This time of year is intriguing, it becomes hard to tell what’s real and what’s commercial fluff. And there’s a lot of fluff. Phony happy smiling people who aren’t happy at all. They don’t care one hoot about you. But then there are surprises. The pleasant, unexpected, kind and random gestures that make you believe in humanity again.  

I recently signed up to put my book idea in a contest. (PLEASE VOTE! Just click on this link and vote…http://soopllc.com/blog/book-ideas/passing-wendy-karasin/#.Up3XPPssyfA Thank you.) Anyway, one needs 1000 votes to win this contest, which for me, is close to ridiculous. I don’t know 1000 people on a good day, never mind those who would be willing to bother voting for someone they do not know. I am a writer, and as most writer’s will tell you, we can be a solitary bunch. My family and friends voted, and tweeted, asked their friends, and added my plea to their Facebook pages. They are awesome and I thank each and every one of them. But then – here comes the surprise – people I don’t know, at all, put my query on their walls, on their websites, and ask others to support me as an author and fellow human being. They ask for an autographed copy of my book, which we all know, is not yet published! Honestly, random acts of kindness make me want to hug the world! A shout out to Jeannie for example…who put this on her site with not a word of prodding. I met her online. If you want to check out a positive thinking, good news, antidote to the nightly news, her website would be it!

Jeannie Reynolds commented on her post in LOVE your IMAGE!. Jeannie Reynolds 9:16pm Dec 3 Proudly voted! Original Post Jeannie Reynolds 9:13pm Dec 3 OK “groupies” – here’s a perfect opportunity to show our support to sister and friend – Wendy Perlick Karasin. Please take just a moment and VOTE NOW! ♥ https://wendykarasin.com/2013/12/03/5149/ wendykarasin.com

Which leads me to Gail, another great woman. I met Gail through someone on a non fiction website and LinkedIn that had utilized her services and was now singing her praises. That puts me 3 deep, for the purpose of this post, in people I have in actuality, never met. There are dozens. Gail Nickel-Kailing is – among other things – an editor, which is the original reason I contacted her. She did not feel she could work on my manuscript, “I won’t do it justice,” she said. She was either being polite or honest. But she was willing (and exceptionally able) to take on some of my blog questions. Gail, it appears, was a Silicon Valley lady who knows her technology.

During our 4 – 5 phone calls, she taught me shortcuts I am fairly positive I would not have found left to my own devices and showed me icons I would never have opened, never-mind use. Gail is generous with her time and knowledge, and I found out, because we Skyped last week, she loves cats. Me too!

Sasha in control of the remotes.

BTW, should you need an editor or technology capable lady, Gail’s your gal. Which brings me back to where I started. Some people are genuinely nice. And Gail, my friends, is one of those people!