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thegman
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Joined: 23 Sep 2002
Posts: 3088
Location: 12 yards out.
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 Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:49 Post subject: Reality check, or Crap Sandwich, Part II.
I was puttting gas in my car yesterday when a woman approached me with her son.
I'm normally suspicious of solicitors and beggars, as anyone should be, but I listened to her. If she hadn't had her son with her, I doubt I would have given her the time. I'm glad I did.
She and her son lost everything but the clothes they were wearing when their apartment burned down in December. They have been living at a Days Inn, at first with assistance from the Red Cross, but now from what little she is able to make by waiting tables at Waffle House 4 days a week.
The manager at the motel has given her a break on the room charge, and is only charging $25 a day. She had to sell her car, which didn't work well to begin with, to pay all of the bills that were still owed after the apartment burned, and to pay for her room after the Red Cross funds ran out. She's getting help from churches nearby with food and clothes.
Her son changed schools as a result of having to live in the motel, but has managed to keep his grades at As and Bs through all of the upheaval. The kid is doing his schoolwork at night in a hotel room. He's 13.
She told me that she wasn't asking for money directly, but asked if I could drive across the bridge and pay the manager $5 toward her room.
I went over later in the afternoon and talked to the owner of the motel. He told me the same story and said he was doing what he could to help her out. He makes sure they have breakfast every day even though the motel isn't a "free breakfast" place. I paid for a few days for them and went by her room to drop off my card and some money for groceries.
She called me this morning and I put her in touch with some people I know who are going to help her find a new place to live. I told her to hold on to my number and that I'll do whatever I can to help her.
All of this got me thinking. What single event could happen that would start the dominos falling in your life? A house fire? The death of your spouse? Losing your job?
I woke up this morning damn thankful for what and who I have in my life, that's for sure.
Um, okay, back to your regularly scheduled programming....
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:52 Post subject:
probably the death of Abby or Robin would cause quite a rumble
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
Posts: 20588
Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:53 Post subject:
oh and well done G.
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MastrBrewr
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Posts: 6974
Location: outside
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:56 Post subject:
| rtpd113 wrote: | | oh and well done G. |
You are a true saint. Mega-good-karma coming your way, my friend.
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:56 Post subject:
| rtpd113 wrote: | | oh and well done G. |
 x 100000000! You're a good man, G.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 12:57 Post subject:
Wow, you are really good people G. I'm all teared up and stuff.
That makes you really grateful for where you are and the support you do have.
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Sahara
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Joined: 17 May 2002
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:04 Post subject:
Well done gman. The woman and boy must have such amazing internal fortitude to continue on (and on). I'm not sure I'd have that given half her situtation.
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16218
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:09 Post subject:
 to you gman for not turning your back.
i believe that there are countless ways my "house of cards" could collapse around my feet at any moment. i live every single day knowing it could be my last as far as how i have come to know life--things change eternally in the blink of an eye. i know i would survive each and every one of them with the exception of the death of a child.
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:10 Post subject:
Good goin' G. And lucky for that family to have crossed paths with you.
I've had the occasional thought about that too... life really does get to be a fine thread that could snap dozens of different ways and serve crap sandwiches. I feel fortunate to be the eternal optimist 'cuz if I dwelt on how teetering it all really is, I'd go insane.
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akern
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Joined: 31 May 2002
Posts: 17149
Location: CTU
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:11 Post subject:
That is so cool Gman!! Somebody's crap sandwich is getting much better thanks to you. I think its neat that out of all the people she could have approached, somehow she picked the right one.
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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:17 Post subject:
Once again you show you are a good man. I always say, you're only one event away from catastrophe. Hence why if you have it good, you're obligated to help out those who don't. How sad that many turn their backs on someone who could so easily be themselves.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:23 Post subject:
| elkid wrote: | | How sad that many turn their backs on someone who could so easily be themselves. |
With all the people pulling scam's now-a-days, its next to impossible to sort through the legitimate ones.
In this situation, I would have gone about my business, with a clear conscience
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ShannonG
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:34 Post subject:
| Cappy wrote: | | elkid wrote: | | How sad that many turn their backs on someone who could so easily be themselves. |
With all the people pulling scam's now-a-days, its next to impossible to sort through the legitimate ones.
In this situation, I would have gone about my business, with a clear conscience |
Who crapped in your Corn Flakes this morning? 
GMan way to take a moment out of your life to help another. I would have been sceptical too, but to hear from the hotel manager that everything she told you was true is a heartbreaker.
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 6103
Location: Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:39 Post subject:
See it's stuff like this that makes me remain optimistic about the human race in general.
...and um...can I have your number too? I might need it someday. 
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msparks
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Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 3182
Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
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Posted: 02/19/04 - 13:45 Post subject:
Well done. Looks like it's time to change that avatar to something more fitting, say, something with a halo.
It's the old Golden Rule in effect. Just imagine...if there were more people who behaved as you did, what would happen? Peace on Earth?
And the best part? She's not taking the money and buying a pint of something.
Thanks for the inspiration.
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