Why Didn't I Help? by Betty Badgett

WHY    DIDN’T    I    HELP ?

 

                One year ago, I remember walking into the neighborhood Dollar Tree two blocks

from my house In Upstate New York.  It was crowded as usual, so I hurried to get my purchases

rush to the nearest cashier so that I would avoid the long lines and be able to quickly leave the

the store.

                 As I stood on line waiting for my turn, I noticed the young gentleman in front of me

standing there with only a large gallon of milk.  He was fumbling in his pockets, perhaps trying

to get his money ready, as he was next on line.  The cashier rang up his purchase and began

looking annoyed as she looked at how fast her line was growing and there was no one working

the register next to her.

                   After searching his pockets trying to come up with the money to give her for his

item, he said, “I’ll be back.”  He turned towards the door and walked out leaving the gallon of

milk on the counter.  The cashier looked even more annoyed as she quickly yelled for someone

to hurry over and place the gallon of milk back in the refrigerator.

                    At that moment I heard a voice inside me saying, “Why didn’t you help?”  I tried

to find an excuse or reason to come up with to answer that question.  Truth was, I had money

in my wallet being that I had just left the ATM machine. I had no answer.  I paid for my

purchases and walked out of the store and headed across the parking lot to my car.  When I got

to my car, I had tears in my eyes.  Suppose that gentleman had children at home waiting on that

gallon of milk for cereal, or just to drink.  I had no idea what his situation was, but there was

 an opportunity to help someone and show kindness, and I had let it pass.  I felt small as a

human being.  I always talk to my kids about being kind and giving and here I was with the

opportunity to do just that and I let it pass.  At that moment I was a hypocrite, 

                I loaded my car and got in.  My heart hurt for that young man, so I took a moment to

say a prayer for him since I had no way of finding him and redoing what had just happened.

Why didn’t I help?  What was I afraid of?  At that moment a thought came to my mind.  Perhaps

God had placed me in that store, on that line, at that exact time to reach out and extend a gift of

kindness to a stranger in need.  I wanted to cry at that moment.  Instead, I vowed to God that if

I were ever in a position to help some one again, I would, so I would never have to ask myself

Why didn’t I help.

Letting Go written by Betty Badgett

Letting go is never easy.  

First you think of all the reasons that you should,

then you think of all the reasons that you shouldn’t.

When a love you’ve cherished for a life

time is suddenly no more,

How do you let go?

It’s hard to let go.

The memories are to strong,

The romance was endless.

The picture of his face is embedded in

a permanent place in your mind, and

In the deepest recesses of your heart

where only you and he resided.

Maybe one day, you’ll sell the home that

you both once shared, move to another state,

buy a new car, get an entirely new hair style

and walk into a new life you’ve tried to

create for yourself.

Well, I did all those things, and it’s still hard

letting go.

Vina Byrne Poetry

Life is just the way it is, most things you cannot alter, 

But always try to do your best to cope and not to falter.

You must do your very best to try to understand

And only change the things you can, take other things in hand.

For it never pays to bemoan your fate when things don't turn out right,

Accept the things you cannot change, try hard with all your might.

You'll find that you're much better off than crying every day,

Just stand your ground, be firm, be strong,

And take what comes your way.                                                               

~ written in l981

Things I Love, by Vina Bryne written in l982

There are so many things I love, pretty things to see and hear,

Such as daisies, tulips, daffodils in green fields everywhere.

I love music I can listen to when I'm having a blue day,

I love music that will pep me up when I want to feel that way.

I love puppies, kittens, yellow chicks, dogs of every size and breed,

Baby ducks out on a lake with the mother in the lead.

I love sunrises and sunsets, I love a big rainstorm,

When I can close my windows and feel so very warm.

I love snowflakes of every shape, so graceful as they fall,

They coat the hilltops and the fields, they cover trees so tall.

There are many pretty things if you'll only stop and seem

They can lift your spirits up, they've done so much for me.

A poem written by Vina Byrne in 1981

I've known heartache first hand, so this is not a guess,

I look around me everywhere, but there's no real happiness.

It stays but for a moment, and then it goes away,

It is replaced by pain and such, and things look bleak and gray.

It's wonderful being happy, but it's sad that it can't last,

For it's here one day and the world's aglow, but it goes away as fast.

So when you have the feeling that the world is bright and gay,

Hang onto it lovingly for it will pass away.

* Guess I wasn't in a very positive frame of mind when I wrote this....it all goes back to the last years of my son's life and how I felt about life.

                                     ~Vina

Letter to Laurie by Kym Seward

Several years ago, I wrote a poem with no one special in mind. Today, that poem exemplifies you Laurie,

My Special Friend

I was lonely

no one heard me
A shell on the sandy beach Waiting...

to be carried into the flowing sea.

Time  moved  past  me 
no one cared
I  stood  in  crowds, 
alone and scared

Everyone stared 
like an eager child 
viewing cartoons 
no one smiled

An ice-cube 
dissolving in time.

My eyes swelled
as tears began their race 
down  the  hollows  of   my  cheeks, 
the pain in my heart
ticking like a bomb, 
was waiting to explode.

I stood not  knowing 
who I was,
what I wanted, 
where I was going.

'till you came along.

A light fell
through falling rain, 
Understanding followed the patter of teardrops.

A rainbow appeared

Your hand reached out 
to touch mine,
I took it, 
cautiously,
Your smile warmed my soul 
once hidden by dense fog.

With your help
I saw the sun
I climbed a ladder
and didn't fall

I was headed somewhere...

...A new direction.

When you spoke, 
something stirred

in the damp night air,
birds began singing in harmony 
unlike anything heard before.

You spoke kindly (I remember)

I held every word
like newfound treasure 
buried on the ocean floor.

It took time...

you taught me patience,

then, slowly
the barriers rolled away.

The sun began rising up 
from the shadows of time
filling the long, dark corridors 
of my mind, with light

Re-opening the door of my life.

Laurie,

In just the measure of a year, you changed my life. Your smile, shoulder, hugs, lit up my darkest days. We were more alike than others realized. We shared many of the same scars. We surprised others by openly sharing memories of our wild days. Memories most people wouldn’t admit. You never held back, and you never judged me. In fact, you embraced me with the arms of a sister. Your boys and grandbabies meant as much to you as mine do to me. You loved Garrett’s wife Beth with a fierceness I hope to acquire for my daughter-in-law. Reconnecting with your mother this year put the light into your eyes that you’d been missing. Your door was always open. Remember scheming to find Brett a love that would be true to him? A love he deserves. You always wanted more time with your boys and grandbabies. We shared that too. You loved girl’s trips to  dinner, shopping, card games into the early morning hours, watching the birds, playing with your dogs and roosters. Even that huge one you received in the mail from, well we won’t embarrass  him by letting everyone know who mailed you a cock. You my friend, were a rescuer. You helped those that others shunned. You taught me to love myself again, introduced several of us to the Keto diet and rejoiced when you came home from TOPS after learning you’d lost another pound. On your trip to see Garrett’s family last summer, you accidentally drove the wrong way down a one-way street. I hope you know Laurie, when you walked the road into my heart, you found a forever friend. Now you’ve traveled that road to Heaven. Don’t think we’re done walking and don’t think you’re done cleaning house now. You’d better be polishing the floors of Heaven. I’m not letting you off the hook. You promised when you got better, we’d go dancing. Your better now and when I get there Girl…we’re gonna show God how to rock!

The Car Wash by Betty Badgett

Today was beautiful, sunny and warm. I decided it was a great day
To get my car washed. I drove over
To the Flag Stop car wars and couldn't believe the number of cars
Lined up to be washed. I decided
There was nothing pressing on my
Agenda, so I sat back and waited for
My turn. 
Finally, a young man walked over and asked if I wanted to have  a
Basic wash or detailed. I decided to
Have it detailed since this was my
First time here.
This was the fanciest car wash I
Have ever seen. Once my car was
Placed on the moving belt, I was told
To through the glass doors and pay
At the desk. Inside was a large waiting room, filled with modern chairs, a counter with coffee and tea
And a large flat screen hanging on
The wall. After paying for my car
Wash, I helped myself to a cup of
Coffee and sat in one of the large
Comfortable chairs. I was impressed!!
I sipped my coffee and watched
Let's Make A Deal as I waited. Soon,
One of the employees opened the
Door and asked who had a gray
Lincoln. I quickly jumped up, gathered my things and followed him outside to my car. My car looked
As if it had just rolled out of the show room of Feduke Ford Motors.
Today was a good day. Aside from
Having my car wash, I used ten
Minutes to write this piece. You
Really can write in ten minutes!!