More Thanksgiving Dispatches

As part of my “I’m-going-to-boycott-work-as-much-as-I-can” effort today, I didn’t carry a pen or notebook with me as I went out on my story today. It wasn’t that big a deal, but it was enough to give me a sense of non-accomplishment. Then I needed something to write with. Not because of work, but because of nice people.

I went to Red Lobster where a group of volunteers was serving hundreds of meals to the less fortunate. While photographer Mr. E was working, I walked around talked to people. Before long, a woman asked me for my autograph.

I feel silly giving my worthless signature to anybody…in part because I’m nobody. I don’t get asked for it very much and I consider that a good thing.

I tried to beg off.

“It’s not worth anything,” I explained with a smile.

And then the woman said the thing…a simple thing…that sort of made my day. Not because of vanity or sense of fame…but because it was just a nice thing to say.

“It’s worth something to me,” she said.

Before I knew it, I was borrowing a pen from a homeless woman and finding paper napkins to sign my name on. I signed napkins, envelopes…whatever they could find. And they smiled and said thank you.

That was nice.