Inspired by one of Sorryless’s Heroes of the Week, a policeman who, rather than give a young mother a summons for not having car seats for her kids, she said, she couldn’t afford, bought them for her.
This is what needs to happen more, helping those we can.
It’s one of the things that annoy me the most about our Commander-In-Chief. With all his personal wealth, he never seems to do anything for anyone despite being in such a blessed position. Even the Kennedys and Bushes, you didn’t necessarily like, one must admit, stepped up for others.
But I’m digressing.
After coming out of an AA meeting, where they promote service in a big way, I see a woman with 4 kids, all different ages that look right out of Dickens.
It was clearly the best of times and the worst.
Worn out jackets, pants that didn’t quite fit, loose in the butt and legs like they were handed down from whoever didn’t want them anymore.
As I observe the mother, 35 if she were a day, tired eyes so big and brown, handing out bagels from the corner cart, no butter since, alas, it’s 50 cents more, so are two other people also fresh from the meeting.
The woman I’ll call Eve leans over and says, “Can’t imagine what it must be like, feeding them all, day in and day out.”
“Me either,” I say, trying not to stare.
The third person is a guy, I’ll call Mac, who says nothing, but nods in agreement.
“What can we do for her?” says Eve, “how can we help her?”
After a humble huddle, we decide to pool our money to get her a gift card at Gristides, a grocery store across the street.
Mac was sent to keep an eye on her as they sat on a stoop eating, the irony being, he only has one good eye due to a drunken brawl he was in years ago.
Eve gets one for 40 dollars, while I run down Ramone, the delivery boy, in his Ramones T-shirt to deliver it.
When I look at his shirt he says, “Noo ree’lation.”
Figured it was less intrusive sending him, in case we’d embarrass her.
Ramone doesn’t understand right away, not until I give him a dollar, so off he skips across the street, all 5 feet of him, while we watch from the window.
It seems forever till he comes back after having the longest conversation. “What happened?” I say, “did she not want to take it?”
“No, she very happy.”
“Then why did it take so long?”
“Cause I pray with her, to Lede’ de Guadalupe she say sent me.”
Eve, who at this point had said nothing, says to Ramone “Good job,” before slipping him a nice, fresh 5.
After examining the bill like a jeweler, looks up with an enormous grin and says…
“O’right..Abro-hom Leen-ken.” 
I couldn’t have said it better.
🙂 SB
What an uplifting story to start my day, Susannah. It restores my faith in humanity and makes me want to be a better person.
I understand why you sent Ramone to deliver the gift. Four years ago I bought groceries for a needy family I came across. I told them my church had a surplus in a food collection, so I thought they might be able to use it. I admit my reasons weren’t as pure as you and your cohorts. I didn’t want them to know the food came from me.
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Pride is hard to combat in another. I’ve learned the hard way you have to be inventive quite often to help people accept help. I was so moved by her motherhood, as rent as it was supply wise. It really stayed with me Skinny, like watching Bambi or seeing da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan.
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For sharing your gracious heart.
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Don’t forget Eve and Mac..and Ramone…Noo relation. 🙂
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Absolutely!!!
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SB,
As Churchill once said, we make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give.
These quiet, heartfelt moments don’t just feed a mother and her brood, yanno. They feed the world. Thank you for being who you are.
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Your cop started the piece remember. 🙂
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Our cop.
They’re our people, the ones who allow us to breathe in some sense in an otherwise nonsensical world.
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Ever since 9/11 I’ve been their advocate. It’s as simple as that.
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You’re good people, SB
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It’s just the way it truly should be.
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Now that is a beautiful story, Susannah.
People banding together to help another for no other reason than to show they care.
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Of course, then we were all collectively broke but, hey…it was for a good cause. 🙂
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It was indeed!
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We then went to a place that serves free coffee. Leave it to a group of sober drunks. I’m sure Ramone spent his fiver well.
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Beautiful story, Susannah. Y’all have kept the human spirit of compassion alive.
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There was such nobleness to her, the way she looked after her children. You knew she was doing the best you could. One couldn’t help but to be moved. Honestly. You would have been too. 🙂
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Very heartwarming.
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This will be the top Thanksgiving story of the year for me. What a group you led! May God bless you and your compatriots.
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STOP!!! You would have done the same. She was so noble, she was, and the kids amazingly well behaved considering their obvious challenges. Of course, like any stray you see with their master on the street, they have no idea they’re not in a great situation, not as long as they have their loving Mom. It was humbling considering how much we take for granted.
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This is a real breath of fresh air…during a week when our dirty laundry politics are aired during Congressional hearings. Thank you.
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I want to say this that should have been said earlier, I can tell what a good writer you are, just by your intelligent remarks. Talk about fresh air. Frankly, I’m so tired of those hearings. Even if the Trumpet gets impeached, it won’t matter since what is it but a lavish slap on the wrist. Look at Clinton. Did it do one thing to hurt his approval ratings? He’s the highest paid lecturer in the country, oval blowjob or not. Ben Franklin, John Quincy Adams and even Tom Jefferson, who was no saint, are kicking up dust. Don’t be surprised if we hear of Ben sightings at some mall in his coonskin cap.
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Thank you for your kind comments.
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You’re welcome.
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I try to do some of this myself. I am getting better at it. It has helped to understand that money is really only a construct we created and that it can come to us at any time in many forms.
Scott
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This is true.
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