To the editor:

Monday evening, Lawrence was treated to an international figure whose boundless, generous heart shared its unusual sensitivity and the best of British humor to make a point about little things. And the event was free!

Alexander McCall Smith, author of several serial fiction novels (he says he suffers from serial novelitis), kept the audience laughing nearly the entire duration of his talk and well into the question and answer section. His accomplishments and intelligence no doubt run rings around most of us, and yet he talked about many little things with a charm and gentleness that was refreshing these days.

When asked about his insight into the thoughts and feelings of the women in his novels he pointed out that he was wearing a skirt … a Scottish kilt of all things. Be assured, his manhood was never in doubt. The point I took from him was the importance of small acts of kindness and the local and familiar elements of our lives, which, after all, are where we have the most impact everyday.

How lucky I am to live in Lawrence where I can hear a renowned journalist one day and two days later be enthralled by a Scottish world traveler who shares his love for the places he has been with millions of people around the world.

Denise Gossage,

Lawrence