Earth Day 2013

Trees

I THINK that I shall never see  

A poem lovely as a tree.  

  

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;  

  

A tree that looks at God all day,         

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;  

  

A tree that may in summer wear  

A nest of robins in her hair;  

  

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;  

Who intimately lives with rain.

  

Poems are made by fools like me,  

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

I remember learning this poem in grade (primary) school. I even remember the teacher that thought it was important that we learn it.... Mrs  Crone. At that point in time I had no idea how that poem would stir something within me. Something that has stayed with me over the years just as the words to this poem has. A deep respect for the world around me. I thank Mrs Crone to this day for that awakening. I hope that some where in this world another teacher is at least reading this poem to her class!  

Happy Earth Day! 

~Jo

WELCOME SPRING

"NEWS FLASH" 

There is a strange Object in the sky! 

It is a blindingly bright orb that is spilling shades of warm yellow hues everywhere! WAIT! I vaguely remember seeing this object in my distant past. I believe it was called {{SUNSHINE}}! 

Welcome Spring.

Enjoy the day everyone, ~Jo 

Make Me Smile

Even the heaviest of hearts can be uplifted when it comes in contact with children and their down to earth innocent way of thinking and expressing themselves.

   

Recently my 9 year old grandson told his mother that he will be starting puberty on Tuesday. I had no idea that puberty was scheduled these days. All it took was a look at the school lunch menu hanging on the fridge to see that it is indeed true. There it was scheduled to start on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 just like he said. Perhaps knowing when puberty starts will ease the mind. Especially if your friends have already started their puberty and you are feeling a bit left behind. You can just look at the calendar and say no big deal.... I start my puberty on Tuesday.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, what he was referring to was Puberty Classes. Evidently, they no longer call it Health Classes or even Sex Education Classes. Just like Home Economics no longer exist. Now I believe it is called Domestic Engineering, unless they have renamed that again as well.

The countless times that my children and grandchildren have brightened my life and lightened my heart with priceless little jewels like this story still brings a smile to my face. I wish I had made note of all of the giggles and laughs they have given me over the years so I wouldn't forget any of them. What a best selling book I could have written. 

Wishing you all lots of giggles and laughs as you journey through life.

Merry Christmas

  Forgive me for my prolonged absence....... About two weeks before Thanksgiving I had a gall bladder attack. To make the holiday more festive, a few days before Thanksgiving I broke out with the Shingles. I am still dealing with both of these. There was a surgery planned for day before yesterday to deal with the gall bladder, that was set aside thanks to some nasty little bug that I caught Thursday. It has been a few years since I have been laid up with a bug as relentless as this one is. 

Come Christmas, I hope to find the Shingles and my little friend "The Bug" gone. As for the gall bladder, I have a feeling I won't be shed of it without surgery. That has been rescheduled for December 31st. I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year than to be relatively pain free. WOW.... My idea of a good time has sure changed in the recent years. 

If You don't hear from me again before then...... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my dear friends and loyal followers!

~Jo

Heroes Unaware

Heroes Unaware

I first saw him on a park bench

I've seen him every day

Sitting in a shady grove

Where my children come to play.

Some days he feeds the birds and squirrels

Or whittles little toys

Sometimes he just sits and smiles

At the laughing boys and girls.

And I never paid him any mind

'Till one day just this year

I noticed that he wore a frown

And on his cheek....

A tear.

Well, I asked him why he seemed so down

He looked up, began to say

I lost half my friends

60 years ago today.

He told me of the terror

As he fought to reach dry land

By the time the beach head was secure

Half his friends lay in the sand.

That was just in one long day

He fought on for 4 years more

And the 60 years from then 'till now

Had not dimmed his sights of war.

He said they have reunions

Just to keep in touch and share

And for each comrade that has gone on

They leave an empty chair.

Well, his park bench has been empty now

About 6 months or so

And if I had never took the time

Then I never would've known.

That sitting on that simple bench

With bread crumbs and little toys

Was a man who gave his all

To guarantee my daily joys.

So give thanks to all the men and women

Who are still here or gone before

And made the highest sacrifice

In both peace time and in war.

Because they bought our freedom

Paid their own blood sweat and tears

Then endured the heartache of those empty chairs

For all of these years.

So please do not ignore them

Or speed by without a care

'Cause you never know

When you might pass by...

A Hero Unaware!

~By Mark Knight

HMC (SS)

22 June 2000

~***~

I came across this poem several years ago and posted it here on Moodscapes. It just seemed to fit perfectly with giving tribute to our veterans. I thought it was tie to post it again, because the sentiment is far to beautiful to forget. I want to say thank you to all those veterans past and present who have sacrificed for me to live in a world of freedom. 

May God Bless You and Hold You in the Palm of His Hand....