Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Feeling Blue?

A few years ago a container of humanitarian aid was donated to the organization I was working for. We distributed a lot of aid in those days to many people who were suffering from the ill effects of the very destructive civil war. The contents of the container surprised us somewhat. It was a twenty foot container stuffed completely full of Fruit Loops Cereal. Not your normal flour, oil, and beans mix. Normally we had a very strict policy on humanitarian aid that was donated. We never used it for ourselves or our families but since no one here in Middle Earth eats cereal or even knows what it is we gave ourselves- and our children- several boxes each.
We noticed that the Fruit Loops had a big sign on the front of the box saying that this box contained the new 'Blue Ring'. We ate it up. I wondered why someone would donate an entire container of Fruit Loops. Who in the West thought, 'Hey, let's send a container of Fruit Loops to feed poor hungry villagers'? It was an odd thought.
Several days later we had our answer. Our children ate the cereal gratefully and gladly. They then went to the toilet in due course and what resulted literally glowed bright blue. I am not exaggerating! Bright blue that looked as if it would glow in the dark. Well, there seemed to be no other side effects so we kept giving it to our kids. We also distributed it to the nation as we could. I remember one hospital was especially grateful for us donating cases of the stuff for their patients.
I am sure that whoever donated the cereal was just getting rid of a mistake by giving it to a country with no litigation options. We were grateful to be singing the blues.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very good story!! It sure gave me one good laugh this morning. Take Care, Angie.

Strider said...

Mike- you need to leave something I can contact- or write my SA for my e-mail address.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha, thanks 4 embarrasing us daddy! sorry I haven't been on in awhile, I've been busy. In fact I should be doin Mandarin hmk so laters, luv ya!