Dwight Howard, #1 on the Lady's Bucket List

Dwight Howard makes a lady's day, life

 By Trey Kerby

Occasionally stories come around that push your sadness buttons just enough that your eyes get a bit misty, while at the same time the same story activates your smile sensors because it's about someone doing something good for another person. You know what I'm talking about.
So if you're down with crying a few happy tears, chew on this story by the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi.

Her bucket list included just one item:
Kay Kellogg (who is suffering from Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma, an aggressive cancer) didn't want to climb the Eiffel Tower. Or run a marathon. Or jump out of an airplane. She just wanted to have a nice conversation with her hero.
"Dwight Howard is just such a precious, wonderful kid," she says. "Whenever I watch him play, he just makes me feel good inside."  And for a woman who feels so bad inside most of the time, this is quite an accomplishment for Dwight.

A few weeks ago, her daughter, Arian Clute, had an idea. She contacted the Magic and told them that her mother had but one wish before she died: She wanted to meet Dwight. And, so, a few days ago, Dwight showed up at her door step. He was supposed to spend 30 minutes and ended up staying nearly two hours.
Sad enough, one would think. These sort of things are always tremendously sad-happy, and Dwight's contribution to the heart-warming visit  is no different. And really, just the fact that Dwight spent two hours with an old lady dying from an incurable illness would be enough to make anyone damp in the eyes.

But then, Dwight ratchets things up a notch and really sets things off. When she gingerly stood up to say goodbye, he bent way, way down, hugged her hard and told her something startling. He told this 4-foot-11 woman who is dying of cancer, "You are taller than me."
"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard," she said.
"No," Dwight insisted, "you are taller than me because your spirit lifts you up."

See? Told you it was a happy-sad. Please read the whole story, because the entire thing is great. After that, maybe send an email to your mom or grandma. Very cool of Dwight, who seems like the right person to do  this sort of thing.  As for me? No, I'm not crying. It's just been raining on my face.