Cool li'l Yellow Bracelet (Page 2)

I went to three lbs today and everyone was out or the bands.  One had an order in for 400 due to arrive Mon ot Tuesday.  I was dissapointed.  When I went to the last shop, where I was picking up my pack for my oly on Sunday, I was told again, no dice.  We can't get them.  I said how dissapointing.  It turns out I was talking to Jim,  the owner of Brittonbikes here in San Antonio.  He looked at me for a momnet, smiled, took his off and gave it to me, forcing me to take it.  With two two conditions:  One, that I buy one when they get a new shipmnet in so that the foundation would get the money and two, that if anyone asks for it, I will take it off and give it to that person with a smile.

Jim gained a lifelong customer today, simply because he had no reason to give me the band other than simple human kindness and what the band represents to him - common humanity, strugle and triumph in the face of defeat.  People coming together to spit in the face of cancer.  I learned some valuable lessons today.  There is more kindness out there than many, including me, suspect and the value of something is not measured in dollars or even in usefullness, but in perception.  This little band has become very valueable to me because I was touched by a small act of kindness that effected me (and I am not all that easy to effect, trust me...).  It is valueable to others for various reasons - fighting cancer, anouncing "I ride" to other bikers like a secret handshake, or even to support lance in the tour.  Whatever the reason, the band has become something more than what was originally intended, I think.  I know it has for me.  It connected my to my fellow man.  Strange, but that is what happened.  I don't think anyone, nike or lance, could have predicted the level of interest that there is in this band. 

Thomas

Well, I can't promise to be good..., buy I will try not to be too bad...