Life By The Slice, The column - observations on life, relationships and humanity - sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, always from the heart.

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RELEASED DECEMBER 29, 2003

If I Could Be So Kind

"We'll take a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne."

- Robert Burns, 1788

Instead of resolutions for the New Year, I prefer to make recollections of the old one. I have just one rule: recall the kindness. The benefits? Unlike resolutions, you can't break memories. More importantly, the list I make serves as a gentle reminder throughout the following months to choose to be kind when my nature wants to be otherwise.

In that spirit, I'll share an incident of uncommon kindness I witnessed on Christmas day.

My friend's cat, Whiskers (although I call her Bob because of her short tail), was hit by a car last month and suffered a broken jaw and other injuries from which she survived. After she came home from the animal hospital, she was quarantined from the two other pets in the household -- Labrador Retrievers.

One Lab, Conan, is the baby. He's nine months old, the size and weight of a pony, and I'm not certain, but I think he has ADD. He's a constant blur of motion from one end of the house to the other. Therefore, it was with much surprise when I paid a visit and saw for myself what I consider nothing short of a miracle.

We were in the living room where the two Labs were playing tug of war with a rope about the size of the cat. It was similar to a pro wrestling match. Lots of growling and body slamming. Then Whiskers wobbled pitifully into the room. All activity ceased. Conan went to her, flopped down to her level, licked her wounds, coat, and rested quietly for five minutes.

Here was a dog, who by his very nature should be chasing the cat, but instead was doing for her what she could no longer do for herself. And when he was finished, he stayed by her side.

I wonder how much better my world would be if I manage to be even half as kind as Conan in 2004?

Happy New Year, everyone!