Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Ross

August 28, 2006

This story was sent to me by a man named Ross, who commented on my story about my father or lack of one.  I would like to share it with you.

Ross now becomes writer # 352 for Storytime Tapestry.  Please email him and encourage him to submit more wonderful stories.

Carol

Proud Father of An American Soldier,

Ross

     My life has been almost the antithesis of yours.  My parents were both together until Dad passed on in 1968!  They had married in 1941.  He died on Dec. 8th, and woulda been eligible for good retirement pay from Glen L. Martin, later Martin-Marietta.  His date he was eligible to retire was Jan 14th 1969.  He got (in my mind) shafted out of all money he paid in for retirement purposes.  He worked there from 1941 until 1968.  In fact, he worked the night before he passed on!  He got up and had a cup of coffee with Mom.  He took a few sips out of it, then he said, "Hon, I don't feel too well.  I am going back to bed.  He never made it!  He collapsed in the corridor, just outside the bedroom, and struck his head on the door!  He was taken to the hospital, and was pronounced dead by 9:40. 
     You see what I mean.  Mom and Dad, together from 41 - 68.  27 years, going on 28.  The 28th Anniversary woulda been April 6th, 1969.
     Now, Dad volunteered for the draft, but was told that "Your skills on the job are more valuable to the military as a civilian than as a PVT."  He was a mechanical engineer for Martin's Aircraft.  They manufacture aircraft used in combat -- as well as (then) some in peaceful use. 
     However, allow me to tell you a little bit about MY 'street life.'  Sometimes, living on the street is forced due to unforseen circumstances.  I do not talk about it much, and so have never submitted elsewere, but I lived on the street (in a car) for about 3 months in the dead of winter. 
     I had a 74 Toyota at the time -- with some damage to the driver's side, so the car could not hold the heat for very long.  I parked at the Russell St. Railroad Bridge (installed when the parkway was built, to prevent the need for a grade crossing).  However, I was fortunate.
     There was a church which offered lunches in the neighborhood.  They accepted donations (requested 25 cents or more) to help defray expenses.  Workers there were all volunteers.  I explained my situation -- I HAD income, but the Government would not delivery my checks to a "car parked under Russell St. Viaduct."  They had to have a physical address for the mail -- a house, apartment, etc., so they said.  The volunteers said they would bypass the request for a donation.
     Enter Rabbi Perry into my life.  We met at the church where they had the lunches, and [I presume] he was able to detect I had not had a bath for a while.  He asked what was going on, and I explained to him.  He commennted, "That is not right." 
     Then he offered me the chance to come to his home nightly, and he would fix me a can of soup for supper -- in addition to the meal I was getting at St. Paul's.  So I didn't exactly go hungry.  I also used his bathtub -- and felt SO much better being "spotless!"
     Mom's relatives have disavowed any knowledge of me, and will not answer a phone call or letter from me.
     I had no idea where to contact Dad's relatives!  So I went on living like that for 3 months in the "dead of winter." 
     Supposedly u wonder why I chose such a noisy location to park and sleep.  It was logical:  I figured a train would wake me up often enough to fire up the engine, heat the inside of the car, and keep from freezing.  When you hear the motive behind it, perhaps it makes more sense than sitting in a quiet area. 
     I also kept a gallon of water and a loaf of bread in the car.  If I needed a snack, there was a jar of jelly in the trunk.  I'd fix a few slices of jellied bread.  I know... NOT exactly a "fancy lifestyle," but I survived it with the assistance of God!
     Rabbi Perry also allowed me to phone from his home, and find out what I had to do to have the back checks sent to me.  I was told simply, "We need a physical address... either a street address or a PO box to send it."  I hung up, and then explained the situation to the Rabbi.
     He got a smile on his face, and said, "Is THAT all!"
     I replied, "Yes sir."
     The Rabbi gave me the name of his group, his PO Box #, and told me to come back the very next day.  We would talk to them together, and he'd confirm in his own voice that it was with his permission I was usning his PO Box!
     Then he said to me, "Come with me.  I have a slight surprise for you."
     We went to Cleveland St., to visit with old Mrs. Miller.  She had just had a daughter who gave birth to a baby, moved out, and so had an empty bedroom.  She was looking for a boarder to help defray her expenses.  She was living on SSI, and had a retarded son requiring constant attention, so she could not work.  The room she rented me cost only $50 / month, and included supper 7 days a week!!  Her only restriction?  "No drinking."  [Since I didn't drink anyway, this was not a real 'restriction' to me.]
     It took approximately 3 weeks to get the back checks.  Within 3 days, I was given $2,800 -- [3 back checks, plus the one due for that March]. 
     Please forgive my waiting so long to write u, but I debated 'n debated as to whether it would be of any interest AT ALL to you!  I decided it would be.  Partially because of the difference between fathers, partially to show that a person who lives on the street sometimes is FORCED to do so, and the latter 2/3 of this is to show that a person doesn't exactly have to be related to do a "Christian" deed -- even if that person is not Christian!
Yer Hillbilly friend in TN...

Ross
PROUD father of an American Soldier
Underw8@aol.com