Which Role Do I Play

I watched them tear a building down,
Sixteen men in my hometown.

With a mighty heave and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled,
Just like those you’d hire to build?"

He laughed and said, "No, indeed!
Common laborers are all I need."

And I can wreck in a day or two,
What talented men took years to do."

Then I thought as I went my way,
Which role in life do I play?

Am I a builder who works with care,
And lives each day by a rule and square?

Or am I a wrecker in my hometown,
Content to knock and tear things down?

Buddies

There were two childhood buddies who went through kindergarten and all the way to college together.  When war broke, they joined the army together and asked to be assigned to the same unit.  One night while out on patrol, they were ambushed.   Bullets were flying everywhere.

Out of the darkness came a voice, "Harry, help me. Please Harry, help me."   Harry immediately recognized the voice of his childhood buddy, Bill. Harry asked the Captain for permission to go out and help his buddy.  

The Captain said, "No, I can't let you go.  I am already short-handed and I cannot afford to lose one more person. Besides, the way Bill sounds he is not going to make it."

Harry kept quiet, but again Bill's voice was heard in the darkness, "Harry, please come.  Please Harry come help me."  Harry sat quietly because the Captain had ordered him to.  Again and again Bill's voice was heard on the battlefield.

Harry couldn't contain himself any longer and ran over to the Captain, "Captain, that's my childhood buddy. I have to go and help."  The Captain reluctantly agreed and let Harry go.  Harry crawled through the darkness, reached Bill and dragged Bill back into their camp.  

When they arrived back at the camp Bill was dead.  Now the Captain was furious and shouted, "Didn't I tell you he was not going to make it?  He is dead.  You could have been killed and I could have lost a hand.  It was a mistake for you to go out there."

Harry replied, "No Captain, I did the right thing.  When I reached Bill he was still alive and his last words to me were 'Harry, I knew you would come.'"

Reader Feedback Request

We'd like to know if you enjoy Gabe's Fascinating Stories.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment area of any post.

Thanks

Why We Should Never Whine

One day upon a city bus,
I saw a woman with golden hair,
I envied her, cause she looked so fair.

But as she rose to leave the bus,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
With only one foot, she used a crutch,
Yet when she passed, she shared a smile.

O God forgive me if I ever whine.
I have two feet; the world is mine.

Later when I stopped to eat,
an old man grabbed me by my arm.
We spoke at length and then he said,
"Thank you Mister you've been very kind.
You see," he said, "I was born blind."

O God forgive me if I ever whine,
I have two eyes; the world is mine.

Heading home I walked my way,
and saw a girl with eyes so blue.
She stood and watched the others play,
yet seemed to know not what to do.

I asked, "Why don't you join the others, Dear?"
But she looked ahead with a word.
Then I knew she could not hear.

O God forgive me if I ever whine.
I have two ears; the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I want to go,
and eyes to see every sunset's glow, and
ears to hear what I need to know,
I'm blessed indeed - the world is mine.

and God forgive me if I ever whine.

A Reason To Play

Bobby was a football player; however, he wasn't a very good football player.  Though he had some talent, his heart just was not in the game.  He would often fumble the ball and avoid tackles whenever possible.  Worse yet, he would arrive late for practice wearing a dirty uniform and was always the last one to finish laps around the field.  On game days, Bobby was happy to just ride the bench. The other players, as well as all the coaches, wished Bobby would quit the team, but he never would.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, the day before the big homecoming game, and Bobby was once again waddling around the track in his dirty uniform doing his laps when a messenger ran out of the school office to hand the coach a piece of paper.  After reading the note, the coach blew his whistle and motioned for Bobby to come over.  "Bobby", the coach said.  "I have some bad news. Your father has had a heart attack and has been taken to the hospital.  You better go see him."

Bobby darted off the field, changed his clothes, then ran to the hospital.  Later that night, word was received that Bobby's father had passed away.  The next morning Bobby did not come to school; however, that evening about halfway through the first quarter of the big homecoming game, Bobby waddled out onto the field.

"Coach," Bobby asked,  "Can I play tonight?"  

 

Looking at Bobby in his dirty uniform the coach said, "No Bobby, you should be home with your family."

 

"Please  Coach.  I'd really like to play," Bobby repeated.  

 

The coach knew Bobby was a senior and this would probably be the last game he would ever play, but because this was the homecoming game with a rival school and the bleachers were packed with alumni, the coach said, "Maybe later, Bobby."

As the game progressed, it turned into a disaster for Bobby's team.  Though the other team had scored 21 points in the first half, Bobby's team was still at zero.  Following half-time, Bobby ran up to the coach and begged him to play.  

 

Again the coach replied, "Maybe later."  When the 4th quarter arrived, the opposing team made another touchdown making the score now 28 to 0.  There were only minutes to play.

Bobby, watching the clock, got up and ran over to the coach and asked, "Coach, can I please play?"  Realizing that nothing was going to change the outcome of the game at this point, the coach agreed and let Bobby go in.  Within minutes of being on the field, Bobby intercepted two passes and then tackled several opposing team players.  With only seconds to go, Bobby blocked and tackled so effectively his team was able to score its one and only touchdown.

Even though Bobby's team lost 28-7, it was obvious to all that Bobby was the most valuable player and, as a token of  appreciation, the team gave Bobby the game ball.  After most of the players had left the field, the coach walked over to Bobby and said, "Bobby you really surprised us tonight.  Why didn't you ever play like this before?" the coach asked.

With his head down, Bobby replied, "Coach, to tell you the truth, I never wanted to play football.  It was my Mom and Dad who wanted me to play." 

 

Puzzled, the coach said, "Bobby, I don't ever remember seeing your parents at any of our games."  

 

Bobby said "I know, Coach.  My Mom couldn't.  She died when I was 8."

"Well, what about your father?" the coach asked.  "If he wanted you to play, why didn't he ever come to any of the games to watch you play?"

Why This Puppy

It was Johnny's birthday.  He was eight years old.  His parents promised he could get a puppy when he was eight, so right after breakfast, they hopped in the car and drove to Grandma's house to get his puppy.

Grandma lived several miles away in a much bigger city.  Shortly after arriving at Grandma's house, Johnny's mother asked, "Johnny, would you like to walk to the pet store to look at the puppies?" 

 

Johnny proudly walked on his own down to Main Street where the pet store was located.  As he approached the store, he could see several puppies bobbing up and down in the big store window.  As he entered the store, four puppies huddled together in the display area began to jump up and down when Johnny came near.

Johnny introduced himself to the store owners and explained why he was there.  He asked if it would be alright to hold some of the puppies; they agreed.  While playing with the four puppies, he noticed a fifth puppy all alone curled up in the far corner and asked the owners if that puppy was from the same litter?

The lady responded he was but that he was not for sale. "How come?" Johnny  asked. 

 

"That puppy was born with a bad hip socket," she said, "and one of his back legs doesn't work very well."

 

"Wow," Johnny said, "What will you do with him?"  

 

"Well, tomorrow my husband will take him to the vet and have him put to sleep."

Johnny asked if he could hold that fifth puppy and the lady  nodded yes.  Instantly, the puppy responded to Johnny's touch with several big licks and they immediately became friends.  "This is the puppy for me.  This is the puppy I want to buy," Johnny said. 

 

The pet store owners reminded Johnny that the puppy was not for sale; however, Johnny insisted that this was the puppy he wanted to buy. 

Johnny turned to walk out the door and he said, "I'll go home  and get my money and be right back." 

 

The wife said, "I don't understand.  Why do you want this puppy when you could get one that is perfect and won't cause you any trouble?"

Without saying a word, Johnny lifted his left trouser leg and exposed a large chrome brace circling his leg and running up the entire length of his leg.  The owners looked at each other in silence.  Finally the husband spoke, "Son you don't need to go get any money.  We would like you to have that puppy."

The Obituary That Changed The World

Just over a 100 years ago, a successful chemist was reading the obituaries listed in a French newspaper.  He had learned that his brother, Ludvig, died while visiting France and wanted to read what the French newspaper was saying about his brother.  Much to his surprise, he was shocked to see his name, not his brother's name, listed in the obituary.  The French reporter had gotten it wrong and the newspaper reported his death instead of his younger brother’s.

Upon seeing his name, his first response was shock and disbelief; however, once he regained his composure, his thoughts became somber and he wanted to see what the people of France were reading about him.  The obituary read: "Merchant of Death Passes Away - The man who killed more people in the world than anyone else is now dead."

"Is this how I will be remembered?" he asked himself.  Once he got his emotions under control, he decided this was not the way he wanted to be remembered, so in 1895, he had his last will and testament rewritten.   He made it clear that the bulk of his great fortune (approximately $250 million in today's dollars) was to be placed in a special foundation and from that day forward, he started working toward world peace.

He established five awards he wanted bestowed annually. The five categories of the awards he created were for eminence in the fields of Physical Science, Chemistry, Medical Science or Physiology, Literary Works, and the last award - to the person who best promoted the cause of International Fraternity.

His name, which you probably have already guessed, was Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist and the creator of the Nobel Prize.  

But what impressed me was not the awards Nobel created, but how Alfred generated his huge fortune.

Nobel discovered that if he mixed nitroglycerin with an inert absorbent substance it became less volatile.  This discovery made nitroglycerin safe and convenient for the average man to handle.  He patented his new mixture in 1867.   He planned to call his invention "Nobel's Safety Powder".   However, his financial backers pressured him to change the name.  They wanted it called "Dynamite", the Greek word for power.

Alfred then went on to experiment with other volatile compounds to create other new explosives.   His second invention was a transparent, jelly-like substance, which was even more powerful than dynamite and was called "Blastin".   Blastin was patented in 1876 and marketed as "Gelignite".   Gelignite, like dynamite, was very stable and easily transportable.  However, instead of being packed in sticks, it could be conveniently formed into almost any shape, such as to fit into the long narrow holes bored in mine shafts.

Finally, as an off-shoot of his research with Blastin, he created a third invention - Ballistite.  Ballistite, the precursor of modern day "smokeless powder explosives", was ideally suited for high-powered {bullet} cartridges and rocket propellants.

 

  

So the question we need to ask is, how should Alfred Nobel be remembered?  As the "Merchant of Death" or was he a harbinger of world peace?

 

Thanks for Your Assistance

One night around 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rain storm.  Her car had broken down and she was desperately seeking a ride.

Soaking wet, she tried flagging down one passing car after another.  Finally a car stopped and a young white driver offered to help, which was generally unheard of back in those conflict-filled days of the mid-1960's.

The young man drove her several miles to an all night diner and made arrangements to have her car towed.  He bought her a cup of coffee, then personally called her a taxi and waited for it to arrive.  Finally, he assisted her into the taxi when it arrived.

Though the woman was obviously in a big hurry to get going, she stopped briefly to ask the man for his name and address, which she wrote down before finally allowing the cab to leave.  Once in the cab, she thanked him one more time.

Several days later, a knock came at the man's door.  To his surprise, a delivery service brought in a giant console color TV.  An envelope with a card inside was taped to the television console.  The handwritten note read: 

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.  The rain had drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits.  Then you came along.  Because of you, I was able to make it to the hospital and be at my husband's bedside before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me with all you did and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole

The Auction

A very wealthy man and his only son shared a passion for collecting art.  Together they would travel the world, seeking out the finest treasurers of art: works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and many others to add to their collection.  The old man, a widower, was very proud that his only child had become an experienced art collector.

When fall approached, war engulfed their nation and the young man was conscripted to serve his country.  After only a few months, his father received a telegram from the Army that his son was wounded in action while trying to drag a fellow soldier to a medic.  The father anxiously waited an update on  news of his son.  Finally word came confirming his worst fears - his son had died from his injuries.  Distraught, the old man entered the holiday season with sadness.  He knew the joy of Christmas would never visit his home again.

On Christmas morning, he awoke to a knock on the door.  As he walked to the door, he passed the masterpieces he and his son collected and they only reminded him that his son would come home no more.  When he opened the door, he was greeted by a young soldier with a large package.  The soldier introduced himself by saying, "I was a friend of your son.  In fact, I was the one he was trying to rescue when he was shot.  May I come?"  

Once seated, the soldier shared how the old man's son always shared with everyone in the unit the love he and his father had for fine art.  "Since I'm an amateur artist," said the soldier, "I have something I would like to give you."

The old man unwrapped the package; it was a water color portrait of his son.  Though not a work of genius by any means, the painting featured his son's face in striking detail.  Overcome with emotion, the old man thanked the young soldier and assured him he would hang this picture above the fireplace.  True to his word, other paintings worth thousands of dollars were moved from above the fireplace just to make room for the painting of his son.  This painting was, without a doubt, the greatest gift the old man had ever received.

As summer arrived the old man passed away and the art world was excited!  With his demise, everyone knew his paintings would now be sold at an auction.  Sure enough, an auction of his estate was announced.  According to his will, all of his art would be auctioned on Christmas Day.

When Christmas Day arrived, art dealers and collectors from around the world gathered at his home.  They gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular treasures of art.  At noon, the auctioneer walked forward to begin the auction.  He picked up his gavel to begin the auction with a painting that was not on the auction list.  It was the water color painting of the old man's son.

The room was silent as the auctioneer asked the crowd for an opening bid.  "Who will start the bidding with $1,000?" he asked.  Moments passed and no one spoke.  "Will someone start the bidding at $500?" he asked. 

 

From the back of the room someone yelled, "Who cares about that painting?  Let's get to the good paintings."

"Who will start the bidding at a $100?" 

 

"Forget that picture," another yelled." 

 

"No”, said the auctioneer.  "My instructions are to sell this painting first", the auctioneer replied.  "Now, who will open the bidding with any bid?" he asked again. 

 

Finally, a  maid who had worked for the family for nearly 20 years spoke.  "Will you take $20 for the painting? That's all I have in my purse."

 

"We have a bid of $20.  Do I here $25?"  asked the auctioneer.  Silence filled the air!  "Will anyone go higher than $20?" called the auctioneer.

After more moments of silence the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice ... Gone!"  and his gavel fell. 

 

Cheers filled the room and someone shouted, "Great.  Now we can get on with the real auction and bid on the true treasures!"

With his gavel laid down, the auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over.  Everyone in the room was stunned.  "What do you mean, it's over?" someone yelled.  "We didn't come here for a portrait of some kid!  We came here for real works of art.  What about all the other paintings?  There are millions of dollars worth of art work here that we want to buy."

Another yelled, "We demand an explanation!"  The auctioneer replied, "It's simple.  According to the old man's will, whoever took his son's portrait ... got it all." 

The Airplane Flight

Special Note to all Readers:

This was one of the first stories I shared on this blog.  I was asked to re-share it this month because many thought it was appropriate for the upcoming holiday travel season.  I hope it is worth re-sharing. 

John Hollingsworth placed his carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment and sat down in his seat.  He knew it was going to be a long flight and was glad he brought along a book to read between his planned naps.  Just prior to take-off, a group of young soldiers walked down the aisle and sat in the seats surrounding him.  John leaned over and asked a young man across the aisle, "Where are you guys headed?"

 

"Petawawa.  We'll be training there for a few weeks; then we ship off to Afghanistan after the first of the year."

About an hour into the flight, a flight attendant came on the PA and announced that snack lunches were available for five dollars for anyone who wished to purchase one.  Since the flight would take several hours, John decided to purchase one just to help pass the time.  As he leaned forward to retrieve his wallet from his back pocket, he heard one of the young soldiers in front of him ask his buddy, "Are you going to get a snack lunch?"

 

"Naw, $5 is a lot of money just for snacks.  I'll wait till we get to the base tonight to eat."

 

"Yeah, that’s what I think,” said his friend.

John stood up and walked towards the rear of the plane.  When he got to the galley he handed one of the flight attendants a fifty dollar bill and said, "Please give all ten soldiers on board a snack lunch."

 

She grabbed his arm, squeezed it tight and said, "Thanks.  My son was in the Army; he served in Iraq."

John returned to his seat and began to read his book.  Soon the flight attendant, with ten snack lunches in her arms, began handing out the snack lunches to all the soldiers on board.  Rather than return to the galley, she headed up the aisle.  Several minutes later, the same flight attendant walked up to John, leaned forward and whispered quietly in his ear, "Which would you prefer - beef or chicken?"

 

What?  "Beef or Chicken?"  Chicken I guess he replied, as he wondered why the heck she wanted to know.  

 

A few minutes later she returned with a dinner plate from first class.  "This is for you … courtesy of the Captain."

After his meal, John walked to the back of the plane, heading for the restroom.  A man seated near the galley stopped him and said, "I heard what you told the attendant and, with your permission, I'd like to chip in," and he handed John a twenty dollar bill.

Not long after John returned to his seat, the Captain walked down the aisle.  When he arrived at John’s row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, "I wanted to shake your hand, Mr. Hollingsworth."  Quickly John unfastened his seatbelt, stood up and shook the Captain's hand.  With a booming voice, the Captain said, "I was once a military pilot and when I was young, lonely and broke, someone bought me a lunch when I was traveling home for Christmas.  It was an act of kindness I've never forgotten."  Then the Captain placed a folded twenty dollar bill in John's shirt pocket and said, "Put this toward my share."  As the Captain walked away, John was embarrassed as the passengers nearby erupted into a loud applause.

An hour or so later, just to stretch his legs, John walked toward the front of the plane.  A man seated near the magazine rack reached out to shake John's hand.  When he finished shaking John's hand, a twenty dollar bill was neatly folded and left in John's palm.

When the plane finally touched down several hours later, John began to gather his belongings and head for the door.  Waiting just outside the plane's door was an elderly lady obviously well off, and when John stepped through the door, she put something in his shirt pocket, then turned and walked away.  She never said a word. When John looked in his pocket, there was crisp fifty dollar bill.

As he entered the terminal area, John saw all the young soldiers gathering over in one corner of the terminal for their trip to their new base.  John walked over, handed one of them the $110 and said, "It might take you guys some time to reach base tonight and you might get hungry - Merry Christmas!"

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!