Pay It Forward!

PAY IT FORWARD!

Five (5) lessons to make you think
about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a
conscientious student and breezed through the questions until I read the
last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several
times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her
name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before
class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our
quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will
meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and
care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello".

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on
the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her
car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she
decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her,
generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to
safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to
be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days
went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant
console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.
It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.
The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came
along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside
just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly
serving others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy
entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of
water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty
cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his
pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice
cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he
said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and
walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.
There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five
pennies. He couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to
leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid
himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around
it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none
did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came
along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the
road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the
road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a
note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed
the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never
understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts.

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a
little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her
only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year
old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained
the situation to her little brother and asked the little boy if he would be
willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a
moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister
and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked
with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the
little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to
give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Now you have 2 choices.

1. Delete this email, or

2. Forward it to people you care about.

I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember , "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching. "

NOW more than ever : "Pay It Forward "

Recipient: Cary Jeffries
Sender: Bonnie M.
Subject: 1906 Film Taken In San Francisco

I checked on this (the statement/question above):

Automobiles, even those manufactured here in the US of A were all "right hand" steering until the early 1900's.

It was realized that "left hand" steering offered better "judgment" of the center line and easier for passengers to exit from the automobile on the right hand side (sidewalk) than exiting on the street side into traffic.

PS - The change was not a federal or state rule.

It was private industry making the change - one automobile company at a time over several years during the early 1900's.

This film was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever.

It was taken by a camera mounted on the front of a cable car.

The amount of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing!

And the driving patterns were absolutely hilarious - staggering to say the least!

The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there.

(I'm also wondering ... how many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!)

This is a great historical film worth watching.

This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!)..

It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to NY for processing.

Amazing but true!

Going back in time!

Have your speakers on & up for a great effect to this clip of history!

Take notice of the 'actiion' going on as the cable car makes its way down the street towards the tower.

Click on the below address bar:

(click F11 for full screen, click it again to exit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k

Recipient: Cary Jeffries
Sender: Lisa S.
Subject: Mama Cat & Little Stinkers

Recipient: Cary Jeffries
Sender: Marc S.
Subject; Video/Web Link: Congress Refuses To Outlaw Insider Trading For Lawmakers

Didn't Martha Stewart get a year or two in the federal clink for this?! ~ Cary