Last week, my friend Diane posted a photo of a sign that an artist painted in her neighborhood in Los Angeles on her Facebook page. I really loved the gesture (the sign AND that she posted it). This week she posted this thread of photos and comments on Facebook and I loved it so much that I asked her if I could share it with you here.
The Kingbirds – posted with permission from Diane Ruggiero (all photos credited to her, too.)
An unknown artist paints a lovely sign and hangs it on a telephone pole, letting the neighborhood know about the arrival of a flock of kingbirds. I love the gesture and the sign so I write a “Thank You” note and pin it to the same pole.
The next day the sign is gone, my Thank You note is gone and there are two new envelopes hanging on the pole. One, addressed to the Kingbird sign painter, and the other, apparently to me.
I haven’t called the guy yet but it was a NEW JERSEY number.
The next day my “Thank You” note envelope was back on the pole.
The comments on her thread pretty much sum up my feelings about it:
> Jenny … “I love every bit of this story. Every bit.”
> Marlo … “wow”
> Anna … “I want to marry this thread.”
> Claudine … “And ….scene. PERFECT.”
> Sherry … “Amazing.”
> Michael … “Lo and behold, some sweet and lovely people out there in the world. Thank you for sharing this…”
And the one that made me think to write this post:
> Bill … “This story genuinely made me feel today ‘there is hope for us all.’”
A simple, hopeful story from an old friend lifted my spirits during an otherwise dreary week. I hope it lifted yours, as well. To hope! Many thanks to Diane for posting and letting me share this story!
PS. I often joke that if I see a news story about someone from my hometown (Old Bridge, NJ) that it usually involves a crime (that is an exaggeration). I AM proud to say that I remember seeing a story about up and coming women comic writers in Glamour magazine many years ago and Diane was in it. Since then, her credits include: That’s Life, Veronica Mars, the US remake of “Free Agents”, Dirty Sexy Money, Big Shots and The Ex List. (How cool is that?!)