Be Nice.

Yesterday Mommy went to Kahala Mall to get a mani-pedi. She likes to have fancy toes.

Some thing interesting happened while I was there. I sat down in the massage chair and made conversation with the two lovely ladies who did my nails: Thao and Nancy. They smiled and asked me how my weekend was going. I told them, and we talked about all kinds of things, including you. They were so excited to hear that I was adopting you, and said that if you are a girl that they can't wait for me to bring you in so we can do a mommy-daughter mani-pedi (You know what? Me, too!).

The service included the basics, but I noticed that they threw in some extras--mainly Thao, who not only massaged my arms but gave me a shoulder rub, too. I was so grateful, as my neck was sore, and thanked them over and over. I asked her why she did.

Thao answered me in broken, but clear English: "Because you are nice."

I was taken by her words, and it must have shown on my face, because Nancy, who speaks more fluent English, explained further:

"You always come in and smile at us. You talk with us like your friends. Many people come in and ignore us--like we are just their servants. Like we are no better than their toejams."

The three of us had a good laugh over that, but I was still overcome with emotion.

When my mani-pedi was done (So pretty! You should see the sparkly crystals!) I went to see Daddy, who was asleep in the car waiting for me (He had the Crazy Burrito at Torito's for lunch and needed a nap) and told him about my free massage. We were both surprised. You see, your Lola Lou and Grandpa Brand, as well as your Grammie Cheryl and PawPaw Van (Grandpa Charlie, too!), taught us to see everyone as equals, and to be polite to everyone, no matter who they were. I'll never forget the time your Grandpa Brand brought home the homeless man for dinner. Lola Lou had a fit, but she understood why.

So that's why we say hello to everyone: our doctors, our teachers, our security guards, our maintenance people--everyone deserves respect.

Your Grandpa Brand didn't really have many friends that he spent time with, as Lola and I were his first priority, but when he passed away, the biggest wreath came from the people who worked on the elevators in our building. He only saw them a few times a year, but he was always kind and compassionate.

So when Daddy and I tell you that you should be nice to people, we mean it. And not because you get something in return, but because it is simply the right thing to do.

Be nice.