29 Random Acts of Kimberly

The Objective:

1. Visit the homes of notable NYC authors while...
   
2. Performing 29 Random Acts of Kindness in NYC and...
   
3. Take pictures of things that make me happy.

Homes We Visited:

(Though our real purpose was to serve, we didn't want to wander the streets aimlessly so Ryan looked up the addresses and history of several authors and we set out to find their houses and read about them.)

-The Poet’s Corner in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine: This location memorializes many American authors and poets. I was especially excited to search for Elizabeth Bishop’s name.

-J.D. Salinger’s boyhood home: one time I feel in love with his quirkiness and read everything I could find, which, to be honest isn’t a huge amount of reading, but he’s still someone I like a lot.

-John Steinbeck’s home: right now I’m reading “East of Eden.” He actually wrote that novel at a different place in NYC, where he lived temporarily, but we visited his main home.

-Turtle Bay Gardens: home to many different writers, one of the most important to me is E.B. White. I had an imaginary friend named Wilber when I was little probably because I watched Charlotte’s web so many times.

Our 29 Random Acts of Kindness:

1-Picked up trash in Morningside Park

2-Gave bread to the old man feeding birds at the Cathedral

3-Helped a lady with her heavy luggage up the stairs of her apartment building

4-Gave 29 roses to strangers

5-Helped Ula Barack (a lady who had come from Staten Island all the way to 110th street to go to her interfaith conference) carry her bags to the church.

6-Helped older lady cross the street

7-Gave Sophia (a 3 year-old girl) an ice cream cone.

8-Bought construction workers doughnuts

9-Bought an Iced coffee for the man in line behind us.

10-Left 6 happy notes in random places for people to find.

11-Held the door for a lady getting off the bus.

12-Gave $2 to a man begging

13-Gave a pink balloon to a little girl

14-Ryan saved a man's life on the subway (well, we don't really know what happened to the man, but Ryan held a man who was having a stroke or a heart attack or something, yelled for help, and got him off the subway).

15-Helped 2 tourists take a picture

16-Used iphone to help some hungry people find the restaurant they were looking for

17-Took Sandy, a homeless man, to dinner at McDonald's

18-Helped some people who were on a scavenger hunt find their clue

19-Stopped foot traffic in Times Square so a wife could get a picture of her husband.

20-Stopped a lady and complimented her on her clothing/how nice she looked.

21-Gave a street musician money

22-Helped a lady, with a broken bag, up the subway stairs

23-Gave a $40 DSW gift card to a lady standing in line at DSW

24-Held door open for people

25-Left an extra big tip to our waitress

26-Safe walked Ali home from Dinner

27-Left a sleeping homeless woman $5

28-Gave up subway seat to an older lady

29-Carried (some super heavy) luggage a few avenues for a German girl coming to the city to visit her boyfriend.

30-Celebrated with the German girl!!

The Gift:

Ryan asked 29 of my friends to do a random act of kindness in my honor and text me about it when they finished. It was so wonderful to be out looking for service while receiving texts from my friends about the things they were doing. I can't tell you how touched I was to get these, some were so sweet I couldn't help but cry. Here are the texts in order:

Ann: Happy Birthday! I have to work all day so in your honor I made breakfast treats for my co-workers. Have a great day!

Ruston: In honor of you on your birthday, I bought a subway day pass for this guy who needed a swipe. You’re awesome! Happy Birthday!!

Brook: Happy Birthday Kim! As inspired by your bday I wrote thank you notes to people I love!

Lisa: I just went from the pool to the condo to get Brooke’s sister’s goggles for Free, even though she was going to pay someone to do it. Happy Birthday!!!

Ali: Happy day Kimberly! My act of kindness was with Kelly in general…helped her moved boxes to her uhaul and then cleaned all her moving stuff while she drove her boxes to Jersey…Don’t ask. Anyway it was small but I think it helped her a lot! I will see you tonight!

Collin: Happy Birthday! I bought some candy from someone on the train and gave it to a little boy that lives in my building. And I did it in honor of you! Plus, maybe because I’m so happy you were born, I’ve been sharing my smile all day with others! I hope you are having a great day!

Leslie: Happy birthday Kimberly! I’m in DC with Ashley and we have been offering to take pictures for all those poor tourists who don’t have anyone to take it for them—you know, the couple who gets home and doesn’t have a picture together.

Ashley: Happy happy 29^th! Leslie and I are in DC right now. We’ve made it our duty today to be family photographers for everyone documenting their trip. Moms need to be in pictures too!

Liz: Some people say service is about what you’re thinking about doing, not what you are actually doing. I tend to disagree, which is why for your29th birthday I am honoring you with action. I did some research to find a classic on the subject of death and healing for a friend whose mom died. I sent “Motherless Daughters” off to her in your honor. Happy birthday Kim!! Much love!!

Tamara H: Happy birthday, I hope that you are having a great day. We wish that we were there to celebrate. I wanted to let you know that I was very nice to my mother in-law this morning, I let my niece win our card game, but most important was giving up our breakfast table to an older couple so that they did not have to wait. Love you girl.

Don: Hey in honor of your birthday I helped my brother take down his Christmas lights. Hope you have a wonderful day and can’t wait to ski with you here in UT.

Rachel: In honor of your day, I made a harried mom an extra big frappuchino even though she only ordered a tall. She looked like she needed it.

Angela: Random Act of Kimberly Kindness-we are at the zoo and lunchtime was busy, so I held the door open for people with trays and brian bought a little family of 3 and a young married couple their lunches

Sarah: Happy birthday! I picked up some trash at a state penitentiary for you J

Kim: I continually keep my cousin’s kids from impending doom by being the only one to watch them

Georgina: Happy birthday! Today I helped two people file their tax returns and I wish for you this year a trip to HawaiiJ

Anita: Happy birthday!!! Hope your having a great day. Just wanted to let u know I did a little act of service by cleaning the house for my mom in your honor! Hope your having fun!!!

Tamara D: Happy birthday Kimberly! I’m in Portland and have had a big day. As part of, a baby was born in our family. In honor of you, I brought flowers to the first-time mom, the nurses, and I brought an extra bouquet for daffodils. I asked the nurses to please give them to one of the new moms who they thought needed something to brighten her day. The nurses were so excited! They loved the flowers and were so happy to think of which patient could use the pretty flowers in her room! I hope your birthday is treating you well. I noticed today that R.A.K. can stand for random acts of kindness AND Ryan and Kimberly. Cute, huh? J love you!!!-T

Cristi: I gave some money to a homeless man on the train.

Kathlene: Dearest beautiful birthday girl…In honor of this blessed day of your birth, I am pleased to share that I have purchases 10 single ride metro cards, and am in the process of giving them away to 10 different people indiscriminately! I love you!

Carlyne: Happy birthday Kim, my r.a.o.k. I saw a boy standing in front of a vending machine, gave him my change but it wasn’t enough to get anything L so I went to get more change. When I got back he was gone. Dble L. So I searched for him but to no avail. This all took place in the museum @ FIT. While looking for the little boy, I saw a little girl with her parents. I figured they were tourists. So a little girl was just as good as a little boy. So I went up to the mom and explained the three dollars were for them to get something from the vending machine. Their eyes brightened, they said thank you. Also they said they would pay it forward. That’s exactly what I wanted. So I thanked them and went back to the sewing room to work. Happy birthday Kim!

Kim: Alright, I just pushed three little boys on the swings at least 29 times longer than I would have. Does it count if it ended up being fun despite my incredibly sore arms?

Jordan: Hey. Happy birthday. I just wanted to let you know that in honor of it Jeanette and I left random notes for people to cheer up their day.

Helen: Hi Kim! Happy birthday J today I gave flowers to a friend.

Ashley: Today, in your honor, I helped a mother at the grocery store with her groceries to her car, and left some money in one of the bags. Happy birthday!

Jeff: A man with one leg asked me for 10 cents. I swung my random axe of kindness, and fortunately rather than wound him further it cut much more money out of my pocket than he initially asked for. Happy birthday kim!

Ruston: I also helped a guy out by offering gum to him. Not only did it benefit him but at least 4 people around him. Happy birthday.

Seth: Happy Birthday Kim! Today I got up so a lady could sit on the subway. Yesterday I used my map to help another lady find her way. I dedicate my service to you.

Taylor: Made Banana Bread for a neighbor.

Holly: (She accidentally forgot to push send on her text message, though she was probably the first one to finish her service. She made cinnamon rolls for her roommate and roommates fiancé and on top of that, she brought me a cinnamon roll to church! It was so super yummy!)

Meredith:

Hi Ryan,

My internet will not bring up Kimberly's address, so please forward this to her. First of all I am SO sorry for being late. It is amazing what happens to your brain when your Sabbath day gets switched.

Anyway, here is my Random of Act of Kindness (so random that I didn't even think about Kim's gift as being the objective for this RAK): Aaron and I needed new work toothbrushes (a bakery necessity to avoid cavities). At the store I saw all these nifty two-packs of toothbrushes, so I said to myself, "Hey, I'll buy a two-pack and give the extra one to Aaron!"

He really appreciated it, and I felt good about it. Even better that the idea came rather naturally.

Happy Birthday! and Congratulations!

-mere

Pictures of things that make me happy:

Unfortunately, the best things that I saw on Saturday were saved as mental pictures rather than actual physical photos. For the most part, we were too busy looking for people to serve to take pictures, but there were definitely moments that I have saved in my memory that I hope I never forget, like when the little girl ran the pink balloon back to her father. I watched him as he tied it to her wrist and searched through the sea of people to find the giver. Somehow he found us and we made eye contact as we waved and walked away.

Really though, it all made me so happy. I was absolutely one of the best days of my life. And of all the things that make me happy...I guess the best picture to sum it up is of the guy who made it all happen: thanks Ryan!