Editorial appearing in Prescott's The Daily Courier
Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Editor:
Acts of unsolicited kindness, as this story articulates, are what make Prescott a wonderful place to live.

My wife and I recently took in a homeless friend who had to flee from New Orleans with her 87-year old father. On Sunday, we took her downtown for her first visit to Prescott and Whiskey Row.

After stopping by the Soup Bowl Auction, a visit to the Bird Cage was in order. As we ordered a drink, the bartender overheard us talking about New Orleans and our friends' traumatic experiences during the Katrina disaster.

A few moments later, an attractive lady came to our table, introduced herself as Debbie, the owner, and presented our friend with a Bird Cage T-shirt.

She then told us about her history and friends in New Orleans and inquired if there was anything else our friend needed. Our friend was very emotionally taken with the gesture as were both me and my wife.

The T-shirt gift, the conversation and the words of sympathy not only were unsolicited, not done as some marketing "come-on," but solely acts of kindness. These acts should not go unnoticed or unrewarded. Encounters such as these make Prescott a wonderful place to live.

As the sign says in the Bird Cage, "Be Nice or Leave." To all of you who are thinking about relocating or have just relocated to Prescott from cities and lifestyles where arrogance, road rage, selfishness and meanness are part of your daily routine and demeanor, here is a message: "Be Nice or Leave."

As a matter of fact, be nice or don't come here at all!

Thank you, Debbie, you and the Bird Cage are a tribute to Prescott.

Ken Singer
Prescott