Reflections

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Clipper]

PB, I was touched by an article that made our news. It certainly brought to mind all that I have been reading in the series that you have been posting concerning generosity. It shows that there still are communities that will pick up tools, open their checkbooks and make a difference in the lives of elderly neighbors. What a story.

www.sunjournal.com/2022/04/06/photo-album-community-rallies-to-help-norway-couple/

www.wmtw.com/article/maine-community-helps-couple-return-home/39659939

Not long ago there was a report of an elderly gentleman who had ended up living in a decrepit old camping trailer with no electricity or sewer. He used a commode chair and emptied the pail in a hole in the ground, had a propane camping lantern for light, and a propane tent heater for heat. He lived on canned foods, coffee and canned drinks because he had no means to keep anything refrigerated.

I wasn't able to find the story to link it here, but the community got together, and went to his aid. A landowner donated a lot already set up for a mobile home, with septic, water, and electricity, and the community got together and purchased a used mobile home, furnished it with donated furniture, and stocked the pantry, refrigerator and freezer with groceries.

There were photos of the old camper and it's interior and finally a photo of the 91yr old gentleman sitting in a recliner, in a robe and slippers, watching tv. He hadn't been able to have a tv due to the lack of electricity. They also raised several thousand dollars with a go fund me page and opened a bank account so he would have money to cover his taxes and utilities.

I found it sad that no one had come to his aid sooner, or realized just how bad his living conditions were. They didn't go into how he had actually ended up in such circumstances. When asked why he didn't seek help social services, he simply said that he didn't want to be a burden on taxpayers and that "he was doing fine" on his small social security income, had a bed to sleep in and something to eat.

When I volunteered at the food pantry I saw some pretty dire cases but this case was heart wrenching. 91 yrs old, worked all his life as a hired farm hand, only to end up in such a horrible living situation. They didn't say who owned the land where the camper was located, but if it belonged to someone else it is a shame that that person didn't do something about it.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Better late than never.....why do I sleep so late on Sundays. Gee....12:45PM

[Clipper]

Apr 10, 2022 12:34:10 GMT -5 Atticus Pizzaballa said:

Better late than never.....why do I sleep so late on Sundays. Gee....12:45PM

After all that sleep you must just be a smiling ray of sunshine today. hahaha! It must have been a good night for sleeping last night. I normally only sleep 6 or 6 1/2 hours. I went to bed early last night and slept almost 8 hours.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Clipper]

Gosh PB. I could go on forever about how very much generosity has changed and enriched my life. When my life was focused on ME ME ME it became dark, depressing, and lonely. A life of addiction to alcohol, and self-pity. Generosity gives a person purpose, fulfillment, joy. Even the smallest act of generosity can bring a sense of self worth. Putting a smile on someone else's face when smiling is the last thing on their mind brings a smile to MY face. I guess it goes to the old saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed." It may be a Southern thing but since moving here I see a lot more of neighbors helping neighbors and charitable acts of kindness than I did when I lived in NY where many folks don't hardly know their next door neighbor and wouldn't pee on their head if their hair was on fire.

We are very fortunate. As the "old people" in the neighborhood, we have neighbors who unsolicited are always telling me to just holler if I need absolutely ANYTHING. Just recently the young man next door asked me if I needed anything done. I asked him if he would climb the ladder and clean the gutters. It is a single story house and it only took him about 20 minutes but would have been a significant chore for me to lug the heavy 8 foot fiberglass ladder out and I am not comfortable on ladders any more. The fellow across the road comes over anytime I need any heavy lifting done. In return I collect neighbor's mail, feed their cats or birds, take in their packages, watch their houses, and mow their lawn if necessary when they are away. Kathy also keeps them supplied with goodies when she bakes. When she makes cookies she always bakes and extra dozen for the little ones up behind us. I call and Harrison and Katie come down and get their cookies.

Harrison is about 10 and he likes to hang out in the woodshop with me occasionally. I cut out the parts for a toy car or a birdhouse, give him sandpaper, hammer, nails, and a paint brush and he is overjoyed. He recently has taken an interest in learning to scroll with the scroll saw so I have been giving him pieces of scrap wood to practice on and his goal is to be able to cut out something, sand, paint and complete it from start to finish to proudly take home. I don't let him near any of the whirling saws, the planer, or routers where he could lose a finger in a matter of a second. A scroll saw is relatively safe as long as he goes slow and keeps his hands well clear of the blade. He puts on his safety glasses, dust mask, and really gets into a groove. The same relaxing groove the draws me to the hobby. He also carries in wood for the stove, takes out the ashes, and sweeps up. I hope he doesn't outgrow the desire to work with wood. I got MY start working with my grandfather in his shop. My very first project was a small table lamp that I made for my parents for Christmas. That lamp was still around when we moved here in 2002. I rewired it with a three prong cord and plug and my dad had it in his room at the nursing home until it was stolen from his room while he was away in the hospital once.

The generosity of others helped me to turn the corner to a better life PB, and my generosity toward others has brought me great satisfaction and joy over the years.