by Noella Noelophile®
Wednesday morning had an interesting start.
Lying in bed just after sunrise, we heard, CRASH! CRASH!–followed by a series of metallic sounds like a giant knocking over a row of soda cans.
Looking out the window, we saw–a car that had driven up on our neighbor’s porch! With part of the metallic railing knocked out, it was resting on a palm tree, windshield wipers moving back and forth.
Thankfully, no one was injured. It was early enough in the morning that no dog walkers, joggers, bikers etc. were in the area. The driver, looking stunned, came out of his vehicle to make a cell phone call. Police and neighbors arrived, verified everyone was fine and left.
And our neighbor turned to the driver who’d just driven up on his porch and asked, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for a lot of wonderful things: my husband, our families, the great trip we just had to the Bay Area, our health, our careers and the amazing community spirit of all the artists with whom I get to speak, year-round. But it also strikes me that getting to live in a community where, when someone gets awakened by a car on his porch just after six a.m., his first thought is to offer the driver coffee, is truly something special.
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you! May your Thanksgiving weekend be filled with exactly that kind of grace, hospitality and joy.