MOTHER'S DAY

My children are not perfect & so am I. It’s a blessing to have them. They complete me as a woman & make every day a mother’s day to me. So it doesn’t really matter whether they give me anything or not on that day. After all I don’t want to be a burden to my children by being materialistic & insisted that they must celebrate mother’s day. ..A’uzubillah!
'MOTHERS' are so special & everyone is someone’s child. We must treat our mothers well EVERYDAY... not just one day that were called mother’s day. That’s why there’s no mother’s day in Islam.
My sincere thanks to my children for their efforts to please me by giving me such wonderful gifts on mother’s day. To my children: Remember that you don’t have to do that...your love & respect is all that I want. I love you both...soooo much. It’s the thought that count!

AT LEAST FOR NOW...

Never came across my mind to visit this country even for a shopping spree.
The thought of spending my time where I can’t seem to find any stray cats or dogs wondering around freely saddened me...
This country never appease me…
Having to fly there every one and a half month & stay there for at least a month is quite tiring sometimes...but what to do? My husband is stationed there.
Well...life is always unpredictable...especially at this old age...we try our very best not to depend on our children for as long as we can...for as long as we know how! We don’t want to be a burden to our children or vice versa
So...seem like this country is going to be my second home despite everything...at least for now...at least for awhile more...!

A REMINDER TO MYSELF...

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 my eyes, dear. I’ll always love you.


The story above is quite a common one but the message below is the most important one!

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.


And 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.



THANKS SIS...This is not just a reminder but also an inspiration to myself! Mahal kita Nini!

TODAY’S LESSON...

Little Johnny watched his daddy’s car pass by the school playground and go into the woods. Curious, he followed the car and saw Daddy and Aunt Jane in a passionate embrace.

Little Johnny found this so exciting that he could hardly contain himself as he ran home and started to tell his mother.
“Mummy, I was at the playground and I saw Daddy’s car go into the woods with Aunt Jane. I went back to look and he was giving Aunt Jane a big kiss, and then he helped her take off her shirt. Then Aunt Jane helped Daddy take his pants off, then Aunt Jane... “

At this point Mummy cut him off and said, “Johnny, this is such an interesting story, let’s save the rest of it for supper time. I want to see the look on Daddy’s face when you tell it tonight.”

At the dinner table that evening, Mummy asked little Johnny to tell his story. Johnny started his story, “I was at the playground and I saw Daddy’s car go into the woods with Aunt Jane. I went back to look and he was giving Aunt Jane a big kiss, then he helped her take off her shirt. Then Aunt Jane helped Daddy take his pants off, then Aunt Jane and Daddy started doing the same thing that Mummy and Uncle Bill used to do when Daddy was away on the oil rigs.”

Mummy fainted!

ARE YOU HAPPY?

On a certain occasion during an elegant welcoming reception for the new Director Of Marketing of an important London company, some of the wives of the other directors, who wanted to get acquainted with the new spouse, asked her with some hesitation;
Does your spouse make you happy, truly happy?
The husband, who at the moment was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid attention to the conversation, sitting up slightly, feeling secure, even filling his chest lightly in pride, knowing that his spouse would answer affirmatively since she had always been there for him during their marriage.
Nevertheless, to both his and the others’ surprise, she replied simply
“No, no he doesn’t make me happy...
The room became uncomfortably silent as if everyone were listening to the spouse’s response.
The husband was petrified.
He couldn’t believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important occasion for him.
To the amazement of her husband and of everyone, she simply placed enigmatically on her head an elegant black silk scarf and continued,
“No, he doesn’t make me happy...I AM HAPPY.”
The fact that I am happy or not, doesn’t depend on him, but on me.
I am the only person upon which my happiness depends.
I make the choice to be happy in each situation and in each moment of my life. If my happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble!
“Everything that exists in this life changes continually; human, wealth, my body, the climate, pleasures, etc. I could enumerate an infinite list...
“Over my life I have learned a couple of things:
I decided to be happy and the rest is a matter of
“Experiences or Circumstances;”
Like helping and understanding,
accepting, listening, consoling; and with my spouse,
I have lived and practiced this many times...
Happiness will always be found in forgiveness and loving yourself and others...it’s not the responsibility of my spouse to make me happy.
He also has his “experiences or circumstances” I love him and he loves me, often in spite of his circumstances and of mine.
He changes, I change, the environment changes, everything changes;
Having forgiveness and true love, and observing these changes, that can be, big or little, but always happen, we must face them with the love that exists in each one of us.
If the two of us love and forgive each other, the changes will only be “experiences or circumstances” that enrich us and give us strength. Otherwise we would only be “Living Together.”
For some, divorce is the only solution; (…in reality it is the easiest…)
To truly love, is difficult, it is to forgive unconditionally, to live, to take the “experiences or circumstances” as they are, facing them together and being happy with conviction.
There are those who say:
“I cannot be happy because I am sick, because I have no money.
Because it's too cold, Because they insulted me,
Because someone stopped loving me,
Because someone didn't appreciate me!”
But what you don’t know is that you can be happy even though you are sick, Whether it is too hot, Whether you have money or not,
Whether someone has insulted you Or someone didn't love, or hasn't valued you.

BEING HAPPY
Is an attitude about life and each one of us must decide!
BEING HAPPY
Depends on you!

THE WISE OLD MAN...

A man of 92 years, short, very well-presented, who takes great care in his appearance, is moving into an old people’s home today.

His wife of 70 has recently died, and he is obliged to leave his home.

After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby, he gently smiles as he is told that his room is ready.

As he slowly walks to the elevator, using his cane, I describe his small room to him, including the sheet hung at the window which serves as a curtain.

“I like it very much”, he says, with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old boy who has just been given a new puppy.

“Sir, you haven’t even seen the room yet, hang on a moment, we are almost there.”

“That has nothing to do with it”, he replies.

“Happiness is something I choose in advance. Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor – rather it depends on how I decide to see it.”

“It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I take every morning when I wake up.”

“I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order.”

“Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories that I have built up during my life.”

“Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way.”

So, my advice to you is to deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories.

Thank you for your part in filling my account with happy memories, which I am still continuing to fill...

Remember these simple guidelines for happiness.
1. Free your heart from hate.
2. Free your mind from worry.
3. Live simple.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY ON AUGUST 4th. 2010...GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

“ To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return” (Al-Baqarah - 2:156)

WHAT LOVE MEANS...

What Love means to a 4-8 year old .

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it.

Touching words from the mouth of babes..

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds,

'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined

See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca - age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that.
They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents
and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling...

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (What an image)

Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

And the final one

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

TRAPPED IN A LIFT???

What to do when you are trapped in a lift ???

We never know when and where accidents will happen to us OR people around us. Read on and hope this piece of information may help any of us when things do happen to yourself, our friends and our loved ones.
One day, while in a lift, it suddenly broke down and it was falling from level 13 at a fast speed. Fortunately, 'I' remembered watching a TV program that taught you must quickly press all the buttons for all the levels.
Finally, the lift stopped at the 5th level.

When you are facing life and death situations, whatever decisions or actions you make decides your survival.
If you are caught in a lift breakdown, first thought in mind may be 'waiting to die'...

But after reading below, things will definitely be different the next time you are caught in a lift.

First - Quickly press all the different levels of buttons in the lift.

When the emergency electricity supply is being activated, it will stop the lift from falling further.

Second - Hold on tight to the handle (if there is any)...

It is to support your position and prevent you from falling or getting hurt when you lost your balance.

Third - Lean your back and head against the wall forming a straight line.

Leaning against the wall is to use it as a support for your back/spine as protection.

Fourth - Bend your knees

Ligament is a flexible, connective tissue. Thus, the impact of fractured bones will be minimized during fall.


Source:E-mail

IT WAS SO PAINFUL...

Went for my Mammogram & Pap Smear test today... for some it’s nothing but for me, it was such an unpleasant experience considering my first... I wouldn’t have gone for the Mammogram test in the first place if I knew it was so painful… I hope there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m scared now & I don’t know why...I just felt that there’s something wrong somewhere...sure hope I’m dead wrong about it! Please Allah has mercy on me...I know I’m not a good person.

TO ALL MY GOOD FRIENDS...

THANKS FOR BEING A FRIEND!


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

Friends..... ..
They love you,
But they are not your lover
They care for you,
But they are not from your family
They are ready to share your pain,
But they are not in your blood relation.
They are........FRIENDS! !!!!
A True friend...... .
Scolds like a DAD..
Cares like a MOM..
Teases like a SISTER..
Irritates like a BROTHER..
And finally loves U more than a LOVER.



From An E-mail By A Good Friend:)

INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH...

Inspirational speech by Brian Dyson (Former CEO Of Coca Cola)

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. They are Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. BUT the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.”



From An E-mail By My Sis:)

HE COULD STILL SMILE...

I am not sure why it took me so many months to start writing again.
Many things have happened but I seem to lose interest to write about it...until now. I have to force myself to do it...
Recently one of my close friends had a stroke...It’s quite scary actually...after all we are (my close friend, my hubby and me) almost at the same age group. Now he is undergoing therapy in S’pore.
I’m amazed that he could still smile and joke around when it hurts deep down inside. He hasn’t lost his sense of humor...he is really something! I guess that’s what I like about him most. No matter what...I pray that he will be getting better soon and that God will protect us all from getting this disease...Amen!
Please pray for him too!

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT...

Went for checkup a couple of month ago…everything seemed normal at that moment, no high blood pressure, no diabetes and my kidney is ok but sadly the doctor is not happy with my cholesterol level...so I'm on ‘Statin’ now.
I have not eaten Lasagna, Pizza or Sambal Goreng for a VERY LONG LONG times...I’m dying!
I love fried chicken or anything of that sort but now I have to follow the doctor’s order. Standing at 5’2”… I’m considered overweight at 150lbs.
My hubby is not so lucky because he has diabetes but at least it was detected earlier…he doesn’t have hypertension though…now we have to monitor his blood glucose level within the range recommended by doctor using glucometer. Well…anyway who’s to blame? We are responsible of what happen to ourselves most of the time…we are what we eat! Now these two stubborn old goats just have to curb their appetite from eating whatever they want...


Click On Photo To View Larger Image




















I got this ideal weight and height chart while surfing for some info at: http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1108048103230.html

WHO PACK YOUR PARACHUTES?

I am posting this article as my way of thanking you for your part in packing my parachute and to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, and you are still cared for and that you've been thought of today…once again THANK YOU & HAPPY NEW YEAR!




Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam.
After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”

“How in the world did you know that?” Asked Plumb.
“I packed your parachute,” The man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude
The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!”
Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked,
I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man.

Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform:
a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said ‘Good morning, how are you?’ or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor.”

Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience,
“Who’s packing your parachute?”
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important.

We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes.

HEART ATTACKS

A serious note about heart attacks (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!)
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...InsyaAllah!


(From An E-mail By Salmi)

A MOTHER'S LOVE...

Even the animal that we called ‘beast’ know how to love their offspring...what happen to us the ‘So-called Human beings’?

A MOTHER’S LOVE
A Mother's love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY FRIEND 'SALAK' FOR SENDING ME THIS VIDEO

DON'T ENVY YOUR WIFE...

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed:
“Dear Lord:
I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through. So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen!”
God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man’s wish.
The next morning, sure enough,the man awoke as a woman.
He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate,
Awakened the kids,
Set out their school clothes,
Fed them breakfast,
Packed their lunches, Drove them to school,
Came home and picked up the dry cleaning
Took it to the cleaners
And stopped at the bank to make a deposit
Went grocery shopping,
Then drove home to put away the groceries
Paid the bills and balanced the check book.
He cleaned the cat’s litter box and bathed the dog.
Then, it was already 01P.M.
And he hurried to make the beds,
Do the laundry, vacuum, dust,
And sweep and mop the kitchen floor.
Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home.
Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework.
Then, set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.
At 4:30, he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.
After supper,
He cleaned the kitchen,
Ran the dishwasher,
Folded laundry,
Bathed the kids,
And put them to bed.
At 09 P.M, He was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.
The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said:
“Lord, I don't know what I was thinking.
I was so wrong to envy my wife’s being able to stay home all day.
Please, Oh! Oh! Please, let us trade back. Amen!”
The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied;
“I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were. You’ll just have to wait nine months, though.
You got pregnant last night.”

GOD’S PHARMACY...

This is very interesting...at least for me!

A friend sent this to me. It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish..... all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...

God left us great clues as to what foods help what part of our body! God's Pharmacy! Amazing!


A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.



A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All o f the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.



Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.




A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron transmitters for brain function.


Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys....



Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.


Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers and how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).


Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.


Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.






Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.




Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.


Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears, which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

THE STRANGER...

This is an old story but I like it anyway...hope you’ll like it too

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

A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complimentary instructors: Mom taught me the word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller.
He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to her room and read her books (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad was as a teetotaler who didn't permit alcohol in the home, not even for cooking. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis.
He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's den today, you would find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.
His name?.... We just call him, “TV.”
**Note: This should be required reading for every household in America!**
He has a younger sister now. We call her, “computer”...

ONE AND ONLY YOU...

Every single blade of grass,
And every flake of snow -
Is just a wee bit different ...
There’s no two alike, you know.

From something small, like grains of sand,
To each gigantic star
All were made with THIS in mind
To be just what they are!

How foolish then to imitate -
How useless to pretend!
Since each of us comes from a MIND
Whose ideas never end.

There’ll only be just ONE of ME
To show what I can do -
And you should likewise feel very proud,
There’s only ONE of YOU.

That is where it all starts
With you, a wonderful unlimited human being.

James T. Moore