One of my longtime "bowling, shooting, drinking, coming over to the house to hang, split wood, look at my bride's fine ass....etc, etc" buddies is having a hard time. His dad has been self employed as a painting contractor for almost 40 years, and his oldest son Jeremy naturally got into the family business. Small town, small business..... Excellent work, good price.
Two years ago, Jeremy's dad Gary, hurt himself at work. They now pay nearly $1600 a month just for health insurance for the family, due his daddy's injury. It was a legitimite injury. No bullshit. Fell off of a ladder from nearly 20 feet. But Gary is still painting, when he can.
He can't paint from his Hospital room.
Gary is in the hospital with kidney failure as I type.
Since his father's initial injury, my friend Jeremy has become "The man of the house". Jeremy is 24 years old. I am nearly 36. This either means that I am either immature beyond belief, or that Jeremy Johnson is wise beyond his years. He has sold a 98 Cobra Mustang and almost all of his guns, to keep the family afloat, the boy has no toys. I have bought some of his firearms, at FAIR prices, and gave a buy back option at the selling price.
At the age of 22, Jeremy took over the "family business", because of his father's injury. His father has not been able to work much since his fall. Somebody has to make the house payment. Somebody has to pay for insurance.
I have never seen a man of this age work so hard to support his family.
Night before last, Jeremy's younger brother Jared, went out to the garage to fuel up the Kerosun. Something went wrong.
Jared is 3rd Degree burned, face, torso, arms, back, hands, ankles. The Garage is leveled. Jared's truck, which was parked outside the garage will be in the junkyard. All of the painting supplies were in the garage, naturally. They have no tools to make a living with.
While at work tonight, I visited with Jared. His nurse told me that he will be ok, with time.... From his looks, it will be a long time. At least he recognized me, and was able to give me a little hell... Thank God for that. Little Victories.
Now, I have a true friend whose father is in the hospital, whose brother is in a different hospital (where I work), and is too busy fretting over them to go work. Not a dime a day coming in...
I split my "mad money" between him and another family who has suffered a great loss this week.
Sunday, a habitually drunk driver with no driver's license hit a minivan stopped at an intersection. The family was returning home from Church.
The drunk was traveling at an estimated 70 mph in a 50 zone. He went off the road, and by NCSHP Reconstruction was doing 60 when he T boned a family that was stopped at an intersection looking to make a left turn. A Davidson County Officer was in the Church parking lot doing paperwork at the intersection. He spotted the drunk speeding, had pulled it into Drive to stop him.
Too fucking late. About the time the Officer pulled it into gear, one of my best friend's daughter's best friends was killed on scene. She was 9 years old.
The passenger in the drunk's car was killed, also.
No big loss there.... he chose to be there.
I took my (hunting, fishing, shooting, drinking) buddy down to the ER to see his lifelong friend(the father), his wife, and their son. I knew that the drunk fuck that killed their daughter was laying 3 rooms down.
Bad part was that I was the only one of all the above mentioned parties that knew that 9 year old Taylor was in Heaven. I had to tell my buddy that his daughter's best friend (since birth) was dead. Call me a great big pussy for crying over a little girl I met twice..
While my friend was speaking to the only lucent member of the family (the son), I was strolling by the bed of the worthless fuck who stole their baby girl from them. Imagine me carrying on with 2 NCSHP Troopers who were guarding "the patient", all the while thinking "KILL HIM!!!!!"
I must be a bad person. I thought of going out to the truck, loading up, and making the trial, sentencing, and execution of this filth quick and simple.
Thanks to Evil_Ed (I owed him a "Thank You") for reminding me later that very day that "there will be a special place in Hell for this guy". (Evil_Ed's wondeful words) After he is beaten and gang raped (My words).
I hear they love baby killers in the big house...
Please pray for my friends.
After rereading this post, maybe I could use a little divine guidance, myself...
Happy Fucking Holidays!
[/babbling rant off]
sorry....
Tim
edited to separate my thoughts from E_E's words in his IM to me.