I am Thankful...

     This morning I received an e mail from a person who I see as a friend as she does me, yet we haven't seen one another in about five years and she only lives an hour away. We vent to one another, celebrate and think things over to one another. At the end her email said, I am Thankful. Like many others I too have used that phrase. But we lead such busy lives we forget what others are going through and if we can help.
     About a week ago a much older woman stopped me, asking to talk to me outside. She explained her car trouble. I went to see her mechanic and asked if I can make arrangements to pay or pay part of it. He then told me, she just wants it fixed, a minute' oil leak which entails a lot of things having to come apart, and that it isn't  a need. The next day I took my car in for inspection and the owner took me outside to let me know that maybe I could buy that woman groceries. I did. I bought her a gift card at a local market asked the post lady to put in in her box, not saying it was me. Okay one thing done. What bothered me was this woman has a grown daughter living with her who doesn't help one bit. So is she just hoping mom dies and she'll get the house and car? What to do?
     Today I walked into a local convenience store and asked a young lady how things are going, knowing her situation. It's gone from bad to worse. What to do? In her situation, I do know I can find different kinds of help for her. So that's on my agenda for today and tomorrow before she becomes ill with all that has fallen on her.
       Then I think of my own grown kids as my friend said in that e mail. They never went through what I know many have gone through. Healthy, happy, bust with careers and families, friends and volunteering, from my children, I am thankful, so very, very Thankful.
     I am also thankful for what I have, where I've lived, people who I have known and befriended me, people who live close by me and have been like friends. For all of you I am thankful and I can't go on without mentioning, I am also thankful for three wise men who showed me as a young kid what real men are like. What a coincidence-or was it?

One Judge ? Not Good Enough.

      As I listened to her tell her story over an over again, Robin Carboneau used an expression we hear so often when asked about justice. She said the justice system was disappointing to say the least and then she pointed upwards saying but there is justice in the end.
    While that's all very nice and believable we are also told anyone can be saved then forgiven in the end, so why not make sure justice is served in the here and now. That was where this lady impressed me. Her name, her native American name is Kindhearted Woman.
     Thoughout her whole documentary she sighed, as if with every sigh she relived her agonizing childhood. In her court battle even her father took side with the tribal nation to call her a liar, her daughter a liar who was molested by Robin's husband and the child's father, same person. Robins father lost custody of her due to alcohol, so he sides with people of the same natures.
     Robin walks from court with her child and her foster child from six years ago, also molested by Robins ex husband, and finally that person was found guilty, but, the burn here was he only received about three years in jail. The tribal nation turned all allegations on the flip side, saying Robin did all of this, everything was false, she lied about her whole life.
      What courage she had ! But this is what families also do. A black sheep is made because the family does not want their dirty secret out. But Robin persevered, and the toll it took on her and her children is worth at least twenty more years in jail for her ex-husband. It may console many people to hear her say as many others do too, that He will judge, but what about now? What about these "people" getting off so free? What about that?