30 Nov 2008 5:51 AM

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.
                             
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. 
Oh, not my body!  I sometime despair over my body,
the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. 

And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!),
but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life,
my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. 

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.
I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed,
or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. 
I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
                             
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon;
before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's,
and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body,
and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to,
despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful.
But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.
And I eventually remember the import ant things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. 
How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers,
or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? 

But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. 
A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and
will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray,
and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.
You care less about what other people think. 
I don't  question myself anymore.
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. 
I like the person I have become. 
I am not going to live forever,
but while I am still here,
I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. 
And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

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28 Nov 2008 7:50 AM

I have a recipe to share

and I went to Discussions and checked out all the groups

but I cannot find a recipe archive, is there one?

Thanx in advance, Helen

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28 Nov 2008 7:13 AM

ACTUAL COURT DOCKET 12659---CASE OF THE PREGNANT LADY

A lady about 8 months pregnant got on a bus.

She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her.

She immediately moved to another seat.

This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again.

The man seemed more amused.

When on the fourth move, the man burst out laughing,

she complained to the driver and he had the man arrested.

The case came up in court.

The judge asked the man (about 20 years old) what he had to say for himself.

The man replied, 'Well your Honor, it was like this,

when the lady got on the bus, I couldn't help but notice her condition.

She sat down under a sign that said, 'The Double Mint Twins are coming'

and I grinned.

Then she moved and sat under a sign that said,

' Logan's Liniment will reduce the swelling,' and I had to smile.

Then she placed herself under a deodorant sign that said,

'William's Big Stick Did the Trick,' and I could hardly contain myself.

But, Your Honor, when She moved the fourth time

and sat under a sign that said,

'Goodyear Rubber could have prevented this Accident'...

I just lost it.'

'CASE DISMISSED!!'

Now keep that smile on your face and pass it on to someone else!

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27 Nov 2008 6:02 AM

IF MY BODY WERE A CAR...

If my body were a car,

this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model.

I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish

and my paint job is getting a little dull ... But that's not the worst of it.

My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was.

I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the  best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.

It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed.

My fuel rate burns inefficiently.



But here's the worst of it............


Almost every time I sneeze, cough or laugh.....

either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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26 Nov 2008 6:35 AM

Have a tear jerker to share with you :o)

Hope this finds everyone well and happy :o)



THE PERFUME

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of

School, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked

At her students and said that she loved them all the same.


However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in

His seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did

Not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and

That he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be
Unpleasant.


It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in

Marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then
Putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review
Each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,
When she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready
Laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... He is a joy to be
Around.'

His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well
Liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a
Terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.'

His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him.
He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and
His home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.'

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show
Much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes
Sleeps in class.'

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of
Herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas
Presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for
Teddy's.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that the got
From a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.
Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone
Bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was
One-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter
When she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and
Dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after
School that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs.
Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.'

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with
Him, his mind seemed to come alive.
The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in
The class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the
Same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets.'

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her
That she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote
That he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still
The best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things
Had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and
Would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured
Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he had
Ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he
Explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a
Little further.
The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he
Ever had. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed,
Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet

Another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was
Going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of
Years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at
The wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the
Groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,
The one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she
was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on
their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's
ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for
making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.'

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me
that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met
you.'

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along.

Just try to make a difference in someone's life
today? tomorrow? just 'do it'.

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it.



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