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Fredkc · 09-19-2009, 09:26 PM

On the other hand...

If you read my post on page two, you'll know that the wife and I are going thru a "bad patch" at the moment. I need to put that into some perspective, given what I saw just last nite.

I went over to my daughter's place to fix a Kaput-er. Turns out I was also there for a reality check. (Life's like that! They outa sell tickets. I'd buy one)

Let me start with..

A year ago:
Son in law was just months coming out of recovery from a quadruple bypass heart surgery, at 42 (90% blocked). Yes that's young. T'was determined that the cause was not "life choices", but simply "luck of the draw", genetically speaking.

Between them they have five children. Three hers, one his, and one theirs. (Let me say at this point that I am simply stating that as fact. NONE of them is ever treated in that manner by either parent. They're all just kids)

Their only vehicle, unusable when it was hit. They were living in an old house on about 1/4 acre fenced off area of an 10 acre lot.

They were feeding the kids by having joined an "underground poor-man's co-op" of sorts. A group of friends who all "scavenged" for food, then pooled and shared the result. It had the benefit that one of them worked for a local grocery store, and could take home "cast-offs".

Enough of that, let's talk of the present.

One year later:
About 5 months ago, the wife and I sprang to get their vehicle repaired. We also "loaned" them our rather large riding mower, which can double as a small tractor.

So off they went. He went looking for landscaping work, together they cleared the property they had, looking to start a small garden.

First thing that happened was the property owner saw what they were doing, and asked about it. His reaction, "well take the whole 10 acres then, for the same rent, and do as you please." So....

What came of that were, pumkins, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and 1/2 a dozen spices, and more, so far (beans & carrots to follow soon). To the extent that they're giving away food to any poor sod fool enough to stop by.

They're boarding 3 horses now, which I'm sure will attract even more.

Landscaping? He and eldest son are currently working 2 good sized contracts (which came as referrals he gained from having covered nearly half the back of a woman's house with a 2-story multi-tiered deck which kept growing and growing because she was so pleased at what he'd built), and as soon as he's done, the city has chosen him to landscape a city "Veteran's memorial" they want to erect. The city has also expressed an interest in holding an annual "renaissance street fair", and want daughter to chair & organize the event for them.

Daughter's mother (me "significant other in a previous wife-time"), after self-publishing childrens stories, activity/coloring books, recipe books and such, all with a wiccan bend to them, has now been published by 7th House Publishing, and has given daughter charge of the rest of her online business.

So... where was I... Oh yeah! ... I'd finished fixing her Confuser, and was flat told I was staying for dinner. Wound up with a great soup, and stuffed bell peppers, and barring some of the spices, and the rice in the bell peppers the whole meal came off their place.

Early in the visit, I shared my fear that, unless things changed, wife and I may lose our place. The thought of job hunting without a someplace to live worried me. She whirled on me like cat, "Won't happen! Comes to that, you're coming here!"

I sometimes joke that I never got to fully raise my children, because they had the good sense to escape.

But then when I look at my daughter, and her husband. how they've not just coped, and overcome, but flat turned down the meagerness and scorn that society can sometimes offer, and instead simply made up a life of their own, that not only works, but thrives... well, it's stopped me cold for crying at least twice while typing this (typing as therapy, perhaps).Maybe it'll lift someone else's day as well.

It also reminded of two simple things which spoke volumes to me, when first I hear them. One is from Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles":
"Life, is its own answer."

and then...
"Tis a joy to be simple, 'tis a joy to be free"

Fred
(who also dreams, no matter the scrooge he may often sound like)

09-19-2009, 09:26 PM	#65
Fredkc Project Avalon Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Riverside, ca. Posts: 898	Re: This time last year...... On the other hand... If you read my post on page two, you'll know that the wife and I are going thru a "bad patch" at the moment. I need to put that into some perspective, given what I saw just last nite. I went over to my daughter's place to fix a Kaput-er. Turns out I was also there for a reality check. (Life's like that! They outa sell tickets. I'd buy one) Let me start with.. A year ago: Son in law was just months coming out of recovery from a quadruple bypass heart surgery, at 42 (90% blocked). Yes that's young. T'was determined that the cause was not "life choices", but simply "luck of the draw", genetically speaking. Between them they have five children. Three hers, one his, and one theirs. (Let me say at this point that I am simply stating that as fact. NONE of them is ever treated in that manner by either parent. They're all just kids) Their only vehicle, unusable when it was hit. They were living in an old house on about 1/4 acre fenced off area of an 10 acre lot. They were feeding the kids by having joined an "underground poor-man's co-op" of sorts. A group of friends who all "scavenged" for food, then pooled and shared the result. It had the benefit that one of them worked for a local grocery store, and could take home "cast-offs". Enough of that, let's talk of the present. One year later: About 5 months ago, the wife and I sprang to get their vehicle repaired. We also "loaned" them our rather large riding mower, which can double as a small tractor. So off they went. He went looking for landscaping work, together they cleared the property they had, looking to start a small garden. First thing that happened was the property owner saw what they were doing, and asked about it. His reaction, "well take the whole 10 acres then, for the same rent, and do as you please." So.... What came of that were, pumkins, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and 1/2 a dozen spices, and more, so far (beans & carrots to follow soon). To the extent that they're giving away food to any poor sod fool enough to stop by. They're boarding 3 horses now, which I'm sure will attract even more. Landscaping? He and eldest son are currently working 2 good sized contracts (which came as referrals he gained from having covered nearly half the back of a woman's house with a 2-story multi-tiered deck which kept growing and growing because she was so pleased at what he'd built), and as soon as he's done, the city has chosen him to landscape a city "Veteran's memorial" they want to erect. The city has also expressed an interest in holding an annual "renaissance street fair", and want daughter to chair & organize the event for them. Daughter's mother (me "significant other in a previous wife-time"), after self-publishing childrens stories, activity/coloring books, recipe books and such, all with a wiccan bend to them, has now been published by 7th House Publishing, and has given daughter charge of the rest of her online business. So... where was I... Oh yeah! ... I'd finished fixing her Confuser, and was flat told I was staying for dinner. Wound up with a great soup, and stuffed bell peppers, and barring some of the spices, and the rice in the bell peppers the whole meal came off their place. Early in the visit, I shared my fear that, unless things changed, wife and I may lose our place. The thought of job hunting without a someplace to live worried me. She whirled on me like cat, "Won't happen! Comes to that, you're coming here!" I sometimes joke that I never got to fully raise my children, because they had the good sense to escape. But then when I look at my daughter, and her husband. how they've not just coped, and overcome, but flat turned down the meagerness and scorn that society can sometimes offer, and instead simply made up a life of their own, that not only works, but thrives... well, it's stopped me cold for crying at least twice while typing this (typing as therapy, perhaps).Maybe it'll lift someone else's day as well. It also reminded of two simple things which spoke volumes to me, when first I hear them. One is from Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles": "Life, is its own answer." and then... *"Tis a joy to be simple, 'tis a joy* to be free" Fred (who also dreams, no matter the scrooge he may often sound like) __________________ "Life IS mystical! It's just that we're used to it" Evil cannot be killed. Only redeemed. Chat us up at: Avalon Chat** Last edited by Fredkc; 09-19-2009 at 11:06 PM.