Monday, January 29, 2007

Gift of Friendship.

Post 127 - - - - - - - Monday, 29th January, 2007.

Hi Everyone ~~ I hope you have all had a great day and all is well at your place.
I had a lovely surprise today in the form of a visit from a friend from many years ago.
She went to school with my youngest daughter, Kathy, and in those days I used to
clean a High School at Nathalia. Well when Sherrill and Kathy were in their teens,
they used to sweep some of the classrooms for me. I would take them drinks and eats after school and we three would work. Remember Sherrill ? It was lovely to see you today and I hope you had a lovely lunch with your parents.

Now what to post tonight - - - - A nice one, again from Linda- - Thank you.

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone
bring home all his books on a Friday? He must be a nerd."
I had a quiet qweekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running towards him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him.

So I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks .. .... They should get lives." He looked
at me and said, "Hey thanks !" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked where he lived. As it turned out, he lived
near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to a
private school before now... I've never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty good kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends and he said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you're gonna build
some serious muscles with this pile of books." He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke.
I knew we would always be friends and that the miles would never be a problem.
He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.

Graduation Day, I saw Kyle .....he looked great. He was one of those guys that really
found himself during high schoo. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had, and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days ......

I could see he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said,
"Hey, big guy, you'll be great !" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really
grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat and began .....

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through the tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach ... but mostly
your friends... I am here to tell all of you .....that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I'm going to tell you a story ...."

(I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met....
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later, and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.)

"Thankfully, I was saved ... My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

(I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw is Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth).


Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life ...
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way . . .
Look for God in others.

Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering
how to fly.

There is no beginning or end....

Yesterday is history...
Tomorrow is a mystery...
Today is a gift... That's why they call it the "present."


I hope you enjoyed that story --- now for jokes - - -
The first one I have borrowed from Tim The Ramblin' Irishman. Thanks Tim.

3 Women in Mexico.
Three women go down to Mexico one night to celebrate college graduation, get drunk, and wake up in jail, only to find that they are to be executed in the morning, though none of them can remember what they did the night before.

The first one, a redhead, is strapped in the electric chair, and is asked if she has any last words. She says, "I just graduated from Brigham Young University and believe
in the almighty power of God to intervene on behalf of the innocent."

They threw the switch and nothing happens. They all immediately prostrate them-
selves; beg for her forgiveness, and release her.

The second one, a brunette, is strapped in and gives her last words, "I just graduated
from the Harvard School of Law and I believe in the power of justice to intervene
on the part of the innocent."

They throw the switch, and again, nothing happens. Again they immediately
prostrate themselves; beg for her forgiveness, and release her.

The last one, a blonde, is strapped in and says, " Well, I'm from the University of
Michigan and just graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and I'll tell you
right now, y'll ain't gonna electrocute nobody if you don't plug this thing in.
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A man who was chosen for jury duty wanted very much to be dismissed from serving.
He tried just about every excuse he could come up with, but nothing worked.

On the day of the trial, he decided to give it one more try. Just as the trial was about to begin, he asked if he could approach the bench.

"Your Honor," he said, "I feel I must be excused from this trial since I am prejudiced
against the defendant. I took one look at the man in the blue suit with those sneaky,
beady eyes and that dishonest face and I said, "He's a crook ! Guilty ! Guilty! Guilty!"
Therefore Your Honor, I could not possibly remain on this jusry."

Glaring at him, the Judge replied, " Get yourself back in the jury box. That man is
his lawyer."
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Prosecutor : What were you doing on July, 15th at 9 o'clock in the evening ?
Prisoner : I was eating hamburger.
Prosecutor : What were you doing at 9.30 pm?
Prisoner : I was taking a bicarbonate of soda.
Prosecutor : Do you expect us to believe you?
Prisoner : You would if you had eaten one of those hamburgers.
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A few stupid questions with smart answers.

Boy : May I hold your hand?
Girl : No thanks, it isn't heavy.

Girl : Say you love me ! Say you love me !
Boy : You love me.

Girl : If we become engaged, will you give me a ring?
Boy : Sure, what's your phone number?

Girl : I think the poorest people are the happiest.
Boy : Then marry me and we will be the happiest couple.

Girl : Darling, I want to dance like this forever.
Boy : Don't you ever want to improve ??

Boy : I love you and I could die for you.
Girl : How soon ?

Boy : I would go to the end of the world for you.
Girl : Yes, but would you stay there ?

Sharon : Have you ever had a hot passionate, burning kiss?
Tracy : I did once, He'd forgotten to take the cigarette out of his mouth.

Man : You remind me of the sea.
Woman : Because I'm wild, romantic and exciting?
Man : NO, because you make me sick.

Wife : You tell a man something, it goes in one ear and comes out the other.
Husband : You tell a woman something; it goes in both ears and comes out of the mouth.
There are more, but that is enough for tonight. Just a couple of quotes - - -

A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project.
- - - Abigail van Buren.

Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we are right, make us easy to live with. - - - Rev. Peter Marshall.

Bye for now my friends. Enjoy the week ahead. Be kind to each other. Cheers, Merle.

Post 127. - - - - - Monday, 29th January, 2007.
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17 comments:

Jeanette said...

Dear Merle
love the story Linda sent you.Never under estimate the power of your actions.
had a Giggle at the jokes especially the one you borrowed from Tim.May I hold your hand. take care (((Hugs)))Jan

JunieRose2005 said...

:) loved all the jokes as usual!

Especially like the blonde joke!!


And those Smart answers were all good!

June

Gattina said...

I also had a nice weekend, our son came with his fiancee from Amsterdam (Holland) and they told us about their holidays in Laos and Vietnam. Very interesting.

Carole Burant said...

Dearest Merle...how wonderful to have that surprise visit:-) Those are sometimes the best ones to have! Loved the story Linda sent you...it's so true, even a small action on your part can change someone's life. Loved the jokes and quotes...I'll have to remember some of those smart sayings! lol It was -35C here this morning, the coldest it's been so far this winter...I've been staying inside where it's nice and warm:-) Take care dear friend! Hugs xoxo

mreddie said...

It is so good to have friends of long ago drop in for a visit. Sharing the memories back and forth is a good part of being alive. ec

Anonymous said...

Love the 3 women in Mexico joke...You always make me laugh.

Thanks for stopping by and wishing me a Happy Birthday.

Take care,
Connie

Jim said...

Hi Merle -- those were good! I hope you don't mind my I'm sending the blonde joke to my sister and the recomendation letter one to my son-in-law, Billy.

You sure are hard on lawyers, but it is kind of right. Those stories give you an idea why I didn't practice. I tell people that if I did I could be rich from taking little old ladies (LOLs) houses away for legal fees.
Anyway, I enjoyed teaching those 22 years.
..

Unknown said...

To me it is a wonderful blessing whenever I encounter someone from my past. I’m glad you had that experience, Merle.

Lee said...

Thanks for the smiles and words of wisdom, Merle. I hope you had a nice day today...it's still very humid up here...I hope a storm comes later.

Gattina said...

Thank you for your comment, and that's why I am back to defend my poor son. For once Melli is not right ! There are also other men. Mr. Gattino was and still is worse then an old chicken mother. He got up X time during night to check if the baby was still alive, and during weekends it was him who got up 4 times to feed him ! He got on my nerves, lol ! and my son is the same, he loves babies and I am sure he will do the same. Already now when he can get hold of a baby he jumps on the occasion, lol !

Puss-in-Boots said...

What a lovely surprise for you, Merle. It's always great to catch up with old friends.

I had read the story Linda sent you before, but that doesn't make it any less real.

Enjoyed the joke about the three girls in Mexico.

We're supposed to be getting a storm later...much later, I think.

Have a nice evening.

Hugs oxox

audrey` said...

Hi Merle

There is a little surprise for you on my blog.
HeHeHe!

Take care =)

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Surprise visits are always lots of fun.
Hope you have a wonderful week.
Take care, Meow

Gwen said...

Hi Merle..
Once again I loved jokes,how is that market going down there?
Jan and I are going to shep to see what they have done.
Stay Well xxx

Hootin Anni said...

Hi Merle....

As always - tons of fun and good wisdom found here. I so enjoy dropping by from time to time.

Loved the story about the high school valedictorian. Made me weep.

And the jokes? The old man with the wedding cake is a hoot.

And the information on Charles/pope is astounding!!!

Raggedy said...

Woooooooohoooooooo on the visit from Sherrill! I am sure that made your day.
Wonderful post.
Cheers!
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from
the Cool Raggedy one
Take care dear friend
Love, Raggedy

Anonymous said...

Hey dear...lovely post...I enjoyed the entire thing and its really glad on my part to know that u r happy with life..best wishes :)