sorryless

Heroes Of The Week!

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Disney theme-park fans request 'Black Panther' attractions - Insider

As we venture into the fourth quarter of this meanest of years, I’ve got a few stories that speak to the not so random acts of kindness that offer us some much needed light inside the storm. And okay, so I tucked a minus into things. But rest assured, it was strictly for contrast. Because I’ve come to know and respect the science of these weekly episodes.

It’s not about unmasking the truth, it’s about respecting it.

McDonald's worker pays for family's meal when mom forgets wallet; mom raises over $35K for him in return

I’m a fool for cool when it comes to names, and so Wyatt Jones was rocking it with yours truly even before I read about his good deed gone viral in Waynesville, Ohio. Jones is a McDonald’s crew member who puts the above and beyond in his customer service. Just ask Brittany Reed, a mother of three who rolled up to the drive-thru window where Jones was working sans her wallet. The frazzled mama explained to Jones that she would have to cancel her order, but Jones was having none of it. He grabbed his own wallet and paid for the order himself.

Reed returned later on to repay Jones, who didn’t want to take her money . . of course. Because to him, the positive difference he was making in somebody’s day was payment enough. And sometimes that is that, and sometimes, well . . sometimes that good deed gets noticed in a big way. Reed shared her story on Facebook, after which she started a GoFundMe page for Jones, which has raised more than $27,000 to date.

“I never dreamed my post would go viral from our little village community page. I was truly just trying to reach his parent and let our community know what a kind hearted young man we had working at our local McDonalds,” Reed says. “I can’t believe people have donated this much money to Wyatt.”

As far as this story is concerned, I’m loving it.

My Hero Quote Of The Week! 

“It’s a struggle. It’s a battle. And I just don’t represent me. I represent all those folks that are afflicted [with cancer], all those people that fight, all those people that have fought.”

-Washington Football Team Head Coach Ron Rivera, who is still coaching while also taking treatments for squamous-cell cancer. (Props to Peter King for this).

Local Sports Talk Host Off-Air After Comments about Kamala Harris, Missouri State

I’ve had about enough of the peeps who have sworn off sports because it’s become “too political”, and Nate Lucas is my rebuttal argument as to why that complaint is full of it. Lucas was a sports radio host in Missouri, whose specialty was retreading sports narratives while mixing in his politics. In September, Lucas took his tired act and went scorched earth when he referred to VP candidate Kamala Harris with an “offensive, sexist slur” according to the station. Turns out, Lucas was plenty fine getting political when he felt like doing so, but I can only assume he’ll stop watching the games now that he’s unemployed . . because sports is too political. Funny how that works.

Greek Athlete Carries Disabled Woman Up Mount Olympus–Fulfilling her Lifelong Dream

Marios Giannakou is used to taking the long way home, with great success. The long distance runner has navigated all the valleys and mountains set out before him- from a 168 mile journey across Al Marmoum Desert to a first place finish in a cross-country race in Antartica. And oh yeah, he’s also climbed to the peak of Mount Olympus. Fifty times.

This guy is winning the day the moment he wakes up in the morning, and it’s not because of the medals or the acclaim he’s earned. It’s because he understands that winning is giving, and giving is life.

So when he heard about Eleftheria Tosiou’s dream of experiencing the summit of Mount Olympus, he got to stepping. After meeting with Tosiou, who has never let her disability define her, the pair was hooked up with a specially modified backpack and a support team. And then they climbed, together, chasing down a dream that has no finish line.

“There is nothing more real than the dream,” said Giannakou.

My Hero YouTube Video Of The Week! 

As far as this special moment between a thespian and his brand new friend goes, there are a few different videos out there. I chose the one whose spoken language I do not understand because I understand the language that counts just fine.

(Note to our Canadian friends, the title of this video is “Stray dog tries to help an actor in a play” (56 seconds running time)

We live in times of great anguish, full of carnival barkers in suits whose currency often times relies on division to keep them electable. And maybe it just seems that way too much of the time and maybe I have a lot to learn, but maybe I’m okay with being rescued time and again by the stories that prove how wrongs can be righted if we just open our minds.

And so the picture above . . I mean, right? The nerve of these two ladies, to somehow forge an alliance from two sides of a fence that would seem impossible to scale.

Cedar Park, Texas is where Marne Litton and Tasha Hancock call home. The two became fast friends when Tasha moved there six years ago and their political leanings did nothing to change that. Because these two came to understand each other not as political lawn signs, but as human beings. Litton is raising a special needs child and she says Hancock has always been there to brighten the most trying of days.

“We want to spread a message of kindness and love during these challenging times,” Litton said. “Tasha and I may not see eye to eye politically, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show love and respect for one another.”

These two made me go digging for a quote that came to mind when I found the capture of them all dressed up with someplace to go, attached to a story that told me I still have much to learn.

We are strong not in spite of our differences, but because of them.

It comes from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who was speaking of his native Canada, but Imma borrow it, humbly and gratefully. Because it frames that capture. Perfectly. Because it speaks to the idea that opinions will keep the cash register chiming, but humanity will keep the lights on.

If I were to break down the story of us into a mathematical equation, rancor equals subtraction while unity stands for addition. And that’s where you’ll find that peaceable solutions are happening . . like, all the time. And sure, they might be harder to find but it’s only because they’re not breaking news-worthy. They exist inside the quiet, because all the best stuff in the world?

Lives there.

81 thoughts on “Heroes Of The Week!”

  2. B,

    Perfect choice for cover Hero. You always need that contrast to better appreciate the positive.

    Wyatt Jones has the coolest name to go with the coolest attitude – for a sixteen year-old, no less. That is amazing. His parents did a bang-up job on raising him thus far and kudos to Brittany for raising (up to $35K, by the way). Boy’s gonna get himself a nice car with that!

    That is a worthy quote from Ron Rivera. It takes courage to work while going through treatments for cancer… Hats off, to him.

    How happy am I to see that a station does not put up with this type of bullshit. Buh-bye Nate.

    Marios Giannakou is a hero of the hugest sort. Physically, emotionally, and in every -ally way possible. What a generous thing to do.

    And guess what? Your Canadian peeps can see this fantabulous video! How beautiful to see that a four-legged feels empathy for a two-legged one without knowing him! And I love that you kept the originall language because, who needs words with such an image?

    Ahhh yeah! Bravo to Marne and Tasha who know that you can still disagree on politics without it affecting your friendhsip. How many people could learn from these two? Way too many to count.

    Yessir Justin Trudeau. You have many many a faux pas but that matters not. This quote is true. More people need to understand that.

    And, you were not kidding when you said you found THE kick-ass video for this post! That was AH-MAY-ZING!

    Q

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Q

      The contrast is key, sometimes.

      Good for her, him, them, us. Everyone. And that’s what a good Heroes story is all about. It’s an embrace.

      Rivera is as tough as they come. A former defensive player for the great Bears teams of the ’80’s . . we know he has plenty of fight in him.

      So many sports talk radio station . . so few brain cells. Which really, the two go together like PB and Jelly.

      He wanted this dream. For her. That is what a Hero is all about. And you could tell he was every bit as excited about her achievement as anything he’s done, which is lots.

      Yeah, there were a couple of different videos, some of them are so long as the posters put all sorts of fillers in there. But really, all we need to see is that moment when dog shows man what compassion is supposed to look like.

      These two ladies . . unusual, to say the least! And a breath of fresh air, that we don’t see nearly enough of in today’s world. Both sides are too entrenched, they don’t take the time to understand the other side.

      The quote came to mind immediately after I read this story. And yes, it’s a HOF keeper.

      Right? I love Bon Jovi, who still brings it. Man that guy puts to shame anyone who complains about getting older! And Ms Nettles is so dang beautiful and the two of them together. Perfect.

      B

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  5. Very nice post. What I really want to know, did the dog get a forever home?
    The 2 women understand humanity, and agreeing to disagree!
    How neat that you quoted Trudeau!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I would hope that dog found a forever home. Or homes. Maybe the two adopted him. That would be cool. Everyone gets shared custody.

      As for those ladies, what of lesson could they teach all of our politicians? Of course, that would mean that our politicians have to listen, which is damn near impossible to believe in these days.

      It was the perfect quote and it came to mind right away when I saw that story.

      Liked by 1 person

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  7. You’re right, there’s no language barrier in that video of the pup making sure the actor is okay. She was going to warm him up and love him right back to life! So sweet, and all the reasons I love dogs.

    Wyatt is indeed a hero. What do you want to bet he takes the GoFundMe money and starts a nonprofit that benefits others/animals?

    I’ve fallen for Marios.

    Great edition, Marc; thanks for the boost.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • RW

      It’s just so freaking beautiful, that video. Man’s best friend, man’s best chance.

      And my cats? The ones I grabbed up from my sister who was fostering them? They were dogs in another life, I swear it. They follow me EVERYWHERE. The boy sleeps with me, all curled up. In the morning, they get their treats and they know the routine by heart.

      Love the name, the kid and the heart. And I believe you. He’s that kind of good soul.

      It’s no wonder. Can’t speak for all of ’em, but this guy, he’s got game!

      You got it. Have a great weekend.

      Like

      Reply

  8. Giannakou … I love stories like that. I wonder if we asked people with disabilities and limitations what they want most in the world, what they would say, and then do what we can to make it happen for them.

    Regarding the last one about the two friends of different political views, I do hope we can get back to something like that more broadly in this country. And I’ll admit that within my own circle, I’ve struggled with this. Maybe it’s time to start making amends and making it happen.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • King

      You know what was most exciting about that story? And I read it in several different articles . . . the dude is genuinely thrilled for her. He wanted that dream, for her.

      And she got it done. As she always has gotten it done in a life that has no ceiling.

      Dude, I can’t even. That pic and that story got me thinking about how far off the rails we’ve gone as a society. But there HAS to be a middle ground that we can find, right?

      I hope so.

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. A much needed boost in this time of what seems endless bad news. I’m so touched by the good deed attributed to the young man Wyatt Jones, it’s all in the upbringing so hats off to them. I’m moved by all these fabulous folks. Love the video. Thank you for relaying these uplifting stories. So so needed!
    😊

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  11. Hi there – I tried reading this two times earlier tonight and finally made it back to finish!

    thanks for the dog helping the actor video – a smile and then some

    Not too into the Bon Jovi song – but the entire post was “sorry less goodness”
    🙂
    lastly, love this quote because the division with politics sometimes is heavy and just awful
    “We are strong not in spite of our differences, but because of them.”

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. I always enjoy your posts but this one touched me deeply. That song had me sobbing. “We do what we can.” And my Prime Minister is right: We ARE strong . . . it just sometimes hard . . .

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. It’s me again. I love the Wyatt Jones story. Must be something in the name, since Anderson Cooper named his adopted son Wyatt, after his dad, the late Wyatt Cooper. Goodness should go viral every chance it gets. I know first hand, the difference it makes. His kindness made such an impression. 27 grand…WOW!

    Besides the Spider Man of Doggies, I LOVE the two girls on opposite sides of the fence. That’s what America is all about, that we can justly, nobly, POLITELY…AGREE TO DISAGREE. When did the voting booth turn into a mosh pit? They did the Founders proud. 🙂

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  16. The McDonald’s guy is my favorite. – although the hiker is a WOW story. Back to McDonalds – not only have I not heard this story (until now), Waynesville is in my area! Great news for a town that had couldn’t hold its annual festival – The Sauerkraut Festival. Anyone up for Sauerkraut Cookies?

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  17. Amazing closing video! Well, dogs, you know how I feel about the bowsers. Wyatt – awesome job there. Someone’s doing something right rearing a kid like that. Another heartwarming edition of HOTW.

    Liked by 1 person

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