reality check

[Glennbear]

I just returned from a trip to Huntsville, AL. A few years ago I met a lady online on another forum and we have corresponded regularly. She is by herself and needed some major plumbing work done so I went down there. To say that her and the area she is in are "economically disadvantaged" is a major understatement. After spending four days replacing drain/sewer piping, kitchen faucet and installing a working shower/tub faucet I realized just how fortunate I am to be where I am now and have the steady retirement income I get. On the way back there was a nasty sense of deja vu since gasoline sales were limited in sections of TN and prices were around $4.99. Definitely put me to mind of the 1970's gas crisis. My nightly prayers will be a little more thankful tonight.

[sawduster]

I did a little much needed work on the yard yesterday . Now I landscape about as well as I build but I am determined to do my own work on my own place , whether I have the proper tools or not
It was hot , it was muggy , sweat was in my eyes, I was fighting red clay , roots , rocks and yellow jackets
At one point I threw my shovel down in disgust, walked to the porch and sat on the steps , mad at my yard ( yes my yard ) , the weather, my shovel and those %@#%&#@ yellow jackets
Then a huge hammer thundered from above and struck my punkin' head as I suddenly realized that there are people in Texas right now who can't even see their yard and would be grateful to have the problems I was having

I finished my cigarette and humbly went back to changing my yard one shovelful at a time, grateful for the opportunity

Thanx Glenn for opening that door and allowing me to share that this morning

[TracyP]

Definitely two eye opening stories. Makes you think long and hard about what you have and what you take for granted

[Splinter]

Glen that was a good deed you did for your friend. Most of us don't realize how fortunate we are. If everyone would do a similar thing as you did for a neighbor, friend, etc., this would be a much better world. As I read the posts on this GREAT forum I see the true spirit of people helping people without expecting anything in return. I thing the modern term for this is "pay it forward".

[Mike Davis]

Sooo right!

My first experience with that ideal came to me around 1976. I had a wreak on my bike and a stranger stopped to help. He took me to the ER as I had some bad cuts and four teeth knocked out, lots of blood.

When we got there I asked for his name and address so I could pay him back.

He said just help someone else when you get the chance.

I've been trying to do that ever since.

[cskipper]

Good for you Glenn.

[erasmussen]

Good for you

[LeftyTom]

I think of myself as trying to improve my corner of the world, and once I get that done, I work outward.

[adowden]

That is a wonderful deed you did Glenn. It is also a great message.

A friend of mine contacted me a month ago asking for a woodworking donation for her auction. Her organization helps families in Chatham County get indoor plumbing. It is amazing for me to think that there are still houses in this day and age that don't have indoor plumbing.


Amy

[ScottM]

Glenn you are a good hearted person. No matter how bad we think we have it there are people in our own towns and counties that have it much worse.

[DavidF]

Originally Posted by adowden

That is a wonderful deed you did Glenn. It is also a great message.

A friend of mine contacted me a month ago asking for a woodworking donation for her auction. Her organization helps families in Chatham County get indoor plumbing. It is amazing for me to think that there are still houses in this day and age that don't have indoor plumbing.


Amy

That is a surprise Amy, as a fellow Chathamite, if your friend needs a little something else to Auction in the future, let me know and I'll see if I can help.

[cpowell]

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

Sooo right!

My first experience with that ideal came to me around 1976. I had a wreak on my bike and a stranger stopped to help. He took me to the ER as I had some bad cuts and four teeth knocked out, lots of blood.

When we got there I asked for his name and address so I could pay him back.

He said just help someone else when you get the chance.

I've been trying to do that ever since.

I am a proud member of the "get a helping hand, GIVE a helping hand" club. It is a very small club.

I already had you pegged as a member in good standing. I'd guess there are quite a few among our NCWWer group.


Chuck

[Trent Mason]

That was a very noble thing you did Glenn. I've been in a bit of a rutt lately and it really hit home in the past few days. I looked at the bills and looked at what I was making and just realized, "not all of them are getting paid this month." That is a pretty difficult concept for me to grasp as I'm normally right on top of all of that stuff and pay everything on time. It's just hard to take I guess.

I spoke to one of my friends (a year out of college) about it not to long ago. We were working in the kitchen together and he said, "you know, it's really an unfortunate situation. You borrow all of this money, go to school, then when you graduate, you get to spend the next twenty or so years paying off all of this debt, and most of the time it is pretty difficult to find a good job. These are kids that were just doing what they were told was right, what they were supposed to do." I guess I just never really thought about it, but that is a good point.

I spoke to my dad about this for a while last night and there are a lot of folks out there that are having a rough time right now. He kind've calmed me down and put it into perspective for me. Some people he knows are filing for bankruptcy, losing their houses. I mean, that's heavy compared to my situation. But it really affected me a lot. I didn't drink 10,000 beers and sit around feeling sorry for myself. I went to bed, woke up this morning, went running, did some pull ups, push ups, etc. And I feel a lot more focused and better in general. I guess I just hit the breaking point and realized that I need to do something better, you know? And it isn't going to fall out of the sky. Time to throw on the suit and start knocking on doors.

Sorry, I guess this kind've hit home for me. Most of you are well established in your careers, but I'm sure at least some of you went through a time when you didn't really have any direction and were just barely getting by. Didn't mean to ramble forever, but thanks so much for listening.

Trent