When I announced my ovarian cancer diagnosis several weeks ago, I knew that people would want to be helpful and generous. I suggested to anyone who wanted to bring us a casserole – to kindly donate to a food bank instead. And for anyone who wanted to buy a gift, I appealed that they make a donation to a charity. And to anyone who wanted to “do something” for me, please expend an act of kindness for someone else.

And, I requested that people report back to me.

I’ve been heartened by the response, and thought I would share some of the wonderful things that have been happening in my honor.

• My cousin, Gail lives in Portland and reported, “I am working extra days at our food bank and the good feelings are overflowing with knowing I can do a little to help those that have so little.”
• A dear friend of my brother, Ron, who lives in Matsuyama, Japan, “… starting on Monday I will look after your brother’s ‘Mikan’ for a few days.’ (Mikan is his cat!)
• My dear friend, Andrea Michaels, reported, “I sent flowers to a senior citizen home in your honor and planted a tree in Israel. And Dining for Women is always on my list.”
• Sevan Hallajian, Sonja Rheaume and Gloria Vogt-Nilsen donated to goFundMe to support my friend, Stephanie Sawyer, who is headed to Honduras in October to spend a week with Orphan Outreach.
• My niece, Michelle, was collaborating with her three kids to do something in my honor … but I haven’t yet heard what they decided to do!

I know that there are many others who wrote me, describing their “pay it forward” acts – for which I’ve lost track … and I apologize for not listing them all here. (Please post in comments below to remind me of what you’ve done, and to inspire others! Let’s keep it going!)

But by far, the Most Creative Act of Kindness Award goes to a friend from high school, Amy Ording. She and I were friends in 9th grade at St. Stephen’s in Saginaw, Michigan, when Mr. Cowdrey decided to excuse us from his regular World History class and gave us the opportunity to do independent study. Big mistake. Not sure we ever did anything close to studying during that hour!

Amy was a free spirit with a headful of wavy blond curls. She was a great artist and pianist. I remember she had the coolest mom. Amy and I have not seen each other since high school, but because of the magic of Facebook, have reconnected a couple of years ago. She lives in Iola, Wisconsin. Population 1,301. Amy mostly lives off the land. She is a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Specialist for a nonprofit involved in water quality in northeast Wisconsin. She’s two classes aways from a Masters degree. Impressive woman!

And living a lifestyle that couldn’t be more different than mine!

We’ve definitely improved with age! Here we are in 1968 – and today!

She wrote this to me a week ago:

“A while back you asked for random acts of kindness to support you. I live a life of small footprint on the earth. Sometimes not seeing people. Grow food. Have few interactions. You made me think by your request. I work hard to make ends meet. This is a choice, not a struggle. My struggle is in getting out of my head, doing something for others. So I was inspired to try, for you. My first was to offer those long green beans I picked from my garden not to the freezer, but to a person who just suffered a loss and was having meals cooked for her. My second was just yesterday (see, they don’t come easy!) My friend’s husband had 7-hour back surgery and I offered to help deliver 5 piglets, due that afternoon!! Thank you for inspiring me. YOU are an awesome woman.”

WOW! Someone is delivering piglets in my honor. THAT is beyond awesome! I immediately wrote to request photos, which she promptly sent:

I asked if she would name one after me. “Pick one!” she said. I knew it had to be a pink one. Meet little “Murphy” – at lower left!

And so it is that there’s a little pink pig, named Murphy – with curly ears. Turns out she was, “the last one born (#13), the tiniest, pinkest and cutest.” And – the toughest, too!

These are a pics of her first adventures into the great outdoors:

Brave little Murphy, leading the pack of piglets into the great outdoors. On the right, I think Murphy’s pooping!

I couldn’t resist sending back a photo of Murphy’s California cousins:

My collection of flying pigs. Maybe little Murphy will sprout some wings?

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