Fifteen years ago today I uploaded my first ebook. I could find few who knew how to do this at the time. I just muddled on.

The download tally is now 110,000+.

So what have I learned. Free is a very good price—one can use to their advantage what the major ebook companies do to advertise your own ebooks if readership is the main intent.

It gives confidence in the Keep Calm & Be Kind effort, now started 18 months ago.

Yesterday I gave two chocolates to Spanish-speaking landscapers who are regulars. Chocolates given. The definite smoke in the air was discussed.

Efforts need intention and persistence and riding the ups and downs.

I made this visual at 10,000 downloads, and now here we are.

Can Keep Calm & Be Kind be far behind? We can all help it move forward.

Are you on it?

Yes indeed I liked what I did—helping people choose a career, change a career, or end a career. I had the opportunity to do all of these in my career. We also wrote about same—books for elementary age, college age, dual career, mid-career, and retirement and did lots of classes and workshops on same.

How this all relates to walking the hood is this morning I saw a truck I had not seen before. It turned out to be a person who installs and services dental equipment—from X-ray machines to drills. We had quite a long talk about what they did and how they got trained.

We did not have a discussion about Keep Calm & Be Kind, but I know a little bit more about this kind of work and how one person enjoys same.

And yes one chocolate given away but no Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons or stickers, but the day is young.

Pictured are a few of the books written. A job of helping other people find their purpose is a very nice job.

Encountered another person who had pulled up in a different direction for their garment. It had covered their Keep Calm & Be Kind button. Pulled it down so it could be seen. It also was Red on Black. Quipped, “we are on it.”

Gave away one chocolate to someone working on a project and a pear to someone working in the hood today.

I have intentions to translate thoughts into words into actions later. Do you?

A picture of the sweatshirt and button, faded over time, but can be renewed.

I inventoried Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons and stickers. I was low. Reordered.

Also about out of chocolates. Reordered.

I think I have enough Propel sticks to get through to fall, unless there is a very hot streak coming up.

Pear inventory is doing well. Two bakers, potentially three, are responding to the call to arms. Had the tallest walker I know come back and pick their own pear higher in the tree this morning.

Correspondence going well. Most days have personal mail coming in, and I am sending. If you have not tried it, you might like to take up again—or for the first time—writing people in longhand and the joy of sending and receiving same.

Hope things are going as well for you.

In the first walk I saw a standard of who’s who in my walking world. I can address most dogs by name, as well as their owner. I introduced one person to two of my trees, named for family members. It did not appear they were going to question this—but did ask if the trees talked back. “Sometimes.” Topic dropped.

The notable person I did see today is a part of the local CAT dealership. As soon as I saw the very good looking truck I knew I had to talk with this person. My family history goes back to CAT for over 70 years.

I complimented on the truck, and asked if they had ever been back to the main office in Peoria, Illinois. Why yes, they had just been there a few weeks ago. They began showing me pictures from their phone.

Then we got into a long discussion of CAT, utilizing fossil fuels in the best way, the world as it currently is, energy transition, and more. I thought it was ripe for a discussion of Keep Calm & Be Kind. They were not a sticker or button person but quipped, “some people I work with could use this.”

More talk to this probably young 30-something and the world they would face—that we all are leaving them.

They reached out their hand, mine cold, as it is cool here today, wanted to know my name and thanked me for the talk as they started up their engine to leave.

And that is my CAT story. Do you have a CAT story?

Pictured is the truck seen today, and the quilt on the bed made of t-shirts where we have been. CAT prominently displayed between Bangkok and China and below London Underground and Hard Rock at Las Vegas.

Things good on this end. A Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker is on a laptop in Cornwall, England—received a fan from Japan—friends are writing messages to the postal workers who are carrying messages back and forth on envelopes and cards.

Yesterday gave out one Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker to a person walking with someone who already had one. They introduced me using my name—must admit did not remember their name. Think it is the one who remembered me because of waving to them with my red hat on in colder months.

Today I talked with the person who gave me the red tomato a couple of days ago and took a Keep Calm & Be Kind button. A bridge has been passed. Talked to the person who turned one down last week because they are already calm and kind. But now we talk—another bridge.

Some of the pears I gave away turned into Heavenly Pear Crumble Cake. I am going to let the baker across the street sample same. One person thanked me for pears yesterday. I promised another person this morning this day would bring them a pear. Already gave one way—tree still has more to give.

In other news, water is to be cut from the Colorado River to three states: Nevada, Arizona, and California. When living in Arizona in the 80’s I was very much aware this could happen in the future. The future is now—says the person who looks at their water meter daily to know how much of this precious resource they use.

And Kindle—me being a beta tester of virtual voice on books—says evidently they are through with beta. I have to choose a new voice for some of my books. How often do you get to choose a new voice?

And your voice today and how you are using it?

This is one of the books where I get to choose a new voice.

I have no illusion that I am changing the neighborhood as I give away chocolates, buttons, stickers, plums, pears, Propel sticks—but every once in a while—when I know my intention when I leave the door is Keep Calm & Be Kind—I change myself a little.

That is all we can do.

Yesterday I gave away a Keep Calm & Be Kind button to a person who knows my wandering, settling, wandering, now settled friends. Between us we have given away one heck of lot of Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons. Have we changed the world? No. Have we changed ourselves—at least some.

Last night I downloaded Nine to Five and began watching same. As people began contacting me from many places yesterday about Dolly, I knew this was important.

I am not sure this book came from the Imagination Library effort, but I know the person who gave it to me works on that effort locally.

Is there a part of you today that can imagine a better world and what you can do to make it that way?

And 106 years ago today U.S. women got the right to vote. Use it.

My day started with a voicemail from a neighbor thanking for a pear I put on their front porch.

On first walk encountered two walkers I have seen many times—one even leaving candy at my front door many moons ago when I was first giving away just candy—buttons and stickers not even a vision.

A car stopped across from the three of us. I could tell them about both of the people in the car, both immigrants.

Then on to the Surgery Center and a worker going in the door with a HUGE tomato, and handed it to me. Clearly was going to give it to a fellow worker, but then they said, “I see you every day as I leave work and you wave to me.” They now have a Keep Calm & Be Kind button.

On to another parking lot, saw another person who has a Keep Calm & Be Kind button and pulled out my tomato. “A little salt, a little pepper” was the advice.

Did not even get out of that parking lot when a young woman said, “I like your hat.” Encounter ended with her taking a Keep Calm & Be Kind button.

Up another road and saw the African mother. The BUNNY was found! I told her I was going to give her a Beanie Baby bunny if had not been found.

Angling my way back home saw two neighbors who are READERS, seeing a poll today that only 16% (I assume it was Americans) read daily. I am in this group. So are they. We discussed two current books I am reading that both of them had read. Theo of Golden and The Correspondent: A Novel for the curious.

In watching other news, Oregon was the first state in the union to establish voting entirely by mail in 1998. As one observant of the news, you know why I am mentioning this now.

In the meantime, look at my gifted tomato beside one of my pears, which I will distribute more later. Yesterday I distributed Propel sticks to outside workers, that should not be needed today.

And in your hood, what is happening?

I could tell because I was in a parking lot, and did not even have to look at my phone. I knew it was 8 a.m. Many cars turning in. Talked to one woman who has a Keep Calm & Be Kind either button or sticker—I forget—while she was putting the shade screen up in her car. It is to get to 93 F (33.33C) here today. It is dry, dry, dry. In Reno, Nevada, 42,000 people evacuated because of fires and again that many might have to evacuate.

Saw two other people going off to clean student housing. We start school, both public and University, much later than most. A Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker given to the cleaner as they were off to make sure rooms welcomed students.

Distributed pears on front porches yesterday, and today noted they were gone. I secured two plums this morning—keep thinking it will be the last one—and the tree continues to give, as does my pear tree.

This morning, like many outings, I am asked, “How are you?”

Right now my answer is pretty standard, “I am fine, the world is a tad crazy.”

Yesterday I had the opportunity to both email and listen to people in Canada. I am not quite sure where the world is doing. I do know I wake up, attend, and then see what I can do during the day.

And you?

Somehow I have become a repository of sayings regarding kindness. I will post them and then get them off my desktop. I figure many of us are Kindness in Training and thus the images help.

In other news, just took a walk, got home and brought a couple I did not know to the back garden to see the pear tree. One person was quite tall, reached higher. They went away with two pears and more picked and put in my sack. Will venture out later to distribute.

Have a good Sunday, if it is still Sunday for you.

I have given pears to landscapers, postal carriers, nearby neighbors, and far-flung neighbors. I am to the point I am carrying pears along with everything else I carry. Started out with a full sack yesterday. They were gone by the end of the day.

My CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) came with—you guessed it—PEARS. I know they are not as good as mine. I gave them away.

A hint for those doing the SLOW COMMUNICATION effort. I started this in late April with postcards. Sent many. Yesterday I got one of them back which I had mailed on May 7, 2026. My postal carrier handed it to me, as I handed them a pear—and a chocolate. The good news is I had put a return address on it, and thus it was sent back to me. That postcard, which I initially got in London in 1986, I sent to a relative in Illinois who is an artist and thought would appreciate same.

The card went from London to all the many moves I have made in 40 years to Illinois and back. I am going to put it in an envelope and try to send it to Illinois again.

For what it is worth, my journal entry 40 years ago today. We were outside London. “…The main thought today is that personkind will get stuck some day in a car jam, jointly all get frustrated, walk away from their cars, and never return to them!”

Has not happened.

Have now harvested the pears for the day and will be out giving them away later.

Be kind out there when driving, are you?

I picked up three prunes this morning, but left plenty for the squirrels. Per usual, a walk brings news. The Case of the Missing Bunny is still active. One walker asked me about same. I could point out the house where said bunny should return. They described what they had done to help.

The Keep Calm & Be Kind button on the Cable Box is still here—not claimed.

The police officer at the corner yesterday has slowed down traffic noticeably there. Police officer not in presence today, intermittent reinforcement is probably best here.

A friend came to get many pears yesterday. This may turn into something. Stay tuned. More dropped this morning.

The person who sprays my garden to make sure the rhododendrons live, came yesterday. I had not engaged with them. They love the garden—no brainer here. They took a Keep Calm & Be Kind button and put it on their uniform immediately. I know others in their business have same.

The heat of yesterday is abated today, but news of heat-related deaths around the world is something I watch. Drink water.

Any news in your world?

On a first walk I saw a police person ready to observe speeders.

No plums I could reach. Then to a parking lot where I saw what I assumed was a person from Africa. I was right. Until something different comes along for them they are a part of the gig economy and delivering. Nice talk, they took a Keep Calm & Be Kind button and immediately put it on.

They said upon stepping away in a beautiful lilting accent, “the universe brought you to me.” Actually I was thinking the other way around. Back to the police officer and a nice talk and gave them a chocolate. Uniformed people in all occupations vary in whether they will take a Keep Calm & Be Kind button/sticker.

Now the FIELD TRIP!

A friend is in London and went to the The Postal Museum yesterday and sent these pictures. Now I wonder if they sent me a postcard as well. To my credit most days I put one in the mail.

May you drive safely—consider writing a letter—give someone a chocolate—or something else of your own choosing.

And more pears dropping here.

If there is anything I have learned in doing this for over 3 years, it is offering something to another makes a connection—or at least an opening.

Yesterday it was a chocolate to the guy with the recycling truck. Chocolate offered. Taken. Two stops later—I continuing to walk as he picked up—he talks to me about the route and how it has changed and what I can expect as far as a pick up today. Do not think that would have happened without the chocolate.

If one has a button or sticker it is good, but there are other things one can do. My shtick was initially chocolate—I have expanded my repertoire with the times I perceive we are facing.

This morning I started engagement when I was reading the water meter, a skill I seem to excel at in my hood. I saw someone I had not seen in over a year as I was bending over the meter. I remembered the name and told them how many Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons I had given away. Initially this person was met by giving them a chocolate, now at least two years ago.

First walk did garner three plums, and no sight of the missing bunny or anyone to follow up the story. The Keep Calm & Be Kind button is still at the Cable Box.

I did give away one chocolate on the walk, so all was not lost, and my pears are now dropping. I will try to give some away later, and yes I have left some for the squirrels.

Hope your day has started well.

On local news there was a fire at one of Eugene’s three Buttes yesterday. It was not the one nearest me, but some asked because they know I walk a Butte with frequency. The fire had a perimeter soon, but it is dry, dry, dry here and a long time before rains.

This was a topic of conversation with others on my first walk today. Met a new person who did not want a Keep Calm & Be Kind button as he keeps things neutral (he had a better word, but I forget it). He had lived near one of the other Buttes in Eugene. He said urban foresters said if that Butte ever gets on fire, they would just let it burn. Is that true, I do not know. But we had a good conversation about fires and kindness. As he walked away he said, “be kind.”

I was on it when the Case of the Missing Bunny turned up. Said Bunny is new in the hood and in a flurry of activity there were seven of us involved in this case. As it turned out, I knew each of them and knew they all had Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons or stickers from past encounters. I could introduce them all to each other. We all had a common mission—as I left the scene it was not yet solved.

In other news I am getting MAIL. Pictured are some of the postcards, national and international. They include Japan, Bulgaria, Sweden, UK, New Zealand, and many U.S. states. Another time I will show pictures of artwork received.

Sorry, gotta go write a letter. And you?

Pictured are some of the cards. Of course we need to remember Bunnies today.

Today the Furthur Bus of Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and more, leaves our area to travel to San Francisco. It helped to define an era. And that era has impacted Eugene as well.

When family were coming to Eugene in 2014 there was no other apparel more appropriate than tie-dye t-shirts. That is Eugene in all its many ways. It has been that way for a long time. I arrived in Eugene in 1969, some would say at the height of the Counterculture Revolution in the U.S, which was also worldwide. One could not help but absorb what was around you. Take what fits, ignore other aspects.

When Scholar Duck arrived on my scene as my alter ego on climate issues, I knew I had to change his attire to fit. I bought a tie-dye t-shirt of course.

This is a picture of Scholar Duck in 2014, already with the message of Keep Calm & Carry On—also the tie-dye t-shirt and a 350 button for climate awareness.

As the world evolves, we all evolve. Currently the message I offer is Keep Calm & Be Kind.

I hopefully have gift linked the New York Times article and today the local papers are carrying the news of the bus leaving.

Just back from a first walk—again two plums and two pears secured. Talked with a woman about to have oral surgery, not ready to discuss Keep Calm & Be Kind, but perhaps I will see her later after the surgery is over.

How are you evolving today?

The article and Scholar Duck, circa 2014.

Ken Kesey Bus

Two plums secured and eaten. Two pears dropped from my tree, arguably the best tasting pears anyone has ever eaten.

Initially I thought no one was out on this cloudy, cool morn. Some did surface in exercising as the walk went on. Yesterday someone, not the maintenance peeps whom I know, were painting a room at the Bunny School. I think it could have been a teacher.

Today they are set up to enroll more. School here in Oregon starts later than most places which are already in the groove or will be this week.

A stop by the Cable Box both ways observed the Keep Calm & Be Kind button left yesterday is still there. A friend suggested that perhaps crows—who likes shiny things—had picked it up. If that be the case, I do not know if I supply all crows and squirrels in the hood with buttons/stickers.

I already have a few plants covered as well as cats and dogs.

What is your groove today? Meow….

Having many spotters in the world, I know weather is extreme many places right now. Then there is war. All of these things are making for uncertainty.

In my small world—yesterday I gave chocolates to landscapers as they finished. We discussed the value of the home for sale up the Butte where I had just walked. In my experience no one their age even thinks of buying a home. Our discussion did not go that far.

Today’s first walk I angled by the cable box where I had put a Keep Calm & Be Kind button yesterday. Still there. One plum secured with my white-gloved hand—encountered a few people to talk and then back to the Cable Box (perhaps caps are needed). The button was gone.

I queried a person who lives near the Cable Box. The joint decision was put another one there.

We all need small things to watch as well as big things.

And we all need each other through the small things and big things.

May you have someone who listens.

I did get the Bulgarian postcard yesterday. Now I know what USA looks like in Cyrillic alphabet. And here is what a laptop looks like in Japan with a Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker.

Are you listening to someone today?

I shall be brief. If you are persistent, things happen, I had tried for several weeks to give cold Cokes to one landscaper. The answer was always no, but yes for his co-worker. Yesterday he said yes. I thought a bridge had been crossed.

Reminds me of when Mom fed whoever came off Rt. 66 which was also right by railroad tracks. They never came in the house, but they ate what Mom made on the well platform outside. I usually sat on the back porch steps watching them eat. Side note—today is my parents’ wedding anniversary.

This morning started with stepping outside to find what is pictured below. You can imagine that was a good start to the day.

First walk just had. No white gloves needed as all plums were out of reach.

Surveyed the cable box where the faded Keep Calm & Be Kind rock and new one were yesterday. Both gone. I have figured out that puzzle. Now have left a new one in its place.

A Dash Delivery person took a Keep Calm & Be Kind button and immediately put it on their uniform of the day.

The meter guy was here to read both my solar panels and water. I am the only person who has opted out of smart meters on my street. He and I had a great talk. He took away a Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker.

With all of the above, I have now give away 801 Keep Calm & Be Kind buttons/stickers and the day is young.

And 40 years ago today I started my journal, the first entry is now legendary.

May you have a legendary day. Mine could be—I see by informed delivery I have a postcard coming from Bulgaria!

After the post yesterday a long-time friend and reader suggested I put a new Keep Calm & Be Kind button by the faded one. Mission accomplished by noon my time.

In the process I saw a teen I met last week who took a Keep Calm & Be Kind button and sticker at the time. Yesterday they were turning the corner in a vehicle. They stopped. We talked. They were off to meet someone and wanted a Keep Calm & Be Kind sticker to give the friend. Parting words were, “you’re spreading the love.”

Took me back to the Summer of Love in the U.S. in 1967. I was working in my summer job at the Business School at Indiana University as a secretary to three professors. The summer harkened what was about to happen in 1968—in the U.S. and worldwide.

On this morning’s walk I checked to see if the Keep Calm & Be Kind button was still there. It was. I alerted four more walkers to watch that space. They were on it—we all agreed if someone took the new button, they wanted it and that was fine.

I went on and did my Michael Jackson white glove imitation with the plum tree and secured two for myself—my daily intake quota.

I have heard from several worldwide in the last 24 hours—some describing the eclipse, others the HEAT where they live—I have no sources in Columbia, although I have been there to hear about the earthquake aftermath. One person gave the good advice of continuing to spruce up my own little hood.

Think Globally—Act Locally.

By Informed Delivery I see I have a letter. I know it is a younger person, and the address is written in cursive.

Can you be caught being kind?