To the young lady who burst into the wrong room at the emergency department on Monday night - I'm sure it probably didn't mean much to you at the time, but the squeeze to my shoulder and telling me that you hoped everything would be alright were two things that I desperately needed after 2 sleepless nights sitting beside a badly injured family member. It was a small act of kindness, but it stuck with me all week. Thank you, and I hope you found your mom without much trouble. —Exhausted but Appreciative

To the handsome, tall man with the unreal head of hair at the Superstore on Barrington today, I want to apologize for blatantly checking you out in the fruit&veg section several times and not making a move. You gave me a second chance when you came up behind me in the check out line and I wish I had the guts to give you a smile or say anything. Maybe one day I will see you again and not just stare from afar, but actually say something. —Fellow Tuesday Grocery Shopper

I traveled back to Halifax last weekend with my 88 year old grandfather for my graduation and had 3 particular things happen to me for which thanks are owed. First, to the wonderful car rental employee who gave me a free upgrade to a sweet ride as a happy graduation present, then to the man in the Quinpool Superstore parking lot that got the keys to that sweet ride out of the sewer grate into which I had clumsily dropped them (my Bosnian hero!), and finally to all the wonderful people that treated my grandfather with such incredible kindness - servers, hotel staff, the guy who sold him a tie when he realized he'd forgotten to pack one, the young women at Point Pleasant who let him cuddle with their puppy, the baker at the Seaport Market who sold him 'the best goddamn cinnamon bun' (his words) of his life, and so many others. My grandpa is 88 years young, still works, still travels, still drinks his daily martini and finds the joy in every day. He had an "exhilarating" (again, his word) weekend in town, so thanks for showing us your A-game. Halifax, I am so grateful for the time we got to know each other and am quite heart broken to say goodbye. Thanks for everything. —XO

You , are a beautiful bright and bubbly red headed woman at my favourite coffee shop( lacewood and parkland) you always seem to work the drive through You never fail to make my day with your super happy attitude and beautiful smile ! Your boss should feel lucky to have you as an employee! If I wasn't already attached , I would have asked you out months ago. —Drive through admirer

Slappin' leather was devised
During a wild streak in her life
She has a cheap apartment
Up on Royal Street
She brought home just enough
To keep her on her feet
She don't believe in anything
But it you ask her, she'll say
There's plenty of things to believe in
Sweet Rosalyn
Sometimes you gotta give in
Sometimes you gotta be loved
She got a number off the bathroom wall
She was looking for a good time
So she made the call
Got a strangely calm voice on the other line
Sneaky little priest trying to reach out to the swine
He said, "Hello my name is Father Tim
Seems to me your zeal for this life
Has been wearing a little thin"
Well, maybe we all could use a little grace
To know when to run and when to
Stay in one place
—The Flying Crow

Old James Dean Monroe
Hands out flowers at the Shop-N-Go
Hopes for money but all he gets is fear
And the wind blows up his coat
And this he scribbles on a perfume note
"If I'm not here, then you're not here"
And he says, "Call me Miscreation,
I'm a walking celebration"
My friend, o lawdy,
Went to take care of her own body,
And she got shot down in the road
She looked up before she went,
Said, "This isn't really what I meant"
And the daily news said,"Two with one stone"
And I say, "Hey there, Miscreation,
Bring a flower, time is wasting"
We got loud guitars and big suspicions,
Great big guns and small ambitions,
And we still argue over who is God
And I say, "Hey there Miscreation,
Bring a flower time is wasting
we all need a revelation"
—A Beautiful Crow

I like the small things in life. Running amok, sailing into the mystic, and Art Garfunkel. I like nonsensical dancing, most colors, staring at people and grapefruit juice. I like the game minesweeper. I like stopping to smell most flowers, punching the air, Pink Floyd, surf punk and pictures of sheep. I like talking about youtube videos that are about unicycles, heroic animals and pottery. I like when wild animals kill people. I like THC, LSD, MDMA and watching 24hr news. I like all large scale natural disasters, onion rings and lemon lime soda. I like believing in my self, even though i know I'm stupid. I like tits. Small, medium, large, extra large, floppy, firm, fucked up nipples. I don't discriminate. When it comes to tits at least. Every other form of discrimination I like on a case to case bases. I like taking off work boots, fishing with a friend, and lying about my name. I like listening to talk radio, and real deep base filled burps. Rock! I like some types of rock, like lime stone. I like people that are better than me, because I learn from them. I like people that i think I'm better than, because they make me feel better about myself. Paradoxically i dislike being around most people. I like all nice dogs. Who doesn't? You'd have to be a real asshole not to like a friendly dog. Ice cream? You know I like ice cream. Cupful of baking soda?... Of coarse, keeps the fridge fresh. I like whales and trying to communicate with plants. I like seeing multiple murders ....of crows. —tornado of fire

From a thousand miles away I can't really see the fog and the rain and the cold, so maybe that's why I miss you so much. I miss your streets and your history; your views and your corners; your shorelines and your curves. I miss you, Nova Scotia, dreadfully. Even the fog. —Far, Far Away

I am in awe of the staff at the veterinary ER in Burnside. You deal on a daily basis with the reality of people who share their lives with animals having to make that final decision. To send their friend on one last journey away from pain and their deteriorating body, you do it with such gentleness, empathy and compassion that is truly humbling and, on Friday, so very much appreciated. We are grateful to you all, and especially to Sophie, who seemed to sense that we were having a truly terrible night and nestled between us for pats and head rubs. The pain we feel at the loss of a beloved cat is the trade we make for the unconditional love of a pet, and while that may be a harsh bargain, it is a just one. Thank you so much for making that last terrible act of mercy as easy as humanly possible. —Puffy's Mom & Dad

You have your bike, your cat and your secret jokes that cause you to smile quietly to yourself on the bus. He never knew what a gem you are, because he never gave your chance. Give yourself a chance and learn to smile again, Lusty. He hasn't crushed the light of your heart and he was dark, cruel and abusive. Lady Ace, stroll on. —Jack of Hearts