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Bucky Tweeter

Lucy Gutierrez and Dick Wood enjoy the ballroom dancing classes at Mastick Senior Center.

People Behaving Nicely

“Sooner or later, we all discover that kindness is the only strength there is.” — Fr. Richard Rohr

Altruism, especially selfless altruism, is one of mankind's most wonderful and enigmatic attributes, and a truly noble aspiration. Altruism is also one of life's great kindnesses; right up there with: not guilty verdicts, presidential pardons, and a girlfriend who still hangs around after you come home from Vegas with "Esmeralda" tattooed across your forehead (and your girlfriend's name is Patty.)

Unfortunately, the virtue of altruism can be sullied by its opposing sin, the pervasive and destructive power of greed. Atruism tainted by greed becomes a phenomenon called "Algreeism." An "Algreeist" can be defined as "One who wants to be altruistic, but is just too damned cheap." One of the classic examples of algreeism is the odious practice of "re-gifting." My SSS (sweet sainted sister), a remarkably altruistic soul, has several cheapskate "friends" who are serial re-gifters. She once received a nicely wrapped Christmas gift of a new-looking purse. Inside the purse were a claim-check from "Iggy's Cleaners," three stale Clorets, two pennies, and a picture of an extraordinarily ugly baby. She has also received half-empty bottles of perfume; soiled blouses in the wrong size; and "new" gift books, complete with highlighter marks and food stains.

Another equally repugnant form of algreeism is "project gifting," wherein you buy a gift for yourself, then "project" it upon a loved one. Like the time that my buddy Big Jim bought his ex-wife a timing light for her birthday, and the day that my clueless friend Enrique presented his Mormon ex with a membership to the "Wine of the Month Club."

Perhaps the vilest form of algreeism is the hideous, 21st-century practice of "capitalist algreeism," typified by invitations like this: "You're invited to Selena's fourth birthday bash. Buy your tickets now."

Thankfully, genuine altruism is still alive and well, and by some divine edict, is cosmically usurping algreeism. Genuine altruism is exemplified beautifully by Alamedans like Lucy Gutierrez. Gutierrez, a master seamstress and drapery maker, gladly and selflessly donates a substantial portion of her yearly earnings to charities such as Alameda Meals On Wheels, Boy's Town, and many others.

Gutierrez has a particular affinity for charities such as Boy's Town, as she was an orphan, and was raised in a Roman Catholic convent in Hong Kong. She never met or saw her mother — not even a photograph — so she possesses a powerful empathy for children who must rely on charitable adults for their upbringing.

Despite being raised in a convent, Gutierrez had no desire to become a nun, but instead chooses to live her life in a most Christian way: "The love of life expressed in service to others." Gutierrez is a regular at the Mastick Senior Center, "helping when they need me." She also enjoys the dancing classes at Mastick, and with her partner, Dick Wood, has participated in ballroom dancing events there.

Gutierrez's philosophy of service and kindness to others; and a quiet, modest, charitable llfestyle with an emphasis on good nutrition and physical fitness, has had a profound impact on her health. She has won Oregon's four-and-one-half mile Crater Lake Rim Run several times; running in the ladies' 50-, 60- and 70-years-and-over divisions. Gutierrez has no health issues, and takes no prescription medicines.

Wood attributes Gutierrez's perpetual youth, vigor and beauty to her healthy attitude and thoughts. Paraphrasing Winston Churchill's remarks about his beloved wife Clementine, Wood says that Gutierrez is "Very charming, non-controversial, a prodigious worker, and is incapable of ignoble thought."

For Lucy Gutierrez, those virtues are truly food for the soul of an altruist.

To celebrate altruism as real soul food, here's a recipe for some delicious summertime Italian soul food from another Alameda altruist, beloved chef and culinary mentor Weezie Mott.

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