On Being Friends

On Being Friends

Mike, a rough-and-ready kind of boy, and Jonathan who was just the opposite,were the best of friends. Jonathan had a severe heart condition that prohibited him from engaging in any kind of strenuous activity.The story that follows is part of a longer story called" On Being Friends."*As the episode below opens Mike and Jonathan are taking a shortcut through the woods on their way home from school.

1. Jonathan and Mike broke out of the woods, and there was the pond-frozen over. Mike became excited and said that he hoped to be able to go skatingthe next day, which was Saturday. He said to Jonathan, "I 'm going to test the ice to see if it's okay for skating."
2. Jonathan didn't think that was a good idea. He said, "No, Mike. Don't do that. The police will test the ice, and they'll put a sign up if it's safe to skate." "I'm going to test it anyway." Mike replied."I won't go far."Then he picked up a slender branch about eight feet long and handed it to Jonathan.
3. "Here, Jon, you hold this branch on one end, and I'll hold the other end. If the ice cracks or breaks, you can pull me in." Then, seeing the doubt on Jonathan's face,he continued, "It's going to be okay, Jon. I won't be out there more than a few feet."
4. Jonathan still had misgivings but Mike seemed sure of himself, so Jon didn't protest anymore. He just warned Mike to be careful and not to let go of the branch. Mike stepped gingerly onto the ice. "See,"h e said. "It's solid." Then he ventured the length of the branch, one step at a time. Suddenly, the ice cracked.
5. Mike screamed and down he went into the icy water, over his head. Then be bobbed u p. Jonathan was almost pulled onto the ice when Mike went down, but somehow he managed to stay on shore and hold on to the branch.
6. Mike was trying desperately to get back on the ice, but although he tried again and again he couldn't make it. He was rapidly becoming cold and numb; he couldn't survive much longer.
7. Jonathan kept tugging on the branch, but to no avail. Finally, Mike's stiffened hands gave up the branch. He shouted, "Jon! Go for help. I can't get out! I can't get out!" Jonathan didn't know what to do. The nearest house was'about half of a mile away. He knew he couldn't run that far, and he had the awful feeling that Mike would slip under the ice and never be found if he left.
8. He decided that there was only one thing to do try to save Mike himself. He picked up a rock somewhat smaller than a soccer ball. He was going to break a path through the ice to Mike;then Mike could swim and walk out. The next step was when Jonathan showed his true intelligence. Instead of pounding the ice starting from the shore, he laid himself on the ice and wriggled out to the edge of the ice that surrounded Mike.
9. H e did it that way because h e knew that if he started from the shore and worked outward he would be in frigid water. He also knew that he wouldn't be able to stand that-his heart would give up. After he reached the open water by Mike he laboriously lifted the rock over his head and pounded it on the ice. Crunch, a piece of the ice broke off.
10. Then, he wriggled a little backward toward the shore. Crunch, another piece. Wriggle. Crunch, another piece. With each piece Mike moved a little closer to the shore. Jonathan was becoming exhausted; he didn't have much wind or strength left, but he did have determination. Wriggle, crunch, and still another piece broke off. Mike was now up to his waist because the bank of the pond sloped upward, and he was able to help Jonathan. He took the rock from his friend and began breaking the ice with all his strength.
11. Suddenly, the ice gave way and Jonathan was in the water. But now Mike could walk out because there was an open path to the shore.H e pulled Jonathan with him until both Iay exhausted and gasping on the beach.Jonathan was all but done in.
12. Mike knew they couldn't stay on the shore. Jonathan would die if Mike didn't fetch h elp. Then, Mike showed his real mettle. He took off his coat, laid it on the ground, and dragged Jonathan until he was lying on the coat. Then he used the coat as a sled to pull Jonathan over the snow-covered ground.
13. After prodigious effort Mike hauled his friend within a quarter mile of the nearest house. He didn't have the strength to pull anymore. So he told Jonathan to stay there, that he was going to run to the nearest house and get help. Mike covered the distance to the house in Olympic- record time. He pounded on the door, roused the people, and told them the problem.
14. Mike and the man of the house ran to where Jon was lying. Meanwhile, the man's wife called the emergency squad. The man, a strapping fellow, picked Jonathan up and ran for the house. Mike, with the welcome siren of the emergency vehicle in his ears, trailed behind. When they reached the house, the man's wife was waiting with blankets in her arms.
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How to Tell Bad News

How to tell bad news.

Mr. H. and the Steward.

Mr. H. Ha! Steward, how are you, my old. boy? How
do things go on at home ?
Steward. Bad. enough, your honor; the magpie is dead.
H. Poor Mag ! So he's gone. How came he to die ?
S. Overeat himself, sir.
H. Did. he ? A greedy dog; why, what did he get he
liked so well ?
S. Horseflesh, sir; he died" of eating horseflesh.
H. How came he to get so much horseflesh?
S. All your father's horses, sir.
H. What ! are they dead, too ?
S. Ay, sir; they died of overwork.
H. And why were they overworked, pray ?
S. To carry water, sir.
H. To carry water ! and what were they carrying water
for ?
S. Sure, sir, to put out the fire.
H. Fire ! what fire ?
S. O, sir, your father's house is burned to the ground.
H. My father's house burned down ! and how came it
set on fire ?
S. I think sir, it must have been the torches.
H. Torches ! what torches ?
S. At your mother's funeral.
H. My mother dead !
S. Ah, poor lady! she never looked up, after it
H. After what ?
S. The loss of your father.
H. My father gone, too ?
S. Yes, poor gentleman ! he took to his bed as soon as
he heard of it.
H. Heard of what ?
S. The bad news, sir, and please your honor
H. What! more miseries! more bad news!
S. Yes, sir; your bank has failed, and your credit is
lost, and you are not worth a shilling in the world. I
made bold, sir, to wait on you about it, for I thought you
would like to hear the news.

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Electric Cars are coming

Pollution Emissions= Zero
Trenton, New Jersey 1. Imagine a car that has no en-gine, burns no gasoline, gives off no air pollutants,makesvery clean noise, and has practically no vibration.That's what is possible with a battery-powered automobile. What's more, there are hundreds of such vehicles now in use.
2. Ordinary automobiles burn gasolineor diesel fuel, and,when that happens,poisonous gases suchas carbon monoxide, one of the gases that make smog, are released.The result is pollutedair that can be harmful to your health.
3. Although progress has been made in reducing the gases given off by fuel-burning engines,it is doubtful that they will ever be perfect.So, the search is on for nonpolluting ways to power cars and trucks. The electric car may be the best solution to the problem. Car makers and state and federal governments are spending millions on researching ways to make practical,affordable battery-powered vehicles.
4. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protectionand Energy-NJDEPE for short-is experimenting with an electric car. You can see the car in and around the streets and roads of Trenton,N. J. You'll know the car when you see it. It's a minivan with the sign "ElectricPowered" ona side panel.It probably won't be traveling in the fast lane of a highway, although it can go as fast as 52 miles an hour. You might get a little impatient if you are behind it at a stop street. The vehicle doesn't have a fast getaway.
5. Don't expect to hear the kind of roaring noise that ordinary vehicles make. The van's electric motor makes a soft, whining sound-somethinglikethe sound you hear coming from a refrigeratormotor. As reported in The Times(Trenton,N. J.), Nancy Wittenberg,a director in the
6. Electric PoweredVan
NJDEPE, took the electric car for a spin. Afterwards she was quotedas saying, "There'sno noise. It's very weird. But it's a regular van-nice, comfy seats, a radio and cassette player."
7. After about 60 miles on the road,the car's several batteries need recharging. No problem: just plug them into a special outlet outside your house or garage. Ms. Wittenberg spoke of the future when she said,"Someone's going to market an electric car with a long range, that's easy to recharge,andfor a good price, andit's goingto be successful." Let's hope she's right-we will all breathe easier.
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Desert Storm Decision

In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, where the United Nations forces, led by Americans, ousted the invading Iraqi army from Kuwaifs soil, the cessation of combat took place in short order after the Allies were able to wrest control of the sldes from the infamous Saddam Hussein's air force.

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf the U.S. field commander, tended to bristle when asked by the media why he hadn't pursued the enemy all the way to Baghdad, saying:
"It would have been foolhardy for us to try to occupy that capital city and pile up American casualties from sniper attacks by Iraq's guerillas. That may be hard for you Monday morning quarterbacks to understand but I thoroughly agreed with the president who was convinced that such an action would have sent a bad message to the Arab world and would have splintered the Allied partnership."

Schwarzkopf reiterated that it was his mission to hurl back the invaders with a minimum of bloodshed but not, he added in a caustic tone, 'to splatter Saddam over the desert sands. That dictator's days are numbered," the general concluded, 'but I expect his end is likely to come at the hands of his own people."

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Don't Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences

It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized how often I interrupted others and/or finished their sentences. Shortlly thereafter, I also realized how destructive this habit was, not only to the respect and love I received from others but also for the tremendous amount of energy it takes to try to be in two heads at once! Think about it for a moment.

When you hurry someone along, interrupt someone, or finish his or her sentence, you have to keep track not only of your own thoughts but of those of the person you are interrupting as well. This tendency (which, by the way, is extremely common in busy people), encourages both parties to speed up their speech and their thinking.

This, in turn, makes both people- nervous, -irritable, and annoyed. lt's downright exhausting. lt's also the cause of many arguments,because if there's one thing almost everyone resents, it's someone who doesn't listen to what they are saying. And how can you really listen to what someone is saying when you are speaking for that person?

Once you begin noticing yourself interrupting others, you'll see that this insidious tendency is nothing more than an innocent habit that has become invisible to you. This is good news because it means that all you really have to do is to begin catching yourself when you forget.Remind yourself (before a conversation begins, if possible) to be patient and wait.

Tell yourself to allow the other person to finish speaking before you take your turn. You'll notice, right away, how much the interactions with the people in your life will improve as a direct result of this simple act.The people you communicate with will feel much more relaxed.around you when they feel heard and listened to.

You'll also notice how much more relaxed you'll feel when you stop interrupting others. Your heart and pulse rates will slow down, and you'll begin to enjoy your conversations rather than rush through them. This is an easy way to become a more relaxed, loving person.

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Do Something Nice for Someone Else and Don't Tell Anyone About It

While many of us frequently do nice things for others, we are almost certain to mention our acts of kindness to someone else, secretly seeking their approval.When we share our own niceness or generosity with someone else, it makes us feel like we are thoughtful people, it reminds us of how nice we are and how deserving we are of kindness.

While all acts of kindness are inherently wonderful, there is something even more magical about doing something thoughtful but mentioning it to no one, ever.You always feel good when you give to others. Rather than diluting the positive feelings by telling others about your own kindness, by keeping it to yourself you get to retain all the positive feelings.

It's really true that one should give for the sake of giving not to receive something in return. This is precisely what you are doing when you don't mention your kindness to others --- your rewards are the warm feelings that come from the act of giving.The next time you do something really nice for someone else, keep it to yourself and revel in the abundant joy of giving.

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Driving While Drunk

Throughout literature we find recurring tales of forthright people who are outspoken in condemning illegal practices only to be brought low themselves when they, or members of their families, commit such acts.

Since literature reflects life, we can expect to find similar instances in which a person's ethics are compromised, and he falls prey to the pernicious evil that he had publicly denounced.
Take the story of Barry Vernon (not his real name), an aggressive Ohio district attorney. Vernon could be counted upon to make acrimonious remarks about anyone who was driving while intoxicated.

On numerous speaking engagements, he railed against drunkenness and swore that any such culprit who was found behind the wheel of a car would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
As fate would have it. Vernon's own son smashed into several cars, injuring four people seriously, and then failed a sobriety test.

Following that flagrant violation of the law, Vernon resigned from office, saying that as a private citizen he would continue his crusade against those who drive under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile, he wished to spend more time with his son to try to understand the young man's behavior.

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