Thank you to all the readers who called, or emailed me birthday wishes this past month. It really meant a lot to me. On August 18th, I will be doubly blessed. One of my three children will turn the big 2-1, and one of my three God children will take a vow to love, honor, and cherish the man she will be married to. Brad, Sara and Robby, my best wishes are with all of you on your special day.
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Welcome this month to our newest subscribers, Jim, Carol, John, and Dave. To my other loyal readers and writers, thank you for your help for this issue. I would like to expand the Metro a bit, and include a "funnies" page. If you can draw, or write, I will be looking forward to accepting comics for this new page. Also, at the bottom of this page, there is a chance to view one more bonus page by submitting a comment, suggestion, or question to the Metro. I look forward to reading them all.

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My final thought this month is a story about being there for those people that are in need. Even if it is not someone you personally know, it may just be more convenient to turn a deaf ear a plea for help. Take a minute to listen to, touch, or be a comfort to another human being. A guy once gave his life so I could be saved. Please, treat others as you would like to be treated.

Have a great month...
-Kelly

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. 

All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
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Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. "Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered. "No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" "I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
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The next time someone needs you .. just be there..... Stay!