A little more than ten days ago, having found myself behind ye olde 8-Ball I put out a call for donations for the first time in the over ten years I've been using American Digest to record and catalogue the changing fortunes of my own life and this nation.
I'd hoped to raise a bit of cash to help ameliorate the unexpected costs of moving from Seattle to California. Anything at all would be a boost, I thought. How much could it possibly be?
What has happened since has filled me with a deep and abiding gratitude for all of my readers and their -- literally -- unbelievable generosity. To say I am overwhelmed by your many gestures of kindness is to only place my hand lightly onto the cool and deep surface of the water of human kindness I have experienced since the 19th of November.
There's a song about this experience,but I never thought I'd have the great good fortune and God's grace to experience it. Now I have and I'm sending it back out tonight to all my readers, to my friends, with my deepest thanks.
This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie
You find out who your friends are....
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Posted by: Bfwebster at December 1, 2014 8:47 PMTake care, buddy. I wish you the best. American Digest is indispensable.
Posted by: Brian at December 1, 2014 8:58 PMI've said it before. You are the best blogger on the planet and I'm an addict. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Nancy at December 1, 2014 9:08 PMI appreciate the variety of topics, your eye for artistic images, and the numerous other sites I've found because of mentions here (come back Capt Dave).
Your site is a daily requirement for me. May God keep you safe and well.
Posted by: Scott M at December 2, 2014 12:46 AMWe get to dining on the varied feast you provide every day, Gerard, and then, Odd Zooks! We remember the provider. Thank YOU, thank YOU, thank YOU!
Posted by: Ralph Kinney Bennett at December 2, 2014 4:31 AMWish I could have spared more, but I got a nasty letter from the IRS that spoiled Summer and Christmas.
Hang in there
Posted by: Mumblix Grumph at December 2, 2014 5:02 AMGerard: you reap what you sow.
Simple as that.
Considering the benefits of checking in here every day.....the jewels, surprises, inspiration, laffs, tears and delights...I wish I were flush enough to send heaps more. I am gratified that your loyal friends and readers have come through. I couldn't make it through the day without my daily dose! Thank YOU!
Posted by: Dinah at December 2, 2014 5:52 AMThere are weeks when I only have time to check the pulse of the culture I live in. During these days I only check 2 sites. First yours, then second Drudge.
Take care and leave the button up for those of us who want to hit it now and then.
God Bless you,
Bill Henry
Posted by: Bill Henry at December 2, 2014 7:15 AMI love stories like this. It restores my faith in people. A good guy finishes first, once again.
Posted by: Leslie at December 2, 2014 8:11 AMWish it could have been more... leave the button up.
You're a constant breath of fresh air and sanity.
What I'd really like to see, Gerard, is a picture of you with your cardboard sign and a cup sitting at a busy intersection down at Costco. Oh, gosh!! I'm just kidding! Take it easy, brother.
Mal-oh-kee-oh!!
Posted by: AbigailAdams at December 2, 2014 10:30 AMI'm glad you're okay, financially and in all other ways, but.... we have $2 trillion in unfunded liabilities, 36% of all Americans on the dole, and a poverty rate of 24%. Oh, and we're all set to give illegal aliens their own drivers' licenses, which means they will automatically be registered to vote the straight Democratic ticket (and understandably so, I suppose). They'll probably be introducing legislation requiring universal mandatory gun registration in a few years and sending the California DOJ SWAT team in black MRAPS to blow the doors off the hinges of anyone they suspect has not complied. We're in the middle of a manmade drought as they funnel millions of tons of water away from the richest cropland on earth into the bay to save a fish half an inch long. Highest state taxes. One-party Latin American-style political monoculture. The list continues ad infinitum.
I stick here because rural Northern California is my mother country and I have made up my mind they'll have to kill me. But... why would anyone voluntarily move here?
Posted by: Phil Ossiferz Stone at December 2, 2014 1:35 PMNo man was ever honored for what he received. He was honored for what he gave.
--- Calvin Coolidge
St. Francis has high regard for you as well. Please notice the presence of g-e-r-a-r-d in his regard.
Ah, Gerard, I can only stand on the sidelines and cheer on others with the means. Hopefully, my tweets and links have sent a few dollars your way!
You deserve it!
Posted by: Joan of Argghh! at December 2, 2014 4:46 PMHey, some of us weren't done... keep that address up!
Posted by: Joe Katzman at December 2, 2014 6:07 PMAgreed with all the previous comments. I can only add my sincere thanks for providing this site.
And - Leave the button up. I'm happy to contribute.
Posted by: Vanessa at December 3, 2014 4:12 AM
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