can we talk

Can we talk about something for a minute? 

 Of course we can, this is my blog, we can talk about whatever I want. 

 So this town I live in - it's incredible. Let's start with 1000 Kind Deeds Day. It's an annual event where Nika works with friends, family and her followers to complete 1000 Kind Deeds in honor of her dad. Cut to the end - she did it, but only because the whole freaking town rallied, pitched in, donated and lifted her up. 

She's 11 - they didn't need to listen to her - they didn't need to do anything - but they did - they always do. Yesterday. I made a post - apparently there is a damn cracker shortage in this state and I have not been able to find saltine crackers for two weeks. Usually no big deal, but Nika's been asking me for a month. Less tham 12 hours later there were saltines on our front porch. Whhhhhaaaaat? 

 And then, this: Tomorrow is Winter Walk in our town. It's the kind of stuff Hallmark movies are made of (they did actually film one during it about 6 years ago). The streets are lut with candles, the shops all serve cookies and cider and cocoa and candy canes. Santa visits, there are horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers and a general feeling of festive camaraderie in our community. Every year of her life Nika has attended winter walk with her dad. Every year. I was never able to join them because I worked every Thursday, but even before Nika could talk, Rico fell in love with this little tradition, and always bundled her up and brought her downtown to see the lights and the model trains and the live reindeer. 

This is Nika's first Winter Walk without him. We come home today to find this cozy Winter Walk sweatshirt on out doorstep with a note from a local shop. It said, "We wanted to share some kindness with you. We know that winter walk was special for you and your dad. Please wear this in his memory." Honestly. For real? First of all, how could they possibly know that Winter Walk was special to Nika and Rico? The only possible explanation I can find is that someone who works there read his obituary (which mentioned that he loved Winter Walk). Even if that were the case - they would have had to read the obituary in September, hold onto that info until December, figure out her size, find our address, sneak to the porch unnoticed and deliver it the day before we are heading downtown without him. She hasn't taken it off since she got it. I'm not sure she ever will.