Vendor Writing

Mercy for the delivery drivers

BY PAUL A.

My friend who is a waitress Downtown told me that there is no room in the parking garage. So she parked on the street and they fined her a $100 ticket. Which is wrong. They’re charging road tax, for liquor drivers, independent drivers, too. They park for a half hour. The drivers got to pay out of their own pockets. That’s wrong because of the fact that these independent drivers deliver the food at restaurants, the beer and the liquor. The independent drivers, especially, they should not be charged, I feel, for parking.

Because we’re going through a pandemic. And it’s bad enough that these people have to pay out of their pocket for that.

That’s wrong. It should be lying on the big companies. The companies are getting money and these independent drivers, they’re not making a whole hell of a lot of money. They got bills to pay, they got families to feed. Nobody’s taking this into consideration. Everybody needs to be on a level playing field. I mean, if you had to park on the street out here, you’d get a ticket for $100 for parking there for a day. That’s superfluous.

I understand. They gotta maintain roads and all of that. But where’s the money? I don’t see the money going anywhere. And these waitresses and waiters do not even make minimum wage and they gotta pay this out of their tips, out of their pay. Something’s wrong with that.

I can understand the city wanting to get ahead, some kind of way, and balance the budget. With all these taxes you’re charging people, they’re driving the people out of downtown.

To Live It

BY JOHN H., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I had a customer who came to my corner and even brought a chair to sit and speak to me how I share God’s word to many and live it. Many of us here in the city of Nashville’s got a problem living God’s word. For many reasons they struggle. One, because of what they’ve been taught from childhood. Two, a very racist environment. Three, many pastors haven’t preached about things they ought, and of course, haven’t spoke the whole truth.

Sometimes, I wonder if I always have the courage to live everyday life doing the right thing. Many times I get angry and frustrated, especially when people try to play me stupid. Many times you do everything in your power to ignore them and be a better person even though you know the real truth. But we must live the way God wants us to live. We tease and what not, but what’s really in our heart is love, to be true. Many can’t live it, but believe me, we reap what’s sown. What goes around comes back.

On this day Nov. 12, I ask God to please forgive me. I gave it to him a long time ago. But today, I surrender. He knows what’s in my heart, and I know I have his forgiveness. He promised me that. But from this day on, I’ll walk that straight line. Life’s too short to waste it and end up with Satan when you die. Today is the time for salvation. Live it. Everyday is a day of thanks. Sorry people, Thanksgiving Day is just another day to me. Don’t celebrate it one day but every day.

My Mouse and Me

BY JUNE P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

It’s cold outside so my mouse and me cuddle on the couch with a blanket. My friend called and said that it’s snowing. In about an hour, my mouse and me got all wrapped up and went out. My mouse made some mittens for his little feet. They’re so cute. Took one of my thick socks and sewed him four little mittens. They’re bright orange, so we built a snowman. Lost my little mouse about four times. The last time he was sitting on the snowman’s head. Then, we made snow angels. His was some cutie. Four little footprints waved in the snow.

Hope everyone is wearing their mask. We are. Made him one too. Be safe everyone.

Valentine’s Day

BY JUNE P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

My mouse and me the morning of Valentine’s Day. I give him a chocolate piece of candy. He bought me a lot of tissues he tore up on the floor in the shape of a heart.

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone.

How Can We Keep Our Minds Right.

BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I’m posing that detrimental question, “How can we keep our minds right?” First and foremost one must actually understand that the mind is no more than a mere muscle. When you understand and accept the process of taking care of human anatomy we should all realize that all muscles must be used and used in an adequate means.

Observing the so-called vital circumstances and situations in this world today, we must focus more on the idea that only one entity has all control. As long as we stay closed minded and solely focused on the worldly aspects there isn’t going to be a way out. To search for the true sense of “Freedom,” which will keep our minds right, is to seek and follow the will of our Almighty God who instructs us to stack up goods not here on earth but for the here-after.

We as humans are just so busy doing our own will — which is a limited will — and we are so wired up in doing it that we don’t realize the good and bad things that come about from us doing our own will. For instance, there is an action in life called addiction. This action actually isn’t seen by society’s eyes as something that everyone has, but one way or another we all do have addiction. Many have yet to realize and or accept the fullness of the various definitions of addiction, and it’s the reason why someone’s mind isn’t in a state of being right.

There have been individuals that have dealt with accepting harsher areas of addictions in our lives, but there are plenty that have yet to accept the minut actions that are actually as bad and harmful as the addictions others have owned up to and become willing to work on in themselves.

See, the difference between those that own up and those that hide are only steps into freedom. Those stuck in denial of having an addiction will forever believe that they have the answer. Those that are involved in taking steps to figure things out and share their experiences, strengths, and hopes will have a prosperous avenue into doing the next best thing.

To me, the ideal thing is to keep the Almighty God of your understanding first. Then, stand firm in changing the things that you can to better yourself. Then accept the wisdom to know the difference between what you can change and what you can not. With all of that, the muscle within one’s head should be strengthened enough to produce the right fundamental choices since life itself is full of choices.