This is a blog I've been meaning to write for a while...

As a television reporter, I've developed somewhat of a thick skin. I'm used to doors being slammed in my face, having hideous names thrown in my direction and generally being the last person anyone wants to see.

So, when someone is kind to me out on assignment, to say the least, I'm a bit taken aback.

I've been blessed by the kindness of strangers a few times in the past few months. On December 27th, 13News photographer Jason Walsh and I were in Newport News covering the story of a firetruck that had gotten into a wreck, and wound up inside a grocery store.

It was (I believe) a historic day for rainfall on the peninsula. During our live shot for 13News at Noon -- Jason and I were soaked to the bone -- the kind of wet that permeates every layer of clothing. It was raining so hard that the meteorolgist that day (I believe it was Julie Wilcox) mentioned our liveshot during her early weather forecast in the show. I fully expected to see elephants and giraffes marching two by two up Wickham Avenue headed for Noah's Ark.

It wasn't just pouring -- it was cold. As Jason and I were packing up our saturated equipment -- a kind woman came out from her front door with steaming hot mugs of green tea, telling us (as well as a crew from another station) to keep the mugs and just dry off.

The gift caught me off guard. To say the least -- I'm much more used to vitrolic reactions to my presence -- and not pity.

I've known since I moved to Hampton Roads that some of the nicest people in the States live here -- but that miserable December day I became a full believer in the kindness of strangers.

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