In junior high, they would prank call me and call me names. One winter in Palatine, IL, (a suburb of Chicago), they egged my parents house because I lived there.

Wow, that hits home. I live about 20 minutes away from Palatine, IL.

I'm very sorry to hear about your experiences. I wish I were brave enough to share my story, but I do not want such information out in the open about me.

Well, the really hurtful thing they called me in junior high was Ni**er Man; because of my hair. I have no black in me; however, it was made aware to me that I have some Jewish blood in me, and that's where my curly hair comes from.

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TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join Calm Chaos

Timelord and N9JFE, Back in those days bullying was passed off as as just a phase some kid had to pass through. What a crock that was and is. And I cant believe that most schools continue to let it happen. And thats just the face to face kind. Who knows what the real numbers are when you factor in the so called social networks.

I was lucky not to be bullied. At 15 I was 5'10" and weighed 155 pounds.
I wont pretend I know what you went thorugh. It must have neen nasty.

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[/quote]

Old James

West of my location. They had a trailer fire. It seems a 8 year old boy woke up and found his 4 year old cousin blanekt on fire. He pulled the blanket from his cousin aroused six of the occuapants and they escaped. The kid went back inside to get his Uncle and Grandfather out. It seems the grandfather was an amputee. They found all 3 near a window. They belive the fire was an electrical problem.

That was last week. It struck a nerve with me.

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[/quote]

Old James

West of my location. They had a trailer fire. It seems a 8 year old boy woke up and found his 4 year old cousin blanekt on fire. He pulled the blanket from his cousin aroused six of the occuapants and they escaped. The kid went back inside to get his Uncle and Grandfather out. It seems the grandfather was an amputee. They found all 3 near a window. They belive the fire was an electrical problem.

That was last week. It struck a nerve with me.

Saw that on the news. Boy saved 6 lives, lost his own. Understand your reaction. Gotta be hard on everyone involved.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

I agree wholeheartedly with Chris. There are times when
the people in here reaffirm my faith in the power of good.
With out the desire of any sort of material gain, or fear of
emotional loss, we help each other. It gives me a good feeling,
and I feel good when I see that others in here also feel the
same way. I thank you, all of you.

---

I feel it has done me some good. I was some what apprehensive about baring my soul in here. Nobody likes to be thought of as weak. As ive read all of the postings in here, I realize that we all have sufferd by what we have expieranced. And I thank you for sharing.

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[/quote]

Old James

A bit offtopic.
Today, a person visited my house, that was a childhood friend of my children.
I gave him a place to stay when no one else would. I don't run a shelter, but I give my children's friend a Last Chance Stop.
Done it more than one.
It helps me with the things I went through in my childhood.
None have ever chipped me, or tried to rob me.
Pay it forward. The good ones will pay it BACK and forward.

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Not off topic at all. And by giving that young person a break. Maybe you broke a cycle for that person. One act of kindness is all it takes. Who knows how many pay it forwards you have started.

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[/quote]

Old James

A bit offtopic.
Today, a person visited my house, that was a childhood friend of my children.
I gave him a place to stay when no one else would. I don't run a shelter, but I give my children's friend a Last Chance Stop.
Done it more than one.
It helps me with the things I went through in my childhood.
None have ever chipped me, or tried to rob me.
Pay it forward. The good ones will pay it BACK and forward.

Karma...

---

rOZZ
Music
Pictures

I feel it has done me some good. I was some what apprehensive about baring my soul in here. Nobody likes to be thought of as weak. As ive read all of the postings in here, I realize that we all have sufferd by what we have expieranced. And I thank you for sharing.

The German philosopher Nietscke (sp?) is oft quoted as saying "What doesn't destroy me makes me stronger." True enough, but sometimes, like with a serious injury, we need help with the recovery. Talking about it with others who have been through similar situations, or are at least familiar with what you experienced, helps releive the sense of isolation, and promotes healing. By sharing our stories, we help ourselves, and each other. We help each other heal.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

I can agree with that. In all the things Ive seen and gone through the hardest was when I lost my second wife in a car wreck. She was in a coma 13 days before she died.
For me that was the hardest thing I have ever had to face. It felt like half my soul was ripped out. That verse when you get married that says, Two become one. Its true. I hated comeing home to an empty house. Im remarried now to a great lady. But on the occassion that she is gone over night It makes me uncomfortable to say the least. But then I also grew up with a brother and two sisters so it was never quiet anyway:)

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[/quote]

Old James

It's been 6 years since Dad died, and April will be 6 years for Mom. Since I was living with them, and had so much of my own stuff here, I bought the house from the estate. After all this time, i'm still working through their stuff, and sometimes think I hear them talking in another room.....

One of my frequent funeral observations goes like this: There is an empty place in our lives, where (departed) once stood. That place will never be filled, but we can take solace in knowing that having touched our lives, a part of him/her remains with us, in our hearts and in our memories. And in God's good time, we will be reunited with our departed loved ones, in that place where there is no pain or sorrow, no sickness or disability. But until then, life goes on. Live your life, but remember all those who have gone before.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

Donald sorry to hear that both your parents have passed on. And so close together to.
My dad passed in 08 at 81 years old. My mom is now 80 and still doing good.

I belive like you that if you still think of them they are still in our hearts. I still think of my great grand parents now ann then. I only new 4 of them as the others had passed on before I was born. But they were born in the 1870's. I think thats kind of cool, That I knew relatives from that era.

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[/quote]

Old James

Not off topic at all. And by giving that young person a break. Maybe you broke a cycle for that person. One act of kindness is all it takes. Who knows how many pay it forwards you have started.

Over the years I have given a lot people a home. Some have stayed in their ways and become Welfare/SSI wards. That is the minority tho.
Most of the Kids I have helped are now making good money, have children of their own.
The most import part was trust. We all started on a clean slate and went from there.
Pay it forward is so important.

Being a Tax Pro, I do hear a lot about life changes. All I can offer is tax advice, a hug and that I will be there for them no matter what.

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

All I can offer is tax advice, a hug and that I will be there for them no matter what.

Sometimes, that is the best thing you can give them, the one thing they need. It may not seem like much, but it can change their world (and yours).

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

All I can offer is tax advice, a hug and that I will be there for them no matter what.

Sometimes, that is the best thing you can give them, the one thing they need. It may not seem like much, but it can change their world (and yours).

Thank you Donald, we may not have the same job title, but we both know the inner most side of people and we are both bound by our oath not to disclose it.
Some days this is hard, when you can't find a bright spot in your day. It is easiest when you can start your day with a smile. Kind msg from a friend, etc pp.

Sorry a bit of topic James.

Park my truck today and a person asked if I could help him out with some breakfast/food. I said sure, because I knew there were a few muffins left from our pot luck yesterday. Gave it to him, then he followed me inside and wanted something to drink. All we offer is coffee and water, but he started to demand that we buy him some milk at MDs. A coworker asked him to leave, but he just got angry. ( I knew he had a physical disability, but the mental one was a bit of a shock.)
Since I started this issue, I dealt with him and he left. The front desk was afraid for me, because of the thread he projected.
One thing I learned very early on, is never show fear. This is not the first or the last time, someone threatened my life.
I suffer from PDSD and clinical depression, but it doesn't affect me too much.

I don't take any meds nor do I want any. I try to live on the bright side of life.

I think everyone suffers drama in their life and is depressed at times. Thus I don't hold much credence to my label. I think I am just the new Normal.

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

All I can offer is tax advice, a hug and that I will be there for them no matter what.

Sometimes, that is the best thing you can give them, the one thing they need. It may not seem like much, but it can change their world (and yours).

Thank you Donald, we may not have the same job title, but we both know the inner most side of people and we are both bound by our oath not to disclose it.
Some days this is hard, when you can't find a bright spot in your day. It is easiest when you can start your day with a smile. Kind msg from a friend, etc pp.

Sorry a bit of topic James.

Park my truck today and a person asked if I could help him out with some breakfast/food. I said sure, because I knew there were a few muffins left from our pot luck yesterday. Gave it to him, then he followed me inside and wanted something to drink. All we offer is coffee and water, but he started to demand that we buy him some milk at MDs. A coworker asked him to leave, but he just got angry. ( I knew he had a physical disability, but the mental one was a bit of a shock.)
Since I started this issue, I dealt with him and he left. The front desk was afraid for me, because of the thread he projected.
One thing I learned very early on, is never show fear. This is not the first or the last time, someone threatened my life.
I suffer from PDSD and clinical depression, but it doesn't affect me too much.

I don't take any meds nor do I want any. I try to live on the bright side of life.

I think everyone suffers drama in their life and is depressed at times. Thus I don't hold much credence to my label. I think I am just the new Normal.

Most people get on with their life after a bad expierance. A few do not. It is those people who need to know that help is out there. Most times just talking is enough to get over the hump.

I cant remember where I read this but it holds true for me.
I felt bad because I had no shoes, Untill I saw a man who had no feet.

No matter what I have seen, Some one else has seen worse and lives a happy fullfiled life. So can I.

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[/quote]

Old James

Suddenly I'm reminded of my VFW Comrade, Vito. About a year ago, our Post Commander started having one member give a short "Story of service" at our monthly pot-luck social. The first one was Vito. He was a Sargeant in one of the Graves Registration companies that went ashore late on D-Day and collected, identified, recorded and buried the dead. It was the first time he had really told the story - even his wife (until that night) had not heard many of the things he told us. 70 years later, he still has flashbacks, and never knows when a smell or something else will trigger the memories. But he came home, went back to school, got a job, married and raised a family...... He did say that finally telling the stories helped.

People tell me how they could never go onboard a submarine, let alone go to sea on one. But compared to what Vito saw and did, and what some of my Iraq and Afghanistan vet buddies went through, the things I have been through were like a walk in the park.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

And Ive known guys, Who committed suicide. By all appearnaces they seemd to be happy and carefree. They gave no clue whatso ever that they were going to kill themselves. And of course that makes everyone else think, What did I or we miss?

In my days as a firefighter, Ive responded to car wrecks where the victim begged not to die, And we could not do a thing for them. And We get a call for a suicide where they wanted to die and we saved them.

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[/quote]

Old James