Jack in his new jersey
I love this note to Santa from Alabama Stickles, the 6- or 7-year-old daughter of my cousin Rebecca. Too cute!
Proving that laughter is contagious, a very happy subway car in Germany gets the giggles.
It’s worth it to stick this one out and watch it all the way through.
My employer, ACCU, sent a volunteer contingent to LA’s Skid Row on November 22 to help out with their giveaway event (new shoes for kids, a meal and a box of Thanksgiving-type non-perishable foods for each family). Here’s a poem I wrote about it afterward.
At ACCU we love to give
Our time, our help, our skill
We lend a hand to those in need
Will we help out? We will!
Our time, our help, our skill
We lend a hand to those in need
Will we help out? We will!
A list of charities is known
Dream Center, CMN,
And others that deserve our help
One never quite knows when
Dream Center, CMN,
And others that deserve our help
One never quite knows when
This month came word of one that’s new
They call it “Shoes That Fit”
If anyone on Skid Row wants
Free shoes, well, they are it!
They call it “Shoes That Fit”
If anyone on Skid Row wants
Free shoes, well, they are it!
Our CEO suggested that
We take part in their plan
To get some shoes, some wipes, and more
We take part in their plan
To get some shoes, some wipes, and more
And help the best we can
The Tuesday night event arrived
Our merry group embarked
To Skid Row on the 10 freeway
But all the cars seemed parked!
At last the jam was cleared away
We came a little late
Our shift crew got there just in time
It seemed a twist of fate
Our merry group embarked
To Skid Row on the 10 freeway
But all the cars seemed parked!
At last the jam was cleared away
We came a little late
Our shift crew got there just in time
It seemed a twist of fate
The Spanish speakers, T & R
Were given front desk duties
The others fitted kids with shoes
The youngsters were all cuties!
Were given front desk duties
The others fitted kids with shoes
The youngsters were all cuties!
The work was hard, the room was hot
But every single guest
Was gracious and appreciative
They thought we were the best!
But every single guest
Was gracious and appreciative
They thought we were the best!
At 9 pm we called it quits
Though some had yet been served
Our time was up, we had to go
And then we came unnerved …
Though some had yet been served
Our time was up, we had to go
And then we came unnerved …
…An angry man was screaming loud
Maligning kids, and more
He wouldn’t leave, they called the cops
We left through a side door
Maligning kids, and more
He wouldn’t leave, they called the cops
We left through a side door
And as we walked back to our car
The cops had cuffed three men
We strolled right past like nothing’s up
The cops had cuffed three men
We strolled right past like nothing’s up
And thanked our Lord again…
…For all our blessings, jobs, and food
A bed to call our own
Though briefly lost on our way home
We reached our safety zone.
A bed to call our own
Though briefly lost on our way home
We reached our safety zone.
The Mathews family of Altadena, California in about 1967. Jon and Charlotte with their children Valerie, Jancis, Richard, and William.
