So…. We still have COVID-19, we still have facts and alternative facts, and we have two weeks of demonstrations for Black Lives Matter. Some days I think we’re caught in Clayton Smith’s Anomoly Flats.

There is still good news.

A buffalo teen gets rewarded for his Random Act of Kindness.

My family started practicing Random Acts of Kindness thirty years ago. If you haven’t heard of RAK-ing people, it works like this: See something, do something; in the moment. Don’t wait for a movement or an organized event. Do it now. We’ve RAKed by noticing a confused family who missed their train. Whoops! No worries, we’ll give you a ride back to your parking lot. We RAKed someone standing in line. Looks like you need to get out of here quicker than I do. Please go ahead of me.

You get the idea.

Buffalo’s Antonio Gwynn Junior noticed a street near where he lives was littered with glass and debris. He decided to get up at 2:00 a.m. and do something about it.

Gwynn is an 18-year-old high school senior. He told CNN that he saw on the local news that Bailey Avenue in Buffalo was covered in glass and garbage, and he knew people needed to use that street to get to work in the morning.

CNN

His one Random act of kindness cascaded.

Matt Block decided to give Antonio his prized 2004 cherry red Mustang convertible.

The kindness didn’t stop there.

Medaille College in Buffalo offered Antonio a full scholarship, which accelerated his college plans, from after trade school, to right now.

Canada’s Double Bubble

I like this story because my sister, Julie, had the same idea, she called it Trusted Circles. “We’ll just have to widen our circle to a trusted few; people we know that have practiced social distancing; extending our family circle little by little.”

Canada made Julie’s idea an official strategy.

Canadian provinces have begun allowing people to form “double bubbles.” That means two households can now make a pact to hang out with — and even hug — each other, so long as they agree to stay distanced from everyone else. The hope is that doubling the family bubble will reduce isolation and its toll on mental health, while also helping with things like child care. This is meant to be an intermediate step before opening up further.

Vox, June 2, 2020

Two weeks after allowing double-bubbling, no new cases developed.

I wonder if Mom would be willing to be part of my Double-Bubble?

Open Door Policy

This last story really tickled me because it shows two sides of a story. Maybe it’s not all good news, but I bet it’ll make you smile.

Rahul Dubey stepped out of his row house in Washington D.C. and saw police at both ends corralling protesters in between. After 15 minutes, the pepper spray started. Rahul opened the door and let ’em in. About 60 people spent the night.

Meanwhile across the country in Sacramento, California, Steven Maviglio had vision of his row house being burnt to the ground. Unable to sleep, he finally called Rahul, his tenant.

Rahul refused to take any money from the 60 people who spent the night, even though his consulting work has all but dried up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steven said he appreciates Rahul’s Good Samaritan efforts. Still Rahul is three months behind in his rent. To be clear, Steven has no plans to evict Rahul.

What good news have you noticed this week?