BS: What was your good deed for today?

Subject: BS: What was your good deed for today? or whenever
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:16 PM

We all try to do well with respect to our actions with others each day, I am sure. We all would like to do a good deed each day. But, every now and then, a gem is sent our way........

Mum sounded tired this AM. Said she didn't sleep well because of the warm weather and having to turn off the AC in the back bedroom. She had to turn off the AC because she didn't know if it should be on with the door shut. She had to shut the door because of the noise, and,

"Do you have one of those Vapona No-Pest things?"
"Noooo." (becoming curious)
"I'll have to try to remember to pick one up when I am out."
"Why?" (even more curious)
"To get rid of that cricket or whatever it is making that noise."
"What noise?" (very curious)
"The cricket noise. It's been going on for three days."
"Oh. It's been chirping for three nights? Why didn't...."
"Three DAYS. It never stops."
"Never stops?" (extremely curious)
"No. It must be lost or something."
"Would you mind if I come over and have a search to see if I can find it?"
"I would appreciate that."

Now, I am a good son. I brought a fly swatter and some facial tissues and I put a 9 volt battery and two AA size batteries in my pocket. I enetered the bedroom and closed the door behind me. I quietly got up on the bed, changed the batteries in the smoke detector, and got back down. I smacked the floor with the fly swatter and said loudly, "Got ya, ya little bugger!"

I took the tissues to the toilet and flushed them, reset the air conditioner, and told Mum to call me sooner next time. Of course, I won't forget to change out the smoke detector batteries on time ever again.

g, Exterminator Extraordinaire

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST, Ebbie
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:25 PM

Good one, gnu. Just a small example of things that one needn't be frank about.

The other day a friend and I were discussing a song that we do, called 'Write a Letter to my Mother'. It's supposed to have been written in 1864 by someone called 'E. Bowers.'

The premise is that two brothers meet on the battlefield and one shoots the other. The one who is dying says to write his mother and "tell her that her boy is dead. That he perished by his brother, not a word of that be said."

We agreed that when the shooter goes home, his impulse would be to tell his mother - if only to share the load- but that the unselfish act would be to NOT say a word.

(A long way around to say Good for you!)

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:49 PM

Gave an extra dog crate to the local shelter. Did NOT bring home a beautiful cat I reaaly reaaalllly want....

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:57 PM

Lovely, Ebbie.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: CarolC
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:58 PM

Good for you, gnu. You are a good son indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:05 PM

CC! Enuff of that... don't spread it around that I am really a nice guy... screws up my reputation. Hey, it's just a story. I am really a bad boy with an attitude. If that's okay with you, I mean.

Okay... what good deed did you do today?

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:12 PM

I refreained from (verbally) chopping an incompetent idiot off at the knees during a meeting.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:36 PM

As the boss, don't you have underlings for that, Rap?

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:45 PM

There is a single Mom, who is not well off financially, about a mile from me, and she has an old sofa and stove on her lawn that the city refuses to remove. It's been there for weeks, so I called her and offered to borrow a truck and haul them away. She was very grateful.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: CarolC
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:57 PM

I'm sorry, gnu... I don't feel comfortable answering that question. But I'm glad you posted that story. I really enjoyed reading it.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: number 6
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 07:35 PM

Filled out the papers for adopting another Greyhound ... this will be our second Grey rescued from being euthanized after finishing it's racing career ... meaning that is not making money anymore at the tracks. This particular dog is a 3 year old small female who had the misfortune of breaking her leg in a race.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: number 6
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 07:58 PM

... and BTW .... yer a good man gnu!

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 08:33 PM

And good for you, sIx. I had a pair of rescued greyhounds at one time. Lovely animals.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 10:50 AM

Tall fences!

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 11:23 AM

I'm a librarian. Get a lot of silly questions when students are to lazy to think for themselves. Answered an extremely silly question very politely today.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM

Very cute and loving gnu


Today I posted some insightful facts on mudcat, does that count?

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 11:45 AM

I have been volunteering at the Salvation Army next to the university campus. I was connected with an extended family of 20, at the core are three sisters my age with their children and grandchildren (including a 2 week old baby). I've been helping them connect with agencies, work out paperwork, and this weekend we'll be writing job resumes. These women are all hard working, are in the category of "working poor," but their jobs vanished with the hurricane, so we need to recreate their job histories so they can move forward.

I'll also be working on the Salvation Army's computers in their public computer lab. They are a mess.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 01:00 PM

That's the spirit I was hoping to find. Doing even the slightest thing makes at least two people feel good. And reading the above posts makes me feel good. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 02:22 PM

Eventually I simply ignored him. And I wouldn't send the troops out to do a job I wouldn't do myself. Besides, with this guy it would be a pleasure and I didn't want to mix business and pleasure -- and the rest of the people at the meeting supported my position, the vote was 20 yes, 1 no, and 2 abstemtions.

And I did a second good deed yesterday, too! I didn't run over him when I had the chance in the parking lot.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 04:41 PM

Bravo Rap! Two good deeds in one day. That's the spirit!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST,Fullerton
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 05:01 PM

I bought some Sprats for my Dad - he's not had them since the forties.

I lied to a small child.

She had written a song. The rhythm accompaniment was a mess -she sang it out of tune - but the words were good, rhymed and the meter was excellent.

I told her it was great.

And I remembered McColl saying that he tried to write a song a week. I told the young lady and she chewed the idea over.

Next weeks song will be better I know.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 10:34 PM

I gave a young (kindergarten) young lady an Archie McPhee catalog. I also provided her with M&Ms.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 02:00 AM

I listened to a friend who called to say he had to leave his home and possessions behind, taking only his cat and bird with a few clothes in order to be safe from a vicious, psycho brother who is about to get in deep doo-doo for pedophilia. Between our daughter, Rog and me, we called him back to 1) make sure he'd made it safely out and 2) to tell him we were wiring him some money to help him get from AL to OR, by way of our house in CO. Our only concern is if he will be able to find a motel room each night, as there as so many flood victims spread out along the route he is taking. We haven't seen him since 1985, so we're pretty excited AND relieved that he is out of a very bad situation!

Great thread, gnu. Loved your story!

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 12:10 PM

At our farmer's market, met a musician I'd been hearing lots of good things about, but haven't heard myself. She was setting up her gig, and was a little freaked out about being short one cord. Me who knows nothing about sound figured she could just sing a little louder and use the one good speaker, no? But instead ran home and found one and took it back to her. She was very relieved and grateful. No sweat!

And, what a coincidence! She plays bodhran....

Isn't it interesting to OWN a good deed you did, and hear what others do when no one is looking?

Who else?

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 08:12 PM

I told my brother to format his hard drive.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 09:31 PM

Awright, this was yesterday.

Once a month, my wife and I go to do a program at a nursing home. We kinda backed into it. For a couple of years, I was just doing the music for a very simple church service my Pastor Skip was doing. He claimed that the people came more to hear the music than his sermon, although he had a wonderful sense of humor, was very warm and loving, and did a ten minute sermon. (It is possible.) When he retired, the nursing home asked my wife if we would continue to come and we've been doing the program now for a couple of years, sans sermon. In that time, we've gotten to know some of the residents reasonably well.
There is one terminally loquacious fellow, goes by the name Ed, who is wheelchair bound. He doesn't make all the programs, because sometimes he just isn't up to it. But when he comes, he often brings photographs of family members, or a letter that he wants to share with my wife and me. He desperately needs attention, and it's hard to balance his raw need with that of thirty others, many of whom are equally needy.

When we went yesterday, he came wheeling in the room, right up to me as I was setting up my guitar and amp. I asked him how he was, and he looked up with tears streaming down his face and said, "I'm alright, but it's my nephew.." And his voice trailed off. When he saw Ruth, he wheeled over to her and started talking with her, and she called me over. She asked me to pray over Ed, and I asked what the problem was with his nephew. His nephew had just committed suicide, leaving a couple of young children, including a beautiful little girl who was a special favorite of Ed's. The nephew had lost his job and hadn't been able to find another one and was so depressed that the only way out he could see was suicide. My oldest son has lost two friends to suicide, both of them in their early 30's, and there isn't much that you can say. But, Ed wanted me to pray over him and his family, which I did.

When I went up to sing, I dedicated the first song to Ed... He Knows How Much We Can Bear. Even though the room was crowded, there were only two people in the room, in my eyes... myself and Ed, who I was singing to. When I ended up doing What A Friend We Have In Jesus, a little later, Ed was really moved, because it's his favorite old hymn.
By the time we finished up and I walked around to hold hands and talk with everyone, Ed was visibly lightened in spirit. Ruth sat next to him the whole time, and he told her how much he appreciated the prayer and the songs. He said that he felt a lot better, and he seemed more like his old self.

Songs are like that. They may be gospel songs or hymns for those of faith, or just an old song that brings back comforting memories. I've seen the power of music, and how it can lift the spirit, and it certainly healed Ed yesterday. After I talked to him, another woman came up and asked me to say a pray over her. She asks that every time that we're there, but she seemed to realize that Ed needed it more, this time. I also noticed another man go over and talk to Ed when he saw how upset he was. I encourage the people there to realize that while they are wheelchair bound, heavily medicated and sometimes in pain, that they are not powerless. Each of them has the power to comfort and encourage others. You can do that from a wheelchair. It doesn't take legs.

Each month, when we finish the program, nobody wants to leave. And that's the beauty of it all. Everyone wants to hang onto that feeling.

And it makes me grateful that I have been given the ability to make music, as all of us have. What a wonderful, simple gift to give...

And a wonderful story gnu....

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 10:45 PM

Lots of times, Jerry, the simplest are the best.

My wife and I have been donating things to the local homeless shelter -- you know, usual kind of things, clothing and so. Then one day she got to talking with the folks there and it came out that what they REALLY needed were things like Tampax and deodorant and soap. So we switched, from clothes to "health and beauty aids." Simple stuff, but it never occurred to us before.

Or the quilt guilds around the country which make simple quilts (coverlets, actually, since they're not usually quilted, but tied) to women's shelters and abused kids shelters. I haven't seen it, but I've been told that some of the kids will hold onto one of these quilts like it was a loving parent because it's the only thing they've ever had of their own.

Libraries and other organizations around the Pacific NW (and around the country) have been donating surplus PCs to the Gulf Coast. Why? So that people can check the Internet for missing kinfolk, fill out forms online, and so forth.

A carload of children's books, sent to the shelters, wouldn't be amiss....

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 10:56 PM

Ahhh, Thursday night I gtrapped the ferral cat back in Wes Ginny and broguht it down to Luray to live in a cage until it gets acclimated...

Played music fir freer tonight fir a friend's outdoor birthday party...

Playin' music fir free tomorrow at the Page County Fairgrounds fir the victimes of Katrina...

Spent 2 hours yesterday with the guiy who bought our Wes Ginny home going over all kinds of little things that a city slicker wouldn't know nuthin' about...

That's 'bout it fir the last 24 hours...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 12:51 AM

I didn't kill my brother ... again! That's pretty good ... for me! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 11:04 AM

I've got a 15 year old niece running her first marathon next Sunday. I'm working up a good deed for that. Maybe I'll stop her father from tripping her or something. Or maybe (considering how proud he is that she's doing this) I'll spring for dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 11:25 AM

The other Friday afternoon it was pouring with rain and I was on my way home. I happened to glance down a side street and saw an elderly woman on her hands and knees on the pavement (what Americans would call the 'sidewalk'). I went to help her but couldn't manage to get her to her feet - eventually a young woman came and helped me. It soon became apparent that the elderly woman was very drunk and she informed me that she was "an alcoholic". I asked her what I could do for her and she said that she wanted a taxi home. I didn't have my phone with me and I discovered that public phoneboxes don't contain directories these days. Luckily a local mini-cab turned up at this point. You are not supposed to flag these down, like you can a black cab, but the driver agreed to take the woman home if I accompanied her. So, we got her home and I paid the fare (which wasn't very much).
The next day I was on a bus coming back from the City Centre and noticed the same elderly woman curled up in a foetal position on the seat in a bus stop.
What haunts me is the thought that my 'Good Samaritan' act was somewhat futile. This person is, for whatever reason, hell-bent on a path of self-destruction - and all I did was slow her down a bit. Still, I suppose that you can't leave someone on the pavement in the rain.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 03:46 PM

Hey, DB:

Good for you. You never know. And we don't need to know. If we think of our own lives and how we've managed to rise above weaknesses and failings to "pick ourselves up and start all over again," it's rarely an individual act that did it. It may be years of people reaching out to help and encourage us, only for us to slide right back into old patterns. Maybe there should be a book written titled: "It takes a Village To Raise A fool." Something like alcoholism or depression or even just not valuing yourself usually develops over a period of years, and it usually takes at least that long to overcome them. Life isn't like in the movies, where one shining moment of revelation permanently changes someone. I'm not saying that never happens, but I believe that it is rare. Maybe you were the 89th person who cared enough for that woman to try to help her out, and it won't be until the 237th time before all the caring and generosity starts to change her heart and mind and she can rise above her weakness.

All each of us can do is reach out and help in whatever way we can, at the moment. I believe that no good dead is wasted (contrary to the humorous, and sometimes seemingly true saying that "No good deed goes unpunished.")

Many times my wife has had someone come up to her and tell her that when they came to her years ago because they were distraught, what she said to them made all the difference in the world. Sometimes, my wife doesn't even remember the person. It was someone who came up to her where she worked in a store and poured their heart out, as a complete stranger.

Some seeds need a long time in the soil before they bloom.

Just keep plantin'...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Peace
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 04:15 PM

There's an old fellow here much like that. He 'puts the touch' on me somewhat frequently to have a glass. I help if I can. The difference is that he now talks with me regarding his life, his past, his present. As time goes on he may open up enough that I can find a way to help him make his life better. He will always drink anyway. So it's not about the beer, it's about the man.

I drink coffee which at that particular place is free to me. Guess it all balances out.

IMO, giving to alcoholics is likely not about to change their lives. But in that process you may see a door open wherein lies the way to do something positive. Ya done good, DB.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 12:35 PM

Thanks guys.
I must say that this incident has upset me quite a bit - and I'm self-aware enough to realise that this sense of disequilibrium is as much related to my own situation as it is to the elderly woman's (I've just lost my job).
Still, as I said, you can't leave someone on the pavement in the rain - it's as simple as that.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 01:18 PM

DB, there's a saying--"when it rains, it pours." Sounds like you found an intersection of the figurative and the literal. Sorry to hear about your job. Any prospects? I've had similar encounters with the rescue of someone who seemed to not only not appreciate it but to put themselves again in harms's way. You were there and you did what you could. The trick is to not become embittered and pass by someone who needs help the next time.

I adopted a dog this weekend. It isn't all altruism by any means--I've been meaning to for some time. I have a young dog, a stray who turned up in May, who needs a companion. With all of the Katrina dogs coming to town, now seemed as good a time to draw down the population of local dogs to make room for the newcomers in the shelter. I even took my dog down to meet the prospective pup (~5 months old), and they were rolling all over each other sniffing and licking and wagging when we separated them. She is being spayed today will come home on Wednesday.

The family I'm working with were moved to a new shelter, where they have more privacy. I took two sisters shopping on Saturday at one of my favorite thrift stores and they were able to come up with several nice outfits for applying for jobs and for just wearing around ("it's hot here! I can't stand these long pants!" one woman said of her jeans obtained early after fleeing her home in LA). Differentiating the wardrobe and planning ahead for cooler weather was a nice "normal" activity after so much hurry up and wait.

Looking ahead, this is going to be such a difficult holiday season for so many people. Lots of room for good deeds, indeed!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: number 6
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 11:35 AM

Good one Peace ... well put.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 05:25 PM

Stilly River Sage,

Your mention of Katrina reminds me that there is always someone worse off than me - I really need to bear that in mind.
The job prospects are not looking too good at the moment - but something will probably turn up and thanks for asking.
Glad that you were able to adopt the dog - there's something about the innocence and trust of such creatures that gets to me every time. I 'rescued' a semi-feral cat a couple of years ago. She was quite timid, wouldn't come in the house any further than the kitchen and lived in a weatherproof 'kennel' (the wrong word but, I can't think of a better one) that I built her in the back garden. I fed her for about two years and she was just beginning to get a bit tamer when she got a kidney infection and had to be 'put-to-sleep' (as my Mum used to say) by a vet. By a curious coincidence it was at this point that I met someone who recognised the cat and knew her history (it would take too long to explain). Apparently the cat had been 'rescued' before and had then disappeared - only to turn up on my doorstep quite a few years later.
I'm not sure where this is heading but it did suddenly occur to me that there are some people who think that people are more important than animals and would only rescue the former and other people who believe the opposite. To me all sentient creatures are worthy of respect and are worth helping, if necessary - and no disrespect is meant to either.

All the Best,
DB

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 05:49 PM

What was your good deed for today? / Burning edges of cards

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 12:38 AM

We pick up the dog tomorrow; the Humane Society arranges for them to be spayed as part of the fee (and they want to be sure each animal is spayed, so she doesn't go home until it has happened). We're looking forward to picking her up, and I have already arranged with the Vet to make a quick trip past his office to get an Rx for a post-op painkiller for her. She'll have a regular scheduled checkup on Monday. Cross your fingers that this pooch is house-broken, or I'll be more busy than I even expected for a while because she'll have to stay in as she recuperates (and not to mingle too heavily with the other dog right away).

I probably won't mention this group of Katrina folks here any more--it wasn't my intention to use a public forum to enumerate all of the struggles they will have to meet, even if I haven't named them. It boggles my mind just thinking about it.

DB, the idea that so many people lost so much of their lives when possessions were left behind, and then having to compound the misery by leaving their beloved animal companions was a terrible blow. There will be a ripple effect here and elsewhere. The Humane Society was very busy on Sunday afternoon, and they know this outpouring of sympathy for animals won't translate into 100% great homes for the animals adopted, once the new owners find out how much work they are. I think the reason I didn't get the long questioning and lecture that the parties before me did was because I actually had my other dog with me, and she sat quietly and happily by my side while I finished the paperwork. I think they're really worried that people who are adopting all of these cute or distressed animals are going to end up bringing them back or abandoning them in droves after the reality of dog ownership sets in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: number 6
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 11:19 AM

Yer a good person SRS.

sincerely,
Six

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 07:50 PM

I know all the guys at the garage where I get work done on my truck. I waited from 08:50 until 09:30 for my 09:00 motor vehicle inspection and GOF to start. One of the mechanics was out sick, another on vacation. They were really backed up and some of the customers were beginning to get owly.

An elderly fellow came in with a brake line leak. Nobody could do pipe for brake lines. I am a certified hoser, so I offered to make up a (semi) temporary fix with a hose from a buddy's shop. Then, I did five other vehicles... just GOF, tires and stuff. I got home at noon. My $60 bill for my work was on the house and, I had a great time.

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: open mike
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 01:51 AM

well, not today, but the other day i was the first trained person
on the scene of a motorcycle wreck. I was right behind the 3
bikers when all of the sudden one went off the road. Luckily he
was conscious and able to communicate, and the main thing was
that his wrist appeared broken, but i held his head and neck so
no further camage would be done by movements. (this is called
cervical spine imobililzation) until the medics and other fire
fighters could arrive. It makes all those hours of training
worth while when i am able to put the skills to use to help
others. I was glad he was not apparently injured any more
seriously than that (although there is a chance that a heart
attack might have caused him to swerve initially)

possibly the most painful thing for him was when they
cut his leather jacket off to assess his injuries!!

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 11:42 PM

OH! I can imagine his pain at that! I've heard similar first aid stories. And didn't Naemanson have a story like that--wasn't his Mudcat shirt or sweatshirt cut off of him a couple of years ago?

That rider was very lucky in his relatively minor injuries, and that you stopped and kept him still. The last motorcycle accident I passed was a fatality for the rider.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What was your good deed for today?
From: open mike
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 11:46 PM

the one before that very near to the location of this motorcycle wreck
was a fatal and dis-memberment...but i didn't tell the guy that!

and to think i once considered riding a motorcycle...
had my mind changed in a hurry!!