Signal Tribune Newspaper

By Kelly Nielsen, Contributing Writer

The last few weeks I have been touched by several examples of human kindness– people doing good deeds, volunteering their time to worthy causes. It happens all the time, and because I was directly affected, I was more aware of these selfless acts of kindheartedness.
During the summer, my friend Erin organized a fundraiser to assist persons affected with brain cancer. The event was held last week and all proceeds went to the Tug McGraw Foundation. This was Erin’s gift to her brother who is living with brain cancer. She should be proud of her successful efforts, and so should the persons who donated and volunteered to the cause.
The same week, I was best man at the marriage of my dear friends Mark and Mike. It was the first gay wedding I have experienced. Families from both sides attended, as well as more than 100 guests. The ceremony was beautiful, but the most wonderful thing about the wedding was their request for no wedding gifts. Their wedding invitation asked for donations to the Susan G. Komen Walk for a Cure that was held the very next day in Newport Beach. The morning after the wedding, the two grooms proudly participated in the walk and presented over $4,200 toward the hope of finding a cure for breast cancer. This gift was in honor of a close friend who succumbed to the disease several years prior.
Theirs is a selfless example that should be duly noted.
Earlier in the week was my 49th birthday. I received several phone calls during the day from friends and family with heartfelt birthday wishes. Turning 49 is no milestone, and to me it would be just an ordinary day. The day turned out to be anything but ordinary.
Several weeks ago, I wrote a commentary entitled, “Love, Duty or Compassion.” I wrote about taking care of my elderly father. I mention this only because I received a very special birthday gift from my father that day. Not a gift that I could open, or wear, or plug into my computer, but a gift that would cause me to reflect and think about my life. I did not recognize this gift until a few days later.
The evening of my birthday I attended a wine-tasting party at the home of two more dear friends, Tom and Stacey. I have known Tom since we were sophomores in high school. Earlier that day I had contemplated not going to the party, but happy I did, for it turned out to be the perfect ending to an otherwise imperfect day. I was in the company of caring friends, had a great Italian dinner, tasted some wine, and even reacquainted with a friend I hadn’t seen in years.
I left the party early. I was tired and had much on my mind from earlier that day. You see, the morning of my birthday, I had awakened at 5 a.m. to check on Dad. He’d passed away during the night, but my sister insisted that I keep my commitment to attend the wine tasting. She said that dad would have wanted that.
It was during the next few days after his passing that I recognized dad’s gift to me.
His gift was a reminder of how precious life can be. It was a reminder of how blessed I am to be surrounded by loving, supporting and caring friends and family. In these times when there is much distress in the world, there are always countless selfless acts of kindness and generosity. Often these acts of kindheartedness are happening right under your nose.
The morning my dad passed away, an elderly man was riding by on his bicycle as all the commotion was taking place. As he passed he took off his hat and nodded to me. He sensed and knew what was happening. After that small but meaningful gift of respect, he replaced his hat.
I will always recall that man on the bike, and every year on my birthday I will be reminded of the most meaningful gift that my father had given to me.
Though not always obvious, I hope to be more aware of the selfless gifts around me.
Recognize the gifts in your life. Life is a gift.

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