Chapter 2 1

------------------ dedicated to ganila "It cannot be said that wealth cannot do good, nor that wealth cannot do harm. It has often been said, but there has never been universally convincing evidence of its truth." John Kenneth Golbliss "Rich Society" ------------------ 1 I woke up yesterday with cancer and other than that I was fine all day.At night, everything must have turned around, because I only had to suffer from anxiety.The day before yesterday I had kidney failure and could only urinate a little bit, and I was seriously considering kidney transplantation.When will I learn to be grateful for a minor illness?

According to the latest recognition from the Department of Labor (Viveka and the kids), I am now in my third year of unemployment.In the past three years, apart from occasionally finding a little bit of work to help me out, I just looked at the woods outside the window day after day, witnessing the changes of the seasons. Who but a dreamer can live on nothing but Mistral?I've also lived only as a "freelance writer" - which is pretty safe because it's in Goobsville, and as they say, you can always find something to do... from famous professor to It's fun to be downright poor, but my mind still can't handle this huge change...three years.After three years of no income, I began to envy those who managed to earn some money.At this point I was in more dire straits than near bankruptcy.I've screwed all my friends over.In order to avoid people's eyes, I always hide my head and tail when walking around the town.The bill collector would have knocked down the door of my house if he hadn't thought that walking a mile through waist-deep snow might not be able to find my home in the shadowy woods.Every time I thought that I was in danger of losing my reputation, I couldn't help feeling terrified, so I laughed hard, whistled hard through my teeth, did handstands, and danced jigs desperately.How do they know what it means to be discredited?I was a well-respected social figure in the Goublesville community, and I fell so badly that I even made a fool of the phone company.Electricity theft, poaching, theft, fraud, opportunism—in short, I expect myself to be energized even in the face of adversity, and determined not to let it overwhelm me—this, I’m afraid, is the crux of the matter.

But the situation has changed again.What it came down to was a sudden sense of urgency.What a big joke, I couldn't help laughing out loud.For three full years, nothing caused me a sense of urgency.Yes, three years.Constant final warning.Lots of notifications.Hungry bellies.Work is hopeless.All this had to be endured.Although I am a man suffering from cancer, a weak heart, a tumor in the brain, and bad breath, I do feel relieved that there are too many lice and no worries, and the feeling of guilt is overwhelming.Should I feel good?What a contradiction.It's so confusing.When did all this end?

Dear friends: You'd think it was an official letter.Yes, I'm afraid you will, but please rest assured that the reason I am substituting this form for a personal letter is due to time constraints. Since I wrote you the state of my family--moral, spiritual, ethical--has gone from bad to worse, worst of all financially. I have chosen you as the recipient of this extraordinary letter because your past has shown you to be a humanitarian, a benevolent citizen of the Earth who cares about others - a little more than the rest of the people.Chances are you've answered the call and donated to CARE and UNICEF, sponsored a family in Seoul, sent money to Biafra Relief, Managua and Tegucigalpa Relief supplies were sent.With the Heart Foundation, Easter Seals and the American Cancer Society vying for your hard-earned money, you must be getting tired of other letters soliciting sponsorship at this time.But before you throw this urgent request away, I hope you will give me a moment to point out a few facts you may not be aware of, namely, that a tax-deductible donation to the Save the Nudelman Foundation", you not only save a family in need, but you also support the arts.The amount of money you give to us will do twice as much as any other charity.For us, there are absolutely no overhead expenses, no need to spend money on office equipment or hire help.Our only expense was the stamp on this letter, and even this stamp was stolen.Every penny you spend goes directly to us.There are no middlemen.There are no Foundation officials who have plucked their hair.Your hard-earned money will not turn into wheat and rot in the Calcutta docks or be eaten by the rats there.And the money you will donate will not only sustain a family in the stateside American town of Old and Good Goobersville, New York State, but also support her ethically.

Here's what this tax-deductible donation can solve: Just $5 provides the whole family with a nutritious meal that includes meat, salad, a quart of milk and just the right amount of sweets. $10 gets one of my kids to go to school in a shiny new pair of leather shoes. $25 gets the kids a Hanukkah or Christmas gift (you decide). $100 would delay our family from foreclosure by a full month. $500 is the best proof of everlasting friendship.It will bring the author to tears, and your name will be inscribed on the brass honorary plaque that stands atop Nudelman's Hill to commemorate your act of kindness.

As my good friend Dr. Marvin Mandel said: "There are some people who deserve help from other people just by the way they live their lives." A copy was also sent to Dr. Mandel. Dear friend, even though I sleep until noon and have no memory of what it was like to get a paying job, how it felt to go to the alarm clock or pay Social Security, I assure you, you Day after day I deigned to be busy in that small office, when I had to put on a crisp white shirt to squeeze the bus in the freezing morning.I'm not going to the dance hall, and I'm not going to squander your hard-earned money.

Let me say to you, if you are going to suffer as much from losing an insignificant portion of your wealth as a grain of grain in your granary, just think of how miserable my life is, and that may ease your pain And get some solace.I sleep until noon every day because I need to - I suspect narcolepsy or encephalitis, maybe both.When you first got to know me I was suffering from monthly migraines that have progressed to almost daily.As you probably know, anxiety can kill.Man needs little victories to offset big defeats.God messed up his gifts, and instead of giving me a strong body and a weak mind, he gave me a weak body and a strong will.Even my kids get ascariasis.What has this to do with weak minds?Irrelevant, but only to show how my thoughts shifted under the constant pressure of anxiety, only you will believe it.

Of course, for now, donations to Asia are the cheapest and most practical.Just $6 can sustain an Indonesian family for a month, but not enough to keep my car running.However, once I have money and fame (as inevitable as moldy bread) I will never forget your good deeds and I will give back every penny and through Foster Children's Adoption The agency adopted a Brazilian child and provided help by mail. Thank you very much.May God give grace to your letter with check. Executive Director of the Save Nudelman Foundation Neil Ho Nudelman