PERSONAL NEWS: Adventures In Light Rail #2: "Husband-Wife Becoming One."

.

TOP: Debra & Lester Finch.

Hi All,

Today I'm going to take a break from my regular blogging about gaming and funny crud and take a minute to count my blessings. One of my many blessings is being able to take public transport to work everyday... I avoid wear and tear on my car and riding rather than driving is stress-free: no traffic, no lights, no delays, no accidents, etc. Riding the Light Rail is a serious blessing for me.

The other big blessing is that riding the Light Rail helps me to connect with people. We all ride the train together everyday and the folks I ride with in my car know me and I know them. Everyday before or after work, I can expect my posse to greet me and ask about my day as well as me being able to ask about theirs. We chat about our jobs, life, our families, and all the important stuff. I get greeted by name like "Norm" on Cheers and it's a very positive part of my life. I feel like I have a family away from home and that I'm part of a community... something very important to me.

Well, one of the folks I see everyday is a certain Debra Finch, one of the nicest ladies I've ever known. Every SINGLE day, she greets me with a smile and we chat pleasantly for a few minutes before we each walk to our respective work places. And Debra's now inspiring me with one of the most generous things that one person can do for another: she's donating a kidney to her husband, who would otherwise not continue to live. All I can say is that that act of generosity is an amazing thing. May she and her family be blessed.

I'll be praying for the Finches and I'd be grateful for the prayers of any of my readers who would be kind enough to do so.

Surgery (Kidney Transplant) Date: September 10, 2007
Time: 8:00a.m.
Where: UC Davis Hospital

TEAM Members:
Debra L. Finch
Lester G. Finch, Jr.
Timothy J. Finch

Please pray for my friends or otherwise send positive vibes to them however you can.

Have a great Thursday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

POSITIVE VIBES: Adventures In Light Rail #1: "The Metro, Katie & Me!"

.

Hi Everyone,

Everyday I ride the RT Metro commuter train back and forth to work... with the same crowd of folks. I tried just sitting there... but I got bored... and there were so many interesting people sitting around... just waiting to be chatted up. And I can read my book at home.

So, one day I decided to open the old rat trap and staring saying hi to my neighbors that I rode with every day. Some people brightened up right away... and others glowered... but most came around after a few months. And what a change it was... First I started hearing little things... the news, jobs, promotions... and eventually the friendliness I'd started, began to spread. Now, I can't take credit for people being kind each other, but I'm certainly proud of the part I took in furthering the process...

Folks started sharing pictures, talking about their families, and the communter train became a friendlier place. I really liked my ride back and forth to work everyday. And then I got a promotion and a new schedule... and there went the old batch of commuters that I had so well-trained. So I started over and started to break in a new batch... they're not as far along as the old batch, but there's promise. The day before yesterday we chatted about one lady's new puppy... even the old Mexican guy with a huge hat and wrinkled beat-up jacket started getting into it. So I translated...

Well, I got a rare surprise today... one of my old "class" wrote to me today and shared photos of his daughter... so feast your eyes on this beauty:

Hi Max –

I just wanted to drop you a note to say hello. I hope the new job is treating you well; the train just isn’t the same without the pizzazz of your personality.

Enjoy the long weekend

Cheers,
Andy.

What a looker!

Hi Andy,

I miss you too, friend.

*** How are things for you? ***

Please send my best to the missus, Grandma d'Italia, and the Bambino.

Shalom,
Max.

Andy's a really neat guy despite working for a government automobile bureaucracy... like me and my healthcare bureaucracy. One day he told me the most beautiful story about when he was a boy and he used to become the "hands" for his near-blind Italian grandmother and "cook" with her. I've never forgotten it.

We’re all doing well, thank you… here are a couple pictures of my little girl, Katie. Thank you for remembering her and the “Missus”

I’m reading a new book I thought you might enjoy…it’s called “Winkie” - very Kafka-esque story about a Teddy Bear tried for terrorism… I think you would enjoy it.

Perhaps I’ll see you on the train again soon...

Andy.

Have a great weekend!

And THANKS, Andy!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).