Paul Brandt
Lon was talking to a guy this morning, and found out that this man's wife was a 24 year survivor of breast cancer. However, that woman had EVERYTHING removed. But she's still alive and that's what counts.
I am pretty much in one piece. I am still so lucky.
Did anyone see that show FRONTLINE on PBS last night? It was a documentary called "Poor Kids" about three families in the Quad Cities area. One little girl was so upbeat even though she was "frickin' poor" (her words). Her brother was saying that when he did get to watch some television, he would watch the cooking shows and wish he could step through the screen and eat all the food because he was so hungry all the time. The little girl had canned carrots for supper one evening because that is all they had. Another little girl said her school had a "Nutrition Club", which handed out a small bag of individually packaged food portions every Friday afternoon, supposedly to feed that person over the weekend. They announced over the school PA system at a certain time, that the kids in the Nutrition Club should come to the office to pick up their bags. Of course, it was a loud and definite announcement that these club members were kids so poor, that their parents couldn't afford food for them. Talk about being singled out!
When I got up this morning, I wasn't really interested in breakfast, but needed to eat something to take my "very expensive pills" (which I am so lucky to be able to get). I could have had my choice of cereals, bagels, toast, eggs, juice, doughnuts, and so forth. I finally decided on a banana. The point is, I had a huge selection to choose from, and HAD to pick something to eat. These poor kids dream about regular food. One chunky little girl said that her family ate a lot of the five-for-ten-dollars cheapy frozen pizzas. She was smart enough to know that a poor diet was a major factor in the fact that she was overweight. She said she would sometimes scream at herself, because the kids at school made fun of her appearance, and there was nothing she could do to help herself. She is nine years old, and she is analyzing what is going wrong in her life and knowing she is helpless.
I am still so lucky.
This morning, I was straightening up my closet a bit. (Don't tell Lon that I was using my arms!!!!) Anyway, I had to make some decisions about what clothes I was going to have to give away, because I have too many clothes to fit in my three closets. That really makes you open your eyes and realize what you really have in your life. I am not quite the shoe lover that Nina is, but I still have several pairs. And oh my gosh, the purses!!! Probably around 40 purses. Is that just nuts or what? Those children on the documentary each had a few pieces of clothing which they carried in a garbage bag, from one shelter to another. One little girl's dad was losing the sole of his tennis shoe and it was flapping around as he walked!
I am still so lucky.
My new furniture that I ordered, is coming next week. I am still so lucky.
Talked to family and friends on the telephone yesterday. I am still so lucky.
Wrote out bills and mailed them. I am still so lucky.
Think about how darn lucky you are in your life. I'll bet you'll be amazed about how fortunate you are.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL