Froggie Went A Courting

Good morning friends,

I can't sleep so here I am writing to you until I get tired again and go back to bed.

The church picnic was a ball: the weather was fall-like, crisp, sunny, slightly breezy and made one crave apple cider which someone did make (homemade!) and bring. The food was impeccable and there was a little acoustic band that provide entertainment for the first hour. One of the songs we sang is "Froggy Went A Courting". I hadn't heard that song since I was a kid, when my Grandmother gave me a Burl Ives children's album. I liked the song then too! So I sang the song with gusto!! "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?" was next and I did all the animal sounds. It was great fun!

I found this picture and it reminded me of Froggy, so here it is.

If you'd like to hear the song, check out the adorable video at the right.

And here, my friends, are all 19 verses:

Froggie Went A-Courtin'

1. Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride.
With a sword and a pistol by his side, Uh-huh.

2. Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door.
Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, Uh-huh.

3. Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,
Said he, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,
Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?"
"Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin," Uh-huh.

4. He took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee.
Said, "Miss Mousey, will you marry me?" Uh-huh.

5. "Without my uncle Rat's consent, Uh-huh
"Without my uncle Rat's consent, Uh-huh
"Without my uncle Rat's consent.
I wouldn't marry the president, Uh-huh

6. Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides,.
To think his niece would be a bride, Uh-huh.

7. Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown.
To buy his niece a wedding gown, Uh-huh

8. Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be?
Way down yonder in a hollow tree, Uh-huh

9. What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be?
Fried mosquito in a black-eye pea, Uh-huh.

10. Well, first to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin' moth.
She laid out the table cloth, Uh-huh.

11. Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a juney bug.
She brought the water jug, Uh-huh.

12. Next to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumbley bee.
Sat mosquito on his knee, Uh-huh.

13. Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a broken black flea.
Danced a jig with the bumbley bee, Uh-huh.

14. Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow.
She tried to dance but she didn't know how, Uh-huh.

15. Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick.
She ate so much she made us sick, Uh-huh.

16. Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake.
Ate up all of the wedding cake, Uh-huh.

17. Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat.
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, Uh-huh.

18. Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook.
A lily-white duck come and swallowed him up, Uh-huh.

19. A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf.
If you want anymore, you can sing it yourself, Uh-huh.

Copyright ©1992 Special Rider Music

Breathless and Wordless

What Will You Plant Today?

Has any one ever told you that you are a terrific gardener? You plant confidence. You make me feel as if my opinion is valued and knowledgeable.

The Cab Ride

THE CAB RIDE

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.

When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single

light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers

would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away.

But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their

only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I

always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my

assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail,

elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood

before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil

pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one

had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the

counters.

In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to

the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I

would want my mother treated".

"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you

drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a

hospice".

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't

have very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like

me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the

building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when

they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse

that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner

and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm

tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.

It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that

passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.

They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have

been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door..

The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me

tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.

"Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light.

Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in

thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to

end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven

away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important

in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others

may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT 'YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, ~BUT ~

THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Prayers over Meals

Round the table peace and joy prevail. May all who share this meal's delight enjoy countless more.

Thank you for the food we eat; Thank you for the friends we meet; Thank you for our work and play; Thank you, God, for a happy day.

God has been gracious to us, thanks and praise be to God He has drowned us in His blessings... There is no God but God Let us eat of His blessings... And remember His presence... And hope for His mercy... There is no God but God Muhammad set His foot (in the world)... And became the Intercessor, The Beloved Friend of Truth There is no God but God O God, our Lord, cause a table to descend unto us from heaven, that the day of its descent may become a festival day unto us; and do you provide food for us, for you are the best Provider.

Cristo, pan de vida, Ven y bendice esta comida. Amen

Christ, bread of life, Come and bless this food. Amen

We thank you, loving Father, For all your tender care, For food, and clothes, and shelter, And all your world so fair.

Hail, hail, hail, may happiness come. May food come. May corn come. Just as the farmers work and look forward to the reaping, So may we sit again as we are sitting now. May our enemies turn from us and go... Lord, return among us and be our Guest.

For every cup and plateful, May the Lord make us truly grateful.

Bénedic, Dómine, nos et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Chritum Dóminum nostrum. Amen

Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen

Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to Thy service. For we ask these things in Thy name. Amen

The Lord is good to me, And so I thank the Lord For giving me the things I need, The sun and the rain And the appleseed. The Lord is good to me. (To be sung.)

Good food, Good treats, Good God, Let's eat!

We thank you, Heavenly Father, For all things bright and good, The seedtime and the harvest, Our life, our health, our food.

May these words of praise ask You for food for our offspring, And for ourselves. You are gracious to us.

Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you, God, for everything. Amen

Rub-a-dub-dub, Thanks for the grub. Amen

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth.

May the salt on this table remind us of the wisdom of our Baptism, O Father. May the bread on this table remind us of the sacrifice of the altar. May the food remind us of your Word Incarnate. Amen

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some would eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.

Our Father, we are mindful of those who have friends but no food...and those who have food but no friends. We thank you this day we have both. Help us to befriend the friendless and to share our substance with those who hunger. Amen - U.S. Coast Guard Chaplain Program

For what we are about to receive, May the Lord make us truly grateful. Amen

Lord, bless our shared meal, a sacrament to our shared unity. - Mount St. Mary's Abbey

This ritual is One. The food is One. We who offer the food are One. The fire of hunger is also One. All action is One. We who understand this are One.

Father, we thank Thee for this food, for health and strength and all things good. May others all these blessings share, and hearts be grateful everywhere.

May the blessing of the five loaves and the two fishes which Jesus divided among the Five Thousand be ours, And may the King who made the division put luck in our food and in our portion. Amen

Good Lord - Bless these sinners as they eat their dinners. Amen

Great God, accept our gratitude, For the great gifts on us bestowed For rainment, shelter and for food. Great God, our gratitude we bring, Accept our humble offering, For all the gifts on us bestowed, Thy name be evermore adored.

God is great, God is good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hands, we are fed. Let us thank him for our bread. Amen

Now that I am about to eat, O Great Spirit, give my thanks to the beasts and birds whom You have provided for my hunger, and pray deliver my sorrow that living things must make a sacrifice for my comfort and well-being. Let the feather of corn spring up in its time and let it not wither but make full grains for the fires of our cooking pots, now that I am about to eat.

For the blessings you've bestowed upon this home and on this family, For all the days we've had together and all the days to come, For the joys and sorrows that bind us ever closer, For the trials we've overcome, And for teaching us that we can do no great things only small things with great love, Lord, we thank you.

Thank Yous

All from The Thank You Book, Robyn Freedman Spizman. Thank you Robyn!

Multiple person Thank You Letter

You are receiving this Thank you letter because you are a person who
has shown immeasurable kindness and unending thoughtfulness. You
deserve to be thanked for making such a difference in my life as well
as others. You have made your corner of the earth more hospitable,
gentler, and more meaningful with your smile, good deeds, and wonderful
ways. If everyone thanks one additional person for making his or her
world a better place, we all just might inspire more kindness and good
deeds! You are someone I am thankful for!

Email Thank You Letter

Here's a cyber thank you, since I couldn't wait to say, you fill my
life with happiness, each and every day. Your thoughtful deed was
noticed, you've been a friend right from the start. This thank you was
sent in cyberspace but it came straight from my heart.

Statements that compliment

You have outdone yourself, of course you always do.

Your outstanding taste is reflected in your beautiful gift.

I will always treasure your gift and most of all the beautiful thoughts
that accompany it.

A special person like you deserves the best.

This gift was definitely a tribute to your excellent taste.

Your beautiful gift is only matched by your continued caring.

Leave it to creative you to find such a fabulous gift.

You both are the perfect pair and represent a role model for us to
follow.

I could never fill your footsteps, but will be inspired by your gestrue
and beautiful book of wisdom.

Every time I look at your gift, I will think of your unending
thoughtfulness.

You are one in a million and I'm so lucky to call you my friend.

My thanks to you for being someone I can count on no matter what.

Thank you quotes:

Well done is better than well said. Ben Franklin.

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. Robert Byrne.

A friend is a gift you give yourself. Robert Louis Stevenson.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35.

A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we
take the least thought about acquiring. La Rochefoucauld, Maxims.

Always be a little kinder than necessary. James M. Barrie.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and
faith will never perish in misery. Anne Frank.

Thank you note for teachers

An apple for our teacher would never be enough, for teaching us abut
the world and lots of other stuff. But perhaps a world of thank yous
is what we all should say, to tell you, teacher, how much you mean to
all of us each day. So thank you, our dear teacher, for everything you
do, we all feel very lucky that each of us has you!

Words to describe your feelings of thanks:

delighted, honored, thankful, appreciative, grateful, obliged,
beholding to, indebted to, touched, moved, inspired, speechless,
complimented, enjoy, relish, ecstatic.

Words to describe the gift/deed

captivating, irresistable, charming, loveable, adorable, colorful,
gracious, exciting, fabulous, gorgeous, memorable, moving, lovely,
soothing, friendly, amazing, striking, sensational, thoughtful,
dazzling, stunning, unforgettable, remarkable, superb, glorious,
monumental, pleasurable, genuine, exquisite, state of the art, magical,
ravishing, stylish, outragous, phenomenal, awesome, cuddly, picture
perfect, whimsical, eye catching, special, elegant, exceptional,
outstanding, luxurious, mouthwatering, delectiable, unparalleled,
unique, prize winning, knockout, sumptous, compelling.

Credo

Helen Caldicott, an Australian pediatrician:

I believe that women have the fate of the Earth in the palm of their hands. Some 53 per cent of us are women and we really are pretty wimpish. We don't step up to the plate - and it's time we took over. I think men have had their turn and we're in a profound mess.

I believe that money is the root of all evil. When people start believing that materialism will produce ultimate, lasting happiness, it is a sure sign that they will be intensely unhappy. One third of Americans are on anti-depressants. Instead, what they should be doing is lifting their souls, not their faces.

I believe in the sanctity of nature. I believe we can save the planet. We are smart enough to do that, but we must act with a sense of dire emergency.

I believe that the media are controlling and determining the face of the Earth. As Thomas Jefferson said, an informed democracy will behave in a responsible fashion.

I believe in the beauty of classical music. I must have it; it feeds my soul.

I believe in the goodness in every person's soul even though it's sometimes hard to see. I treat a lot of patients where either their children are dying or they are dying. Even though sometimes it's heavily obscured, in extremes this goodness will emerge.

I don't believe in a particular god. I have helped many people to die and believe that it's ashes to ashes and dust to dust.

I believe that heaven and hell are present every day.

I believe that life is an absolute gift to be treasured accordingly. We are very privileged to even have been conceived.

I believe that we are here to serve. We are not here to make ourselves happy, to be self-indulgent or to be hedonistic. The happiest state that I achieve is when I work in my clinic helping my children with cystic fibrosis to face death and help to treat them and look after their siblings. I'm utterly exhausted at the end of the day, but deeply, deeply fulfilled.

I believe in the beauty of my garden. I've got two and a half acres and I'm never more in touch with the power of the universe than when I'm in my garden on a warm, sunny day tending to my flowers and my trees, with the pelicans circling overhead.

I believe that there are far too many people on the planet. In the year 1900 there were one billion of us in the world. Now there are 6.5 billion and the predictions are that within a few decades there will be 14 billion.

I believe that the greatest terror in the world is not a few terrorists hitting the World Trade Center. It's the fact that half the world's people still live in dire poverty and 30,000 to 40,000 children die every day from malnutrition and starvation, while the rich nations continue to get richer and richer.

I believe that the most important job in the world is parenting. Women need to be financially supported for it. Their job is far more important than that of chief executive officers at the head of huge corporations.

I believe the secret of happiness is a) serving our fellow human beings and loving and caring for everyone. I don't mean crappy Californian love; I mean really deep caring for each other; b) to understand our own psychology in a profound way, so we can be a more constructive human being; and c) to care for this incredible planet of ours.

Counting Blessings

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It focuses our minds on our blessings rather than on our problems.

It makes the heart glad for what we have been given, and it takes our minds off the burdens we all have.

Thanksgiving recognizes the giver as well as the gift. It keeps it on the positive side.

In a life of plenty of prosperity, we seem to take things for granted. How appreciative we should be for our blessings, and what a wonderful thing is a holiday which focuses our attention on them.

Thanksgiving is therapy we all need to keep cognizant of the blessings and beauty of living.

This year let's set aside a few minutes of the holiday to sit alone and think of the many things for which we are thankful - - then this great holiday will have true meaning for us.

~Robert N. Filie

Christmas with Louise

Ok, this story is a bit on the "colorful" side but sooooooo funny:

As a joke, my brother used to hang a pair of panty hose over his fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill them. What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because every Christmas morning, although Jay's kids' stockings were overflowed, his poor pantyhose hung sadly empty.



One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don't sell those things at Wal-Mart.



I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown. If you've never been in an X-rated store, don't go. You'll only confuse yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, "What does this do?" "You're kidding me!" "Who would buy that?" Finally, I made it to the inflatable doll section. I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute as a passenger in my truck so I could use the carpool lane during rush hour.



Finding what I wanted was difficult. Love dolls come in many different models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do things I'd only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled on 'Lovable Louise." She was at the bottom of the price scale. To call Louise a "doll" took a huge leap of imagination.



On Christmas Eve, with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to life. My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning hours, long after Santa had come and gone, I filled the dangling pantyhose with Louise's pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and giggled for a couple of hours. The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house and left a present that had made him VERY happy but had left the dog confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some more. We all agreed that Louise should remain in her panty hose so the rest of the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional Christmas dinner.



My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door. "What the hell is that?" she asked. My brother quickly explained, "It's a doll." "Who would play with something like that?" Granny snapped. I had several candidates in mind, but kept my mouth shut. "Where are her clothes?" Granny continued.



"Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran," Jay, my brother said, trying to steer her into the dining room. But Granny was relentless. "Why doesn't she have any teeth?" Again, I could have answered, but why would I? It was Christmas and no one wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance saying, "Hang on Granny! Hang on!"



My grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up to me and said, "Hey, who's the naked gal by the fireplace?" I told him she was Jay's friend. A few minutes later, I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise. Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this might be Grandpa's last Christmas at home. The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who was dying, and who should be killed, when suddenly Louise made a noise that sounded a lot like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the panty hose, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the sofa.



The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants and Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car.



It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember. Later in my mother's garage, we conducted a thorough examination to decide the cause of Louis's collapse. We discovered that Louise had suffered from a hot ember to the back of her right thigh. Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to perfect health.



Louise went on to star in several bachelor party movies. I think Grandpa still calls her whenever he can get out of the house.

A Prayer for You

May today be all you need it to be. May the Peace of God and the freshness of spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, truth and undying love for God.

Now Is the Time

*****************
All stories copyright 2009 Bob Perks
Today's message:
"Now is the time"
By Bob Perks

I've wasted it.

I've spent it.

I've given it.

I've passed it.

I've sold it.

Now I'm trying to find more of it.

Time.

I've discovered that no one knows exactly what time it is.

I was driving the other day and listening to my radio.
The announcer said it was 2:15. I looked at the clock
on the radio dial and it said it was 2:10. I don't wear
a watch anymore because I carry a phone with me. Unable
to reach for the phone, I looked for a clock along the
road I was traveling.

The bank clock said it was 2:18.

Coming to a red light I pulled my cell phone out and
when I opened it it said 2:20.

All of this within a two minute travel time and none
of the clocks agreed or even came close to agreeing.

When I arrived home My kitchen clock said it was now
2:45. My microwave said it was 2:42. My dining room
clock said it was 2:40.

My phone?

2:46.

The words from a song by the group Chicago came to mind.

"Does anyone really know what time it is?
Does anyone really care?"
No I can't imagine why
We've all got time enough to cry"

So, I began to think about how really precious time is
and decided to begin collecting it.

Every time I find a difference between one clock
and another, I'll just save the minutes. I'll choose
to take the earlier time.

Now, that will most likely make me late for appointments.
Or everyone else early.

Then I realized something. There really isn't any time
at all. Time was a tool created by mankind in an effort
to keep track of everything.

The truth is the only real time is now.

Do you understand that?

I'll say it again...The truth is the only real time is now.

At this very second it is today and tomorrow depending on
where you live in the world.

Forget the calendar, too.

It's day time and night time at the same time in the world.

It is sunrise and sunset and summer and winter.

In that same second there is birth and death.

Beginnings and endings.

Happiness and sadness.

You and me.

So, what are you going to do?

Really, if all you have is now, are you going to sit down
or stand up?

If all you have is now are you going to stop or go?

If all you have is now, are you going to hate or love?

If all you have is now, are you going to forgive or grudge?

If all you have is now, are you going to live or wait to die?

Time.

The truth is the only real time is now.

Now...what are you going to do?

"I believe in you!"
Bob

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
and submit your email address.

*****************

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

Bob Perks, P.O. Box 1702, Shavertown, PA 18708-1702, USA

Life Lessons

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or to your
higher power or meditate) about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if
you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
' My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________ '

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life is not fair, but it is still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don ' t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.

14. Don ' t compare your life to others. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ' In five
years, will this matter? '

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD (depending on your beliefs) heals everything - but you have to ask
Him (translate to your religion).

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night, before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You will be smiling before you know it.

Thoughts on Redemption

I have pondering redemption a bit as I listen to people villify Senator Edward Kennedy for a mistake of youth - a tragic mistake, yes, but a mistake. I have listened and listened and must speak now.

If the value of one's life or life's work, as it may be, can be erased by one foolish decision, then what good is redemption? Is it not useless if one can never overcome a choice? What if God were that unforgiving? Where would we be?

Profound Thinking Regarding the Soul

Good morning friends,

One of the books I'm reading during my convalescence is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows.

The novel centers around an author in post-WW II London who wrote a series of articles called "Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War". As the accolades and reviews come in, so does the correspondence from one Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society in response to the question "How did reading provide solace to you during the war?" Guersey was a town occupied by the Germans during the war, the residents were forced to grow only what they were told they could so that resources could be directed to fortifying the German soldiers.

The book reads as a series of letters to and from the author regarding the occupation, books, and life in general. I was particularly taken by two references in the book. The first is a piece by Thomas Carlyle, in Past and Present, found on pg. 101 of "Potato Peel".

~Does it ever give thee pause, that men used to have a soul - not as hearsay alone or as a figure of speech; but as a truth that they knew, and acted upon! Verily it was another world then. . .but yet it is a pity that we have lost the tidings of our souls. . .we shall have to go in search of them again, or worse in all ways shall befall us.

The other passage, found on g. 102, describes a fictional (near as my research can find) discussion that occured during an annual meeting of The Friends of Sigmund Freud Society:

Dr. Stubbins addressed the assembly and questioned the gathering thus:

~"Did any of you ever think that along about the time that the notion of a SOUL gave out, Freud popped up with the EGO to take its place? The timing of the man! Did he not pause to reflect? Irresponsible old coot! It is my belief that men must spout this twaddle about egos, because they fear they have no soul! Think upon it!"