DUmp Linkstevedeshazer (1000+ posts) Thu Nov-24-11 01:34 AM
Original message
I gave some guy thirty bucks and a ride home tonight.
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This fellow, I'll call him Ken, was in a tight spot.
He's completely broke and has a daughter who lives with her mother, his estranged girl friend. I guess Herman Cain would say that it's his own fault. Tonight, he found out he has to work Friday which coincides with his visitation with his daughter.
So he'll make about seventy bucks that day and pay someone fifty bucks to sit his daughter, and get maybe two hours with her.
This guy is my coworker.
He works fifty hours a week. He literally has nothing but his visitation with his daughter, a cheap motel room, and the thirty bucks I gave him. He told me he had no money for turkey dinner.
I couldn't let that happen.
In previous years my wife and I made good money, so I could afford to help him out a bit. But it's not sustainable. She is retired, and I make 1/3 what I used to.
So I'm thankful that I was able to help someone, but sad that it was so desperately needed in a nation swimming in wealth hoarded by the 1%
In better times, I had a boss who was from Sweden. She told me that money is like manure. If it piles up in one place, it stinks and it doesn't do any good. If you spread it around instead, things grow and the stink goes away.
I think spreading a bit around is good advice.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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I'm not belittling the guy for helping out a co-worker with a ride home and $30. What I am belittling is the DUmp post. They always do this. If they do one little favor for one little spot of humanity, they trumpet it loud and clear, instead of just quietly going on with life. LOOK AT ME!!!! $30!!!!!. Why didn't he bring the guy home for Thanksgiving, anyway?
CaliforniaPeggy (1000+ posts) Thu Nov-24-11 01:37 AM
Response to Original message
1. You did a really good thing, Steve...
I'm sure your coworker is really grateful.
How awful he has to work Friday. That just breaks my heart...
How awful!!! A nightmare to have to work!!! Big deal, I worked too.
Then, the thread is a big circle jerk what a regular superhero this guy is, how fantastic, how altruistic. It's sickening. I'm reminded of some instruction in the Bible...Jesus wants us to keep this stuff on the down-low. Not broadcast it far and wide. Makes God roll his eyes.

Here's one who is slipping in a little bragging, in the style of Greenbriar:
Flatulo (1000+ posts) Thu Nov-24-11 11:07 PM
Response to Original message
32. Bless your heart... to people who have almost nothing, $30 can be a real life saver.
I have a divorced buddy who has a crappy job and after he pays child support and rent, he has maybe $10 left for the rest of the week.
I help him out when he'll let me, but mostly I give him my recent computers, TV, smartphones etc when I upgrade.