I am an old dog struggling to learn new tricks in the Vista world when I long for XP or even Windows 98.
This morning the fancy-dancy computer on my desk sent me a message that updates were ready.
I ignored it.
Bad idea.
Frankly, I was more interested in a news report that consumers were using layaway programs for purchases rather than credit cards… the way we used to handle some large purchases before plastic became the norm.
I saved $50 a month for more than a year to buy this new laptop.
Meanwhile the old one crashed, stammered, deleted and exhibited mouse rebellion. Fortunately the bank account hit a magic number about the same time my patience expired. One small miracle for me.
Since the computer is smarter than I am, it was apparently not in the mood to be ignored this morning.
Flash! The webcam took my picture, I presume to add to my arrest record for failure to update when commanded.
The screen went black. The computer buzzed imperiously and returned with a new message that I better proceed with updates as ordered.
I surrendered.
Got a cup of coffee.
Waited until it was my turn to work and fought my way through a bazillion helpful icons to find one that would open up a blank screen so I could write about a real miracle of sorts.
Gary Clark of Marysville passed the story along and Jim Kehoe, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul confirmed it.
Donations of all kinds arrive on the doorsteps of the thrift stores this charitable organization operates. As volunteers sort through dozens of large black plastic bags, they occasionally are surprised. Such was the case recently at the Lynnwood facility when one such bag contained a prosthetic left leg bearing a woman’s shoe.
Volunteers discussed what to do with the donation and considered placing it with other costume items for Halloween.
However, as past experiences have shown, the Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways.
That same day, a man on crutches came into the Lynnwood store and asked if they ever had prosthetic legs.
“We had never heard that question in eight years, “Kehoe said.
As it turned out, the man needed a left leg. The donated leg was created for exactly the portion of leg he was missing and it was the right height.
Clerks put a man’s shoe and sock on the donated leg. Their customer tried it on.
Decent fit.
He strapped it into place and walked out of the store on two legs.
“It’s a remarkable story,” Kehoe said, but not the first time there was a customer with an unusual need that one of the thrift stores was able to meet. “At first I was surprised…and I’m still amazed when these things happen but they happen too often not to be divine intervention.”
Still, it is through the caring hearts, hands and donations of people supporting St. Vincent’s and other charitable organizations that so many needy folks in our community receive help.
Calls to the county’s 211 help line requesting assistance are increasing each day. Referrals go out to Volunteers of America, American Red Cross, St. Vincent de Paul, all working in the front lines trenches of the war on poverty.
The Boeing strike, job layoffs, home-loan foreclosures, rising costs of food and fuel all contribute to an ever-growing need.
Many of the folks are the “new poor” — people who’ve always had a job, paid their bills and never had to ask for help — Kehoe said. They don’t even know how or where to begin to find what resources are available to their families.
“When they come in here,” he said, “they’re afraid. We try to get them some help.”
“Try” here is the key word. Unlike the federal government, these helping agencies can’t just call up the U.S. Mint and make more money whenever they run out. They can’t operate without support from those of us who still have enough to share.
Even a small donation can be part of a greater miracle.
Linda Bryant Smith writes about life as a senior citizen and the issues that concern, annoy and often irritate the heck out of her now that she lives in a world where nothing is ever truly fixed but her income. You can e-mail her at ljbryantsmith@yahoo.com.
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