26 Acts of Kindness in memory of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.  Tomorrow the staff and children of Sandy Hook go back to school and I will mail my letter to Connecticut's Governor Dannel P Malloy thanking him for his leadership, his strength, compassion and kindness during this immensely difficult time.

The first of my 26 Acts of Kindness is done in memory of Dawn Hochsprung, Principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, CT.
I wish she could join me for milk and cookies.  xo

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