Barb Caffrey's Blog

So far, 2025 as a year has not been kind to most of us. There is so much going on that’s awful…whether it’s politicians saying things that are nonsensical (not just United States politicians, either), wildfires breaking out and causing sudden evacuations in California, the colder-than-cold winter (caused so far by relatively high humidity, at least in Southeastern Wisconsin, along with the cold temps, making this the type of cold weather that chills one to the bone), it can be hard to find good things to talk about.

Good things still happen, though. They happen all the time.

Here’s one good thing that happened to me last weekend. I had just finished shopping for food and had a sudden craving for onion rings. (I hadn’t had them in over a year.) I went to a Burger King and ordered what I could afford: a medium-sized order of onion rings and a value soda. To my surprise, the cashier gave me a large-sized order of onion rings plus the soda, and didn’t charge me anything.

I was perplexed, and asked her again if she wanted the money I’d planned to spend. She said, “May you have a blessed day” and refused my money. I said, “May you have one also! Thank you!” and drove off with a smile on my face.

I have to say those onion rings are probably the best I’ve ever tasted, too.

I also read, today, the story of actor Steve Guttenberg’s actions out in California. He’s now sixty-six years old and is known mostly for the series of films starting with “Police Academy.” I hadn’t thought about him in years, though he’s an excellent comic actor…anyway, Guttenberg’s actions during the current crop of awful wildfires out in California have been exemplary. He has said — my best approximation — that if you are able-bodied, or if you are able at all, you need to help others.

See, the wildfires are so bad out there that people have been leaving their cars with the keys inside, just trying to get away. Some of the folks who’ve had to do this are older, or are mobility impaired (as I am), and Guttenberg dislikes it when people just act like they’re all for themselves and forget about everyone else. He has pointed out that this is a community of people, and they all need help. He’s going to stay there and help as long as he can, because he’s a human being and he cares.

Maybe as many as ten years ago, or fifteen years ago, this would not have been a story, even though it happened to a well-known actor. It is now because so many people have forgotten the axiom “one hand for the self, one hand for the ship.” (My father was in the U.S. Navy, as I’ve said before, and that was one of his favorite sayings ever.)

Mind you, “so many people” is still a minority rather than a majority, thank goodness, or we’d not see actions like those of Steve Guttenberg. Or of the cashier at Burger King, either, for that matter.

So, as you go about your week, keep this in mind: Kindness matters. (Still.) Do your best to be kind, help others, and treat everyone the way you want to be treated: with respect and dignity. That’s what’s needed in this world, now more than ever…and that’s why I wrote this blog, because I was so happy to see it.