Temperatures flirting with70 degrees will make any student, no matter the amount of cramming needed for an upcoming final, come out to enjoy the weather. As I drove through the streets of this campus, this early afternoon, I could tell that it is going to be a great three days. Kids waving, pulling out their camera phones and loads of smiles were all I saw. I pulled in to the center of campus and the number one parking space was mine. Maybe they knew we were coming. Moments after getting out of The Kindness Bus, Nicole, a student, walked up in amazement. Her interest in the message of kindness was huge. The Kindness Bus has at least one message that hits home with everyone. Jason, from New York, another student walked up as we were talking. Some of his friends that I had just talked with moments earlier sent him. He was very complimentary of this mission and in agreement of the need. Ash and Cameron, two of Jason’s friends joined in the group. By conversations end, I was invited to be on Cameron’s college radio show and to hang out with the group Friday night. Bogart and I stayed on this friendly campus long after nightfall. Bogart “treed” nine squirrels in one chase as he led me through the green space. I had the pleasure of meeting Rusty, a father of a teen-ager. He was so pleased with Bogart, The Bus, and Bob being in town that he treated us to dinner at his restaurant. He got a handful of stickers in return.

Today the online version of the AARP article on One Million Acts Of Kindness was launched. It is a great article written by Vickie Elmer.

It seems that we are running into one day of rain per week, this was that day. Today’s rain was to be an all day soaker. Outdoor activities were curtailed after fifteen minutes making me go with plan B for the day. The problem being, I had no plan B, all that was about to change with a chance meeting. It seems this is how it goes on The Kindness Bus Tour. While drying out over an early morning cup of coffee, I heard a voice in the distance, asking others if they were with the bus. The voice belonged to Elaine Stone, champion of dogs in distress. She provides permanent safe harbor for dogs who have had miserable existences. Once in her care, the dogs live life like royalty. She was very interested in Bogart being a rescue dog. She wanted to know all about him and shared her stories of her beloved dogs. What a great chance meeting and conversation that would warm the heart of any dog lover. Bogart, of course loved meeting her.

Our meeting got me thinking of spending the day volunteering at an animal shelter. As unbelievable as it seems, while driving the bus five minutes later, I see a sign, which reads, Greenville Humane Society. The bus did a hard right into the lot, as if on its own. A woman at the desk said that they really didn’t need anyone. Now I don’t know what kind of look I must have had on my face or if Director, Paula Church just realized that I would do any task, which needed to be done. Two minutes later, she had me working. What a finely tuned operation. What a caring staff. Every dog and cat that comes to the facility is placed. They have been doing this for over sixty years. I love that‼

What a great campus, and Bogart thinks so as well. We both were on our personal missions, Bogart to find a squirrel and I was hoping to find a great person “in the know” at this private university. As we walked toward the Furman University fitness center, several students talked with me about the Kindness Bus and its mission. As we neared the facility, Brandon, a specialist at the facility was very helpful. He and I talked for sometime about One Million Acts Of Kindness. I was trying to get us in the door and Bogart tried to get us kicked out while Brandon and I chatted. Before we parted, Brandon told me the person to talk with was inside at the desk. Hannah Tedder was just who the Kindness Bus Tour needed to meet today, or maybe it was just that the two of us have names that are palindromes; we shared a laugh over that one. Hannah, after hearing of its mission, was all over the idea of passing out stickers at fitness center and telling others of the goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness. As we walked toward the bus, a call of my name sounded, it was Hannah. She asked if I would like to talk at the college Tuesday evening at their Christmas gathering, of course I would love to. More “red carpet” for The Kindness Bus Tour.

Arriving at this campus earlier in the day, The Kindness Bus was welcomed with open arms, from the guard at the front gate, to the two students who talked with me before I left, and everyone in between. This university had some of the most polite students one could meet. Most students, I am realizing, are pre-occupied with upcoming finals, and will talk with me but have limited time. The two students who talked with me just before I left are Mitch and Emily. They were thrilled to see The Kindness Bus on their campus. Now these two kids know a good “ride” when they see one. Both Mitch and Emily have been on their personal one million acts of kindness, long before I arrived today. They are two great kids who respect and value what is important in their lives. I’m betting this entire student body is cut from the same cloth. I am hoping to visit these same two schools tomorrow.

The Kindness Bus Tour is not in Antarctica, but apparently, One Million Acts Of Kindness is. While visiting The Ohio State University, in early September, I met Jamey Stutz, who was readying for a “summer” expedition to Antarctica. He was wondering why so many students had One Million Acts Of Kindness stickers as they entered the building in which he was working. He came out to find Liz and me handing them out. He was so interested in the message; he said he was taking one to Antarctica. Well I don’t want to be accused of “warming” the environment way down under, but this movement is spreading everywhere, literally. Thank you Jamey, for sending this great shot to me on this slow news day for One Million Acts Of Kindness.

Any college, which has a Boston terrier as its mascot, is certainly worth a visit. On my short visit to this peaceful setting, I didn’t see a single squirrel. Boston terriers rule this campus, which is an arboretum as well. There were few students out and about during my limited time on campus. Quality not quantity comes into play at times, and this was one of them. A very inquisitive student approached as I positioned Bogart for today’s photo. Justice Joslin was this young man’s name. He was so interested in The Kindness Bus Tour and the way in which its message is delivered. He talked about traveling the country in a bus after graduation. We talked about him making great meaning of his travels and impacting others along the way. I know he will. Justice is the kind of young man that when you talk to him you can tell he is going to do great things with his life. Keep this young man on your radar screen. Justice agreed to spread the message of a goal of kindness to others. When asked if I could talk about him in the blog, he could not have been more thrilled. There were a couple of other students, Matt, and another student on a skateboard. Both were very helpful with finding my way around campus. I only had contact with twenty people in an hour or so. All the students were very interested in The Kindness Bus Tour. This campus should be on the wish list of all future students and their parents…I am sure Bogart approves as well.

When the first building you see as you pull on to a campus is the School of Nursing and the School of Education building, you just know you are going to have a good visit. This small school with a big name, USC Upstate, is all about being friendly, perhaps it is because these students are about to enter careers where it will be their job to help others. Everyone I talked to was so welcoming. I think I had a conversation with everyone on campus, or it at least seemed that way. Two very helpful and very interested women who work in Financial Services, Debra Caudill, and Eris Bagwell were both so complimentary. As I stood at the window, to their department, they both went to their computer screens and logged on to the One Million Acts Of Kindness website. They were in agreement with everything they saw. They both spoke of how they were going to spread the message of kindness to their families.

**As I re-read that last sentence after typing it, it dawned on me the potential that kindness has.      Re-read it for yourself, and if you have a few minutes, think about the potential that kindness has in your life…and the life of everyone in your family.  They both spoke of how they were going to spread the message of kindness to their families.

Two colleges in two states in the same day is a new high-water mark for One Million Acts Of Kindness. Bogart and I have tracks to make over the next week and a half before we head back home for Christmas. We went for provisions early in the morning and came out of the store to see several people walking around the bus. One rarely gets a break when you drive the Kindness Bus. I talked to several people when I reached the bus, and others would come and then others. I didn’t leave for twenty minutes or so. People even asked if they could pose by the bus with you know who. He even seems to smile for the camera now.

We arrived at Johnson C. Smith University not knowing it was a gated, private university. The guard at the gate waved me through when I told him I was delivering a bus-load of kindness. Bogart and I headed for the Student Union, to see if it would be a popular spot for students before exam week. We guessed right. There were a number of students in the courtyard area of the Student Union. Before we could get to the Student Union, a very interested Charles Amerson, who is the student activities director, said he would do everything in his power to get stickers to the students. What a nice man to take time out of his busy day, to help spread this message to his students. We met many students during our half-mile walk to and from the bus. On the way out the front gate, I stopped to get the guard some stickers as well, but found a new guard, Angel Bennett, who couldn’t have been any more interested in The Kindness Bus Tour. She could cheer you up with just her smile.

It was late afternoon before we arrived in Gaffney, SC, at Limestone College. This is the time of year kids are pre-occupied with exams. Even though it was in the mid-sixties outside, students were inside doing their due diligence. This small campus had a few dozen students making their way from building to building. We talked to most of them. Britt from New York and Ali from Cape Cod, two lacrosse stars from Limestone, said they would love to be ambassadors on their campus, by talking to their fellow students about this great cause. What a friendly town Gaffney is. Many residents, more than usual waved as we passed by…but then I remember, Bogart is on my bed, staring out the window.