….This morning I feel that I must add an addendum to the post above. Our group was having so much fun yesterday that we never checked the news or social media at all ….
Then we all awoke to the heartbreaking news of the Texas floods and those missing girls, and felt a sense of remorse. Our group, now retired, once had various careers working with children.
While we were sitting around watching the graphic news broadcasts and being bombarded with images of the extent of the flooding, again I remembered Mr. Roger’s advice to “find the helpers”.
We actually scanned the reports and found many examples of altruism - that there are already 450 “boots on the ground”, that a local Walmart donated a pair of shoes to someone who lost everything, that 167 people had been rescued by helicopter, and many, many stories of small (and large) acts of kindness!! 🙏
As I’ve mentioned before, having been evacuated during a severe flood, I was so extremely grateful and very humbled by the Red Cross volunteer providing me with clean water and a blanket…and I have never forgotten what it feels like to be on the other side of the news camera.
While none of us could realistically help in Texas, we all decided to rummage through our clothing for donations, and to try to give blood this week. It’s not much, but every little bit counts.
In this jaded age, Fred Rogers is often mocked and the subject of ridicule. Yet, I am not ashamed to admit that the 65 year old me still appreciates Mr.Rogers and am glad he shared his mother’s advice to him all those years ago when he ran to her upset about what he had seen on a news broadcast. As we sit here surrounded by leftovers from last night’s feast, ensconced safely in my home, we will look for the helpers and try to be helpers! ❤️
*** As an aside, my friends, all retired, yet unfamiliar with this forum, were taken aback that I just had to log in twice. Once “in”,we were all - myself included - stunned that dozens of SPAM messages that filled the message board. (I went directly to the Front Porch yesterday, so maybe they were there then too, but I can’t say for certain.). When I explained that there are always multiple “glitches” daily on this board, my friends worried and felt that it might not be prudent for me to continue using this site being that it isn’t being monitored 24/7.
Sigh - I fully realize that this post, as well as myself, might be deleted on Monday, but it just wouldn’t feel right if I did not share this with all of you. In retrospect, I believe I have just become inured to all of the maintenance issues on this site, but now that bad actors are bombarding this site with SPAM, I would hope that AARP takes notice.
Hope everyone who reads this is safe and secure.
~ Lisa
