SUNDAY REFLECTION
"A Day at Baltimore Airport
The writer and his wife live in LA and both work for Uncle Sam.
Dear Friends and Family, I hope that you will spare me a few minutes of your time to tell you about something that I saw on Monday, October 27, 2003.
I had been attending a conference in Annapolis and was coming home on Sunday. As you may recall, Los Angeles International Airport was closed on Sunday, October 26, because of the fires that affected air traffic control. Accordingly, my flight, and many others, were canceled and I wound up spending a night in Baltimore.
My story begins the next day. When I went to check in at the United counter Monday morning I saw a lot of soldiers home from Iraq. Most were very young and all had on their desert camouflage uniforms. This was a change from earlier, when they had to buy civilian clothes in Kuwait to fly home. It was a visible reminder that we are in a war. It probably was pretty close to what train terminals were like in World War II.
Many people were stopping the troops to talk to them, asking them questions in the Starbucks line or just saying "Welcome Home." In addition to all the flights that had been canceled on Sunday, the weather was terrible in Baltimore and the flights were backed up. So, there were a lot of unhappy people in the terminal trying to get home, but nobody that I saw gave the soldiers a bad time.
By the afternoon, one plane to Denver had been delayed several hours. United personnel kept asking for volunteers to give up their seats and take another flight. They weren't getting many takers. Finally, a United spokeswoman got on the PA and said this, "Folks. As you can see, there are a lot of soldiers in the waiting area. They only have 14 days of leave and we're trying to get them where they need to go without spending any more time in an airport then they have to. We sold them all tickets, knowing we would oversell the flight. If we can, we want to get them all on this flight. We want all the soldiers to know that we respect what you're doing, we are here for you and we love you."
At that, the entire terminal of cranky, tired, travel-weary people, a cross-section of America, broke into sustained and heartfelt applause. The soldiers looked surprised and very modest. Most of them just looked at their boots. Many of us were wiping away tears.
And, yes, people lined up to take the later flight and all the soldiers went to Denver on that flight. That little moment made me proud to be an American, and also told me why we will win this war. If you want to send my little story on to your friends and family, feel free. This is not some urban legend. I was there, I was part of it, I saw it happen.
Will Ross
Administrative Judge
United States Department of Defense
"I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, 'Mother, what was war?'"
GREAT TRUTHS
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.
SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not wetting in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 20 success is . . . going all the way.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 60 success is . . . going all the way.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not wetting in your pants.
Pass this on to someone who could use a laugh.
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way BUT never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.
YOU CAN 'FESS UP—WAS THIS YOU LAST NIGHT?
'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP,
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING
WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK
BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN,
FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE,
FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
I GOBBLED UP TURKEY
AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS,
BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING
SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING,
FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING
AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT I MANAGED TO YELL AS
I SOARED PAST THE TREES,
HAPPY EATING TO ALL,
PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY
HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
You Know You Overdid Thanksgiving When….
WE HOPE YOUR THANKSGIVING WAS TRULY BLESSED!
Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Neat Women Inc is a neighborhood where neat women around the world come to visit, laugh, and share. The majority of our visitors are American but there are neat women from too many other countries to name.
Wherever you live, every day is a good day to be thankful—just to be alive. We would like to extend to everyone our heartfelt thanks for your presence and to site some specific reasons for gratitude, each and every day:
If You...
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed that almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
If you can pass this along you may be blessed in ways you may never even know.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
We are thankful for……
The mess to clean after a party because it means we have been surrounded by family and friends.
The taxes that we pay because it means we are employed.
The clothes that fit a little too snuggly because it means we have enough to eat.
A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means we have a home.
The spot we find at the far end of the parking lot because it means we are capable of walking.
All the complaining about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
Our large heating bill because it means we are warm.
The lady behind us in church who sings off key because it means we can hear.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means we are alive.
The piles of laundry and ironing because it means loved ones are nearby.
Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means we have been productive.
And, most of all, your friendship.
We have heard the mournful melody of bagpipes so much in the past year and a half. Another tribute is that offered by the bugler and the story behind that is something to ponder at this time.
The History of Taps
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing, Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellisombe heard the moans of a soldier who was severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son.
The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.
His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals, was born.
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well,
safely rest.
God is nigh.
Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky,
Gleaning bright
From afar,
Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
Rest in Peace……. www.lilesnet.com/patriotic/music/taps.htm If you would like to hear a beautiful rendition, simply give the page time to load and the music will begin.
(ILYCM)
"Memory is the only friend of grief." Rumer Godden
EVE'S THOUGHTS
The women in our special, Neat Women Inc neighborhood are between the ages of 20 something and upward. Soooo….
We asked EVE to compile a list of things she is glad she did to offer women who have not yet reached that magical stage of being "a woman of a certain age." As usual, in her own inimitable style, EVE agreed on the condition that we allow what we requested to be accompanied by a list of what she believes are the best perks associated with being "a woman of a certain age"……in other words….looking forward to the future and what she wants to do. So here you have them:
"I'm glad I"
Took a lot of risks—and tried to be prepared for the outcome, good, bad, or otherwise by carefully examining what was at stake
Understood the value of friendship—and the importance of being a good friend as well as having a good friend and working hard at both
Tried to be unswervingly optimistic—even when I missed the target, I'm glad I always aimed at it as well as I could
Worked at understanding and liking myself—this was a much bigger challenge than I realized now that I have the benefit of hindsight; it took almost 40 years before I learned how to accept a compliment graciously and didn't repeatedly undermine the intent of the person offering it with remarks like, "Oh, this thing? I've had it forever—never thought it looked that good." Or, "Oh, I really am not very good at anything, this is just something I enjoy." And, all manner of other backhanded remarks which actually implied that the person complimenting "whatever" didn't know what they were talking about
Embraced the idea of life longing learning—and appreciated the value of all types of learning whether it be from others, by experience or via some method such as books
Held tight to my conviction that my family, my children in particular, were a top priority—recognized the responsibility I had welcomed by having children and honored that as not so much a duty but a joyous opportunity (even when I wanted to lock them in their rooms—which I never did, nor did I spank or yell a lot—but I was VERY strict as they will be quick to tell you even now that they're adults, and I parceled out equal portions of love and discipline, depending on which was more needed on any given occasion, but I always kept loving them as the foundation for everything else)
Finally came to the realization that regret, guilt, self recriminations, and endlessly berating myself and bemoaning my shortcomings could best be viewed within the context of the "law of diminishing returns"—and could be nauseatingly boring to everyone around me
Tried very hard not to make the same mistake more than twice—and when I did (more times than I intend to dwell on), endeavored to figure out why and learned not to beat myself up too much until I ultimately "got it"
Allowed my spirituality to grow by nourishing it in every way possible
"I'm looking forward to"
Discovering at last what I want to do when "I grow up" and doing it
Paying much greater attention to the really important things—like breathing—which I actually forget to do sometimes
Exploring new places and new people and shifting my learning curve into high gear
Pondering the fact that everything I've done so far has enriched the possibilities of all things I still look forward to doing!
Visiting Neat Women Inc as often as possible (OK—a pure, unvarnished commercial here is allowed!)
Have you thought about making such a list? Do you have anything special you want to share with other Neat Women? Write to us at neatwomeninc@aol.com and let us know.
(CILYM)
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt
"Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it." Gloria Steinem
As we all begin the headlong rush into one of the busies times of the year, the following story bears pondering—it offers useful and instructive insights for any period in our lives, but most especially perhaps, the days when a frenetic pace can block our vision of what is really important.
From, Chicken Soup for the Soul: 101 Stories To Open The Heart And Rekindle The Spirit, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen:
Take A Moment To Really See
"We have all heard the expression: 'Remember to stop and smell the roses.' But, how often do we really take time out of our hectic fast-paced lives to notice the world around us? Too often we get caught up in our busy schedules, thoughts of our next appointment, the traffic or life in general, to even realize there are other people nearby.
I am as guilty as anyone of tuning out the world in this manner, especially when I am driving on California's overcrowded streets. A short time ago, however, I witnessed an event that showed me how being wrapped up in my own little world has kept me from being fully aware of the bigger world picture around me.
I was driving to a business appointment and, as usual, I was planning in my mind what I was going to say. I came to a very busy intersection where the stoplight had just turned red. 'All right,' I thought to myself, 'I can beat the next light if I race ahead of the pack.'
My mind and car were in auto pilot, ready to go when suddenly my trance was broken by an unforgettable sight. A young couple, both blind, were walking arm-in-arm across this busy intersection with cars whizzing by in every direction. The man was holding the hand of a little boy, while the woman was clutching a baby sling to her chest, obviously carrying a child. Each of them had a white can extended, searching for clues to navigate them across the intersection.
Initially I was moved. They were overcoming what I felt was one of the most feared handicaps—blindness. 'Wouldn't it be terrible to be blind?' I thought. My thought was quickly interrupted by horror when I saw that the couple were not walking in the crosswalk, but were instead veering diagonally, directly toward the middle of the intersection. Without realizing the danger they were in, they were walking right smack into the path of oncoming cars. I was frightened for them because I didn't know if the other drivers understood what was happening.
As I watched from the front line of traffic (I had the best seat in the house), I saw a miracle unfold before my eyes. EVERY car in EVERY direction came to a simultaneous stop. I never heard the screech of brakes or even the peep of a car horn. Nobody even yelled, 'Get out of the way!' Everything froze. In that moment, time seemed to stand still for this family.
Amazed, I looked at the cars around me to verify that we were all seeing the same thing. I noticed that everyone's attention was also fixed on the couple. Suddenly the driver to my right reacted. Craning his head out of his car, he yelled, 'To your right. To your right!' Other people followed in unison, shouting, 'To your right!'
Never skipping a beat, the couple adjusted their course as the followed the coaching. Trusting their white canes and the calls from some concerned citizens, they made it to the other side of the road. As they arrived at the curb, one thing struck me—they were still arm-in-arm. I was taken aback by the emotionless expressions on their faces and judged that they had no idea what was really going on around them. Yet I immediately sensed the sighs of relief exhaled by everyone stopped at that intersection.
As I glanced into the cars around me, the driver on my right was mouthing the words, 'Whew, did you see that?!' The driver to the left of me was saying, 'I can't believe it!' I think all of us were deeply moved by what we had just witnessed. Here were human beings stepping outside themselves for a moment to help four people in need.
I have reflected back on this situation many times since it happened and have learned several powerful lessons from it. The first is: 'Slow down and smell the roses.' (Something I had rarely done up until then.) Take time to look around and really see what is going on in front of you right now. Do this and you will realize that this moment is all there is, more importantly, this moment is all that you have to make a difference in life.
The second lesson I learned is that the goals we set for ourselves can be attained through faith in ourselves and trust in others, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The blind couple's goal was simply to get to the other side of the road intact. Their obstacle was eight lines of cars aimed straight at them. Yet, without panic or doubt, they walked forward until they reached their goal.
We too can move forward in attaining our goals, putting blinders on to the obstacles that would stand in our way. We just need to trust our intuition and accept the guidance of others who may have greater insight.
Finally, I learned to really appreciate my gift of sight, something I had taken for granted all too often. Can you imagine how different life would be without your eyes? Try to imagine for a moment, walking into a busy intersection without being able to see. How often we forget the simple yet incredible gifts we have in our life.
As I drove away from that busy intersection, I did so with more awareness of life and compassion for others than I had arrived there with. Since then I have made the decision to really see life as I go about my daily activities and use my God-given talents to help others less fortunate. Do yourself a favor as you walk through life: Slow down and take the time to really see. Take a moment to see what is going on around you right now, right where you are.
You may be missing something wonderful." J. Michael Thomas
"To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations." Emily Dickinson
(ILYCM)
Neat Women Inc thought for the day:
Preoccupation with "busyness" can "blindside" us so that we cannot occupy our days with really living.
SUNDAY REFLECTION
"I dreamed I had an interview with God"
"Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview me?"
"If you have the time." I said.
God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?"
"What surprises you most about mankind?"
God answered: "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they never lived…."
God's hands took mine and we were silent for awhile and then I asked—"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"
God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis! To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally differently. To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them and likes them anyway. To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves."
I sat there for awhile, enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time and for all that He has done for my family, and me and He replied, "Anytime. I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer."
We're convinced that God has a sense of humor and would enjoy the following:
"Six year old Angie and her four year old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud. Finally, his sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."
A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if You can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am!"
SATURDAY SILLINESS
CATS AND DOGS ARE LIKE HUMANS
What is a Dog?
1) Dogs lie around all day, sprawled on the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house.
2) They can hear a package of food opening half a block away, but don't hear you when you're in the same room.
3) They can look dumb and lovable all at the same time.
4) They growl when they're not happy.
5) When you want to play, they want to play.
6) When you want to be alone, they want to play.
7) They are great at begging.
8) They will love you forever if you rub their tummies.
9) They leave their toys everywhere.
10) They do disgusting things with their mouths and then try to give you a kiss.
- Conclusion: They're little men in fur coats.
What is a Cat?
1) Cats do what they want.
2) They rarely listen to you.
3) They're totally unpredictable.
4) They whine when they are not happy.
5) When you want to play, they want to be alone.
6) When you want to be alone, they want to play.
7) They expect you to cater to their every whim.
8) They're moody.
9) They leave hair everywhere.
10) They drive you nuts and cost an arm and a leg.
- Conclusion: They're tiny little women in fur coats.
Buttons we would LOVE to wear
Make yourself at home! Clean my kitchen.
Who are these kids and why are they calling me Mom?
Don't bother me. I'm living happily ever after.
You! Off my planet!
Therapy is expensive, poppin' bubble wrap is cheap! You choose.
Practice random acts of intelligence & senseless acts of self-control.
Bottomless pit of needs & wants.
Does your train of thought have a caboose?
I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.
A PBS mind in an MTV world.
Allow me to introduce my selves.
Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
Whisper my favorite words: "I'll buy it for you."
Better living through denial.
I'm not your type. I'm not inflatable.
Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.
Here I am! Now what are your other two wishes
Back off! You're standing in my aura.
Don't worry. I forgot your name, too!
Adults are just kids who owe money.
Can I trade this job for what's behind door #2?
Macho Law prohibits me from admitting I'm wrong.
Chaos, panic, & disorder----my work here is done.
Earth is full. Go home.
I refuse to star in your psychodrama.
How do I set a laser printer to stun?
I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert.
I majored in liberal arts. Will that be for here or to go?
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is a beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is life, fight for it!
Mother Teresa
Today is the Great American Smokeout. Be Kind to Yourself By Participating or Pass This Along to a Friend Who Would Benefit. The American Cancer Society (ACS) volunteers and staff hold the Great American Smokeout every year to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever. More people quit smoking on this day than any other day of the year. www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/ped_10_4.asp?sitearea=ped
(CILYM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
Eve has developed a real admiration and respect for Martha Stewart and thinks her recent legal problems have as much to do with her being a highly successful businesswoman as they do with any actual infringement of the law. Where is Ken Lay? All of that notwithstanding, Martha has regularly exhibited a healthy wit to accompany her impressive wisdom and has been known to laugh at herself. So, we hope she would take this in the spirit in which it is presented—most of us find massive family celebrations involving food…..a challenge at the very least!
Thanksgiving Dinner
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Because Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Because this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5 AM upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them...they are lying.
We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room...next door.
Now I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress...I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.
Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice among 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a choice: take it or leave it.
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year. either.
I am thankful.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(CILYM)
While you're still laughing, you may want to check out www.therealmartha.com
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
All of the following is worth reflecting on, for Americans in particular, but for all people who value freedom:
The historical significance of November 19th for people living in the United States, pertains to the most fundamental issues of being an American. Today there are not very many descendants of the original settlers, compared to the lineage of a vast majority of U.S. citizens whose forebears started life in other places. In fact, in view of the knowledge celebrated annually in November, during National Native American Heritage Month, it could be said that even the first arrivals were immigrants. For centuries, newcomers have flocked to the shores of what became known as, "the land of opportunity," and the "great melting pot."
On November 19, 1620, the Mayflower arrived off Cape Cod. Peregrine White, the first English child born in New England, who was born on this day aboard the ship, wasn't expected to make such a dramatic debut. There were 102 passengers that embarked on the Mayflower, including three pregnant women. The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620, and sighted land on November 9, 1620. Landfall was made on November 19, 1620.
While the Mayflower was at sea, Elizabeth Hopkins gave birth to a son they named Oceanus. Three days before land was sighted, a young boy named William Butten died. While the Mayflower was in Provincetown Harbor and the Pilgrims were looking for a place to settle, Susanna White gave birth to son, Peregrine (the name means "one who journeys to foreign lands.") The third pregnant woman, Mary Allerton, gave birth to a stillborn son on board the Mayflower, just as the first houses were being built at Plymouth. In 1621, Peregrine's widowed mother married Edward Winslow, later governor of Plymouth Colony. Peregrine White held a number of minor government posts during his lifetime and died in 1704. For American history fans, there is a Mayflower web site at: http://www.firstct.com/fv/mayflow.html
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated a national cemetery with a few brief remarks. He stood at the site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and delivered an address that he had written on a paper bag during the train trip from Washington. Not all great words are divined by professional writers nor developed from days of toil. The Gettysburg Address can be read online in more than a dozen different languages and the profound impact it had then, resonates as dramatically to this day.
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what we did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated to the great task before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Indira Gandhi, daughter of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was born on November 19, 1917. She played a significant role in Indian politics for nearly three decades. During her rich political career she was president of the National Congress Party (1959) and minister of information and broadcasting (1964). She became India's first female Prime Minister in 1966. In 1975, faced with domestic unrest and accusations of violating election laws, Gandhi declared a state of national emergency, suspending civil liberties and arresting thousands of political dissidents. She was defeated in the 1977 elections, but made a spectacular comeback three years later, and served as prime minister until her assassination by Sikh conspirators in 1984.
"The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman." Willa Cather, O Pioneers! (1913)
"History is a stern judge." Svetlana Alliluyeuva, Twenty Letters to a Friend (1967)
(ILYCM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
FOOTPRINTS
There once was a teenager that lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering.
He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there.
He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "Walk-on". Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul into every practice and, at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him.
There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in. "Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him, he ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, the kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard! Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said. "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind? " The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"
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SO REMEMBER RIGHT NOW:
Somebody is watching you.
Somebody is very proud of you.
Somebody is thinking of you.
Somebody is caring about you.
Somebody misses you.
Somebody wants to talk to you.
Somebody wants to be with you.
Somebody hopes you are not in trouble.
Somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
Somebody wants to hold your hand.
Somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
Somebody wants you to be happy.
Somebody wants you to find him/her.
Somebody wants to give you a gift.
Somebody wants to hug you.
Somebody thinks you ARE a gift.
Somebody admires your strength.
Somebody wants to protect you.
Somebody can't wait to see you.
Somebody loves you for who you are.
Somebody treasures your spirit.
Somebody is glad that you are their friend.
Somebody wants to get to know you better.
Somebody wants to be near you.
Somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
Somebody would do anything for you.
Somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
Somebody is alive because of you.
Somebody needs your support.
Somebody will cry when they read this.
Somebody needs you to have faith in them.
Somebody trusts you.
Somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
(CILYM)
Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.
I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.
How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?
How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.
Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."
When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?
And why are you waiting?
Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why:
Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And, in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?
When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. You will find a Mail To A Friend form at the bottom of this page.
To those reading this... You are LOVED and CHERISHED! Thanks for always being there!
"Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!"
SATURDAY SILLINESS
The Hormone Hostage knows that there are days in the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his own hands. This is a handy guide that should be as common as a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, or significant other:
DANGEROUS: What's for dinner?
SAFER: Can I help you with dinner?
SAFEST: Where would you like to go for dinner?
DANGEROUS: Are you wearing that?
SAFER: Gee, you look good in brown.
SAFEST: WOW! Look at you!
DANGEROUS: What are you so worked up about?
SAFER: Could we be over-reacting?
SAFEST: Here's fifty dollars.
DANGEROUS: Should you be eating that?
SAFER: You know, there are a lot of apples left.
SAFEST: Can I get you a glass of wine with that?
And my personal favorite...
DANGEROUS: What did you do all day?
SAFER: I hope you didn't over-do it today!
SAFEST: I've always loved you in that robe!
A language instructor was explaining to her class that in French, nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine. "House," in French, is feminine-"la maison." "Pencil," in French, is masculine-"le crayon."
One puzzled student asked, "What gender is the word 'computer'?" The teacher did not know, and the word wasn't in her French dictionary. So for fun she split the class into two groups appropriately enough, by gender and asked them to decide whether "computer" should be a masculine or feminine noun.
Both groups were required to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men's group decided that computers should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computer"), because...
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("le computer"), because:
1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on
2. They have a lot of data but they are still clueless
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you'd waited a little longer! , you could have gotten a better model.
The Women Won!!!!!!
It is good to be a woman:
1. We got off the Titanic first.
2. We can scare male bosses with the mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
3. Taxis stop for us.
4. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
5. No fashion faux pas we make, could ever rival the Speedo.
6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.
7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear end.
9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.
11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.
13. We will never regret piercing our ears.
14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.
15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.
You And Yourself
It is rewarding to find someone whom you like, but it is essential to like yourself.
It is quickening to recognize someone as a good and decent human being, but it is indispensable to view yourself as acceptable.
It is a delight to discover people who are worthy of respect, admiration, and love, but it is vital to believe yourself deserving of these things.
For you cannot live in someone else. You cannot find yourself in someone else. You cannot be given a life by someone else. Of all the people you will know in a lifetime, you are the only one you will never leave nor lose.
To the question of your life, you are the only answer. To the problems of your life, you are the only solution.
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I Think I Can
If you think you are beaten you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you want to win but think you can't;
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose you're lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a person's will;
It's all in a state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger and faster,
But sooner or later the one who wins
Is the person who knows how to avoid disaster.
"Make the most of What you have, When you have it, Where you are." Eleanor Roosevelt
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt
(ILYCM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
Two women born on this date: One woman in the 20th century, the other in the 19th, couldn't have been more different but people around the world know both of their names. Ironically, the woman who is actually the lesser known of the two, except in the United States, had an impact on the lives of all American women and left a legacy of such importance it is hard to match. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born on this day in 1815, in Johnstown, New York. Grace Kelly made her debut in life on the same date in 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coincidentally, both of these women were featured in television broadcasts in the past couple of years. Stanton was profiled, along with her friend of 40 years, Susan B. Anthony, in a four hour documentary aired on Public Television, while Grace Kelly's story was broadcast on the cable network program, Biography. Abandoning a successful career as an actress, Grace Kelly became the wife of Prince Rainier of Monaco and assumed the title, Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace. In that starring role, she was viewed as a player on the world stage and people around the globe mourned her untimely death.
Strangely enough, in her lifetime, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was sometimes referred to as, A Queen Among Women.
From, The First Women Who Spoke Out, by Nancy Smiler Levinson:
"When Elizabeth Cady was just eleven years old, her older brother Eleazer died and lay in a darkened room of her family's house. Seated beside his body was her father, torn by grief and praying for comfort and support. Elizabeth knew how much he had loved his only son. She knew how he planned to take him into his law practice.
Slowly Elizabeth approached her father. She wanted to reach out to him, to let him know how much she too cared. For a moment he paid no attention to her. Then at last he put his arm around her, sighed deeply, and said, 'Oh my daughter, I wish you were a boy.' 'I will try to be all my brother was,' she cried out in response.
As it turned out, Elizabeth spent a half-century proving herself the equal of any man and working to improve the place of women in society. Early in her crusade she decided that the best way to better women's lives was to change the many laws that denied them the same rights as men. And in her view the best way to change those laws was by persuading men to give women the suffrage, or right to vote. Working for this right became her primary goal.
In organizing and leading the country's first women's rights conventions, Elizabeth became known as the 'mother of the woman's suffrage movement.' She was also the mother of seven children, whom she raised, with the help of servants. At times she was set back in her work because the help was not adequate or the children became ill. But she tried not to let household problems interfere with her efforts too much.
She traveled, gave hundreds of speeches, headed conventions, helped edit a newspaper, cofounded a national women's suffrage organization, contributed to newspapers and magazines, and wrote books. Her autobiography—Eighty Years and More—shows that she wrote as beautifully as she spoke.
Elizabeth's work was all done against the tide of the times in which she lived. Almost every one of her ideas, words, and actions was criticized or ridiculed by the outside world. One college president said that women's rights were 'too ridiculous to appear credible.' A spokesman for the church announced that 'we do not believe women are fit to have their own heads.' Other people spoke of 'the feeble female brain.'
Answering these criticisms required Elizabeth to be brave and cool-headed. And in time the Philadelphia Press came to realize that she had a 'rare talent for affairs, management, and mastership.'
In the fall of 1902, now blind and in the care of her family in New York City, Elizabeth Cady Stanton died. Not many years before her death she had stated, 'My life has been one long struggle to do and say what I know to be right and true. I would not take back one brave word indeed. My only regret is that I have not been braver and bolder and truer in the honest conviction of my soul.'"
For all American women, the only regret should be that Elizabeth Cady Stanton did not live to see the day, eighteen years after her passing, when she could have freely cast a ballot. This Queen Among Women said, "Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon." And, "With age comes the inner, the higher life. Who would be forever young, to dwell always in externals?" Although she has been gone for 97 years, her lessons and achievements live on in all of use.
(ILYCM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
For reasons we dare not even attempt to fathom, Eve gets quite hysterical this time of year—well, more so than usual at least. It's the holidays! They are rushing toward us at warp speed and we won't know for certain, until the first week in January, whether or not that light at the end of the tunnel spells relief—or is actually an onrushing train! Either way, we might consider the following:
May we relax about the future and realize that we still have a long, long time until we pass, by which time the computer is long since obsolete and so are we.
May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them.
May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.
May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, and may your checkbook and your budget balance, and may they include generous amounts for charity.
May you remember to say, "I love you" at least once a day to someone. (This one is always a winner!)
The following should bring back a few memories….or laughs…which ever comes first:
Because of heightened concern over technical problems and increased demands on the staff responsible, we have determined that there is no longer any need for network or software applications support (see below). The goal is to remove all computers from the desktop by December 31, 2001. Instead, all employees will be provided with an Etch-A-Sketch.
This provides three distinct advantages:
No technical glitches to prevent goals from being accomplished
No more wasted time reading and writing e-mails
Everybody gets the same advanced model
In anticipation of the changeover, the following is a list of frequently asked questions regarding Etch-A-Sketch Technical Support:
Q. My Etch-A-Sketch has all of these funny little lines all over the screen.
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. How do I turn off my Etch-A-Sketch?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. What's the shortcut for Undo?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. How do I create a New Document Window?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. How do I set the background and foreground to the same color?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. What is the proper procedure for rebooting my Etch-A-Sketch?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. How do I delete a document on my Etch-A-Sketch?
A. Pick it up and shake it.
Q. How do I save my Etch-A-Sketch document?
A. DON'T shake it!
Thank you for your support.
"Technology evolves so much faster than wisdom." Jennifer Stone
And, it was only a matter of time until we could offer: ONLINE ETCH A SKETCH Now here is a tool you can waste hours of value time at work with. Remember when you received your first real Etch A Sketch for Christmas. The hours you spent twisting and turning those knobs, and when you were all done, you ran up to your parents to show you the "masterpiece" you had created. Only by the time you got there, the screen shook so much that the image had already been half erased. Now, as long as you don't have your computer on a roller coaster, you should be able to retain your image for more than 3 seconds. www.etch-a-sketch.com
(ILYCM)
Well Amen to that!!
"Americans…attach such a fantastic importance to their baths and plumbing and gadgets of all sorts. They talk as if people could hardly be human beings without all that; we in Europe are beginning to wonder if people can be human beings with it." Ann Bridge
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
Veterans Day Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America
Two hundred and twenty-six years ago, the signers of the Declaration of Independence declared that "all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Throughout the course of American history, courageous men and women have taken up arms to secure, defend, and maintain these core principles upon which our Nation's freedoms depend. On September 11, 2001, terrorists ruthlessly attacked our land and these freedoms. The terrorists' deluded attempt to assail our spirit failed, and our Nation's response reveals that the spirit of freedom is as strong as ever. Our troops are now fighting overseas to defeat terrorism, and, in that effort, they follow in the footsteps of the 48 million men and women who, since our Nation's founding, have stepped forward to defend our land.
Today, there are more than 25 million living veterans who served our Nation in times of peace and war. Many of them willingly entered harm's way to fight for our freedoms. These veterans have diverse religious beliefs and come from varying backgrounds and ethnicities. By their service, they kept America strong, and they have protected our way of life from tyranny's grip for over two centuries. At this moment, men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard are serving around the world. They represent our resolute dedication to achieving a lasting peace out of the new challenges and threats of the 21st century.
On Veterans Day, let us pause to reflect on the sacrifices of all of those who have put on the uniform to serve in the United States military. Let us honor our veterans, who proved their heroism and love of country time and again, from Yorktown and Gettysburg to Iwo Jima and the Persian Gulf. They consistently defended our ideals across the globe; and they continue to inspire those who defend America today, half a world away. More than a million have died in service to America; and more than a million and a half have been wounded. Some sustained serious injuries in combat and now live with disabilities. Our Nation will always be grateful for the noble sacrifices made by these veterans. We can never adequately repay them. But we can honor and respect them for their service.
As we consider the sacrifices and efforts of our veterans, we must never forget that freedom comes at a cost. Therefore, I ask all schools to observe November 11 through November 17, 2001, as National Veterans Awareness Week, and to invite a veteran to speak at their school. This "Lessons in Liberty" initiative will serve to honor America's veterans, while reminding young people of the strong principles upon which our Nation is founded. Our veterans have much to share with our young people about liberty, patriotism, democracy, and independence. They are living examples of the timeless truth that freedom is not free. I call upon our veterans to serve our country in a different way, by teaching a new generation of young Americans the importance of the liberties they helped secure.
In respect and recognition of the contributions our service men and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom, the Congress has provided that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor veterans.
"A patriot is one who wrestles for the / soul of her country / as she wrestles for her own being." Adrienne Rich
Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two
1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
14. REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON……
(ILYCM)
Always remember that if God had meant for today to be perfect He wouldn't have invented tomorrow. Unknown
Sunday Reflection
THE SNEEZE
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-three students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would not pray during the commencements ...not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine... .........until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then he delivered his speech....an astounding
SNEEZE!The rest of the students rose immediately to their feet, and in unison they said ...
"GOD BLESS YOU."The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future ... with or without the court's approval.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Leave it to our American youth to find a way!
SATURDAY SILLINESS
THE ROPE
It was a daring rescue. There were 11 people hanging onto a rope that came down from a Helicopter. Ten were men and one woman. The helicopter was straining with the load. They all decided that one person should get off because if they didn't the helicopter would crash, too, and everyone would die. No one could decide who should go. Finally the woman gave a really touching speech saying how she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children, giving into men, and not receiving anything in return. When she finished speaking, all the men started clapping.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WOMAN!
*** Thought I Saw A Ghost ***
Two men were walking home after a Halloween party and decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery just for laughs. Right in the middle of the cemetery they were startled by a tap-tap-tapping noise coming from the misty shadows.
Trembling with fear, they found an old man with a hammer and chisel, chipping away at one of the headstones.
"Holy cow, Mister," one of them said after catching his breath, "You scared us half to death -- we thought you were a ghost! What are you doing working here so late at night?"
"Those fools!" the old man grumbled. "They misspelled my name!"
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PREPARING FOR PARENTHOOD
Preparation for parenthood is not just a matter of reading books and decorating the nursery. Here are some simple tests for expectant parents to take to prepare themselves for the real-life Experience of being a mother or father.
1. Women: to prepare for maternity, put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front. Leave it there for 9 months. After 9 months, take out 10% of the beans. Men: to prepare for Paternity, go to the local drug store, tip the contents of your wallet on the counter, and tell the pharmacist to help himself. Then go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office. Go home. Pick up the paper and read it for the last time.
2. Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels, and how they have allowed their children to run riot. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behavior. Enjoy it - it'll be the last time in your life that you will have all of the answers.
3. To discover how the nights feel, walk around the living room from 5 PM to 10 PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 lbs. At 10 PM put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1 AM. Put the alarm on for 3 AM. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2 AM and make a drink. Go to bed at 2:45 AM. Get up again at 3 AM when the alarm goes off. Sing songs in the dark until 4 AM. Put the alarm on for 5 AM. Get up. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.
4. Can you stand the mess children make? To find out, smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains. Hide a fish finger behind the stereo and leave it there all summer. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds then rub them on the clean walls. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
5. Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems: first buy an octopus and a string bag. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that none of the arms hang out. Time allowed for this -- all morning.
6. Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and a can of paint, turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet tube. Using only Scotch tape and a piece of foil, turn it into a Christmas tree. Last, take a milk container, a ping pong ball, and an empty packet of Cocoa Puffs and make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.
CONCLUSION: Congratulations, you have just qualified for a place on the playgroup committee.
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*** Honest Lawyer ***
An investment counselor went out on her own. She was shrewd and diligent, so business kept coming in, and pretty soon she realized she needed an in-house counsel, so she began interviewing young lawyers.
She started off with one of the first applicants, "As I'm sure you can understand, in a business like this, our personal integrity must be beyond question." She leaned forward. "Mr. Peterson, are you an *honest* lawyer?"
"Honest?" replied the job prospect. "Let me tell you something about honesty. Why, I'm so honest that my father lent me fifteen thousand dollars for my education and I paid back every penny the minute I tried my very first case."
"Impressive. And what sort of case was that?"
The lawyer squirmed in his seat and admitted, "He sued me for the money."
"Laughter springs from the lawless part of our nature." Agnes Repplier
We ask your forbearance for a stroll down memory lane.
Back in 1965, on November 9th (Sunday) at approximately 5 o'clock in the afternoon (it was a week day that year), most of the northeastern United States, and New York City in particular, experienced a massive power failure. Suddenly, without warning or an immediate explanation, millions of people were in the dark! But, it proved to be peaceful and cooperative. In fact, nine months later, there was a baby boom on the eastern seaboard.
And, guess who has a first hand account of that occasion to share? It's our very own EVE. She was living in a nifty little place in Queens, New York. It was an addition to the back of a rather large home and actually had all the characteristics of a dollhouse. When you entered the only door, the entire first floor was a large open space, fireplace, knotty pine walls and ceiling, well used but furniture, not without charm, that came with the place (some of that charm of course had to do with the fact that the place was furnished). Up the stairs, on the second floor, a tiny little eating area, very small bedroom and teeny tiny kitchen and bathroom.
On this particular evening, she had a date. She was to meet a fellow at Kennedy Airport, she had only been out with a few times. He was departing on the evening flight to Ireland to be with his father and had invited her to have dinner in a very posh restaurant located in the terminal where Aer Lingus (Irish airline) was located. As EVE got into her car, which was parked, in a small carport beside her little dollhouse, her landlady in the main building stuck her head out the back door. "Something's wrong," she said. "Not only is the power off but the phone isn't working either." "Oh, right," EVE, acknowledged, "I know the lights went off and thought I might have enough daylight left to finish doing my nails here in the car." Her landlady was a bit high strung so she didn't think too much more about it. As she headed out the Van Wyck Expressway toward Kennedy, she started fiddling with the radio dials because after she turned it on there was nothing but a static, crackle sort of noise. Suddenly, an announcer came on and said, "We just got our generators working and can report that not only is New York City totally without power but it appears the entire northeast seaboard has experienced some strange phenomena. No one seems to have any idea about what is happening and why." He voice took on a somewhat hysterical note by the time he finished the sentence.
EVE, who had years before, sat in the back yard with her father on warm summer nights, reclining in one of the old fashioned, adjustable canvas lawn chairs, searching the heavens for shooting stars, planets, or whatever else the stratosphere had to offer—began peering over the steering wheel, frantically looking up. It had all the signs of something alien and awesome. The mystery only heightened when she reached Kennedy and in spite of the darkness was able to locate the man she intended to meet. He explained that everyone sounded completely baffled, the airport was temporarily shut down for departures and arrivals, the restaurant closed due to lack of power but suggested they wander around and try to find someone in authority who might have a clue. Well, the only thing they could locate with any activity was a large bar, where candles had been put to good use and the bartender had ingeniously figured out how to work the cash register manually (which in 1965 wasn't that tricky). After a couple of hours it became apparent that there would be no planes leaving, everything had been cancelled and there was no point in hanging around any longer. One funny item they noted—as they sat at the bar it was impossible not to overhear pieces of conversation around them. The two things they most vividly recall people talking about were Martians and Russians. Only once, and very much in passing, did someone say the words, "Niagara Falls," which made no sense whatsoever.
In the interest of time—which you don't have enough of to sit here reading about this all day—a place was found for EVE's date to spend the night (friends took him in) and although they only had perhaps twelve dates total, EVE and the traveler were married less than six months later (oh, don't get excited—their first child did not arrive for another three and a half years). When the children were in middle-school, EVE and her family had been living in Syracuse, New York for a number of years. So she accepted a job at Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and during her first two weeks of orientation learned that the New York City blackout of 1965, was a result of a massive failure at the company's hydro plant in—you guessed it—Niagara Falls. Now is that a small world story or what? The ironic part? She was told it could never, ever happen again—but it did on August 14, 2003!
Also on November 9, 1934, an American astronomer who maintained throughout his life that there probably is life form elsewhere in our solar system or beyond, Carl Sagan, was born. He passed away in recent years but his theories, in part, served as inspiration for the movie "Contact", made by Jodie Foster in the starring role. A female astronomer—a long way from EVE's childhood gazing up at the heaven's and a time when although EVE was a "believer" she never imagined that a woman would one day rise to the ranks of such prominence as that! "There is only one history of any importance, and it is the history of what you once believed in, and the history of what you came to believe in." Kay Boyle
"They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused into a single stubbornness." Louise Erdich
"To believe in something not yet proved and to underwrite it with our lives: it is the only way we can leave the future open." Lillian Smith
(ILYCM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. . Check it out: http://www.diabetesnet.com
This was posted once last year on the Neat Women Inc bulletin board and we thought it was worth offering in a bigger forum. We think the original author wrote it with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek—but, it's worth revisiting and pondering, especially with the fighting in Afghanistan continuing and the Taliban rearing it's ugly head whenever possible!
The person who posted it presented it with the following introduction, "I have found that I am searching for more and more humor, affirmations and words of wisdom on the Internet. I have found some great stuff and the following is one of them:
Women: The Best Troops Around
Take all American women who are within five years of menopause. Train us for a few weeks, outfit us with automatic weapons, grenades, gas masks, moisturizer with SPF15, Prozac, hormones, chocolate, and canned tuna - drop us (parachuted, preferably) across the landscape of Afghanistan, and let us do what comes naturally.
Think about it. Our anger quotient alone, even when doing standard stuff like grocery shopping and paying bills, is formidable enough to make even armed men in turbans tremble.
We've had our children, we would gladly suffer or die to protect them and their future.
We'd like to get away from our husbands, if they haven't left already. And for those of us who are single, the prospect of finding a good man with whom to share life is about as likely as being struck by lightning. We have nothing to lose.
We've survived the water diet, the protein diet, the carbohydrate diet, and the grapefruit diet in gyms and saunas across America and never lost a pound We can easily survive months in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan with no food at all!
We've spent years tracking down our husbands or lovers in bars, hardware stores, or sporting events...finding bin Laden in some cave will be no problem.
Uniting all the warring tribes of Afghanistan in a new government? Oh, please ... we've planned the seating arrangements for in-laws and extended families at Thanksgiving dinners for years ... we understand tribal warfare.
Between us, we've divorced enough husbands to know every trick there is for how they hide, launder, or cover up bank accounts and money sources. We know how to find that money and we know how to seize it ... with or without the government's help!
Let us go and fight. The Taliban hates women. Imagine their terror as we crawl like ants with hot-flashes over their godforsaken terrain.
I'm going to write my Congresswoman. You should, too!
Author unknown
(CILYM)
"I have a right to my anger, and I don't want anybody telling me I shouldn't be, that it's not nice to be, and that something's wrong with me because I get angry." Maxine Waters
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
~Our guest contributor today is, Julie Jordan Scott~
Plentiful Harvest
November is one of my favorite months. In the colder climates, the chill in the air requires mittens and warm coats. Saturday afternoons are spent at football games with spectators bundled up under blankets, drinking hot chocolate. In the United States we celebrate gratitude.
Cynics refer to the Thanksgiving holiday as "Turkey Day". Instead, I invite you to look at its true message of abundance and gratitude. I am naming November "month of Plentiful Harvest."
What is a Plentiful Harvest?
Plentiful describes having an ample, rich supply. Plentiful is the overflowing basket of fruit, the Spring waterfalls of Yosemite after a snowy Winter or the giggles of a happy baby. Plentiful is the deep satisfaction of contentment. Plentiful is sitting in front of a roaring fire surrounded by loved ones, sighing in quiet delight.
Harvest is a time we collect the bounty of our planting. We glean rewards from a time of concentrated effort.
The Parable of the Sower speaks of spreading seeds everywhere, on fertile soil, on less rich ground, in rocky terrain. The sower continually and constantly spreads the seed so that the richness of the harvest spreads beyond his (or her) existence. It grows into the hearts and experiences of others as well.
Henry David Thoreau said, "The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible And indescribably as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, A segment of the rainbow which I have clutched."
Have you noticed the artistry in a sunset recently? Have you seen the blending of colors into an awe inspiring, divine masterpiece? Have you taken your consciousness from the "stress maker du jour" and put it instead on the magnificence of the Plentiful Harvest around each of us, every single day of our lives?
Decide to make the shift towards abundant, ample living. Choose to be content. Spread your seed wide and far. Reach out and receive the stardust. Take out your paintbrush, spread the colors about you. Sing a song of great joy. Celebrate your Plentiful Harvest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julie Jordan Scott is a Certified Life Purpose Coach who works with action oriented, creative people who are ready to live each moment with passion. Dare to Discover Your Passion, Decide to live YOUR Destiny by subscribing to Julie's daily ezine. Send an email now mail to: DiscoverYourPassion-subscribe@egroups.com or visit her website at www.5passions.com
(CILYM)
"Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind." Daphne du Maurier
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL AMERICANS—PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR HARD WON RIGHT TO VOTE TODAY!!!
This is the time of year when, in many places, cooler winds start to blow and the autumn colors begin to fade and drift out of sight, leaving the trees and landscape looking a bit barren and forlorn. We've survived the excitement of the World Series, the recent political season (although that is beginning to feel like a yearlong assault on our senses), the angst of Monday Night Football, the boredom of all the new fall TV offerings, and the first in a series of major holidays.
Many of us could probably benefit from a pair of well-oiled roller skates, right about now. OK, so rollerblades are the more popular footwear of choice but even with helmets, kneepads, etc. those things look a bit intimidating to many of us. The point is, we are poised on the brink of one of the busiest periods in the calendar year. No sooner do we put away the Halloween decorations, candy dishes, and other paraphernalia then it's time to start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. What was once viewed as a period of leisurely family gatherings and relaxing by the fireside, has become, more often than not, a whirlwind of frenetic activity leading up to total collapse, sometime around December 27th or 28th.
Recent events have prompted a resurgence of the art of prognostication. Nostradomus has been mentioned numerous times as well as some "home grown" seers. This sort of thing has been around a very long time and the last century produced some rather hilarious contributors. We've selected several.
From David Wallechinsky's book, "Twentieth Century: History With the Boring Parts Left Out"
November 13, 1900—The Brothers and Sisters of Red Death In czarist Russia a district called Kargopol (about 400 miles from St. Petersburg) contained a 200-year-old sect that called itself the Brothers and Sisters of the Red Death. Believing that the world was due to end November 13, 1900, members thought it would please God if they sacrificed themselves by being burned to death. When news of the plan reached Saint Petersburg, troops were rushed to Kargopol. They were too late. More than a hundred members had already perished. When the appointed day passed without catastrophe, the sect disbanded.
October 1908—Remembering a prediction he had made after coming out of a trance at the age of twelve, Lee T. Spangler announced that the world would end in a rain of fire during October of 1908. Spangler, a grocery store owner from York, Pennsylvania, convinced a number of people with his prophecy. However, the only thing that fell in York in October was a light rain, on the last day of the month.
1910—In 1910 some scientists made the announcement that the world would pass through the tail of Halley's comet. The press began to print dire predictions about poisonous gases asphyxiating all life on Earth. In Sydney, Australia, people were warned to remain indoors on the day that the earth would be enveloped in the tail of the comet.
December 17, 1919—Albert Porta who was an expert seismographer and meteorologist, settled in San Francisco after emigrating from Italy in 1875. Owing to his accurate predictions of several earthquakes, he began to receive worldwide attention. Therefore, people sat up and took notice when he announced that on December 17, 1919, there would occur a conjunction of six planets. This would result in a magnetic current that would pierce the sun, cause great explosions of flaming gas, and eventually engulf the earth. There was widespread alarm. Weather stations were besieged with calls, and a statement was issued that said that while there would be such a planetary conjunction, it would not be dangerous. As December 17 approached, suicides and hysteria were reported throughout the world. The fatal day arrived and all the planets aligned, but the world remained the same. Porta returned to predicting the weather.
We would like to wish our many Canadian and other British visitors a pleasant Guy Fawkes Day. Although it is now the basis for lighthearted celebration throughout Great Britain, it commemorates a very serious event. The leader of the Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes, was captured by authorities on this day in 1605, as he was about to blow up the House of Lords. He and a number of coconspirators were tried and executed. Over the centuries, the serious nature of Guy Fawkes' arrest has faded into childhood whimsy, or so some say. (Actually, Guy Fawkes Day was officially yesterday, November 5)
Alistair Cooke said, "I'd be astounded if this planet is still going by fifty years from now. I don't think we will reach 2000. It would be miraculous."
Buckminster Fuller said, "We are going to have to find ways of organizing ourselves cooperatively, sanely, scientifically, harmonically and in regenerative spontaneity with the rest of humanity around earth….We are not going to be able to operate our spaceship earth successfully nor for much longer unless we see it as a whole spaceship and our fate as common. It has to be everybody or nobody."
Katherine Paterson said, "Hope….it is a feeling; it is something you do."
And finally, from Eudora Welty's "The Optimist's Daughter" (1968), "Never think you've seen the last of anything."
(ILYCM)
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
Our offering today is a true gem, the likes of which we have not seen in a long time. However, it carries a warning label. If you are inclined to high blood pressure, take a couple of very deep breaths. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to hold onto the arms of the chair you are sitting in if it's one that allows for that.
Our recommendation is that you read through this quickly, allowing little time for your blood to boil, and then read it again more slowly and laugh out loud as you do.
This is an honest to goodness, factual excerpt from the July, 1943 Issue of Mass Transportation. This was serious and was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II—a mere 54 years ago! For those of you who find yourselves working "inefficiently" during the day, the solution can be found in #8.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees
There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their married sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never had contact with the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls—those who are just a little on the heavy side—are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination—one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuits, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time—the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up. Give the female employee a definite daylong schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
6. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
7. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
8. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman—it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
9. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
10. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
11. GRRRRRR!
Well, is everybody still with us?? Women 45 and over will not be so completely surprised and shocked. Women under 45 and particularly those under the age of 35 may be so incredulous as to think we're putting them on…..not for a minute. Fifty-six years ago, this is how it was. Don't forget—in 1943 we had only been allowed to vote for 23 years. These directives sound as though the subject—women—might alternately be, a "work horse," a donkey, a "hot house" plant or the family dog. Unbelievable? Yes. True. Also, yes! Don't forget, take a couple of deep breaths and tell a friend whom you'd like to provide with the biggest laugh of the week.
(ILYCM)
"I am so full of work, I can't stop to eat or sleep, or for anything but a daily run." Louisa May Alcott
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Check it out: www.diabetesnet.com
SUNDAY REFLECTION
How to Win While You're Losing and Stay Young While You're Growing Older
Look your troubles in the eye. Problems not faced do not go away. Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs. Anticipate each dip, and prepare for it.
Never say you can't, but do say you won't. Neither be so discouraged that you quit, nor so stubborn you won't stop. Troubles come sooner and last longer for those who wear themselves out.
For whatever you can no longer do, substitute something else. There is nothing more refreshing than a good nap, as long as it's followed by waking up. Find a way to slow down without stopping.
Don't hide. If you want your special needs attended to, you have to make them known. Do not be ashamed of your limitations.
Claim you rights and privileges, such as the right to refuse to eat anymore, the privilege of cutting back on your work, and so on.
Be humble enough to accept help, and proud enough to ask for it. Do not be ashamed to ask for what you need. Accept help graciously.
Always offer a helping hand and a comforting ear. Stay interested in the world around you. Concern for others lightens your own concerns.
Put anger, sadness and regret behind you. It's perfectly OK to feel anger at the pain and distress of growing old. It isn't OK to stay angry. It's perfectly OK to mourn the closing of chapters in your life. It isn't OK to mourn the rest of your life. It's OK to regret all the things you should have done differently. It isn't OK not to forgive yourself or others. Don't let your anger today spill over into tomorrow. Look back without regret, and forward without dread.
Always look for the bright side. We win or lose by how we interpret and react to everything that happens. Winning is rejoicing in what you have left. Losing is seeing only what you have lost.
Take every day as it comes, and give it all you've got. The thing to be afraid of is not what you fear, but letting the fear keep you from going on.
Enjoy what each day brings. Be open with wonder and excitement to new experiences, even those that come with decline. Enjoy the ride down, even when you know there is no going back up.
Stir up the tiger in your tank. Your body will still be the same old jalopy, but life will have more oomph and satisfaction.
Ideals
Remember that ideals
are like stars up in the sky,
You can never really reach them,
hanging in the heavens high...
But like the mighty mariner
who sailed the storm-tossed sea,
And used the stars to chart his course
with skill and certainty,
You too can chart your course in life
with high ideals and love,
For high ideals are like the stars
that light the sky above...
You cannot ever reach them,
but lift your heart up high
And your life will be as shining
~Helen Steiner Rice~
SATURDAY SILLINESS
We'll warn you in advance—there's "more truth than poetry" in a lot of this—which is another way of saying, "It ain't all necessarily silly!"
THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE I WENT OUT IN THE REAL WORLD
Any and all compliments can be handled by simply saying "Thank you" though it helps if you say it with a Southern accent.
Some people are working backstage, some are playing in the orchestra, some are on-stage singing, some are in the audience as critics, some are there to applaud. Know who and where you are.
Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.
When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste.
Never continue dating anyone who is rude to the waiter.
A woman needs only two tools. WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40 If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.
If you tell a lie, don't believe it deceives only the other person.
The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: "I apologize" and "You are right".
Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm
The only really good advice that I remember my mother ever gave me was "Go! You might meet somebody!"
Never marry a man you meet in a bar. If he says that you are too good for him--believe it.
I've learned to pick my battles; I ask myself, Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?
At hard times I ask myself, "How do I feel? What do I want?" I use it whenever I'm at loss for words or thoughts.
Never pass up an opportunity to pee.
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!
If you move far from your family when you're young, consider choosing a career with an airline. Your need to see your family will last a lifetime, as will your travel benefits.
Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just proves that the other person was right about you.
Be really nice to your friends because you never know when you are going to need them to empty your bed urinal and hold your hand.
Work is good but it's not important.
Never under estimate the kindness of your fellow man.
And finally..Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
"Fill the cup of happiness for others, and there will be enough overflowing to fill yours to the brim." Rose Pastor Stokes
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