The "Are You In Need Of Some Help?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Driving through the area of Lancaster City known as Cabbage Hill on my way home.  A few months ago I wrote a few stories telling of the people and events that make Cabbage Hill so interesting an area in which to live.  Well, today is another example.  

An intersection near the Prayer Request Box in Lancaster, PA.

As I was heading East on West Vine Street, I came upon a black metal mailbox that had white, hand-painted letters on the sides that read: PRAYER REQUEST BOX.  The house is in great shape with a brick facade, light-brown wooden trim and a very interesting stained-glass front door.  A wrought-iron railing went across the small concrete porch and down the few steps to the pavement in front of the home.  I found that the Fisher family live in the home and it is Brittany and Bert Fisher who are responsible for the mailbox.  Inside the mailbox are note cards, pencil, Bible verses and brochures for the Journey Church in nearby Ronks, Pennsylvania.  That is where the Fisher's are members.  Brittany really cares about her neighbors and their spiritual lives.  So, when someone leaves a request for a prayer in her mailbox, she tries to offer a prayer for the person who left it.  Doesn't have to be signed, just has to have a request for a prayer.  According to a recent Lancaster Newspaper article, the majority of the requests deal with health issues.  One recent prayer request told of a person who was living with their father who was retired and in his 70s.  Seems the father had a medical problem, but the prayer request was also meant for the writer of the request who is the caregiver who also has medical problems.  They reported that they really need many prayers.  

The Prayer Request Box at 645 West Vine Street.

The prayer mailbox is a way for the Fisher's to offer help to others.  They lived in Brickerville for many years before moving to the city six years ago.  They did so believing that they were needed in the city to do God's work.  They also believe that God helped them find the house at 645 West Vine Street, since when they visited the home for the first time, the current owner's hit it off with Bert's grandson.  A call from the realtor, after they had left the home, told them that the owners had just taken it off the market, since they felt the Fisher's were the proper family to live there.  Bert and his wife are care team leaders at Journey Church and provide meals for people who are sick or who have had a baby or may need help moving.  The program is known as the "Hands and Feet of Jesus."  Many people use the black prayer box in front of their home to send "Thank You" notes to them for help they may have given them.  Mr. Fisher and his wife both lived in Lancaster County before their move to 645 West Vine Street.  They now feel that this is where they are supposed to be.  One neighbor placed a card in the box saying that they were praying for the Fishers.  And, the neighborhood, which is known as the "SoWe" neighborhood due to being in the South-West of downtown Lancaster, is a  beautiful place to live.  I will keep a note in the back of my head about this place I happened upon this morning.  Never know when a note in the box may help me!   It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Few Of My Favorite Gifts: Sub-Head - And We Laughed And Laughed" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Christmas morning 2019.  Our friends from State College had just arrived and we ushered them into our living room to exchange presents.  Jere and Sue, classmates of mine from the Manheim Township High School class of 1962, had plans to come to Lancaster to visit with Jere's sister and family and called to see if they could stop to exchange a few gifts the following day.  At this point I must digress and bring you up to date with my past.  Year was in the late 1940s, Christmas day, and my parents and brother and I went to visit my grandmother and aunt (on my father's side) to exchange Christmas gifts.  Aunt Doris surprised me with a new Schwinn bicycle!  Loved Aunt Doris!  Fast forward with me now to mid to late 1950s and I came down the stairs Christmas morning in our home on North Queen Street to find my parents had bought me a new 3-speed bike with hand brakes.  Wasn't more than a few hours later that I took my bike for a ride and stopped at the local candy store, "Eli's", to show Eli my new bike.  He was as amazed as I was about the bike.  Told me to be careful going home on it.  Well, I had to stop quickly at an intersection and mistakenly pulled on the right-hand brake and flew over the front of the bike.  Scratched the handlebar, but was able to hide it so my parents didn't see the scratch.  My next memorable Christmas gift was a 120-bass accordion that mom and dad got me when I was about 14 years old.  Heavy for a skinny young boy, but I loved playing it.  My teacher was a guy by the name of Mickey Sinopoli who had the coolest name and could play the neatest songs on the accordion.  I wanted to be just like him, but after my Spring concert and barely being able to hold the accordion to play "Lady of Spain" for the audience, I quit the accordion.  Along came 1960 and my parents bought me a set of spun-aluminum hubcaps, known as Moon hubcaps, for Christmas for my 1953 Henry J automobile. Didn't take long to get to the car to pop them in place.  I was once again in heaven due to a fabulous Christmas gift.  Well, today wasn't quite as memorable as the days I have just described, but it certainly made me laugh a bit more, for you see I opened a gift from Jere And Sue which was a framed caricature of myself riding a bicycle once again.  The story behind it goes like this.....  This past September, Carol and I traveled with Jere and Sue to the island of Antigua.  During one of our many talks during our evening meal I told them a story that happened during my youth.  At the time I had raised guinea pigs to sell (now that's another story I believe I already told) for a few years and had an arrangement with the nearby Acme Supermarket to save lettuce trimmings for me to feed to my guinea pigs, which numbered close to 75 at the time.  Once or twice a week I would hook a little red wagon to my three-speed bike and head up North Market Street in my sandals to pick up the lettuce.  As I rode my bike I would pull out a cigarette I had taken from my parent's pack of cigs and puffed on it.  Made me look older, so it did!  At least to me, it did.  It was then that one of the others asked what kind of cigarettes I smoked when I was riding my bike.  "I smoked Newports," was my answer, since that's what my mom smoked.  That just about got us thrown out of the place from all the laughter.  One day my mom told me she and dad had something to talk to me about.  Uh, Oh!  I thought they had found my "Playboy" magazine I had between the mattress and box spring.  "We found a few cigarettes in your room and we're concerned about you smoking," Mom told me.  "You know that Grandpap smokes a pipe and we thing it best if you have to smoke, you should smoke a pipe."  Fine with me.  

LDub as a young boy drawn by Mike

Well, by now my story I was telling the other three at our table in the restaurant in Antigua was creating a few more laughs.  I then described how I would ride my bike and wagon to the supermarket with a pipe in my mouth, puffing away as I rode up N. Market Street.  Well, to finish my Christmas story about neat gifts, today I opened a gift from Jere and Sue and found a caricature of myself riding a bicycle with a pipe in my mouth and a cigarette behind my ear and wearing sandals.  Seems Jere's nephew Mike is an artist and does great caricature drawings so Sue called him and gave him my description and he drew one of my gifts that I was given by Jere and Sue.  The laughing was once again out-of-control.   I know...you had to be there to appreciate it!  So, I would be amiss if I didn't add this gift as one of the Christmas gifts that I will remember for the rest of my life.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Raise The Roof" Story

Before Central Market was built, vendors sold produce along the street.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about Lancaster's Central Market House beginning to put a new roof on the market house.  It was back in 2005 that the Central Market Trust was formed and recently they have become the motivating force in raising money for a new roof for the market house.  The 127-year-old Central Market has had a few facelifts over its lifetime, but this time a new roof is in order.  

City Hall is pictured on the left with open air market stands
behind it.  This became the location of Central Market House.

The current asphalt roof was installed 30 years ago and it has begun to leak.  The original roof had been made of slate.  A new asphalt roof would cost $500,000.  If $1.5 million can be raised, a slate roof, which would last much longer, could be installed.  Lancaster County and Lancaster City officials have both been asked to donate for the roof, but the rest must come from public donations.  Well, the money is in and $1.6 million was raised from more than 700 donors.  

A 1940 shot of Central Market House behind City Hall on left.

A neat feature of the fund raising was the fact that if you gave $100 or more you were given the opportunity to sign one of the actually slates that will be used in the new roof.  Over 600 of these slates have been signed to date.  This past Christmas I sang in a Flashmob that sang the Hallelujah Chorus at several locations in the city of Lancaster.  

Central Market House as seen today.

During one of our practices we were given the chance to donate toward one of the slates and then sign our name on that slate.  Just about everyone donated and signed the slate and will now be part of the renovation of the slate roof on the market house  A week ago scaffolding was erected around Central Market in anticipation of replacing the roof.  

The slate signed by members of the Hallelujah Flash Mob.

Construc- tion will take place four days a week with hopes of finishing the roof in about three months.  The interior of the market house has plastic tarps in place to prevent any damage to the market stands under them.  The "Raise The Roof" project has been a complete success thus far and I'm glad I have become a part of it with my donation and signature on one of the slates.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Another Great Birthday Gift From My Brother" Story

A 1796 Bible that was a gift from my brother Steve.

It was an ordinary day.  And then my brother handed me my birthday present.  As soon as I looked at it I knew it was going to be one of the most interesting presents I have received in quite a while.  My brother Steve is a "Picker" or scavenger if I must pin a name on him.  Loves to go to auctions and sales where he will buy boxes of old goods that are no longer wanted by their owners.  Some boxes at auction houses yield buried treasures that had long been forgotten by their owners and whose owners want a few dollars for unwanted items rather than throw the boxes in the trash.  

My latest gift, a board game titled "All About Lancaster."

A year or so ago Steve gave me a plastic bag that had an old Bible in it that proved to be a real find.  It had been printed in the city of Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania in 1796 at the Bailey and Dickson print shop in downtown Lancaster.  The plastic bag which contained the Bible was part of a box of items he had bid on and won at the Green Dragon Farmer's Market in Ephrata, PA.  

The 6-piece cardboard playing board showing Lancaster, PA

Well, my new gift is a table game that was in its original box with two rubberbands on it to hold it together.  Printed in 1980 and carried the name "All About Lancaster."  The board game consisted of six cardboard pieces that when placed together revealed a map of the city of Lancaster with streets and businesses that existed in the late 1970s to early 1980s.  As I looked more closely I found Watt & Shand Department Store, Darmstaetters Camera Store, Oblender's Furniture Store, Shenk Bros. and a few other businesses that no longer exist.  

Game pieces and playing parts can be seen here.  Now,
can't wait for a visit with friends of family to get a chance
to play my new game.

Also saw Saint Joseph Hospital that has now changed hands twice since this game was produced.  The directions to the game list the object, setting up the game, setting up play, playing the game plus a few other rules needed to have a good time.  Just had to check on eBay to see if there were any more game boards such as the one I had just received and sure enough, there was one with a bid of $22.49 with 18 hours before the item was closed to bidding.  Pretty neat gift to go with the bobblehead of Robert Fulton and the bobblehead of Thadeus Stevens and the miniature 16-wheeler tractor trailer with "Rocky Springs Carousel" painted on the side of it.  Presents that he had found during "Picker" excursions around Lancaster County.  Don't you wish that you had a brother as I do who gives presents that are truly treasures!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Storms May Come And Go...But We Are Here To Stay!" Story

One of my favorite photos I have taken in the Caribbean.  This
photograph was taken on Shoal Bay East on the island of Anguilla,
an island within eyesight of St. Martin. Click on it to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Posting one more story about the Caribbean and the damage that has been the result of Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria.  Carol and I are still not sure what we should do in the spring of next year which is the time of the year that we have made a habit of traveling to the Caribbean for a few weeks.  Will they be ready for us to visit?  Will we be disappointed due to all the damage?  Well, after reading a story a few days ago, we have decided that it is our obligation to visit and provide our financial support to help those living in the Caribbean get their life back to normal once again.  The story that influenced us went like this:

Serene scene from Happy Bay, St. Martin.

On October 9, 1780, the Great Hurricane came to the Caribbean.  Huracan San Calixto lasted 11 days in the West Indies, pummeling the southeastern Caribbean with terrifying winds as high as 200 miles per hour, destroying homes and livelihoods.  Almost 22,000 people died across the West Indies.  This terrible tempest remains the deadliest recorded hurricane in the history of the Western Hemsiphere.  Everything was washed away. Or so it seemed.  But, all of these islands are still here. And, they aren't going anywhere.  Because that's the thing about Caribbean people; they cannot be defeated.  They rebuild, they restore and they live again.  It is the cost of the region's unimaginable natural beauty that, by the caprice of fate, there is the periodic risk of ruin, an intermittent reminder of the supremacy of Mother Nature.  But after each storm, after each tragedy, the Caribbean waves its finger at Mother Nature; "storms may come and go but we are here to stay."

Off to the Caribbean!  This photograph, one of my favorite
photos I have taken in the Caribbean, is from Barbados.

I have said enough in this blog about the past storms.  What needs to be done is this: The Caribbean will rebuild.  It will not be easy, it may not be quick, but it will happen.  So what should we do as someone who loves the Caribbean?  Making a donation to help with the rebuilding would help, but the biggest thing we can do for the livelihood of the entire region recently struck by the storms is to keep going back because tourism remains the life blood of the Caribbean and without you and I returning to the Caribbean, the pocketbooks of the people will not grow.  So head back when you can, since it isn't going anywhere soon!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Gift For The Ages" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just called my brother, Steve, to give him the bad news.  My story today started last evening when Carol and I were visiting with my brother, Steve, and his family who live about twenty minutes to the north of Lancaster in a small town known as Ephrata.  We always get together the evening after Christmas Day to celebrate the holidays with pizza and cookies.  

My new Rocky Springs shirt.

And, Steve and I have the best times reminiscing about all the relatives and times past.  Wasn't long before Steve pulls out a Christmas shopping bag and hands it to me.  "Merry Christmas.  Here's a gift I know you'll love!" Steve tells me.  We decided years ago that we'd no longer exchange gifts since it was tough enough buying presents for all our own kids and grandkids let alone buying gifts for each others kids and grandkids.  We stopped that practice a few years ago, but he just couldn't stop from buying me a gift when he saw it this year.  Steve is five years younger than me and we very seldom did much together after I began high school.  Seems we have been making up for that in the past dozen years or so with frequent outings and parties at each others homes.  And now a gift from him.  "You know, I bought you a gift also, but didn't bring it at the last minute since I thought you'd get upset when I gave it to you," I told him.  "Nah!  This isn't really a gift, just something I knew you'd love so I bought it for you," he replied.  Pulled it out of the bag and there was a t-shirt that must have been twenty-five or more years old.  "I found it today at the antique market when I went to look around.  Knew you'd just love it," he told me.  Sure enough, I know I had a big smile on my face when I saw the front of the t-shirt which read "Rocky Springs Park, Lancaster, PA".  

"Wow, pretty neat," I said to him. "I've never seen one like it."  Steve is a "Picker" in that he loves to find old items, bargain for them and resell them.  He knew that I made visits to Rocky Springs Amusement Park just about every week when I was in high school and first couple of years of college. Worked at the Acme Supermarket with a fellow whose grandfather ran the "Wildcat" roller coaster at the amusement park and we frequently made visits to the park to ride the coaster after work.  His grandfather would allow us to remain on the coaster as long as we wanted and never asked for a ticket.

If no one was standing in line and we were the only ones on the ride, he wouldn't even stop the coaster when it returned to the station.  Spent many summer evenings riding and riding that coaster.  Well, Steve had the biggest smile on his face when he gave it to me.  Knew I would love it. I never opened the package with the shirt in it until later in the evening when we had returned home.  Held it up and asked Carol if she thought I could fit into it.  She looked at me holding the shirt and said, "That's either a woman's or a child's shirt!" "I kinda thought so myself.  It's marked large, but must be a woman's large.  Figured it that way because of the sleeves" I responded.  "Steve's gonna be disappointed when I call him tomorrow."  Yep, he was rather upset that his find would not fit me, but told me to give it to someone else in the family or bring it back to him and he'd give it to his daughter-in-law who could wear it.  The thought was well received by me, and I know I could find someone to wear it, but I'll return it to him and he may be able to get his money back to spend on something else.  I know he will search high and low for something for me for he's that kind of brother everyone should have.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Fairies In The Woods" Story

The Mount Gretna Playhouse which is near the Fairy Garden.

It was an ordinary day.  Quietly standing amongst the tall trees in the Fairy Garden of the Pennsyl- vania Chautau- qua, waiting for the fairies to fly by on their fireflies.  How can you have a bad day when this is all you have to do?  

Sign leading into the garden.

The Fairy Garden at Mt. Gretna in the hills of Lebanon, Pennsyl- vania is located near the Mount Gretna Playhouse where Carol and I travel a few times each summer to hear the music of some of the most famous groups of the 50's and 60's.  In the cool shade, amid the charm of cottages and shops, is this beautiful place called the Fairy Garden.  

A small placesetting is visited by a small bird.

Miniature place-settings, hanging tree ornaments, tiny tea cups and wishing stone treasures make this special place an interesting and intriguing place for children.  A local woman named Carol has taken it upon herself to take care of the garden to make it special for the children.  

Carol organizing the fairy settings.

She notes that for years children have extended their kindness when they visit the fairy garden and leave their hard-earned coins behind in teacups for the fairies.  At times the children will leave a message behind for a fairy.  The money that is collected each year from the fairy garden is donated to the Ronald McDonald House in nearby Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Several hundred dollars are donated annually due to children leaving coins behind.  

Someone has left a small house for the fairies.

I find the garden very interesting and fun to visit and a great place to take photographs.  It is easy to see why children can believe that fairies actually live in the woods and sleep and eat in the garden.  And, it is so refreshing to believe that someone as kind as Carol can make time to visit often to make sure the garden is kept in order and notes and coins are read and put to good use.  Life is simple in this part of the woods and the fairies are doing well.  I only wish I could see one arrive on a firefly sometime.  Then I would really BELIEVE!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Slow down and enjoy the garden.

The "Extraordinary Lancaster" Story

Local NBC station WGAL was one of many who broadcast
daylong updates as to how much money was raised.

It was an ordinary day.  And, Lancaster County reached deep into their pockets and donated an astrono- mical amount of money in this year's Extraordinary Give which was hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation.  Friday evening, November 20th saw many Lancastrians gather to celebrate in center square of downtown Lancaster.  The Griest Buildiing, one of Lancaster's tallest buildings in center square was lit with a variety of colors in the windows. The light show was orchestrated to celebrate the occasion and was put together by Atomic Lighting which provided the gear and by Meteor Tower which handled the engineering and the design.  The idea was to create a beacon of light that would draw people into the city and bring attention to the fundraising drive.  For years Lancaster's residents gave to the United Way.  I can remember year after year the school district where I taught would deduct a gift of your choice from your paycheck, if you cared to give.  

The Griest Building is aglow with light to celebrate.

That yearly fundraiser was successful year after year, but didn't seem to be able to meet the demands of all the needy non-profits in the area, so along came the Extra- ordinary Give in 2012.  Organizations, all non-profit, could register and participate in The Extraordinary Give.  The organizations  would try to solicit gifts and donations which would go to their group while all groups registered would divide the monetary amount that was given to the general Extraordinary Gift account.  The first year $1.6 Million was raised.  As you can see, giving in Lancaster County is part of our fabric, our soul, our DNA if you will.  The following year the amount rose to $3.2 Million.  Wow!!  Than last year the community gave an astounding $4.4 Million.  

Poster for the Extraordinary give.

This year there were 367 participating organizations who asked for gifts from the community.  The organizations were broken down into groups such as: Education, Environment, Animal Related, Health Care, Housing, Human Services, Senior Living, Food/Agriculture/- Nutrition, Arts/Culture/Humanities and Youth Development.  During the 24 hour period of the 2015 Extraordinary Give, people of the community could make donations in person at the organizations or go online to make a contribution.  Carol and I began a few years ago to donate to the SPCA which is located to the south of Lancaster City.  We went online during the 20th and donated to the SPCA, which in turn returned a "Thank You" by email to us.  Well, this year there were 40,203 gifts which totaled $6,134,244.78.  How about that!!  Our community is alive and well and those that were able to give, did so in a big way.  It certainly was an Extraordinary Give!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.