12.22.2021-digital

UNIQUE AND PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM SOME EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE

BY NORMA B.

Well we’ve come to that time of year again — time to highlight some of those “special people” who’ve taken the time to stop and visit and ultimately made a difference in my life and my family’s this past year. (*Note if you’re NOT mentioned here, please don’t take it personally. It’s often a matter of space allotted in the paper, or it could be my over-50-memory failing to remember details before I can write them down. That’s why you’ll often see me scribbling things down in a notebook on the side of the road.) Mark, who stops by pretty regularly, came to get his paper and asked me if I was taking it easy as I sat on a rock at my spot, he said I wasn’t going to sell many papers like that. I explained I’d recently had surgery and tire out more easily than before. I took advantage of the opportunity and complemented his overalls saying they reminded me of my Pop. He took it as it was intended, as a compliment, and after wishing me well, away he went. Micah stopped by on a VERY cold day with a much appreciated HOT cup of coffee. When I asked him what prompted such an act of kindness, he said he saw me from a distance, and thought to himself, “If I were selling the paper on a day like this what would I want someone to do for me?” Good answer! He even took the time to put me and my family in his prayer book. Similarly, another young man stopped in traffic and gave me four protein bars, two waters, and asked if he could say a prayer with me. I said I never turn down a prayer, but do you think you have time? (Remember, he was IN TRAFFIC.) He proceeded to pray saying, “Lord, please give Norma what she needs for this day, and please protect her from the elements.” Why is this significant? Well, I’ve always felt that as long as I do all I can, God gives me what I need at the right time, his hand is NEVER short. As for protection from the elements, it was threatening rain ALL day and I forgot my raincoat, I didn't have a poncho and I rarely carry an umbrella even though I have several. Thankfully the rain held off, that is, until I got on the Accessride, then the bottom fell out and it poured buckets. One man, I honestly can’t remember if his name is Len or Les, recently parked his car, walked to me on the sidewalk, and got a paper. He said he and his wife usually come through my area but sadly, it’s only once every couple of weeks. I said, “That’s perfect!” He said he wished they could do it more often, but it just wasn’t possible. I assured him it was OK, and said, “Did you know the paper comes out every two weeks?” He just smiled, and away he went. Sarah is new to Tennessee. She recently moved here from Arizona and stopped to ask if I needed help because she saw me as I struggled to get out of my wheelchair after taking a break. I thought that was SO sweet! I gave her a paper so she could see what The Contributor is all about. Cindy from Smith County was in the area recently for a Christmas party at the Hermitage Smorgasbord. She stopped because I had dropped some of my papers, and she wanted to help me pick them up. How sweet! She said she used to work downtown (pre-COVID-19, now she works from home). She said she wholeheartedly supported a few vendors back then. She apologized that she didn’t have any cash. I explained I often trade for food, drinks, etc. I also told her we now accept Venmo. Her enthusiasm returned as she scanned my badge and sent me $3 saying that was all she had at the time. I told her she shouldn’t say it that way, instead I encouraged her to say, “I have this just for YOU!” See how much better it sounds? She agreed. Wilda stopped and talked to me for a while telling me she sees me out here all the time and started asking basic questions: “What are you doing? How often are you out here?” etc. I happily explained. She went on to tell me that she suffers from PTSD, and Early Onset Alzheimer’s, and how she’d recently lost her second husband who she referred to as, “the love of her life.” I asked if she minded if I shared such personal details in an article for the paper. She said she didn’t mind because she wanted people to pray for her. Done!

She went so far as to take a notebook of her own out and write things down, saying if she didn’t, she may forget what I’d said. She asked what “specific things” I wanted or needed. I was at a loss. I assured her that I make use of EVERYTHING I am given, and if I can’t use it, I’ll ALWAYS find someone who can. As is my custom, I got her a card and I hope that she’ll return soon. Kira stopped with her young daughter Grace (age 3) for a visit. They gave me $5 and some Chinese food. Yum! In return, she asked for prayers — she’s in need of a liver transplant. Done! And I would ask ALL our readers to please do the same on behalf of both Wilda and Kira. Not to be overlooked are all the children who give everything from change, to a few dollars, and sometimes much more: food, clothing, other much needed items and all those goody bags...WOW! They provide SO many purposeful and practical things! Finally, I’d like to thank all of you who noticed I was missing from my corner while I was in Vanderbilt University Medical Center ICU twice in recent months (NOT COVID related). There are far to many to mention by name, and even if I tried, I’m sure I’d leave someone out. Suffice to say, it’s nice to have a place and people where you feel like you are wanted and loved, where you feel like you belong, and it’s equally nice to be missed when you’re not there. Thank you for your continuing love and support, it means far more than you’ll ever know!

THE PILLOW GUY - MIKE LINDELL

BY TYRONE M.

Mike, mike, mike. Do America a really big favor, sell your pillows and be content, but please stay out of politics, OK. We all seen you running around with the former Prez, trying to act like you were advising him on important matters. Stop the play acting, you don’t have a clue about what you were talking about. We saw you going in and out of the White House. You thought that would make you very important, huh? Sorry, sorry, didn’t work. You tried with all your feeble little mind to try to tell him how to stay in power in case he lost the election, and he did. Your stupid ass advice fell on confused ears. He lost, Joe Biden beat the red MAGA socks off of him! And that’s when he start the “stop the steal movement” one of the biggest lies ever to come out of the (“domestic terrorist”) mouth. And there you stood looking stupid, acting stupid, and thinking you would get a position in his re-election administration. Wasn’t going to happen, didn’t happen, now both of y’all can comfort each other and cry. But after many many months later you told people you had proof the election was stolen. You didn’t have no proof then and you don’t have no damn proof now! You even had the colossal nerve to go on national television waving and flinging your arms around, while all the time saying some crazy things that didn’t make no damn sense to anybody. Mike, stop the foolishness, OKd. Do me a favor, Mike, my (best friend,) Norma Jean would say, “shut up, sit down and be real still.”

SO GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE

BY JAMIE W.

Well this has been a hard year. In March, I had a mild heart attack and the month after that I got hit by a car. A couple of months ago my husband thought he had a heart attack and my hands and feet felt like someone set them on fire, then they started to blister and swelled up and I ended up at Vanderbilt Emergency Room. After sitting in there all night they did a biopsy on my right and left index fingers and I had stitches in my right and left index fingers. I hope nothing else bad happens to me. This has been one crazy year. My hands were so messed up I couldn’t tie my shoes, I couldn’t button my jeans. I would have my husband open things for me. I felt so helpless. I should be dead from everything I have gone through, but I guess I’m lucky to be alive. I must have some purpose to be alive.