Poetry and Other Writings...
I have found many poems and other writings that have either made me laugh,
made me cry, made me think deep thoughts, or otherwise moved me in some
way. I will be sharing some of these here. If you find something here
which moves you in some way, feel free to copy it. If I know the author
of the piece, I will include the appropriate notation. I hope you enjoy
your time spent here.
TEN STEPS TO EMOTIONAL FITNESS
Say what you mean
Risk Standing up for your Beliefs
Be willing to let your differences of opinon come out in the open
Be Responsible for what you say and do
Take constructive comments from others without getting angry
Learn a lesson from every experience, good or bad
Don't be afraid to express your emotions
Take care of your body
Ask for help when you feel out of control
Enjoy today and look forward to tomorrow
Remember by Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away
Gone far away into the silent land
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for awhile
And afterward remember, do not grieve
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that I once had
Better by far you should forget and smile,
Than you should remember and be sad.
MY MOTHERS METAL SPOONS
My mother has owned the same set of metal measuring spoons for over fifty years. They are kept in the drawer to the left of the stove. They are a set of four metal spoons, different increments, joined by a metal ring. They are worn, some dented so that I am sure the measurements aren't accurate. I have more than often wondered why my mother didn't replace those old spoons.
This year, I am staring 40 right square in it's ugly face. In my experience, birthdays that end in a zero provide occasion for reflection and soul searching. I am looking at where I am in life and where I plan to go. I find myself in a job that has stretched me to places that I am not used to being. I am reaching inside myself for qualities and traits that I am not accustomed to using and being forced to wear naturally. I am dealing with personalities that were never present in my previously shelter world. But still, when I go home,my mom still has those worn metal spoons.
Most recently, through the purchase of a home computer, I have been forced to confront my inadequacies with new technology. Just when I was fairly competent with my computer skills, along comes the internet, E-mail,web pages,and CD-ROM. I feel like i am back to square one. I have a need to stay on top of information, to be current, to be sharp.
But still, in the drawer to the left of my mother's stove lie those dented metal spoons.
Now I ask myself why I ever felt that mom should replace those spoons. Would it be so she could have cleaner spoons? Maybe more durable spoons would be desirable. Something a little more modern would be nice. But in reality, in all those years my mom has owned those spoons, the definition of a teaspoon or tablespoon has not changed. They still measure-maybe not with the accuracy needed at the
Center for Disease Control, but they do still measure.
Unless something unforseen happens, I am certain mom will never dye her hair, start an aerobics class, have a face lift, never surf the net and those little metal measuring spoons will always be in the drawer to the left of the stove.
**(I am not the author of the above piece, but I really liked it. If anyone knows the true author please e-mail me)
~~~ Quotes ~~~
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
Harry S. Truman
Love your children with all your hearts, love them enough to
discipline them before it is too late ...
Praise them for important things, even if you have to stretch them a bit. Praise them a lot. They live on it like bread and butter and they need it more than bread and butter.
Lavina Christensen Fugal
If you must hold yourself up to your children as an object lesson ... hold yourself up as an example and not as a warning.
George Bernard Shaw
Time is relative; its only worth depends upon what we do as it is passing.
Albert Einstein
Man's mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Summer of Love - Revisited
We are here to make a better world.
No amount of rationalization or blaming can preempt the moment of choice each of us brings to our situation here on this planet.
The lesson of the 60's is that people who cared enough to do right could change history.
We didn't end racism but we ended legal segregation.
We ended the idea that you could send half-a-million soldiers around the world to fight a war that people do not support.
We ended the idea that women are second-class citizens.
We made the environment an issue that couldn't be avoided.
The big battles that we won cannot be reversed.
We were young, self-righteous, reckless, hypocritical,
brave,silly, headstrong and scared half to death.
And we were right.
... Abbie Hoffman
Moonlight Ride
(Author Unknown)
Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.
For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town.
She unpacked her things with such great ease.
As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze.
How wonderful it was to have her own room.
School would be starting, she'd have friends over soon.
There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy
It's just the way she wanted her life to be.
On the first day of school, everything went great.
She made new friends and even got a date!
She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be,
Because I just got a date with the star of the team!"
To be known in this school you had to have a clout,
And dating this guy would sure help her out.
There was only one problem stopping her fate.
Her parents had said she was too young to date.
"Well, I just won't tell them the entire truth.
They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?"
Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.
Her parents frowned but said, "All right."
Excited, she got ready for the big event
But as she rushed around like she had no sense,
She began to feel guilty about all the lies,
But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?
Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,
But the moonlight ride would have to wait.
For Jeff was half drunk by this time.
But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.
Then the room filled with smoke and Jeff took a puff.
Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff.
Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point
But only after he'd smoked another joint.
They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,
Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.
They finally made it to the point at last,
And Jeff started trying to make a pass.
A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all
(and by a pass, I dont mean playing football).
"Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young.
Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb."
With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away:
"Please take me home, I dont want to stay."
Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.
In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.
As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,
Jenny knew that her life was in danger.
She begged and pleaded for him to slow down,
But he just got faster as they neared the town.
"Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied.
I really went out for a moonlight ride."
Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash.
"Oh God, Please help us! We're going to crash!"
She doesn't remember the force of impact.
Just that everything all of a sudden went black.
She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble,
And heard, "Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!"
Voices she heard...a few words at best.
But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.
Then wondered to herself if Jeff was all right,
And if the people in the other car were alive.
She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad.
"You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad."
These voices echoed inside her head,
As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.
They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do.
But it looks as if we'll lose you too."
"But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried.
"We're sorry, Jenny, they also died."
Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done
I only wanted to have just one night of fun."
"Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim,
And wish I could return their families to them."
"Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied,
And that it's my fault so many have died.
Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?"
The nurse just stood there ~ she never agreed.
But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes
And a few moments later Jenny died.
A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best
To bid that girl her one last request?"
She looked at the man with eyes oh so sad.
"Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad."
This story is sad and unpleasant but true,
So young people take heed, it could have been you.
Please dont drink & drive, or get in a car with someone who has! There are too many people that will miss you!
Friends....
The old man turned to me and asked
"How many friends have you?"
Why 10 or 20 friends have I,
And named off just a few ~
He rose quite slow with effort
And sadly shook his head
" A lucky child you are
To have so many friends," he said,
But think of what you're saying
There is so much you do not know
A friend is just not someone
To whom you say "Hello"
A friends a tender shoulder
On which to softly cry
A well to pour your troubles down
And raise your spirits high
A friend is a hand to pull you up
From darkness and despair...
When all your other "so called" friends
Have helped to put you there
A true friend is an ally
Who can't be moved or bought
A voice to keep your name alive
When others have forgot
But most of all a friend is a heart
A strong and sturdy wall
For from the hearts of friends
There comes the greatest love of all!!!
So think of what I've spoken
For every word is true
And answer once again my child
How many friends have you??
And then he stood and faced me
Awaiting my reply
Softly I answered
"If lucky......
I have
"You!!!!"
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