Where oh where are the kind people?

I had the lovely opportunity, this past weekend, of attending one of our local art fairs. It was a warm day. Aidan was along for the ride. My mom, brother, step-father, and a good friend of our family, Brenda, went along as well. Brenda brought her lovely neice, Shawna, and her great-nephew along. One big happy family. The great-nephew is only five weeks old and such a sweet baby. As many of you parents know, there is quite a bit of luggage that comes along with galavanting around with a new baby. Numero uno,a stoller.

So here we were, strolling along the sidwalks taking in the sites and sales when a group of four people basically blocked the entire sidewalk. Seemingly unaware that a huge stroller was right in front of them, they kept on talking, frozen in their positions. There was street to the left and gravel to the right. Shawna said,"Excuse me." The blockers still oblivious, stood their ground. Shawna proceeded to jar her baby by strolling off the sidewalk and onto the gravel.

Now, I'm not saying that the whole world should stop for someone with a baby, but seriously, have we become so selfish and unkind that able-bodied men and women would refuse to take four steps off of a sidewalk to let someone less able pass? Would they have moved for someone in a wheelchair? Would they have moved for someone on crutches? I'm not saying that being a parent is like being handicapped, but seriously have you ever tried to maneuver some of these strollers?

I don't know about you, but I'm going to start trying to be a bit more kind to people I don't know. why not let someone have that closer parking space? Why not let someone go in front of you in the check out line? Why not pick up the tab of the perfect stranger in line behind you at McDonald's? Pass some kindness around, the world really needs it.