From one of my email friends (by the way, Al and I shared almost everything ((except the TV remote which he never shared holding it with a death grip)), but sharing only goes so far!!!

This is what marriage is really all about . . .

He ordered one hamburger, one order of French fries and one drink. The old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half. He placed one half in front of his wife… He then carefully counted out the French fries, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife.

He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip and then set the cup down between them. As he began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the people around them kept looking over and whispering. You could tell they were thinking, ‘That poor old couple – all they can afford is one meal for the two of them.’

As the man began to eat his fries a young man came to the table. He politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said they were just fine – They were used to sharing everything.

The surrounding people noticed the little old lady hadn’t eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink..
Again the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time the old woman said ‘No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything.’

As the old man finished and was wiping his face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady who had yet to eat a single bite of food and asked ‘What is it you’re waiting for?’

She answered . . . .

(This is great . . .)
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”THE TEETH.“

A friend sent this to me in the form of an email.  Its message hit me hard. How often have I become very annoyed at perceived wrongs only to find that I have been the one acting wrongly by thinking ill of someone else. Life does have its lessons and the following has served its purpose in reminding me not to be so quick to judge less I be judged in return.

 

Just read this article to see how the HSUS really operates.  Does the HSUS really directly benefit animals:  I think NOT.  The HSUS is a political machine with its own very specific agenda. 

http://www.charlesadler.com/2011/02/humane-society-of-the-united-states-fraud.html

AN ACTUAL CRAIG’S LIST PERSONALS AD To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last. Date: 2010-09-27, 01:43 a.m.  E.S.T. I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend’s purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message. First, I’d like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn’t expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening.. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head .. isn’t it?! I know it probably wasn’t fun walking back to wherever you’d come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I’m sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again]. After I called your mother or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you’d done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, — on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful! I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!] I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb … after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver’s side of the car. Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what ‘s going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA’s office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target. The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.). In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you … but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you’ve chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky.Have a good day! Thoughtfully yours, Alex P.S. Remember this motto … An armed society makes for a more civil society! I probably don’t have to ask you to forward this one.

The following is a poignant vignette reminding us that all those with special needs, animal or human, do need understanding and help when needed.  Too often a blind eye is cast towards those needing help or understanding which we are always called to offer.   A few weeks ago, a naked man bleeding from scratches evidently from going through brush and branches, appeared on the doorstep of a home in Hilliard, Ohio. He begged to be let in as he was freezing in the bitter cold and snow.  The owner of the house did not open his door but called 911 which was the proper call to make in the owner’s eyes.  I am not one to judge the owner’s reasons for not throwing out a blanket at least, but I wish he had done more.  With the 911 call, the naked man became frightened and ran away. When the police arrived they looked for the man and were not able to find him.  The man took refuge in a shed and was found dead of hypothermia the next morning.  Now if his tracks could be followed the next morning, why did not the police use flashlights to track him the night before?  The police dropped the ball. I know that the naked, the homeless, the broke and broken do not always fare well in our society, but why did the police not do a more thorough search and why did the house owner not do more.

The television show “What Would You Do?” can be turned into What Would I Do?  if a freezing naked man would appear on my doorstep or anybody’s doorstep. My friends and I have had deep discussions about the tragic scenario of a life not being saved. I know deep in my heart what several of my very brave, caring girlfriends and I would do: we would have gathered sweats, blankets, and opened the door and invited the man in to get him warm with something hot to drink and then would have called 911. I could turn the name of the TV show into “What Would Jesus Do?”  I was truly enraged and horrified at the outcome for this mentally ill man so in need of help. In my opinion, we need to remember the Golden Rule as difficult as it sometimes to do so.

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A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.  He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

“Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out  a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up…

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, "Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

“How much?" asked the little boy… "No charge,"  answered the farmer, "There’s no charge for love."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.  Just like our naked, freezing man!

I love whales.  When I was in New Zealand several years ago, I went whale watching.  I was humbled by the beautiful creatures as they spouted and then dove with their tales waving in the air. I abhor hunting them and the possibility of their extinction.  Mankind is so greedy which has been the cause of so much warfare with our taking what we want no matter what.  The following true story was sent to me by my friend Marilee; I have seen it before but it never fails to touch me. 

…The Whale… If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

    When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

    May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. We pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.

Jim and Margie Rogers emailed the sad news that their beloved Rattlebridge RuffRider (Fletcher) passed away: “Our beloved Fletcher passed away today, peacefully in our arms.  He was 15 years and 9 months old. I only hope we gave him as much joy and love as he gave to us (I doubt it). We thank you for bringing him into our lives. “ 

I remember Fletcher as a dear, sweet puppy and the lovely couple who gave him such a wonderful home.  It is always too, too hard to lose a beloved, but I am sure Fletcher has already met up with my husband and the rest of the Rattlebridge gang and will be waiting for Jim and Margie at the Rainbow Bridge.  Please look at his wonderful face, as beautiful in his old age as it was as a puppy.  I loved him too.

The following, sent to me by my friend Alana, certainly had an impact on me today.  I have been very depressed mourning my Al and wondering what my purpose is in life now that he is gone.  I have always been independent so it is not that I can’t carry on, the question has been do I really want to without him.   For all my independence, Al was my rock, my foundation, and my deepest love.  Reading the following gave me pause and something to think about.  Of course, I want to strangle the girl and hug the boyfriend. THINK There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, ‘If I could only see the world, I will marry you.’ One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, ‘Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’ The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: ‘Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.’   This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food – Think of someone who has nothing to eat.. Before you complain about your husband or wife – Think of someone who’s crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early to heaven.. Before whining about the distance you drive -Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. When you are tired and complain about your job – Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – Put a smile on your face and think: you’re alive and still around..

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

 

MAY 2011 BRING YOU JOY, PEACE, AND GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Midnight Mass was glorious last night!  The Church is always almost mystical at night, even more so at Mass.  As we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior, let us remember the humble circumstances that He chose to become one of us so that He could lead us to Salvation.  May God bless you.