Jeff McCabe and Lisa Gottlieb introduced themselves to me at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market earlier in the week; they wanted to know all about the Kindness Bus Tour. An invite to stay at their home and have breakfast at their Selma Cafe’ grew out of that meeting. Arriving late last night I rolled up in front of their home and called it a day. On Fridays, people from all around the area and beyond come to meet at this once a week establishment. Lisa was kind enough to introduce me to the crowd and it started the conversation. Over 150 people come to catch up with the goings-on in the community. It was a perfect opportunity for me to spread my message to them.
Local farmers and groups were stationed near the entrance to provide fresh produce and information to the crowd. I stayed until late morning when most everyone was gone. I met a very interested Valerie in a nearby shopping center, she took a small stack of stickers to pass to her friends.
We headed to the University of Michigan one last time and was able to talk with many of the “early risers” this late morning. Ann Arbor proved to be a very friendly town as all three nights here, we stayed at three different homes, a virtual accommodation “hat trick.”  My sincere thanks to all.

We made the mid-morning drive from Ann Arbor to East Lansing, home of the Spartans of Michigan State. Chris, a finance major from Chicago was very helpful and also recommended the subject for today’s photograph. Meagan, a parking services employee said “I don’t know where everyone is today,”  but pointed me in a couple of promising directions. We scoured the campus grounds to look for activities. We discovered a cheerleading competition of over 250 high school girls competing on the Michigan State campus; the parents and kids loved Bogart, The Kindness Bus and my message. We drove into Lansing and before my feet hit the ground I was told the first thing I needed to do, by Julie, a state employee, was to visit Virg Bernero, Mayor of Lansing, and then visit her husband Brendan from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Earlier this week, Virg won a state primary election and will be in a good position to promote One Million Acts Of Kindness in government. Brendan told me that he was going to write in the Bureau’s blog about my mission. A local resident, Mark and I had lunch to learn about how I was able to make the transformation from my life in Cleveland to a life of living in The Kindness Bus. He is on the path to doing some great work for others in this world. His website, imagenate.org, has some wonderfully thought provoking ideas.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon on the Michigan State campus talking to whomever would listen. The Red Cross blood mobile was on campus today so I let them dispense with a pint of my AB- high test.
The evening hours were spent back in Lansing at a street music festival which gave The Kindness Bus Tour a great bit of exposure to this captive audience.
Earlier in the day a very caring Ali, from a local coffee shop expressed how awesome and necessary this kindness movement is for everyone. Big compliment! Thank you.

An early start to the day made it possible to find the prime parking spot at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. Cynthia, my hostess last night, saw to it that I was introduced to all of the people she knew, which made it helpful in connecting. I made sure by market closing time that I had talked with all stand owners and many shoppers. Vickie Elmer, a local Ann Arbor resident, who wrote a wonderful article about One Million Acts Of Kindness in the AARP Newsletter earlier this year, stopped by The Kindness Bus to say hello. I met two others who extended invites to dinner at their homes with family and friends. One of the two was Sarah who invited me to her dinner party this evening.
Bogart and I spent the remainder of the afternoon near the corner of State and University at the University of Michigan campus. We were able to talk with a few hundred students in this highly traveled area. Parking is difficult even at this time of year, I can’t imagine how tough it must be when everyone is back in town. The parking gods must have been smiling down on us while in town.
This evening, Bogart and I were guests in the home of Sarah and “Lieutenant” Dan Nicoli. Bogart got some much needed “dog time” with their two dogs as he made sure they got their fill of “catch me if you can”. I got some much needed stimulating dinner conversation. Sassa, Jan, Lisa and Jim, friends of the Nicoli’s, were the four other dinner guests. What a fun bunch of friends. We spent the evening laughing the hours away. Much of the evening was spent on telling of The Kindness Bus Tour and the great people and stories along the way. Evenings such as this, make my travels all the easier. A number of great ideas to better my mission came out of our conversation. Sassa is going to promote One Million Acts Of Kindness in her native, Sweden.

Putting my one day vacation in my rear view mirror, I headed west toward Michigan. The Kindness Bus is usually the slowest vehicle on the freeway, nearly everyone passes me. I love the fact that I no longer have to rush to get everywhere. Being able to take my time when I travel, allows me to have the opportunity to talk with people when I stop to eat or gas up.  Two people I was honored to meet were Dan and Ashley from upstate New York. They were admiring The Kindness Bus when I returned from paying for gas. It was refreshing to meet such caring, young adults. They are on their way to Oregon to get involved in some great community efforts. With the rest of their lives in front of them, they are going to accomplish loads. I love the fact that there are so many in their generation, being so pro-active in local and world issues. They are going to spread the message of kindness throughout their lives.
Todd and Cynthia were the two of the first people I met when I got out of the bus in Ann Arbor. Within minutes of meeting them, they extended the hospitality of staying on their farm on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. This is such a big help when I am traveling, as it is one less thing I have to think about when I arrive in a new town.
The campus was filled with thousands of students and I was able to park The Kindness Bus in some key spots. I interacted with a couple of hundred students on this short day, a number of them already were aware of One Million Acts Of Kindness. I love how this message is starting to spread.
I stayed out until the light of day started to dim and headed to Todd and Cynthia’s farm. A home-cooked, home-grown meal was being prepared when I arrived. Cynthia grows most everything and the freshness was evident in every bite. Ann Arbor is one friendly hometown.
All day long, this Ohio boy was helped by people from Ann Arbor; kindness knows no rivalry.

A one week detour to Michigan, before heading to New York City wasn’t in the plans, but it is just the sort of continual itinerary change which keeps The Kindness Bus Tour interesting. I plan to visit the University of Michigan and Michigan State campuses during this time. These campuses are so large that there is bound to be thousands of students here even in August.
On the way, I decided to stop in Vermilion, Ohio because of it’s proximity to Lake Erie and because I have a friend with a beautiful sailboat. (It’s sunny and 80 degrees with a steady onshore wind and I’m playing hooky) While driving through this charming town with my friend, I saw an inviting building with a sign which read, “Mayor’s Office” I decided to pay her a visit. We were met by Anne, a very friendly Administrative Assistant who was thrilled to learn of One Million Acts Of Kindness and get a small stack of kindness stickers for the city employees. Mayor Eileen Bulan appeared from her office to hear of The Kindness Bus Tour arriving in her friendly town. The Mayor requested that I leave The Kindness Bus on the street, right in front of the building. This act of kindness was as if she gave me the key to her fine city. If you are ever in Northern Ohio, put Vermilion on your list of places to visit.
The Kindness Bus is the only one working today, Bogart is going for his first sail of his life.

When the U.S. Air Force announced in 1997 that it was no longer going to use chimpanzees for research in their NASA program, Carole Noon, after a year-long battle to gain custody of chimps from the laboratory they were given to, rescued 21chimps and relocated them to the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida. Over the course of the next few years, chimps from the entertainment business, pet trade and the biomedical research industry were added to the original number.
In 2002 Save the Chimps took over the Coulston Foundation Laboratory in New Mexico and its 266 chimps. Coulston had lost its funding due to violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In one day’s time, Save the Chimps became the world’s largest chimpanzee rescue sanctuary.
Over the past several years nearly half of the Coulston chimps have made their way to their new home at the Fort Pierce sanctuary. A total of 12 islands are now home to these 250 very well cared for chimpanzees.
In one week’s time a chimp will eat an average of 7 pounds of apples, 10 pounds of bananas, 3 pounds of oranges and 4 pounds of tomatoes along with several other types of fruit and vegetables. Monkey chow, oatmeal, pasta and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches round out these herbivore’s menu.
I was the very honored guest of Jocelyn Bezner VMD one Sunday earlier this year. She gave me a personal walking tour around the perimeter of the islands and the interiors of various structures on the grounds. I am one lucky guy, almost as lucky as these chimpanzees.
SaveTheChimps.org is a wonderfully managed website which has creative ways to interact online.