Remember when we were school children
and we planted little trees in the Spring?





Thought I'd plant one here!



Just a reminder ...
... to take care of our corner of this Earth.
She's the only Earth we have.




*** I took this pic near here a few days ago.***
In South Carolina, we are neck deep in GREEN!

Our neighbor's sense of humor





Some might say CENTS of humor
or even common CENTS!






SARGE

I was shopping yesterday, looking at glass containers
and checking for one that might say MADE IN USA when
an elderly fellow walked by, wearing a VETERANS cap.

I smiled, held up the glass container and said, "MADE IN USA".

The man who introduced himself as "Sarge" just laughed
and pulled his cart over to tell me his MADE IN USA story ...
and from there went on to talk about his life,
including recently losing his son.
He showed me his son's picture (handsome young man)
and how he had done three tours in Iraq,
had come stateside and died here
during a training mission in a swimming pool.

I couldn't help but tear up when he said
he never thought he would outlive his son.

He talked about his wife, his daughter-in-law and going to Arlington.

He talked about moving here in the 50s, about being so tan
(he was from Hawaii)
that he had to prove he was white before they would let him marry his wife!
He could remember the white people water fountains
and the black people water fountains and
officers with batons who made sure people followed "the rules" ...
I didn't grow up in the South, but it was interesting to hear
from someone who was here in those difficult times ...

I find myself in the most interesting conversations sometimes ...
I don't know why or even how I get to talking
with people I don't even know,
but I am always glad when it turns into a conversation like that one.
It's like going to a bookstore and finding
a really good book where I least expect to.

I walked away smiling at the way "Sarge" looks at life
and wondered how I would tell my own story when I get to be his age. 

I don't expect to run into "Sarge" again
but his stories will stay with me for a while.
I'll be thinking of his family as they travel to Arlington,
asking God to give them an extra measure of peace too.

I'd like it if you'd think of his family too ...
and all the families whose loved ones were too soon gone.




 

I got the BEST news tonight!
Lil Sis placed FIRST in her division
in North Dakota State Tourney!!!

Life is just so darn good!
Go Sister!  Go Sister!!!

Has anyone else noted that
two quart ice cream containers have changed
to 1.5 quart ice cream containers
BUT ...
we are all still paying the two quart price?

Your Ice Cream Personality:

You like to think of yourself as a fairly modest person. And it's true that you don't talk yourself up... but you're also pretty happy with who you are. You have a wild reputation, but you're not as wild as you seem. You take risks, but only measured risks. You are a fairly open minded person with a wide range of tastes. You are quite accepting of unusual ideas and people. You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time. You are fun loving and sweet. You tend to enjoy joking around and teasing people.

You Are Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

You are kind, popular, and generous. You tend to be successful at anything you try. A social butterfly, you are great at entertaining a crowd. You are most compatible with strawberry ice cream.

Today's a rainy day on the Creek.
I welcome the rain.
It gives me a chance to get caught up on paperwork
without feeling guilty about neglecting the yard.
My new flowers will like the drink too!

Holidays like Easter
always leave me thoughtful.
I find myself replaying family conversations
and though it might seem a little nutty,
I wonder if I said the right thing,
if I was a good listener
and if I gave the right advice,
(when they asked my opinion) ...

I didn't used to think so much about what I said.
I was more inclined to talk "off the top of my head"
but
"off the top of my head"
isn't always where I keep my best thinking!

Funny that today, I got this email ... I BELIEVE ...
Thought I'd share it with you ...



I Believe ...
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe ...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.