Saturday, October 1, 2022

Editor's Corner

 


By Mary E. Adair

October 2022

“Autumn colors remind us we are all one dancing in the wind.”
– Lorin Morgan-Richards


A transition into Fall is arriving for most of this side of the World, which means some areas, like western Texas and other desert locales, hang onto the summer heat much later into the year. It is not uncommon to do Thanksgiving family pics outdoors with everyone in short sleeves and definitely warm weather clothing.


We could use more rain in our area this season, but we hope there are no more devastating hurricanes on tap such as the recent Ian. Prayers continue for those affected by it that they are able to secure their safety and clean the debris rendered along Ian's path.


"A Mother's Lessons" by Danielle Cote Serar explains  her pet peeve concerning counting one's years since birth. "On Trek" by Judith Kroll declares her feelings on "age" and why she wouldn't turn back the clock.


"Reflections of the Day" by Dayvid Bruce Clarkson, shows his thoughts and contemplations during September. Thomas O'Neill in his column "Introspective" talks about when he did volunteer service in Ecuador and how it affected him.


"Sifoddling Along," by Marilyn Carnell explains the difference in why "Travel Isn't Glamourous Anymore." "Woo Woo," by Pauline Evanosky, is a discussion the problems with prophesies and how they elude definitive answers.


"Cooking with Rod” brings us two delightful Chicken Salads for One. Mattie Lennon, author of "Irish Eyes," touts the book "The Way We Were," and expounds upon the messy eating debate.


The "Armchair Genealogy" column, by Melinda Cohenour, brings various family location coincidences into sites concerning the Royal lineage of the bereaved Queen Elizabeth II. She then flies into the weather subject of Hurricane Ian and the effect such storms have on genealogical records and displacements.


John Blair does an informative article inspired by his musings about the long reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. John supplied some answers in this piece to your editor's questions.


Lucy Emily Hennessy, who dwells in the UK and is one daughter of the late Phillip Hennessy, sent her poem "Beloved Queen" as a tribute to her late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Susan Dimitrakopoulos, a Canadian, composed "The Steel Box" about old time country mail boxes.


Bud Lemire's poems this month are "Macinac Island," "Life Comes First," and a poem about "Rainbow Hair." Bruce Clifford, submitted "Enough of Me," "Your Reflection," and "Silver Course Loop." Walt Perryman has four poems to share: "Good Mornng, Texas," "Luckenbach Ambiance," "The Past and Prizes," and "How to Love--a Re-done Reminder."


With the help of Walt Perryman, we continue a new tale revealing the compositions of Honey Dog. Chapter Two is in this issue for our readers to enjoy!


We continue to thank our co-founder and webmaster, Mike Craner, whose knowlege and expertise keeps Pencil Stubs Online actually online. He does it well as we are now in our 25th year. Thanks, Mike, for everything!


Look for us in November.


Click on author's byline for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.


Armchair Genealogy

 


By Melinda Cohenour

Kibbles 'n' Bits


     September 2022 was a momentous month ... In the news for various reasons but I would be remiss not to mention the two blockbuster events: the death and burial of Queen Elizabeth II with all its heartbreak, pomp, circumstance and intrigue and the landfall of Hurricane Ian that has devastated Florida and now set its course for yet another horrific landfall somewhere on the shores of the Carolinas. It might be strange for this column to mention these widely diverse newsmakers; however, both actually have a bearing on my family's personal genealogy.

* * * * *


The Queen


     Queen Elizabeth II served seven decades as the reigning monarch of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales not to mention the far-flung nation states around the world making up the fifteen Commonwealth Realms.

" Together, there are some 150 million people in the Commonwealth realms, the most populous of which are the UK, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand."

"They are distinct from the Commonwealth of Nations, a loose grouping of fifty-four countries that were once part of the British Empire but most which are not still subjects of the queen."
Source: https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/queen-elizabeth-ii-monarch-fifteen-countries-what-does-mean


     And our family's connection you might ask? Well, our Joslin line (Joslin, Joslyn, Josceline, Josselin, Jocelyn, etc.) stretches back in time to Charlemagne and the Franco-German ruling lineage, but a more recent brush with the Crown occurred with the naming of Sir Robert Jocelyn as the Earl of Roden by King George III (who, by the way, before the 70-year reign of our recently departed Queen Elizabeth II, was England's longest-serving monarch with 60 years' rule).

"Earl of Roden is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1771 for Robert Jocelyn, 2nd Viscount Jocelyn. This branch of the Jocelyn family descends from the 1st Viscount, prominent Irish lawyer and politician Robert Jocelyn, the son of Thomas Jocelyn, third son of Sir Robert Jocelyn, 1st Baronet, of Hyde Hall (see below). He notably served as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1739 to 1756. In 1743, he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Newport, of Newport, and in 1755 he was further honoured, when he was made Viscount Jocelyn, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. He represented Old Leighlin in the Irish House of Commons and served as Auditor-General of Ireland. In 1770 he also succeeded his first cousin once removed as the fifth Baronet of Hyde Hall. In 1771 he was created Earl of Roden, of High Roding in the County of Tipperary, in the Peerage of Ireland."
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Roden

Hyde Hall


     Located in Sawbridgeworth, in Hertfordshire near Essex, Hyde Hall was held by the Jocelyn family in the 16th and 17th centuries. Nearby Essex figures prominently in Joslin family history as well.

"Ralph Jocelyn of Hyde Hall, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1464 and in 1476, is buried here; images of many of his family and other locals have been engraved on brass, and the church is popular for enthusiasts of brass rubbing. The ghost of Sir John Jocelyn, known for his love of horses, is reputed to appear riding a white horse on the old carriage drive every 1 November."
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawbridgeworth#History


    Quite interesting is the history associated with Sawbridgeworth itself:

"Prior to the Norman conquest, most of the area was owned by the Anglo-Saxon Angmar the Staller."The Manor of "Sabrixteworde" (one of the many spellings previously associated with the town) was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. After the Battle of Hastings, it was granted to Geoffrey de Mandeville I by William the Conqueror. Local notables have included John Leventhorpe, an executor of both King Henry IV and King Henry V's wills, and Anne Boleyn, who was given the Pishiobury/Pishobury estate, located to the south of the town." (ibid)Note: Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 - 1536), second wife of King Henry VIII, held Pishiobury until her execution.


    Aah, yes! When one delves into the history of Olde England and Ireland, one happens upon such wondrous treasures. For instance:

" By the time of the Norman conquest, or soon after, Sawbridgeworth's rich farming land was fully developed for cultivation as was possible with the means available at the time: it was the richest village community in the county. Many important medieval families had estates here. The land was divided among them, into a number of manors or distinct estates; the lord of each manor had rights not only over this land but also over the people who farmed it."


     This "Bit" leads to a family "Kibble": When I was just a young girl, some furor arose when my Maternal Grandfather, James Arthur Joslin, received a mailing requiring immediate attention. Seems his name had surfaced as the next in line to inherit a manor (castle?) in Ireland. Acceptance would require that he move onto the estate and take over fiduciary responsibility for the estate, the land, and ... THE FAMILIES living on the feudal property.


    My grandfather was a farmer who had made his home in Pineville, Missouri, his entire life. He was anything but a young man when this "opportunity" appeared. Thus, the Kibble - the rather complex discussion amongst Grandfather Joslin and his children who, of course, would be required to take over for him as next in line of inheritance. Excited by the enormity of this offer, some inclination was to uproot the family and GO! Then reality set in. The "opportunity" carried a great deal of responsibility; a responsibility that might well bankrupt the energy and the coffers of the family. Alas! The answer was No, thank you.


     One treasured heirloom I hold is the Joslin milk cup made for special use by the eldest child and passed down to my mother. The cup bears the Bells of Ireland around the small body of the cup, the rim slightly thicker, the handle small. But the mystery? Once the milk was drunk and one could look inside, there appeared a castle or manor in bas relief on the bottom of the cup. Although created at the time of moulding, this castle or manor cannot be seen otherwise. This bears a resemblance to a view of Hyde Hall.

* * * * *


Ian the Terrible


     And why has your author been transfixed by the path of destruction left by Hurricane Ian? Simple: we have family and friends in Florida.


     Just this past year my daughter's and grandson's DNA tests revealed new half-siblings from my ex-husband. Precious 'just found' family!


     Now we have siblings Kathy, Diane, Penney, John, Melissa, Michelle, Jason, and Anne. We very tragically lost Kathy years ago to cancer. Her beautiful full sister Diane shares a beautiful smile and voice eerily indistinguishable from that of my daughter Melissa. Penney shares the dimples big time, as do her sweet and beautiful daughters Ruby and Leah. Leah's daughter Alley shares those dimples, too. She and my son's daughter Fawn look so much alike.


     Jason and his mother hail from Missouri. Michelle is still in Arizona I believe.


    But our Anne is the baby thus far. She and Melissa share almost identical looks. Lissa has pics at the same age as pics of Anne and one is hard-pressed to tell them apart.


     Thank goodness we can report that Penney and her family escaped Ian's wrath!! Safe, dry, with electricity and water, still working. Praise God!


     And our very good friend, Maria Jones the daughter of one of my dearest (now departed) friends Mary Taylor, reports she is also safe!


     We have not heard from Diane; however, at the last report, she was living near Destin and Pensacola both of which were spared.

* * * * *


    Now, perhaps your author can get back to some serious Armchair Genealogy!! See you next month


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Cooking with Rod

 


By Rod Cohenour

A recent visit to the good old doc resulted in a change in diet for my sweet wife. A new med and a new direction - high protein, and in his words no carb. That translates to only complex carbs, no sweets, and no starchy foods. A great diet but it can get tiresome, only meat and broccoli or cauliflower or similar green veggies. How do I change it up and keep my sweet wife happy? Salads, that's how I'll do it.

Salads are always a wonderful treat. This is one of my favorites. Well, folks, here's one I guarantee you will love! A wonderful blend of perfectly prepared chicken, crisp apple, tasty pecans, a tart, dried fruit, and a wonderful mix of greens.

Bon appetit ~!

Cran-Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

Ingredients, for one person:

  • 1 boneless skinless chicken breast per person. Broil your own or use prepared rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken from the fridge, or even canned chicken cubes (although this last is inferior in my estimation.)
  • 1 cup Spring greens (remove any tough stems)
  • 1/2 cup iceberg lettuce, chopped medium
  • 1 crisp apple (Red Delicious is perfect), cored, sliced into thin slices, not peeled)
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries (may substitute dried cherries or similar tart dried fruit for the craisins, just watch the sugar content)
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces
  • 1 Roma tomato sliced or cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 1/4 small purple onions, diced or 2 green onions, bulb, and green sliced.
  • 1/3 cup grated Cheddar-Monterey Cheese blend

Dressing (see suggestions below)

Instructions:

    1. Prepare chicken breast. Wash, rinse, and pat dry. Season as desired. I prefer ground black pepper, scant garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Mrs. Dash. Lower oven shelf to a middle rack to permit chicken to cook through without burning. Broil the inner side of the breast first, just until evenly golden brown. Turn to cook the rounded outer side of the breast. Season and broil until the juice from breast meat runs clear and the meat is no longer pink. Turn as many times as necessary to permit the chicken to cook through without getting too crisp.
    Remove, let cool slightly before slicing.
    2. Toss together iceberg lettuce and Spring greens. Use as a bed for salad.
    3. Toss together craisins, apples, tomatoes, pecans, onions, and cheese. Mix gently with Spring greens and Iceberg lettuce.
    4. Arrange slices of broiled chicken on top of the salad. Serve with a choice of low-carb dressings, suggested are a Skinnygirl Balsamic dressing with parmesan cheese OR an Avocado Ranch.

Alternative: Creamy Cran-Apple Chicken Pecan Salad

We enjoy a little twist on this basic recipe. Instead of mixing the greens and lettuce with the other ingredients, prepare as a bed for a creamy chicken salad. Return to fridge to chill.

Cube the cooled chicken. Add one cup Vanilla plain or Greek yogurt with a Tablespoon of lemon juice and a half teaspoon ground cinnamon to the remaining ingredients (fruit, chicken, nut, tomato, onion and OMIT THE CHEESE). Chill this chicken mixture for about an hour to allow flavors to blend. Serve over greens and lettuce, also chilled.


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Woo Woo

 


By Pauline Evanosky

Prophecies and Good Outcomes

I think one of the most expected and applauded traits of a psychic is the ability to tell the future. The problem with that is there are so many futures possible that I, personally, wouldn’t put my money on even one of them.


However, in the short term where pivotal steppingstones have been in place for a while? Yes, it is possible.


Also, where there is a dramatic energy buildup associated with large events that make noticing the shift easier. Like the difference between a small ant hill and a larger one.


Hollywood and popular literature would have you believe that there is something to the idea that folks will cancel their flights and trips so as to avoid mass casualty events. Like airplanes that crash or trains that derail. Yes, people were hurt. Some were killed. But how many of the passengers canceled at the last minute? How many of them never got on that plane or train? Googling this did not result in any scientific evidence to support this idea. However, the idea still fascinates me.


In my own life, there are a number of times when I have thought to myself, “How lucky was that?” I can remember one time when a Roman candle, lit during a New Year’s fireworks celebration in Germany went sideways instead of up. It hit the top part of my head just as I lowered my face. Had I not lowered my face in that instant I would either have died or been blinded. I get little tingles when I think about that. I should be dead right now, but I am not. Granted it is not the same as canceling a flight, but to me, even at that time, it had an eeriness about it I could not ignore.


There is also that split-second decision I made that was the difference between me meeting my husband or not meeting him. Would we have eventually met? I don’t know. All I know is the plan was for me to go to college in Virginia and for my family to cross the Atlantic to Germany. My steamer trunk was packed. But I remember my mother asking me if I was sure I didn’t want to go to Germany. That was the split second I said yes. They were due to leave in 3 days. My husband and I have been married for 46 years. All because I said yes to a last-minute change in plans.


In fact, I remember the moment I spoke with my mother 3 months after I met Dennis. I said to her, “I’ve met the man I’m going to marry. He doesn’t know it yet, but he is the one.” It was a calm certainty that I knew it was to be. Three years later he asked me to marry him. I said yes and, “What took you so long?” This was back in the day when women did not ask men to marry them and a good 17 years before I “became” psychic.


I use a more mundane variation of this technique to time my shopping trips now. I grew up with my mother spending an inordinate amount of energy getting the closest parking spot to the entrance of whatever store we were going to. It was important to her and inevitably became important to me. Circling the lot 3 or 4 times was not uncommon. Throughout my adult life, I continued the practice until I got to a point in my “getting better and getting psychic” where it didn’t matter anymore. I began parking wherever I could find parking. I suddenly realized I didn’t care if I had to trek almost half a mile to get where I was going.


Around the same time, I found I had patience. I didn’t mind standing in lines. It was helpful to have guides I could talk to, but just standing there in silence was nice. I could compare the calmness I felt to the agitation the people behind me in line were voicing.


Now, what is super interesting to me is that I am currently having trouble walking. I just don’t seem to have the same energy I used to have. It is a chore to walk longer distances and even though I don’t have a disabled sticker for my car I seem to be getting really good parking places at the grocery store I go to. I ask my guides, sometimes in words and sometimes just a feeling, for help with parking places. Magically, it appears to be working. As I turn into the lot this different sort of calmness settles upon me. It is very much like stepping onto the psychic path when I want to experience a psychic vision. Is it psychic? I think so. I really do.


If you are not a professed psychic, then just follow your gut instincts. They work. For everybody.


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Introspective

 


By Thomas F. O'Neill

In 1991, I volunteered my services in Ecuador, which is an extremely rich agricultural country but also an impoverished country in terms of the workers working in the agricultural fields.


The people living in the hills of Duran in Ecuador made about 20 cents a day in 1991. To this day, many are living in sugarcane huts with no electricity or indoor plumbing, and they wash with rainwater. They eat what they can gather for that day because they have no way of preserving their food.


Water must be boiled before using it to prevent an outbreak of cholera, a common ailment in that country that can kill you. I went there with other volunteers to build sugarcane huts. When I returned to the United States, I was grateful for what I had, and the little inconveniences were just that little inconveniences compared to how the poor live in various parts of the world.


When I look at life in terms of my experiences, I realize how our beliefs are a major part of who we are in terms of how we relate to others. I also realize, more so now than before, how the people living in those impoverished conditions in Ecuador rely on their community for survival. The individual cannot put themselves over the welfare of their community because it is the welfare of the community that is vital to their survival. In America, we rely on our rugged individualism, and there is no such concept in Ecuador in the hills of Duran, where I lived for three months.


The people in Ecuador looked at me with such curiosity, and they were the most loving people. I washed my clothes and ate with them, and we had to communicate through body language because I could not speak their language. There was one thing that they loved to do, and that was laugh. They were unaware of what they did not have in terms of technology because they were pretty much isolated from the rest of the world. They were content living in their community because their community was their family, and they could rely on each other in times of need.


The agricultural workers there were the most loving people, and they invited me into their lives with a warm embrace. They made me and the other volunteers feel quite special. In their minds, we were there not just physically but spiritually. They believe that everyone they come in contact with is for a deep spiritual reason. That was reflected in how they treated us, with an affectionate and loving acceptance.


I have learned over the years that a great deal of my understanding came from books. What I have read in those books helped me acquire a lot of knowledge, but now I recognize that I am learning much more about myself from my reflections on my past. Writing is also a way of expressing myself, and I suppose that is one reason why I submitted this article. It is a way of sharing a part of who I am with the reader.


I truly believe deep down in my soul that it is not the material accumulation of objects that count in life, but rather it is all the unrecognized, undetected, and unremembered acts of loving-kindness that one bestows on others that are the most significant achievements in a person’s life.


What we give to humanity, we give to ourselves, and what we change in ourselves, we change in humanity. If we want to live in a better world, we must change for the better. If we want to see a world of loving and joyous people, we must be loving and joyous towards the people in our own lives. That potential is part of our humanity. When we reach out to touch others, we touch a part of the humanity that is within us. When we change the life of another for the better, we change our own lives for the better.


The people I met in Ecuador profoundly changed me for the better, not monetarily but emotionally, through their loving affection. How they live their lives, profoundly impacted how I now perceive the world around me.


To have a profound effect on others and to change and enhance the quality of others' lives is not achieved by imposing our will or our beliefs on others. But rather, it is achieved by living our life as we would want others to live their lives in doing so, others will emulate our way of life.


Life is simply a quest with greater self-awareness as the means to greater spiritual growth within us and in all that we touch because the afterglow of an extraordinary life is ultimately love.

    Always with love from Suzhou, China
    Thomas F O’Neill
    Email: introspective7@hotmail.com
    WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill
    U.S. Voice mail: (800) 272-6464
    China Mobile 011 (86) 13405757231
    Skype: thomas_f_oneill
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thomas_F_ONeill
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-f-o-neill-6226b018/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomas_f_oneill/
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/


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Sifoddling Along

 


By Marilyn Carnell

Travel Isn’t Glamorous Any More

My first commercial flight was in 1960 with Frontier Airlines, a well-named company. The plane was a converted military C-47 so it was on the frontier for sure. You entered from the back and walked up the tilted aisle to your seat. I flew from Columbia to Joplin, MO.


In 1966 I went to work for General Mills and began flying often for business. There were very few female business passengers in those days and we were treated like queens. The flight from Minneapolis to Chicago was 1 hour. Within that time frame, we were served a meal with real china and silver, and the flight attendants (all pretty women) wore designer uniforms. Even the planes were painted pretty colors until they realized how much the weight of the paint impacted gas mileage.


During COVID my travels halted. In 2021 I bought 3 tanks of gas for my Prius. This year I have ventured out into the world again and found significant changes both in me and the world.


If you are interested in travel my first suggestion is to have a very smart and efficient daughter-in-law. Without one of those to book everything, it will be exceedingly difficult. In my case, it involves reserving a ticket, hotel room, and on-ground transportation in a wheelchair. I learned that first class on Delta has the following rewards: you get 1) board early, 2) have a wider seat, 4) get a tepid 8 Oz bottle of water, and 4) your coffee is served first.


A gap occurs when you have to get from the car rental desk to the actual car a block away with 2 bags, a purse, and a walker. Last week the last straw was a spilled root beer in my purse. I did the only thing possible- sat down and cried. A nice man Roth OK a wheelchair service came by and saw my plight and my journey resumed.


A small complicating factor is the change in fashion while traveling. Heels and hose are no longer required. I saw some outfits that would be first-rate for a pole dancer. It is no longer special to travel by air.


To add to the woes, my hair rebelled after taking a prescription med. I now have hair suitable for different personas a white kinky patch on top. On a given day, I may look like Karl Marx or Dredd Scott. On a really bad day, there is a strong resemblance to Queen Camilla. I think it is time to stay at home again.


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Irish Eyes

 


By Mattie Lennon

The Way We Were. ( And The Way We Eat!)

In "The Way we Were; Catholic Ireland Since 1922" Mary Kenny points out she was a latecomer to writing history, in what she describes as, “In the second part of my working life.” Be that as it may, she can hold her own with any historian that I can think of. Also, she holds a more balanced view of the Catholic Church than most writers, historians or others. She is true to her word when she promised to, “. . . brings to remembrance of Catholic Ireland . . . balance, perspective and measured reflection.”


She doesn’t pull any punches; “Alas, nuns didn’t educate me very well-the Loreto nuns I attended paced pupils the regarded as dunces in B stream classes to be taught by dunces, mostly lay teachers either distinctly under par, or, in a couple of cases, certifiably insane.”


Mary Kenny wouldn’t dream of writing about a subject that she didn’t have a comprehensive knowledge of, ”I regret that a very central aspect of Irish life-sport, and especially the Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA)-is absent, but my total ignorance in this field would, literally, deprive the text of the authority of ‘ writing about what you know’” Kenny tells the reader that they can, “ . . . read whatever sections that that interest you in whatever sequence you choose.” Yes, it is that type of book but it would be a terrible mistake to skip any section of it permanently. In Profiles From my Time, she gives us autobiographical essays on twelve public figures. Gay Byrne gets a well-deserved twenty-two pages all to himself while Alice Glynn only gets ten.


We are given a list of and a lot of information on the stately homes burned during the troubles and some lesser known facts about the Irish State giving the vote to women before Britain did with the reason why the latter dragged its feet thrown in.


Chapter 5, The Women’s Revolution and the Advance of the Liberal Agenda, is 40 pages about how women were treated in Ireland from 1922, wouldn’t make any of my genders to be proud to be male.


Mary Kenny covers everything from Charles Haughey’s “Irish solution to an Irish problem” to her own mother’s approach to priests. “She liked a priest if he was cultivated; one Jesuit friend of my father’s was welcome because he had read Balzac. She was proud of her uncle, canon Michael Conroy of Athenry, who had a stable of hunters and a fine wine cellar. But she was critical of priests who were ‘narrow’ or, worse, ‘uncouth.”


This author shares openly and honestly about her own life without hijacking history, "I lived my life between London and Dublin_flying back and forth about ten times a year. My family life had placed me in England, but Ireland always represented the roots that called compellingly, and it was always an imperative to be there too. And then there is nearly always a tension, for women, between what they want for themselves and what they feel is their duty."


No matter how much history you have read about the Irish State, since its foundation, don’t miss this 450-page hardback if you want to really know, “The Way We Were.”


Published by Columba Books. www.columbabooks.com

* * * * *

Something to chew on.


It all started at a Dinner Dance in Blessington last June. During the meal, a member across the table was gazing fixedly at me. I was sitting beside a neighbour and I said to him, “I think that person fancies me.” He initially informed me that the person to whom I had been alluding was not into necrophilia. He then said. “You are being watched because you are chewing with your mouth open and that is the height of bad manners. “


I said “It’s not bad manners. Civilisation has rotted our imagination and political correctness has made us victims of the convention.” Then, because I knew his area of expertise (he has a degree in animal husbandry) I continued, “It’s not natural to chew with the mouth closed, there are 200 species of ruminant animals on the planet and you won’t see any of them chewing with their mouth closed,” I then pointed out that the Late Norman Wisdom used to do it playfully to “annoy” his family.


The man then quoted some philosopher or other whose name I can’t recall who, according to him, said, “Just because you can thrill a toddler by chewing with your mouth open doesn't mean you should.”


This cross between a discussion and an argument continued between us until the dessert came around. At which point I said; “Listen. Before the year is out I’ll prove beyond doubt that chewing with the mouth open is the most beneficial way to eat.”


You see I already knew that an expert from the University of Oxford had established that eating with your mouth open is the best way to consume food, Prof Charles Spence, an experimental psychologist, found that it maximises flavour and allows you to derive as much pleasure as possible out of each mouthful.


Professor Spence and his team of researchers found that chewing food with your mouth open can make food taste better and can help “volatile organic compounds” reach the back of the nose which can improve the taste of food. As you know Volatile organic compounds are molecules that can create aromas and contribute to the flavour of food. So the benefit of them reaching the back of our nose means it can stimulate cells responsible for our smell, which can “enhance” the dining experience.


Charles Spence, points out that we have, “. . . been doing it all wrong. When it comes to sound, we like noisy foods – crunchy and crispy. Both crisps and apples are rated as more pleasurable when the sound of the crunch is amplified ”. So, to best hear the crunch of an apple, a potato crisp, a carrot stick, celery or a cracker, crispbread or a handful of popcorn, we should always ditch our manners and chew with our mouths open. The professor also points out that people should use their hands to eat their food where possible. “Our sense of touch is also vital in our perception of food on the palate,” he says.


The research shows that what you feel in your hand can change or bring out certain aspects of the tasting experience. Feeling the smooth, organic texture of the skin of an apple in our hand before biting into it is likely to contribute to a heightened appreciation of the juicy, sweet, crunch of that first bite. This can be extended to the feeling of grains of salt sticking to the fingers when eating say a smoked cod and chips with our hands or the sugary residue of buttercream on a hand after biting into a slice of such dangerous food as a wedding cake. The experts say the first taste is with the fingers/hand. Texture provides useful information about the freshness of produce such as apples.


Wine experts and professional coffee tasters know to let the air in while tasting, so why not try the same by eating an apple with your mouth open? It may help to make the most of the taste that comes from the retro nasal olfaction – that’s the smell that emerges from the back of back of your mouth into the back of your nose when eating and drinking.”


New York Post editor Maureen Callahan spotted a raft of celebs chewing with mouths open. I’m not going to name them but Ms Callaghan did in her piece in the Sunday Edition of the paper.


I contacted Professor Spence and asked him what sort of feedback he got from writers of food etiquette and allied politically correct institutions.


He said his discovery had hit a nerve. He told me, “I have received some of my first hate email!!”


The wine/coffee experts appear to be in agreement and had been in touch with him and Debrett's, who publish all kinds of handbooks on etiquette now allow their readers stroke fine diners to eat SOME things with their hands.”


I have come up with a poster for eateries that may want to attract less than polite customers.


Now, with Oxford approval isn’t it time that we, open-mouthed chewers, formed some sort of association. How about CAVE, C.A.V.E. “Chew and View Enthusiastically?”


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On Trek

 


By Judith Kroll

I cannot turn back the clock and truthfully I do not want to turn back the clock. I treasure my experiences, good and bad because many helped me to always move forward becoming a better person. My wrinkles, pains, and white hair spell wisdom to me. I am proud of my journey, and so blessed with all the beautiful people I have met, and will continue to meet.


I watched my grandparents and parents go thru the golden years, finding joy and happiness every chance they got. My dad found so much joy on his tractor. Yes, working, but smiling big the whole time. He tinkered and made changes to his home constantly. His Father was putting in a new bathroom at around age 85 and passed in his sleep. He found joy in his work


I love to sit outside and experience all the life buzzing, flying, and moving around. Little rabbits, squirrels, deer, raccoons, bees, and hummingbirds, are all finding joy in life.


Some hummingbirds come right up to my face and buzz hello. It is quiet outside, and you can hear the leaves falling. Becoming part of the earth again, in a different form.


Every day is a new experience. Enjoy every moment in life. It is meant to make us happy. Find your happiness, and make each day a new experience.
Love, Judith


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Reflections of The Day

By Dayvid Clarkson

September 1 at 10:25 PM ·
Grand Mother Moon is only showing a small part of her slip this evening as the night closes in. It appears that some think the night is dark and sinister, something to approach with trepidation. For me, the nighttime is a gift from the Creator. It is a time when I faithfully turn everything over to my Guardians trusting that I will return in the morning. The trials and tribulations of the day are put aside. Future fears and phobias are shelved at the close of this day. It is time to frolic with the Faeries, wander with the Wee Folk, and listen to the Elves elucidate on the grand mysteries. It is a time of peace and serenity when my heart can refill and my soul can restore. A grand sabbatical from this mortal realm while enjoying the tranquility of my dream time. I imagine I am reclining on a soft mossy hill under the warmth of the stars while a brook babbles gently past my feet. The aroma of evergreens and the dampness of Mother Earth lulls me with a soothing breath. I might not remember my dreams but I will remember the time I paused before I entered the night and gave thanks for all that is.
Sleep well, dream deep my Friends.
Dayvid


September 2 at 10:55 PM ·
The shy night sky is behind the clouds this eve. The radiance of the moon shines through. Any day is a day well spent when we release our expectations and refrain from attempting to control the outcomes. Some stressfully try to live up to the expectations of others, yet these supposed expectations are self-defined. Some face the evening as if they have somehow failed, didn’t do enough, didn’t do as well, and simply didn’t measure up. Who taught you these standards? What is doing nothing? I humbly ask that you quit trying to ‘measure up’. Just be, knowing in your heart of hearts you are a good person. That’s it, just breathe.
Sleep well, dream deep my friends.
Dayvid


September 5 at 11:25 PM
Some days are simply emotionally draining. We seem to be knocked off course. There is no number of platitudes, affirmations, or reasons that seem to fill the void. As we delve deeper and start living our authentic lives there are times when we feel disconnected from that gentle and sure guidance. Numerous events and situations can cause us to disengage. I let these feelings wash over me and observed the doubt. I knew then that it was my Monkey Mind swirling and twisting. As the evening approaches, I will release these feelings and return to the source. I ask my Elders to wash me clean during the dream time. Allow me to see this all as an illusion. Assist me in restoring my balance and allow me to see my authentic path. Free my soul from the clay world and guide me along the star path. I am grateful for all of the lessons.
Sleep well, dream deep my Friends.
Dayvid


September 6 at 10:43 PM ·
What I wish is that you find what works for you. It does not have to be what works for others or what you think society expects from you. For some it is a religious path, for some, it could be Buddhism or Taoism, and some might choose to be an Atheist. Other Folks might choose activism. It might be environmentalism, social activism, animal rights, or global warming. Still, more willfully involve themselves in the arts, music, painting, sculpting, or photography. And others might passionately pursue the sciences. For me, it doesn’t matter as long as you find what works for you. Most importantly I wish you realize what is right for you is not necessarily right for others. To also understand that you are not required to coerce, nor force your path on me. I will respect the choices you make and will, in all probability, support and agree with most of your concepts. Because we have differences does not make us different. At the very essence of our being is the mystical understanding that nothing matters and everything does. There is no issue that is more important than compassionate empathy towards our fellow travelers. We cannot be offended; we choose to be offended. Cast off everything you have been taught. Accept all paths and respect the fact that we are all just trying to figure out this incredible journey. We need each other. When we ask ourselves what is truly important we will discover that we will share our last meal if required, we will shelter all from the storms, we will provide care as needed, and give that shirt if you ask.
This is your authentic self simply trying to live your heart song.
Dayvid


September 7 at 11:06 PM ·
When I was a young one I enjoyed whittling. I received my first pocket knife at a very young age. It wasn’t fancy or top of the line as it only had two blades, a long and a short. It also came with a small sharpening stone. With practice, I could get a wicked edge on the blade and it would stay sharp for a good length of time. I would grab an old small branch, find a quiet place and proceed to ‘Whittlin’. I wasn’t carving I was whittling. You see whittling is just working on the branch till you reach the heartwood not trying to shape anything just spending some time listening to the knife create the shavings. I seem to do that now, at day's end. I cut away unnecessary parts of the day and create shavings that dance off with the wind. I pare down the day till I reach the heartwood and savour the lessons that were presented. It is better to reflect on the lessons without the surreptitious adornments that society has taught me. I am then able to better understand the lessons of the heartwood. Take the time to reflect on your day, remove what you didn’t like, and keep the rest.
Sleep well, dream deep my Friends.
Dayvid


September 10 at 11:09 PM ·
On this day I celebrate myself. Taking a few steps back and donning the robes of the Observer I loving view this humble soul. The challenges, the travails, and the questions this one has faced, with varying degrees of success, all across the stage like unknown actors in a grand play of mystery and intrigue. The journey at times seems ambiguous, with an infinite number of possibilities on the eventual outcome. Yet this mortal being, with a deep comprehension of compassion and kindness has found self here in this precise moment. Still not fully found and approaching each day with slight trepidation, and anxiety of missteps, this one still embodies a remarkable faith that this is the path home. As I remove the robes I understand this peaceful warrior is someone I love. Above all else, our empathy must start with ourselves.
Give yourself a hug and be the best friend you can be today.
Dayvid


September 11 at 11:26 PM ·
A windy night and I watch the evergreens dance with the wind. Appreciative applause from the trees as their boughs sways with the gusts. The lake seems to giggle as Brother Wind sends ripples along its surface and the clouds enjoy a free ride. Grand Father Sun peaks through the sky cover, occasionally, to ensure all is well and add a little warmth to the autumn air. Taking moments to observe the world around us, in a harmonious way, will calm the furrowed brow and ease a tense heart. Look about and tell yourself stories of the stories Mother Earth is teaching you. Better still write them down and share them. Take time to embrace the wonder that is about you if only for a few minutes. Being mindful throughout the day will add many wondrous memories to your collection. We might not be able to live every hour in the zone yet we can practice extending this time to many hours and days. You will then understand how to slowly live into the answer.
Sleep well, Dream deep my Friends.
Dayvid


September 12 at 10:40 PM ·
Grand Father Sun shone proudly on Mother Earth this day and yet Mother Earth owes nothing to Grand Father Sun for it is their mutual love that lights the day. And in the evening time, Mother Earth releases that warmth to Father Sky during his nighttime watch. And Grand Father Sun so loves Grand Mother Moon that he leaves at the end of the day so that she might rule recognizing her own power. The Family that surrounds us with mutual admiration and respect encourages us to see what is right with this world.
Sleep well, dream deep my Friends.
Dayvid


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Pic is one of Dayvid's taken from his deck in British Columbia and inscribed with one of his Haikus.


 

A Mother's Lessons

 

By Danielle Cote Serar

A few years ago, we won’t say how long, when I was 28, my sweet cousin had the audacity to say I was turning 30 the next year. Disgusted thinking I had two years before THAT milestone, it took a minute for me to realize that based on when we were in the year, that she was right. Ugh. It was in that moment that I decided I’d be forever 29, never crossing that arbitrary moment of turning… Old… saying goodbye to my youth.


Today another year has passed, celebrating the anniversary of my 29th year, and I found myself thinking… a lot… about age. And you know what I have decided. Aging is BS, age is an arbitrary assignment, and old is only determined by mindset. Hear me out.


Aging sucks. I definitely notice that my body is feeling the effects of time. Things ache easier, break quicker, rebound slower, and on and on. It doesn’t do what I want it to do like it used to do. As Toby said, “I ain’t as good as I once was but I’m as good once as I ever was.” I now understand this statement personally. And yea knows what. It’s a total PITA.


Age is arbitrary. I’m my years, I have lived more than most yet far less than many the same age or younger than me. I know people twice my age who have not aged as I have by the experiences I have lived. And I know how “young” I am in my understanding of things others experience so soon in their lives. Age which we so often associate with having “lived” life really doesn’t. It’s an arbitrary assignment to acknowledge the turning around the sun once.


Old, like the one my mind had wrapped itself around when I was unimpressed with turning 30, really is a mindset. I have been around people in their 20s who were so old in their minds, they were held back from living. Yet, I’ve been blessed to know people in the 70s and 80s and refused to stop living, to stop learning, and are more youthful than I ever was. Some days I feel older than I am and others like I was still in my 20s, or teen years I’d prefer to not relive ??. But I refuse to become old, to stand still as life passes me by. All too often I have seen someone refuse to adjust and become stagnant in their state of being. And that is when I see someone become “old”.


So today, I’m gonna celebrate that this is the anniversary of the day I entered this world but I’m not gonna get hung up on the number associated with it.


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Queen Elizabeth II and Other Rulers

 


By John I. Blair

Queen Elizabeth II has died after 96 years, 70 of them on the throne. Essentially she is the only British monarch I can remember well, even though I'm only 15 years younger than her. And she rather set the gold standard for the job I think. I had been hoping she would make it to 100 like her mother. At least she died at Balmoral, which was one of her favorite places.


Strikes me (as a history buff) that Great Britain has at one time or another ruled at least 25% of the world, including this country (or at least the eastern seaboard part). When I was a kid lots of world maps were still colored about half pink, representing the Commonwealth. That ended pretty soon afterward, but many of us remember it.


It also strikes me that the new king is now King Charles III -- first Charles since Charles II (1660-1685) who was fairly popular but ran into numerous snags in his 25-year reign -- possibly part of the reason for him being the last ruling Charles for more than 300 years. That and the fact that the family ruling Britain soon changed from the Stuarts to the House of Hanover.


Anyone who can keep straight the succession to the English throne during the later 1600s and early 1700s is a better scorekeeper than I am. During the 19th century of course Victoria ruled most of the time, but although her family continued to rule, they changed their name, first to "Saxe-Coburg & Gotha" and later to "Windsor" because of the anti-German feeling caused by WWI. And Windsor they remain.


Officially, however, the only eligible heirs to the throne have to be "legitimate Protestant descendants of Sophia of Hanover" (1630-1714), a granddaughter of James I (James VI of Scotland), who had succeeded Elizabeth I to the throne. So now you know!


Whatever their current family names the rulers of Great Britain are officially Scottish! Which is why they maintain two homes in Scotland, including Balmoral where the Queen died.


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Honey Dog Tales - Two

 

By Walt Perryman

By Honey Dog

Honey dog here again.

To all my canine friends, if you ever get a chance to go to your “Masters” High school reunion, do not do it!! Unless you are ready to laugh your dog’s rear plumb off. Every time a classmate comes around, he sucks it up, takes 20 pounds off him by holding it in (he thinks). Then his face turns red and he cannot talk just stands there and smiles. I bet his jaw was sore after the reunion going around holding that smile.


I did not know my master was doing so dang good! It is true he has traveled the world; he was in coach miserable as heck, always took the cheap ticket. Then he talks about the stock market, now, there is a tearjerker, I saw him wiping tears out of his eyes with that forced smile just a smiling. I did not hear him mention anything about that wore-out pickup truck he makes me ride in. I did not hear him mention anything about maybe going back to work.


What is he going to do, get him a pumping job, and make the rounds on his “Little Rascal”? Yep! Canine friends if you can, just go to a kennel instead. This is Honey Dog signing off.


I almost whipped a Blue Heeler

It was 5:12 pm, in the fall of 08, We pulled into, Luckenbach again. When I say we, I am talking about me and my master. My name is Honey, I am a dog, my master is a, well, he is a walking, talking, duct tape, bailing wire sort of a man and he is a poet, yea! A poet, a beer-drinking poet. He talks, and talks, and talks.


The parking lot was full, several bad-looking dogs and their masters and some bad-looking masters; I have to say, too. It is a rule out here for dogs to be on leashes, but not for me, I must keep my master on a leash, it was orders from headquarters, from the man, Virgil. We were walking to the bar when a blue heeler ran past me, unleashed. He barely missed me.


I went into action, with brute force I chased after the hound. I pulled my master over when I hit the end of the rope. He fell screaming something about his knees being ruined. The rope came out of his shaking hand and I continued the chase.


But the blue heeler was too fast for me, in my younger days I could have taken him, but the last few years with this master had gotten me bad out of shape. I had become like him, fat and slow. So, I gave up the chase, that was one lucky blue heeler. if I could have caught that sorry, piece of dog meat I would have clobbered him.


I went back to my whimpering master, he was getting off the ground muttering something like, “what happened”? Then he turned around and started his chanting again to some innocent-looking tourist at a table. Chanting for him is doing his poems, I have heard them so many times I can recite them myself. So, folks that was the day that I almost whipped a blue heeler.

* * * * *



(To Be Continued. See Me Next Issue.)
©2010 Honey Dog
with Secretarial Assistant and Master Walt Perryman


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Beloved Queen

 

By Lucy Hennessy

A life without Her,
We have never known.
For seventy years,
She had the throne.
A constant, amongst change,
Always there.
With love, devotion,
Unwavering care.
So beautiful and elegant,
Pure grace, all while.
The brightest of suits;
And the brightest of smiles.
The end of your reign,
In your home of Balmoral.
The world held still,
United in sorrow.
Flags at half-mast,
Of red, blue, and white.
You’re the brightest star
In the sky tonight.
Unlike any other,
Always the calm,
Rest well now, Queen,
And thank you, Ma’am.

©September 2022 Lucy Emily Hennessy


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Luckenbach Ambiance

 

By Walt Perryman

I have been going to Luckenbach for 20 years,
I have met many people and drank many beers.

I don’t drink as much beer here now, but I still go,
It is a special place to me, but why I do not know.

It is more than the music under the old live oaks,
And it’s more than the beer and listening to jokes.

Luckenbach has an ambiance that I can’t explain,
I’ve tried to describe it before, but it was in vain.

There is not much here but somehow less is more.
I know God is here, because he has told me before,

There is a lot of history here this is true,
And God was right here back then too.

We have Church every Sunday, but we have no steeple.
Our church is named, ‘Bad Days Are for Other People.’

So, folks, God is everywhere that he needs to be,
And right now, right here, God is with you and me.

©August 2022 Walt Perryman


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Your Reflection

Your reflection has sent me into a tailspin.
My recollection of how you used to hold my hand.
Your reflection in a photograph you took
My position hasn’t changed.
I still love you more than a hundred different ways.

Your reflection has shown up in all of my dreams.
For my protection, you have always protected me from extremes.
Your reflection remains mirrored in my heart.
My position hasn’t changed from the start.
I still love you more than a thousand different ways.

I wish I could just let this go.
I wish I could have so many years ago.

Your reflection has played havoc with my thoughts.
My reaction is not something I would have sought,
Your reflection in your reflective points of view.
My institution of loving you.
I still remember what we had in dozens of different ways.

Your reflection has sent me into a tailspin.
My recollection of you we used to look into each other’s eyes.
Your reflection like a shadow imprinted on my brain.
My positon hasn’t changed.
I still love you more than a million different ways.
I still love you more than I can ever say.

©9/7/2022 Bruce Clifford


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Life Comes First

 

By Bud Lemire

Life comes first, and then the enjoyment of all things in life
You can't enjoy the special moments, battling all the strife
When things get in the way, like rocks on the road
Think about the good times, when everything flowed

When your health is deteriorating, and your only friend is fear
Enjoy every moment, of the precious time that you have here
Don't take things for granted, there's a reason for each
Before the end comes, hold out your hands and reach

Reach for the music, that you love to hear
Let it be the joy, that tantalizes your ear
Reach for the book or DVD, that takes you away
To a faraway land, where you can spend every day

Visit a place, beautiful with nature's gift there
You can find it, if you look, almost anywhere
Visit with close friends, the company is great
It can put your mind, into a wondrous state

Don't let your life, slip through each finger
Moments don't last, nor does it linger
Even when you think life is at its worst
Enjoy all the things around you, because Life Comes First

©Sept. 14, 2022 Bud Lemire

                           Author Note:

Before you do anything, think about it. Choose your time
wisely. Life goes by in a blink of an eye. Be with the one
you love. Be with the one you enjoy. Enjoy nature, a place
that brings you peace and joy. Find yourself, and know
yourself. Surround yourself with close friends. True friends.
Do the things that make you the happiest. Don't worry about
the little things. Life is the big things. Don't forget to keep in
touch with family. Because that is a big part of life itself. Be
worthy of all you have become. Be proud, be true to yourself.
In time as it passes, Life Comes First. Choose life..


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Good Morning, Texas

 

By Walt Perryman

Texas is a big state, this is true,
But a true Texan’s heart is too.

We probably brag too much, no doubt,
But, we have something to brag about.

Some people say that we’re too loud,
That’s probably caused by being proud.

O.K. maybe we talk louder than we should,
If I knew how to ‘write’ this ‘louder’, I would.

“Good morning Texas” is all I meant to say,
I reckon I just had to say it in a Texas way.

©September 2022 Walt Perryman


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Mackinac Island

 

By Bud Lemire

I took a trip to Mackinac Island, near the end of September
With friends by my side, it was a day I'll always remember
On a Gold Star Tours bus, Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents were there
Across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and St. Ignace is where

We took the Shepler's Ferry, to the island on this day
We went by the Mackinac Bridge, raindrops all the way
I got some pictures through the windows, oh what a ride
From Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, with the Ferry as our guide

Upon docking, we were led to a place where we would eat
Mary's Bistro, as we watched the horses trot by on Main Street
Inside I sat at a table, and there I made a new friend
Appetizers kept coming, I thought they'd never end

My friend tagged along, as we went to May's for some fudge
It rained on and off this day, and there was only horse sludge
Then we searched for the place, that would pinch our penny
It was hard to find, because the stores there were so many

We got our pennies pinched into the Mackinac Bridge, it was neat
Then my friend got sick, and she had to stay off her feet
I walked around, taking pictures of course
On every street I walked down, there was a horse

Marquette Park, outside the Fort, and a shop to buy a shirt
I had way too many shirts already, but one more couldn't hurt
It was time to catch the Ferry to St. Ignace, and head on home
I sure had a great time, but I'm glad I didn't do this alone
Some weekend in the future, on a warm summer day
I'll go back to the Island, for a day or two I'll stay

©Sept. 28, 2022 Bud Lemire

                           Author Note:

I didn't know going to Mackinac Island was on my Bucket List,
because I didn't have a Bucket. But when it was offered to go,
I had a Bucket and a List. Even though we didn't have much
time there, to do everything I wanted to, it just means I need
to go back and do some more. It's a great place to visit.
I am so glad I went!.


 

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How to Love--a Re-done, Re-minder

  

By Walt Perryman

We spend our life trying to love and be happy,
Dogs know how to do this as a little puppy.

A puppy loves you right from the very start,
Then it loves you for life with all of its heart.

Dogs can show love by wagging their tails.
Often we do not show our love and it fails.

Dogs may not live for as long as me and you,
But, they give more love in less time too.

We can learn a lot from our dogs about living,
Like unconditional love and a lifetime of giving.

Dogs may be dumb but their love is so true,
I guess we are too smart to love like they do.

Had you rather be dumb with a happy heart
Or be unhappy because you’re too smart?

A hug, a smile, and the words. “I love you”,
Might not be such a dumb thing to do!!

©Sep 2021 Walt Perryman


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The Steel Box

  

By SusanD Dimitrakopoulos

Well, the name’s worn off
and the steel box has turned rusty.
It sits on a post, on a road
no longer dusty ….

It was turned round and round for many years,
holding letters of joy, sadness and tears.
Standing proudly through rain, ice and snow,
a sign of letters to come and letters to go

. The milk stand served as a gossip bench,
while a lemonade, their thirst would quench.
The wind would play with the weather vane
and often bring echoes of a distant train.

You harvesters of the fields recall,
the white flag waving high on a pole.
Noon-day supper was hot on the table,
to all who were hungry, ready and able.

Well, the name’s worn off
and the steel box has turned rusty
. It sits on a post, on a road
no longer dusty ….

© 1978 Susan Dimitrakopoulos


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Silver Course Loop

The Silver Course Loop is something that is up for sale.
I’ve sailed around this earth, but I’ve won and failed.
The banter and the hoop is all I’ve got for now.
Making sense of gravity is a force somehow.

The Silver Course Loop was a dream you had.
It wasn’t what you thought so you changed the plan.
The moments that you treasure are the heart in you,
Making sense of humanity in your point of view.

I ran to the station,
I had a realization.
A total recollection.
Like living in a dream.

I danced around the moonlight.
I gathered dust at first sight.
I remembered how you tried to kiss me.
It was real, it was not a dream.

The Silver Course Loop is something that is up for sale.
I’ve sailed around this earth, but I’ve won and failed.
The banter and the hoop is all I’ve got for now.
Making sense of gravity is a force somehow

. I ran in to the bedroom
. I had a feeling come through.
A moment of reality.
Like seeing what was real.

I expanded a force within me.
I didn’t know if you could reach me.
I have no idea if you remembered,
We saved the revered treasures.

The Silver Course Loops was a fail.
You panicked but you are used to the betrayal..
The banter and the hoop is all I’ve got for now.
Making sense of gravity is a force somehow.

I still love you more than a half a million ways.
I still love you until my final days.

©9/9/2022 Bruce Clifford


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Rainbow Hair

 

By Bud Lemire

I looked at hair, many different colors were seen
Some so bright, and I saw many shades of green
As I looked, I saw on top of their head
A beautiful shade, of the color red

Purple hair, can sure look nice
“The right shade” is my advice
Then there is orange, with such an appeal
Colorful hair, can almost seem so unreal

Have you ever seen someone, with hair of bright blue?
I often wonder, what color would you choose to do?
Yellow is a color, yet it reminds me of yarn
It's all in what you like, it doesn't do any harm

Ever since I've seen hair colored, and it's only fair
I always thought, I should have rainbow hair
Rainbows are lucky, I like all colors I see
It seems only natural, that it would be for me

I'd have all the colors, all across my head
Just think how I'd look, when I go to bed
It's fun to think of the colors, that could be in your hair
I think about rainbows, because they take me everywhere

©Sept. 05, 2022 Bud Lemire

                            Author Note:

As I see more people with colored hair, I asked if there is
a meaning to each color they choose. They often tell me
that is all about what they feel like having the color.
Something new to try out to see how it looks on them.
Some shades of colors don't really look good on people.
Yet other times some look pretty good. I see a lot of
colorful people, well, at least their hair is. else.


  

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The Past and Prizes

  

By Walt Perryman

I have been around a long time, it is safe to say,
And I have made many friends along the way!

There is some good and bad getting as old as me,
There is not much in this world like it used to be!

I have had many loved ones to die along the way.
I often wonder why the Lord has allowed me to stay.

Each morning when the sun begins its morning rise,
I realize I am blessed with another Heavenly prize.

Instead of living in yesterday, I will enjoy and relax.
And I shall live my today’s Heavenly prize to the max.

I did not write this to make anyone sad in any way,
I wrote it to help you to not waste your prize today.

©May 2022 Walt Perryman 


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Enough Of Me

By Bruce Clifford

There’s not enough of me to go around.
There’s not enough of you in my life.
Will I ever know what really went down?
All I ever wanted for you was to be safe and sound.

When you told me some things in life are “hard to shake off”.
Then you told me “painting is my true passion” I felt so lost.
I know it’s because you never shared with me the cause.
All I ever wanted for you was to never pay the cost.

There’s not enough of me to try to explain.
There’s not enough of you to figure this out
All the endless missing pieces, heartache and pain.
Do we have the chance to find the way?

When you told me “I’m finally independent”
Then you told me “be safe, be well”
I don’t know if it’s because you understand me.
I wish I was there to hold you when you fell.

There’s not enough of me to go around.
There’s not enough of you in my life.
Will I ever know what really went down?
All I ever wanted for you was to be safe and sound.

© 9/2/2022 Bruce Clifford


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