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© By: Richard L. King
From the book: Memories & Time

MY CHILD

We stroll into and out of
our conscious minds,

frequently passing through
each other’s thoughts.

Carrying on,,,,
sunrise to sunset,

day in,    ….day out
each doing our own thing.

Days turning into weeks,
…then to months.

…eventually a lifetime
has come and gone,,,

yet always, you are here

…in my heart

….Always.

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #404

About: Confidence

If you believe you can, you jist might,
if you believe you can’t, you won’t!

 

I know I’ve mentioned before that Little Miss Chatterbox, The Champion Questioner, was our very own second (and last) born child. The last question we discussed here was her concern for ‘handicapped cars.’ Some questions, however, could be more jolting. For example: Her dad and I were sitting in the family room one evening, each with a section of the newspaper. It was quiet, it was peaceful, but not for long. Into the room bounds Heather and up onto the couch next to me, “Mom, Mom, Mom.” (Every child knows that Moms don’t answer unless you say their name at least 3 times in a row.)

“Yes Heather.” I answered as I continued to read the article that had caught my attention.

“I have a question.”

“Ok, Heather,” I put down the paper, knowing I may never finish that article, “what do you want to know.”

“What is a blow job?”

I think my husband had a small convulsion because out of the corner of my eye, I saw the newspaper that he held in front of his face shake but to give him credit, he never lowered it an inch and stayed safely behind that flimsy paper barrier.

When I could breathe, I looked at our kindergartener and said, “Why would you want to know that, Heather?”

“Because, Mom, Jennifer went to the beauty shop and she got a blow job and her hair looks really cute so I want to know what it is so you can take me to the beauty shop and get a blow job for me too.”

When she paused, I said, “I think you mean Blow Dry, don’t you?”

“Yeah, isn’t that what I said? That’s what I want, a brow dry. What is it? Can I get one? Can I Mom?”

“A BLOW DRY just means that the beautician uses a blow dryer to dry your hair after she’s washed it. And yes, you can have a BLOW DRY the next time we go for a haircut.”

That brought about a big hug and off she dashed, temporarily on to some other quest.

When I was sure she couldn’t hear, I asked my husband, “Are you still alive and well over?”

All I heard was a grunt….. COWARD! ………….He’s getting the next question!

Of course this story has a moral: LISTEN before you speak or you may end up giving TMI.

*********

Gram use’ta say

“You’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

*********

A STANDING OVATION 

In my opinion, standing ovations should be reserved for the rare occasions when we’d like to show overwhelming respect for a superior accomplishment.

Some years ago I attended my granddaughter’s high school graduation ceremony. It was quite a big deal and I’m really glad I was afforded the opportunity to be there, but some of the goings on got me to thinking. To further explain, let me say that there was a large contingent of graduating seniors who had committed to various branches of our military. The moderator read off the list of names and had them stand. In recognition of the value we place on serving our country, the audience gave them a standing ovation. It made me very proud to be a part of it and I really felt good about the standing O. However, during the remainder of the roughly 2 hour ceremony there were many more standing ovations. That’s where I began to have reservations.

A standing ovation used to really mean something, but when you start giving a standing O for just any ol Tom, Dick or Harry, at least for me, it tends to cheapen the effect. Did those people who have committed to the military deserve a standing O? I honestly don’t know, but it was definitely a rewarding experience to be a part of it and it definitely felt like it was sincere and deserved. To say the least, it seemed very patriotic.

Did all the other parties who received the same treatment deserve it? Again I don’t know, but someone obviously felt they did and once a few people begin to stand as they applaud, it just seems to overflow to the rest of the room. As a result I found myself standing to applaud several people simply because someone else stood and the rest of the room followed suit.

I’m left to ponder, “Is it disrespectful to not stand and applaud when you don’t feel the urge to do so?” Restated in another way, “Isn’t it a bit of a ‘Cop out’ to stand and applaud when you don’t feel it is warranted and deserved? Doesn’t it diminish the respect afforded to those more worthy?

I don’t have any answers or suggestions about this growing phenomenon, but it does cause me to ponder.

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #405

About: Respect

“Often, those we choose to honor
are not the most honorable.”

 

 

 

 

By:  Donna Hale Chandler

Does anyone even remember Service Stations? You know – gas stations. You pulled in, ran over a rubber hose making the bell ring and out came the Service Station Attendant. You roll down your window and say something like ‘Fill ‘er up.’ Or maybe ‘$5.00 worth of regular.’ Yes, $5.00 worth of regular went a long way when you were 16 with no place to really go except cruise around on Friday night.

While the gas was pumping into the tank, the young man would clean your windshield and your back window. If you popped the hood for him, he would also check your oil, show you the dip stick and let you know if you’re a ½ quart or quart low. Then he’d come back with that can of  Valvoline 10 w 30 and add the needed oil. If asked, he would check the air in that right tire that seemed a little low and bring the air hose over to fill it with the needed amount.

It was a service we evidently took for granted because I can remember when self-service gas stations started popping up here and there. My young, supposedly economically conscience self was appalled and voiced loudly to anyone who would listen that I would NOT be pumping my own gas. Think of the man who just lost his job so I could pump my own gas! He might have a family or he might be trying to put himself through school. I had all kinds of reasons for protesting self-service but of course progress arrived whether I approved or not.

I actually think of those same arguments when I am in a store with self-checkout. For a fleeting moment I wonder who has lost a job – someone with a family to feed or a student trying to go to school. But the thoughts vanish quickly because the line is shorter and moves faster in the self-checkout section. What happened to that idealist young person? Life – life happened.

Progress is arriving every day. Good? Bad? Each person decides for themself.

*********

Gram use’ta say

“Never shop for groceries when you’re hungry.”

*********

MOONLIGHT ON THE WATER
© By: Richard L. King
From the book Nice & Naughty

 His imagination, working overtime, conjures up a vision,
could it be a dream, or perhaps a premonition?

Watching from the shoreline, not a cloud in the sky,
reflections of the moon create a sparkle in her eye.

Waves crashing to the shore, she lets out a passionate sigh
slipping back into the shadows, each knowing precisely why.

 

 

……To the faintest mist of salty air, slowly he awakens,
lying there alone, could he have been mistaken?

Could a dream so beautiful, leave him this severely shaken,
punishment possibly,,, for the liberties his mind had taken?

An endless wave of florescence, not a cloud in the sky,
the full moon reflecting as he breathes a mournful sigh.

His imagination, working overtime, conjured up a vision,
was it all a dream, or perhaps a premonition?

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #402

About: Life’s Lessons

“Ignorance ain’t something ya learn,
lots a folks jist come by it natural like.”