So I don't know if I've made this clear to all of you, but my overall view of the human race is that we suck. We pretty much ruin everything we touch. I mean, throw 50 people into a place where there is goodness and beauty, and if one person doesn't ruin it all another person will. Pretty much because of selfishness, nearsightedness, and pure stupidity.
But every once in a while, I realize that along with all that suckiness, we have the potential to be really good. And that realization usually comes as a result of seeing someone, somewhere, doing something that is purely good.
So yesterday, it was pouring rain as I was driving home from work. I was taking the back streets, and I saw this woman sitting in the road. (This was 9th East, so a very busy road.) She was by the corner of an intersection, but definitely IN the road. She had this fierce, protective look to her, and was not moving even though cars were coming really close to her. It was kind of an usual sight, so I watched her trying to figure out what was going on. I eventually realized she was sitting by an open storm drain which was flooding with water.
On the sidewalk near her were three big mechanic guys. They had clearly come over from the car repair shop on the corner. They were fussing over a cardboard box.
As I watched, one of the guys pointed over to the grass--where there was a duck. Not just a duck, but a panicking, quacking female duck.
I said to my car, "Are there DUCKLINGS in that box?"
And right as I said it, one of the guys reached into the box and lifted out a little yellow fuzzy duckling, which started peeping for all he was worth. He rushed to his mother, who was rushing toward him.
I have to say, seeing those people so concerned for those little ducklings made me remember how good we all can be. I wanted to write this as a salute to those people, and the kind of people who will stop what they are doing to protect baby ducks in the middle of a downpour. Good job.
