Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day

As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died. 

Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. 

There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. 

But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on.

© 2001 Ali M., 3rd Grader, Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.

Funny Friday

An elderly lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her car. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at them at the top of her voice, "I have a gun and I know how to use it!

Get out of the car you dirty rotten scoundrels!"

The four men didn't wait for a second invitation but got out and ran like mad, whereupon the lady, somewhat shaken, proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat.

She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried and then it dawned on her why. A few minutes later she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into her car and drove to the police station.

The sergeant to whom she told the story nearly tore himself in two with laughter and pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale white males were reporting a car jacking by a mad elderly woman described as white, less than 5' tall, glasses, and curly white hair carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.
(True story!)

World MS Day

The theme this year is Multiple Sclerosis and work. Too many people with MS have to leave their jobs or retire early, when small changes to their workplace or working conditions could enable them to keep working longer.

Have you signed the World MS Day petition yet?  If not, please add your voice to our call for employers and others around the world to remove the barriers which prevent people with chronic fluctuating diseases like MS from accessing work.

Thank you!

My Chris, My Hero

My only nephew,Chris (the son of my only sibling), passed away one year ago (at age 33) from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. We were extremely close and he was more like a son to me. I never had children but I could not have loved my own more than I did him.

My Chris was an exceptional person. He was sweet, kind, generous, loving, and compassionate. He was sensitive and thoughtful and always went out of his way not to hurt anybody's feelings.

Physically, Chris grew up to be a handsome man. He had a smile that could light up the corners of the darkest heart. His dimples ensured that women asked him out wherever he went. He was active and always had been. As a boy, he never saw a puddle that he didn't jump in or a creek that he didn't ride his bike through. He wore out a lot of bike tires and a lot of shoes.

Chris loved to tease everybody. My parents couldn't find him once when he was about 6. They went outside and called and searched everywhere. Just as they were about to get in the car to go look for him Chris yelled to them from the top of their garage. He had happily been watching them search. Nobody could ever be mad about his antics because he was so sweet.

Chris grew into a wonderful man who loved life and lived it to the fullest. He found a wife, a good job, married, and had two children. You never saw a better father. He was very proud of his children and would often call me asking me to come by and see them. Chris had been diagnosed with MS before he married but it gradually worsened to the point where he could no longer hold a job. Even though he could and did draw disability his wife pressured him to work. When she finally realized that he'd never work again and support her she left him and both children behind.

I won't go into details but Chris was not able to care for his children so his older sister adopted them. It was probably the hardest thing he'd ever done when he had to give up his parental rights. He still spent time with them and they would spend nights with him but losing custody broke his heart. He was eventually able to understand that he did what was best for his children.

Chris eventually ended up in a nursing home. That was a pain in my Soul that I can't describe but Chris made friends and everybody loved him. He flirted with the nurses and loved it when his kids visited. This continued until the day he ended up in the hospital where he had the most wonderful Dr. you can imagine. Even though he worsened every day Chris never lost his love of life.

Chris, I can finally celebrate your life after a year of horrendous pain. I love you as much today as ever. I celebrate your love, your being a father, your friendship and kindness, and your desire always to make people happy. I celebrate every moment God allowed me to have with you, every hug, every kiss, every diaper I changed, every Mountain Dew we shared. I miss you with every breath I take.

Chris, I celebrate you because you're my Hero. You never stopped smiling through the pain, you never complained, you never felt sorry for yourself. I wish I could say the same about myself but you took the best part of me with you.

I only survive the days because I know I'll see you again one day. Even now you remain my love, my life, the best part of me. You made me be a better person and there are no words for that.

Lucky Penny Day

Margie: Edna and I used to take our pennies to the store and buy penny candy. Times sure have changed since then. Nothing costs just a penny anymore.

Superstition has it that you should only pick up a penny that is lying face up.
Tell that to Edna. She'll pick up any penny.

Edna? I hear there are pennies laying on the railroad track. Want to go see?

Funny Friday

A man goes into a bar with his dog. He goes up to the bar and asks for a drink.

    The bartender says "You can't bring that dog in here!" The guy, without missing a beat, says "This is my seeing-eye dog."

 


    "Oh man,” the bartender says, "I'm sorry, here, the first one's on me." The man takes his drink and goes to a table near the door.

    Another guy walks into the bar with a Chihuahua. The first guys sees him, stops him and says "You can't bring that dog in here unless you tell him it's a seeing-eye dog."

    The second man graciously thanks the first man and continues to the bar. He asks for a drink. The bartender says "Hey, you can't bring that dog in here!"

    The second man replies "This is my seeing-eye dog." The bartender says, "No, I don't think so. They do not have Chihuahuas as seeing-eye dogs."

    The man pauses for a half-second and replies "What??! They gave me a Chihuahua??!"

No Dirty Dishes Day

Margie: Edna, the objective of this day is to have no dirty dishes. It is not intended to pile them up until tomorrow. Therefore, you'll be eating all your meals somewhere else today.

Older Americans Month

Margie: In honor of Older Americans Month here's a picture of Edna and her boyfriend. This goes to show that older people know how to have fun too.

International Day of Compassion

Margie: Edna, I want to share this definition of compassion with you and our friends.

Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

I thought about what compassion means to me and it means that I not only feel the pain of people I love but I would gladly suffer that pain for them.

It means getting a dog or cat from a shelter and giving them a good home.

It also means treating an elder like I was treated at Wal-Mart last night. A sweet young man ran around the store getting items for me because I got plumb tuckered out.

Plus, Edna, compassion is what I gave that young man by hugging him & kissing his cheek. I knew he wanted me to do that.

What does compassion mean to you, sister?

Edna:  Margie, with the world the way it is today, I think that little acts of compassion can go a very long way.  Compassion doesn't have to be a large-scale gesture to be effective.  It can be a smile from a stranger, a simple kindness, a helping hand where one wasn't expected, or someone who sees you're in pain and they offer to help.  Compassion is something that takes you outside of yourself and into the heart of someone else.  There's too little of it in the world today, but you can surely find it if you look hard enough.

Margie: I didn't know she had that in her.


On May 15, 2011 Bloggers and other social media participants will blog about the importance of Compassion.

Funny Friday

Tom, Dick and Harry went to a party. After the party they returned to the hotel. The hotel was 600 stories high.

Unfortunately for them, the elevator was not working. They made a plan for the first 200 stories, Tom will crack jokes.

The second 200 stories Dick will tell a happy story and lastly Harry will tell a sad story.They then started up the steps

After 2 hours it was Harry's turn. He turned to the other two and said "Ok guys, here's my sad story. I forgot the keys downstairs."


Margie: Sounds just like something Edna would do.

National Nursing Home Week

Margie: Edna and I would like to encourage everyone to participate in National Nursing Home Week. It won't cost a dime and you'll feel better by simply visiting a nursing home patient. You don't have to know them and they don't have to be a relative or friend. It will only take a few minutes of your time.

Be sure to thank the staff also. They do a wonderful job and they're overworked and underpaid.

Edna:  And don't forget to smile, you know all those old folks would love to see a cheerful face. Even Margie tries her best to look sweet and kind when she goes visiting at the nursing home.  If that sourpuss can do it, so can you!    

The Quack Doctor

Margie: Edna, I found a new blog that you're going to love! It's called The Quack Doctor which reminds me of all those quacks you've gone to over the years. You've had more ailments than I've had gentlemen friends.

The blog is described as "a collection of panacean powders, pills, potions, procedures and pamphlets, as advertised in historical newspapers."




Here's one of my favorite posts.

National Pet Week

May 1st through May 7th is National Pet Week, which is intended to "promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine."

Pets bring so much joy into so many lives.  If you own a pet, take a moment to hug them and pamper them, they deserve it!  If you don't own one, consider adopting a pet from a local shelter. 

For more information:

National Pet week on facebook
Official National Pet Week website, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association
The Animal Rescue Site

Meals for Moms

Help send a meal to a Hungry Mom for Mother's Day!

Help the Meals On Wheels Association of America feed seniors in need across the country.

It costs just $7 to deliver a nourishing meal to a homebound Mom—and it’s a great way to honor or remember your Mom this Mother’s Day!

For more information and how to donate, go here.