Helping Friends - I Feel Good

Last weekend, I sent a message via Facebook to a handful of friends asking if anyone had advice on pneumatic tools and compressors.  In response, one of my former co-workers from over a decade ago responded and told me to call him at noon the next day.

It was so nice of him to respond for one.  It was also very comforting that even though we hadn't spoken to one another in over ten (10) years that the conversation just flowed and he was completely open and honest.

In brief, he thought he had a job offer last year for one of the intelligence agencies and months and months later it is still in process and he has not been working.  Not a good situation for the breadwinner with a mortgage, stay-at-home wife and two (2) children.

He offered that in searching he had sent emails to a couple of individuals and was surprised that he never got a response.

My advice to that was, if you have their telephone number, next time call and don't give them the chance to forget or ignore.  Plus, I can not personally understand why one would not attempt to help out a former co-worker and let him know that I would do what I could to help.

We talked further and I told him, I could locate a number of the email addresses and telephone numbers of some of the men we had worked with and would gladly forward them to him.  Also talked about how three (3) of our former co-workers had started their own business and I'd get them the name of that company, as well.

Within about twenty minutes of our conversation I had forwarded via email the contact information.

Within less than an hour he had then taken the company information and pulled up the website of our former co-workers and given them a call.

By, that afternoon, the former co-worker and now president of his own company had called him back and stated, "I don't know what is stranger today.  The earthquake or you calling me."

He was invited for a lunch interview yesterday, the following day!

I called him back personally rather than email and let him know how psyched I was and that this was it.  He'd have a job by the end of this week.

This AM, he informed me that he starts working with them on Monday.

How wonderful is that?

Thank you God for putting us in touch when you did and allowing us to help one another.  Amen.

Annual Far Hills Benefit Horse Races - The Hunt



L-R:  Jon, Sal, John & Bruce


One of my friends has been hosting an annual outing to The Hunt in Fall Hills, NJ since the mid 1990's.  Proceeds from the ticket and private tail gate slot sales are contributed to Somerset Medical Center Foundation is a non-profit organization that solicits and administers funds on behalf of Somerset Medical Center, in Somerville, New Jersey.

Our first year of attendance, it was raining, cold and muddy and we were newbies who did not realize that having a paid slot closer to the rail and a small buffet of food to nosh on during the day was the way to go.

A view of the rail from behind our buffet

Since that time, my friend's family business has annually procured multiple rental spots a row away from the rail.  We all buy our individual admission tickets and then contribute for the spread of food and drink.

There have been many a year that in spite of the day being bright and sunny, previous day(s) of rain, have muddied the grounds and made for a muck festival with slipping and sliding of humans and vehicles.  This year we were spared the mud.  Hurrah!

Unlike Virginia Steeple Chase Races, The Hunt is not held during a time of the year that is advantageous to sun dresses, hats and dress shoes, etc.  Over the years, I have noticed that the attire for the day has become more in tune with the late October weather and a potential day of walking among muddy fields.  Denim jeans and rubber stable boots and/or wellies were the staple footwear at this year's event.