Wonderturtle Stuns Even Herself Coming home after a Seeds of Peace meeting at the Unitarian Church I have recently started attending, I pondered the good nature of my soul. While at the meeting, I volunteered to help organize a local "peace conference," expressed sincere interest in an upcoming Cindy Sheehan event, and met the organizer of the Prison Ministry group, whom I set up with info about teaching in the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, and who gave me great props for having done so in the past.

"Gosh," I thought to myself, as I sat on the couch watching The Real Housewives of Orange County and eating my 5th Entenmann's Apple Puff this week, "can one OD on virtue?"

I need not have worried. Stomping across the parking deck at yet another mall today, in my endless pursuit of the elusive size 11 mint-green shoe for B.'s wedding, blood sugar low and wiped from work, I found myself completely out of sorts, and out of danger.

As I approached the doors to the mall, I noted a woman out of the corner of my eye. She was pushing a stroller and had two small children in tow. I immediately quickened my pace, suddenly desperate to reach the doors well ahead of them.

This struck me as odd, even as I was doing it, but I didn't slow down. Why, I wondered, was it so important for me to get away from them? And then the answer came, before I could screen and stop it from bubbling to the surface, clear into my mind:

"I am going to have to hold the door for those f*ers."

So much for drowning in my own humanitarian instincts.  ¶ 9:46 PM