If we don’t quit, we’ll reach the finish line. If we don’t quit, no matter the struggle, we’ll succeed. If we don’t quit, we’ll know when it’s over we left everything on the table. If we don’t quit we may surprise a lot of people, but not our self. Don’t quit. Don’t quit. Fight on. The following short YouTube video will inspire you to press on no matter how great the challenge you face today.
Lesson By Karma
Joey walked up and down the aisles of the 9th Ave Goodwill store. So many choices, he was a kid in a candy shop. The twelve patrons and eight workers in Goodwill considered him armed and dangerous and hid behind a counter. The manager went online and was checking Crime Stoppers. Joey stopped at a bin containing men’s boxers. He held a pair of boxers with palm tree designs against his waist, too big. He grabbed a pair of boxers with little poodles and held it against his waist, too small. And, just like Goldilocks, he held a pair of boxers with guppies and angelfish against his waist, and it was just right.
Farlo came up behind him, “You’re taking too much time, here’s your pants and shirt. Go into the restroom and change.”
“I don’t want to wear pink sweatpants and a hoodie with a toy poodle on front with a pink ribbon tied around its neck.
“Suck it up, kid. You’re showing your support to fight breast cancer. Think of other people besides yourself.”
“Who, for instance,” said Joey.
“Me, for instance. I don’t want to babysit you when I could be out with Nicole or my other girlfriend. Now move it. Harry J’s life is in danger and you’re worried about getting a call to appear on the cover of Men’s Magazine. You got another ten pounds to lose and muscle to build. Until then, leave the fantasy alone.”
“You won’t let up, will you?”
“No. Now hop to it before my size 12 finds a resting place,” snarled Farlo.
An hour later, Farlo, Tina, and Joey were outside the physician’s parking garage at University Hospital.
“People are staring at me. They think I’m a cross dresser,” complained Joey.
“Kid, you got to learn not to worry about what other people think,” Farlo snapped. Then he said, “You got any more complaints, take it to the complaint department. Right now, we’re going in and going to requisition a quality ride.”
“Just like that?” said Joey.
“Just like that,” answered Farlo as he ducked under the gate and was inside the parking garage. Tina followed, but did not have to duck under the gate. Joey hollered, I’ll wait outside and make sure the coast is clear.”
From inside the parking garage, “One more word, and Tina’s going to have a piece of rump steak, raw.”
“Okay, I’m coming.”
Farlo, Tina, and Joey walked up two flights of stairs. Farlo took them two at a time. Tina took them three at a time. Joey held onto the railing and took them one at a time.
“We almost there?” panted Joey as he neared the second-floor landing.
Farlo and Tina waited for him. “You’re an anchor, kid. You’re still out of shape.”
“True, but I’m getting better,” said Joey.
Farlo opened the door to the second level, he turned to his right and began walking down the rows of BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes, and an occasional Porsche,
“What are you looking for? They all look nice,” said Joey.
Farlo kept walking, Tina kept walking next to Farlo, and Joey trailed. Farlo stopped behind a new BMW, “This is the one I want.”
“Why did you choose this one?” asked Joey.
Farlo pointed to the vanity plate on the rear bumper of the BMW, DrBigBucks.
“Something wrong with that?” asked Joey.
“You ever deal with medical profession? They’re all about money, money, money. I’ll bet this jackass doesn’t do Medicare and only takes cash or gold standard insurance. Karma’s going teach Dr. Big Bucks a lesson.” Farlo reached into his pocket, pulled out a small black case, set it against the BMW’s door, tapped three times on the case’s screen, and the door unlocked. No alarm. Tina jumped in and went the backseat. Farlo slid in. Joey opened the passenger door and slid in.
“It still smells new,” said Joey.
Farlo didn’t answer.
Farlo placed the small black case against the starter button and tapped five different keys. The BMW came to life.”
“Where’d you buy that?” asked Joey.
Farlo turned to him, “At Amazon. I got it last year for $39.95 on Black Friday.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Right. Buckle up, kid.”
Where’s Harry J? Will they rescue him? Who’s Filo?
10 Tips To Make The World Better
Let’s make the world better today.
- Plant a tree seedling.
- See a piece of trash on your walk? Pick it up and put it in a trash can.
- Smile at everyone you meet.
- Pay for the coffee for the person behind you in line at Starbucks.
- Toss stale bread out to the birds.
- Surprise an old friend with a “thank you for (fill in the blank) email.
- Invite a neighbor, colleague, friend out for coffee or lunch.
- Post an inspirational photo or quote on your favorite social media.
- Hold the door open for the person behind you.
- Send an video message to a parent, child, friend and tell them to have a great day.
The following short YouTube video will inspire you to do even more. Making the world better doesn’t cost much, a bit of time, a coffee, and a loving heart. Let’s do it!
Where’s My Bagel?
Farlo, Tina, and Joey are walking down 3rd Avenue. It’s 3:30 a.m. Joey’s still dressed in his hospital gown. Joey glances at Farlo, “Where’s your cane? Where’s your limp? This whole thing is fake, isn’t it?”
Farlo kept walking. Tina kept walking next to Farlo. Joey stood still. “Hey, I’m talking to you, Farlo or whatever your name is. I’m not going anywhere until you answer my questions.” Joey folded his arms and stood in the middle of the sidewalk. His mind set. His eyes staring at the back of the receding Farlo.
Farlo kept walking. Tina kept walking next to Farlo. Joey kept staring. A gust of wind rising from the river caught Joey’s hospital gown and billowed out. At that moment, the El Huevos drove by and pulled alongside Joey. The passenger side window rolled down, “Hey man, you belong over on 8th ave.”
“The rear, passenger side window rolled down, “Nah, you don’t belong on 8th ave. You escape from the nut house? I bet there’s a reward for you.”
The passenger in the front seat said, “No reward, let’s turn him over to Sanchez, he’ll turn him into a mule and we get a cut of the drugs he brings across the border.” Laughter from inside the car.
Joey’s heart rate now at 120 and rising. Joey looked at the two gang members on the passenger side, and said, “I don’t speak Spanish.”
A voice from inside the car, “We’re not serious, man. We don’t speak Spanish either. We just use Spanish names because of the innate bias fools like you have against people of color.”
“You’re, you’re not the El Huevos? Stammered Joey.
“El Huevos? What fool gang would use a name means the eggs? What would make you think that? Another bias. No wonder Farlo abandoned you. We told him he’s wasting his time with you,” the voice from inside the car.
“You, you have a sign on the side of your car, it says, El Huevo’s Rule. You, you know Farlo?”
Another voice from inside the car, “Farlo’s the man.”
A bellowing command, sounding like the voice of thunder filled 3rd Ave. Get your sorry butt down here, double time or I’m going to hit you so hard on the top of your head you’ll be licking your toenails.” A loud bark followed the command.
From the passenger side window. “You are in big trouble, man. We got to split. We have midterms at the university today. By the way, what you’re wearing is not a good look.”
Joey took off down 3rd Ave at a full sprint. His hospital gown flowing making him look like a giant stingray on land. When he reached the corner of 3rd and Fagen, he saw Farlo halfway down Fagen, standing in front of a coffee and bagel food truck near the subway entrance, Tina sitting beside him. Farlo was eating a bagel he held in his right hand, in his left hand, he held a steaming cup of coffee. Tina was drinking from a bowl of milk. She already scoffed five pieces of bacon.
Joey reached Farlo. Joey was out of breath, panting, sweat rolling down his face, “I’ll give you a pass this time on my questions. Where’s my bagel and coffee?”
“You missed breakfast, kid.” He turned to the cute twenty-five-year-old, red headed woman in the bagel and coffee food truck, “Can’t make it tonight, Nicole. I’m babysitting if you know what I mean?” Farlo nodding toward Joey.
“Know what you mean, Farlo. Maybe Saturday?” Nicole winked. Tina barked.
“You know her?” asked Joey incredulously.
“We’re off and on. Filo introduced us. I got somebody else now.”
“Huh? Who’s Filo? Who is the somebody else?”
Where’s Harry J? Who’s Filo?
She’s A Therapy Dog
Pablo backs the stolen ambulance to the rear entrance of the Patiently Insane Home. El Hombre steps out of the ambulance, reaches around his back with his left hand, feels his gun tucked between his pants and back. The heft of the gun give El Hombre a secure feeling, the same way a baby feels when you give it its pacifier.
Farlo’s watching El Hombre and thinks, too bad he wasn’t breast fed or given a pacifier when he was a baby, it’s why he’s all screwed up. Breast feed all babies and give them a pacifier when they cry and they won’t want to play with guns when they grow up.
Joey’s sitting up on the stretcher. He looks at Farlo deep in thought, “What are you thinking?”
Farlo looks over, “I bet you were breast fed.”
“How’d you know?”
“I know. And, every time you cried, your mom gave you a pacifier.”
“How’d you know?”
“You’re afraid of guns.”
“So?”
“Change of plans, kid. I told Pablo to bring a wheelchair. You’re going to sit in it and pretend your loco. It won’t be hard. Act natural,” said Farlo just as the back doors to ambulance swung open.
Pablo stood behind a wheel chair. El Hombre had his gun in his hand and was practicing a fast draw, western style.
Farlo looked at El Hombre, jumped off the back edge of the ambulance and walked over to El Hombre, “Try that fast draw one more time, I can outdraw you any day of the week and twice on Lunes, Martes, Miercoles, Viernes, and Sabado. I rest on Domingo.”
“You think you’re hot shit, Farlo. Where’s your gun?”
“It’s hidden. I can still reach it, and drop you before you can get a shot off. If you’re not man enough, put the gun away and get busy,” demanded Farlo.
“Nobody says I’m chicken. On the count of three draw. I’m going to be the bad dude that put Farlo down. One … Owe, oooh, aaah, stop, stop,” begged El Hombre. “You cheated man, you didn’t wait until I said three.”
“Tough. I’m keeping your gun. You mess this up tonight, I’m going to fix you so you can never be a father,” growled Farlo.
“Please man. I’m sorry. Keep the gun. I don’t want it.”
“Get your sorry butt off the ground and help Pablo bring Joey to the entrance door.”
Farlo, Pablo, and El Hombre stood by the door. Tina stood next to Farlo. Farlo looked down the side of the building and saw scattered boxes. Rats were scurry in and out of the boxes carrying food refuse back to their rat’s nest. He motioned El Hombre and Pablo out of the way, pulled the gun out of his scrub’s waist band and fired five shots, one after the other. Five rats flipped up, over and landed still.
“That’s some shooting, man,” said El Hombre.
“That’s what I do to four legged and two legged rats, comprehende,” snarled Farlo.
“I’m cool.”
“Press the button. I don’t have all night,” said Farlo. Tina barked.
Joey got out of his wheelchair and pressed the button. Two minutes went by, nobody came. Farlo took out the gun and fired two shots into the lock. He turned to Pablo, “Wait 15 minutes then take off.” He got behind Joey, pushed him in, and entered a long, dismal corridor, barely lit with fifty watt bulbs. Cobwebs hung from anything that could anchor a cobweb.
Joey whispered, “A security guard is coming our way.”
“So?” said Farlo.
“What do I do?”
“Multiple choice: sing a song, go to sleep, let me whack you aside the head, or all the above.”
“I choose option B.”
The guard, about Farlo’s height, but paunchy, and wearing a ball cap that said security held up his hand, “Where are you going? You can’t have a dog in here.”
“This idiot tried to escape. I caught him just in time. I’m taking him back to his room. Tina is a therapy dog,” said Farlo in a low, gruff, no nonsense voice.
“I’ve never seen you around here. I never seen a dog around here either,” said the guard.
“I’ve never seen you around here, you new?” asked Farlo.
“Not me.”
“Me neither. Now get out of my way before I run your ass over. Or, sic Tina on you,” growled Farlo. T
“Hey, take it easy. I’m only doing my job,” said the guard holding his hands up in surrender.
Farlo said, “I got to take care of Harry J next. What room is he in?”
“He was in room ten. They moved him today to room fifteen. Then twenty minutes ago they carried him out in a body bag.”
“He died?” said Farlo.
“No. They put him a body bag so he wouldn’t scream or try to escape. He’s a crazy one. He keeps talking about some nut job rescuing him,” said the guard.
“Where’d they take him? He has my watch,” said Joey.
“You the nut job?” asked the guard.
“Un huh,” said Joey.
The security guard looked at Farlo, “They took Harry J to the Last Stop Assisted Care Facility. It’s over by the Heavenly Haven Cemetery.”
“See you later” said Farlo.
“Where you going?” said the guard.
“I promised this nut job, he could see Harry J tonight. I never go back on a promise. You got a problem with that?” said Farlo. Tina showed her fangs.
“Not me. I never seen yah. Bye.”
Just as Farlo, Tina, and Joey cleared the door where the ambulance was supposed to be waiting, they saw it heading down the driveway.
“What about my clothes?” asked Joey.
“Turn your hospital gown into a fashion statement. We got to heist a car.”
“Huh?” said Joey.
Will they ever rescue Harry J? Why was Harry J carried out in a body bag? Who’s Farlo?
Hold On – Your Dream is Within Reach
When we chase our dreams, the entire journey is important. But, the critical moment often comes when we are closest to our goal. In the famous Boston Marathon, there is a hill, known as Heartbreak Hill not far from the finish line. It is on this hill that the race is often won and lost. When discouragement hits us in the pursuit of our dream, we may be closer than we imagined. Hold on. Don’t give up. Press forward.
I Know What I’m Doing & You Don’t
Three-thirty in the morning. Farlo, Tina, and Joey sat in the back of an ambulance. Pablo sat in the driver’s seat dressed as a paramedic. Pablo’s friend, El Hombre, also dressed as a paramedic sat in the passenger seat. El Hombre is a bit of a TV personality since locally he’s appeared on more Crime Stopper news feeds asking for information as to his location. And, warning citizens to consider El Hombre armed and dangerous.
Farlo barked through the window separating the driver from the rear of the ambulance, “Where’d you get the ambulance on such short notice?”
“We heisted it from an accident El Hombre staged. I tell you Farlo, you would have been proud, bing, bang, boom, it went down like clockwork, man,” bragged Pablo.
“Yah, but there’s one glitch, which I was not happy about, but Pablo made me promise no rough stuff,” said El Hombre.
“What was it?” asked Joey.
“I wanted to cap the ambulance drivers so they wouldn’t recognize me. But I promised Pablo, no shooting, knifing, strangling, or using a metal pipe against an unprotected body part if I wasn’t attacked first. That’s wrong, man. I tell you, you got to take them out before they think of taking you out. It’s that kind of thinking that’s made me a success,” said El Hombre.
“If I didn’t need the ambulance, I’d take you outside and let you have a go at me, you’re lower than a piece of whale crap and that’s at the bottom of the ocean. You need to straighten out before somebody carries you out and dumps you in the river,” growled Farlo.
Pablo said something in Spanish to El Hombre before El Hombre could jump out and take on Farlo.
El Hombre said, “Hey man, I apologize. Three things. One, I didn’t know you was Filo’s top gun. Second, I didn’t know you is the Farlo who the street legend. And three, I didn’t know you was the man who took out El Jefe and six of his lieutenants. No hard feelings, okay.”
Farlo stuck his head in the window section and glared at El Hombre, “I see your kisser on Crime Stoppers one more time, I’m putting you at the top of my eraser list.”
“No can do. I’m a celebrity. I gotta be on Crime Stoppers,” said El Hombre.
Farlo answered, “You’re making me believe in reincarnation because nobody can be that stupid in one lifetime.”
Pablo turned toward the window, fist bumped Farlo, then said, “I’m going to turn on the lights and we’ll go in. I remember the script. Tell the intern to keep his eyes closed and play like he’s shot up with drugs.”
“This is stupid. I don’t want to wear a hospital gown. It’s open in front,” whined Joey.
“Get your head in the game, kid. You got it on backwards. Don’t worry, no one will be interested in your sorry looking ass. Act normal, like you’re in a daze and don’t know what you’re doing. It comes natural to you,” snarled Farlo.
“There you go with your negativity. Once, just once, I’d like a little praise,” said Joey.
“You want praise? Is that what you want? I’ll take you to Santa at the department store over Christmas. Now lay on your back, legs straight. Arms by your side. Eyes are closed. Let a little drool spill out of the corner of your mouth.”
“Why couldn’t I be the attending physician and you be the patient?” asked Joey.
“Because I know what I’m doing and you don’t,” said Farlo.
“Good point,” said Joey.
Pablo started the flashing lights, put on the siren, and drove up to the guardhouse at the entrance to the Patiently Insane Home. He stopped at the guardhouse, lowered his window, and hollered to the guard who was watching a rerun of a football game, “I got another one, let me through. I don’t want him to die on me. Too much paperwork.”
The guard watched the next play. He turned his head toward Pablo, saw Pablo’s uniform, which he took off one of the paramedics, and said, “Take him around back. I’ll phone ahead.”
“Thanks, man,” said Pablo and he drove on the grounds.
Pablo half turned toward the window, “Farlo, I can only give you fifteen minutes tops. I figure an APB will be out on this vehicle by then. We’ll have to ditch it and heist another ride.”
“If we don’t show up in fifteen minutes consider us dead and beat it,” said Farlo.
“What was that?” said Joey who was supposed to be impersonating a person who is heavily sedated.
“Play your role, Kid. It’s go time,” said Farlo as the ambulance pulled up to the emergency room entrance.
Will Farlo, Tina, and Joey rescue Harry J? Will they make it back to the ambulance in 15 minutes? Who’s Filo?
The Power of A Simple Act of Kindness
It’s simple the way life works. The more we love, the greater we are loved in returned. The more we give of ourselves, the more we receive in many different forms. When we touch another person with a simple act of kindness without expectation of return, our act of kindness ripples far out beyond the person we touched. The following short film beautifully illustrates the power of a simple act of kindness.
I Didn’t Ask For a Travel Brochure
Farlo, Tina, and Joey sat at a multi-tiled outside cafe table, behind a black wrought iron fence bordering Taco Heaven from passing pedestrian traffic. A skinny pole with the number 12 rose from the middle of the table and held an open umbrella. Farlo sipped from his iced tea. Tina, who wanted to sit at the table, was relegated to the cement under the table lapped water from a Styrofoam bowl. Joey stared at his corrugated cardboard box of kale, beets, spinach, edamame, cubes of butternut squash, and a small piece of broiled chicken. He sipped on a bottle of purified water at Taco Heaven.
Joey looked at Farlo, “I’m not eating this stuff. Who eats this stuff anyway?”
Farlo ignored him and flirted with a thirtyish tall woman, dressed in a business skirt and matching jacket who was talking on the phone. She winked at him and mouthed, “What’s your cell number?”
Joey said, “How’d you do that?”
The flirting scene was interrupted by a lanky, tattooed, male of Mexican descent who brought Farlo and Tina’s order to the table. He saw Farlo and said, “Hey man, what you doing here? I’m clean.”
Farlo looked up and said, “When did you get out, Pablo? Last I heard you were doing ten to twenty for armed robbery.”
“Man, the DA got it all wrong. I was using my finger which I had stuck in my coat. My public defender got my conviction tossed out after I spent six months in state.”
“I heard you had a gun in the back of your pants,” said Farlo.
“That’s beside the point. I wasn’t going to use it unless somebody who wasn’t supposed to show up showed up, you know what I mean. I know the legal intricacies of B & E. I’m thinking of becoming a lawyer if my public defender can get my record expunged.”
“You got a rap sheet longer than I-10, Pablo. Your P D has a lot a work,” said Farlo.
“That’s true, but most of it was before I was sixteen. Can I use you for a reference?” said Pablo.
Farlo took a long sip of his iced tea. He saw Pablo stare at Joey then at Joey’s corrugated box of veggies. “Don’t mind him, he’s in orientation. He’s still detoxing.”
“I feel sorry for you, man. Farlo’s a hard dude. I know.”
“Tell me about it,” said Joey.
“I don’t have time, I got other customers. Well, Farlo, you gonna be a reference?”
“I tell you what, I’ll be a great reference if you’ll give me great information on a little project I have in mind,” said Farlo.
“What’s the game?” asked Pablo.
“I want to break into the Patiently Insane Home on the west side,” said Farlo. His voice sounded like a freight train rumbling down the tracks.
“Man, that’s a tough place. They got security 24/7. They got guard dogs. They got cameras. The top of the wall around the place is covered with razor wire,” said Pablo.
“I didn’t ask you for a travel brochure. And, I’m not booking a vacation to Wichita. How do I get in?”
Pablo placed his right hand under his chin. He cupped his right elbow with his left hand. He tilted his head a bit to the left, and made believe he was thinking.
“Don’t try to bullshit me, Pablo. If you do, I’m going to grind your sorry ass into hamburger and feed it to the dogs,” snapped Farlo.
“Okay, okay I had to fake it a little in case somebody close by wants a favor. You know how negotiations go. Me and Taco broke in last month. Taco wanted the drugs. Me, I don’t do drugs, but I needed a wheel man. Me, I planned on going through the residents’ rooms and stealing the purses, wallets, jewelry and stuff.”
“I don’t want your autobiography. I want to get in, comprehende?
“Man, you are touchy. This guy with the salad a tough case? You want me to sic some of the gang on him?”
Joey looked up, “Hey, I’m eating my salad. I won’t complain anymore.”
Pablo bent low over the table. He motioned Farlo and Joey closer to him. He said, “Listen up. This is my plan. It works.”
Pablo explained the plan and left with Farlo’s promise of a great letter of recommendation.
Joey said, “I’m not going, we’ll get killed. Pablo’s nuts.”
Farlo said, “Pablo’s certifiable, we’ll probably get killed. We’re going tomorrow night.
What’s Pablo’s plan? Will they rescue Harry J? Who’s Filo?
See, Reflect, Decide
If you’re like me, you may make snap judgments. Sometimes, my judgments are right on target. More often than not, I wished I waited to learn more. I needed to hear the other person’s story. I needed, for a moment, to place myself in his or her shoes. It’s a humbling experience for me to know I was wrong. The following short video gives insights into the different possibilities that you or I might have with our first judgment. Enjoy
<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/17970306″>Two Men</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/dominicallen”>Dominic Allen</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
