Merry Chirstmas to all, A holiday story by Jack

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Den034071
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Post by Den034071 » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 3:29 pm

" ONE ARM MIKE"
Mike was a retired miner about 60 years old. some called him a bum others a drunk. Mike lived about a block from my parents home. Late afternoon Mike would pass our house on the way to the corner bar. By darkness he'd pass again drunk as a sailor. That Fall 1958 of November, we had a 6-8" snow. That evening my Mom asked me to run to the corner store for lunch meat. As I walked up the hill I heard faint moaning. I found Mike sprawled in the snow. It was some 20 degrees and Mike could not get up because of the stump arm. Help me, help me!, please, Mike cried. I was big for my age and on the second heave I got Mike onto his feet. Carefully I walked him to his house & laid him on the Sofa. I pulled some of the wet clothes off & his shoes & found a blanket & covered him. I told my Mom what happened & what I did & she said I should check on him in the morning. Mike was awake when I go there & I asked if he was OK & did he need a Doctor? No, no he pleaded, just stay here for a while. I left him at Suppertime & came back with some hot soup. Come on try this, you have to eat something. I can' move my arms he said, so I found a big spoon in the kitchen & fed him. He finally drifted off & I went home. For the next few weeks I went to his house before school and around supper time to tend to him. Mom, bless her, always gave me a hot meal to take to him. One day as he ate he saw me looking at his Stump arm. Jackie, I'll tell you what happened. I started in the mines at age 9 as a mule driver, then a timber man etc. I became a Fire Boss & was in an accident in the mine. my arm was crushed by falling coal. That's when I became a drunk who could no longer work. My wife & two girls left me 13 yrs ago. I was stunned. One day while straightening up his place I found a stack of unopened letters from his girls. I wrote a letter telling them about the accident & to write him. Days went by & no letter, no phone call. Fast forward to December 22 his daughter Susan called my home & asked if I could pick her u at the Bus Station in Tamaqua that they were coming from Connecticut. Of course, I said. My big brother to the rescue. We picked up Susan, her sister Jenny & her little girl Carol. We drov e them to Mikes house and as Mike was sitting on a rocker, in came his little granddaughter Carol running to him calling out Grandpa, Grandpa & jumped into his lap giving him kisses & hugs. Then his two daughters came in & both hugged Old Mike. Mike was shaking & tears running down his cheeks. 13 Years of lonely nights, now my family is here, along with a grandbaby. The sisters thanked us & said we have food & will take care of him from now on. It certainly made my Christmas. Merry Christmas to all my Coal Brothers, Jack

 
KLook
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Post by KLook » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 3:36 pm

Speechless......Merry Christmas Jack.

Kevin

 
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Hambden Bob
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Post by Hambden Bob » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 4:14 pm

Christ,Jack!! The Life You Have Led...
Thank You for Sharing it with Us at Christmas! I am Humbled!
Merry Christmas,Jack!!

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 4:16 pm

Jack, you never cease to amaze me. Another great, hart warming story for our Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you,

-Don


 
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CoalJockey
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Post by CoalJockey » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 4:50 pm

Awesome Jack!

I’m off to a candlelight service and that story just set the mood for me as I wanted it. We don’t always know the impact we are capable of having on others.

Much obliged and Merry Christmas!

 
Toddburn
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Post by Toddburn » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 5:16 pm

A very touching and moving story that puts things in perspective. Merry Christmas Jack.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 7:49 pm

Outstanding Jack--A very Merry Christmas to you & Mags. :)

 
Gian4
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Post by Gian4 » Wed. Dec. 25, 2019 10:41 am

Jack
You do this to me every Christmas and......from the bottom of my heart I thank you.
Merry Christmas
Gian4


 
Odyknuck
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Post by Odyknuck » Wed. Dec. 25, 2019 11:18 am

People are good , Thanks Jack

 
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Freddy
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Post by Freddy » Wed. Dec. 25, 2019 11:34 am

Merry Christmas Jack. Thanks for sharing the tale of long ago. Just wonderful.

 
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CoalHeat
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Post by CoalHeat » Wed. Dec. 25, 2019 2:24 pm

Wonderful story Jack, thank you for sharing it. Hope you are having a good Christmas.

 
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Keepaeyeonit
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Post by Keepaeyeonit » Wed. Dec. 25, 2019 3:54 pm

Now thats a very fitting story for this time of the year!! Well done Jack :yes:

 
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buffalo bob
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Post by buffalo bob » Sun. Dec. 29, 2019 4:15 pm

Toddburn wrote:
Tue. Dec. 24, 2019 5:16 pm
A very touching and moving story that puts things in perspective. Merry Christmas Jack.
BEAUTIFUL...merry christmas...

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