My daughter, age 30, and I had a bit of intense fellowship for a moment. We went our separate ways in the house. Thank goodness it is a big house with two floors. After a while, I heard my phone ding with a notification. **Here is what she wrote to me: “I love you more than you know, Mom. Your love and guidance and protection help me grow. Never forget that each time you worry, each time we have our moments, and each love we share, is a blessing to keep. You are my blessing from God. I cherish you every way; you are my light that I run to, Mom. When things are tough, I know you'll always have my back.” **Here is my reply: “Thank you. Love is concern because I've been in the world longer and seen more. Love is tolerance when you want to strike. Love is silence when you want to say hurtful words because you've been hurt. Love is letting natural consequences happen knowing it's going to hurt the other and you. Love is there even when it could be gone. Love doesn't stop at death---it leaves a mark, a memory, a feeling that always hovers around you.”
I taught school for many years, different grades and levels of achievement. There was discipline in my classroom, but of course, some rebelled and I had to talk to the parent(s) about the actions and words their child performed. When the parent(s) mentioned, “My child wouldn’t do/say that,” I mentioned it was a performance because of the audience of peers, and included they probably don’t do it at home because there is no audience. It was interesting to watch their faces as it dawned on them that I probably was correct. I mentioned I believe in accountability because the world expects it and will challenge the readiness of their accountability. Without accountability of the actions and words, life will be very tough and uncomfortable. I mentioned my standards are not unattainable and pretty much parallel the world’s. The world’s rules don’t care if you don’t like them or not. Those rules are basic and consistent. Discipline is fought where and when it is not taught.
Some words to think about. KAKISTOCRACY: government by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous people. NOOCRACY: government led by wise, knowledgeable, or intellectual people. TIMOCRACY: a system of government where power is linked to property ownership, wealth, or honor. MISPRISION: deliberate concealment of a crime or failure to report wrongdoing. I don’t talk about politics or religion, but some of these terms tell more than my tongue will.
I hadn’t seen or talked with Aint Daisy for about a week. I paid her a visit and sat on the porch in one of the rocking chairs. “Aint Daisy, I’ve been wondering how you are, so I’ve come to pay you a visit.” She just grinned and rocked after she patted my hand. “Oh chile, you jes make me as happy as a pig in mud. I hope yer a-thinkin’ yer gonna set a spell. I’ve made some sweet tea with mint sprigs. He’p yerself. It’s so hot, it’s air soup out thar and I’ma gonna wring out the air. I see yer all gussied up with that purty dress and hair bow. Why yer as pretty as a peach,” she said just grinning each time she mentioned an old country saying. Not many young people use them, but when you talk with an old one, you’ll hear all sorts of descriptions, and in my opinion they are more descriptive than what is said today. I mentioned the Cable twins and how they were in school. “Aww, they got gumption fer sure, but they’s good people, chile. Why the girl is smart as all get out. She’s gonna go places and make her ma and pa mighty proud. O’ course, the boy hain’t no broken twig. He’s got smarts in the machinery stuff. I ‘speck he’s gonna open his own garage and fix cars and such. He tuned up Charlie Myers’ old truck finer than a fiddle played on the fourth of July.” I learn something new every time I visit and talk with the Lady of the Holler. And, boy can she cook. Her biscuits melt in your mouth and you can’t eat just one. Every thing she cooks makes you just want to slap the table and turn in your chair three times. Yep, I’ve lived in the colorful talking country. I love the language.
A group of ladybugs, the nice kind because the other kind are not nice and they’re not LADIES, is called “A Lovelibness.” I call the other kind, which bite,….”bitc* bugs”.
Imagine, if you will, what would happen if a group of 18 year olds were put on a deserted island. They would have to work together to get off using only four things: a paper map, an analog clock (clock with hands, number, and dots), a rotary phone, and instructions written in cursive.
Incorrectly is the only word in the dictionary spelled incorrectly. I started to get into an argument with someone. But, I remembered what Aint Daisy told me one time. “Chile, a bee don’t waste it’s time an’ energy trying to convince a fly ‘at honey is better ‘en poop. Save your time an’ energy for what matters a’cause some minds jes won’t change and ye cain’t fix stupid.”
A man and wife went to a department store together. They separated to shop. After a while, the man was standing in the house cleaning department and called his wife. He asked her, “Where are you?” She told him, as she looked at all the lipstick, make up, nail polish, and cosmetics, “I’m in the women’s department.” He looked around and said, “Well, I don’t see you here?” She asked where he was. He told her, “I’m in the house cleaning department.” She replied, “Gods!! I’m coming to you, so don’t move.” I can’t print what she told him when she got to him, but his head was hanging as they walk to the registers.
Some things I’ve wondered: If the Number 2 pencil is the most popular, why does it still #2? Why do “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same? Why do people say, “heads up” when you should duck? Why is a “pair” of underwear/a pair of scissors/a pair of pants/pair of glasses, one item?
I went to SUBWAY and bought a sandwich. It was wrapped nicely with the “SUBWAY” logo showing. I looked at it and beneath the logo was this warning, “DO NOT EAT THIS WRAPPER”! Someone must have complained or was very hungry.
Brenduhh came over one hot evening for some cold, spearmint tea. As we were talking, I mentioned I saw a deer on the way to work that morning. She asked, “How did you know it was on its way to work?” I just stared, like a deer’s eyes in headlights.
Here are some facts you may not know: In Washington, D.C. there is a buildings height law----no skyscrapers. Atlanta, GA has 70+ streets named “Peachtree”. ‘Better know which one you want to use. The Gateway Arch (630 feet high)in St. Louis, MO is the tallest U.S. monument. Hawaii is the only state made entirely of volcanic islands. Alaska has a longer coastline than all other states combined. Florida is the flattest state with the highest point of 345 feet. Michigan touches 4 of the 5 Great Lakes and has the most freshwater coastline. The 5 Great Lakes spell HOMES. Lake Superior is 31,700 square miles and is the largest. Lake Ontario is 7,340 square miles, and is the smallest.
Here is a gruesome fact about one of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is famously known for not surrendering its dead. Its deep waters remain frigid year-round, usually around 34 to 40 degrees F. This inhibits bacterial growth required for a submerged body to decompose, produce internal gases, and float. YIKES!!!
You can’t give your life more time, but you can give your time more life.
The jaw’s crushing force is the strongest muscle you have, pound for pound. It’s the masseter muscle which is in the lower jaw (the upper jaw does not move). When it is fully engaged, it can close your teeth with a crushing force of up to 200 pounds. I know this for a fact. No M&M, plain/almond/or peanut, has ever made it out alive from my mouth.
School will be starting soon. I remember when Guy and I taught high school. Guy would make coffee every school morning. He's put 12 cups of water in the carafe and 9 scoops of ground coffee in the container. I asked him, "Why so much coffee? It's very strong." He replied in all sincerity, "It's called COURAGE IN A CUP."
May you be blessed with another day so you can bless another with one of your smiles.
Trudy😁
