Hauling Stuff

I began hauling stuff to Columbia yesterday. I took 16 boxes of videos, 3 boxes of records, and some posters. A friend works at a storage facility, so I took them there. I am probably going to make another run on Friday. So, I my first order of business is to get the stuff down there. I am going to need a place to stay and a job. Please help if you can. Scroll down my blog for information. My sister-in-law Martha is havig surgery today to remove her gall bladder. She was pretty ill over Christmas. I went by Providence Hospital to see her and my brother, when I was in Columbia yesterday. She was in good spirits, but she wanted to get it over with. My brother was very tense. I could tell he hadn't slept much, but thankfully he is on vacation this week. John is a very Type A personality. My advice to him--go get something to eat and take a nap. He probably didn't. At least, he is in good health. Speaking of health, I am going to a counselor today. I need some help, too. Hopefully so I can stick around a while longer. There needs to be a brighter day ahead. Somebody just needs to believe in me, and I need to believe in myself.

Moving Day

So today starts the transition from Greenville to Columbia. I have liked my stay here in Greenville. I have enjoyed the mountains and the arts. The people, for the most part, have been very nice. If ever you get to come to Greenville, do. They have some great museums and galleries. There is always something to see and do here. And, I was happy to reconnect with my friend Mary. She has helped me in many ways, and I thank her for taking my autograph collection for her store. Hopefully, Caroline will advertise it. So, now I start another chapter in my life. Back to Columbia. Back to friends, and whatever family I have left. Back to people who seem to care about me and my well-being. Back to people that I can have a conversaton with. Back to people who I have something in common with. Back to people who like to have fun. Back to people who won't ignore me. Back to people who aren't overly paranoid. The list goes on. The moving is not going to happen overnight. I am beginning with some records, posters and videos. At some point, I will need to get a van or truck, which will be costly. Money that I don't have. I still don't have a place to stay nor a job. So, if anybody can help me financially to make the move and get me started again, I would be eternally grateful. My paypal address is durst11@gmail.com. Or, if you want to send it to my current living address, it is Walter Durst, 2530 East North Street 14-L, Greenville SC 29615. I'll probably be here for two more weeks, but I have t0 get out by January 31st. I am not interested in publicizing any gifts, so your anonymity will be preserved. God help us all.

Help

Last Saturday, I had a very low point. I guess depression is the kind of thing that can be controlled, but if it raises its ugly head, watch out. That is what happened to me last Saturday. All of those lectures that I have gotten from friends went away. I just felt it was time to check out. Thankfully, I found my way over to a friend's place and she helped me get through that low point, and I climbed up to the other side. I found that I couldn't worry about this. Scroll down to the rollercoaster story. When I was in Columbia for Christmas, a friend blessed me out for not calling her, when I got at that point. I realized that people do care about me. They care whether I live or die. They care about the fact I have talents. They care, because they know I care. So, I need to get out of this situation. I understand, in a small way, how it must be with married couples, where a spouse will abuse the other spouse. Not so much physically as emotionally. I need to get out now, and I need help. Right now, I need money to get out. I know I need to move back to Columbia, but I don't have a job or place to stay. One blessing is that I have a little over a month to do this, but the sooner I get out of here, the better. I need a place to store my stuff. I am not going to take my bed or some other furniture. They are too heavy, and I won't have any help to move my things, so I'll let my roommate have them. This has been a good experience for me to be here this year. It has allowed me to realize what is important in life. Sometimes, you get so caught up in your work that you just don't see the big picture. You also see who are the important people. Who really care. And that life is too short. So, if you could help me, please do. I am not interested in publicizing anything. I just need a life away from here. My current address is: Walter Durst, 2530 East North Street 14-L, Greenville SC 29615. And, my paypal acct. is durst11@gmail.com. I need a home. When I get home, I promise you that I will seek professional help to get me back to where I need to be. And, I promise you that I will drive carefully and not hit any bridges along the way.

And So It Goes

One of my favorite writers is Kurt Vonnegut. He would write "And so it goes" to describe life. I had a wonderful Christmas. I got to visit with Peggy and Joni, and stay two days with Thom and his family. It was great to be with friends. Friends who love me. Unfortunately, when I got back to Greenville, I got a note from my roommate giving me an ultimatum of being out of here by January 31st. He apparently doesn't like me anymore. He told me I needed to get out, no matter if he has to move or not. He says I don't clean enough. I have, but he said early on he likes to clean, so I thought he would. He didn't. It has not been easy living with him, but I have tried to make the best of it. So, I have to leave. I knew I would, but the tone in his note to me was not pleasant. I don't have a place to move to. I don't have the money to move. I don't have a job. So, I ask anyone who reads this to help me, if they can. My current address is: Walter Durst, 2530 East North Street 14-L, Greenville SC 29615. My Paypal account is durst11@gmail.com. I would be eternally grateful. I am not looking to publicize any gift. And so it goes.

Best Christmas

With the Christmas season upon us, I have been reflecting on my best Christmas. Some would say that their best Christmas was their best present. Maybe they got a ring from their fiancee. Maybe it was that bike they got as a kid. I have a friend who does not believe in Christmas. So, this blog is for her and all of those other people. When I was in seminary, I worked for a department store called Sanger-Harris. I had never missed a Christmas with my family in South Carolina before, but I had to this time, because of the retail hours. I had to work Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, so it was impossible to fly home for just one day. So, my parents sent their gifts to me in Fort Worth. I was living in the seminary dorm in a room by myself. I went outside and found a twig with some green pine straw on it and set it up in the corner of my room. At 8:30 Christmas morning, which was about the time my parents would start their Christmas, I put on some Christmas music on the stereo and began opening my presents. For the next 15 minutes, I laughed and cried. I was alone, but I was there in spirit. We were together although apart by 1000 miles. I learned that there will always be Christmas, despite the situation you find yourself. As you spend time with your family and friends this season, think of those who are far away from your family. The soldiers around the world. The people who have to work. And those who don't believe. Merry Christmas.

Rollercoaster Worry

I love rollercoasters. Thanks to my friends Del and Chris, I have gone on some of the best rollercoasters in the world. Most of the time, I don't ride on coasters that go upside down, as I tend to get sick. Here is a little known fact for you. Did you know that when you ride on one of the coasters at Six Flags Over Texas, you can sing the first verse of "Amazing Grace" before you get to the first hill? True story. The thing about rollercoasters with me is that I am deathly afraid of them. I love them, but I am still very scared. I haven't been on one in a while. I don't know if my heart can take it now, but I bet you that I could still do it given the chance. But, there is one ritual that I go through just before riding a coaster. I worry. I worry about the brakes. I worry about the cars. I worry about me falling out. I worry about getting stuck. I worry about getting sick. I just worry. Once I get on the ride, I find that it is fun. At the end of the ride, I want to ride it again. It is like life. I have been very scared over the last few weeks about my future. There are a lot of unknowns. Where will I live? Where will I work? Can I get hired? How will I afford to eat? How will I afford to fix my car? The list is endless. But, I came to a realization yesterday. I am killing myself worrying. If I give it up to God, it will be okay. He will provide. I would have been dead long ago if not for God. I just had to remind myself of this. It will be okay. Whatever your concept of God is, it is okay. I still ask folks to scroll down my blog to read "Life's Lessons". Maybe it is God's way of communicating with you and touching your heart. I can't speak for Him. And while you are at it, say a prayer for a 7 year old boy named Christian. He is in the hospital with a brain tumor and will have surgery tomorrow. A tough time at Christmas, but I have faith he will be okay. We will all be okay. God bless.

Thanks

For any regular reader of my blog, you would have noticed that I try and have a two-word title. Sometimes, it has gone to three words, but that is rare. It is my little trick. The thing that sets my bog apart from some others. After all, the title of my blog is "My World", which is two words. So, it just makes sense to have these things have a title with two words. That is not the case today. Why? Because I felt like one word. The word is "thanks". It is a simple word. It is a word we use with more familiar people. With friends. If you use "thank you", you usually use those words to people you don't really know, or it is more formal. But thanks is something you tell to friends. It is shorter than thank you. I see "ty" or "thx" online. People know what you mean. So with that information, I wanted to write today about Mary. She is a friend from college who has helped me see some things about myself that I haven't seen in a long time. One of the worst feelings one can have is a feeling of worthlessness. You feel like nobody cares or take you for granted. When Van Johnson died recently, my thought was that I thought he had died some time ago. He was out of the public eye. I wonder if he thought nobody cared, especially after he stopped acting. But, Mary showed me yesterday, through several mental exercises, that I do have worth and need to act on it. It is not an overnight process. It will take time. But, I need to be positive. My friend Gwen says to remember "Head to the Sky". I know what she means. It is being in a constant state of prayer. Don't be so negative. Trust God. Laughter is the best medicine. I still need help. We all know that. Please scroll down to my blog on "Life's Lessons". I have some critical issues that need to be addressed. I know that. I am going to need help, as I cannot do it all myself. Please help me. And thanks, Mary.