VACANT HOME. BANK OWNED. FORECLOSURE. DETERIORATION. HOMELESS.
September 2010
We have all noticed as we drive through neighborhoods that so many homes are foreclosed on, are bank owned, and are thus sitting vacant. When I drive by one of these homes, I can visualize a family that had been living there and thriving, but due to circumstances and Bank Greed, was thrown out. I wonder where they are, what they are doing, and how they are making out. Most of them, if they do not have a caring family, family members living close by, friends able to help, or the means to overcome this extreme hardship, end up homeless.
A Program on the CBS Evening News on 8/11/2010 had a special segment on a writer who wrote a book on all the people in Las Vegas who are living literally “underground” under Las Vegas Blvd., more commonly known as “The Strip” where the majority of the casinos are built. Some have been there for almost a year, living in these cave-like tunnels. These were people who had jobs (many of them in these same casinos), and when they lost their employment, they had no alternative but to live under Las Vegas Blvd directly above them, with so many below struggling to make it from one day to the next.
Banks are no longer an organization that I have high regard for. I firmly believe that banks and insurance companies are nothing more than legalized Mafias that now have the license to steal and flex their powerful muscles legally. They are no longer a friend or helper to the people or to businesses.
Unfortunately, this scene in Las Vegas is repeated all across our great nation. With unemployment not improving due to low demand due to fewer people with jobs to have an income to spend, we are facing a long haul to get close to normal again.
With all of these houses that the banks have foreclosed on being “offered for sale.” we all know these so-called sale offers are just phony gestures. The banks don’t really want to sell these houses at a discounted/lowered price at the current market rate. This would result in a loss which would show up on their annual statements, and would not create bonuses for the greedy executives. And so they continue to go through the process of offering these homes and declining the buyers, and our government believes that all the money they gave to the banks is helping! How naïve the government is.
One thing that the banks obviously do not realize is the fact that when houses sit empty, they deteriorate, are damaged by others, and eventually fall apart. It takes a lot of money to repair these houses, and paying for the upkeep isn’t cheap either. So why not let the people who are in them be evaluated, and based on their current state of income, make allowances on payments so they can make it through these difficult times. Base the payments on the current value of the property and discount it to the level of their affordability to keep it occupied.
Now I know the rest of us who are making our payments and feeling the heat also will say, “How about me?” Well, let’s realize one thing…..the whole world is not about ME! It is the “me generation” who got us into this mess to begin with. Let’s realize that it takes one person at a time to be considerate to give a break to others. We are the fortunate ones who can still make our regular payments based on the inflated prices we paid for our properties….AND thank God we still have jobs and can still afford to pay the mortgage or rent.
Another suggestion is that banks would accept applications from the homeless people to be reviewed by them and a panel of independent advisors able to qualify the homeless families’ background. Based on a set of standards to be established, these families would be allowed to live in these foreclosed properties on the market for what they can afford or free until they find employment. At that point, they can either buy the property or move out. One condition for qualification would be their responsibility and respect for the property, to keep it in good condition, or improve it if they have skills for items to be fixed to give a better value to the property. In another word, since they are getting something very valuable (a roof over their heads), they in turn give value back. If this particular property is sold, this family would be relocated to another empty house in the area.
The result of this would be no gangs, no thugs, no drug dealers and druggies breaking into these homes and damaging these properties…just decent people or families that have fallen on hard times. We take care of so many people in foreign countries without a second thought, and now it is time to take care of our own. We do not ask where the money is going for all the dollars that are leaving our shores to help rogue governments and countries. I’m quite sure they don’t even need to fill out an application! It is now time for us to be just as tolerant with our own, that we can screen and help. I am sure we have all seen and experienced hard times, so I’m sure we can find the compassion in our hearts to help our fellow countrymen.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
YOU CAN NOT BUY FRIENDS
YOU CAN NOT BUY FRIENDS
If friends could be bought and sold, I am sure Wall Street would have created an “option to trade” and we could all speculate on the options. Since there is not, then I have to conclude that we can not buy friends, but our Government has not understood nor realized this yet.
I was listening to the NBC Evening News yesterday (July 19th), and the leading story was about Hillary Clinton, our Secretary of State’s visit to Pakistan. It featured her hesitant notation to the announcement of 500 Million Dollars to be given away to Pakistan for building dams, roads, and bridges.
Yes, even in these days of hard times in our country, we are giving money away to countries that pretend they are our friends. They stimulate the degree of violence (that they are in control of) to milk us out of more support, while they are really lining their pockets, and so they keep the game going. When are we going to learn that if we fix their problems, they will not have any reason or ability to con us out of the money we so desperately need at home. As far as I can remember we have repeated the same scenario, and no single time has it solved the problem. Look at the Palestine/Israel situation. Do you think the two of them would benefit if they would agree to peace? Absolutely not! Israel would go bankrupt and Palestine would not be able to support itself and thus become a viable state.
A few weeks ago on the news they showed how pallets of American dollars that we had given to Iraq were leaving for Dubai banks for deposit by the same people we supported to create a viable country. Yes, your hard-earned money and mine is being given away to thieves who we are buying as friends.
Several of our states are in the “state of bankruptcy” and California will be releasing or has already started releasing criminals from jails because they can not afford to house them any more. I think they are just as much a threat to our society turned loose as the Al Quida. Or maybe….having criminals killing us one at a time is OK as long as it isn’t a bunch at a time?
Our economy can use the jobs that road and dam construction would create at home rather than in Pakistan. Many of our unemployed are losing their benefits, and some will be driven to do things illegally. Hunger might drive them to a state of desperation, creating new criminals added to those released criminals. Now we will have real chaos!
I would like our government to look inside our own country and get us back on our feet, Put our unemployed and new graduates to work by creating funding for small businesses to have credit in order to expand and create jobs, not government jobs but private jobs and opportunity. America is a dynamic country. Let’s not destroy what took 200 plus years to build. Let's get real and open our eyes and realize that friends can not be bought. And if they can, I do not want friends that are nothing more than a commodity
If friends could be bought and sold, I am sure Wall Street would have created an “option to trade” and we could all speculate on the options. Since there is not, then I have to conclude that we can not buy friends, but our Government has not understood nor realized this yet.
I was listening to the NBC Evening News yesterday (July 19th), and the leading story was about Hillary Clinton, our Secretary of State’s visit to Pakistan. It featured her hesitant notation to the announcement of 500 Million Dollars to be given away to Pakistan for building dams, roads, and bridges.
Yes, even in these days of hard times in our country, we are giving money away to countries that pretend they are our friends. They stimulate the degree of violence (that they are in control of) to milk us out of more support, while they are really lining their pockets, and so they keep the game going. When are we going to learn that if we fix their problems, they will not have any reason or ability to con us out of the money we so desperately need at home. As far as I can remember we have repeated the same scenario, and no single time has it solved the problem. Look at the Palestine/Israel situation. Do you think the two of them would benefit if they would agree to peace? Absolutely not! Israel would go bankrupt and Palestine would not be able to support itself and thus become a viable state.
A few weeks ago on the news they showed how pallets of American dollars that we had given to Iraq were leaving for Dubai banks for deposit by the same people we supported to create a viable country. Yes, your hard-earned money and mine is being given away to thieves who we are buying as friends.
Several of our states are in the “state of bankruptcy” and California will be releasing or has already started releasing criminals from jails because they can not afford to house them any more. I think they are just as much a threat to our society turned loose as the Al Quida. Or maybe….having criminals killing us one at a time is OK as long as it isn’t a bunch at a time?
Our economy can use the jobs that road and dam construction would create at home rather than in Pakistan. Many of our unemployed are losing their benefits, and some will be driven to do things illegally. Hunger might drive them to a state of desperation, creating new criminals added to those released criminals. Now we will have real chaos!
I would like our government to look inside our own country and get us back on our feet, Put our unemployed and new graduates to work by creating funding for small businesses to have credit in order to expand and create jobs, not government jobs but private jobs and opportunity. America is a dynamic country. Let’s not destroy what took 200 plus years to build. Let's get real and open our eyes and realize that friends can not be bought. And if they can, I do not want friends that are nothing more than a commodity
Monday, June 7, 2010
Why Are Jobs Leaving Our Country?
This morning the unemployment report came out at 5:30AM California time showing we had gained 400,000+ jobs in the month of May 2010. However, close to 400,000 of them were temporary government jobs that were created by the Census Bureau and were to be terminated in 4-6 weeks. In another words, we did not “dip” to below 10% unemployment. The politicians were only using this temporary situation for a sound bite to make them look better in our eyes.
I would like to share with you my opinion of why we are losing jobs to China and other countries that should be kept here to support our own economy.
Our government and politicians put in place special incentives for corporations to buy new equipment that included having a shorter term of depreciation (to help with taxes) and other short term tricks resulting in immediate non-sustaining results. Who is buying into these quick fixes? Not me, and not other people who can see past the trees.
Let’s analyze this for a moment. Let’s say I buy a press for $300,000.00 and create 3 jobs as a result of this new equipment. In a nutshell, what I am getting is a shorter, accelerated depreciation plus added payroll, workman’s compensation, property and health insurance, and social security/unemployment contributions along with increased operating costs, overhead and additional salesmen to sell and create orders to support the press while facing tough competition with every other manufacturer cutting prices to get the orders. Well, all of this is understandable and is part of doing business. I am used to it, and these situations are all part of operating our business.
However, one thing that no one mentions, and what really gets to me is the unspoken and overlooked expense that every corporation is experiencing, and somehow, our politicians never mention or want to bring it up. It is the annual bill we receive for the Equipment Property Tax. Yes, ladies and gentlemen…..This never goes away. As long as you own that equipment, it just keeps coming every year, just like the property taxes you pay on your homes.
Our big corporation (and now many of the smaller ones also) have looked at this and quietly said to themselves, “If I contract this out to China, I do not have all of these expenses. I get the product for one fixed price, and all I have to do is sell it. I don’t have to worry about all the production costs, quality control, delivery dates, employment expenses, or the property tax on any equipment. I can buy it cheaper at a predetermined, exact price, and all the rest of the expenses disappear.”
If our politicians were smart, they would eliminate the property tax on production equipment and allow the companies to produce locally. Allow us to hire our capable, knowledgeable work force to work and be proud to make good American products that say MADE IN USA.
As long as the mentioned factors listed above are in existence, jobs will be leaving our country and we will be importing more and more. Our trade deficit will grow and grow until China will no longer buy our treasury notes that we sell to finance our economy. We will be owned by China without a shot fired. Our Deficit will be so big that it will never, ever be paid off.
Let’s wake up our politicians and let them know national security is not only keeping the terrorists out, but it is also keeping our jobs in the USA. Take the choke rope off all manufacturers so production can be kept on a local level.
This morning the unemployment report came out at 5:30AM California time showing we had gained 400,000+ jobs in the month of May 2010. However, close to 400,000 of them were temporary government jobs that were created by the Census Bureau and were to be terminated in 4-6 weeks. In another words, we did not “dip” to below 10% unemployment. The politicians were only using this temporary situation for a sound bite to make them look better in our eyes.
I would like to share with you my opinion of why we are losing jobs to China and other countries that should be kept here to support our own economy.
Our government and politicians put in place special incentives for corporations to buy new equipment that included having a shorter term of depreciation (to help with taxes) and other short term tricks resulting in immediate non-sustaining results. Who is buying into these quick fixes? Not me, and not other people who can see past the trees.
Let’s analyze this for a moment. Let’s say I buy a press for $300,000.00 and create 3 jobs as a result of this new equipment. In a nutshell, what I am getting is a shorter, accelerated depreciation plus added payroll, workman’s compensation, property and health insurance, and social security/unemployment contributions along with increased operating costs, overhead and additional salesmen to sell and create orders to support the press while facing tough competition with every other manufacturer cutting prices to get the orders. Well, all of this is understandable and is part of doing business. I am used to it, and these situations are all part of operating our business.
However, one thing that no one mentions, and what really gets to me is the unspoken and overlooked expense that every corporation is experiencing, and somehow, our politicians never mention or want to bring it up. It is the annual bill we receive for the Equipment Property Tax. Yes, ladies and gentlemen…..This never goes away. As long as you own that equipment, it just keeps coming every year, just like the property taxes you pay on your homes.
Our big corporation (and now many of the smaller ones also) have looked at this and quietly said to themselves, “If I contract this out to China, I do not have all of these expenses. I get the product for one fixed price, and all I have to do is sell it. I don’t have to worry about all the production costs, quality control, delivery dates, employment expenses, or the property tax on any equipment. I can buy it cheaper at a predetermined, exact price, and all the rest of the expenses disappear.”
If our politicians were smart, they would eliminate the property tax on production equipment and allow the companies to produce locally. Allow us to hire our capable, knowledgeable work force to work and be proud to make good American products that say MADE IN USA.
As long as the mentioned factors listed above are in existence, jobs will be leaving our country and we will be importing more and more. Our trade deficit will grow and grow until China will no longer buy our treasury notes that we sell to finance our economy. We will be owned by China without a shot fired. Our Deficit will be so big that it will never, ever be paid off.
Let’s wake up our politicians and let them know national security is not only keeping the terrorists out, but it is also keeping our jobs in the USA. Take the choke rope off all manufacturers so production can be kept on a local level.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS OUT THERE?
IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS OUT THERE?
I am wondering if there is any good news out there to cheer us up rather than constantly hearing about war, unemployment, bank failures, terrorist attacks, earth quakes, floods, volcanoe ash clouds, tornadoes, and the list can go on and on. If I have left anything out, please add to the list.
In addition to the above items, we all have our own realty called life that we face everyday that includes family, budgets, illness, jobs and this list can also go on and on. No matter what stage of life you are in, these are all real occurrences in our lives.
We cannot ignore them, and they do not go away by themselves. These situations have been around since the beginning of time in different ways, but they have always been there. The good old days are good because our minds filter out the bad and remember mostly the good.
SO! What can we do to escape this 24/7 negative state of mind?
We can not run away from our responsibilities and just pack and leave or step away from them permanently. However, we can check out from the “Reality Hotel” for short times to refresh and start all over again.
My escape is when I get home and get out and walk or exercise. I walk away from reality for a short time to have “my space” all to myself…. just me, myself and I. I’m not with anyone else. On weekends I get out early in the morning to get refreshed so I can enjoy the rest of the day after I come back from “MY SPACE”.
You all need to find your own way for get-away time. We all have something that we enjoy doing alone. Find out what it is and do it. In the GOOD OLD DAYS, guys used to go to the garage and work on their cars as an escape. Since cars are all electronic now, even that has been taken away from us.
Find your escape, get recharged, and do it regularly. Do not let anyone else interfere , discourage you, or prevent you from doing it. You will be a happier person for yourself, family, friends, co-workers and have a better state of mind to face all the challenges of the day and your tomorrows. Also, stop complaining about situations over which you have no control. It gets you down and also negatively affects others. Don’t add to their bad news.
Take a vacation in your mind. It is less demanding than a vacation out of town that requires you to have another vacation to recoup.
Take some time every day to feel refreshed so you can handle your challenges more effectively.
CHECK OUT ……………TO………………CHECK IN.
I am wondering if there is any good news out there to cheer us up rather than constantly hearing about war, unemployment, bank failures, terrorist attacks, earth quakes, floods, volcanoe ash clouds, tornadoes, and the list can go on and on. If I have left anything out, please add to the list.
In addition to the above items, we all have our own realty called life that we face everyday that includes family, budgets, illness, jobs and this list can also go on and on. No matter what stage of life you are in, these are all real occurrences in our lives.
We cannot ignore them, and they do not go away by themselves. These situations have been around since the beginning of time in different ways, but they have always been there. The good old days are good because our minds filter out the bad and remember mostly the good.
SO! What can we do to escape this 24/7 negative state of mind?
We can not run away from our responsibilities and just pack and leave or step away from them permanently. However, we can check out from the “Reality Hotel” for short times to refresh and start all over again.
My escape is when I get home and get out and walk or exercise. I walk away from reality for a short time to have “my space” all to myself…. just me, myself and I. I’m not with anyone else. On weekends I get out early in the morning to get refreshed so I can enjoy the rest of the day after I come back from “MY SPACE”.
You all need to find your own way for get-away time. We all have something that we enjoy doing alone. Find out what it is and do it. In the GOOD OLD DAYS, guys used to go to the garage and work on their cars as an escape. Since cars are all electronic now, even that has been taken away from us.
Find your escape, get recharged, and do it regularly. Do not let anyone else interfere , discourage you, or prevent you from doing it. You will be a happier person for yourself, family, friends, co-workers and have a better state of mind to face all the challenges of the day and your tomorrows. Also, stop complaining about situations over which you have no control. It gets you down and also negatively affects others. Don’t add to their bad news.
Take a vacation in your mind. It is less demanding than a vacation out of town that requires you to have another vacation to recoup.
Take some time every day to feel refreshed so you can handle your challenges more effectively.
CHECK OUT ……………TO………………CHECK IN.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
WALK/JOG FOR LIFE AND HEALTH.
WALK/JOG FOR LIFE AND HEALTH.
I started my diet and exercise program on April 18, 2008. Today 1 year and 10 months later, I am still on it and have not wavered. My visits to the gym at 2:00 AM are still on, and I also walk and jog.
I had set my goal to walk/jog the distance from my home in California to my home in Charlotte, NC. The total distance was 2,426.6 miles. Today (February 17, 2010) I walked the last 5.5 miles and I have walked the actual distance between the two cities and did these final miles in Charlotte, NC since I am currently visiting Calico Tag and Label. I did not originally plan on finishing it in Charlotte, but I guess it was meant to be.
Here are the statistics:
FARID WALK/JOG CHART
WALKED MILES LESS JOG MILES= 1,831.93
JOGGED MILES = 594.67
DATE:TODAY 2/17/2010 10:33
START DATE April 18, 2008
TOTAL MINUTES: 35,323.77
TOTAL WALKED HOURS 588.7295
TOTAL MILES: 2,426.60
DURATION: 1 YEAR,MONTHS 9,DAYS 31
MINUTES PER MILE: 14.55689854
LGH-CLT = 2,426.60
MILES LEFT TO MAKE IT LGH-CLT= 0.00 MILES TO GO
I had fun doing it, felt great, and looked forward to obtaining this goal on a daily basis. I have endured a broken toe along with other aches and pains that tried to keep me down. I had to take few days off to get back on top, but I discovered that if you don’t push yourself, no one else will. It is important to be your own great motivator. When you do not feel like doing something or try to talk yourself out of it, that is the time to get up and do what ever it is you were procrastinating about. Also, do not let others keep you back. You are in charge and you call the shots. Nothing happens until we take the first step. Although some people find it easier to exercise with someone else, I found that doing it alone gave me the chance to “taste the still of the silence” and enjoy the personal victory of reaching my own goal.
I will be starting my next goal to see how long it takes me to walk/jog the same distance back to our California home. My goal is to do it in fewer days and less time. Here comes the 2:00AM gym back on the program! What are your personal fitness goals?
I started my diet and exercise program on April 18, 2008. Today 1 year and 10 months later, I am still on it and have not wavered. My visits to the gym at 2:00 AM are still on, and I also walk and jog.
I had set my goal to walk/jog the distance from my home in California to my home in Charlotte, NC. The total distance was 2,426.6 miles. Today (February 17, 2010) I walked the last 5.5 miles and I have walked the actual distance between the two cities and did these final miles in Charlotte, NC since I am currently visiting Calico Tag and Label. I did not originally plan on finishing it in Charlotte, but I guess it was meant to be.
Here are the statistics:
FARID WALK/JOG CHART
WALKED MILES LESS JOG MILES= 1,831.93
JOGGED MILES = 594.67
DATE:TODAY 2/17/2010 10:33
START DATE April 18, 2008
TOTAL MINUTES: 35,323.77
TOTAL WALKED HOURS 588.7295
TOTAL MILES: 2,426.60
DURATION: 1 YEAR,MONTHS 9,DAYS 31
MINUTES PER MILE: 14.55689854
LGH-CLT = 2,426.60
MILES LEFT TO MAKE IT LGH-CLT= 0.00 MILES TO GO
I had fun doing it, felt great, and looked forward to obtaining this goal on a daily basis. I have endured a broken toe along with other aches and pains that tried to keep me down. I had to take few days off to get back on top, but I discovered that if you don’t push yourself, no one else will. It is important to be your own great motivator. When you do not feel like doing something or try to talk yourself out of it, that is the time to get up and do what ever it is you were procrastinating about. Also, do not let others keep you back. You are in charge and you call the shots. Nothing happens until we take the first step. Although some people find it easier to exercise with someone else, I found that doing it alone gave me the chance to “taste the still of the silence” and enjoy the personal victory of reaching my own goal.
I will be starting my next goal to see how long it takes me to walk/jog the same distance back to our California home. My goal is to do it in fewer days and less time. Here comes the 2:00AM gym back on the program! What are your personal fitness goals?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Imagination and Sales
Imagination and Sales April 1, 2006
Gadgets are consuming much of our daily lives. Cell phones, Ipods, 500-channel cable television, podcasts, our PC’s, and the wonderful world of the internet with our e-mails are not leaving much time to have quiet time. Even though these devices are taking up much of our time, they are stimulating our imagination and bringing new things for us to learn at faster rate.
To absorb all this and still bring our own creative talent to the table requires some quiet time each day, so we can use our imagination to create. Quiet time can be your daily walk, jog, bike ride or any activity that gives you freedom from other obligations. It should be your fun time. Letting your mind run free will allow whatever is in the back of your mind to come forward. This is when your imagination can create new ideas and find solutions to old problems. A mind free from the daily stresses can reveal new possibilities on how to approach new customers and make that big sale, which is the dream of every salesperson. Everyone should allow him/herself this gift of free time to allow this creativity to grow.
Gadgets are consuming much of our daily lives. Cell phones, Ipods, 500-channel cable television, podcasts, our PC’s, and the wonderful world of the internet with our e-mails are not leaving much time to have quiet time. Even though these devices are taking up much of our time, they are stimulating our imagination and bringing new things for us to learn at faster rate.
To absorb all this and still bring our own creative talent to the table requires some quiet time each day, so we can use our imagination to create. Quiet time can be your daily walk, jog, bike ride or any activity that gives you freedom from other obligations. It should be your fun time. Letting your mind run free will allow whatever is in the back of your mind to come forward. This is when your imagination can create new ideas and find solutions to old problems. A mind free from the daily stresses can reveal new possibilities on how to approach new customers and make that big sale, which is the dream of every salesperson. Everyone should allow him/herself this gift of free time to allow this creativity to grow.
A heart warming experience.
I had this month that I wanted to share with everyone.
It was a Saturday afternoon. I was home alone and getting bored since no one was at home to amuse me. I decided to play poker for few hours at a casino half way between my house and San Diego.
When I sat at the $1.00 - $2.00 poker table, I noticed a lady who was sharply dressed, wearing expensive jewelry. Since she appeared to be rich and upper class, I assumed she would be snobbish. After playing a few hands at the same table, I observed everyone was having fun and talking while playing. I realized how pleasant and down to earth this lady was. She joked and laughed and made us all feel comfortable. It seemed everyone else at the table and the casino knew her. I discovered she and her younger sister live south of San Diego, and for the past year they have been making the 45 minutes drive to the casino every Thursday. They stay at the hotel close by, play poker for several days, and leave for home each Sunday evening. I thought to myself they would be prime candidates for Gamblers Anonymous. I was to learn how wrong I was, and I had judged them prematurely.
When I had a chance to take a break and sit out of the game for a while, she decided to do the same. We started taking in general, and I found out she was 72 years old. She was in top shape and looked as if she took good care of herself. Her make up was just right, and she was the most pleasant person to talk to.
She revealed the story for their weekly travel to play poker. Her younger sister who lives with her is dying of cancer. She does not want to stay home and think about dying, so they pack every Thursday and check into the hotel. They play poker, shop, and dine. They get to meet new people and see old friends they have made at the casino, who have almost become like family. On Sunday they drive back to their home. On Monday the sister stays in bed resting. Each Tuesday she gets her treatment and stays in bed on Wednesday to recuperate. Each Thursday they are on the road again to enjoy life.
She told me she loved her sister and would do anything for her. Since this is what she wants to do, this wonderful lady does it with her. She takes care of her on a daily basis, and is at her beck and call for anything she wants. She told me, “Since my sister will be gone soon, I want to be with her every minute, so I don’t miss a moment.” While the younger sister plays at the $4.00- $8.00 table, she plays at the $1.00 - $2.00 table to pass the time and be close to her.
It touched me so much that I related this experience to my family. I wanted to share this with you as well. There are always “life lessons” to be learned, and in some cases, to be re-learned. First of all, judging people by appearance is unwise and unfair. Secondly, and most importantly, family and friends are very dear. We should enjoy them all of the time and not wait for unfortunate circumstances to rob us of missed events and relationships. We need to realize how quickly time passes, and realize that the opportunity to make memories will be missed if we don’t take advantage of making them.
The younger sister has one daughter. This wonderful classy lady has four children, two grand children, and two great-grand children. How proud they should all be of this wonderful lady.
It was a Saturday afternoon. I was home alone and getting bored since no one was at home to amuse me. I decided to play poker for few hours at a casino half way between my house and San Diego.
When I sat at the $1.00 - $2.00 poker table, I noticed a lady who was sharply dressed, wearing expensive jewelry. Since she appeared to be rich and upper class, I assumed she would be snobbish. After playing a few hands at the same table, I observed everyone was having fun and talking while playing. I realized how pleasant and down to earth this lady was. She joked and laughed and made us all feel comfortable. It seemed everyone else at the table and the casino knew her. I discovered she and her younger sister live south of San Diego, and for the past year they have been making the 45 minutes drive to the casino every Thursday. They stay at the hotel close by, play poker for several days, and leave for home each Sunday evening. I thought to myself they would be prime candidates for Gamblers Anonymous. I was to learn how wrong I was, and I had judged them prematurely.
When I had a chance to take a break and sit out of the game for a while, she decided to do the same. We started taking in general, and I found out she was 72 years old. She was in top shape and looked as if she took good care of herself. Her make up was just right, and she was the most pleasant person to talk to.
She revealed the story for their weekly travel to play poker. Her younger sister who lives with her is dying of cancer. She does not want to stay home and think about dying, so they pack every Thursday and check into the hotel. They play poker, shop, and dine. They get to meet new people and see old friends they have made at the casino, who have almost become like family. On Sunday they drive back to their home. On Monday the sister stays in bed resting. Each Tuesday she gets her treatment and stays in bed on Wednesday to recuperate. Each Thursday they are on the road again to enjoy life.
She told me she loved her sister and would do anything for her. Since this is what she wants to do, this wonderful lady does it with her. She takes care of her on a daily basis, and is at her beck and call for anything she wants. She told me, “Since my sister will be gone soon, I want to be with her every minute, so I don’t miss a moment.” While the younger sister plays at the $4.00- $8.00 table, she plays at the $1.00 - $2.00 table to pass the time and be close to her.
It touched me so much that I related this experience to my family. I wanted to share this with you as well. There are always “life lessons” to be learned, and in some cases, to be re-learned. First of all, judging people by appearance is unwise and unfair. Secondly, and most importantly, family and friends are very dear. We should enjoy them all of the time and not wait for unfortunate circumstances to rob us of missed events and relationships. We need to realize how quickly time passes, and realize that the opportunity to make memories will be missed if we don’t take advantage of making them.
The younger sister has one daughter. This wonderful classy lady has four children, two grand children, and two great-grand children. How proud they should all be of this wonderful lady.
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