Of Manly Men and Womanly Women - TTG

Having just returned from another week refurbishing a fifty year old ranch house in Half-moon, New York, I was quite pleased to find a small triumph for humanity in my hometown newspaper. The lead story on the front page tells the story of a Spotsylvania woman caring for her beloved pit bull in the last days of the dog’s life. All who came in contact with this pair gave of themselves in the most unselfish and caring way. These are my neighbors. I am proud of all of them and their willingness to rise to the occasion in the small things. I have faith they will do the same in the big things. 

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Spotsylvania woman leaves trail of tears as she and pit bull check off bucket list

BY CATHY DYSON/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Saturday, December 12, 2015  

Meghan Martin thought she was giving her cherished pit bull, Honey, a final gift: One last thank-you for all the love the dog had shown her. Turns out, Martin was the one who benefited, but it wasn’t the first time Honey gave as much, or more, than she’d been given.

Martin rescued her from abusive owners and death’s door, then watched as the dog that hadn’t known an ounce of kindness early in her life became as sweet as, well, honey. The dog helped Martin through a difficult pregnancy, sensing when her blood pressure dropped to dangerous levels and standing between her legs and whining so the woman would sit down before she passed out.

After the cesarean-section delivery, Honey stood by Martin, literally, as the new mother gingerly walked upstairs, hanging on to Honey’s collar for support. “She has paid me back tenfold for anything I ever did for her,” Martin said. “She’s been the most dedicated companion. For all the times I saved her, she saved me right back.”   (Continue reading at The Free Lance-Star)

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It’s these little things that build neighborhoods and communities. This is where the work must be done. Such actions reinforce more such actions. The right thing to do becomes the only thing to do. This is how communities that can withstand the pressures of an often hostile world are built. And it takes hard work and discipline. Those of us with the grit and determination to see our nation survive and prosper must work to build strong communities. Do the little things that cement our neighborhoods... face-to-face, not in the abstract. These communities then make up the regional culture and, eventually, our national character. To just rail against all the evils in the world, real and perceived, accomplishes nothing. 

TTG

Comments

[Son of a FAC]

Thank you Sir.

[Mark Gaughan]

So true

[BabelFish]

Thanks for this one, TTG.

[William R. Cumming]

My test is still DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!

On that basis many so-called RELIGIONS seem to fail.

Rescuing those animals including humans who have lost their way or been lost seems the best basis on which to operate.

Happy Holidays to P.L. and ALL involved in SST including nonbelievers.

Thanks for I have learned and continue to learn on SST!

Peace on Earth!

[rjj]

YAY TTG. Indignation is nature's way of saying "get off your ass."

[Bill H]

Nice, I enjoyed reading that.

"The right thing to do becomes the only thing to do." Yes. It becomes instinctive. There are places in our society where that still prevails. We don't hear about them because they don't brag about it, they just do it. Evil brags; goodness knows it does not need to justify itself.

[Medicine Man]

Merry Christmas TTG.

[elaine]

TTG, Steal my heart with a good dog story; all my dogs have been loyal,
brave, wonderful companions. When I think back on the ones that have gone
on I force myself to believe they'll be waiting to greet me on "the rainbow
bridge." Ditto a couple of kitties too.

I agree about the need for strong communities. Recently read a story that
caused me much concern: "HUD will choose your neighbors through a massive
social engineering rule." Julian Castro, the Director of HUD, may very
well become Hillary's running mate. It's all part of the administrations
plan to "fundamentally change America". This type of engineering is already
taken place not far from where I live primarily in apartments & condominium
situations & it's granting section 8 vouchers even in more upscale single family detached neighborhoods. Sometimes it appears to work out until
it becomes predominate. It's difficult to have cohesiveness with people
you have little in common with.