I'm broke! (Page 3): And now, a good story from a few years ago. A woman came into an Atlanta gas station with two debit cards to get pay-before-filling gas for her old truck. Both...

radiojohn

And now, a good story from a few years ago. A woman came into an Atlanta gas station with two debit cards to get pay-before-filling gas for her old truck. Both were tapped out. There were two black men behind her and she thought they were smiling about her situation, when actually they were paying no attention to her. She cursed them out in all the usual ways and stormed out. The first man asked the clerk what the problem was and he explained. The fellow said, "Tell her $20 worth of gas is now paid, so go ahead." The second man added, "tell her to fill the tank and I'll pay the rest."

On the way out they saw the woman in the truck, crying. She motioned them over, apologized for her outburst and told them that she has been out of work for months, just got a job with the first payday Friday, and just needed enough gas to get to work for those few days.

All left feeling better about the world. [Story:CNN]

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

Klickitatdave wrote:

That wasn't fentanyl, it was meth. If it were fentanyl they would either be dead from so much use or at the very least comatose. A minor point I suppose but the meth problem is far more prevalent and insidious than that of fentanyl use.

I've no doubt you are correct. Thinking back in time; I'm forever greatful that my parents talked both my ears off about the dangers of misusing drugs, drinking any kind of booze in excess, smoking cigarettes and giving me a general idea of what moral integrity is all about. To that end, my only transgression was secretly dating the floozy a few miles down the road from our farm. Seven grandchildren later the floozy and I are living the dream with both of our parents blessings.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Klickitatdave wrote:

I once ran into someone begging for money in the 1... (show quote)

$20,000 in 1970 would be about $150,000 today! I guess they could stand a little bad weather for that!!!

Loren -in Beautiful Baguio City

Brian J.

In case you haven't heard it but there is a joke about a beggar asking for money & the man he asks says, "I don't give money on the street". To which the beggar replies, "So, you think I should open an office?"

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Bridges wrote:

That decision is completely within one's ability. Some people actually do wake up in the morning and make the decision that they will no longer be an alcoholic. There is a choice and a lot of people choose wrong. I know of what I speak because my daughter who will soon be 42 was an alcoholic in her 20s and made the decision to no longer be one. She had her last drink over 12 years ago!

Congratulations to your daughter for making the right decision. How many years did it take to come to the conclusion that being sober would be the best thing for her and those around her? Close to ten? What exactly brought her to her senses? What were the demons that she was fighting in the first place?

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

SteveR wrote:

Congratulations to your daughter for making the right decision. How many years did it take to come to the conclusion that being sober would be the best thing for her and those around her? Close to ten? What exactly brought her to her senses? What were the demons that she was fighting in the first place?

Yes, about ten. Loss of a good job and having a child. demons -- compulsive engagement of bad habits -- she also gave up smoking. Now she has a better job but still has some compulsive habits -- she is overweight and eats without much thought of what she needs to avoid and buying -- she helps keep Amazon in business!

Horseart Loc: Alabama

rcarol wrote:

You seem to be under the impression that being an alcoholic is a decision. I’ve never known an alcoholic that wakes up in the morning and says to himself, “My life goal is to be an alcoholic.”

I will always believe that the first drink they took or the first drug they tried was a CHOICE and most likely many after that until it became an addiction they could no longer control.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Horseart wrote:

I will always believe that the first drink they took or the first drug they tried was a CHOICE and most likely many after that until it became an addiction they could no longer control.

Absolutely!!! What would they have done if there had been no alcoholic beverages (or drugs) available??? - run to set up a lab and instinctively start producing???

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Horseart wrote:

I will always believe that the first drink they took or the first drug they tried was a CHOICE and most likely many after that until it became an addiction they could no longer control.

Alcoholics really don't want to control their addiction until the addiction costs them so much that they're forced to. You don't find mentally healthy individuals relying upon alcohol, or marijuana, food, gambling, spending or some other addiction to mask pain. In order to really treat the addiction the underlying pain needs to be dealt with. People who say that it's as easy as just stopping do not understand the psychology of addiction.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

kpmac wrote:

When I get approached like that, and I have been on several occasions, I tell them to go find a church. Churches should be glad to help. I'll bet none of you have ever seen them in your church.

On the contrary, I have seen a few in my church. The most memorable was a woman who even attended the sunday morning class in which I participate. She attended a couple clases then one day she presented the pastor with a letter requesting assistance to get an additional pair of eyeglasses (with designer frames), a new bras bed, and a few other things, I cannot remember. She clearly stated in the letter the items were "wants" but never used the word "needs." The pastor made the decision that she was not truly in need and declined to give her any donations.

oldedmundo

When you give a pan handler any money, you just paid to keep him/her to stay there asking for a raise.

alamomike47 Loc: San Antonio, Texas

Story from my Father: He never gave money to people begging on the street. Until! A down and out man said I just need few dollar so I can get a drink before I get the DT's. Dad gave him a 5 for being honest. I was shocked! He never gave me money for being honest. Go figure.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

alamomike47 wrote:

Story from my Father: He never gave money to people begging on the street. Until! A down and out man said I just need few dollar so I can get a drink before I get the DT's. Dad gave him a 5 for being honest. I was shocked! He never gave me money for being honest. Go figure.

The man was honest. Others are afraid to be so upfront and honest about their physical condition. However, this is, as I wrote earlier, the very reason the C. Everett Coop, the Surgeon General for Ronald Reagan and a devout Christian, WOULD donate to alcoholic panhandlers who he KNEW would use the money for alcohol. DT's can be very serious.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Again I say, if you really want to help the homeless give to charities as they will feed and help them.

alamomike47 Loc: San Antonio, Texas

So true

SteveR wrote:

The man was honest. Others are afraid to be so upfront and honest about their physical condition. However, this is, as I wrote earlier, the very reason the C. Everett Coop, the Surgeon General for Ronald Reagan and a devout Christian, WOULD donate to alcoholic panhandlers who he KNEW would use the money for alcohol. DT's can be very serious.