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Thank you both for the Sunday Strip and all of your thought provoking essays! Over these past years, being a subscriber to your sub stack has certainly been a learning and entertaining experience for me and I’m sure all of us! Thank You!!

One story before another.

A few of my neighbors, in a way, decided to make the bottom of my driveway the new neighborhood bus stop. Every morning at 8:20 the cars all pull up in front of my house. My neighbors, strangers we don’t know, and their kids show up, stand in my driveway, and wait for the bus. Of coarse my dogs go crazy barking and running all around. My wife is completely annoyed so I made a few phone calls to try to get the new bus stop moved too our next door neighbors house that has the kids that get picked up, but still they all end up in my driveway. We have always maintained our property, it’s plowed and kept clean. My neighbors, who are well aware of how we feel, are slobs. For me it’s an irritation, but I figure it is what it is, I refuse, refuse to let passive aggressive people get the better of me! My wife however can’t let it go. Just the other day she went out in the rain to ask, while the crowd was in my driveway, our next door neighbor, whose kids get picked up at our house, why does the bus stop at our house and not at yours? I told my wife “just let it go, it’s not up to her”. “They’re miserable and want you to be miserable”. I know my wife showing her aggravation brings them their twisted joy.

This is one of life’s small irritations, that we all have, a test of our patience. 5 years ago I probably would have been really mad as well, but I’ve learned a lot in the past 5 years. I don’t want to be in that same place I was 5 years ago. Here’s the rest of the story, I hope you enjoy it.

There was an older couple that liked to go to antique shops and buy small old beautiful things. One day they came across the most beautiful teacup they had ever seen. The tea cup began to talk to them. It said “I haven’t always looked like this, there was a time when no one wanted me. I wasn’t attractive, I was just a hard lump of clay. But then this potter came along and began to shape me and mold me. So I said hey that makes me uncomfortable, leave me alone that hurts, the potter smiled and said not yet. Then he put me on a wheel and began to spin me around and around, I got so dizzy but after a while I had taken on a new shape, he formed me into this tea cup. I thought he was finished but then he put me into a furnace, it was so hot I didn’t think I could stand it. When he came and looked at me through the window of that furnace I screamed, let met out of here I’m going to die, he said not yet. He finally took me out and put me on a shelf so I could cool off and I said thank goodness it’s over, now I can go back to being my normal self. But then the potter came back. He picked me up again and began to paint me, changing me from a dull grey to this beautiful blue. The paint was sticky and smelled terrible, I thought I was going to choke, I told him to “please stop, please” and he said not yet. Then again he put me into a second oven that was twice as hot as the first one. This time I knew it was over. I screamed I can’t take it, I’m going to die, again he said not yet. Finally he opened the oven door and put me back on the shelf.

A few days passed and he came by and handed me a mirror and when I looked at myself I couldn’t believe how beautiful I had become. I couldn’t believe how much I had changed. I didn’t look anything like that old lump of clay I once was. There was a time when nobody wanted me but now I’m this beautiful teacup, valuable, expensive, unique, all because of this potter. He made me into something amazing”.

Isn’t this the way God works in all of our lives? He changes us little by little from glory to glory, but on the way to the glory there will always be some suffering. We yell “God get me off of this wheel, I can’t deal with this neighbor, I can’t handle this boss that’s mean too me, I can’t deal with this child”, but God just smiles and says not yet. We see our flaws we see that clay, but God sees the tea cup. We’re all a work in progress which is a good thing. When we go through the hard times we should be aware the hard times helps us grow into what we should become.

We all have learned so much right here, but even from here I know in 5 years I don’t want to be this same person in this same place I am today. Keep moving forward. Enjoy today. J.Goodrich

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Lovely story, thank you again for your wonderful words of wisdom! I truly understand how I have grown, & made changes in my life since I joined this amazing subscription to Dr. Malone, & noticed I have more patience, & an understanding of “what the heck is going on now”? Seeking the truth(s) of so many things that the “far left side” kept throwing at Trump; the continual dis-mis-mal-information trail which was always upfront & foremost of everything that has happened these past 4 years+! Yes, I truly appreciate this group, every article from Dr. Malone & his amazing wife- my eyes, mind & soul have definitely opened to (as President Trump says: ) A new Golden Age- hopefully more common sense will enter the minds of the Loonies on the left! One can hope & Pray to God this will happen!

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The "far left side" = COMMUNISM

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Wow JG...it's been quite a while since I've heard the word "Slobs"!

Thanks for the reminder...for the world has fallen victim to just that old phrase.

(sorry slobs...but you know who you are by now)

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Sorry I probably shouldn’t have used that word. We keep our property fairly clean, by no means are we perfect but we care about our neighbors. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve helped them which to me comes with living next to someone. This guy put the soft voice on like he’s Mr. Wonderful and just does whatever is good for him and no concern for his neighbors. Over the short time he’s been here I’ve saved him thousands of dollars in repairs on his house and at one point I spent a couple hundred dollars fixing an insulated window, really pulling favors from a company I deal with to get it fixed and he didn’t reimburse me the money for almost 3 months. I had to call him and tell him to pay me back. I didn’t make a time on it but saved him 2500 dollars to replace it. He has a hundred trees in his yard and blows all the leaves into the street which all, all end up in my yard. I had to tell him to stop. It takes me hours and hours to clean them out of my bushes then I see he’s doing it again. It would take him a 1/2 hour or so to pick them up. I called him at one point and said just tell me when you blow them out in the road, it’s easier if I pick them up out there than in my bushes. One time they were away and I paid to have a friend clean their yard. 🙄🙄🙄

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You truly have the patience of Job, James.

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Thank you Tom, I’m definitely a work in progress. I wasn’t happy calling him for my lousy 200 dollars after 3 months. At the 1 1/2 moth point he actually brought it up to me, and said I don’t have the money now but I’ll get it. Did I tell you he’s a PCP…..

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Couple things, James, - what is 'PCP'? Also, any idea what that property was selling for before your slob neighbor bought it?

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You’re going to love this one Tom, he’s a primary care physician!! House prices in Mass. are crazy!! Zillow shows our house from about 800-900 thousand, crazy!!! I bought this house in 1999 for 235 thousand I think. There about. I may take Fritz Dahmus’ suggestion and move up to NH…

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THAT is amazing, James... A DOCTOR! Holy cow! Something strange going on there. But life is too short to put up with that shit.

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I was wondering if you slob neighbor was a Section 8 recipient courtesy US taxpayers.

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No he does work and he has two young kids that probably keep him busy. But that doesn’t mean you treat your neighbors badly. Many younger people have no etiquette, many didn’t learn it from their parents. I’m old school.

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So, does the doctor have a WIFE? In any event, you would think he would have hired yard maintenance people - and well as a home handyman - which clearly he is incapable of handling either chores himself.

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Yes he has a wife and I think they’re about in the same mindset when it comes to doing the wrong thing as far as the treatment of a neighbor that keeps helping you….

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Walls do work.......even in yards......and buses stop where the kids are. Call the bus company.

Move to the country. I did. Peaceful.

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I did call them the bus company. My neighbor leaves his cars in the street so when the plow goes by there’s a big berm of snow around them. Water runs down and fills inside the snow banks and it’s like an ice skating rink with a snow bank around it so the bus and the kids can’t get near there. He also put paper bags filled with leaves after the town stopped picking them up all along the road. So those are there all winter rotting away. They don’t pick them up until June I think. It looks like Tobacco Road over there. 😒😒

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A total SLOB! 🫣

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My husband goes around the neighborhood when it snows and snow blows the neighbors driveway and sidewalk.

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I have a older couple (late 70s) who came here a fee years ago from Iran. They speak about 5 words of english, and the wife has severe handicap with her legs, and the husband is just old (according to the wife). I make sure their sidewalks and driveway are done so he doesnt wind up a statistic of shovelmania heartattackkius, that happens to people. Both (i believe) are jabbed, so i do my best to keep them alive,

Neighbors think cause their from Iran, theyre terrrorists. Im sure Iran sends their finest handicapped octogenarians here to kill americans

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Your a good neighbor T

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Although, I know little about you, on a personal basis, but if I had to guess? I would bet dollars to donuts, you are a way better neighbor than I could be, even on my best behavior

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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve plowed my neighbors driveway. I hate to say it, they make it hard to want to help them. It frustrates me

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Sometimes neighbors can drive you crazy. It sounds like you are being an extra great neighbor. Some people haven’t been taught to say thank you.

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Buy a bigger blower, and the two of you could go back and forth blowing leaves at each other. If your blower is more powerful, you win !

8-)

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LOL!

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No no no it's fine.

I totally get the picture and you have the right to exercise the word "slobs".

It maybe goes back further than ancient Rome as a description.

Not just your ordinary old global slang word.

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Maybe James could have gotten more modern and called them a "couple of dildos" ?

That would bring us up to at least the 1980's, no?

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I'll need to double check the Urban Dictionary on that.....or tiktok.

Yes...the game show authorities say that is acceptable!

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Definitely sloppy and inconsiderate neighbors! Ugh! 😩

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Thank you James for this wonderful post! God is good! 💟🛐✝️‼️

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Thank You Jennifer, I had heard this years ago and again recently and it fit in with the irritation of my neighbors. I thought I’d share it, it’s a great story.

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Loved the story, James, although instead of being made into a teacup, I asked God to shape me into beautiful female woman rider's horses english saddle. Then I can between two things I love most for the rest of time !

Zing !!!

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James I would be irritated with those neighbors too! 😠

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Excellent James! Thank you 💯🙏🏻🇺🇸

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Thanks Joan, it’s funny how a story can make you see things differently. Sometimes just being aware can change you, in this case bring you patience.

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I’d never heard this tea pot story. I will never forget it either. Inspiring and so true.

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It is a great story Joan, I’m really glad you liked it. I like sharing these types of things on Dr. Malones sub stack, I knew people would appreciate it.

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Beautiful story James!

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James I empathize.

In all seriousness call the bus company or school district that runs the buses and ask if the bus stop can be changed. Buses have to be routed around special needs, split routes and many other things, including residences of sex offenders.

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Wow, James. I was completely wrong about you. Here I am thinking you were a yellow tea cup, and you turned out to be blue.

Go figure !

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How’s it up in the north country. Still snowing up there?

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Yup. I got the tank partially fueled up with 50 gallons of fuel i bought and filled myself. Brought the snow blower for the driveway and parking areas cleared, access to the fuel tank cleared.

Then i realized there was 14 inches of snow on the roof, and some ice damming, so I raked the roof mostly clear.

I also delivered a half dozen NJ fresh cinnamon raisin bagels to my snow plow guys wife. Happy wife, happy snow plow dude. Happy snow plow dude means when im not here, ny driveway gets cleared.

I found a bunch of flag markers all over the property to the south. My neighbor who i've never met must be having his property surveyed

Ill text ya pics

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Long day heavy wet snow

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Just plowed the job site driveway before it freezes tonight

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That was beautiful. My eyes may or may not be slightly wet. 💖

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Thank You Karen. It’s an old story the author is unknown.

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Feb 16
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I sent it to you Jennifer. Make sure you receive….

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I received it. Thanks.

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