I want to give a very heartfelt "THANK YOU!" to EVERYONE who rallied and helped me out during my

[Ghost in the Machine]

time of need. I still can't find the exact words to describe exactly how I feel inside right now, but I will give it a shot.

You ALL have been so wonderful & generous, from those who could do no more than keep my thread kicked and visible, those who could only offer kind words of encouragement, and those who were able to donate, and gave freely, from the heart! You have my sincere gratitude from the deepest part of my heart and soul! The only way that I know how to express it in words right now is to say that because of YOU, and family and friends who helped out, my heart is smiling again, my soul is shining again, and my faith in Human Kindness has been renewed.

I can remember a thread from a while back ago when someone asked {paraphrasing} 'How can people here consider other members "family" or "friends", when this is just a message board where hardly anyone really "KNOWS" anyone else in real life?'

I can answer that easily, from being a member for 10 years, and a "lurker" for a couple of years before joining. All you have to do is look at the outpouring of support and help whenever another member needs it. I have helped others in the past, and also donated to DU when they had their quarterly fundraisers before turning to ads for revenue. There were also times when I was home-bound due to my injuries, or illnesses, that DU was my only contact with the "outside world". I consider DU & DUer's as MY '2nd Family', and that includes the people that I know I'm not 'popular' with, and some that I know who don't even like me here.

The past 3 months, since I first wrecked my car and was fixing it as I could afford to, and had a friend that I had helped out before helping me buy parts and work on it, has been very hard on me. Then, to get right at the finish line, only to have some piece of pond scum STEAL my vehicle, it really threw me into a tailspin that I didn't think I was going to recover from. It was hard enough on me having to ask people to take me places I needed to go, but at least I was working on the problem. When my vehicle was stolen, though, it took away the one thing that meant the most to me... my independence! The whole time that I was working on it, my mind was always racing with the thoughts of "How am I going to get to my doctor's appointment?" or "How am I going to get to the grocery store?", but I was able to keep telling myself "I will be back on the road soon", but when it was stolen, it devastated me. My mind started going into dark places that I didn't like at all.

I knew that my parents would take me anywhere that I needed to go, but I hate being a burden on anyone, and they had enough on their plates with my father recently being diagnosed with Lymphoma and having surgery (we just found out a few weeks ago that he is now 100% cancer-free!), and my mother having to go to the heart doctor, so I would just ask them "Please let me know if you are going to town to go shopping so I can ride with you and pick up a few things". My cousin was a really big help, too.

Just know that I thank, and appreciate, each and every one of you here! You have made a tremendous impact on my life, put my mind at ease for the first time in months, and have given me back my sense of independence! My friends and family helped, but I could not have done it without YOUR help, too! I am forever grateful to you all, and will NEVER forget your kindness and support. You ARE my '2nd family', no matter what anyone else thinks or feels about it.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but again, I THANK & APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, FROM THE DEEPEST PART OF MY HEART & SOUL! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!

My fellow DUer's....

Very gratefully & sincerely,

Ghost

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Ghost!

I'm really glad that we were able to help you, when you thought that all hope was lost...



May the road go ever more smoothly for you!

But if it doesn't.......we'll be here. After all, we are family.

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. Thank you, Peggy!

Yes, we are family here, and it is something I will always believe after things I have witnessed here, and the way that people rallied to my support.

Like I said, my mind is at ease now, and my world doesn't feel like I am in a tailspin. I truly believe that I will have some smooth sailing, and peace of mind, for a long time now..

I have not forgotten about making your sig line a banner, either... I have juust been very busy the past few days trying to make things happen to help myself out of this situation, too..

Peace to you and yours, my dear CaliforniaPeggy!

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. How does this look to you?

Peace,

Ghost

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Wow, it looks great, my dear Ghost!

Have at it!

[Heidi]

3. This is great news!

Enjoy your return to independence, Ghost!

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. Yes, it is!!

You were so wonderful with your help and support, and keeping the thread kicked. I can't even begin to thank you enough, Heidi!

May Peace, Love, Happiness, Compassion, Good Health & Prosperity be your constant companions in life!

Sincerely,

Ghost

[Fumesucker]

4. Glad for you!

[Ghost in the Machine]

10. Thank you, Fumesucker!

to you, too... and to everyone!

Peace,

Ghost

[Punkingal]

5. Great news!

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. Yes it is, thanks to you and all of the other wonderful members of my 2nd family here...

Thank you, and Peace to you and yours, Punkingal!

BTW... when my daughter was young, I always called her "Punkin"... not "Pumpkin", but "Punkin"!

Ghost

[Hekate]

6. Thanks for letting us know. All the best to you, Ghost.

[Ghost in the Machine]

12. It was my HONOR to post this, Hekate!

Thank you for the well wishes, too...

Peace,

Ghost

[NBachers]

7. Good! I'm glad to hear that you're making progress. Good Luck from your DU Family!

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. Thank you, NBachers!

You also helped make this possible, and I can't thank you enough!

I feel fortunate to have such a wonderful extended family!

Peace,

Ghost

[turbinetree]

8. NO............................

you........................ and remember this................

Henry Adams said:

"Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit"

and

Bernie Glassman said:

Let me give you a wonderful Zen practice. Wake up in the morning........ look in the mirror, and laugh at yourself."


Honk-----------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. Thank you very much, turbinetree!

I feel much better inside, and in my mind, now. I was feeling like a burden on my parents and cousin, even though I *KNEW* they didn't feel that way... I'm just used to being totally independent, and usually the one always helping others, but have a hard time asking for anything for myself. This was a very humbling, yet enlightening, experience for me.

I remember when that song first came out!

I love the quotes, and try to practice the Zen one as much as possible. I self-identify as an atheist, but I follow a lot of the tenets of Buddhism, Wicca and Native American Spirituality.

Here's something I made for CaliforniaPeggy, from her sig line:

I'm feeling The Bern! 6 straight wins now! Let's keep the ball rolling and gaining momentum!

Peace,

Ghost

[turbinetree]

17. I am more into the Indigenous People .............................

since I have my mother's Cherokee ancestry running through my veins.
I have gotten some nice and wonderful responses from I think also from Californiapeggy and many others on this thread.

I learned many years ago that if I have to ask for something, it is not shameful, it always makes you a better person, because whoever you ask it from, makes the other person feel wanted also, because one day they may have to ask, and if they never ask so be it................they know you have there back and you have theirs.

I use music to relate to people-----------------its universal


Feel the Bern.........................



and Peace, Love and Woodstock II, very old hippie saying..........................

This is one of my all time favorite bands, saw them play in 1972, its a compilation --------------enjoy


http://ultimateclassicrock.com/ten-years-after-songs/

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

20. Ten Years After was on the Festival Express tour in Canada, 1970 I think,

but for some reason didn't sign a release to be in the film that came out. I enjoyed them and wondered why they didn't sign to be shown as part of the party.

[Arugula Latte]

18. It looks like you need a bit more $$ still?

https://www.gofundme.com/4mwmb44s

in case anyone has a bit to spare...

[Ghost in the Machine]

19. Thank you very much, Arugula Latte, I appreciate it, but no, please. DUer's have been

extremely wonderful and helpful, and have done enough already. I made a little money helping my neighbor sell a different vehicle for MORE than what he was asking, and I am applying that towards the purchase price. My parents, who have already been a tremendous help, are going to help me with whatever I am short on for the taxes, tag & title and the down payment for insurance.

I appreciate the sentiment, and effort, though but I couldn't possibly ask anyone for any more.

This is purely a deeply heartfelt "THANK YOU" thread, not an attempt to solicit more donations.



Peace to you and yours!

Ghost

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

21. Did the stolen vehicle show up?

We had one stolen twice in San Francisco, and both time it was recovered. The second time we had to pay a storage fee because it was towed and we were not notified for a while.

Good luck with things,
ADW

[Ghost in the Machine]

22. Not yet, and I have not heard anything else from the Sheriff's Department..

I am going down there tomorrow because, living in a very small town, I have heard through the grapevine that an arrest has been made, and there was mention of a tow truck taking it to a scrapyard with a reputation of taking vehicles without titles with no questions asked, not logging them, paying less than standard scrap prices, and crushing them on the spot.

I HOPE that's not the case, as the engine and transmission were worth a LOT more than the car itself. It was a 1994 Acura Integra LS, with practically a racing engine in it... getting 240HP out of a 4 cylinder (think of the little "Fast & Furious" cars), a high performance exhaust, and a 2 stage competition clutch with a short-shift 5 speed. I rarely ever drove it hard, as I was trying to take care of it and make it last a long time, but I got out one day and played around a little on a clear, open road. I hit 100mph in a 1/4 mile, and was just coming out of 3rd gear!

There were a LOT of people wanting to buy the car from me, but I didn't want to sell it. Even with all of the modifications, it got around 35 miles per gallon when driving it normally.

Thank you, and Peace!

Ghost

[cynannmarie]

23. what a lovely and heartfelt expression from you

So glad you're feeling better about life. Having important things stolen is a significant blow to ones's faith in people and sense of security in the world.

[Ghost in the Machine]

24. Thank you, cynannmarie, as it was from the deepest part of my heart & soul...

I have always been the one to help others, yet find it very hard to ask for anything for myself if/when I need it.

When I was growing up, my parents' house was the neighborhood "safe house", where all of my sister's & my friends could come to and spend the night, weekend, or longer if needed, when they were having trouble at home.

I became a single father when my kids were 3 & 4 years old. When they got into Jr. High and High School, my home was the same way. I don't think there was a weekend that went by from around 2006 until probably 2012 that there wasn't at least 3 or 4 other kids staying here!

Back in 2009, one of my daughter's friends came to stay the weekend because her parents were having marital problems. She wound up staying for 3 months! Her mother would drop by on Friday nights after she got off of work and bring a couple of pizzas. She would offer me a little money, but I wouldn't take it. At that time, I was flush with money due to just finally getting my disability approve, and had gotten a sizeable lump sum in back payment.

Another one of my daughter's friends had just lost her brother, who was a year older than her... 15 years old! Her family had gone to Florida due to a death in the family, and he ended up getting a bad cut that turned into staph infection in the hospital, and they couldn't save him. It took everything the family had just to make the trip to be there for other family members, and wiped them out, both emotionally & financially, having to bury their son, and it was near christmas time, so they were on christmas break from school.

My daughter's friend was dreading going back to school, because she usually got new clothes for christmas, but she new she wasn't going to get anything because her parents were broke. Her dad was disabled, and her mom was working at the deli at the nearest corner store to me, which is 3 miles away. I live out in the sticks! It's 15 miles to town in 3 different directions from my house, and over 20 in the 4th direction.

Back to the subject, though... I had overheard the girl telling my daughter about their financial situation, so I waited a little while, then came out and told them "I'll be back in a little while, I have a few things I need to go take care of". I drove down to the store and went to the deli where the girl's mother was working and ordered a hamburger. After she made it, and I paid for it, I handed her 2 $100 bills as a "tip". She thought it was a loan, and with tears in her eyes she said "I can't take this from you, I don't know if, or when, I could ever pay you back!" I told her "It's a tip, and I never said anything about paying me back. Please just make sure that Xxxxx has some nice clothes to wear back to school, and use the rest for whatever you need". I gained a friend that day, who is still part of my very small circle today!

I am not telling you this to "brag", but to help understand the kind of person I am. I have opened my home to people who had nowhere else to go, and never asked a dime from them, just to help keep the house clean, and the "Thanks" that I got from a few of them was them moving out while I was gone, and stealing from me when they left. That has not stopped me from still helping others, though. I figure it this way: I did something good for someone else, so MY karma is still good. What they CHOSE to do reflects on them, not me, and THEIR karma will catch up to them one day. This, I truly believe. I will continue being the person that I am, though it has been hard lately.

Peace to you and yours,

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. For my fellow DUer's who donated, and those who helped keep my thread kicked, and offered kind words

of encouragement during my time of need, *THIS* is where your donations, and efforts, went:

Not bad looking for an 18 year old vehicle, is it? It is mechanically sound, only has 156,321 original miles on it and is a 4 cylinder NON-TURBO with an automatic transmission, so it gets GREAT gas mileage! I just bought it, and got it legal, yesterday.

I had family & friends who also donated, and I even made some money to help out with it, but I still could not have done it without all of your help and support. I still can't thank you enough for helping me regain my sense of independence, and for helping restore my faith in Human Kindness...

Again, thank you ALL so very much, and know that it WILL be paid forward as I am able..

Peace,

Ghost

[Ghost in the Machine]

26. One last kick in case anyone missed it. I just want everyone to know that they are appreciated, and

have my eternal gratitude! My father even told me this afternoon that he "could already see a big difference in my demeanor and personality just since I got my own vehicle again yesterday, and regained my sense of independence"...

I still can't thank you all enough for your unselfish kindness when I needed it the most.

Peace,

Ghost

[AgadorSparticus]

27. Big hugs to you, Ghost!

And congrats on getting your car back! I am super happy for you! <3

[Ghost in the Machine]

29. Thank you, AgadorSparticus!

It is certainly liberating to have my own vehicle again. The Sheriff's Department still hasn't found out anything on the one that got stolen, but living in a very small town, things get around. I was told last night where one was that looked just like mine, but had been spray painted black. There are 2 very distinctive things about the car, and both were mentioned. I am fixing to take a ride by and look, and if it IS mine, I'll be making a call to the Sherrif's Department.

The people at my friend's house, where the car was stolen from, told the Deputy that a tow truck showed up there, with some papers signed by me, which they weren't, to pick the car up. Whoever got it is going to be prosecuted for auto theft AND forgery when they are found.



Peace,

Ghost

[AgadorSparticus]

31. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Things always have a way of working themselves out.

Sometimes just not fast enough to our liking. But the universe works on its own timeframe.

But, I remember what you told me about owning a bar. One thing I know you have is fortitude and smarts. You are lucky to have the personal tools you have. You are awesome!! ❤💚💛💟💖💗

[Ghost in the Machine]

32. "But the universe works on its own timeframe." Yes it does! I have been by twice now

to check out the car, but couldn't get close enough because people were around, and I don't want to get shot at or otherwise attacked. I don't want to waste the Sheriff's Department's time on a false lead either, though.

As for this "But the universe works on its own timeframe."... Nothing could be more true. I have had times when 5 minutes seemed like a lifetime, and a time when I was reunited with someone that I had lost contact with for over 20 years, and we picked up like it had been just yesterday since we saw each other.

Time, and karma, will catch up to the person who stole my car, and I WILL prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. I did finally find out that someone showed up in a tow truck and showed my friend's family some paperwork saying that I had sent them to get the car. If the paperwork is found, and has my signature on it, I will be adding a charge of forgery, too!

Even though I now have another vehicle, thanks to the wonderful support of family, friends, and my "2nd family"... aka... the AWESOME members of DU, this is not something that will be dropped and forgotten. It's the principle of the matter, and the fact that the lowest life on the planet, under a pedophile and a rapist, is a thief and a liar... at least on my list. YMMV.

Thanks, again, for the kind words, and support that you have given...

Peace,

Ghost

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. So glad to read this

[Ghost in the Machine]

30. Thank you, Liberal_in_LA! Please read my post #29...

Peace,

Ghost