Angel at the Post Office

From the Best of Craigslist:

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

Rent-A-Puppy

Most college students can't have pets, so when the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society at Lyon College came up with the great idea of teaming up with the Humane Society of Independence County to hold the first ever Rent-A-Puppy fundraiser.

They raised $405. Half went to the humane society and half to the SAACS. The going rate - 30 minutes of playtime for $10, or 15 minutes for $5. Even better, two of the puppies found permanent homes that day - a win-win situation for sure.

Jingle Bells the Elephant Way

This Christmas, three Asian elephants are set to help spread the Christmas cheer by performing "Jingle Bells" for crowds in Japan. Christmas + elephants = the biggest cute news this holiday season

Love on the 5 Train

So you're on the subway and you see "her" - the heavens part, angels sing and you know you have found the girl of your dreams. The problem is, you loose her in the crowd - knowing that in a city of 8 million people you'll probably never see her again. That is unless you're a creative web developer like Patrick Moberg. When he lost the girl of his dreams on the subway, he drew her picture and created a website nygirlofmydreams.com to find her.

And it worked. In a matter of days he knew that the girl with a flower in her hair was Camille Hayton, a 22 year old intern from Melbourne, Australia. She and Mr. Moberg are now in touch, but they will pursue any relationship without a webfull of onlookers. Posted on the website they say:

"In our best interest, there will be no more updates to this website,"

"Unlike all the romantic comedies and bad pop songs, you'll have to make up your own ending for this."

Who knows, perhaps next time we'll see them hand in hand on the 5 Train, pushing a pram.

happy hens lay the tastiest eggs, apparently.

And the best babysitters are alpacas. I'm betting your kids would rather have an alpaca that the snarly teenager you usually get. They are supposedly fierce and loyal. This is news to me, and it is very cute, so I think it qualifies as Cute News!

:-) Happy happy happy

It's the 25th anniversary of the smiley face emoticon today. Can you believe it? It seems nearly impossible to me that I am that old, but I remember my Dad's trash 80 compy and the text based adventures we would play with much fondness. My favorite smiley lately is the shock and awe one that goes like this 0.o ... So send some smilies today to someone you want to visualize turning their head sideways to read them. Such power!

Who knew?

Who knew that guys who train dogs at a prison could be so cute? And brave? And immune to dog germs? Steve Tugwell, I salute you!
Auugh! I've been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get some hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine!