----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_01 It was one of those days! I had been fuming to myself about all of the things that should have been. Why hadn't I been able to get things as easily as others seem to have? I was working at jobs I didn't enjoy. I should be making more money. At this time of life I should be looking forward to easier times. The garden of my life surely was filled with a lot of weeds and some of the good plants were feeling choked out. Why? Why? About that moment, it occurred to me--- "Grandma would've said, you can't hoe the whole garden row in one swipe, and you certainly can't get the job done if you don't get started!!" When someone was slacking off or griping about something, Grandma would more often than not, quote them the above. As that phrase came to my mind, I began to realize that she was right. Much of what I was complaining about couldn't be solved all at once. Some of the biggest problems had once been only little ones, that had now grown because they weren't uprooted early. Very likely, Grandma had remained as happy and friendly as she was because she never let problems mount up. That's something I would have to work on more. If I applied her philosophy, it could be done. Now if I could only learn to sing as sweetly as she could!! Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_02 A friend of mine was bemoaning all of the bad luck that had fallen upon him. He was especially critical of how his family seemed to hold him back. I could understand some of what he was saying. There had been some really rough times for him, but he wasn't without blame for his circumstances. "Grandma would've said, Treasure is where you've found it!" Of all the sayings of my Grandmother, this was the one which I had been the most assured that I had understood. It surely meant keep on trying until you get what you want. The one thing that had always bothered me was why she always used the term 'you've found' not 'you find'. Being more 'educated' I had passed it off to misquoting the phrase. It might not have bothered me so much, except my Grandmother usually was the one to keep quotations straight. Over the years I had often recalled my grandmother's words. They encouraged me to look for a brighter future. That is how I had been using her wisdom, a hope for better times. This wasn't so bad, but it hadn't been what Grandma was talking about. It slowly dawned on me that she was talking about us enjoying the good we already had this very moment! It wasn't something to look for tomorrow, but something to enjoy and to have now! Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_03 In my growing up years, work was done basically from sun to no sun. It was a continous activity for the grownups. As a child there were chores though not really difficult, they were chores! Like other children my mind wasn't always on what I was doing. Sometimes, I would be daydreaming and not doing what I was supposed to do. Today during times like that my or when my mind wanders--I think.. "Grandma would've said, If you stand under a bunch of roosting birds; you're going to have to bathe pretty soon." Of all that she said, this is probably the most puzzling for me to apply to my life today. I certainly understand the unpleasant results of standing under a place where a lot of birds are sitting. It's just that usually when my Grandmother quoted this to me, I usually was no where near any birds, However I would always quickly look up to see for sure! Possibly she just meant that we should be true what we have committed ourselves to and to stay responsible. To this day, I certainly don't stand for long under a tree and I keep a sharp eye to the sky above!!! Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_04 As a boy, I was pretty good taking things apart and putting them back together. On this particular day, I was thinking about this as I made some home repairs. The problem as boy, was that sometimes when I got everything back to together; there were some parts left over. At those times I can rmember-- Grandma would've said, "If it ain't broke don't fix it!" She was right. When something is working, it is best to just leave it alone. However like most people I have the habit of wanting to get just a little more out of that project or that appliance. Then I will try to rearrange or work on what ever I have decided needs fixing. At first, it seems like a good idea. Most of the time the truth begins to dawn on me that maybe I should have left well enough alone. It's not that there aren't plenty of things that need fixing. The issue is that many times we tend to fix the wrong things! As a result when we try to put everything back together; we end of with extra pieces. Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_05 The small problems had become big. As I was trying to work at solving the big problem, nothing seemed to get accomplished. 'WORK At' was exactly what was happening--which was nothing positive. Every effort I made only seemed created a greater more complicated problem. That night as I reflected on the issue I remembered that-- Grandma would've said, "No one can eat an entire apple in one bite." As I thought about that, I remembered the time as a small boy when I first heard that from Grandma. I had this giant apple(at least to me it seemed huge). When she came by, I trying to get about half of it in my mouth. When she asked me what I was doing, I told her that I trying to be like Leland and eat my apple in three big bites!! She smiled at me and reminded me that he a good ten years older than me. Besides that she commented that he most likely was just showing off and surely didn't eat that way on a regular basis. Then she looked me straight in the eyes and said, "any boy or man can eat any size apple or tackle any type of problem if they just take their normal bites, one at a time. Besides that, you'll enjoy it much more!" She was right that apple tasted a lot better after that. Thinking of this, caused me to realize the problems were like that apple, I just needed to work on them in the size I could handle. Eventually they would be taken care of. Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_06 We were going to be late and my son still hadn't found all his school supplies. He, his mother and I were all running around trying to find the needed items. When everything had been found and we were finally on our way, I thought-- Grandma would've said, "It'll be in the last place you look." It used to irritate me when she would say this. Finally one day I asked her why she would say that. She replied that a majority of the time we are not finding things because we are too busy worrying about trying to find things. She said if we would just stop and think about the last place(s) we had been, it would make its easier to find things. Usually she would add that our brains get clogged when we worry; so we have to get them unclogged. Her solution was to getting her brain unclogged was to sit in her rocking chair for a few minutes as she worked out problems. Seldom did it take her very long to get answers. I don't have a rocking chair, but I do have a 'quiet' chair. When I am really frustrated I sit in it and get my brain unclogged. Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_07 Our daughter had been having an extremely difficult time with her best friend. They were on the opposite sides of an argument between some of their other other friends. As I considered the strain on my daughter and her friend it occurred to me-- Grandma would've said, "Friends are more important than any issue." When my Grandmother has said this to me, I like my daughter had been in a difficult time with my best friend. I told my Grandmother that I was considering finding a new best friend. As I was complaining and sharing this, my Grandmother expressed her doubt that I would ever find anyone who would be as good a friend. She also pointed out to me that any new friend, could someday disappoint me also. After considering her advice, I made up with my friend. Many arguments later I still had my best friend. I remember him, but I don't remember the reason for any of the differences we had. I'm glad that I listened to my Grandmother about my friend. She was right the issues had come and gone many times, but the friends have stayed. Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?----------------------menu
GrdV1_08 My daughter bought me an advertisement from the Sunday paper. She wanted me to give her an advance on her allowance so she could join a tape club. Quickly she shared how she could get all of these tapes free and then only pay a small amount after that. As I thought about this; it occurred to me that-- Grandma would've said, "There aren't any free lunches!" And I remembered the time when with all of my heart I had wanted the free offer on the back of the cereal box. I can still see that box and its lure. There were ten different unique and existing rings listed there and they only cost 25 cents and two box tops. Soon it was all I could dream about. I had to get those rings, especially the one that would squirt water. I thought of all the fun I would have surprising my sisters and brothers with that! My Grandmother asked me several times as I ate enough cereal to get the two box tops; if I really was sure about what I was doing? She told me that it might end of costing me more than I realized. With all the assurance an eight year old could muster, I let her know I knew what I was doing. Besides that it was almost free; so how could there be any real cost to it? Everyday for almost four weeks I went to the mailbox and anxiously looked for that package to arrive. During that time, I bragged to my friends, relatives, and anyone who would listen about the great purchase I had made. After five weeks, I began to avoid anyone who asked me about the rings. To this day, there is one type of cereal I don't like and occasionally I will look in the mail box just one more time. Make it a good Day! Ross ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- !!!????=====????-----? ? Grandma would've said ? ?-----????=====????!!! ----------------------?-------------------------?---------------------- copyright (c) 1996-1997 E. Ross Helton (all rights reserved) ==================================================================
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