Lottie Kendall - Thank you. Your kindness gives me overwhelming joy.

The simple truth of the matter is, some people run; others hide. To speak up takes courage. If I make a difference in one person today, I will live my life with purpose. 

Nina Hollander and Lottie Kendall - Both of you ladies brightened my day with the gift of positive feedback that meant the world to me. Thank you! 

Even if a referral never comes to fruition, the value of friendship here that I receive from you is more valuable to me than wealth. These virtual paths we carved out on ActiveRain led us to each other. I discovered each of you have beauty of your own, and that keeps us aligned to promote greater harmony and gratitude.

I am thankful for each of you.

Patricia

Amen George Souto! Your comeback was a great summation! I learned a valuable lesson early on in life. After my spouse passed away, I cried alot about all the valuable time we wasted stressing over dillemas we faced because we couldn't arrive at the same decision; thus causing lots of heartache and unnecessary waste of precious time. When couples fight to be right about making that best decision, both fail. And I have seen single people who couldn't make a decision and it cost them more than what a dillema was worth. 

Thanks, George.

Patricia 

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® - I've only been to Hawaii once, when I visited my daughter in Japan; then had a lay over in Hawaii so I decided to extend my vacation. But I never had the experience you had back in 1972. You must have been so young! I got married in 1971 and life was so different then, but challenging in its own way.

Your description of the scene of what you saw back then was so vivid. In my mind's eye, I visualized the intensity of that phenomenal experience. You're a great storyteller of the truth. As I read each word you wrote, I felt like I was on that journey behind you, peering over the rim of the fissure, feeling the rippling fires underground in earths infernos. How could a sight like that and that feeling ever go away?

If seconds counted, I couldn't imagine how everyone would get off that Island alive. As for first responders, they are awesome and great, but they don't have super powers. They are only human and each one puts their life in harms way to save others. The thought of all this, the lava, the eruptions, and the people who won't leave is all consuming. 

I am so happy our paths crossed here on ActiveRain. Your life experiences are many and so great, just like you!

Patricia 

Endre Barath, Jr. - Those are two great examples of people making foolish and very bad decisons. Thank you for all that you add to my creation of blog posts and the entirety of the collection of stories here on ActiveRain. 

Making sense of senseless decisions is mind blowing. Often, it puts others at risk and 9 times out of 10, it's the one who made the bad decision that cost someone else their life or crippled them for life. When that happens, tax payer dollars are wasted in court, while others recover from accidents or funerals that never should have occurred in the first place. Repeat indecisive behavior is exhausting and never makes sense.  

American roads are overcrowded in major cities. The population explosion is mind blowing. Jaywalking, like making the decision to cross when there are hardly any seconds left is to disparage drivers and the people behind those wheels. 

I can't think of anyone who likes rules, but following the rules sure helps people and pets to live longer!

Thanks, Endre.

Patricia

Amanda S. Davidson - That is a very poignant and honest answer. Letting go and not knowing what's next is a very frightening experience. I don't think anyone wakes up and says, What risk is in store for me today?  There are so many mixed emotions, and certainly critical decisions to be made. Nothing comes sharper into focus than those do or die moments and taking chances is a big, big risk. 

Decisions have a domino effect and sadly, some don't even think about the consequences their decision make on other people. But it happens all the time. As you say, the "vicious cycle," is very real. 

Thank you for sticking with me on AR over the years. It has been great to know you. Your success is something to be admired, largely attributed, no doubt, to the wise decisions you've made over time. 

Roy Kelley - The closest I got to a burning inferno was being inside more than one burning building and one burning hotel. Seeing and feeling the burning flames, breathing in the smoke, it's nothing I'd wish on anyone. The First Responders who risk their lives are truly heroic figures but would have less to worry about, if people listened. 

Making challenging decisions is extremely stressful. Accepting the valuable judgments of people who have this background may be infinitely more rewarding than taking the gamble.

This may sound like an oxymoron, but to be stressfully courageous pales to choosing to be scared to death when the heat is on and nobody is there.