[Reiver]

I thought I'd pass this on from the Marine Web ring I am on....

Subject: My Christmas story

Today while running errands I stopped by an Aldi store to get a bunch of flowers
for my wife, since she's stuck in the spare bedroom on the special bed while
recovering, adding a bit of pleasant color for her there is just one of those
things that seems like a good idea.

Of course there was a long line to get to the cashier. The person ahead of me
turned and saw the flowers, said hi, and asked how I was doing. A nice
conversation ensued, talking about Christmas, its real meaning, the blessings of
getting up every day in a free country. And I explained why I was buying
flowers for my wife who is healing from serious surgery, at which point the nice
person immediately recited a prayer for healing. As we got closer to the
cashier my Marine emblem was noticed, and I was asked if I had served, and was
immediately thanked very sincerely for my service. As the checkout total was
recited for all that was on the belt in front of my flowers, my nice person
instructed the cashier to add the flowers into that total, and would not take no
for an answer from me.

It was very touching, made me feel humble, brought a tear to my eye.

And details, details... did I mention this person was a young Black woman? Who
did not seem to see me as an old White man, but only as another person
celebrating what is good about Christmas and our nation.
That's my America, the one I believe in and love.

I am so sick of all the people screaming about how we are immersed in racism
almost every moment, how we have so much polarization, how we all only pretend
to get along, at best, etc, etc. Yes, we have negatives in our society, who
doesn't? But we have an abundance of just good, decent, caring people who do
their best to rise above the negatives, and live up to the ideals on which we
were founded. I say Thank God for them, I rejoice in knowing they are there,
and I find renewed hope for us all.
And I wanted to pass that on, as part of the message of Christmas.

Peace....

Del