Winning Words 6/5/13
“All misfortune is but a stepping stone to fortune.”  (Henry David Thoreau)  Have you ever seen the movie, “Down and Out in Beverly Hills?”  It’s a comedy with a story.  Jim Carrey is a comedian with a story.  Did you know that he was once homeless?  So were Halle Berry, Suze Orman, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Houdini and Charlie Chaplin.  Tough times don’t have to last.  I like the Annie song, “Tomorrow.”  It’s about hope.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Considering his experiment to live the simple life out in a wild and natural environment, those words from Thoreau seem out of character for the man.  Materialism seemed of little importance to him.  Perhaps he was just making an observation.  Thoreau's choice of Walden Pond as the place to spend some solitary time observing and writing about nature was perfect.  It's no longer remote and private, but still is a beautiful spot in the forest, once you get past the busy access road, the parking lot, the bathhouse, and children's beach.====JACK:  Fortune can mean different things to different people.  It isn't always attached to the material.

 FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  I did not know they were once homeless--but now they are all about giving away OTHER PEOPLE'S money and bad mouthing conservatives.====JACK:   I guess, all I know about the ones I referred to is that they were once homeless and were able to escape from that problem.  Sometimes misfortune turns out for the good.

 FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  houdini was homeless... but he escaped...and .the sun will come out tomorrow. ====JACK:  Yes, Harry lived in a box in Detroit.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  "Think of 5 things your are grateful for, today...now how do you feel?" (Tim Sanders) Even in misfortune, there are certainly still things one can be grateful for....and having read  the bio of H.D. Thoreau, I can bet he did not mean material fortune, although for his day, he lived fairly comfortably.  We rely on that old Bible phrase."And it came to pass...."====JACK:  I wonder if we can think as homeless people think, if we've never been homeless.====OAKS:  NO, WE CAN'T!  ONE OF OUR REGULAR ATTENDERS TO OUR MONTHLY HOMELESS MEAL WAS FOUND BEATEN AND STRANGLED TO DEATH LAST WEEK.  (47 YRS. OLD) SHE HAD BEEN SLEEPING ON THE BACK PORCH OF AN ABANDONED HOME, AND A MAN RECENTLY RELEASED FROM JAIL HAS BEEN ARRESTED...HE WAS WEARING AN ANKLE BRACELET WHICH PUT HIM AT THE SCENE!
IT AMAZES ME HOW MANY OF OUR HOMELESS USE  THE TERM "PRAISE THE LORD" OFTEN, FOR THIS OR THAT, AND GIVE TESTIMONIES TO THEIR GROUP AT THE DINNERS.  THEY'LL SAY "WE'RE NOT ALONE....THE LORD IS GOOD....ALL THE TIME!"   AMAZING!  AND THEY ENJOY THE HYMNS AND MUSIC. THEIR  STORIES ALMOST ALL INVOLVE SOME POOR DECISIONS IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS ADDICTIONS, ETC.====JACK:  "When did I see thee etc?"
 
 FROM CA IN MICHIGAN:  Thanks.  This is very thought provoking.  I never knew about these famous people.====JACK:  They weren't famous when they were homeless.

FROM MOLINER JT: I love Annie's song !====JACK:  You're not the only one.