78 Comments
User's avatar
Lita Sandoval's avatar

I love Jen! She’s Christmas-y AF year round!

Karen Kirby's avatar

You are a wonderful human being!

George T's avatar

When I was 21 and my brother was 16, he died from a brain tumor. One of the sisters at the hospital took the remaining 3 kids aside and told us to continue to keep our love for our brother alive and active by giving it, not burying it under our sorrow. I'm 58 now, and I continue to do something nice on his birthday every year for someone else without being found out. Sure, it makes me feel good, but it also preserves the love I have for my brother, refreshing and slowing the fading memory of him. So, yeah. Keep it up.

Charles's avatar

So, you’re gonna make me tear up with every story? Still a little behind from the holiday and a new puppy and just got to this one. Keep going Mike, you have a gift. Now I need to get Christmasy as fuck!

TT hiking's avatar

wonderful! Jen sounds like a wonderful person - bringing joy to many.

Anna's avatar

I could not love this more! I’m inspired!

Nancy CJ's avatar

Thank you for that..I will indeed, also, pay it forward

Lesley Smith's avatar

Hi Hoarse

Really enjoyed this; thanks. PS, I'm heartbroken to see that you blocked me on Twitter. I hope I didn't insult you somehow (I wondered where you went). Please vet me at @relentles99. TY and many blessings 🙏

Patience's avatar

I could read this story for awhile. I like “Christmas-y as fuck” it suits you— as does the pen. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Connie's avatar

There is no better feeling than being a real life Santa Claus in disguise as an anonymous ‘stranger’ being a really kind human. This kinda stuff is what can achieve world peace. Can you imagine? How simple really.

Jennifer's avatar

Awwww. Love this!!!!!

David Murphy's avatar

Paying it forward is the best if you have the means. I do okay and I love to buy a stranger a coffee or breakfast at my Wawa. Sometimes they are a hair confused by the gesture. Mostly they are thankful and blurt “I’ll get the next one”. Beautiful writing and actions.

Tracy's avatar

Tears on my pillow reading this. And I just ordered a shirt for my son who writes a fantastic substack but I sometimes spot a grammatical error or two. Love your paying it forward and in your honor I will do that today somewhere.

Glen Wilson's avatar

If you had said that you used the money to pay for car repairs, a better camera lens, a trip with you're (sorry couldn't resist) son or something else then I would have been perfectly fine with that. We all need to survive. Even if this was just a story and not an actual event it shows that you can use words to create emotions in someone thousands of miles away. Well done sir.