My boss, though he can barely afford to pay me right now, just walked in and gave me a bag containing a rather enormous frozen turkey. Apparently one of the clients who has a turkey farm gave it to him. There was 200 dollars cash in the bag, with a note saying: “This turkey and this money are not in any way counted against what we owe you. This is for sticking with us for the months we couldn’t afford to pay you. When we close this case, a check for some of what we owe you will be forthcoming.”

As much as work has sucked lately, my boss is a ridiculously good guy. He called my wife out of the blue a few days ago just to tell her that none of what is happening at work is in any way my fault, and to apologize for not paying me for so long. He heard me and her arguing about money a week ago on the phone, and I guess felt the need to try to help.

I also just learned that he has sold his boat, his second car, and his vacation house in the last year to make payroll. He has also not paid himself in over a year, I have learned from accounting.

There are a lot of good people in this country, and a lot of people who come from money who would give it away to do the right thing. They could have laid me off, but they didn’t. They could have cut my pay on the books, but they haven’t, they have accumulated personal debt instead so they don’t have to.

The world needs more people like him.