Random Acts of Kindness

I was never much of a believer in "random acts of kindness", mostly because I had rarely, if ever, been the receiver of one. Then about 5 years ago as I was riding the bus to work in Paris, minding my own business like any good Parisian  (that prevents one from having to give up a seat BTW), when an elderly lady beside me began to talk. Before I knew it, I was having a delightful conversation with the most charming of women. She was very curious about my culinary interests and when I confided in her that I was a real" Foodie" who spent lots of time pouring over cookbooks, she made me a proposal I couldn't turn down. "Meet me in front of the Louvre tomorrow at 1:00 and I will give you my most treasured cookbook!". She explained that she  only has one child, a son,  who wasn't interested in cooking and she would like to give it to someone who would put it to good use. Being the optimistic person that I am, I took her for her word and showed up the next day in a timely fashion. Sure enough, after only waiting a minute or two, she came to greet me with a divine French cookbook. titled  "Le Livre de Cuisine de Mme E. Saint-Ange" dated 1926. It's a real gem and I refer to it often for basic French recipes and techniques.

One year later I found myself in the post office of my local village when I heard a lady speaking French with an American accent. I couldn't help but laugh as I listened to her struggling a bit with the postal worker. I introduced myself and she proceeded to tell me that she was returning to the States that very morning and would I like two big bags of pecans she had intended for someone else. I said,  "Yes Mam",  and that's how I ended up making all those pecan balls and pecan pies that Christmas. We exchanged addresses and this kind person has continued to send me and my family Christmas goodies every year.

I just love these stories because they reaffirm to me what the Christmas spirit is all about. It just goes to show you that you never know who you're standing next to in line-they might just be your new friend you haven't met yet!