“United We Stand…”
Today is the birthday of Dr. King – and his message that we all need to unite or find that we all will fall – because we cannot understand – that there is only one Creator and His plan is for us all to accept and respect each other.
It is just like a family – we are brought into our family – by our Father and Mother. There was a time when the family had many children – like my Mother’s family – she was number thirteen. Also, there were families having even more children than that and back in the day everyone would soon learn – the father was in charge – as long as you lived under his roof. You and all the other members in your family may have thought differently and wanted to do things your own way – but in the unit of a family – business – or government – it is the combined unit – always working together that can survive and achieve – with the gifts that each of us receive from our Creator.
Each of us – that is of the “Human Race” has talents that are unique and as each individual develops into the being that the Almighty wants this creation to be – we should be happy to share our ideas and thoughts with others – other families – friends or even another person from the other side of the world. So far, I have not run into any “Aliens” – that would possibly want to harm us – so since we are only here – for maybe a “hundred years’ – what in the world is wrong with just trying to understand; each of us is different in some ways.
I know that there is an “eighteen year old” in this old bag of bones wanting to get out – but as time does it number on all of us – we all change each and every day! We all look differ – in such a short time – whoever I once was – I am no longer. I wish that I had the beauty, muscle power, strength, brains, memory bank and one very important thing – ” when will I learn to keep my big mouth shut??” There are so many things that makes each of us so different – that – to have some difference from others – keeps us interesting to make friends and learn how others do things so well – that we have no idea how or why – but if we would just “DREAM” and give some thought as to how we could make our own LIFE better – and maybe connect with others that are like minded – “what a beautiful world this would be?”
My best thought for today; “LIVE and LET LIVE” – “Help and Encourage” – “Always offer your hand in FRIENDSHIP” – If you wear a “SMILE on your face” – you will make more friends than you would have ever dream to be possible!
Use the word “NICE” at the end of every statement. I remember this old NUN – “Sister ZITA” – whenever she would ask you to do something – she would say, “Pick up that broom and sweep, NICE?” “Would you carry this heavy bucket of water – to the kitchen, NICE?” Everything ended with the word – “NICE” – I was just a kid – and was not to happy to do all the extra things she would have you do, “NICE” – but how could you not do what was ask of you – when you heard her so “nicely” add the word “NICE?”
“Grin and Bear it!” – “Life is too short for Mr. In-between?” “Heaven is not too far oft!”
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“Rain…Rain…Go away…Come another day…”
Do you remember when you were a little kid – you had a lot of playing to do “outside “– which you and your other little friends had planned on doing? But, that beautiful sunny day has now turned into a “Rainy Day” – and Mother is not going to let you go out – to play!
When – I was a little girl – I remember sitting right by the window – watching each and every drop of “RAIN” fall. It did not help for me to sit and watch the “RAIN” falling – probably – my sitting there and watching just helped more “RAIN” to fall.
We were near the corner of the block – so looking out the window was fun – because I could at least watch the traffic as the cars drove by. There was also the “Walnut Park” bus that made a stop – letting people on and off the bus. And on these “Rainy Days” – it was fun for me to watch some people start to run as fast as they could up the block to their house – as some others had been prepared and brought their umbrella along – just in case – that it would rain – and now they could take their time and not have to race either up or down the street.
Some of the bus passengers that had to cross the street and go down the block – going the other way – had some extra problems to contend with – they were without their umbrella and now having to cross the street – wouldn’t be too bad – if it were not for the traffic also coming – and then with the wet streets – you guessed – it right – “Splash…Splash.. All over the person – getting rain-soaked – down to the bone – and now looking like a drown “BIRD!”
I so often thought that I would like to go out and join all those people – having fun in the “RAIN” – at least – I thought that they were having fun as for me to watch them – as I knew that people outside could see me sitting in the window . Bad weather of any kind – and that includes “RAIN” – just was not the kind of weather that my Mother would let us, my two brothers and me get into – as she knew that one of us would catch a cold and or even something worse – and she stood her ground. “NO – going out to play in the “RAIN!”
With three (3) small children all crying to go out in the “Rain” – MOM held her ground and turn this situation into something else. You probably heard that children’s song “Three naughty little Kittens – who lost their mittens… and they all began to cry…” Well, my Mother likes to sing – so – before you knew it – we were all singing and “meowing” like the three little kittens that lost their mittens – and as we were being so entertain – who in the world would want to go out into the “RAIN?” Isn’t it just wonderful the silly stuff – that you can remember – and almost without even tying?
It seems to me that – If I really tried – I could possibly sing that old song about the three “naughty kittens “- which lost their mittens … and “Shant” have any “APPLE PIE”…” – It is – that word – “SHANT” – that word just tickled my ears – when I first heard it – and just hearing it as we were singing – I’m thinking that we could have sang that song forever. I seem to like words – that – as a child you never heard before and had a funny sound – and no one uses – hardly had an idea of what it meant – it just was fun! – But, the more – we sang that song – soon – I was getting the idea, “shant = “NO” – and I was also hoping that – we soon would also – not have any more “RAINY DAYS!”
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2015 NEW YEAR THOUGHTS
With a New Year – it does pay to give it your best – “go-at-it” – so that we have made our permanent mark – something to be remembered – for good rather than to have just been forgotten.
In starting anything it is best to – “Run to Win”- with “YOU” winning in mind at all time – to attain the prize! When starting something new – it is best to have a very good plan – something written and gone over to be sure – that when you run to win – you are not wasting your time and end up running for the second or third prize.
In starting your new project – always check out your old baggage – that you have been dragging along with for a long time. Drop all the old hindrances – just drop useless weight – that could possibly keep you stumbling in all your good efforts – and this race and rise to a better LIFE – just seems to get lost.
Is the AIM for SUCCESS – no matter what? No matter what happened last year – this is the NEW YEAR – and hopefully – your AIM is going forward and further and let no failure creep in on your plans for progress this year!
Starting out and having a clear objective to keep you focused always helps. If you will AM in LIFE fully focused – you will find yourself – flying in obtaining the objective.
Remember, DON’T LOOK BEHIND – remember that your TARGET is not behind you – keeping on the forward march as well as reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Our mission in LIFE is to learn from the past – do not live in the past – learning to only live for the future – as that is where you are headed!
PRESS ON! This is the time to keep PRESSING on in order to get the “GOAL” that you want more than anything! Now is NOT the time – to back off and slow down. Remember that you want first prize – you will not put all of your hard efforts in everything for a second or third prize. Only the FIRST PRIZE will do for you and all your time and work! – “GET-IT” – “GIVE -IT YOUR ALL!
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“Let’s celebrate – Chinese New Year – in the SOUTH!”
If you are in the “NORTH” where it is colder than it should be – why don’t we all pack up our bags – and head “SOUTH” – like the “SMART BIRDS” do! When you are young – and full of “VIM and VIGOR” – celebrating in the “NORTH” has no bearing – what- so- ever – since there are some of us – who are just conditioned for the bitter cold – other wise – why would people live in Alaska??
In my case – that is a Grandma – – and most Grandmas are on the elderly and or older side of LIFE – and “warmer weather” sure feels good – on our “OLDER” skin. Also, – as I remember in our History Lesson – that “PONCE DE LEON” discovered the “FOUNTAIN of YOUTH” in Florida. Did he really – what is the “FOUNTAIN of YOUTH” anyway?
The way I understand – – what the medical “wonder workers” indicate that good health – depends on us eating fruit and vegetables – maybe a piece of bread – a plate of noodles – and add some fish to that – – and the best thing to live forever is to – forget about eating and drinking – everything – what ever – that you have been eating and drinking – as that old diet – will all be the first cause to your early death!
The best thing for everyone would be – for all of us – to move to the warm climates – those areas on the “GLOBE” that have warm climates – all year long! So, my “HAT” is off to my brother, Denny – (in the above picture) – must say that he looks like – “PONCE DE LEON” – as he , my brother Denny has found the “Fountain of YOUTH” – and looking at the above picture – it looks WARM – and looks like there is room for a few more “Senior Citizens” – so for the “Chinese New Year” – let’s see if celebrating in the SOUTH – helps us to find all the gifts – – JOY and HAPPINESS and RICHES – – that are coming to those – – – who will celebrate! The “Chinese New Year” – way!
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Chinese New Year – January 19th
How would you like to celebrate New Year’s all week? Well, that is what I understand – that they do in China! The best part of the employment code – is that you will be paid for each day that you will be celebrating – and of course there will be some people that have to work – regardless of the celebration or the Holiday – some positions have to have a “body” on the job! When – you are the person that has to do – that job – when everybody else is celebrating – guess what – you will receive in addition to working that day – an extra day’s wages or you can select another day as your day off.
That’s the way it was – when I use to work for the Telephone Company – I was tickled “PINK” to work on a HOLIDAY – and if I was able to also work that SUNDAY – My “pay check” for that week’s work was what I could only hope to get as often as possible?? When you are young and you are in good health – and may as well include – full of vim and vigor – why not work – while there is work to do and on top of everything – the extra cash is what one needs.
When I first started to work – I had to get a worker’s permit as I was not old enough – and working for money – was terrific. I was a very hard worker in the “Orphanage” – but no one was receiving money for the hours of hard work. Some of the NUNS might give you some candy – that they had received as gifts – and probably did not like – so you might get that – but money – you can buy the candy that you like!
When I had received my first “pay check” – I was still in “training” and the group of 6 other girls that I was working with – all older – left together to get their checks cashed or put in their bank account. Well, I did not have a Bank account and never had a check that I had to get cashed – so my Instructor took me to the “Credit Union” – and that was the best of my training – getting associated with the “Credit Union!”
The Credit Union was in the same building and so that saved me time going somewhere and then having to get back to work – and with now – having an account – all I needed in those days – was a mere pittance compared to – today ‘s weekly needs. So most of the check went into a Savings account – The cash that I took – I would place on the left side of the “FIRE PLACE mantel – right behind a couple of photographs that were standing there of family members. I’m guessing that they were watching the money – and as luck would have it – the money was always there for me when I needed something?
From what I read about the Chinese New Year – the year of the “Goat” – looks like this will be a very puny year as far as money is concerned – if you thought that you were ever “LUCKY” – you can just forget it. There’s no “LUCK” to be had – so the next thing in “LIFE” is get a good position somewhere – work harder than ever – and save every dime you get your hands on! Do you know – – that at least 30 years have gone by since I have seen a penny on the ground – much less any other coins – so I would have to – guess that no one – – has an extra “CENT” to lose! “Be Careful!”
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“High Rollers!”
“When the occasion – – – presents it-self – – be sure that you are with those – – – which would be born under the – “STAR of LUCK” – if it is – your plan to be a “BIG WINNER!”
This reminds me of the time – – when we lived in Florida – – and there was a neighbor – that lived across the street from us – she was retired – due to an automobile accident. I can not remember her name – but she was in the “ZIEGFELD FOLLIES” in the 1930’s – New York. She was driving her convertible, and she had her left hand fingers wrapped around the side-vent window – – and somehow in the accident she lost three (3) fingers.
Well, this catastrophe – put an end to her dancing career in the “FOLLIES” – so she retired to Florida. She did like to play cards – “POKER” – she also had a nice room set up – just for gambling with her friends So, when she and I were talking about the games she had at her house and some of the guests – like her “BANKER” – – and others that seem to me that her friends had money to lose – I told her that my husband would like to play cards for money and the next time – that she would be having a game – to let me know and I would have my husband – know the date and time and be there.
Playing cards for money is not a strong suit for me – as I am only a “DONATE R” – winning money – and playing cards – that “LUCKY STAR” never showed up at my door-step – so you never see me – try to ” WIN” at another man’s game!
So, the call came – – I called my husband , who was still at the “Restaurant” – and was he ever in a “good mood” – he was going to play with some of the “Florida High Rollers” – – or was he??? Lee told me to set out a good suit and run to the bank – so that he would have a good amount of money to play with – and when he got home – he was prepared to do what he likes best – – and that is to make lots of money – just playing cards!
Several hours pass – and finally Lee comes home! I could see on his face, immediately – Lee did not make the pile of money – that he thought he would. Instead – Lee told – “Never ever tell me about them wanting someone to play cards – at their games. – They don’t play cards!” Lee went on to let me know that – they only play a “PENNY -anti- poker” and the highest you could raise – – is “twenty-five cents” – this just was not his “cup-of- tea” – he was expecting – some excitement – with his making – – big “BETS!?”
Every time – that I think of that “BIG TIME CARD GAME” – – I have to give “THANKS” – that I just don’t know that much about cards – and have no real desire to ever – give playing “CARDS” a second thought!
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