Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

13 May

People I Like And Respect, Clint Rushinki Is On The List, He Takes Care Of My Car

by Jon Katz

I love my car and wouldn’t trust it to just anyone. I am happy to trust it to Clint Rushinski, who has a garage just a mile or two down the road in front of our farm. He seems like a gentle giant—soft-spoken, honest, and great at emergencies.

When I panic about my car, I call Clint, and he talks me down and explains why I am wrong. I also know of several people he has helped when they are in trouble.

Clint is thorough and meticulously candid and has come to my farm more than once to bail me out of a mess.

He’s also charming to deal with and precisely the kind of person I try very hard to do business with.

I have always admired the small business people who make it work in my small town.

He is also one of those self-motivated people who built his small car repair business into a big one that requires a week or two in advance for an appointment. He cuts no corners and explains what he is doing.

The automotive industry is constantly evolving, and Clint keeps pace with these changes without compromising his integrity. As much as cars change, he remains Clint.

I am genuinely grateful to have him in my life and consider him an invaluable part of my support system. His insistence  on explaining the intricacies of my car’s mechanics and the necessity of maintenance items like filters and brakes only further solidifies my trust in him.

If he isn’t busy, we talk about life in our town.

I never know what he is talking about when he explains my car repairs, and I am sure he knows it, but he does this explaining for him as well as me,  even though I’m blurring over. He has a soft but sweet smile.

Today, we talked about his beard and why he cut it off. He said it keeps him warm in winter. When I saw him sitting quietly underneath a car, working on it, I had to take a picture. He just smiled.

His business is doing well, but I’m even more confident in his honesty. I love taking photos of good people who work hard, are honest, and succeed.

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Photo Journal
13 May

Photo Journal, Dusk, Bedlam Farm, May 13, 2024

by Jon Katz

My posse grew larger today; Zinnia wanted to join Zip (Zud) and me and walk around the farm as the clouds gather. I love my farm photo journals at dusk; it seems like a beautiful time here, and it’s always something to photograph. I’m never alone out there. (And yes, that is a Taylor Swift cap, the song in white is “’tis the damn season.”

I can relate to that. It’s my winter song.

My daily selfie, Zip, was napping.

 

Maria and I have lunch on the back porch when the sun is out, and Zip and Zinnia join us—kissing and scratching everywhere. Zinnia and Zip have bonded, nose-touching and kissing whenever they meet/

As he does every day, Zip hunted for his nemesis, the Queen of the Chipmunks; I’m working on a name for her. He failed again; she popped up, aroused him, and disappeared into one of her tunnels. She better hope Zip does not get his hands on farm tools.

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The Mansion
13 May

Sharon (And I) Thank You, Army Of Good. Her New Tablet Is Coming on Wednesday.

by Jon Katz

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your incredible generosity and compassion.

I greatly appreciate your quick reply to my plea to help get Sharon, a beloved poet and Mansion resident, a new computer tablet. Sharon, who is currently battling a severe illness, will soon be leaving the Mansion to reside in a specialized facility that can cater to her worsening condition and new dietary requirements.

The first one I bought her several years ago is broken and irreparable.

I got the money I needed by Sunday, plus I have $300 -$400 left over for the Mansion Fund, which has been low because of the country’s economic pressures; it has several requests yet to be filled.

I didn’t choose an Apple tablet; I found a cheaper one that is simple to use and meets her request for the kind of tablet she wanted—simple, reliable, and a specific size. Sharon is not disabled, just seriously ill. I also bought her two years of tech support and insurance.

Several people have told me they are mailing checks for Sharon; I won’t have a final total for a while. All of them asked that any overage go to the Mansion Fund.

Thank you so much for that. We have some people needing good shoes, underwear, and toiletries. I have asked some of them to be patient; we’ll get there.

And thanks once more to the Army of Good for your genuinely remarkable support of the Cambridge Food Pantry.

You are turning lives upside down in the best possible way, drawing attention from pantries and hunger everywhere. The Wish Lists we created for the Mansion have sparked many changes in non-profit fundraising.

I know things are tough—they are for me—but we have kept the flags flying and continue to do good every day—blessings to you.

Sharon will leave the Mansion shortly, waiting to know where she is going. I was sweating getting the tablet to her before she left, but we’ll be fine.

She says she’s very close to finding a place to accommodate her unique needs. People like you brighten the world—mine and everyone’s. I hope I have conveyed how grateful she and I are.

Donations are always needed for the Mansion work. I have enough for Sharon and needed it quickly. You can contribute to the fund anytime via Paypal, [email protected] or Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz 13, or by mail, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

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The Cambridge Food Pantry
13 May

Sarah’s Choices For Today, Monday. Two Inexpensive Foods, Chicken In Water, ($7.93 For Four), Liquid Dish Soap, $3.49

by Jon Katz

One of the Cambridge Food Pantry’s guests—she sends me messages occasionally—says the food the Army Of Good is sending to the pantry is important because it symbolizes better times and hopes for the future. It also restores pride to their battered and exhausted parents.

“It’s a painful thing,” she said, “to not be able to get the dishwashing soap you have always used and to explain to the kids why they can’t have their favorite meals any longer; someone else decides what we eat. Don’t get me wrong,” she added, “we are all so grateful to the pantry for what we have but asking for some of the foods we love is a blessing and boon. You have to be unable to buy your food, maybe, to get it, but we can’t thank you people enough. We are feeling more human again, feel taller in the eyes of our children.”

It was good to see that message.

Sarah’s choices today are both much in demand and also inexpensive.

She’s asking for the dish ($3.49), soap, and canned chicken ($7.93 for four).

First, Gain Ultra Bleach Alternative Dishwashing Liquid Dis Soap, Honey Berry Hula, 21.6 fl. oz, $3.48 a bottle.

Second: Swanson, White Premium Chunk Canned Chicken, Fully Cooked Chicken, 4.5 Oz Can (Pack Of 4), $7.93.

Here they are, on the Amazon Cambridge Food Pantry Wish List, updated daily for people who wish to make their own choices. Your ability to choose what you donate is a powerful way to make a difference in someone’s life. All contributions, no matter how small, are very welcome and greatly appreciated.

A few dollars make a whopping difference. You have inspired the managers and volunteers of the pantry.

Your generosity has also transformed lives, thrilled children and adults, and restored dignity and hope to people who cannot keep up with the food prices corporations and supermarkets are charging. It’s tough to tell your children you can’t afford the cereal they love or the dinners they like eating.

We are deeply grateful for your support and cannot thank you enough for your kindness and compassion. Thank you.

I just purchased three lighting fixtures—thanks for the donations. Some of you have noticed how dark many of the pantry’s storage and supply rooms are; the volunteers often have to work in dark conditions. They will be working under bright lights now.

Three new and brigter ceiling structures are on the way. Thank you

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