Today I was reminded of the Christmas of 1987

(Crosspost from GD)


no, not for baubles. And as a Jew, christmas was a day I worked so a kid could go home and celebrate with family...

We responded that day to an asthma emergency and we were able to take care of it in the field. But... the family had NOTHING and it was a REALLY SLOW shift. So we went over to COSCO, and we bought the family blankets, and all the fixings and some more canned goods... it ran me over two hundred bucks, not that I cared that much. We took that back to them, as I said it was a REALLY slow shift. We had three calls all shift. And that family was so damn grateful. Somebody took care of them... and they did not need to know where that came from.

Well today I stopped to get some dinner at a cheap sushi place. I did not feel like cooking and I just bought close to 100 bucks in groceries So this woman approaches me asking if I can help her with 65 bucks for a motel tonight... I gave her five bucks and told her, do you want something to eat?

Her face lit up... got her son and yes I bought them dinner.... we need to help each other.

By the way she is one of the people that did not vote. Before you go onto WHY? The horror... she lost her house a month before the election. She's been in the streets since. And you know what? With all the foreclosures she is not alone.

Oh and I am fully aware that buying them a meal, and giving them some money is not going to help her tomorrow, but this actually helps in the morale department... but WE AS A NATION need to do something about it... and no I don't judge people... but we need to do something at the government level... PERIOD!

to help each other out..... And it needs to be put on a fast track.....

as one of the thousand points of light... it cannot be policy, not anymore.

showing them you care. You make us Duers Proud.

I budget for things like this, sort off. I give to teh local pantry every three months... today at the market... but we need state and federal policy, and that is what galls me.

We are a shell of an Empire, so perhaps with the fall we will see policies to help the people, one can dream

I was a recipient of someone's kindness when I was a young divorced mother. No where as bad as this poor woman you helped but, it was around Thanksgiving and someone who I had just met briefly in a hospital in Memphis TN, while I was a patient and he was visiting his wife sent me 2 - 100.00 bills to 'make you and your son's Thanksgiving a little more joyful and a little bit easier.'

I just found that letter 2 days ago cleaning out some files in a cabinet. I never forgot it. My son was 5 years old according to the date on the envelope. Yesterday, when my son and dil were over I showed them the letter. My son has heard the story but, not my dil. We all cried. Even my husband who I married 26 years ago and hadn't met until years after this letter.

There were many times when 'fate' or whatever one wants to call it moves people into our lives to make it a little bit easier and I remember each and everyone. I would not be here if it weren't for the kindness of strangers. Friends didn't help, the ex-inlaws couldn't care less and the ex. was a loser. Any breaks I got in life came from complete strangers. Thanks for being you, nadin. I believe the lady you fed today will never forget your kindness and will go on to help someone else. It's the whole hand up thing.

We should all be pissed that our government is on the verge of collapse as it spends it way through billions to kill people that we have no business killing. And now more who want to start another war, this time in Iran. What the hell is wrong with Americans?

but I am sure that woman and her son at least had a full stomach for the night.

though and (and my fellow EMTs) bought the stuff, it was done in our official capacity.

And the blankets, well over the years I bought army surplus and in the Winter we distributed them... fifty cents a blanket you could make fifty bucks go a long way. That day we had run out of them.

people helped each other out. whether it was out of the kindness of their hearts or knowing that they maybe next.


someone once said you will be judged by your deeds not by your words....



"..hard times come again no more..."

That is what I'm hoping.

I saved all year for Christmas. First time in my life. I was excited, I ended up with a nice chunk of change. I need nothing, I want even less. For the first time I could buy whatever struck my fancy.

This past week I spent every cent I saved. On 2 car notes, groceries, utility bills for my family.

I have never felt so good. It was something that needed to be done and something I could do. I can't describe the feeling. Like a weight was lifted yet I had no weight holding me down.

I actually felt high. I think my heart just overflowed. I'm uncomfortable with being thanked. I don't want to be thanked. I want to help because I had help once upon a time.

This post is not a brag. This post means Christmas this year will be the best. For the right reasons.

No matter what, if family needs, you should help if you can. I made that promise to myself. One I intend to keep.

It's lovely to see people following the calling of their hearts.

:)