Sunday, January 4, 2009

A Veteran's Family In Crisis Receives Help... Texas Style

In our early years of marriage and then children, Mr. Snoots was never quite into Christmas. He detested all the shopping and all the work, which all made him very cranky indeed. Somehow, over the years, this man has truly softened and begun to enjoy it. He actually got irritated with me this year for not letting him help, but that was just the beginning.

Mr. Snoots moderates several forums on a local community website and was privy to the knowledge that a local veteran and his family had been badly treated and ultimately evicted by a local slumlord. They had no heat when the temperatures were dipping to negative digits so they refused to pay rent until it was fixed. Of course, that's when the slumlord chose to evict them. The veteran Dad is a hard worker and has a job, as does the Mom, but they had just fallen on hard times, right at Christmastime, with several small children. People on the forums began to rally in order to help this family and Mr. Snoots was on the front lines.

There was one local man (a veteran and a cancer survivor) who would go to their house every morning and pick up the children and their mother, drive them to their school, then drive the mother back home. He would repeat the process at the end of the school day. There were others who rallied to give them a good Christmas, with gifts in abundance.

There was yet another local man who gave them $4,000.00 in cash so they could find a place to live, affording first and last month's rent, and then some. People just seemed to open their hearts and wallets for this precious family.

Mr. Snoots came home so excited and discussed with me whether we should give his Dad's old Cadillac to this family because they clearly needed transportation. Now, you must understand how very much this car means to him. He has held onto this car since his father died from cancer in 1998. He loved his dad's old car and poured tons of money into it over the years, in order to keep it running. I told him I was all for the donation but that, the decision was surely his since I'd wanted to get rid of it years ago. (Forget the fact I am crying as I write this and can barely see my keyboard.)

This was truly the most wonderful sacrifice this man could have made and he felt so good for doing it. While I was taking SD to the airport yesterday, he was able to meet up with the whole group that organized help for the family, to give the family the car. He said they all just broke into tears and he almost cried as he described the scene for me. Believe me, he is not the type to weep easily or openly. The last time he cried was when they pulled Baby Jessica from the well, okay? We had been glued to the TV for the entire extraction ordeal.

He claims there were many others who did so much more for this family than he, but they have no idea the sacrifice that came from this man's huge heart. This whole outpouring of love and concern made me feel so much better about people, about our small city, about Americans, and about my dear Mr. Snoots. There is a Santa Claus after all. There are many of them out there in the world.

It is imperative that we help the veterans who have fought for this country. I find it disgusting that the government has failed so many of our veterans, in so many ways. It is certainly time for that to be changed.

20 comments:

Roan said...

Okay, now I'm crying so hard I can hardly see the keyboard. Your Mr. Snooty is a gem!

Anonymous said...

That is the sweetest story, Snooty! Mr. Snooty has a heart of solid gold!

Thanks for making my morning!

I Am Woody said...

What a wonderful story! Hopefully the slumlord will get whats coming to him as well!

brneyedgal967 said...

Awwwww - give Mr. Snooty a hug for me. That was enormously generous of him and I'm sure he'll have a smile on his face whenever he thinks of his dad's car and knowing that a deserving family has it.

Mental P Mama said...

Very, very sweet. And you're right. It is a sin how many of our Vets are treated.

Treasia Stepp said...

Snooty you give Mr. Snoots a big ole hug and kiss from me please. He has a heart of gold, as if you needed the reminder of this. Think of all the new places the Cadillac will be seeing and what it will be hearing with kids inside it?

Heather Kerrigan said...

My dad has a similar affinity for old Volvos, so I can understand the significance of Mr. Snoot's gift. I know you already know this, but he really is a "keeper!"

Amen to supporting our vets long after they have left the battle field.

imbeingheldhostage said...

I love Mr Snooty. Please hug him and give him a slobbery wet kiss on his cheek from us.
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story!!

Rick said...

Hello Snooty, Please forgive my boldness, but I am doing just a bit of blog surfing to tell people about my giveaway. There are no gimmicks. It is just my way of celebrating two yeas of blogging. I am giving away a free caricature drawn by me. I'd be honored if you came over to take a peek.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful man you have there!

YAY Mr Snoots!!

PEACE
#2

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story and a giving thing of Mr. Snoots to do.

This story wills tay with me for such a long time! If we all opened up our hearts and did the right thing, this world would be a much better place for it.

Loved this...

and you both..

Marlene

scotte said...

That is too cool for school. I am glad that I am not the only old softy out there. Sounds like you picked ( or developed) a winner. Cept now there is room for a Vette!

Anonymous said...

OMG that is so wonderful. What a wonderful thing for him to do. He is the one who will get the most joy from it. I am so proud to invisibly know him.

Anonymous said...

and THAT my friends is what Christmas is all about!

Staci said...

God Bless Mr. Snoots!

(and next time, please give a "need-a-tissue" warning so I can be prepared for such a story)

QueenofPlanetHotflash said...

I read this story to my hubby who is also a vet, he said that was a very selfless thing Mr.Snooty did and to tell him thank-you for being so generous and kind hearted in a time when such a thing has almost vanished.
Whatta guy you have there Ms. Snooty you have every right to be extremely proud of him. :o)

The wife said...

Such a sweet story!

The wife said...

Such a sweet story!

Pleasing Procrasinator said...

What a wonderful man Mr. Snooty is to give something so precious and dear to him.
I love to hear stories like this, they make me realize that there is some Good out there.
Thanks for sharing - Yay for Mr. Snooty!!!

abb said...

What a keeper that Mr. Snoots is! He is obviously a wonderful man with a HUGE heart. Isn't it nice you two found each other all those years ago.?

 

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