Yeah, I'm still alive

So this weekend Mary and I got an invite to join some friends for a Ranger game, and it was supremely awesome. It was supremely awesome NOT for the game itself, or the 20+ minute fireworks show set to classic rock that followed the game, but because of the people who were there.

While we were there, I witnessed a man stop while coming up the aisle and pick up some money (my guess between 5-10 bucks). He then asked everybody in the immediate area if they had dropped their money. Nobody said it was their's and he then gave it to a section attendent to turn in to the lost and found. That was pretty cool. I witnessed people saying "please" and "thankyou" and "pardon me" and other niceties that don't get used enough.

The absolute coolest part was when they recognize the groups that are visiting that evening. There was a person who bough 80 season tickets and donated them to the USO so that soldiers returning for R&R could attend a game on him. That was a very generous gesture, but when they stood up to waive at the camera, the entire ballpark stood and applauded them. I got goosebumps, I got choked up, and I realised that no matter how much I cuss them on the highway, people are basically good.

Damn, its hard to be a cinic sometimes.