The Dysentery Was Worse Than the Cholera

Well, I'll tell you something, Marie

The dysentery was worse than the cholera

You wouldn't believe it

But it's the god's honest--

Oh, well, with dysentery--

Oh, Marie, you don't want to hear about all that

Not while we're eating

I don't like to complain anyway

Not when all the people there

Have it so much worse

I mean George and I were there for--what?

Two weeks?  Two and a half?

More than most people

Obviously

Some people would never even consider going

Most of our friends thought we were nuts

Skipping a second honeymoon

To go to a Third World country

And be of service

But I told everyone my first honeymoon was for me

The second one should be for somebody else

We sent postcards back to everyone we knew

You got one, didn't you?

Of me holding the starving baby?

Wasn't that devastating, Marie?

I mean, it breaks your heart, doesn't it?

These people are just icons of suffering

It really tears at you

It does

George was really impacted by the whole thing

If it was up to him

We'd still be there

Building villages, coming up with irrigation plans

But I said, 'George, we've done what we can do'

Because sometimes, that's what you have to tell yourself

'I've done what I can.  I've done all I can do.'

And again, more than most

Much more than most

Some people go their whole lives

Never even thinking about helping others

So the fact that we went out of our way like that

To help those poor people

Well, it fills my heart

It really does

And it helps you appreciate all you have

That's why I sent out that e-mail

With all the details of our trip

Minus the dysentery and the cholera, of course

Because I want more people doing what we did

And I'm sure if they heard about that, they wouldn't go

They'd use that as an excuse

When, really, it was a very fluke-y thing

I just thought it was important

For everybody to know

That George and I were doing something good

With our time and money

You know, some people say you should do those things quietly

Do them in secret

You know, because that's what makes you a--

What?

A Good Samaritan, or something?

I don't know the term

Anyway, they say to do it discretely

But you know, I don't know how you're supposed to inspire people

To follow suit

If you don't show them

You have to show them, Marie

Otherwise how will they know

Who it is they should be emulating?

That's what George and I believe, anyway

What's that?

Going back?

Oh Marie, I mean

Well, obviously

Not anytime soon

At least I won't be

George--

Well, you know, he's a matyr

He's just such a matyr

Of course he was affected by the suffering

He'd never seen suffering before

I've seen it, Marie

I've EXPERIENCED it

Comparatively, of cousre

I mean, in comparison

Everything's relative, you know

No, I think I've done my part, Marie

And I feel good about that

I really do