Category: Uncategorized

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

There’s nothing known to man that time doesn’t touch,
including dreams, relationships, memory’s and such.

Time is often a factor in the things we do or say
often it’s our teacher as we meander along our way.

Time can move mountains or it can alter streams,
it can be unforgiving as it steals most all your dreams.

Time might stoop your shoulders or maybe alter your walk,
it might slow your mind or make it difficult to talk.

Time will cause skin to wrinkle and could gray your hair
or make you go bald, though likely you’ll no longer care.

Memories of old joys might be taken away,
not wanting to leave, they simply cannot stay.

Time doesn’t allow anyone to enjoy a second take,
but it can zap your energy and all your bones will ache.

It will steal your memory refusing to treat you fair,
as you spend more and more of it, in your easy chair.

Time will always move forward, it can never move back
as it creates the trail, then obliterates the tracks.

But as it takes its toll and you approach your final days
may your life be filled with love and all sorts of things to praise.

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #329

About: Intelligence

“It’s never too late
to shut up & listen.”

 

 

BY:  DONNA HALE CHANDLER

I don’t like bugs! I’m not afraid of them. They don’t give me the willies. I just don’t like them. I don’t keep a spotless house. I “live” in my home, and anyone can take one look and tell that. But just because I live here doesn’t mean I want to live with bugs… The nasty little critters carry germs and probably leave little tiny pee spots and itty bitty poos everywhere.

A couple of days ago, there was a bug crawling around my kitchen sink. A little black rascal about the size of a flea but it didn’t jump or bite … just crawled around like it owned the place. I squashed the bugger and didn’t think much about it. But later, I saw two more. I squashed them and went on a search for my can of Industrial Strength Bug Spray. I sprayed around the kitchen edges, trying to stay away from food and dishes.

Well, dang it all, yesterday I saw them again, so I sprayed some more and started the search for their hiding place. I checked the bread, nope none in there. I checked the coffee, nope none in there either. None in the instant oatmeal packets, or the hot chocolate packets either.

I knew the Whole Bug Family was living somewhere nearby so I started emptying my kitchen cabinets. While standing on a chair, peering into the clutter of various seasonings, plastic bowls with missing lids, I saw half dozen little bugs on the shelf. Squash, squash, squash, spray, spray, spray, wipe, wipe, wipe.

Finally, I gathered up my courage and looked into a container of Italian Bread Crumb Seasoning. Yikes! There were Zillions and zillions of bugs. Quick, quick, quick, get a plastic bag and start throwing every eatable thing that was up there away. Take every plastic dish and put it in the dish washer …… probably had bug pee or poo on them. I tied up the plastic bag, stepped out into the dark, watching for raccoons, and tossed that buggy stuff into the dumpster. Then I ran the dishwasher and scrubbed the entire kitchen.

This morning… No bugs! I won the war!

(Excerpt from Life Happens (My Story) by Donna Hale Chandler)

*********

Gram use’ta say

“When you give your word, keep it.”

*********

© 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.”

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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.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #405

About: Respect

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