One Year Closer to 30, No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed
So last week was my 29th birthday (May 9th for anyone keeping track for next year) and my loving partner in crime, (@bailey_v) and I went to Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate and visit our friend who lives on the island.
As a present (other than the wonderful time we had away from the city), Bailey orchestrated one of the coolest birthdays I’ve ever had (and continued to have days later), but only with the help of many a friend willing to do something nice. In lieu of any material gifts, Bailey asked a group of my friends to do a good deed in my honor, in an attempt to receive 29 good deed for my 29th birthday.
The following is a list of all the deeds done on and for my birthday:
- Bailey bought a box of joe and a bunch of munchkins for the front desk at the YMCA, which I guess went straight to the hands of the after school program.
- My dad made a visit with the church to help a family with no food, which he often does, but he gave the woman $20 extra from his own pocket to help her out
- My mom made a donation to charity too
- Maryellen tipped her waitress 25%
- Kathleen gave up a parking spot to an elderly woman
- Mo and Justin donated to Zumix (music programs for kids!)
- Dan and Marie planted seeds in their local public park (see the photo below)
- Kathy treated two girls in her office for lunch
- Mel cleaned her grandmothers house so when she gets home from 9 months in FL she can relax
- Tia paid the toll for the car behind her
- Kyle gave 5 to the old banjo player who she walks by all the time in her subway station
- Brendon and family donated some food
- Susie gave a little boy a new Red Sox shirt
- Jen L. baked for her roommates in design school who hadn’t slept in a week
- Martie bought a major league ball at the Sox game and walked to the upper bleachers to give it to a chubby little seven year old
- Jen H. picked up another dog’s poop off the sidewalk while walking her dog
- Ashley weeded Mrs Reilly’s flower beds and picked up garbage on the beach
- Kevin flashed his lights a guy so he wpuldn’t get a ticket and then volunteered to help some people fix docks.
- Jack put a penny in the American cancer fund jar… and then made an actual donation
- Anthony bought cheese at Pike Place Market before work, and secretly gave it to a coworker
- Andrew ran a 5k for charity in PA
- Dan K. tried to help people but they wouldn’t take his help… so he made a donation to charity instead
- Lauren paid double what she should have for a CD from a new music artist
- Nate fell asleep without doing his deed, but text me “I O U one random act of kindness,” So we’ll give it to him
***update*** Nate gave $20 to a homeless guy - Paula helped an old lady at brunch get her purse untangled from her chair
- Jonah is helping a new friend by making him a website for his little manure business. it will be manure.com.ar (when it’s ready)
- Tim schooled fifteen, 7 and 8 year olds on the fundamentals of America’s pastime, little league baseball. They played through the rain, but fell valiantly 17-6 in a 5 inning game shortened by the newly instituted 2 1/2 hr. rule.
- Mauricio bought a sandwich for a man on the streets of Bogata Columbia while he was home visiting his family
- Mike and Erin tipped their cab driver $16 on a $4 cab ride
- Rosanna made it through the day without killing anyone… and if you knew the type of day she had including the car rental facility, and attempting to pay for the person’s toll behind her only to find she didn’t have money for her own toll… you’d be happy with no blood-shed
So coming in at an even 30, I have decided I need more friends in the upcoming years to keep up with the good deeds.
Photo: Dan and Marie, planting seeds