Kindness is a shy wildflower, able to take our breath away
when we spot it growing bright and tender in rocky terrain.

Kindness is one of the fruits of the spirit, not the stuff of modern stories that hook us with themes like envy, betrayal and lies. Kindness is a shy wildflower, able to take our breath away when we spot it growing bright and tender in rocky terrain. I’m off to the Tucson Festival of Books this week, taking Delicate, by Mary Sojourner and Ordinary Life, by Elizabeth Berg with me, looking for kindness in what I read.

•  “Absolute Proof of the Cosmos of Life”, Delicate, by Mary Sojourner

Sojourner’s description of the tackiness of the Laughlin, AZ casino culture is measured, a poignant counterpoint to Annie’s patience with her husband, who performs as badly at Keno as he does in bed. Now I understand the title of this collection of stories.

• “Binky”, Delicate, by Mary Sojourner

…the sky is really turquoise and your shadow moves ahead of you like it was glad.

Sometimes we follow because we don’t want to destroy another person’s tenuous hold on joy.

• “The Most Amazing Thing”, Delicate, by Mary Sojourner

Legacy is that perfect gift that keeps a lost loved one alive in your heart.

• “Departure from Normal”, Ordinary Life, by Elizabeth Berg

Is kindness leaving, letting go, or staying? It’s all of that.

• “Take This Quiz”, Ordinary Life, by Elizabeth Berg

Sometimes you do yourself a kindness by not asking questions when you really don’t want the answers.

• “Caretaking”, Ordinary Life, by Elizabeth Berg

Many of Berg’s stories cause me to wonder if I’ve read them before. It’s because I have lived them—in this case, the rare moment of lucidity where personality emerges briefly from behind the death mask of Alzheimer’s to reveal the slow passing of an immortal soul.

• “What Stays,” Ordinary Life, by Elizabeth Berg

A mother battling mental illness leaves a legacy of wisdom for one of her daughters.