Improve Your View, Another’s Motivation
Dear Ann Landers: I live in a very nice neighborhood. All the homes and lawns are well kept except for one. The unkempt lawn is directly across the street from ours, so that is our “view.”
In order to keep our “view” and the neighborhood looking decent, I am more than willing to push my lawnmower over their lawn a few times a month. I do this on the days I mow ours, so it is not much trouble on my part.
The first time I did it, our neighbors were quite pleased and said so. I even spread some weed killer on their lawn. I would like to do it on a regular basis, but my wife says I am being a darned fool. I say I should do it for the sake of neighborhood upkeep, home resale value, safety for the neighborhood children and weed, vermin and fire control.
What do you say, Ann? Am I a sucker? I will follow your advice. - Keeping the Joneses Up With Us in Oxnard, Calif.
Dear Ox: You sound like a generous guy with great instincts. By all means, continue to do whatever you can to keep the neighborhood looking good. It enhances the value of your property, and it also might motivate your shlocky neighbors to shape up.
I don’t want to start a family fight, but it’s your wife who is the darned fool for not appreciating the decency and generous spirit of a guy like you.
Dear Ann Landers: You need a reality check. You had no business saying that the armed services could do a great job with that 19-year-old, messed-up kid. Adding insult to stupidity, you said if the kid didn’t make it, no sweat - a lot of kids don’t make it through college either.
The military does not want and will not accept these problem children. It is not a baby-sitting service and is pretty darned choosy about who gets in. Frankly, I would not want these kids fighting for me. Most of them are low-IQ, unmotivated losers looking for a free ride. At least if they are college dropouts, their parents will pay the tab and not stick the taxpayers.
I don’t want some guy who can’t pull his own weight endangering the life of my son in the Navy. They depend on each other. Evidently, you have forgotten how special our military people are. - Mom in Arizona
Dear Arizona Mom: Thank you for your comments. I’m sure many readers will agree with you. There is, however, another point of view. Keep reading:
Dear Ann Landers: I am writing in response to that person who said the 19-year-old loser had no place in the military. That letter had special significance for me because I was once a 19-year-old loser. I had very little motivation, low self-esteem, no role models, no job, no direction and no future. The United States Navy took me in, and I have been here for 17 years.
The Navy saved me. I have learned self-control, leadership, discipline and the value of self-esteem. I am now married to a wonderful woman and have four great kids. I’ve been around the world several times and have been given a first-class education. I had no idea who I was or what I could do until I joined the Navy. If I had not joined up, I probably would be in jail or dead by now. Just sign me - Red, White and Blue in Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Red: What a great testimonial. Thanks for the drum roll, and here’s a 21-gun salute to you for giving the Navy those well-deserved kudos.