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| I know this isn't anything new, but I kinda don't really use this blog anymore.
I have a new one, and it's WAY better...
but not on xanga anymore. .. (we have to grow up sometime) hehe
Anyways, I am a really cool person..
so send me a message and I will share the new blog.
I know that seems like a hassle, but I semi like to protect my identity from certain non anonymous people...
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| Tonight Michael and I made a stop at Quiktrip for some gas on the way home after work. We were both standing outside the vehicle after the gas had finished pumping and proceeded to make our way into the car when a guy approached and asked if we could give him a ride.
Initially we said no, but he continued telling his story. His car broke down on the highway, a Hero truck tried to assist, a police officer dropped him off at the Quiktrip, his car had to be towed, and he just needed a ride home up North. He kept telling us that if we could just give him a ride, he could write us a check right then for $100. He said that he was doing well financially (his clothes didn't show it), and was able to do it.
He was persistent and Michael offered to make a phone call to a friend for him. The phone number he told us to call was not a working number. He talked about going to church, and what the Pastor was preaching about. His story went from needing a ride up North, and turned into he was going to ride the bus to exit 11 where it stops, and then catch a cab from there, and wanted us to have a cab meet him at exit 11. We then went inside Quiktrip and located a cab company. I called and had them come to Quiktrip. Then he told us that the tow truck company was coming to Quiktrip to drop off his keys to the car, and the cab driver probably wouldn't want to wait.
We took out some money from the ATM, and both contemplated just telling the guy that the ATM wouldn't work, but again I just felt bad not assisting if it was legitimate. I even asked the Quiktrip employee if he saw the guy get dropped off by a police officer (trying to verify any part of the guy's story), but the employee didn't know anything.
We thought we'd just give money to the cab driver to cover the fare, and when Michael told me he wanted to explain to the cab driver to keep any extra, I said it wasn't necessary, just to give the cabbie the money. The cab driver shows up, and the guy immediately proceeds to get into the backseat and leaves the door open. The cab driver goes inside for a coffee, and when he comes back out Michael hands him the money.
Then sure enough, as soon as we made it back to our car, I watched the cab driver step out of the front seat and open his wallet.. and at that exact moment I thought, "man, we've been had." All the pieces to his story fell apart, and how much it didn't make sense was clear. I felt like such an idiot.
I wanted so desperately to believe he was telling the truth, that he really needed help, and that it was our opportunity to help someone instead of ignoring their plea and turning the other way. I thought the regret we would feel from not helping would be worse.
Instead it's the ruminating of his story and the facts that outside of being caught up in that moment make absolutely no sense. Makes me feel so stupid to have given away money that we don't have much of, and work so hard to keep. | | |
| An American Creed
I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.
I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”
By Dean Alfange
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*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.
The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922. | | |
| I'm curious to know who people are voting for President, and why?
Candidate Votes Percentage
McCain 1 50%
Romney
Huckabee
Ron Paul 1 50%
Obama
Clinton
note: this is very official and statistically accurate with no margin for error...SO VOTE!
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