Thursday, March 26, 2009
Bad call by me
Turns out this was a bad idea by me. Shortly after posting my first blog about Oakland I continued to search for who might be my next "blog post". Not what I initially intended. So, rather then seek out relationships with people to blog about them I think it would be best to discontinue this theme. Plus, if someone is genuinely interested in the details about someone they'll come find out first hand.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oakland
My first "lifestory" that I am going to blog about is about a man I will refer to as, "Oakland". As you will discover, the name I give him has a little bit to do with his story.
Oakland is a black man in his early fifties. He's rough. He's honest. He's funny. He's intimidating. He's an alcoholic. He played college football at Langston. He was drafted by the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Upon being drafted he was visited by Fred Biletnikoff, a former Raiders player, and given a large sum of money (Oakland claims it was $25,000). Once he flew out to California he partied, drank and wasted his money away. He never reported to training camp. Oakland is homeless and he's always late to sign in at Cross and Crown for food.
A couple of years ago I got into it with Oakland at the front door when I told him he was too late to get food for the day. I repetitively attempted to explain to him how it would be unfair for me to allow him to get food at 1:00 in the afternoon when 50 other people had been waiting in line at 9:00 in the morning to sign up for food and another 3-5 people arrived at 9:15 or so only to find out they were too late. So, how did he see it fit for him to get food and not all those other people that had been waiting several hours before him in the cold? It didn't matter. He was determined to get food that day (shoot, if i was in his position I probably wouldn't take no for an answer either). After several minutes of failing to get my point across Oakland and I came to an agreement and worked out a plan.
Ever since this instance Oakland and I have been on good terms. Nowadays any day Oakland comes we talk basketball. Oakland is a big Celtics fan (go figure, in all honesty though he was fan well before KG, Ray and Pierce). He is a Kobe hater, so I'm in good company. He always asks me about my basketball playing and how my games have been going. He tells me I look like Jeff Hornacek ( http://www.nba.com/media/history/jazz_hornacek_240.jpg) . I promise him I don't play like him. He calls everyone at the mission his kinfolk and says we're the only family he's got.
That's Oaklands' story.
Oakland is a black man in his early fifties. He's rough. He's honest. He's funny. He's intimidating. He's an alcoholic. He played college football at Langston. He was drafted by the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Upon being drafted he was visited by Fred Biletnikoff, a former Raiders player, and given a large sum of money (Oakland claims it was $25,000). Once he flew out to California he partied, drank and wasted his money away. He never reported to training camp. Oakland is homeless and he's always late to sign in at Cross and Crown for food.
A couple of years ago I got into it with Oakland at the front door when I told him he was too late to get food for the day. I repetitively attempted to explain to him how it would be unfair for me to allow him to get food at 1:00 in the afternoon when 50 other people had been waiting in line at 9:00 in the morning to sign up for food and another 3-5 people arrived at 9:15 or so only to find out they were too late. So, how did he see it fit for him to get food and not all those other people that had been waiting several hours before him in the cold? It didn't matter. He was determined to get food that day (shoot, if i was in his position I probably wouldn't take no for an answer either). After several minutes of failing to get my point across Oakland and I came to an agreement and worked out a plan.
Ever since this instance Oakland and I have been on good terms. Nowadays any day Oakland comes we talk basketball. Oakland is a big Celtics fan (go figure, in all honesty though he was fan well before KG, Ray and Pierce). He is a Kobe hater, so I'm in good company. He always asks me about my basketball playing and how my games have been going. He tells me I look like Jeff Hornacek ( http://www.nba.com/media/history/jazz_hornacek_240.jpg) . I promise him I don't play like him. He calls everyone at the mission his kinfolk and says we're the only family he's got.
That's Oaklands' story.
Friday, February 6, 2009
same kind of difference as who?...you
I just recently finished the book, "Same Kind of Difference as Me". If you haven't read the book, you should. If you have read the book then you know that it is a story about two very different men who cross paths and form a very unlikely friendship. One man, white, comes from a rich heritage and had never experienced need, whereas the other man, black, comes from a poverty stricken past and has never gone a day without lacking. After having met at a nearby mission the two begin their journey. Through the course of time they discover a common ground, Christ, and the rest is history.
One of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, aspects of this true story that struck me was the fact that Denver, the black man, who lived on the streets and ate at the mission had so much to offer, so much untapped potential that was just bottled up and waiting for someone to ignite within him. Luckily, with the encouragement of his wife, Ron, the white man, decides to pursue Denver and befriend him, promising not to "catch-and-release" him.
As you continue to read, Denver and Ron become closer and closer and slowly but surely Ron's wife's prophetic words come true as Denver realizes his inner desire to know Christ and to follow Christ's call in his life. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the "rich, white guy with the easy life goes and saves the poor, confused black man". Towards the beginning of the book as Ron tries to shed some of his "knowledge" and do his "Christian thing" at the mission by feeding meals and basically "punching his good Samaritan card" we quickly discover Ron is in for some life-altering discoveries, as well.
This is the hope and desire that I, along with others, have at Cross and Crown and Rock Island. I can't imagine what it would be like if individuals, such as Ron, would intentionally (whether it was their idea initially or not) pour into and befriend, actually become friends with, specific individuals or youth that visit Cross and Crown and Rock Island. Just like Denver, there are so many "untapped" individuals that live on the streets and live a lonely, unengaged lifestyle that starves for friendship, family and relationship. As I am writing this I can think of 5 men, by name, that fit this exact description. I can only begin to imagine how different their lives would be if someone was willing to step in and give them the encouragement and friendship they desire and need.
I know. I know that for every Denver there are 100 others that don't work out or don't develop into the incredible story we envisioned. People disappoint. God doesn't. You just have to decide if that 1 out of 100 success ratio is worth the risk, worth your time, worth your effort. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. Maybe you think they have had their chance. That's between you and God.
Over the next several blogs that I write I am going to do my best to highlight some individuals and their stories and/or backgrounds. Given my blogging history this could mean a couple weeks or a couple months. Maybe through some of these life stories and real facts about real people your heart or interest might be sparked and lead to come down and see if you can't meet and befriend your "Denver".
One of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, aspects of this true story that struck me was the fact that Denver, the black man, who lived on the streets and ate at the mission had so much to offer, so much untapped potential that was just bottled up and waiting for someone to ignite within him. Luckily, with the encouragement of his wife, Ron, the white man, decides to pursue Denver and befriend him, promising not to "catch-and-release" him.
As you continue to read, Denver and Ron become closer and closer and slowly but surely Ron's wife's prophetic words come true as Denver realizes his inner desire to know Christ and to follow Christ's call in his life. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the "rich, white guy with the easy life goes and saves the poor, confused black man". Towards the beginning of the book as Ron tries to shed some of his "knowledge" and do his "Christian thing" at the mission by feeding meals and basically "punching his good Samaritan card" we quickly discover Ron is in for some life-altering discoveries, as well.
This is the hope and desire that I, along with others, have at Cross and Crown and Rock Island. I can't imagine what it would be like if individuals, such as Ron, would intentionally (whether it was their idea initially or not) pour into and befriend, actually become friends with, specific individuals or youth that visit Cross and Crown and Rock Island. Just like Denver, there are so many "untapped" individuals that live on the streets and live a lonely, unengaged lifestyle that starves for friendship, family and relationship. As I am writing this I can think of 5 men, by name, that fit this exact description. I can only begin to imagine how different their lives would be if someone was willing to step in and give them the encouragement and friendship they desire and need.
I know. I know that for every Denver there are 100 others that don't work out or don't develop into the incredible story we envisioned. People disappoint. God doesn't. You just have to decide if that 1 out of 100 success ratio is worth the risk, worth your time, worth your effort. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. Maybe you think they have had their chance. That's between you and God.
Over the next several blogs that I write I am going to do my best to highlight some individuals and their stories and/or backgrounds. Given my blogging history this could mean a couple weeks or a couple months. Maybe through some of these life stories and real facts about real people your heart or interest might be sparked and lead to come down and see if you can't meet and befriend your "Denver".
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Bible Study update
Every Bible Study at Rock Island is different. Like I wrote in a previous blog, the studies each seem to have a life of their own. Sometimes slow developing, often off course, but always successful. The only sure thing each Bible Study is that we will end in prayer. A few weeks ago Ron recorded the special on the news called, "Crystal Darkness". We watched it the following day at Bible Study and let the video determine the topic of conversation.
This particular study was smaller than usual. Generally there are 4-7 high schoolers there, this study had 3. Following the 30-35 minute video we opened it up for any general comments, questions or thoughts......nothing. No big surprise there, that's normal (especially with 3 kids). After a few seconds of no comments, questions or thoughts Ron, being the good man he is, took some initiative and talked about the realness of drugs, not just this drug, but of all drugs and the effects they have on both users and their families, friends and their sphere of influence. The kids were attentive, mostly nodding their heads in agreement, and one of them mentioned a life experience where they had a family member who used a certain drug and told how it made him feel, not too much talking, but some insight.
After this young man had shared a girl, the only in attendance that day, began to share about personal experience with drugs. She shared about her experimentation with all sorts of drugs and some of the effects it had both on her and her family. After a few minutes of sharing she began to cry when she had somewhat of a self-realization that she is still unsure of why she ever stopped using. She explained how she used mainly because her friends at the time were using, not knowing full well why she was and not having any real desire to use. As she continued to unfold her story and talk out loud her past actions, which seemed like the first time, she started to lose control. I believe that she was begining to question why she ever stopped. She considered herself lucky and explained how bad it made her feel, both then and now, in retrospect.
After a few more comments here and there by Ron and I we tried our best to wrap up the the discussion and ended it with a prayer.
During our most recent Bible Study, this past week, Ron and I decided that it was time to plug in to a specific book of the Bible. We choose Luke because, we agree, he does a good job with details and gives some stories about Jesus and his life that we think the youth would find interesting, which may then lead to questions.
So, we did just that. We began reading Luke and made it through chapter 2, I believe. We made it far enough to get to questions such as the following:
Why is so Jesus so important and why not Mary?
Why was Mary chosen to have Jesus and not Elizabeth?
Why was Jesus born of a virgin and it doesn't say whether John was or not?
Why are people singing? (good question)
Why are they circumcised?
as well as a few more.
One student volunteered to read and anytime one of the others had a question, wasn't sure about something we had read, or just wanted to make a general comment they would interrupt. Also, there were a few times that we would read over something and stop if no one had a question just to, more or less, recap. So, after we had finished reading and Ron and I did our best to address the questions and tried to get their input on their own questions, we decided to wrap things up with...you guessed it, a prayer. Regardless of what shape or form our Bible Study takes the young'ins know we will always pray.
This Wednesday we will tackle the next couple of chapters, 2-4, and see what happens.
This particular study was smaller than usual. Generally there are 4-7 high schoolers there, this study had 3. Following the 30-35 minute video we opened it up for any general comments, questions or thoughts......nothing. No big surprise there, that's normal (especially with 3 kids). After a few seconds of no comments, questions or thoughts Ron, being the good man he is, took some initiative and talked about the realness of drugs, not just this drug, but of all drugs and the effects they have on both users and their families, friends and their sphere of influence. The kids were attentive, mostly nodding their heads in agreement, and one of them mentioned a life experience where they had a family member who used a certain drug and told how it made him feel, not too much talking, but some insight.
After this young man had shared a girl, the only in attendance that day, began to share about personal experience with drugs. She shared about her experimentation with all sorts of drugs and some of the effects it had both on her and her family. After a few minutes of sharing she began to cry when she had somewhat of a self-realization that she is still unsure of why she ever stopped using. She explained how she used mainly because her friends at the time were using, not knowing full well why she was and not having any real desire to use. As she continued to unfold her story and talk out loud her past actions, which seemed like the first time, she started to lose control. I believe that she was begining to question why she ever stopped. She considered herself lucky and explained how bad it made her feel, both then and now, in retrospect.
After a few more comments here and there by Ron and I we tried our best to wrap up the the discussion and ended it with a prayer.
During our most recent Bible Study, this past week, Ron and I decided that it was time to plug in to a specific book of the Bible. We choose Luke because, we agree, he does a good job with details and gives some stories about Jesus and his life that we think the youth would find interesting, which may then lead to questions.
So, we did just that. We began reading Luke and made it through chapter 2, I believe. We made it far enough to get to questions such as the following:
Why is so Jesus so important and why not Mary?
Why was Mary chosen to have Jesus and not Elizabeth?
Why was Jesus born of a virgin and it doesn't say whether John was or not?
Why are people singing? (good question)
Why are they circumcised?
as well as a few more.
One student volunteered to read and anytime one of the others had a question, wasn't sure about something we had read, or just wanted to make a general comment they would interrupt. Also, there were a few times that we would read over something and stop if no one had a question just to, more or less, recap. So, after we had finished reading and Ron and I did our best to address the questions and tried to get their input on their own questions, we decided to wrap things up with...you guessed it, a prayer. Regardless of what shape or form our Bible Study takes the young'ins know we will always pray.
This Wednesday we will tackle the next couple of chapters, 2-4, and see what happens.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
pleasant Thanksgiving surprise
This past Monday, following Thanksgiving break, I was presented with a pleasing update. It has to do with one of the men that frequently comes to Cross and Crown throughout the week. Let's call him Manny. Manny lives on the streets, openly admits he has schizophrenia, and may come off somewhat rough or "scary". Overtime we have developed a very unexpected relationship with Manny. Initially Manny was very pushy, rude, cursed at us on a regular basis, and threatened both staff members and individuals coming to receive assistance at Cross and Crown. I may be wrong, but I believe Manny has been the only person we have ever had to call the police on because he wouldn't leave the premises and was harassing people exiting the building.
Without going into every facet to explain the exponential growth we have made with Manny, believe me when I say, we've come a long way in our relationship with Manny. Daily visits and often bi-daily conversations with Manny have allowed us to learn much more about Manny than we ever could have imagined. Here's a few quick facts about Manny: All-State Football 1975, MVP at Taft Stadium OKC Preview 1975, played college football at Arkansas Pine Bluff, his father was in the Air Force, and he writes down his conversational thoughts on note cards and hands them to you when he wants to speak with you. The reason I give these facts is because these are the one's, I believe, he considers most significant based on the fact that once or twice a month he writes them down and hands them to me. He has requested that we laminate them for him.
So here's the news. Never once in the years we have known Manny has he every said anything about his family other than his dad was in the Air Force and anytime I would ask about brothers or sisters, he wouldn't say much. Monday, while Ron and I were turning on the heaters in front of Cross and Crown, Manny approached me and requested to sign the food/clothing list for the day, like he usually does every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I handed him the list and began some small talk. He had something else in mind.
"I sure did have a great Thanksgiving Holiday" - Manny
"Oh yeah? Where did you go eat on Thanksgiving? Did you head up to City Rescue or 10th and Penn?" -Myself
"Nah, I went to Golden Corral." - Manny
"...Reeeally? You decided to splurge, huh. How was it?" - Myself
"Nah, my brother and sister came and picked me up and took me Wednesday to Golden Corral. Then on Thursday we ate up at my other sister's house in Jones." - Manny
Come to find out, Manny has seven sisters! He also has one brother. He told me a while back he had a sister because he asked me to call her once, but seven? I told Manny I was unaware that he kept in contact with his brother and sisters and he informed me that he didn't. They tracked him down from another agency and then just went looking for him in an area that he is generally hanging out near. I thought that was pretty cool. After eating at Golden Corral on Wednesday and his sisters house on Thursday they also took him to do a little shopping. He was happy to inform me of some new additions to his wardrobe, as well as, some new index cards. Overall Manny was pretty happy with how his Holiday went, and I was happy to hear that he enjoyed some time with his siblings and pleasantly surprised that they would put in the time and effort to track him down. I'm glad they did.
Without going into every facet to explain the exponential growth we have made with Manny, believe me when I say, we've come a long way in our relationship with Manny. Daily visits and often bi-daily conversations with Manny have allowed us to learn much more about Manny than we ever could have imagined. Here's a few quick facts about Manny: All-State Football 1975, MVP at Taft Stadium OKC Preview 1975, played college football at Arkansas Pine Bluff, his father was in the Air Force, and he writes down his conversational thoughts on note cards and hands them to you when he wants to speak with you. The reason I give these facts is because these are the one's, I believe, he considers most significant based on the fact that once or twice a month he writes them down and hands them to me. He has requested that we laminate them for him.
So here's the news. Never once in the years we have known Manny has he every said anything about his family other than his dad was in the Air Force and anytime I would ask about brothers or sisters, he wouldn't say much. Monday, while Ron and I were turning on the heaters in front of Cross and Crown, Manny approached me and requested to sign the food/clothing list for the day, like he usually does every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I handed him the list and began some small talk. He had something else in mind.
"I sure did have a great Thanksgiving Holiday" - Manny
"Oh yeah? Where did you go eat on Thanksgiving? Did you head up to City Rescue or 10th and Penn?" -Myself
"Nah, I went to Golden Corral." - Manny
"...Reeeally? You decided to splurge, huh. How was it?" - Myself
"Nah, my brother and sister came and picked me up and took me Wednesday to Golden Corral. Then on Thursday we ate up at my other sister's house in Jones." - Manny
Come to find out, Manny has seven sisters! He also has one brother. He told me a while back he had a sister because he asked me to call her once, but seven? I told Manny I was unaware that he kept in contact with his brother and sisters and he informed me that he didn't. They tracked him down from another agency and then just went looking for him in an area that he is generally hanging out near. I thought that was pretty cool. After eating at Golden Corral on Wednesday and his sisters house on Thursday they also took him to do a little shopping. He was happy to inform me of some new additions to his wardrobe, as well as, some new index cards. Overall Manny was pretty happy with how his Holiday went, and I was happy to hear that he enjoyed some time with his siblings and pleasantly surprised that they would put in the time and effort to track him down. I'm glad they did.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
not your typical Bible study
Over the last four weeks at Rock Island we have been doing a "Bible study" every Wednesday. Originally Ron and I had planned to do them on Sunday nights following the meal and worship at Cross and Crown. But, because there is so much activity and so many people we decided to move them to Wednesday afternoons and see what kind of turnout we could get. Also, another reason we changed the day of the Bible study was because one particular young person involved at Rock Island requested that because of her work schedule and class schedule we do the studies on Wednesdays so that she could attend. It's tough to argue against that.
Wednesday has become my favorite day during the week because of the Bible study. Over the years, after lots of trial and error, we have come up with a relatively successful "Bible study" format that fits our attendees at Rock Island. If you have been to Rock Island and have spent a substantial amount of time with the kids that come you would agree that, for the most part, there is not much Biblical knowledge or alot of spiritual foundation. Again, for the most part. Because of this our Bible studies may seem a little atypical.
Because most of our junior high students don't get out of school until 3:50 a large majority of the kids at Bible study are of high school age. During our studies we try not to overwhelm the kids with an enormous amount of scripture or pound them with the Bible by giving them "do's" and "dont's". A large amount of these kids aren't even completely sold on the whole God and Jesus thing, so why would they care what the Bible has to say anyway? I can understand that. But, on the flip side of that Ron and I do believe what it says in Hebrews 4:12 (For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart) and that the power is in the Word itself and that just by reading scripture in the presence of them their minds and hearts can be transformed. So, that's what we do. We pick two or three scriptures, read them, break them down a little bit and then just see what they think about it. Sure, there are always times of silence or little feedback, but just when we begin to think that nothing is clicking one of the guys or girls will say something that triggers a conversation, which triggers a another comment, which then makes another kid think about a question about who Jesus is or how Jesus can He can be born of a virgin, which makes this kids ask this or that. Next thing you know, we have a room full of inner-city "tough guys" (and girls) talking about Jesus, God and everything else in between.
It may or may not sound like much, but that's pretty revolutionary for these kids and these streets. When everything around them at school, home and in this neighborhood is telling them to turn to drugs, gangs, girls, boyfriends, sex, money and everything else, they are in a group trying to piece together how Jesus can be both God and Jesus, figuring out and reading in scripture how all people came from Adam and Eve, researching on Google what Cain's wife name was and where she came from and so on.
Wednesday Bible studies have motivated me and pushed me to read more too. It gives me extra motivation to know that I'm not just reading for my own growth anymore, to some extent I read so that I can expand and encourage these kids on their spiritual journey.
I am excited and anxious to see what develops over the next several Wednesdays.
Wednesday has become my favorite day during the week because of the Bible study. Over the years, after lots of trial and error, we have come up with a relatively successful "Bible study" format that fits our attendees at Rock Island. If you have been to Rock Island and have spent a substantial amount of time with the kids that come you would agree that, for the most part, there is not much Biblical knowledge or alot of spiritual foundation. Again, for the most part. Because of this our Bible studies may seem a little atypical.
Because most of our junior high students don't get out of school until 3:50 a large majority of the kids at Bible study are of high school age. During our studies we try not to overwhelm the kids with an enormous amount of scripture or pound them with the Bible by giving them "do's" and "dont's". A large amount of these kids aren't even completely sold on the whole God and Jesus thing, so why would they care what the Bible has to say anyway? I can understand that. But, on the flip side of that Ron and I do believe what it says in Hebrews 4:12 (For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart) and that the power is in the Word itself and that just by reading scripture in the presence of them their minds and hearts can be transformed. So, that's what we do. We pick two or three scriptures, read them, break them down a little bit and then just see what they think about it. Sure, there are always times of silence or little feedback, but just when we begin to think that nothing is clicking one of the guys or girls will say something that triggers a conversation, which triggers a another comment, which then makes another kid think about a question about who Jesus is or how Jesus can He can be born of a virgin, which makes this kids ask this or that. Next thing you know, we have a room full of inner-city "tough guys" (and girls) talking about Jesus, God and everything else in between.
It may or may not sound like much, but that's pretty revolutionary for these kids and these streets. When everything around them at school, home and in this neighborhood is telling them to turn to drugs, gangs, girls, boyfriends, sex, money and everything else, they are in a group trying to piece together how Jesus can be both God and Jesus, figuring out and reading in scripture how all people came from Adam and Eve, researching on Google what Cain's wife name was and where she came from and so on.
Wednesday Bible studies have motivated me and pushed me to read more too. It gives me extra motivation to know that I'm not just reading for my own growth anymore, to some extent I read so that I can expand and encourage these kids on their spiritual journey.
I am excited and anxious to see what develops over the next several Wednesdays.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
who needs quarters?
A couple weeks ago we we, Mackenzie (my wife), Ron and I, ventured out on another point trip exploration. After last months experience of pushing a broke down car a few hundred feet into the Quail Springs Mall parking lot we decided if we were to have another car failure we would do it a little closer to home, Bricktown. This particular trip we decided to take the group to Earls BBQ and then head to Harkins Theatre for a movie.
We left Rock Island around 4:30 and headed to Earls. By the time we finished eating it was only 6:00 and our movie didn't start til 6:45. After a five minute walk from Earls to the theatre the youth quickly searched out the video game arcade. Generally while in the video game arcade you...play video games. I can recollect countless times when my family would go to movies together and have to waste 15-20 minutes in the lobby or arcade. My brother and I would relentlessly question our parents for quarters, quarters and more quarters and, generally, we always got enough quarters to keep us occupied until it was about time to head to our theatre. So, because of my history with the arcade room, I was expecting the kids to be rocking our world for money to help them pass the next 30-45 minutes. Nothing. Not once did any of the kids ask for money. As far as I could tell, two of the boys played a racing game and one of them spotted the other so they could race. On the other side of the arcade 3 or 4 of them were having a dance off on the DDR (dance dance revolution) dancing pad. The only time any of them really got upset or frustrated was when the preview for the game would go off or change. They even packed themselves into the little cutsie photo booth picture thing. You know, the ones that all the couples take pictures in and it takes like 8 different pictures of them doing different poses? Except, we used camera phones. Again, free.
My point is, these kids may be without alot of things...extra clothes, extra video game money, extra food at their houses, proper parenting (two parents for that matter) or alot of other excessive things that many people/kids consider normal, but at least these kids aren't brats. Big time point, huh? Nothing against kids that get quarters whenever they want from their parents, but because these kids don't get whatever they want, whenever they want it (and sometimes don't get what they need) they don't expect to be constantly entertained or always get what they want. They are a breath of fresh air for me and constantly remind me of how big of a brat I still am in my adult life.
After our video game arcade wait, our movie finally started and it was awesome. For some reason after being in the theatre for five minutes an older couple in front of us relocated towards the front of the theatre once we sat behind them....weird.
We left Rock Island around 4:30 and headed to Earls. By the time we finished eating it was only 6:00 and our movie didn't start til 6:45. After a five minute walk from Earls to the theatre the youth quickly searched out the video game arcade. Generally while in the video game arcade you...play video games. I can recollect countless times when my family would go to movies together and have to waste 15-20 minutes in the lobby or arcade. My brother and I would relentlessly question our parents for quarters, quarters and more quarters and, generally, we always got enough quarters to keep us occupied until it was about time to head to our theatre. So, because of my history with the arcade room, I was expecting the kids to be rocking our world for money to help them pass the next 30-45 minutes. Nothing. Not once did any of the kids ask for money. As far as I could tell, two of the boys played a racing game and one of them spotted the other so they could race. On the other side of the arcade 3 or 4 of them were having a dance off on the DDR (dance dance revolution) dancing pad. The only time any of them really got upset or frustrated was when the preview for the game would go off or change. They even packed themselves into the little cutsie photo booth picture thing. You know, the ones that all the couples take pictures in and it takes like 8 different pictures of them doing different poses? Except, we used camera phones. Again, free.
My point is, these kids may be without alot of things...extra clothes, extra video game money, extra food at their houses, proper parenting (two parents for that matter) or alot of other excessive things that many people/kids consider normal, but at least these kids aren't brats. Big time point, huh? Nothing against kids that get quarters whenever they want from their parents, but because these kids don't get whatever they want, whenever they want it (and sometimes don't get what they need) they don't expect to be constantly entertained or always get what they want. They are a breath of fresh air for me and constantly remind me of how big of a brat I still am in my adult life.
After our video game arcade wait, our movie finally started and it was awesome. For some reason after being in the theatre for five minutes an older couple in front of us relocated towards the front of the theatre once we sat behind them....weird.
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