The first thing I had to do this morning was to go searching for some homeowner’s association documents having to do with the condo I have listed at 422 S. Tennessee Place here in Mason City. I did manage to find most of them, but what I was missing were their rules and regulations, so I placed a call to the owner asking if she had her copy. Thank goodness she did, so I ran out and grabbed it, drove to the office, made a copy, and then back out to her unit and return it.
While there, we had a very good chat about the way in which our world is changing. We were pretty much in agreement that far too many are overly-centered on themselves and their money-making careers. We talked about how people are quick to justify their not so good intentions, simply to get a nose or two ahead of others.
The ranks of those who continue to think only about “me” instead of “us” are on the rise. While driving back my to my office, I remembered a conversation I had several weeks ago with a well known. Since I haven’t talked to him that much of late due to his belief that nearly everyone else has more money than he, to where he’s now finding it necessary to do anything he can so to acquire enough money and live out the remainder of his golden years in well-earned and deserved comfort.
I’m normally empathetic towards those who are down and out, but I couldn’t seem to connect with him due to my knowing how much money he freely squandered away these recent years. The big difference between people like him and myself, is that if I’d gone on a spending spree and later found myself financially running on fumes, I certainly wouldn’t direct my resentments towards others, but rather blame myself. Being resentful and envious of others does nothing to fix their own problems. I believe the best cure for such people, is to take complete ownership of their own failings, and then get back to work at rebuilding their financial houses which they themselves laid to waste. Before I bid him adieu, I soulfully wished him the best during his trying days and months ahead.
While out shoveling at my office this afternoon, I wasn’t paying enough attention to my surroundings to where I was startled when suddenly hearing a voice behind me saying, “Hey Mister”. When I turned to him he blurted out, “Hey Mr., would you give me $1.15 so I can go and buy a can of pop?” When finally noticing he was from one of our inner-city Transition Centers, I flatly said, “No”, and turned back to my shoveling. Thinking he was going to continue moving on, he came right back at me with, “You don’t have $1.15 to give me?” I turned back to him again while all more bluntly replying, “No, I don’t.” He gave me the dirtiest of looks before he started walking down the sidewalk and mumbling something which I certainly didn’t want to hear because it was likely about me.
Now please don’t get me wrong. I’m always willing to help someone in need, but certainly not into enabling. If he’d asked for a glass of water out of thirst, I would’ve given it to him, but wanting me to pay for a can of pop? Not a chance. I’m just hoping he’s not going to be wandering up and down the sidewalks in our Historic Downtown come Spring because I had more than enough of another from his group who freely panhandled myself with me, as well as other pedestrians. I don’t know what happened to him, but I think he must’ve been assigned to another building farther from our City’s center, and likely due to the complaints from others.
We’re one day short of being a week away from April 22nd while still getting sleet and snow. I clearly remember our most recent 22nd’s of April, and I’d say we’re a far cry from being even close to having similar weather. I heard we’re supposed to get more sleet and snow the rest of this weekend.
The above photo is one I took today as a reminder for us all that we’re at the 14th day of April 2018.
Tonight’s one-liner is: Boredom makes you do crazy things.
