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Zi just took my breath away. There's suvch beauty in being lost. I used to travel some down to Georgia and I was coming north from the small town Jesup up to where the vidalia onions grow in Vidalia Georgia. Lost like Zi, I was. That's when I happened on the oldest lobblolly pine in the world. Had gold ropes around it. Came up, too, on a prison cemetary at Reidsville Ga. with headstones in curved rows then went on for hundreds of yards. All of them marked with a number; not a name. Didn't have long to ponder the unfortunates because when I stepped out my truck and walked about a hundred feet to take some pictures, a very large Angus bull was grazing on the numbered souls grass eyeing me like I might be a loose convict. He raised his head and gave a little double nod letting me know I was in the wrong place.
The most incredible finds are discovered by the lost. And the insanity of this is - they all think they're lost and pointless, when their treasures are always invaluable. So one of my favorite quotes is Mark Twain's for you, Ms. Zi- "Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination".
The most incredible finds are discovered by the lost. And the insanity of this is - they all think they're lost and pointless, when their treasures are always invaluable. So one of my favorite quotes is Mark Twain's for you, Ms. Zi- "Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination".
My family has always said that we're poor. But I've never felt like that. We have a roof over our heads, clothes, and food. I think if you have those things, you're not poor. 
And yeah, my car is from 1999 and my computer from 2010.
And yeah, my car is from 1999 and my computer from 2010.
I have a good friend who works in a ministry that serves the international student population on a college campus. Many of these students come from "wealthy, prestigious" families and are here under the expectations that they will receive the highest level of education possible, and will go on to obtain the most lucrative jobs.
My friend was telling me about one girl they had recently worked with who made it a point to repeatedly tell everyone on their staff that she was from the richest family in her hometown. Yet interestingly, she took extreme advantage of every free service they offered (verging on the point of abuse), and would ask them for rides to every place she needed to go rather than offering to pay for things like local transportation herself.
I find it fascinating, and super humbling, that in many countries, being "the richest family in town"... means that you have running water in your house.
And if you're really, super, "mega" rich, you might even have electricity--and it's actually available 24/7, and not just sporadically.
M
Kim, that's very interesting! It's humbling too.
I think I've always felt blessed because I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. The cities there are sometimes ranked the poorest in the entire country.
If you have a home, food, and clothes you were considered above normal. It was a privilege to have things like a car, a good sewage system, and a television. I grew up with all these.
I know some of my friends had really hard times.
This is what the RGV looks like.
I think I've always felt blessed because I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. The cities there are sometimes ranked the poorest in the entire country.
If you have a home, food, and clothes you were considered above normal. It was a privilege to have things like a car, a good sewage system, and a television. I grew up with all these.
I know some of my friends had really hard times.
This is what the RGV looks like.
Kim, that's very interesting! It's humbling too.
I think I've always felt blessed because I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. The cities there are sometimes ranked the poorest in the entire country.
If you have a home, food, and clothes you were considered above normal. It was a privilege to have things like a car, a good sewage system, and a television. I grew up with all these.
I know some of my friends had really hard times.
This is what the RGV looks like.
View attachment 173547
I think I've always felt blessed because I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. The cities there are sometimes ranked the poorest in the entire country.
If you have a home, food, and clothes you were considered above normal. It was a privilege to have things like a car, a good sewage system, and a television. I grew up with all these.
I know some of my friends had really hard times.
This is what the RGV looks like.
View attachment 173547
M
Some of them get welfare checks and food stamps. But a lot of them don't qualify because they are from Mexico. Since it's a border area, there are quite a few illegal immigrants. They do not qualify for any government subsidies. It's very sad. What a lot of women do is come from Mexico and have their babies there in the RGV. Because of their kids, they qualify for certain help. Of course it's not enough because technically it's just for the kids.
I moved when I was about 14 to central Texas. So I don't know how it's doing now. I think it's gotten worse though. My old friends tell me there are cartels in the area and the economy has destroyed small businesses.
There are some mission/church groups that build houses for the people there for free or at a discounted price. But I hear it's hard to qualify for one, since there's so much competition. If you would like, you could join me in praying for that area. The RGV (La Feria to be specific) will always be my home.
I moved when I was about 14 to central Texas. So I don't know how it's doing now. I think it's gotten worse though. My old friends tell me there are cartels in the area and the economy has destroyed small businesses.
There are some mission/church groups that build houses for the people there for free or at a discounted price. But I hear it's hard to qualify for one, since there's so much competition. If you would like, you could join me in praying for that area. The RGV (La Feria to be specific) will always be my home.
Y
"Poor" is definitely a relative term. With my work experience and education, I could theoretically work in private industry for upwards of 300k per year or more. As it is though, I've never made more than minimum wages in a year, and that's way more than plenty for my lifestyle. I've always been the type of person who was happy to have less, and by extension need to "work" less than to be some burnout with an 80-hour a week job to pay the bank for the privilege of "having stuff". Rich or poor, the story ends the same for all of us. Nobody gets out of this life alive.
So, long story short, I am "poor" because I am satisfied living below the "poverty level" and don't care to work a more difficult job with longer hours to "elevate" myself into some silly higher tax bracket.
So, long story short, I am "poor" because I am satisfied living below the "poverty level" and don't care to work a more difficult job with longer hours to "elevate" myself into some silly higher tax bracket.
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D
Well, a few things...
1. I have yet to meet Wink Martindale and his money briefcase carrying friend.
2. You'll have to share the restaurant leftovers with my army of cats.
3. I flunked the Meghan Trainor exam.
4. I got very excited when I replaced the cover for my tail light.
5. You probably prefer a man who has my mileage as an annual salary and my
annual salary as my mileage.
And finally...
6. I want corporate sponsors for our wedding.
1. I have yet to meet Wink Martindale and his money briefcase carrying friend.
2. You'll have to share the restaurant leftovers with my army of cats.
3. I flunked the Meghan Trainor exam.
4. I got very excited when I replaced the cover for my tail light.
5. You probably prefer a man who has my mileage as an annual salary and my
annual salary as my mileage.
And finally...
6. I want corporate sponsors for our wedding.
Y
More reasons:
I'm not driven to "do more". I don't care to chase after awards an accolades. I don't need a promotion. I don't want bigger, newer, flashier things. I'm content with my life. I can adequately provide for my own needs, but not an additional person. You'd better take care of your own business.
Dating me is dating me. Nothing more. It's not a path leading towards marriage. I've already played the role of the cuckolded beta provider...twice. No need to play that game again. If you want to go out for dinner and have a nice meal and chat, cool. If you think it's something to make you change your "relationship status" on Facebook, think again.
I'm not driven to "do more". I don't care to chase after awards an accolades. I don't need a promotion. I don't want bigger, newer, flashier things. I'm content with my life. I can adequately provide for my own needs, but not an additional person. You'd better take care of your own business.
Dating me is dating me. Nothing more. It's not a path leading towards marriage. I've already played the role of the cuckolded beta provider...twice. No need to play that game again. If you want to go out for dinner and have a nice meal and chat, cool. If you think it's something to make you change your "relationship status" on Facebook, think again.