Memories Are Made Of This...Glossimer Wings....

 

Hope everyone had a marvelous holiday and that Santa left everything that you desired under your tree.

 

This Christmas season my family celebrated as usual with a get together at Mom's house.  Mom and dad are getting a bit frail, finally bending to the laws of all things....going the way of the flesh.  Memories are fading, changing, becoming erratic We know it, we expect it, we accept it but we don't have to like it.

 

I used to think, growing up, that my Grandparents were indestructible, when you are lucky enough to have them around for over forty years of your own life, they seem that way.

 

I wouldn't trade my memories of my grandparents for anything.  I have been blessed with a good memory, to the point that I can close my eyes and remember the conversation, where I was standing or sitting...one memory in particular is so strong....almost as strong as the coffee he gave me.    One morning at my grandparents I got up earlier than usual...Papoo was busy in the kitchen, making breakfast...cooking eggs, bacon.  I must of been all of eleven years old....they had a small kitchen table against one little wall.  I sat at one end facing the back door, Papoo placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of me and said 'it's about time for you to learn how to drink it. it's good for you.

 

well, I felt so grown up at that point.  He had me stir in two teaspoons of sugar, he went and got the glass milk bottle, remember the ones with the cream that rose to the top? He poured a little bit of the heavy cream into my cup, turning the coffee into a lovely caramel color.  He placed two pieces of heavily buttered toast on a plate in front of me..telling me this was the best way to eat it.  Tearing it in half and dunking part of it into the hot coffee...oh, my...what a taste.  Ever since, even now when I make a strong cup of coffee - it evokes such memories.

 

Memory is a funny thing. 

Closer and Closer Creeps the Grim Reaper

It is 8:52 PM in Florida.  10:00 PM our time will be Iraq's 6:00 am Saturday.   "D" for Sadam...."D" stands for death by hanging.  Not a pleasant way to go by any means.

But, then again, how many did he send to an early unearned grave - just because he could?

His trial was an episode of mayhem, mixed with terror and murder...and the judgement still came out against him.

There are monsters among us, who pose as men but in their hearts they are as dark as the evil that resides within it's own evil realm.

I, for one, want the monsters gone.  By any means.  Goodbye Sadam, have fun in hell.   

Wishing

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone, everywhere.

With that being said, wouldn't it be wonderful if we humans followed the advice of the monkeys shown up above?

Imagine....no one speaking ill of one another, giving no reason to fight.

Imagine....never seeing the worst of another's character, again giving no reason to fight.

Imagine....not hearing any imagined "slights" or slings and arrows that lead to fighting.

Yup, here it comes, (and I am not walking down any dam runway) I wish for World Peace....wishful thinking this holiday season?

Aside from all this I do wish a very happy Holiday to all...Sandi

The Innkeeper's Daughter

 

Once upon time, more than two thousand years ago, there lived a little girl named Sarah and she lived in a town called Bethlehem.  Her father owned a very popular Inn and had many patrons. Sarah had two brothers, Joshua and Matthew, they were a few years older than she.

 

Her mother and father were kindly people, trying their best to raise their family within their means.  Sarah, even at her young age, worked a full day helping in the inn. She would sweep the floors, empty and wash out jugs for her mother.  Her mother was a wonderful cook and was teaching her daughter her skills.  The boys, after their Hebrew lessons, helped with the horses cleaning the stables, currying the horses and feeding them.  All in all, it was a busy life.

 

Sarah liked meeting all the different types of people who visited Bethlehem, she seemed to learn a little bit from each person she spoke to. She was a rare child who felt empathy with people less fortunate than herself and because of her kindly heart she was well loved by the townsfolk.

 

Her mother and father called a meeting for all their workers to announce that the Roman's had ordered a census of the population. That all people had to return to the city of their birth to register before the end of December. Their parents explained that the town's population would grow very large over the next few weeks. That being said, they were also told that there would be a lot more work to do because they knew their inn would be overflowing with guests.

 

Soon, people from all walks of life were pouring into Bethlehem filling all vacant rooms. Their Inn was so busy that they barely had time to sleep, due to waiting on so many people.

 

Sarah had a strange dream during this time, she was in a field staring up at the sky and she saw this most beautiful star. It seemed to shine as though a million candles were shimmering from it. As she watched this star it's light formed a beacon shinning down on her little town of Bethlehem. She wondered why the light was happening over the city.  When she awoke she felt very happy, she didn't know why but she felt something great was going to happen.

 

One cold and chilly night towards the end of December, Sarah was outside the Inn helping her brothers fill the stalls of the stable with clean hay. She saw a man walking towards the Inn leading a donkey who was carrying a woman who was very heavy with child.  Sarah knew they would stop and ask for a room..but there were no rooms at the Inn. A little voice inside her head told Sarah that she must help these two people, that it was very important.  Sarah ran to find her father.

 

She found him in the kitchen helping her mother lift a very heavy kettle. 

"Oh, Father..there is a man outside whom needs a room can we please help him?" she asked.

 

"Now, Sarah, you know we haven't any more rooms to let. He is going to have to go someplace else, I can't make a room appear." her father gently said.

 

"But, you don't understand Father, this is important. We have to help them, we just have to."she stated.

 

Sarah's father was used to her kind hearted requests but this time it seemed different. He decided he had best go see what had his daughter so excited.

 

He found the man in conversation with one of his sons, who was explaining that there was no room at the inn.

Sarah's father studied the man and his wife and as he did a feeling of calm overcame him and he heard an inner voice telling him to make these two welcome somehow.  But how? His own family was sleeping in shifts in the kitchen because they gave up their rooms to other guests.

 

Sarah had followed him outside and came up to her Father and very gently said...

 

"Father, the stables are warm, clean and at least they would have a roof over their heads."

 

So the young couple were led into the stable and made as comfortable as possible. Sarah's father sent Joshua into the inn to get extra bedding for the couple, so that they would be warm.   Strangely Sarah noticed that all the animals were very quiet almost peaceful.

 

So it came to pass that in that small lowly place a great miracle of birth took place, and Jesus was born.

A great many important people, Kings and all came to pay their respect to the new born babe.

 

Sarah was amazed at the way the babe and his family gave off a special glow and thought back on her dream of the bright star...as she looked up she realized that the star was shinning directly over the stables and she realized just how special this night was oh so long ago.

 

 

 

Oh Let's Just Say I HAD to

George Bush goes to a primary school to<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

talk to the kids to get a little PR.

After his talk he offers question time.

One little boy puts up his hand and

George asks him his name.

" <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Stanley ," responds the little boy.

"And what is your question, Stanley ?"

"I have 4 questions:

* First, why did the USA invade Iraq

without the support of the UN?

*Second, why are you President when Al

Gore got more votes?

*Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?

*Fourth, why are we so worried about

gay-marriage when 1/2 of all Americans

don't have health insurance?

Just then, the bell rings for recess.

George Bush informs the kiddies

that they will continue after recess.

When they resume George says,

"OK, where were we? Oh, that's right,

question time. Who has a question?"

Another little boy puts up his hand.

George points him out and asks him

his name.

"Steve," he responds.

"Actually, I have 6 questions.

*First, why did the USA invade Iraq

without the support of the UN?

*Second, why are you President when

Al Gore got more votes?

*Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?

*Fourth, why are we so worried about gay marriage

when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?

*Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?

And

*Sixth, what the hell happened to Stanley???

Sometimes jokes do tell the truth about a situation.  We as a nation cannot and should not take on the weight of the entire world upon our shoulders.   Waging war should only be done under the most extreme of circumstances - like an actual country attacking us.  Yes, go after terrorists, but what has happened in Iraq makes no sense.  The people don't want us there, they do not appreciate anything that we have done.

I look at it this way, some people don't know how to respond to freedom, they have no idea of what freedom is having lived their lives under one regime or another all their lives.  So we go blasting in...shouting...Your free, free....what does it mean to them?  Their towns, villages, buildings are in ruins, food is scarce, jobs hardly exist....gangs on one side or another feel free to kidnap, torture, maim, kill men, women and kids...all under our label of freedom.

When we fought for our freedom here in this country, we all came together from 13 different States..to form a union, to be free.  We had a common goal for the common good and each man and woman stood tall for what they had to do.  You do not have that in Iraq...yes, they are one nationality but their differences are tearing them apart - they do not have a goal in mind except making their religion the only religion in the area.  What a shame, again the name of religion death reigns supreme.

What eats at me the most is that I've lived through this scenario in the mid 60's and 70's....Vietnam.  The parallels are too close.

Why do we always go barging in like a raging bull? Here we are watching the war begin like a dam movie, hey wait, let me get my popcorn.  Shock * Awe....well, it wore off.   Wag the tail works just so much then the blinders come off as the coffins come home.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that we should fight to defend ourselves and that if war is the only way so be it.   But mark my words in the annals of history this war will go down as a bad error in judgment.   Meanwhile, Osama is still loose - Afghanistan is not really secure and we spread ourselves too thin.

We need to work with the rest of the world to reign in on the dangerous countries like Iran and North Korea.  I also don't believe that Russia is all that squeaky clean either and China is a huge sleeping dragon.  We urgently need diplomacy to be spread around the entire world...as we all know George is not the one to do it.   Hope there is something left by the time he leaves office.

 

A Woman Should Have

MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER
>
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       enough money within her control to move out
>       and rent a place of her own even if she never wants
>       to or needs to...
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>
>       something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
>       dreams wants to see her in an hour...
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
>       a youth she's content to leave behind....
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
>       retelling it in her  old age....
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
>       a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
>       lace bra...
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
>       lets her cry...
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
>       else in her family...
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
>       recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
>
>
>       A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
>       a feeling of control over her destiny...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       how to fall in love without losing herself..
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
>       BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
>       AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       that she can't change the length of her calves,
>       the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its
>       over...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       whom she can trust,
>       whom she can't,
>       and why she shouldn't
>       take it personally...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       where to go...
>       be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
>       or a charming inn in the woods...
>       when her soul needs soothing...
>
>       EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
>       what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
>       a month...and a year...
>
>       SEND THIS TO 3 WOMEN....
>       You will have good luck for an entire day..
>
>       SEND THIS TO 6 WOMEN....
>       You will have good luck for all of the year or if
>       nothing else... you  know that you are truly
>       loved and thought of by the friend who sent this to
>       you...and that she only wishes the best for you and your life.

I've already passed this on to quite a few strong women that I know....I think this is an excellent poem and Maya is to be congratulated....thanks Sis for sending it to me....
>
>

Southern Charm

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit
and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you
"PITCH" them.

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens,
turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general
direction of "yonder."

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, ..
As in: "Going to town, be back directly."

Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar"
Is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance
that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the
table.

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might
not use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture
of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of
hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold tater salad. If
the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to
add a large nanner puddin!

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between
"right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that
"just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a
verb, or an adverb.

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ...
And when we're "in line," ... We talk to everybody!

In the South, y'all is singular, .... All y'all is plural.

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and
coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also
a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a
breakfast food.

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin',"
you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk."
Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we
do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you
don't want buttermilk.

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at
little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just
say,"Bless her heart"... And go your own way.

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your
Southernness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage
gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!

And to those of you who are still having a hard time
understanding all this Southern stuff, ... Bless your
hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on
Southernness as a second language!

And for those that are not from the South but have lived
here for a long time, all y'all need a sign to hang on
y'alls front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but
I got here as fast as I could."

*** SOUTHERN WOMEN ***

Southern women appreciate their natural assets:

Clean skin.

A winning smile.

That unforgettable Southern drawl.

Southern women know their manners:
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes, sir."
"Why, no, Billy!"

Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions :
"Y'all come back!"
"Well, bless your heart."
"Drop by when you can."
"How's your Momma?"

Southern women know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:
The beach
The beach
The beach

Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August:
Colorful hi-heel sandals
Strapless sun dresses
Iced sweet tea with mint

Southern women know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Good Catholic Girl
Baptist (might marry one)
Football

Southern women know their country breakfasts:
Red-eye gravy
Grits
Eggs
Country ham
Mouth-watering homemade biscuits with homemade jelly

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:

Charleston (Chawl'stn)
Savannah (S'vanah)
Fort Worth (Foat Wuth)
New Orleans (N'awlins)
Atlanta (Addlanna)

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform.
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler, of course!

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the four deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food
Wearing too much makeup in the summer

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah !

Now......Shugah, send this to some folks who were raised in
the South or wish they had been!

This whole thing brought back memories of my little ole Southern Grandma Lee, she would dress to the nine's just to go "downtown" - that included hat and gloves my dears.  I can remember having to struggle into nylon hose in the midst of southern humidity...LOL...but a lady never, ever left the house without looking "like a lady".  So much of this list is just so dam true....I do have to giggle.