I met the biggest Hero of my life today. It was an incredible honor! His name is Michael Fox. I met Michael’s dad, Tweed, a few days ago, while on one of my coffee breaks from The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes. Tweed asked me if I could talk to his son. Before he finished his sentence, my mind went to the thought that his son might be having a hard time in school or that his son might have a problem with drug use. That was not at all what Tweed wanted me to talk to his son about.
Wherever I am during the course of the day, I make myself very visible. The Kindness Bus is an advanced guerrilla marketing tool. The Kindness Bicycle extols the values for the issues it represents. I wear a highly self explanatory jersey. And when I am at a coffee shop or restaurant, I pick a table that everyone has to walk by and I strategically place my literature in full view to try and start conversation with as many people as possible. Tweed chimed in first as he was in line near my table. “I’m wondering if you can talk with my son Michael. He is Marine Corporal and he is at Balboa Naval Hospital.” In a nanosecond I had an answer for him. Tweed gave me Michael’s cell phone number and we talked soon after.
Michael is a Hero. He is more patriotic in his mid twenties, than most people are in their entire lives. Michael chose to become a Marine to protect our freedoms. Freedom to live the life we live right down to being able to ordering a triple venti skinny mocha with no whipped and be able to complain about it when it isn’t just perfect.
Michael and I met a couple of days ago. It has been nearly 12 weeks since Michael stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan. Michael lost both legs just below the knees to that IED. Many surgeries later and now learning to walk again with two prosthetic legs, Michael is amazingly upbeat. He is even talking about going to Florida to fly fish in the very near future.
Michael and I talked for an hour about family, honor, role models and both of our plans for the future, both short term and long. Tweed was quoted in a recent newspaper article that Michael will make something good come of this. Reading that quote, one could tell of the high standards Michael was brought up with. We shared many smiles about life and many other stories. Michael even bragged that he is gonna have a Bluetooth knee. I went to Balboa to thank Michael and he ended up thanking me. We are getting together in a few more days on my way north through San Diego. Thank you Michael for being of the highest moral character and being a Hero to all of us.
Complaining about that triple venti skinny mocha with no whipped being not quite perfect seems pretty flippin’ trivial about right now.

“I could get up every morning for the rest of my life, to a view like that,” Nuvane said from his 2nd floor window, about his birds eye view of The Kindness Bus. Starting my day, hearing words like those, I knew it was going to be a very special day.
I rode all throughout the streets of downtown San Diego today, the response is incredible everywhere The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes goes.
Today was all about enjoying the perfect weather during my ride. The conversations and words of praise were so encouraging. One outdoor group on a patio, as I was passing them by for the 2nd time, gave The Kindness Bicycle a standing O. I am still blown away. One thing is for sure, this country wants the message of who the real heroes are, to be a message that all of us embrace.
Yesterday’s travels took me through some of these same streets as today and to meetings with Firefighters from Firehouse #4 and soon to be retiring Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Carle at his administrative offices. The feeling was unanimous, The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is very much appreciated.
Thank you to Larry, the owner of Lions Coffee, for his generosity and a late afternoon caffeine boost.
One Million Acts Of Kindness Week is in nine days, please let everyone in your life know about this important week.

You can’t come to San Diego and not go to Coronado. A ten minute ride by ferry from San Diego gets you to this Island where it is a great way to spend a day.
I came to honor Heroes and thank them for their work. I paid a visit to the Police Department but found that all were out on patrol with all of the tourists in town for the day. My visit to the Coronado Fire Department netted much better results. Jon without an H, Mark with a K and Brian, who Jon and Mark joked, is so old he used to teach some ancient scholars. These guys were a so much fun to talk with and they included me in their camaraderie as we kidded each other about how well they get along.
This island serves as home to the Navy as the northern half is the North Island Naval Complex. Many Navy personnel spotted the Wounded Warrior signs on The Kindness Bicycle. Much interest in my trip ensued. I met the wife of a Navy EOD expert, she has particular respect for all of the brave forces in the field.
Ten days and counting until One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Please take the time to plan to take part in this week.

I started the day at the Encinitas Elks Lodge 2243, the Best People On Earth let me overnight in The Kindness Bus, making for a very restful night in a quiet neighborhood. I set out for an early morning ride in Del Mar, California.
Getting great interest from the moment I put The Kindness Bicycle on the ground in Del Mar and at the urging of a couple of local residents, I called the local newspaper, The Del Mar Times. Claire, the editor of the paper came out to interview me and take some photos for the upcoming edition. I gave her enough information to fill an entire section if she wishes. What a very professional interview, with very good questions to help me tell my story.
I met Danny from the Army 82nd Airborne, who has been home from Iraq for a few weeks. He had many kind comments about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
Captain Patrick O’Neil from the Del Mar Fire Department met with me as well. He has many nieces and nephews and loves the idea of kids learning about the real role models in today’s society. He was very excited about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
With the level of interest the residents of this town had for The Kindness Bus Tour, I am making a point to stop in this town as I head north early next week.
This afternoon, I visited Marine Corporal Michael Fox. I will write about this Hero tomorrow.

The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes began in the busiest regions of the nation for those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. With Marines nearby at Camp Pendleton, the US Naval Station in San Diego and the Marines Air Base at Miramar, the San Diego area has a big military presence. Many of those severely injured come to be rehabbed at the Naval Hospital at Balboa and the VA Medical Center at La Jolla. It seems as if everyone on this area has a tie militarily or personally to someone connected with the military.
Chacet is a senior in high school. She stopped and asked me how she could help to support The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes. She has a big interest in Wounded Warriors as her mom is making a career in the Navy. Chacet is planning on entering the Army when she graduates. She is one of my high school heroes.
With the number of connections I have made in this area over the past few days, I am hoping The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes will be able to visit a base and for sure a hospital.

It is a challenge most days to ride my nearly 30 miles. Not physically, mind you, but for all of the conversations. I love all of the attention The Kindness Bicycle is receiving. People chase me down to tell me their stories or stop and talk to me during a planned break.
“I just want to thank you for doing this. My stepfather was killed in the line of duty,” she said. JR and her daughter stopped by The Kindness Bicycle after reading the signs about riding for Police and Firefighters. The families who are left to deal with losing a loved one for the rest of their lives. At the very minimum, please take the time to remember those who protect and serve, enabling us to enjoy our safety and freedoms.
I’m learning of heroes everywhere I travel. I’m also learning the interest schoolchildren have for these issues.
Andre, Kile and Jacob from a local junior high school found me while riding on their longboards to shake hands. Nick and his mother Michele stopped by for a visit to praise the work I do. Nick saw the bus previously in northern California. Thank you Nick and Michele for the inspiring words. Ryan and Cameron from a local high school called me from the phone number on The Kindness Bus. Their interest and the questions they asked of me, reassures me that the generation they represent, are going to take part in some very remarkable accomplishments.
Thank you to the Coastline Community Church for their hospitality in allowing me to rest safely.

Reaching children while they are young, with messages of positive influence is imperative. Today I stopped by six schools, during my ride, to talk with principals and counselors about my Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes. Anna Pedroza, Principal at Oak Crest Middle School was most moved by my message that she took time out of her busy day to get a look at The Kindness Bicycle outside. Stephanie the theater teacher-director at the San Dieguito Academy, the local high school, was thrilled to see The Kindness Bicycle roll into her offices. Her husband, a Marine, is in charge of helping with the long term recovery of 50 Wounded Warrior Heroes at a nearby base hospital. Every need should be filled for these heroes. Please arrange for a visit to a local VA Hospital to talk with some of these heroes. It means the world to them to hear someone say thank you.
Two weeks from today is the beginning of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Let everyone you know about this very important event.