ken_p (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ken_p) wrote,@ 2006-09-23 13:15:00 |
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Two nice friends
I have to online acquaintances that I very much like. They are exact opposites. But super people and don't read this wrong in that respect.
The one's close to my age. The other could be either of ours child and with a few indiscretions my grandchild.
Friend A riles against the world. Nothing goes her way and it is the world conspiring against her. She isn't a happy camper. She does have some medical problems and apparently a nice medical package to see her through the difficulty. She's what most would call comfortably middle class. She has enough that she can satisfy whims as well or better than most.
Friend B had a nice job when I met her. And at online poker she was better than ok. When she had ongoing health problem she lost her job and medical. And that didn't resolve itself well. Decent prospect came along but got stymied. Then she found her medical problems were worse than thought. And now members of her family are joining her with problems. And these are major problems. I said to another friend, “If you wrote this as a soap opera, it wouldn't be believable and they'd make you remove half the problems.” And it isn't just to the older members but her peers and even little kids.
B has never really complained to me or others that I know of a single time. She is an upbeat person—even with horrendous circumstances. Throw in all the cliches here: swimming up stream; swimming in shark infested waters; didn't have bad luck then would have any; etc. etc. etc. The bible tells us the story of Lazarus whom God afflicted. With all due respect to the Bible wanting to make a point, B has it every bit as bad. OK, less painful inflictions but she's seeing awful things happening to loved ones. I would call that as bad.
How can two people approach life so differently? They both get kicked in the backside at times past and present. One somehow stays optimistic and the other damn the uncaring world. Well, the world has always been uncaring and will never give anyone all they want. When we get a bit full of ourselves it always find a way to move us down a peg or ten.
There is what is often referred to as a Indian or Chief's prayer. There are many similar prayers. They contain something along the lines of “grant me the grace to know the difference”; when we consider ourselves beset on all sides you can find someone worse off who can tell the difference and doesn't waste the effort tilting at their windmills or real, honest problems that can't be just set aside.
I think the first will say that she cannot be made to bow and has strength. Well, Friend B is the one I admire most. I really wish she was my daughter. I could not help the hurt and make it go away but I could and do love her for her strength and know that the following generation improved on mine. That isn't something that is always apparent. And, it is a solace as I look toward the sunset.
I have to online acquaintances that I very much like. They are exact opposites. But super people and don't read this wrong in that respect.
The one's close to my age. The other could be either of ours child and with a few indiscretions my grandchild.
Friend A riles against the world. Nothing goes her way and it is the world conspiring against her. She isn't a happy camper. She does have some medical problems and apparently a nice medical package to see her through the difficulty. She's what most would call comfortably middle class. She has enough that she can satisfy whims as well or better than most.
Friend B had a nice job when I met her. And at online poker she was better than ok. When she had ongoing health problem she lost her job and medical. And that didn't resolve itself well. Decent prospect came along but got stymied. Then she found her medical problems were worse than thought. And now members of her family are joining her with problems. And these are major problems. I said to another friend, “If you wrote this as a soap opera, it wouldn't be believable and they'd make you remove half the problems.” And it isn't just to the older members but her peers and even little kids.
B has never really complained to me or others that I know of a single time. She is an upbeat person—even with horrendous circumstances. Throw in all the cliches here: swimming up stream; swimming in shark infested waters; didn't have bad luck then would have any; etc. etc. etc. The bible tells us the story of Lazarus whom God afflicted. With all due respect to the Bible wanting to make a point, B has it every bit as bad. OK, less painful inflictions but she's seeing awful things happening to loved ones. I would call that as bad.
How can two people approach life so differently? They both get kicked in the backside at times past and present. One somehow stays optimistic and the other damn the uncaring world. Well, the world has always been uncaring and will never give anyone all they want. When we get a bit full of ourselves it always find a way to move us down a peg or ten.
There is what is often referred to as a Indian or Chief's prayer. There are many similar prayers. They contain something along the lines of “grant me the grace to know the difference”; when we consider ourselves beset on all sides you can find someone worse off who can tell the difference and doesn't waste the effort tilting at their windmills or real, honest problems that can't be just set aside.
I think the first will say that she cannot be made to bow and has strength. Well, Friend B is the one I admire most. I really wish she was my daughter. I could not help the hurt and make it go away but I could and do love her for her strength and know that the following generation improved on mine. That isn't something that is always apparent. And, it is a solace as I look toward the sunset.
