Although I appreciate their collective talents in creating and moderating this site, albeit the "Greg-n'Ginger pony show", it's been nice to be able to connect w/ past friends.
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Hey Robin,
Thanks for the kind words, and for identifying with me. I know I'm quoting your post to John above, but that last part got my attention. My wife and I were headed to one of our 12 step cult meetings tonight, (if we miss one, we'll probably die the next day, I'm told...good thing for us we happen to enjoy them) and we were discussing the recent postings on this thread. After a few laughs over some of the more bizarre items, I said something very similar to what you posted.
Straight up, I am very proud of Ginger for the energy, focus, passion and tenacity she pours into this site. She feels strongly about her views, and expresses them well. I believe our Dad would be/is proud of her as well.
He, also, was very well read, and involved in trying to bring about change where he saw injustice. He was forever writing Congressmen, Senators, Presidents, newspapers, local politicians and boldly sharing his views. Sometimes his writings were welcome, othertimes he was invited to discontinue sharing his ideas.
Once, The FBI showed up at his door after a letter to The White House got their attention. Nixon, I think. They left satisfied that he was not a physical threat to The President.
Then there was his Walk To Washington, DC in '82 to demonstrate to the Postal Service (and himself) that he was NOT physically unable to carry mail as they had said when they fired him.
The trip was about 1100 miles with a 40 pound back pack. Not bad for a 58 year old permanently disabled guy. I hope I always retain the image of him stepping off the train (you didn't expect him to walk home TOO, did you. His first words to me were, "I can do ANYTHING!!!" and later, "I hope I have demonstrated one thing to my kids. You CAN fight city hall!"
He got his job back with the support of then Florida Senator Paula Hawkins. Lawyers screwed him out of $20,000 in fees when he went for back pay, but he was able to work another 9 years, and draw his regular retirement.
Ironically, 'the bastards' were right. Unknown to them, because they never sent him for a physical exam before firing him, he had a bad ticker and had refused bypass surgery in about '78. I know because I'm the one who took him to the hospital that day after finding him laying face down on a bed having a heart attack. He popped nitro the rest of his life, and made it another 20 years on shear will!
The "old Bastard", as he liked to refer to himself, was not going to let ANYONE tell him he could not work if he chose to. Not the union, who essentially threw him to the dogs, and had NO part in helping him. not the post office, not even his own body.
All that about Dad, of whom I am very proud, to give you an idea of Ginger's bloodline. She exhibits many of his better traits.
It may seem strange for me to be praising Ginger, seeing as how we see eye to eye on very little when it comes to things discussed here, but hey, give credit where it is due. My hope for her is that she one day comes to understand that powerlessness does NOT equate to weakness. We all need help at some point. Those who recognize when they are at that point, and accept the help win, those who don't, miss out, and often spend the remainder of their lives stuck in the past. I believe if Dad had been at a place where he could trust doctors in '78, he would likely still be bouncing around on his farm in WV. There is a lesson there for me.
I never would have believed it if I hadn't had a similar thing happen to me. My surrender and admission of powerlessness was NOT to (your drug here), but to God. I had already tried surrendering to (your drug here), and it almost killed me. I spent a big chunk of my life running from The One who only wanted to share His peace with me, hiding, or so I thought, from Him behind various drugs, until at last I ran out of run. You know how some of us are, never asking for directions, prefering to drive around lost all night than admit we need help. His name is Jesus.
I praise God for my salvation. Art, John, Lybbi, Lybbi, Lybbi, etc. were only tools. We had in common that they had been where I was headed. I thank God for them too but not as gods or heros. it's people!.....Soilent Green is made out of people! (sorry, my seriousness clock just wound down)
Peace to you (all), as well! ::soapbox::
