"Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
-- Saint Francis of Assisi
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"Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -- Saint Francis of Assisi
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August 29, 2008 | |||||||
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 All The Right Lessons Bob Ridley, Juneau, Alaska February 8, 2001 Who are the unsung heroes in your life? Share your stories. Dear goodthings, As a child growing up in a small Alaska Native town of Metlakatla, I remember that we (a family of four brothers and three sisters) lived in a small two-bedroom house. Our parents both worked to support us growing youngsters. We learned to take care of each and to take care of the other chores and responsibilities in and around the small home. We didn't have television in those years in this small town in the 1950s, so in the evenings, we listened to the radio. Mom and Dad bought us various board games and regular playing cards. Each evening, those of us who chose to would play the various games. Sometimes we would invite our friends or relatives over, especially on Friday or Saturday nights. We didn't have a lot of money, but I remember that we sure had a lot of fun getting together -- just family or with friends. I will be forever thankful for all of the love and the sacrifices that Mom and Dad gave for us children as we were growing up. We were taught to respect all people, regardless of their color or age. I am sure that my brothers and sisters still maintain those values to this day. Even though Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa have passed away, my brothers, sisters, and I still try to get together from time to time. We now are scattered around the state of Alaska. As we were growing up, Mom and Dad showed us how to smoke salmon and to jar or can the same for a winter supply. I have four uncles who taught us how to hunt, fish, camp, and survive off the land and beaches if we were ever stranded somewhere, that there was always something around that was edible, that we would never starve or have to go without food. We were taught to respect the land and the water and never to waste any of the food items that we took. If we had some extra food, we learned to share it with our neighbors or friends, who may not have had the time or the ability to gather up the foods that we all enjoyed. My grandfather always shared his first catch of the season and showed by example that you will always be blessed because you shared and gave from your heart. I went away to Chicago to study electronics and was an honor student. Then I joined the U.S. Navy and studied at their electronics schools. When I returned to Alaska after having served in Vietnam, I still carried on the traditions that I learned as a youngster, only now I had skills as an electrician and began to share these skills with people in their homes and to help the churches and senior citizens with their electrical and heating needs. I would cut and give wood to the senior citizens for free. I would do their electrical repairs for free. When I would go hunting and fishing, I would give the senior citizens fish or deer meat. My mom and grandma would tell me that I would always have plenty for myself and my family because I always shared with other people. I would tell them that I learned it from them and would thank them for the love and the teachings than they so freely gave, not only to me but to all of us children as we were growing up. I still try to show the kind of love, respect, care, and honor that I learned here in the home and at work. I am proud to have served in the U.S. Navy and to be a Vietnam Veteran. I love, care for, and respect all people. (write to Bob) Want to share your stories of inspirational people in your life? Send 'em our way. |
Readers Respond Dear GoodThings, I live in New Zealand and whilst reading Bob's experiences, I was elevated out of a period of feeling rather flat. Bob's comments are nourishing, just like food nourishes. The sentiments he expressed provide another form of sustenance that fed me in a way that is non-verbal. It is physical, it's emotion, and it's more than just feeling. It's at a level that I believe each of us knows whether we recognize it our not. It may be the quiet times when perhaps walking, for example, that we get a snapshot into these insights. I am thinking that as it is November 2001 in North America, there are heaps of snow. In New Zealand, it is the end of spring, beginning of summer, where I am walking around in shorts with all the outside doors open and garden lush with trees and climbing plants, in particular. There are climbing roses -- colored deep reds and purple/crimsons, my favorite colors. I associate them with the memory of friends and family who have given particular plants to me. I liked the comments about relatives who taught Bob how to live off the land and share with others and how, at some level, we all connect. I am reminded of researching family genealogy and discovering that there are so many branches to families and we all are eventually connected but have not joined the dots. Thanks to Bob for knowing what he knows and providing a gift in his expression of it.
Thanks,
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