From a bad attitude, to gratitude...

So, I have been an angry little one for the past few weeks.  I have SO much to be grateful for, but I have let a bad situation get the best of me and I am working on it---I am a work in progress. So, after my super-angry blog regarding PTC, I thought I would share a blog of appreciation and gratitude. 


I grew up in the thriving metropolis of Atlanta, GA- ATL, holla!  I remember one day I was driving my mom's car home from the store with my sister (she is older so looking back I have no idea why I was driving and not her, but it adds to the story) and I hit a hole in the asphalt.  I blew out the left front tire and came to rest in the turn lane of a somewhat busy intersection.  Not that I am that much of a dinosaur, but teens didn't really have cellphones at their beck and call then- in fact, my dad gave me a CB radio for Christmas one year and said "hit channel 9 for emergency if you breakdown."- so calling dad to rescue us was not an option.  As we are standing there lookin at the car- all while my sister is saying (and laughing at me) "thank God you were driving and not me...dad is going to kill you" -a local police officer pulls up behind us and hits the lights.  I (I have been a smartass for as long as I can remember) said something to the effect of "thank the lord help is here!" and he replies with "um, yea...I am not AAA, junior, I am just here to make sure I do not have to work a wreck because you are in the road and someone will hit you."  Since my dad taught me how to change tires I reply with "yes, sir" and head towards the trunk to get this party started.  My sassy sister apparently worked her charm on the officer and he was kind enough to call my dad to let him know what was going on.  The two of them inform me of dad being on the way and I reply (again, somewhat sassy) with "well, thank God you are here officer Jones as you can protect me from my dad as he is going to kick my ass."  Officer Jones begins to laugh at this point (never once pointing out that I was totally jacking up the jack) and turns out to be the nicest man- but he did not budge from the front of his patrol car...nor did my sister.  My dad showed up, thanked the officer, made me change the tire (helping of course) and then went and talked to Officer Jones for some time.  I remember when we got home I asked my dad why the officer didn't offer to help me.  He replied with the same thing the officer said "Kerri, they are not AAA, his job is not to work on people's cars."  I knew he was right, I was never mad at the officer for not assisting, but this all leads up to what I witnessed in Thomasville (my 'now' hometown) and just how different things can be. 


I was on my way to pick up Caroline the other day and there was a car stalled in a very busy intersection. A local sherrif's deputy had pulled up behind the driver and turned on his lights so people would know to pass and not bottleneck traffic.   There was an exchange between the officer and the driver of the dead car and then, the officer (dressed in a suit as I am assuming he had court that day, or something) went around and pushed the car in 100* plus weather so the person could get safely out of the way. Easily this kind man could have pushed the car with his patrol car, but no, he did it himself.   I was sitting there watching this and thinking of my ATL Officer Jones and the "we aren't AAA" story and just chuckled.  If only people realize how amazingly kind and special this moment was.  So, I would like to give a shout out to the local men and women who keep our fabulous city safe, watch for us, and are kind to the residents.  From this case, to the time an officer took a break from writing a ticket (yes, he was writing the darn ticket) to run over and give Caroline a Halloween goodie bag as we were walking by, to the officers who have helped my family on more than one occasion, and to those who guided us through downed trees and flooded streets to get to our children when we had horrific weather.  Thank you for all that you do.  I will be the first to admit that I am too selfish and wimpy to do what they do, so please do not label me as a kiss-ass, but I am the first to admit that I respect the hell out of them and I wish more people did too.

Hypocrites...

So, I am busier than ever, but something was brought to my attention and I just cannot let it slip by.  Recently, an incident occured which involved people I care for.  While the reason for this incident is BEYOND frustrating, it happened...and no one was hurt. It did not affect anyone else who was willing to mind their own business.  With that said, apparently the 'perfect' person next door took time off from being Jesus' official recording secretary to show her true self and bash the people at the center of the incident.  You ask why I noted her assumed profession, well, it's because her facebook page is plastered with ministry-based quotes, thoughts and supports for others in her church that I figure she must be working for the big man directly.  Now, I know some of her 'church' FB peeps and I am pretty sure they would love to realize that she is only a christian part-time...right? Because if she were a full-time christian, she wouldn't resort to letting all of FB land (luckily, she really has limited friends...reminder- she is an a$$hole) know the traumatic events her neighbors went through all while making fun of it/them, would she?  Where are her neighbors in all of this you may ask, well, they are the kind people who have supported her through her craziness and have not said a word about her situation.


In a completely juvenile way of dealing, this was my facebook posting today. 


"I find it very ironic that one can bash someone via facebook then completely paint themselves as the second coming of Christ with their ministry and faith-related status updates. While I shouldn't judge, I would like to point out that at least the one you bashed has a clinical diagnosis of the reason(s) they struggle- you, well, maybe you should try to practice what you preach...you know, there isn't a pill you can take to make you less of an a$$hole".


The reason I did this, is becuase I saw PTC (part-time christian) post something on a friend of mine's recent photo. I adore this friend and the work they do, but PTC's posting intrigued me.  I took a look into her page. Because I have met PTC before, I was kind of surprised to see her new christ-filled posts and stories- not knocking God, more people need him and more power to them if they have found him- and then I get to the post where PTC throws out the word 'trash' aimed at the neighbors. Let me first tell you something about myself. The people close to me (family and friends) are my blood, I will fight you to the death for them if you attack. Second, I am Italian- it is in my freaking DNA to want to harm you for attacking those I care for.  So, when I see this I get pissed like no other.  Not that my FB posting is going to solve anything, but sometimes it feels good to get things out like that.  I will be the first to admit that my mouth can override myself so I talk a big talk sometimes, but in all sense---I do not want to go to jail so I do not act.  If only I had the balls to back what I think. 




I have never, and never will, paint myself as a perfect person.  I do consider myself a christian, but I am also a realist and I am never one to withhold my opinions.  I own my faults and do not portray myself as a church-going saint.  I am human, I am flawed, I curse too much, I do not pray enough.  I went to parochial school for 6 years and still cannot tell you what books are where in the bible.  I have used the lord's name in vain (I apologize to him A LOT for that) and it would really benefit me to work on my resentment issues...but I am who I am.  I know that none of this makes me a bad person and I know my god does not judge me...but I also know he doesn't turn his back when I judge others- he probably winces though. Feel free to pray for my soul now.