Cheers and Jeers

Cheers: To the Department of Family and Protective Services, attorneys, CASA of Tarrant County and the many other individuals, businesses and groups that made Tarrant County National Adoption Day special for 66 kids who now have forever homes. It was a great day in Tarrant County to show we care.

Cheers: To our neighbors across the street. Keith and Dana put Santa in a sleigh with the reindeer on their roof with lights so that it is visible a half-mile away.

Cheers: To Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger and the other church men and women who spoke out in the Nov. 29 commentary. In this time of fear and uncertainty, it is heartening that our religious leaders are speaking out — and leading. May God/Allah bless them all!

Jeers: To those wishing to bar Syrian refugees. Did Jesus turn away the desperate and the hopeless, the injured and the sorrowing? Christians, will you live your faith or not?

Cheers: To the Quebe Sisters Band for the awesome performance Dec. 5 at the Christkindl Market in Arlington. Hulda, Grace and Sophie braved 35-degree weather and a stiff North Texas wind to play almost 80 minutes of nonstop, foot-stomping, sing-along western swing and Christmas favorites for all. Thank you.

Jeers: To governors who want no refugees in their states. The actions of a very few sick, angry men with false religious views grip us in fear and perpetuate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent people fleeing violence in their country.

Cheers: To the lady and her daughter who found my cellphone on Nov. 24 at the Target store on Overton Ridge and took the time to find me in the store. They were truly guardian angels. It was a very stressful time and their kind attention was heartwarming.

Cheers: To Steve Schubert, senior plumbing and mechanical Inspector for city of Arlington, for going out his way and doing an inspection on my gas line on his way to work so I could get my gas turned on after five days and for following up.

Cheers: To the wonderful female employee in the auto department of the Wal-Mart in Mansfield. She took care of my battery problem with such courtesy on Dec.1. I’m sorry I forgot to ask her name. Again, thank you, and Merry Christmas. I so appreciate it!

Cheers: To Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and others who are giving vast amounts of their wealth to charity. They will be blessed!

Cheers: To the trauma team of doctors and nurses at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine who took care of my aunt who was involved in a car crash on Nov. 21. Their compassion and professionalism was outstanding and we will never forget the kindness they showed to all of our family.

Cheers: To the manager at the Boston Market in Arlington who made up for an error in communication on Thanksgiving Day. Your understanding and generosity restored Thanksgiving Day for my family. Thank you.

Jeers: To the Arlington school district. Controlling erosion should be part of normal maintenance. If erosion was happening near one of the district’s football fields, it would have been taken care of immediately.

Cheers: To the parents who shepherd the cluster of kids waiting for their school bus on the corner of North Tarrant Parkway and Parkwood Hill Boulevard. I render my morning salute to you as I motor past. Thank you.

Cheers: To the two lovely ladies who aided my wife and me when we fell on the parking lot of a beauty salon on Precinct Line Road in Hurst.

Jeers: To a Colleyville gym that encourages younger, more athletic people to bully older people, despite a first-come, first-play policy.

Cheers: To friends, family and strangers who made financial contributions to my sister’s fundraiser, joinkathysarmy.com. She temporarily relocated to Indianapolis to await a liver and pancreas transplant. Our family appreciates the thoughts, prayers and generosity. Cheers to family friends for running the campaign and to another newspaper for publishing her story.

Cheers: To the student athletes and coaches of the Grapevine High School fall athletic teams. Your excellent overall play in all the fall sports set a high bar for future teams. Go, Mustangs!

Cheers: To the gentleman in the red Ford F150 at the Starbucks at South Bowen Road and West Park Row Drive on Dec. 3. I had some sad news that morning and you buying my coffee made me cry, smile and made my day. Thank you and God bless you. Wishing you a very merry Christmas.

Cheers: To Janice Congress for blessing a grandmother and her grandson, Chase, at our Lake Worth Wal-Mart. Chase is such a great kid with an amazing smile. Janice is an angel among us.

Cheers: To those who pay it forward. It warms my heart in this time, when people get offended by cups or shoot up schools, that there are still people who take the time to show others that they care. I have never been the recipient of such a gift, but I love to see or heard about it. God blesses those who bless others, and it is a blessing to see such an act.

Cheers: To whoever paid for breakfast for my wife and me on Dec. 9 at Denny’s on Loop 820 in Lake Worth. It has already been paid forward. God bless and have a merry Christmas.

Cheers: To the young man at the West Side Cafe who on Dec 7 thanked me for serving and said it was an honor to shake hands with a World War II veteran. He also paid for our meal. It meant so much to me. Thank you and God bless you.

Cheers: To Family Toyota of Burleson. I’ve bought many cars, but have never been treated as well or with such respect. They really exemplify family values.

Jeers: To a satellite TV company that charged me $398.61 to settle my late mother’s bill. She was in a nursing home, but I paid all of her bills and my name was on the account. They insisted on an early cancellation fee, even with a death certificate.

Jeers: To the North Texas Tollway Authority for charging me $5.10 for less than one minute on the toll road. I got onto the Loop 820 toll lane by accident at the Interstate 35W entrance and immediately got off at the next exit (Loop 820 and U.S. 377). I was told that this charge was because of rush-hour traffic. I do not consider 9:27 a.m. as rush hour. This is highway robbery.

Cheers: To the volunteers who worked with the staff at the Fort Worth Animal Shelter. Kennel construction was the planned project, but because of the threat of inclement weather that project was delayed. Volunteers showed up to help out with other projects. Consider volunteering at the shelter.

Cheers: To the Fort Worth Fire Department, Local 440, Central Market and to the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association for making this year’s pot luck party a smashing success. I love all of our nosy neighbors and appreciate their generous love and support. Blessings for 2016!

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Cheers and Jeers."