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 Bob
and Judy Bell
Where goest thour, my Canadian Longevity bonus?
The
American Longevity Dream Bonus given to double
Diamond Associates was created to provide funding
for "non-essentials", more for upscale
cars, grand vacations, and educational expenses,
than for food, shelter, and clothing.
My
Dream Bonus will be split three ways. First, I
have a great affection for history, especially
the history of the old west. To that end, I will
use my first Dream Bonus check to "sponsor"
a buffalo. There is a program here in Texas, similar
to the one in Montana, that will allow me to underwrite
the restoration of a herd of America's native
animal, the buffalo. Knowing that my business
plan would allow me to reach the Double Diamond
level, I made a trip to see the buffalo herd and
I selected my personal buffalo which I will underwrite.
I
have named my buffalo "REAGAN" in honor
of America's longest living President.
Secondly, my Dream Bonus will be invested in the
future college educations of my grandchildren.
A mutual fund account for each of the three grandchildren
that I have now has been established with a local
stockbroker and regular contributions from the
Dream Bonus will be made to each account.
Thirdly,
a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero SUV has been purchased
for use as my personal vehicle, but also to carry
the American Longevity products to the meetings
that Judy and I hold in various cities in Texas
and Louisiana.
Maintaining
Cemeterys pays
Respect
to the Dead
It's
an old Southern tradition that may be conducted
in many parts of America, but as a child I remember
going with my Grandparents to spend a day working
in the cemetery by their local church. Tombstones
were straightened, weeds were pulled, tree limbs
were trimmed, grass was mowed and raked, stories
were told about the people in the graves, and,
in general, it was a time when the community history
and the people who made it, was shared by the
living.
I
remember helping my Granddaddy Bell paint part
of the white fence around the cemetery while other
members of my family would work on the family
plots.
Now, nearly half a century later, I chose to do
my volunteer service by returning to that old
family tradition of participating in cleaning
up cemeteries. The work was done at tow cemeteries:
the Bryan City Cemetery where my parents are buried,
and the Bright Light Bapt6ist church Cemetery,
a small plot of land beside this country church
in the rural area of our county.
The
Bryan City Cemetery is maintained by the municipal
government, but the annual community workday involved
picking up trash in and around the graves and
the acreage dedicated: for future use". Several
tombstones in the older section were washed and
mild was removed from many of them. I was a part
of a group of about sixty people who turned out
to volunteer their time and energy.
On
Sunday, May 19th, Judy and I worked at the Bright
Light Cemetery in much the same way that I worked
with my Grandparents many decades ago. We picked
up trash, pulled weeds, washed tombstones, and
read many interesting headstones while we worked.
Too
few people take time to visit cemeteries, I suspect.
The history of an era, or of a community is to
found there. It was almost like taking a trip
back in time for me to spend my hours there. Thinking
about hose days as a child when I would go with
my Grandparents and spend a workday, as well as
seeing the markers of many people whom I had known
during their lifetimes, flooded me with memories.
For
me, perhaps the greatest value of becoming a Double
Diamond was the required opportunity to volunteer
myself for a trip to the past.
Bob Bell
June 13, 2002
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