Thanks
all for reading the McCarty Metro this month. This month marks
my 22nd year as your editor. You can see on the Blast From The
Past page, my first edition in October of 1992. I do want to thank
all who read, and especially all who submit work to the Metro, and
I invite you to come back next month and check out our November Thanksgiving edition.
October has
always been my favorite time of the year. As a kid,I always look forward to
this time of year, from that special smell of burning
leaves, to the chilly nights and mild days, playing touch
football on Westfield, the Lions and Red Wings starting, the
Tigers finishing, ringing doorbells on Devils Night, then then
pièce de résistance... HALLOWEEN
NIGHT!
Halloween was always one of my favorite
holidays (after Christmas of course). Mom would let us and I go up into the attic a week before to pull down the
cedar smelling costumes from previous years, then all the brothers would plot what their costume would be... Would I be a hobo, or would I be a tramp. Just kidding. The anticipation of that special night ranks right up there in my favorite memories, along with raking, jumping in, and then burning leaves.
Again, I want to thank
you all. I hope you enjoy the McCarty Metro as much as I enjoy bringing
it to you each month. The final thought I want to leave you with is a
story about 2 brothers, and how a small issue blew up. Enjoy.
Once there was
two brothers who lived on adjoining farms who fell into conflict
with each other. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of
farming side by side, sharing machinery and trading labor and
goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration
fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew
into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an
exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One
morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it
to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm
looking for a few days' work," he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and
there. Could I help you?" "Yes," said
the older brother, "I do have a job for you. Look
across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in
fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a
meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the
river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well,
he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one
better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I
want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence so I
won't see his place anymore. Cool him down,
anyhow."
The carpenter
said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the
nails and the post-hole digger, and I'll be able to do a job
that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town for
supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and
the he was off for the day.
The carpenter
worked hard all that day measuring, sawing and nailing. About
sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished
his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide - his jaw dropped. There
was no fence at all. It was a bridge - a bridge stretching from
one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work with
handrails and all. And the neighbor, his younger brother was
coming across with his hand outstretched. "You are quite a
fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they
met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see
the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.
"No, wait!
Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you,"
said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the
carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build.
Have
A Great Month... and allow the carpenter help you trade your fence
in for a bridge..... Cheers!
