Welcome to the Conspiracy Cafe

I remember a happy time and a happy trip into the interior regions of Mexico. I was shocked to see the level of poverty that existed there. I remember the site and smell of trash piled up for miles. I remember the heat and humidity and how everyone smelled yet smiled profusely. I remember the pristine beauty of rainforests with mayan ruins visible in the distance and how it seemed we had stepped back in time on a grand adventure. At a rest station on the warmer side of the Sierra Madres very distracted by the many colored birds in the canopy above us. I was charged a few pesos to use the restroom and was tickled to be handed one small section of toilet paper that came from a single dispenser hung on the outside of the facilities. Today, our Southern states resemble interior Mexico.

As I sit at my local Starbucks several years later; reveling at the advantages of WiFi and yet another hurricane evacuee wanders in. Disheveled, sleepless, hungry and of dire need of a shower. I smile profusely offer up my laptop and WiFi Connection so they can conduct whatever business they need. Even through thier apologies and embarrassment for their condition I smile. We used to think we were all only two paychecks away from poverty. Now it can be only a matter of a few minutes.

Living just NW of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area we have now had millions of evacuees travel through, some stay and some move on or just trying to go back home. I smile at the sight of a mini-van heading South with four small gas cans strapped to the roof. Thinking to myself 'that might get you home but what then?'.

Myself having weathered a divorce, ensuing custody battle of our three boys, three years wrangling over a ranch, various business ventures going bust, trusted friends turning into thieves and finally admitting defeat, moving on. Spending months on various couches and even a year later still having difficulty renting something suitable for my children and I. I know what millions of evacuees are going through and will continue to go through for a long time.

I remember last winter taking a job cleaning horse stalls for some paltry sum which would never compensate for the aches and pains I incurred doing the job. I also remember them forgetting to pay me. I remember my gas tank being on empty, my two older boys needing lunch money for school and me and my three year old choking down yet another volley of peanut butter sandwiches. A larger outfit of cowboys in the barn next to me always set a lunch at their ranch house. I remember letting the office gal know that I had not gotten paid and times were very tough and I was two or three days from having to take assistance from various local groups just to get some food on our table and how helpful it would be to have a nice meal. It took alot of pride swallowing to do this as I'm used to a six figure salary. I remember the smile and her saying how awful it was. She then turned her back on me and left without inviting us to lunch. I remember the Cowboys at the afternoon practice bragging on how great lunch was that day. I remember my stomach turning and that sinking feeling and never in my entire life had I felt this feeling of being on the outside and looking in. I don't think the Cowboy's ever knew as it was my experience that they were the most unselfish and giving people in the world. We were asked to leave the facility a few days later by the owners. My job was given to someone from our Southern neighbor.

Months later no worse for the wear having landed a wonderful job on a multi-million dollar horse facility with a three million dollar cedar lodge serving as our base. Being able to set a table at noon everyday for anyone that came. I was sure to invite the office gal to please stop by anytime for no reason at all and share our table.

So as I ramble on in this blog there is a meaning here.

The word 'Hypocrisy' does not exist in the word 'Christian'. There is also something about being judgemental of others lest thee be judged yourself.

If it can happen to me and to millions of evacuees it can happen to you. They are predicting at least one more monster hurricane this October. This will mean more evacuees, loss of life and property. As we move into the holiday season there will be many people just celebrating that they survived. Thankful for just what they have. Be sensitive to those around you. The hardest of times are yet to come.

And don't call and invite me to lunch or anything like that my pride will be get the best of me; I promise.

The Cowboy's that I rode with at that facility are in my thoughts almost daily and I do miss them horribly as with the saddle time that we all put in together we grew together and ultimately everyone went down their own trail. It was a magical time in the snow, sleet, rain and mud and I will never forget them.