I was getting a bit anxious, I wanted to buy between 15 and 20 large and small pumpkins for the Mansion residents, but I found it was getting late, most of the pumpkins around here seemed sold out.

I found five or six this morning – they were expensive and raggedy and I ordered two carving kids which arrived today.

This is the kind of activity that could brighten up the Mansion (thanks for selling out the Wish List for games and puzzles almost immediately) this week.

I admit I get obsessive about these tasks of good, I don’t quit until I get what is asked for, and I made sure I can vouch for it. I can’t imagine doing any of this without the Army Of Good behind me.

I had to go to Saratoga today for cardiac rehab and on the way home I passed a  home and garden store – Olde Saratoga Home & Garden and they had all kinds of beautiful things, including all different sizes of pumpkins.

I pulled in, and the store manager, a soft-spoken and courteous man came out. I told him I wanted to buy 10 small pumpkins for the residents of an assisted  care facility, I pointed to the ones I wanted.

I said I’d like ten – I’d already dropped five or six off.  These were beautiful, classic small pumpkins, perfect for carving.

They were $5 each and I prepared to pay $50 in cash. “Let’s say $30,” he said surprising me. “These are for the Mansion, right?” I was shocked again.

“How did you know that?” I asked. “I read your blog,” he said. “I read this morning that you were heading out looking for pumpkins. Then he got out a basket, helped me load them into the car.

What, I wonder, are the odds of that encounter?

That was all Kevin said to me, except for “thank you” when I left.

His name is Kevin McGrath, and he is the manager of the Home & Garden Center. To me, he seemed an angel, a man of good, of few words, and much heart. People like him sustain me and remind me to never quit on humanity.

People like Kevin lift my heart and remind me that there are so many good people in the world. I was blessed to meet him. From now on, I have a pumpkin place for life.

I got them back to the Mansion and we spread them out on the porch. The residents all came crowding out to see the pumpkins they will be carving next week.