Appreciate life — not all of us have 9

Well here I am at the office again on a slow Monday. Katie and Tim are griping about how much they dislike coming to work on Mondays.

They should do an article on the 23,000,000 folks currently out of work. How would they like to wake up in the morning not having a paycheck coming in without a time line when they can expect one? Maybe then they would sing a different tune.

Lee, my caretaker, just takes the moaning and groaning in stride. She understands what people are going through and appreciates everything she has. I have no doubt that if things got tight, she would take care of me before she would herself.

Tim worries me. He is old enough to know better. Katie is still young so she can be forgiven.

Young folks today often take too many things for granted. No, everyone goes to bed at night with food in his or her tummy. In fact, not everyone has a bed to go to at night.

But just the other day Tim was complaining about the deadlines. He was hurrying to get a story out and feeling sorry for himself when this very nice attractive lady comes into the office. Lee got up as she always does to see what she needed. In a very gentle and unassuming voice the lady asked what the cost was to place an obituary in the Fruita Times. Tim stopped typing and looked up. Lee told her there was no charge and who was the obituary for? The lady started to tear up and in a cracking voice said “my husband.”

I looked over and there sat Tim all slumped in his chair. I could tell he was pretty choked up as well.

He got up from his desk and approached the woman and offered his condolences and said, “We do not charge for them because we feel that folks that have experienced a loss such as you should not have to worry about paying for it.”

The very nice lady thanked Lee and Tim and proceeded to open the door and leave. Tim looked at Lee and said he felt ashamed for crying about having to get his story done by a certain time and complaining about it being Monday. He said there was a reason this lady happened to come in today and it certainly wasn’t a coincidence. He apologized to Lee for his behavior and went back, sat down and completed the rest of his story without saying another word.

Even I was choked up over his demonstration of understanding that when things seem overwhelming and unbearable, there is always someone worse off than you.

He can be a real pain to us that share the same office with him, but I saw a different side today and I hope he doesn’t take this with a grain of salt but remembers that there are many experiences in life that we can learn from and more importantly live our life by.

I read in last week’s paper that Jared Wright didn’t show up for the Club 20 debate. I would have done anything to be invited. I would have walked 20 miles in the snow (not really, no snow this time of year) but you get my point. I have to find a way to let people know I am running for the House District 54 seat and get my message out other than through the Fruita Times. Maybe a local billboard or a spot on a local radio talk show. It would be great if I could get on with Sean Hannity in the afternoons but I read somewhere that he doesn’t like cats.

Since I have no money, the only thing I can wish for is for my supporters to spread the word.

Remember to write in Charlie Cat on your Nov. 6 ballot. I’m Charlie Cat and I approve this message.