Making OURA Happy, A Story of Giving, A Shout out to Peyton

"No one has ever become poor by giving."
— Anne Frank

Hello from sunny Florida; it's been in the '80s this week; many folks we have met saw the weather and quickly decided to visit. It's the nicest it's been since we started coming here back in the day. We had a good day, started on the beach after getting some work done, then went on our long walk, hitting 5 miles; we met Cousin for lunch, then lounged around his pool. Last night for dinner, we met him and his friend David; we dined at S3, a swanky place with good food and drinks.

Today we will work a little from our Air B and B and then another long hike. My second wife, OURA, stopped yelling at me now that I had moved to her standards. Instead, she would say things like "pay attention!" and other not so kind things about my movement; why did I get the second wife?

I got an interesting article from a friend, the CDC is quietly no longer using the PCR test to test for COVID.   It seems it cannot distinguish COVID from the regular flu. So, if you did get a positive test, you may have had COVID, you may have had the flu, if you got sick, you may have had a bad case of the 2021 flu. Here's a little from the article:

In preparation for this change, the CDC recommends clinical laboratories and testing sites using the CDC 2019-nCoV RT-PCR assay select and begin their transition to another FDA-authorized COVID-19 test. In addition, the CDC encourages laboratories to consider adopting a multiplexed method that can facilitate the detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Such assays can facilitate continued testing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and save both time and resources as we head into this explains the disappearance of Flu cases in the US in 2020.

Is it possible we just witnessed the most significant sham in the history of humanity? History will tell, and for those pointing to the death counts, remember most people who did succumb had other health issues; it might have been a case of the flu.   Oh well, I'm happy we went through the exercise; it was a wake-up call to how we could all live our best lives.

In other news, that lady that helped groom those young ladies got her sentence. She will likely die in prison; I don't know why people have sex with kids. It seems unnatural. Is it another mental condition that should be treated? Does it seem that we are now seeing more and more cases of pedophilia? Is this an area that needs some focus from our media? What is going on with all these adults harming our kids?

I had to run into CVS yesterday; I had grabbed a $5.00 bill from one of our bags, a loose bill that I thought I would give to someone in need. As I approached the door, a young man was sitting in a blanket; he looked like he could use the money; I gave it, he smiled and said thank you. As I roamed the store, I began to think of how selfish I was; that young man had nothing, I had cash in my wallet, why only give him $5.00? So I pulled out a $100.00 and put it in my front pocket; when I walked out, I intended to learn a little about him and give him the money. How did this young man find himself in this situation? But he was gone, and I missed an opportunity to help another human.

I think there is a lesson or two in there; first, I'm not telling you this to show you my heart, although it is my heart. Second, I'm sharing this story, so maybe you go big when you see someone in need. A group of folks in Indy has started seeking out folks in need, and then they do tiny fundraisers amongst our small group. I'm on a text thread, a story is shared, and then we can give as much as we choose. I like the $100.00 donation; when you have ten people like me, you can impact another human.

The second lesson might be for the young man. Have patience, my friend; you took the money and ran; you could have had so much more. But then you must think, maybe he was hungry, perhaps that $5.00 provided the only nourishment he had in a day or two? Again, I won't judge another, not my job, but I can help others who have found themselves in a plight that I have never experienced.

Since I'm in the vein of giving, I saw Al Holdren the other day. He's the man behind Secret Families Christmas. He and his wife Chris had an idea years ago when instead of buying themselves gifts, they took the $550.00 in their gift drawer and bought Christmas for a family in need. Chris is a teacher in a small school district in East Central Indiana. Today this idea has become a way that hundreds of people in multiple counties secretly give $550.00 of gifts, a tree, and a Bible to those in need.

I grabbed this off the Facebook page:

Dear Mr. Holdren,

My name is Peyton Taylor. I am 8 years old and go to Eaton Elementary school. I wanted to tell you about what I have been doing to try and help the kids at school that can't afford to buy presents for their mommies and daddies. I have been making bracelets, magnets, and bookmarks. I have even got a few donations, such as solar dancing elves and more bracelets. I have sold some magnets and bracelets to make money to give to someone who needs it more than I do. I don't particularly appreciate that some of the kids have to sit in the hallway and wait for the kids that have money to shop. It makes me very sad. Thank you for starting secret families that we look forward to helping with. I love to help other people. Also thank you for listening to my story;)

Thank You,

Peyton Taylor

I'm not sure who is raising young Peyton, but cheers, my friends. You are raising a hell of a kid, and they are an example to others. So do me a favor and be like Peyton, use your talents and gifts to make things and turn those things into money that you can then give to someone that needs it more than you do? So let's turn 2022 into the year of giving and helping out those in need.

"No one has ever become poor by giving."
— Anne Frank