Think the right way, do the right thing.

  So last week I had an interesting run in with Karma, God, whatever you choose to call it.  I call it God.

  Part time job took me to Altoona PA.  What a cool town! Typical Pittsburgh type town, mountains on one side, river on the other.  I got into the shady part of town and noticed a few homeless people meandering about.  Felt bad, but really didn't think anything about it as I was more concentrating on my job and what I would be doing a few moments into the future.  Setting myself up so "Future Bill" would be happy with what I'm doing right now.  That's a WHOLE different entity in itself, I'll get more into that part in the near future.
 
  So I get to the salvage yard in Altoona, GREAT people work there! Helped me out a ton and treated me like I owned the place.  Even though I was only there to look at a burned up car.
 
  Got done looking at the car, made my phone calls to clients and office.  Then my mind starts.  I KNOW Andrew Carnegie was in Altoona for a short time in his life, wonder if there is a museum, statue, anything I could stop and look at.  Found a railroad museum but didn't stop for some reason.  The reason would be revealed later in the day.  In case you're wondering, Andrew Carnegie started as a telegraph runner, then migrated to the Pennsylvania Railroad upon his family moving from Scotland to Pittsburgh.
 
  So I drive my butt back home, and need to make a stop for supplies to deep fry my turkey.  On the ride home I start thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving and the homeless guys I saw earlier in the day in Altoona. I'm not getting into specific locations to protect the innocent.  Stop at a Walmart in a plaza.  Run in, get my stuff, he goan!  Homeward bound, 4 days off for both my cute blonde wife and myself! CAN'T WAIT to spend time with her and our dysfunctional family!

  At the traffic light on the way out of the plaza sits a disheveled homeless man holding a sign that read "Homeless. ANYTHING will help. God Bless."  I only had a few moments before the light changed, but I noticed he's huddled up protecting himself from the cold and hasn't shaved in quite some time.  Light changes, and I'm on my way.  About a half mile down the road, I hear myself "You should do something!"

  So I turn around and head to KFC.  Buy a 10 piece meal deal and ask if they have coffee, it's COLD outside.  She says no, so I pay for the meal and head to BP because I know they have coffee.  On the way past the homeless guy (he was in between KFC and BP) I notice he has a dog with him.  DAMMIT!  I get to BP, get a large coffee with all the fixings separate because I don't know how he likes his coffee, buy a bag of Cheez-Its for the dog, my dog LOVES Cheez-Its so that was my best bet.  Tell the lady at BP what I'm up to, she thinks its great.  I go to the check out counter and there is a power ball ticket with a note that reads "I'm a mistake. PLEASE buy me!"  Oh HELL YEAH I bought it for $6!

  Make my way back up to the plaza to drop off my care package.  As soon as he sees me get out of the truck, he gets up and starts walking towards me.  I tell him lunch is on me today, and explain the Cheez-Its.  He says he doesn't know if his dog likes them or not, "But lets find out."

  Ya know what my man did?  He fed his dog first.  Didn't take a sip of coffee, didn't root through the bag to see what I bought him.  He got the dog dish out and filled it with the Cheez-Its.  I get back in my truck, and as I'm pulling away I see the cops pull up.

 With this new way of thinking, I'm trying VERY hard to keep all negative thoughts out of my head.  Its just my brain being bored, and I don't need it.  I very politely use my conscious brain to tell my subconscious brain "Thanks for the input! But you're not needed." and force myself to think something positive instead.  What happened next amazed me.  When I saw the cops pull up, I immediately thought "Aw crap, now I got him in trouble."  And without TRYING my brain went immediately POSITIVE and said "No, now he has a warm place to sleep, and an avenue for help because of you!"

  Think right, do right!  What a lesson I learned from a homeless man that day.  No, I didn't win anything on the powerball. What I did do was restore faith in humanity to the girls at KFC and BP and helped a fellow man.  A man who was more concerned about his dog's hunger than his own.

  With my heart smiling, I drove home. Positive thoughts, and had a wonderful meaningful Thanksgiving with my family and friends.


  The turkey turned out perfect. And all was right with the world.