Day 141: A.C.'s Easter Story

I haven't been writing on here very much, mainly because I'm sad, but also, Its hard to share my feelings with the rest of the world.  I feel that my heartache and pain and emotional pleas for A.C. are meant to be between me and him.  However, today is a special day for my family as we sit and think of A.C.  He is a man who is filled with a desire to make people happy.  Even a total stranger.  He would go unbelievably out of his way for anyone to make them feel special.  Especially if that person was a child. 

This story is about 2 children and how A.C. went to considerable lengths to make their Easter unforgettable. 

Last year, A.C. and I thought it would be fun to dye Easter eggs.  We spent the evening mixing dye and trying to find just the right shades.  It will forever remain one of my favorite memories of him.

 
The rest of the evening was uneventful, watching tv or something until we all went to bed.   The next morning, we were having brunch out on the patio but A.C. kept looking around the corner at the neighbor's house.  We finally asked him what he was looking for.  He didn't reply, just asked us if we thought they were awake yet.  We all looked at him puzzled, (why do we care if the neighbors are awake or not??) and begged him to tell us what was going on. 

He said that last night, after we all went to bed, he got in his car and drove to WalMart.  He bought plastic Easter eggs and candy and small gifts.  He stayed up all night filling each egg with candy or little prizes.  Then walked over to the neighbor's house and strategically placed each one for the 2 children to find.  He started with a trail of eggs leading down from their back steps where they would see a colorful array of eggs dispersed throughout the yard. He had them hidden on their back porch, in the trees, in the flower bed, some easily placed in the yard for the little one.  After he tells us this story, we are all looking at him with confusion and amazement.  Why?? Why did you do this? What possessed you to stay up all night and give this gift to these kids that you've never even met?? His reply: I dont know, sounded like fun! 

Well, mom marched right over there to inform them that all this activity was in fact A.C.'s doing and not a crazy person/sexual predator, and that the candy was safe to eat and not filled with razor blades or something of that nature.  Moms.... who thinks of stuff like that??  Anyway, when she came back, her eyes were filled with tears.  Here is what the neighbors told her:

The neighbors consist of a single mom with 2 small children.  After an unfortunate series of events, she and her 2 small children had to move back home with her parents.  The three of them live in a small apartment above the garage.  In the main house, lives the 2 grandparents, one of which is suffering from alzheimers.  When the mother awoke that morning and opened the back door to walk down the stairs to take her kids to Sunday breakfast with the grandparents, she was shocked to see the yard.  As her kids started running after the eggs screaming "The Easter Bunny Came!!!" over and over and giggling with excitement at their new found treasures, the mom was filled with a sense of guilt.  She had completely forgotten that today was Easter.  She ran inside the main house and thanked her parents for remembering the holiday and for giving these gifts to the kids.  The grandparents looked at her confused.  They too had forgotten the holiday.  Then, they sat outside and watched as the kids hunted for the eggs and squealed with delight as each one was found and opened to reveal the hidden surprises of candy.  Who could have given them this special day??

As mom told us this story, we all turned to look at A.C., jaws dropped, in how amazing this story was.  What in the world could have possessed him to do such a thing for these kids.  And what were the odds that 3 people in the house next door completely forgot that it was a holiday.  But because of A.C. the kids never had to know that they were forgotten. 

A.C.- always willing to go the extra mile to make someone feel special.  Always willing to give of himself to make others feel loved.  Always seeking for ways to be kind and NEVER looking for anything in return. 

I tell you this story to remind you that everyday we feel something deep in our heart, or in our soul, a little nudge to show kindness to others around us.  So next time you feel that inclination to compliment someone, or get someone a card, or to go out of your way to buy someone a gift or do them a favor, And you have that moment when you start talking yourself out of it, you tell yourself, Well, we're not really that good of friends, or I dont really know them that well, or I'm sure someone else will take care of that, or whatever excuse you may come up with to NOT do the nice gesture... Just Remember, Its A.C., tugging on your heart strings, because he knows that this person may be having a rough time, and needs a little extra kindness, and he's using you to make that person feel special.   So do it.  Do the random act of kindness because deep down, you know A.C. wouldn't have hesitated.

Happy Easter Bubba!!

I miss you