Who cares what I think?

Thank you for this post! It also reminds me of why...

2010-02-28T13:44:19.047-05:00

Thank you for this post! It also reminds me of why I live here!

Dear Mindie, How profound! Thank you for sharing ...

2010-02-27T13:51:02.902-05:00

Dear Mindie,

How profound! Thank you for sharing something so personal and beautiful. I was reminded of Howell McConnel's musings on the inherent connectiveness of the spiritual and material world. I look forward to reading more of your work.

Patrick

Absolutely beautiful. You shouldn't want people to...

2010-02-27T10:09:53.165-05:00

Absolutely beautiful. You shouldn't want people to read this, they'll all move down and the place will fill with condos full of retired exurbanites. - Annette

Well I'm glad she asked! Mindie, I relate to this ...

2010-02-27T10:06:25.203-05:00

Well I'm glad she asked! Mindie, I relate to this article so much now that we have moved to the country! At 45 yrs, born and raised in suburban Chicago, it has been such a change. However, I think this place, Middlebury, IN was calling Jon home! We discovered after doing some research that the Potawatomi tribes decided to settle here because it reminded them of the beautiful rolling hills in Middlebury, Vermont! Ironic isn't it? Jon's mom told him they could take the boy out of Vermont but they could not take Vermont out of the boy! LOL! When we moved here and returned for a couple of days to Chicago to tie up loose ends it pained me to leave. Would I ever be able to feel the calmness, serenity yet crazy happiness I felt? Then it hit me, I was not on vacation! This was now our home. That's when I knew this place was calling ME! Maybe not so much Middlebury but the country! It's been 5 months and every time I open the door and see the beauty of nature all around us all I have to do is take a deep breath and let it consume me and I feel as if I have been kissed by God, ready to start my day and continue to live my life as I was meant to live it! With a clear mind to handle and cherish the important moments in my life. The moments that will become special memories that will carry me for the rest of my life! This has been such a change from my life that has been so consumed with the hussle and bussle, the traffic, and the stress of city life! Not to mention neighbors just as stressed. I am so very happy to make the switch. I agree it took some getting use to and from time to time I still miss some of the luxuries of being so "close" to my family and everything else but we come to some crossroads in our lives and whether we decide to cross or not will continue to carve our existence! Jon still asks me if I am happy I made the move or if I miss Chicago! I'm sad to say I really do not regret it. We ALL got here stressed, cranky and a bit unhappy. We were all in need of a big "hug" and nature was only too happy to give us what we all needed! Nature surrounded us, embraced us and welcomed us to our new home! I am aware of the crossroads in my life that I have crossed and this move ranks as one of the most important ones that I have come to in my life! How appropriate that it would be made in little Indiana, named the "Crossroads of America". Thanks so much for your article Mindie! We need to visit! =)

Thanks so much Sandy, Enid and Roberta. All wise ...

2010-02-22T20:25:27.368-05:00

Thanks so much Sandy, Enid and Roberta. All wise words. Sandy, tomorrow I'm buying the McDonalds coupons and putting some in each of our cars. Bless you three.

When my daughter moved to Baltimore, across the st...

2010-02-22T20:14:17.812-05:00

When my daughter moved to Baltimore, across the street from Peabody, the mantra was "Pampers for the baby". These were drug users preying on us newbys. I just made sure I had a pamper with me to give and for a plea for money, pick up some $1 certificates for Micky Dees and have them at the ready. Those requests by starving folks & diapers for the baby disappear instantly.
Having practiced social work with a variety of folks, I had experience with the stories. I knew where folks could get services and many times, they knew more about the services then me. I also supplied folks with allot of services-well deserved. In fact, many of the people you had to talk into receiving the services. "Too proud to beg", "Didn't want charity", and "I've worked all my life." was their mantra. There is a difference between the money maker who drives away in the nice car and the person that needs a hand up.
Did you ever ask the people who have the sign, "Work for food", to come with you because you have a job? Or here's this business that is seeking a worker, I'll put in a good word and you just show up? They won't show up.
So keep your food coupons in hand for $1 deals and give a few out at a time, if you really feel the need. Buy the baby formula or the pampers, if it makes you sleep better. Or just carry a list of a variety of services that that person could apply to for help. Social Services, Health Dept, Salvation Army, Hot weather & cold weather shelters,Safe Haven's for Women & children of abuse , Drug & Alcohol Addition help ...all of the services are out there for the truly needed person. Point them in that direction.
With the exception of the chronic mentally ill who are living on the street. They are not drug users, in-fact they need medication, but refuse to take it due to their illness. They will not take advantage of these services, they will look so needy, not well fed or well kept. They will not be driving away in a nice car. They need food. I used to take an abundance of food from the country to Washington DC-to feed the street people. They are the exception...all others-
Teach them to FISH is what Jesus did. If they want it, they can get it from good,empathetic persons who make it their career to give a hand up. You will feel better and it's up to them to TAKE ADVANTAGE of the service ...and not you.

There was a homeless man sitting next to the bank ...

2010-02-22T14:55:48.467-05:00

There was a homeless man sitting next to the bank by Sherwood Ford one day this summer. I knew better than give him money, so I finished my business at the bank then went back down to Burger King and got him a breakfast meal and some orange juice. I handed it out the car window to him and he smiled and said "God bless you." As I drove away, I saw him sit back down on the curb and start to eat. It was a feeling of knowing that was something my dad would have done and I have tried so hard to live up to his "legacy" (I guess you'd call it) and WWDD (What would daddy do?).

I too, have been in this position. Weeks after mov...

2010-02-22T13:33:18.830-05:00

I too, have been in this position. Weeks after moving to Las Vegas, I was approached by a young girl with 2 babies in tow, pleading for money...needed medicine for her child. I gave her my last 45.00, mind you, with MY 2 toddlers in my car. Within a split second of me turning around, she has vanished into a car newer than mine and was gone...off to find her next rube I'm sure.
I felt like the biggest fool...and soon came to find, there were 10 more on every street corner there. Never again to give cash, but I did, however, drive thru Mcdonalds and purchase food for those who seemed in particular need on several occasions.
I don't know the answer to this..it breaks my heart to think theres someone starving that i may be able to help, and yet I know a great deal of this is a real scam.

Yup, know what you are feeling. Got tire tracks o...

2010-02-10T17:54:43.028-05:00

Yup, know what you are feeling. Got tire tracks on my head too.

Well done...It is especally frustrating when you h...

2010-02-09T09:15:28.068-05:00

Well done...It is especally frustrating when you have just been tossed under the bus and see another one is coming the other way.

I would never have pegged you as the weak one to p...

2010-02-08T10:08:38.223-05:00

I would never have pegged you as the weak one to prey upon, and I think they have seriously underestimated you. These people usually get what's coming to them, and we can only hope we all get to see it play out in some public, humiliating way. I can feel it coming, can't you!

An excellent piece, Mindie! I've never met you in ...

2010-02-06T12:25:19.040-05:00

An excellent piece, Mindie! I've never met you in person but my "sense" of you is that, indeed, you would know it best to fight this sort of childishness--which bullying is in its base form--with a smart, high-road approach. Most of us have been under a bus or two ... I remember a BIG event in my life which qualifies ... & so we can identify w/this. And so much of it goes on that I cringe at the thought of having to ever go back into any sort of corporate biz world--though it may happen, it's scary.

I was there just recently, as a matter of fact. I ...

2010-02-06T11:46:39.212-05:00

I was there just recently, as a matter of fact. I thought I could trust a fellow employee with some confidential information and he went straight to the department head who promptly told me I no longer have a job. Men are lying backstabbing weasels and I hope they are the ones that get hit by a bus. Literally.

I can sympathize, been there... it takes up more e...

2010-02-06T08:17:32.934-05:00

I can sympathize, been there... it takes up more energy covering your butt then doing the job. I like what Dr. Wayne Dyer says: Take No Offense - That which offends you only weakens you. Being offended creates the same destructive energy that offended you in the first place—so transcend your ego and stay in peace.

Well it seems to have worked out in your favor. It...

2010-02-06T06:29:52.303-05:00

Well it seems to have worked out in your favor.
It's a shame we have to put up with bus-bowling...but alas it does exist. Great blog . Thanks.
Ylee

Excellent job. There was a study done in Canada ab...

2010-02-06T00:10:28.380-05:00

Excellent job. There was a study done in Canada about BULLIES and how they effect the workplace:
"Most organizations have a serial bully. It never ceases to amaze me how one person's divisive, disordered. dysfunctional behavior can permeate the entire organization like a cancer" Tim Field
http://www.bullyonline.org/thefieldfoundation/index.htm
http://www.bullyonline.org/
I was blindsided by such an attack and it can be devastating. Thank you Mindie, Sandy

Oh, how I couldn't agree more. This ridiculous, ch...

2010-02-05T23:39:57.190-05:00

Oh, how I couldn't agree more. This ridiculous, childish behavior is what sent me kicking and screaming from the retail world of customer service years ago. The imminent threat that you pose to these sad little beings,just by being effective at your job, is enough to drive them to do the unthinkable.I have personally been under that bus so many times, I should be like the proverbial man hole cover. Too bad those poor individuals couldn't use all that negative energy to actually perform their jobs in the manner in which they are expected. For me, after years of this crap, the final scene came as I exited my place of business and made sure I let that one individual know where she could shove that job!!! Damn, that felt good!!!

Let me just say that you have "hit the nail on the...

2010-02-05T21:55:00.866-05:00

Let me just say that you have "hit the nail on the head" in addressing this issue. All of us have been thrown under a bus or few and have felt exactly as you do. Your read gives all of us power to face those who feed off of our success in hopes of squelching any recognition we deserve. All of us, too, have been in a position where the "powers that be" feel threatened by our existence and consequently we now fear their wrath. Thank you for verbalizing what some of us deal with on almost a daily basis. Ohhhhhhh I feel so much better after reading your blog just knowing that others have tracks of their backs too. We all have been "under the bus"!..... Laurie

Excellent post and writing style. Bookmarked.

2010-02-03T18:15:11.735-05:00

Excellent post and writing style. Bookmarked.

My husband gave me this book for Christmas. I read...

2010-01-23T14:22:04.539-05:00

My husband gave me this book for Christmas. I read it over a few days.It reminded me of another book I read not too long ago called The Known World, also about slavery, freedmen, slave stealers and dealers. It was an interesting aspect that Song Yet Sung took place on the Eastern Shore (I noticed he did not capitalize this place name, as we do)and the story is truly absorbing and the characters rich and real. Thanks for having this site.

I came across your page while looking for a kayak ...

2010-01-17T03:06:38.724-05:00

I came across your page while looking for a kayak with a wide enough cockpit for my big rump. I will have to look into the Heritage featherlite. I currently use an inflatable kayak and hit the rivers, but they require a bit more paddling when trying to keep up with the reg kayakers. Whitewater/rivers is what I enjoy the most and think this may work for me. Thanks for your input. Sandie

We do get one Christmas letter that has become the...

2009-12-02T12:29:07.673-05:00

We do get one Christmas letter that has become the laugh of the season. It's from a dear friend who writes in the voice of her child. Now, I love kids as much as anyone else. And her kids are cute, no doubt. But, in a Christmas letter, I don't really want to hear about how you discovered your toes the other day. Or how the leaves outside change color. So I guess I'd add one more point: write in your own voice. Not your kids, your dog or your parakeet.

This is such a lovely tradition. What a great way ...

2009-12-01T18:45:44.729-05:00

This is such a lovely tradition. What a great way to catch up with friends and relatives!

Karen, Send me your address ... I'll send you a ca...

2009-12-01T11:49:03.274-05:00

Karen,
Send me your address ... I'll send you a card and letter. New friends are good, right?

Thanks so much for the kind comment.

Beautifully written Mindie. Makes me wish I was o...

2009-12-01T11:21:31.867-05:00

Beautifully written Mindie. Makes me wish I was on your list. There is nothing like a heartfelt caring card and letter. What a delight.