For many years
I sat on the shelf,
Sometimes full and pretty
If I say it myself.
My colors are yellow and blue
I like my colors, do you?
Once I was full
Of daisies so white,
And many times roses
Gave me delight.
Autumn mums
Of various hues
Looked very special
In me, it’s true.
But alas, I no longer
Sit on the shelf.
It makes me so sad,
But it’s true.
That cat knocked me over
And I’m very broken.
Now you’ve heard my story,
So beware, other vases,
If there’s a cat
In your house,
Just hope he’ll be content
With chasing a mouse.
–June Garman

It was a dark and stormy Christmas eve, and all of the reindeer were sick with hoof and mouth disease. Santa was in a bustle. (He was also …….., but that’s beside the point). How would he get presents to all the good little boys and girls – all ten of them? He tried rounding up cats, but that was as difficult as, well – rounding up cats. He tried wolves, but they were all on the street corner whistling as the girls went by. He thought of dogs, but they were dog-tired.

And then, a light bulb flashed in his head! Momentarily blinded by the light, Santa cried, “For Godssake, Rudolph stop taking my picture with that G.D. camera!” But Rudolph had given him

an ……….

“Quick”, he told his wife, “call Sydney!”

“Who’s Sidney”, asked Mrs. Claus.

“No, no, not the person, but Sidney the city. The one in Australia”.

“But where in Sidney?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How about the city zoo?”

So Mrs. Claus called the Sidney local zoo and handed the phone to her husband.

“Hello, Sidney Zoo? How many Koala bears do you have?”

“Oh, Criky, Mate, I don’t know. A couple of dozen I guess”.

“Well, round up a dozen of your best, and I’ll pick them up tonight.. I’ll make sure you get a good present under your Kangaroo, if you do.”

“OK, Mate, you got it. Just one question. How will I know which Koala to put out?”

Santa though for a minute. “Go to the …….bush trees and pick those who live in upper branches. Then put …….. on them.”

“OK. Whys that?”

“That way I’ll get highest Koala-trees”

“…….”

and that’s how all 10 children got their presents that year.

 

~Rick Wile

My best friend and I once wrote a poem in the month of November when we were teenagers.

It went something like this:

 

No-vember

No – leaves

No – sun

No – money

No – fun

No – parties

No – presents

No – dates

No – men

 

No-vember

“No” can be a positive direction in life. Such as, no looking back to ask what might have been. Say “no” to thoughts of blame or guilt. Affirm you will no longer fear change and that there is no limit to your capacity.

 

Use “No” to move forward

rather than limit yourself

 

~Phyllis

Herman is a nudist

He used to be a Buddhist

No one can compare to his tassels and hair

It’s said the best colonies are North of our border

less regulations and less order.

 

Now Herman has a home where he can freely roam

and see creatures in wild all around his home

From which Nancy and he would like to roam

Free as the air on skin that is bone

The touch of the wind soothes and refreshes his body bare.

 

It is said that in Canada the places are best

But when ever I think of him I say to myself

Herman is a nudist.

Wow! Never would I have imagined that so much pleasure could be had

by thinking of Herman’s naked body!

 

……………………………………………….

 

Let go

Let go and let God

Let go

Let go and let God

Let go and let God feel

Let go and let God feel your need and heal.

 

……………………………………………

 

Give me peace, give me love

Give me peace, give me love, give me hope

Give me peace, give me love, give me hope, give me joy

Give me peace, give me love, give me hope, give me joy

Give me hope eternal

Give me hope eternal

For it is hope that springs faith eternal

Eternal is forever.

…………………………………………..

 

My heart cries out

My heart cries out for you

My heart cries out for you

In your garden of flowers

I picture you among the daisies and tiger lilies

 

My heart cries out for you in your garden of flowers. I picture you among the daisies and tiger lilies with a white butterfly letting me know you are near.

 

………………………………………………….

 

I think I’d still resist even if it were Jesus himself washing my feet.

Jesus, I can’t let you wash my feet!

Jesus, I can’t let you wash my feet because I have sinned.

Jesus, I can’t let you wash my feet because I have sinned but it’s OK.

Jesus, I can’t let you wash my feet because I have sinned but it’s OK.

Jesus, say but the word and my sins will be forgiven.

 

………………………………………………….

 

How beautiful it is

How beautiful it is, the glorious sunset

How beautiful it is!

How beautiful it is, the glorious sunset.

How beautiful it is, the glorious sunset

The red crimson ball

Falling beyond the horizon

Like the three ball

In the corner pocket of the game.

 

………………………………………………..

 

I love reading

I love reading when the house is quiet

When the house is quiet

not even a child’s cry heard

I love reading when the house is quiet

not even a child’s cry is heard

just the creaking of a rocker

and my breath going in and out.

 

I love reading when the house is quiet

Not even a child’s cry is heard,

just the creaking of a rocker

and y breath going in and out

like my grandmother’s bellows.

It was a dark and stormy night but I had hope that the light would come out. After every storm there comes a calm. After every darkness comes the light. After every night comes the morning. Out of every joy comes a fear. Fear is part of being human. Fear can be conquered through love.

Love everybody. Every human has value. Every human carries a spirit and every spirit is beautiful. I am in darkness now. I am in a storm now, but I have to keep hope. Hope is what sustains. Hope is why we get out of bed in the morning. Hope is light. Don’t be afraid of a dark, stormy night because the sun will be shining soon!

~ Amy Tripp
(1970-2015)