Remembering Something I'd Forgotten

In these economic times it’s easy to become focused on your own problems and fear for the future. I remembered something today that I’d forgotten. The first weekend of the month the FISH Food Bank accepts donations at Gig Harbor Safeway. Back when Safeway was the cheapest place in Gig Harbor for groceries I used to give to FISH every month. When they raised their prices and I started shopping at Fred Meyer all the time I got out of the habit of being sure to put something into the basket for FISH. Today I happened to only need a few things and since I was at Goodwill anyway and it was a lovely afternoon I decided to stroll down to Safeway to get my things and save the gas driving to Fred Meyer. That’s when I remembered about FISH. I always get toiletries. I know what it’s like to be without a tooth brush so I bought four and some toothpaste.

We can’t expect President Obama to wave a magic wand and put this country back together. I’m finding the Right Wing Rhetoric tiring so I’m taking a break from the news, but not from the notion that it’s going to take all of us to make the country successful again. Anyone who wishes President Obama to be unsuccessful is not an American because if he’s not successful we aren’t going to be either. If he fails we all fail. We are one nation.

The need at food banks and other charities is greater than ever, just when you and I are feeling less able to give. There’s a greater blessing to give when there’s less ability to do so. I’m going to remember to go to Safeway the first weekend of the month and give a little of what I’ve got with a prayer that fewer people will need the help the next month. This is a long row we have to hoe, but if we stop sniping at one another and concentrate on caring for one another instead, things will get better quicker. We are all in the same lifeboat.