317752's blog: "RAMBLINGS......on life and love"

A little girl had been shopping with her Mother at the grocery store. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Safeway.  We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.  

'What?' Mom asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' she repeated.

'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.

'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ' '

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did.  I ran.  I got wet.  I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other --
And don't forget to run in the rain! 

Made “Rock Star” status, if you can call it that, today and I got to thinking about all the wonderful friends I have made here that made this happen. I cogitated on this while I perused my lists of friends, fans and family and I noticed a distinct lack of testosterone. There is good reason for that. You see, I have tried to get in touch with my “feminine” side, but she has a restraining order against me. I need all the estrogen laden input on life and love I can find, and the oh so lovely ladies of Cherry Tap are a true wealth of information and understanding concerning the “feminine mystique”. Each and every one of you are more than special to me, and because I have reaped so much from you I thought I would try and “give something back”, so to speak. For my few male friends here, be forewarned, I am going to let ALL the cats out of the bag, as it were, and ladies, hopefully this will give you some insight into the fellow in your life. Now, let’s see, where to begin:
We don't care if you talk to other guys. We don't care if you're friends with other guys. But when you're sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room and you jump up and tackle him, without even introducing us, yeah, it pisses us off. It also doesn't help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we're still there.
We don't care if a guy calls you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned. Nothing is that important at 2 a.m. that it can't wait till the morning.
Also, when we tell you you're pretty/ beautiful/ gorgeous/cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it. Don't tell us we're wrong, we'll stop trying to convince you.
The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence. Yeah, you can quote me.
Don't be mad, or worse, embarrass us by acting surprised when we hold the door or your chair for you. Take advantage of the mood were in, let us pay for you! Don’t "feel bad", we enjoy doing it. It's expected. Smile and say "thank you."
If you kiss us when no one's watching, while we ALWAYS love your kiss, it loses a little something, BUT, if you kiss us when you know somebody's looking, well THAT is the “be all, end all”.
You don't have to get dressed up for us. If we're going out with you in the first place, you don't have to feel the need to wear the shortest skirt you have or put on every kind of makeup you own. It’s certainly not that we don’t appreciate the massive effort you make to “look your best” for us, but we like you for who you are and not what you are. Honestly, I think a girl looks more beautiful when she's just in her pj's. or my t-shirt and boxers, not all dolled up.
Don't take everything we say seriously. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the beauty in it. Don't get angry easily.
Stop using magazines/media as your bible. Don't talk about how hot Bow Wow, Brad Pitt, or Chris Brown are in front of us. It's boring, and we don't care. You have girlfriends for that.
Whatever happened to the word "handsome"/"beautiful"? I'd be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever else you can think of. On the other hand, I’m not saying I don’t like it ; )
Ladies, I cannot stress this enough: if you aren't being treated right by a guy, don’t wait for him to change. ditch the sorry, disgrace to the male population and find someone who will treat you with utter respect. Someone who will honor your morals. Someone who will make you smile when you're at your lowest. Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes. Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel. Someone who will stop what they’re doing just to look you in the eyes....and say "I love you" .. and actually mean it.
Give the nice guys a chance……
I guess that’s about it, but let me conclude with a few thoughts to take with you...
*Holdin Hands* Girls :If you want to hold his hand, gently bump into it a couple of times. Guys : Grab it if it happens more than once.
*Cuddling* Girls : When you want to cuddle with him, tell him you're cold Guys : Automatically move closer to her.
*Movies* Girls : During a movie, if he puts his arm around you, tilt your head on his shoulder Guys : Lift her chin up and kiss her.
*Laying below the stars* Girls : When you're both laying under the stars, put your head on his chest and close your eyes as you listen to his steady heart beat Guys : Whisper in her ear and link your hands with hers.
*Loving each other* Guys : When she tells you she loves you, look deep into her eyes, give her a peck on the lips, and tell her you love her too... And mean it.

Now if you read Lonely Days, then you already know how all of this ended, but while it was on, it was totally on, so much so that on a warm Louisiana Saturday afternoon, a simple box inspired a muse I did not know dwelled within me and I wrote my first poem to her.......
~~~~~~~~ THE BOX ~~~~~~~ ~~~ BY: Cozmik Debris ~~
A BOX ARRIVED, LAST SATURDAY AND I MUST NOW CONFIDE THAT WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED THEREIN STILL LEAVES ME "TEARY-EYED"
THE BOX WAS BASIC, PLAIN AND SQUARE WITHOUT RIBBON, WRAP OR BOW NOR WAS IT COLORED, JUST PLAIN WHITE IT SEEMED A BOX, NO MORE
NOW LET ME SAY HERE, I KNEW THE SOURCE AND I KNEW IT WOULD ARRIVE BUT I CONFESS, I DID NOT KNOW IT'S CONTENTS WERE ALIVE
INSIDE THIS WONDERFUL, "PLAIN-OLD" BOX WAS TREASURE NO MAN HAS KNOWN THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT I COULD RECEIVE AND NOW, TO CALL MY OWN
THEREIN I FOUND, FIRST, WORDS OF LOVE SOFT KISSES PERMEATING THEIR MEANING WAS CLEAR FOR ME TO SEE TO MY VERY SOUL, RELATING
ALSO INSIDE WERE TWO SOFT HEARTS CONFORMED AS ONE HARMONY A PERFECT MESH OF TWO DESIRES FIRE AND FANTASY
AS FOR THE FIRE, TWO FLAMES WERE THERE RED, WITH PASSIONS GLOW A FIRE THAT CANNOT BE QUENCHED A NEED, THAT ONLY GROWS
THE FANTASY CONTAINED THEREIN WAS THERE AS ONE LONE ROSE THE PETALS SILK AND EVERLASTING THE SCENT OF LOVE SHE CHOSE
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'M STILL NOT DONE THE BOX CONTAINED MUCH MORE A BIG RED HEART, I SAW INSIDE THE SWEET "CANDY" OF PASSION'S LORE
THEN TIME TO TALK, I FOUND THERE TOO HER DESIRE, COMMUNICATION THE WRITTEN WORD NO LONGER SATING HER HUNGER, ENUNCIATION
ALSO THERE, A WONDEROUS RING A TRINKET, YOU MIGHT SAY BUT TO ME THIS RING WAS SOLID GOLD TO HER SIDE, IT SHOWED THE WAY
OH YES, LET ME NOT FORGET AS IF IT WEREN'T ENOUGH ALREADY THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF HEARTFELT KISSES A VIRTUAL LOVE CONFETTI
I HOPE IT IS NOW PLAIN TO SEE THE GREAT TREASURE TO ME BESTOWED THIS BOX, THIS TOTALLY INCREDIBLE BOX HAS SET MY HEART AGLOW
HER LIVING LOVE, SHE SENT TO ME HER HEART TO JOIN WITH MINE COMPLETE SURRENDER TO LOVE'S SWEET CALL OUR HEARTS AS ONE, ENTWINED
NOW AND FOREVER, ETERNITY I KNOW IT'S FROM ABOVE I'LL SPEND MY LIFE IN THE TOTAL JOY OF ADOZNROSES LOVE
~~ finis ~~

I wrote this some 10 years ago, and when I found it in my archive today, I felt almost compelled to share it. It was written to and for one of the most special women who ever lived. Would that I had been a special enough man to hold on to her.
~~~~~LONELY DAYS~~~~~ ~~~BY: Cozmik Debris ~~~
SHE CAME TO HIM, ONE WINTER'S NIGHT JUST SEARCHING FOR A FRIEND HER SOUL IN PAIN, HE HELD HER TIGHT HER HEART, HE TRIED TO MEND
HE DID NOT KNOW, HE HAD NO CLUE HOW EMPTY LIFE HAD BEEN IN HER EMBRACE, THAT'S WHEN HE KNEW HIS LONELY DAYS WOULD END
THE LOVE THEY SHARED, THAT FATEFUL NIGHT TOO SPECIAL TO DESCRIBE SHE TOUCHED HIS SOUL, IT FELT SO RIGHT IN HER, HE'D FOUND NEW LIFE
FROM THAT NIGHT ON, THE TWO OF THEM JUST COULD NOT GET ENOUGH HE LIVED FOR HER, AND SHE FOR HIM BUT LIFE PROVED MORE THAN TOUGH
YOU SEE THERE WAS, ON HER LEFT HAND A RING SHE'D WORN FOR YEARS IT'S MEANING BLURRED, THAT GOLDEN BAND WOULD SOON CAUSE MANY TEARS
SHE TOLD HIM THIS CRUEL DESTINY WAS TEARING HER APART SHE COULD NOT LOVE HER FAMILY AND STILL GIVE HIM HER HEART
ALTHOUGH HE'S NOT MY PERFECT MAN I DO STILL LOVE HIM SO AND THOUGH YOU ARE MY PERFECT MAN IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO
MY FAMILY, IT MUST COME FIRST OF COURSE, HE SAID, I KNOW AND THOUGH HE THOUGHT HIS HEART WOULD BURST HE HAD TO LET HER GO
HIS LONELY DAYS HAD NOW RETURNED SHE TRIED TO MEND HER STRIFE BUT DEEP INSIDE, THEIR LOVE STILL BURNED IT WAS A FACT OF LIFE
THE DAYS WENT BY, UNCEASINGLY HE HAD NO WILL TO LIVE THE NIGHTS DRAGGED ALMOST ENDLESSLY HIS ALL FOR HER, HE'D GIVE
TWO MONTHS HAD PASSED, YET HE STILL PAINED HE JUST COULD NOT MOVE ON HER LOVE HELD HIM, HIS SOUL SHE'D GAINED HIS LIGHT OF LIFE WAS GONE
THEN CAME THE DAY, THE LIGHT RESTORED HIS HEART SHE WOULD MAKE WHOLE SHE LOVED AGAIN, HIS BEING SOARED AGAIN, SHE TOUCHED HIS SOUL
SHE'D WRITTEN HIM, MORE WORDS OF LOVE TO HIM HER HEART BELONGED THAT DAY HE THANKED THE LORD ABOVE HIM, IN HER LIFE, SHE LONGED
THE LONELY DAYS NOW GONE FOR GOOD 'TWAS JOY THAT FILLED HIS SOUL SHE HAD COME BACK, HE UNDERSTOOD LET GO, IF WISH TO HOLD
TOGETHER NOW, HIS JOY COMPLETE SOULS JOINED AGAIN, AT LAST SHE PROMISED SHE COULD NEVER LEAVE HER FEARS OF LOVE HAD PASSED
AS TIME WENT ON, THE LOVE JUST GREW THEY TALKED OF NIGHTS TO COME ETERNITY WAS REAL, THEY KNEW THEY'D SPEND THEIR LIVES AS ONE
THEY LAUGHED, THEY LOVED, THEY HELD ON TIGHT THE WORLD WAS THEIRS TO HOLD NO INKLING HAD, NOT EVEN SLIGHT THAT WORLD WOULD SOON TURN COLD
YES, ONCE AGAIN, THE GOLDEN BAND HAD MADE IT'S PRESENCE KNOWN THOUGH BY HIS SIDE, SHE SWORE TO STAND HER GUILT AGAIN, FULL GROWN
HE LOVES HER STILL, AND THOUGH APART HIS LOVE GROWS DAY BY DAY SHE IS THE ONE THAT OWNS HIS HEART THROUGHOUT EACH LONELY DAY
HE FEELS HER PAIN, HE KNOWS IT'S BAD HE UNDERSTANDS HER GUILT HE ALSO KNOWS, THE LOVE THEY HAD ON SHAKY GROUND WAS BUILT
STILL IN HIS HEART, THE LOVE BURNS ON HE HAS BUT ONE DESIRE TO KNOW IF HER LOVE STILL BURNS ON OR HAS SHE QUENCHED THE FIRE
JUST TO BE FRIENDS, SHE IS HIS BEST WOULD SATE HIS BURNING NEED HE'S NOW MADE KNOWN HIS ONE REQUEST AND HOPES SHE WILL TAKE HEED
HE KNOWS HE ASKS SO MUCH FROM SHE YET THROUGH HIS TEARY HAZE HE BEGS OF HER, ON BENDED KNEE PLEASE END THESE LONELY DAYS ~~~finis~~~

"PLEASE HEAR WHAT I AM NOT SAYING"
DON'T BE FOOLED BY ME. DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE FACE I WEAR. FOR I WEAR A MASK. I WEAR A THOUSAND MASKS. MASKS THAT I AM AFRAID TO TAKE OFF. AND NONE OF THEM IS ME. PRETENDING IS AN ART........THAT'S SECOND NATURE WITH ME. BUT DON'T BE FOOLED. I GIVE YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT I'M SECURE. THAT ALL IS SUNNY AND UNRUFFLED IN ME. WITHIN AS WELL AS WITHOUT. THAT CONFIDENCE IS MY NAME, AND COOLNESS IS MY GAME. THAT THE WATER'S CALM AND I'M IN COMMAND. AND THAT I NEED NO ONE. BUT DON'T BELIEVE ME. MY SURFACE MAY SEEM SMOOTH BUT MY SURFACE IS MY MASK. MY EVER-VARYING AND EVER-CONCEALING MASK.
BENEATH LIES NO SMUGNESS, NO COMPLACENCE. BENEATH DWELLS THE REAL ME. IN CONFUSION, IN FEAR, IN ALONENESS. BUT I HIDE THIS. I PANIC AT THE THOUGHT OF MY WEAKNESS AND FEAR BEING EXPOSED. THAT IS WHY I FRANTICALLY CREATE A MASK TO HIDE BEHIND. A NONCHALANT, SOPHISTICATED FACADE, TO HELP ME PRETEND. TO SHIELD ME FROM THE GLANCE THAT KNOWS. BUT SUCH A GLANCE IS PRECISELY MY SALVATION. THAT IS, IF IT'S FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE. IF IT IS FOLLOWED BY LOVE. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CAN LIBERATE ME FROM MYSELF. FROM MY OWN SELF-BUILT PRISON WALLS. FROM THE BARRIERS THAT I SO PAINSTAKINGLY ERECT. IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL ASSURE ME OF WHAT I CAN'T ASSURE MYSELF. THAT I'M REALLY WORTH SOMETHING. BUT I DON'T TELL YOU THIS......I DON'T DARE.......I'M AFRAID TO.
I'M AFRAID YOUR GLANCE WILL NOT BE FOLLOWED BY ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE. I'M AFRAID YOU'LL THINK LESS OF ME, THAT YOU'LL LAUGH.....AND YOUR LAUGH WILL KILL ME. I'M AFRAID THAT DEEP DOWN, I'M NOTHING. THAT I'M JUST NO GOOD. AND THAT YOU WILL SEE THIS AND REJECT ME. SO I PLAY MY GAME, MY DESPERATE PRETENDING GAME. AND MY LIFE BECOMES A FRONT. I DISLIKE THE SUPERFICIAL GAME I'M PLAYING.....THE SUPERFICIAL PHONY GAME. I'D REALLY LIKE TO BE GENUINE AND SPONTANEOUS......AND ME.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HELP ME. YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD OUT YOUR HAND....EVEN WHEN IT'S THE LAST THING I SEEM TO WANT OR NEED. ONLY YOU CAN WIPE AWAY FROM MY EYES THE BLANK STARE OF THE BREATHING DEAD...ONLY YOU CAN CALL ME INTO ALIVENESS. EACH TIME YOU ARE KIND AND GENTLE, AND ENCOURAGING....EACH TIME YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND......BECAUSE YOU REALLY CARE.....MY HEART BEGINS TO GROW WINGS...VERY SMALL WINGS, VERY FEEBLE WINGS, BUT WINGS. WITH YOUR SENSITIVITY AND SYMPATHY AND YOUR POWER OF UNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN BREATHE LIFE INTO ME. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE TO ME. HOW CAN YOU BE THE CREATOR OF THE PERSON THAT IS ME, IF YOU CHOOSE TO?
IT WILL NOT BE EASY FOR YOU. A LONG CONVICTION OF WORTHLESSNESS BUILDS STRONG WALLS. THE NEARER YOU APPROACH ME, THE BLINDER I MAY STRIKE BACK; IT'S IRRATIONAL, BUT DESPITE WHAT THE BOOKS SAY ABOUT PEOPLE, I'M IRRATIONAL ! I FIGHT AGAINST THE VERY THING THAT I CRY OUT FOR. BUT I AM TOLD THAT LOVE IS STRONGER THAN WALLS, AND IN THIS LIES MY HOPE. PLEASE TRY TO BEAT DOWN THOSE WALLS NOT WITH FIRM HANDS, BUT WITH GENTLE HANDS......FOR A CHILD IS VERY SENSITIVE.
WHO AM I, YOU MAY WONDER? I'M SOMEONE YOU KNOW VERY WELL...... FOR I AM EVERY PERSON YOU MEET

"LOVE IS A SLOW KISS GOODNIGHT"

LOVE IS A SLOW KISS GOODNIGHT. IT IS ANTICIPATION. LOVE IS AN IMPERFECTION IN YOURSELF NOT BOTHERING YOU. IT IS ACCEPTANCE. LOVE IS PASSING UP AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE TIME ISN'T RIGHT YET. IT IS PATIENCE.
LOVE IS A BACK MASSAGE THAT STARTS ABOVE THE HAIRLINE AND ENDS AROUND THE INNERSOLES. IT IS EXPLORATION. LOVE IS NOT HAVING TO SAY "LET'S MAKE LOVE," BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOUR PARTNER WANTS. IT IS UNDERSTANDING. IT IS CONSIDERATION.
LOVE IS BOTH OF YOU REMEMBERING PROTECTION. IT IS RESPONSIBILITY. LOVE IS SAYING THE PERFECT PHRASE TO MAKE A SOLEMN EMBRACE DISSOLVE INTO GIGGLES. IT IS HUMOR.
LOVE IS REVIEWING THE DAMAGE TO YOUR LIVING ROOM AND REALIZING PERSONAL EFFECTS ARE STREWN IN A CLOCKWISE PATTERN FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE BEDROOM. IT IS DESIRE.
LOVE IS SEEING WHAT YOUR LOVER REALLY LOOKS LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT IS TRUTH. LOVE IS KNOWING WHAT TIME IT IS AND NOT CARING. IT IS JOY. LOVE IS THE ARMS AROUND YOU TIGHTENING THEIR EMBRACE. IT IS ECSTASY.
LOVE IS SEEING A NEW SIDE OF A PERSON YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW. IT IS RENEWAL. LOVE IS TELLING A PERSON IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, YOU WILL LET THEM SLEEP, AND BEING TOLD THEY WOULD RATHER BE AWAKENED. IT IS TENDERNESS.
LOVE IS WAKING UP TO FIND THE SUBJECT OF THE DREAM YOU WERE HAVING ASLEEP ON YOUR SHOULDER. IT IS WHERE FANTASY MEETS REALITY. LOVE IS BEING THERE TO WAKE YOUR LOVER........SLOWLY....... IT IS SENSUOUSNESS.
LOVE IS BELATEDLY KNOWING WHY YOU BOTHERED TO BUY A KING SIZE BED THREE YEARS AGO. IT IS PRACTICALITY. LOVE IS TWO PEOPLE ONLY TAKING UP A THIRD OF A KING SIZE BED. IT IS CLOSENESS.
LOVE IS KNOWING YOU GAVE THE EXTRA SET OF KEYS TO THE RIGHT PERSON. IT IS TRUST. LOVE IS SAYING GOODBYE AND KNOWING YOU WILL BE BACK BY MUTUAL CONSENT. IT IS FAITH.
LOVE IS STRETCHING YOUR ARMS AND DISCOVERING THE REAL MEANING OF THE WORD "SORE". IT IS A LESSON IN HUMAN FRAILTY. LOVE IS OPENING YOUR MEDICINE CABINET AND FINDING YOUR TOOTHPASTE TURNED INTO A PRETZEL. IT IS ADAPTATION.
LOVE IS SITTING AT THE WINDOW, LOOKING OUT AND REMEMBERING WHO YOU WERE THE NIGHT BEFORE. IT IS REFLECTION. LOVE IS HEARING THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR A WINTER STORM AND WISHING YOU COULD SPEND IT IN BED WITH YOUR LOVER. IT IS LONELINESS.
LOVE IS STORIES THAT WILL NEVER BE TOLD. IT IS PERSONAL. LOVE IS A SLOW KISS GOODNIGHT.

"JOE"

HE WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING ON A TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD. WORK, IN THIS SMALL SOUTHERN COMMUNITY WAS ALMOST AS SLOW AS HIS BEAT-UP PONTIAC. BUT HE NEVER QUIT LOOKING. EVER SINCE THE LEVI'S FACTORY CLOSED, HE'D BEEN UNEMPLOYED, AND WITH WINTER RAGING ON, THE CHILL HAD FINALLY HIT HOME. IT WAS A LONELY ROAD. NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE HAD A REASON TO BE ON IT, UNLESS THEY WERE LEAVING.

MOST OF HIS FRIENDS HAD ALREADY LEFT. THEY HAD FAMILIES TO FEED AND DREAMS TO FULFILL. BUT HE STAYED ON. AFTER ALL, THIS WAS WHERE HE BURIED HIS MOTHER AND FATHER. HE WAS BORN HERE AND KNEW THE COUNTRY. HE COULD GO DOWN THIS ROAD BLIND, AND TELL YOU WHAT WAS ON EITHER SIDE, AND WITH HIS HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, THAT CAME IN HANDY. IT WAS STARTING TO GET DARK AND LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES WERE COMING DOWN. HE'D BETTER GET A MOVE ON.

YOU KNOW, HE ALMOST DIDN'T SEE THE OLD LADY, STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BUT EVEN IN THE DIM LIGHT OF DUSK, HE COULD SEE SHE NEEDED HELP. SO HE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF HER MERCEDES AND GOT OUT, HIS PONTIAC STILL SPUTTERING AS HE APPROACHED HER. EVEN WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE, SHE WAS WORRIED. NO ONE HAD STOPPED TO HELP FOR THE LAST HOUR OR SO. WAS HE GOING TO HURT HER? HE DIDN'T LOOK SAFE, HE LOOKED POOR AND HUNGRY. HE COULD SEE SHE WAS FRIGHTENED, STANDING OUT THERE IN THE COLD. HE KNEW HOW SHE FELT. IT WAS THAT CHILL THAT ONLY FEAR CAN PUT IN YOU. HE SAID, "I'M HERE TO HELP YOU, M'AM. WHY DON'T YOU WAIT IN THE CAR WHERE IT'S WARM. BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS JOE."

WELL, ALL SHE HAD WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT FOR AN OLD LADY, THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH. JOE CRAWLED UNDER THE CAR LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT THE JACK, SKINNING HIS KNUCKLES A TIME OR TWO. SOON HE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. BUT HE HAD TO GET DIRTY AND HIS HANDS HURT. AS HE WAS TIGHTENING UP THE LUG NUTS, SHE ROLLED DOWN HER WINDOW AND BEGAN TO TALK TO HIM. SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS FROM NEW ORLEANS, AND WAS ONLY JUST PASSING THROUGH. SHE COULDN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR COMING TO HER AID. JOE JUST SMILED AND CLOSED THE TRUNK.

SHE ASKED HOW MUCH SHE OWED HIM. ANY AMOUNT WOULD HAVE BEEN OK WITH HER. SHE HAD ALREADY IMAGINED ALL THE AWFUL THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD HE NOT STOPPED. JOE NEVER THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT THE MONEY. THIS WAS NOT A JOB TO HIM. THIS WAS HELPING ANOTHER PERSON IN NEED, AND GOD KNOWS THERE WERE PLENTY WHO HAD GIVEN HIM A HAND IN THE PAST. HE HAD LIVED HIS WHOLE LIFE THAT WAY, AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO HIM TO ACT ANY OTHER WAY. HE TOLD HER THAT IF SHE REALLY WANTED TO PAY HIM BACK, THE NEXT TIME SHE SAW SOMEONE WHO NEEDED HELP, SHE COULD GIVE THAT PERSON THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEEDED, AND JOE ADDED, "AND THINK OF ME......" HE WAITED UNTIL SHE STARTED HER CAR AND DROVE OFF. IT HAD BEEN A COLD AND DEPRESSING DAY, BUT HE FELT GOOD AS HE HEADED FOR HOME, DISAPPEARING INTO THE TWILIGHT.

A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE LADY SAW A SMALL CAFE. SHE WENT IN TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT AND TAKE THE CHILL OFF BEFORE SHE MADE THE LAST LEG OF HER TRIP HOME. IT WAS A DINGY LOOKING RESTAURANT. OUTSIDE WERE 2 OLD GAS PUMPS. THE WHOLE SCENE WAS UNFAMILIAR TO HER. THE CASH REGISTER WAS LIKE THE TELEPHONE OF AN OUT OF WORK ACTOR, IT DIDN'T RING MUCH. HER WAITRESS CAME OVER AND BROUGHT A CLEAN TOWEL TO WIPE HER WET HAIR.

THE WAITRESS HAD A SWEET SMILE, ONE THAT EVEN BEING ON HER FEET FOR THE WHOLE DAY COULDN'T ERASE. THE LADY NOTICED THAT THE WAITRESS WAS NEARLY 8 MONTHS PREGNANT, BUT SHE NEVER LET THE STRAIN AND ACHES CHANGE HER ATTITUDE. THE OLD LADY WONDERED HOW SOMEONE WHO HAD SO LITTLE COULD BE SO GIVING TO A STRANGER. THEN SHE REMEMBERED, JOE. AFTER THE LADY FINISHED HER MEAL, THE WAITRESS WENT TO GET HER CHANGE FROM A $100 DOLLAR BILL. THE LADY HAD SLIPPED RIGHT OUT THE DOOR. SHE WAS GONE BY THE TIME THE WAITRESS CAME BACK. SHE WONDERED WHERE THE LADY COULD BE, THEN SHE NOTICED SOMETHING WRITTEN ON A NAPKIN.

THERE WERE TEARS IN HER EYES, WHEN SHE READ WHAT THE LADY WROTE. IT SAID "YOU DON'T OWE ME A THING. I'VE BEEN THERE TOO. SOMEONE ONCE HELPED ME OUT, THE WAY I AM HELPING YOU." THE NOTE CONTINUED, "IF YOU REALLY WANT TO PAY ME BACK, HERE'S WHAT YOU DO. DON'T LET THE CHAIN OF LOVE END WITH YOU."

WELL, THERE WERE TABLES TO CLEAR, SUGAR BOWLS TO FILL, AND PEOPLE TO SERVE, BUT THE WAITRESS MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY. THAT NIGHT, WHEN SHE GOT HOME FROM WORK AND CLIMBED INTO BED, SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE MONEY AND WHAT THE LADY HAD WRITTEN. HOW COULD SHE HAVE KNOWN HOW MUCH SHE AND HER HUSBAND NEEDED IT? WITH THE BABY DUE NEXT MONTH, IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD. SHE KNEW HOW WORRIED HER HUSBAND WAS, AND AS HE LAY SLEEPING NEXT TO HER............. SHE GAVE HIM A SOFT KISS AND WHISPERED SOFT AND LOW, "EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT, I LOVE YOU, JOE." ******************************************************************* DON'T LET THE CHAIN OF LOVE END WITH YOU

"WORDS TO LIVE BY"

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT KEEPING SCORE. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW MANY FRIENDS YOU HAVE, OR HOW ACCEPTED YOU ARE. IT'S NOT ABOUT IF YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND OR IF YOU ARE ALONE. LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WHO YOU ARE DATING, WHO YOU USED TO DATE, HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'VE DATED, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WITH ANYONE AT ALL. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO YOU HAVE KISSED. IT'S NOT ABOUT SEX.

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WHO YOUR FAMILY IS OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE, OR WHAT KIND OF CAR YOUR DRIVE, OR WHERE YOU WENT, OR WERE SENT, TO SCHOOL. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL OR UGLY YOU ARE. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT CLOTHES YOU WEAR, WHAT SHOES YOU HAVE ON, OR WHAT KIND OF MUSIC YOU LISTEN TO. IT'S NOT ABOUT IF YOUR HAIR IS BLONDE, RED, BLACK OR BROWN, OR IF YOUR SKIN IS TOO LIGHT OR TOO DARK.

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT GRADES YOU GET, HOW SMART YOU ARE, HOW SMART EVERYONE ELSE THINKS YOU ARE, OR HOW SMART THOSE STANDARDIZED TESTS SAY YOU ARE. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT CLUBS YOU'RE IN OR HOW GOOD YOU ARE AT "YOUR" SPORT. LIFE IS NOT ABOUT REPRESENTING YOUR WHOLE BEING ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND SEEING WHO WILL "ACCEPT THE WRITTEN YOU." ......................................................BUT !!!

LIFE IS ABOUT WHO YOU LOVE AND WHO YOU HURT. IT'S ABOUT WHO YOU MAKE HAPPY OR UNHAPPY. IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OR BETRAYING TRUST. IT'S ABOUT FRIENDSHIP. IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY AND MEAN, AND MEANING WHAT YOU SAY. LIFE IS ABOUT WHAT JUDGMENTS YOU PASS AND WHY. IT'S ABOUT CARRYING INNER LOVE, LETTING IT GROW, AND SPREADING IT. BUT MOST OF ALL, IT'S ABOUT USING YOUR LIFE TO TOUCH OTHER PEOPLE'S HEARTS IN SUCH A WAY THAT COULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED ALONE. ONLY YOU CHOOSE THE WAY THOSE HEARTS ARE AFFECTED, AND THOSE CHOICES ARE WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT !!!

BORROWING A CLASSIC LINE FROM MONTY PYTHON, "AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT"...............HERE IS A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE OLDEST OF SUBJECTS..............................TIME

IMAGINE THERE IS A BANK WHICH CREDITS YOUR ACCOUNT EACH MORNING WITH $86,400, CARRIES OVER NO BALANCE FROM DAY TO DAY, ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP NO CASH BALANCE. AND EVERY EVENING CANCELS OUT WHATEVER PART OF THE AMOUNT YOU HAD FAILED TO USE DURING THE DAY.................... WHAT WOULD YOU DO?????

WELL, YOU WOULD DRAW OUT EVERY SINGLE CENT, EVERY SINGLE DAY, OF COURSE !!!!!!!!!

WELL, EVERYONE HAS SUCH A BANK. ITS' NAME IS TIME. EVERY MORNING IT CREDITS YOU WITH 86,400 SECONDS. EVERY NIGHT IT WRITES OFF, AS LOST, WHATEVER OF THIS YOU HAVE FAILED TO INVEST TO GOOD PURPOSE. IT CARRIES OVER NO BALANCE. IT ALLOWS NO OVERDRAFT. EACH DAY IT OPENS A NEW ACCOUNT FOR YOU. EACH NIGHT IT BURNS THE RECORDS OF THE DAY. IF YOU FAIL TO USE THE DAY'S DEPOSIT, THE LOSS IS YOURS. THERE IS NO GOING BACK. THERE IS NO DRAWING AGAINST THE "TOMORROW". YOU MUST LIVE IN THE PRESENT, ON TODAY'S DEPOSIT. INVEST IT SO AS TO GET FROM IT THE UTMOST IN HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS !!!!!!! THE CLOCK IS RUNNING. MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY !!!!

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE YEAR ................. JUST ASK A STUDENT WHO HAS FAILED HIS FINAL EXAM

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE MONTH ................... JUST ASK THE MOTHER WHO HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO A PRE-MATURE BABY.

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE WEEK .................... JUST ASK THE EDITOR OF A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE.

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE DAY .................... JUST ASK THE DAILY WAGE LABORER WHO HAS 6 KIDS TO FEED.

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE MINUTE .................. JUST ASK THE PERSON WHO MISSED THE TRAIN.

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE SECOND ................. JUST ASK THE PERSON WHO HAS SURVIVED A CAR WRECK WITH FATALITIES.

TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF ONE MILLI-SECOND ................... JUST ASK THE PERSON WHO WON THE SILVER MEDAL IN THE OLYMPICS.

TREASURE EVERY MOMENT THAT YOU HAVE. AND TREASURE IT MORE BECAUSE YOU SHARED IT WITH SOMEONE SPECIAL. SPECIAL ENOUGH TO HAVE YOUR TIME ........... AND REMEMBER, "TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE."

"THE WINDOW"

TWO MEN, BOTH SERIOUSLY ILL, OCCUPIED THE SAME HOSPITAL ROOM. ONE MAN WAS ALLOWED TO SIT UP IN HIS BED FOR AN HOUR A DAY TO DRAIN THE FLUIDS FROM HIS LUNGS. HIS BED WAS NEXT TO THE ROOM'S ONLY WINDOW. THE OTHER MAN HAD TO SPEND ALL OF HIS TIME FLAT ON HIS BACK IN THE BED.

THE MEN TALKED FOR HOURS ON END. THEY SPOKE OF THEIR WIVES AND FAMILIES, THEIR HOMES, THEIR JOBS, THEIR INVOLVEMENTS IN MILITARY SERVICE, WHERE THEY HAD BEEN ON VACATION. AND EVERY AFTERNOON, WHEN THE MAN IN THE BED NEXT TO THE WINDOW COULD SIT UP, HE WOULD PASS THE TIME BY DESCRIBING TO HIS ROOMMATE ALL THE THINGS HE COULD SEE OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.

THE MAN IN THE OTHER BED WOULD LIVE FOR THOSE ONE-HOUR PERIODS WHERE HIS WORLD WOULD BE BROADENED AND ENLIVENED BY ALL THE COLOR AND ACTIVITY OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE WINDOW OVERLOOKED A PARK WITH A LOVELY LAKE, THE MAN HAD SAID. DUCKS AND SWANS PLAYED ON THE WATER WHILE CHILDREN SAILED THEIR MODEL BOATS. LOVERS WALKED ARM IN ARM AMID FLOWERS OF EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW. GRAND OLD TREES GRACED THE LANDSCAPE, AND A FINE VIEW OF THE CITY SKYLINE COULD BE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE.

AS THE MAN BY THE WINDOW DESCRIBED ALL THIS IN EXQUISITE DETAIL, THE MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM WOULD CLOSE HIS EYES AND IMAGINE THE PICTURESQUE SCENE. ONE WARM AFTERNOON THE MAN BY THE WINDOW DESCRIBED A PARADE PASSING BY. ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MAN COULD NOT HEAR THE BAND, HE COULD SEE IT IN HIS MIND'S EYE AS THE MAN BY THE WINDOW PORTRAYED IT WITH DESCRIPTIVE WORDS.

UNEXPECTEDLY, AN ALIEN THOUGHT ENTERED HIS HEAD : WHY SHOULD HE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SEEING EVERYTHING WHILE I NEVER GET TO SEE ANYTHING? IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR. AS THE THOUGHT FERMENTED, THE MAN FELT ASHAMED AT FIRST. BUT AS THE DAYS PASSED AND HE MISSED SEEING MORE AND MORE SIGHTS, HIS ENVY ERODED INTO RESENTMENT AND SOON TURNED HIM SOUR. HE BEGAN TO BROOD AND FOUND HIMSELF UNABLE TO SLEEP. HE SHOULD BE BY THAT WINDOW - AND THAT THOUGHT NOW CONTROLLED HIS LIFE.

LATE ONE NIGHT, AS HE LAY STARING AT THE CEILING, THE MAN BY THE WINDOW BEGAN TO COUGH. HE WAS CHOKING ON THE FLUIDS IN HIS LUNGS. THE OTHER MAN WATCHED IN THE DIMLY LIT ROOM AS THE STRUGGLING, CHOKING MAN BY THE WINDOW GROPED FOR THE BUTTON TO CALL FOR HELP. LISTENING FROM ACROSS THE ROOM, HE NEVER MOVED, NEVER PUSHED HIS OWN BUTTON WHICH WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE NURSE RUNNING. IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES, THE COUGHING AND CHOKING STOPPED, ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF BREATHING. NOW, THERE WAS ONLY SILENCE .................... DEATHLY SILENCE.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE DAY-NURSE ARRIVED TO BRING WATER FOR THEIR BATHS. WHEN SHE FOUND THE LIFELESS BODY OF THE MAN BY THE WINDOW, SHE WAS SADDENED. SHE CALLED FOR THE HOSPITAL ATTENDANTS TO TAKE HIM AWAY ...... NO WORKS, NO FUSS. AS SOON AS IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE, THE MAN ASKED IF HE COULD BE MOVED NEXT TO THE WINDOW. THE NURSE WAS HAPPY TO MAKE THE SWITCH AND AFTER MAKING SURE HE WAS COMFORTABLE, SHE LEFT HIM ALONE. SLOWLY, PAINFULLY, HE PROPPED HIMSELF UP ON ONE ELBOW TO TAKE HIS FIRST LOOK. FINALLY, HE WOULD HAVE THE JOY OF SEEING IT ALL HIMSELF. HE STRAINED TO SLOWLY TURN TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW BESIDE HIS BED.

THE WINDOW FACED A BLANK, BRICK WALL !!

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IS A MATTER OF CHOICE ........... IT IS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WE CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE TO EXPRESS. IT IS NOT A GIFT THAT GETS DELIVERED TO OUR DOORSTEP EACH MORNING, NOR DOES IT COME THROUGH THE WINDOW. AND I AM CERTAIN THAT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT MAKES US JOYFUL. IF WE WAIT FOR THEM TO GET "JUST RIGHT", WE WILL NEVER FIND LASTING JOY.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IS ALSO AN INWARD JOURNEY. OUR MINDS ARE LIKE PROGRAMS, AWAITING THE CODE THAT WILL DETERMINE BEHAVIORS; LIKE BANK VAULTS AWAITING OUR DEPOSITS. IF WE REGULARLY DEPOSIT POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING THOUGHTS, IF WE CONTINUE TO BITE OUR LIPS JUST BEFORE WE BEGIN TO GRUMBLE AND COMPLAIN ................... IF WE SHOOT DOWN THAT SEEMINGLY HARMLESS NEGATIVE THOUGHT AS IT GERMINATES, WE WILL FIND THERE IS MUCH TO REJOICE ABOUT. BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE THAT WHICH OTHERS HAVE MY BE MERE ILLUSION