“If you ever pass through Barstow, make sure you visit the Veterans Home,” Marianne Davis, the Volunteer Coordinator of the VA Los Angeles Medical Center said to me last week. As it turns out, I found myself driving right through Barstow. What a great call, this visit was needed by all parties involved. Charlie Ross, an Army Signal Corpman was enthused to see me walk through the front door of the Veterans Home. It was lunchtime for the 185 residents and Charlie invited me to the dining room as his guest, giving me the opportunity to talk to many of these Veteran Heroes. Angelina and Dorothy who were at the front desk and allowed The Kindness Bicycle into the building when they saw the smiling faces of those who gathered around me. It was a unique bike that carried the message of Heroes to them. It was a nice break from the daily routine for these Veterans.
I also met Ray today, who was with his daughter from Girl Scout Troop 784. He loved the idea of getting Girl Scouts, taking part nationwide in One Million Acts Of Kindness Week and having The Kindness Certificates as a reminder of a personal goal.

Our neighbor to the north, Canada needs to remain our ally in every respect in this politically and religiously divided world, and besides all of this, they are great people.
On my travels to Nevada, I met a large group of Canadian college students. These 22 students from Lethbridge College, had been on a surfing break from their studies and were on their way back home to Alberta. They were blown away by The Kindness Bus and what it represents. Which brings me to the title of today’s blog, Mending Fences with Kindness. Kindness not only knows no boundaries, kindness can also rebuild relationships, personal relationships and relations between nations.
This group of students represented the hope for positive relations between all countries of the world. If the peoples of a country can get along with the peoples of other countries, the leaders of those countries have the obligation to do the same.

It has been a little more than a year ago since I met Scott and Paula in Vero Beach, Florida. After talking to them for a while Scott decided he wanted to fill the tank of The Kindness Bus with a little kindness. After doing so, he made a generous donation as well. When The Kindness Bus needed a major tune-up today and not realizing the extent and expense of the work, I gave Scott and Paula a call to see if they could help with the expenses. Without hesitation was their positive reaction to my dilemma. As Scott says, “Just keep up the good work you are doing.” This couple is a big boost to keeping this mission moving forward. Their website is www.precisionfitbath.com
Two more angels to the rescue were Rudy and Hector who are are a couple of very talented mechanics. They not only performed the major tune-up at a discounted rate but then gave The Kindness Bus a once-over to make sure I was safe for the road. As I was pulling out of the garage, I was handed 3 bonus quarts of oil.
Next up, rear brakes when I get to Arizona. I am half way to the total on a donation from Phil’s BBQ in San Diego. Anyone else feeling generous?
Thank you to everyone, in the many ways all of you help to keep this mission spreading a message of kindness across our country.

Nearly four months have passed since arriving in California in late October. There are sprawling areas of open land and sprawling cities with huge numbers of people. California, because of its sheer size, both in population and land mass, owns the distinction of being the first in many categories and surveys, when it comes to veterans homelessness.
Starting The Kindness Ride for Heroes in southern California, put me in the largest concentration of active military and veteran populations on the United States. Many return stateside and remain or come to this area live.
On any given night in our country, nearly 80,000 veterans are living on the streets. Sixteen percent of all homeless adults in our country are veterans. Riding The Kindness bicycle through California for the past four months has put me in direct contact with some of these veterans. Many of them aren’t aware of benefits that the VA can offer to them to make life easier. Some of them are hurting so much inside to seem to even care.
Reach out to help the homeless veterans at your next available opportunity, it’s the least we can do for those who put their life on the line for us at one time.

Every year One Million Acts of Kindness Week keeps growing in new ways. This year’s event has inspired me to grow this event by convincing corporations to take part by having their  employees get involved in this important week.
My biggest inspiration for this is because of the participation of Life Care Centers of America. Paul Zani has been my contact person every year since the inception of this event, he is the catalyst for growing this to all 7,500 employees and 4,000 patients at 30 of his Life Care Centers of America facilities.
A big, One Million Acts Of Kindness debt of gratitude goes out to Paul Zani and everyone at LCCA for helping to inspire me to reach new heights with One Million Acts Of Kindness Week.

Every now and then I have writer’s block and have a hard time picking a topic or just the right words to write in my blog. Thoughts do finally come to me and inspiring words are shared. This was not the case today. I was at a complete loss of words and didn’t stroke a single letter on my keyboard. Even though I had a very busy day, it was as if nothing happened, so I decided to give it an overnight rest.
Freshly rested and ready to take on a busy day, I then realized that one of the most powerfully inspiring things happened to me yesterday, since the beginning of The Kindness Bus Tour, and I completely missed it. It could quite possibly be, because it was such a simple gesture.
While resting for a bit on The Kindness Bicycle at a street corner, a boy of about 13 years of age approached me. “Can I make a donation to you,” he said. I try not to interact with kids unless an adult is present, but this young man was wanting to help. He was reading the, ‘Riding for Wounded Warriors’ sign as he walked up. “I only have a quarter, it’s all I have,” he continued. “There are people who need this quarter more than me.”
Everything I am trying to accomplish with One Million Acts Of Kindness is personified in this young man. He is the kind of individual who has been nurtured in kindness and it is reflected in his actions. Every one of us could learn from the this very caring, boy with a quarter.   Today’s picture is of Army Sergeant,  Tyrone with The Kindness Bicycle for Heroes. We were attending the Salute to Veterans dinner/dance at the VA Los Angeles Medical Center.

Having a longer amount of time to complete the 4,000 Mile Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes has reduced my daily ride lengths, allowing me to interact with more people during the course of the day. This I love!!
It is all about the people when you are off on a ride like this. I have met large numbers of all five branches of the military, their families and friends. It is a very proud, patriotic family.
Elizabeth, from North Carolina, who I met this morning, is a very involved Wounded Warrior supporter. She was brought up in an Army family. When she spotted The Kindness Bicycle, she circled the block to come back to talk with me. A good friend of hers is a Wounded Warrior and she wants to do her part to help as needed.
Rob and Amy a young couple who understands the importance of my mission, she works with preschoolers and he with college students, are contacting me to help with One Million Acts Of Kindness Week 2013.
Beth, the General Manager at Marmalade, a local restaurant, offered great words of inspiration and support.