Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Rain From Nowhere.

Post   176  - - - - - Tuesday,  27 th  March, 2007.
 
Hello  My Friends ~~ Nice to visit with you again. I am very
anxiously waiting to hear a word from Peter after his eye surgery.
I do hope it went well and guess he will have some pain etc.
GOOD  NEWS --Peter rang about 8 pm. Had been home awhile and
 had a sleep, and is OK. Said it feels like a handful of sand in his eye,
 but it is over and he will feel better soon.
 
First tonight is a poem sent to me by my good friend
Robyn and it was also printed in the Shepparton News.
 
We have had an inch of rain last week but the drought 
is far from over, and is the worst we have ever had and
it is country wide.
 
This is a poem written by a real farmer ( in Australia) to
highlight the seriousness of the depression they are suffering
out there.Get your tissues
out - it's really beautiful.
 
RAIN FROM NOWHERE 
 
His cattle didn't get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn't feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month's talk of rain was just a fairytale,
 
 
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what's owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road
"Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
"Now I'm such a useless bastard, I'll have to shut the gate.
 
 
"Can't support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
"Even Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war."
With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There's no place in life for failures, he'd end it all tonight.
 
 
There were still some things to do, he'd have to shoot the cattle
first,Of all the jobs he'd ever done, that would be the worst.
He'd have a shower, watch the news, then they'd all sit down for
teaRead his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
 
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he'd blow away the blues.
But he drove in the gate and stopped - as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox - and found a letter from his Dad.
 
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the style from the notebooks that he used at cattle
sales,
He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.
 
"Son, I know it's bloody tough, it's a cruel and twisted game,
"This life upon the land when you're screaming out for rain,
"There's no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
"But don't let the demon get you, you have to do what's right,
 
 
"I don't know what's in your head but push the bad thoughts well
away
"See, you'll always have your family at the back end of the day
"You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
"But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
 
 
"I'm worried about you son, you haven't rung for quite a while,
"I know the road you're on 'cause I've walked every mile.
"The date? December 7 back in 1983,
"Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.
 
 
"See, I'd borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
"Then it didn't rain for years and we got bombed by interest
rates,
You said 'Where are you Daddy? It's time to play our game'
"' I've got Squatter all set up, you might get General Rain.'
 
"It really was that close, you're the one that stopped me son,
"And you're the one that taught me there's no answer in a gun.
"Just remember people love you, good friends won't let you down.
"Look, you might have to swallow pride and get a job in town,
 
 
"Just 'til things come good, son, you've always got a choice
"And when you get this letter ring me, 'cause I'd love to hear
your voice."
Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck
in gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
 
 
 
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales
of hay.
Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head
held high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.
 
He called for his wife and children, who'd lived through all his
pain,
Hugs said more than words - he'd come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
 
 
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of
rain.
Murray  Hartin
February 21, 2007
Muzza (Murray Hartin) has been asked to pen something for the
Salvation
Army that can bring awareness to the general public
about Rural suicide.
He was born in Moree, New South Wales and brought up in
northern N. S. W.
<><><> 
 
Throughout the centuries, mothers have given their children plenty of
good advice and notable quotes.
 
PAUL  REVERE’S  MOTHER: “I don’t care where you think you have to go,
young man. Midnight is your curfew”.
 
MARY,  MARY, QUITE  CONTRARY’S  MOTHER:  “I don’t mind you having a
garden, Mary, but does it have to be growing under your bed?”
 
MONA  LISA’S  MOTHER: “After all that money your father and I spent on
braces, Mona, yhat’s the biggest smile you can give us?”
 
HUMPTY  DUMPTY’S  MOTHER:  “Humpty, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you
a hundred times not to sit on that wall. But would you listen to me? Noooo!!”
 
COLUMBUS’  Mother: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered, Christopher.
You still could have written !”
 
BABE  RUTH’s  MOTHER: “Babe, how many times have I told you – quit
playing ball in the house. That’s the third broken window this week !”
 
MICHELANGELO’s  MOTHER: “Mike, can’t you paint on walls like the other
children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?”
 
NAPOLEON’S  MOTHER: “All right, Napoleon.  If you aren’t holding your
report card inside your jacket, then take your hand out and prove it !!”
 
CUSTER’S  MOTHER: :Now, George, remember what I told you  -- don’t go
biting off more than you can chew !”
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S MOTHER: “Again with the stovepipe hat, Abe?
Can’t you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?”
 
BATMAN’S  MOTHER: “It’s a nice car Bruce, but do you realize how much
the insurance will be ?”
 
BARNEY’S  MOTHER: “I realize strained plums are your favorite, Barney,
but you’re starting to look a little purple.”
 
MARY’S  MOTHER: “I’m not upset that your lamb followed you to school,
Mary, but I would like to know how he got better grades than you.”
 
GOLDILOCKS’  MOTHER;  ‘I’ve got a bill here for a busted chair from
the Bear family. You know anything about this, Goldie ?”
 
LITTLE  MISS  MUFFET’S MOTHER: “Well, all I’ve got to say is if you don’t
get off your tuffet and start cleanng your room, there’ll be a lot more spiders
around here !”
 
ALBERT  EINSTEIN’S MOTHER: “But, Albert, it’ your senior picture. Can’t you
do something about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something..?”
 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON’S MOTHER: “The next time I catch you throwing
money across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance goodbye.”
 
JONAH’S MOTHER: “That’s a nice story, but now tell me where you’ve
really been for the last three days.”
 
SUPERMAN’S MOTHER:  “Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we’ve
decided you can have your own telephone line. Now will you quit spending so
much time in all those phone booths ?”
 
THOMAS EDISON’S MOTHER: “Of course I’m proud that you invented
the electric light bulb, Thomas.  Now turn off that light and get to bed.”
<><><>
 
This next one was sent by my friend  Warren   Thank you, I think !!
 
“True”   Friendship,  None of that Sissy crap.
 
Are you tired of those sissy  “friendship” poems that always sound good,
but never actually come close to reality ?
 
Well here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
 
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card –
just the stone cold truth of our grest friendship.
 
1.   When you are sad – - I will help you get drunk and plot revenge
against the sorry devil who made you sad.
 
2.   When you are blue – -I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
 
3.   When you smile –- I will know you finally got laid.
 
4.   When you are scared –- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
 
5.   When you are worried –- I will tell you horrible stories about how           
much worse it could be until you quit whining.
 6.   When you are confused - - I will use little words.
 7.   When you are sick - - Stay the hell away from me until you are well      
again. I don’t want whatever you ave.
 8.   When you fall – I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.
 9.   This is my oath . . . . I pledge it to the end.
  “Why?” you may ask;   Because you are my friend.”
<><><><>
  
HOW  TO  IMPRESS  A  WOMAN - - 
Compliment her
Cuddle her,
 Kiss her
Caress her
Love her
Stroke her
Tease her
Comfort her
Protect her
Hug her
Hold her
Spend money on her
Wine and dine her
Buy things for her
Listen to her
Care for her
Stand by her
Support her
Buy flowers for her
Go to the ends of the earth for her. 
 
HOW  TO  IMPRESS  A  MAN - - -
 
Show up naked
Bring beer
<><><>
 
Worry is like a rocking chair.  It will give you somethig to do, but it
won’t get you anywhere. - - - United Church Observer.
 
Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps
they should live next door and just visit now and then.
- - - -  Katharine Hepburn.
 
One form of lonliness is to have a memory and no one to share it with.
- - - -  Phyllis  Rose.
 
If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things 
you say about them to others.  - - -  Haim  Ginott.
 
Bye for now my friends, Take care and be happy. Love to all, Merle.
 
Post   176  - - - - -  Tuesday,  27 th  March,  2007.
<><><><>

5 comments:

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear Merle:-) I'm finally back online after my internet being down for the last 24 hours! Aarrrggghhhh! They said they've been doing upgrades so it better have been worth it! lol I'm so glad to hear that Peter's eye surgery went well!! I had my right eye operated on when I was 8 years old and I remember that "sand in your eye" feeling! Not very pleasant at all. Loved everything you shared with us again today...that Rain From Nowhere story certainly did have me reaching for the tissues!! Take care my friend! xoxo

The Ramblin Irishman said...

Hi Merle,
I am back, temporarily, and your blog is sooooo funny. I really liked the Mother's advice to their children. However the one I liked the most was about how to please a women followed up with such sage advice on how to please a man. Got my vote. Have a nice day.

Susie said...

Hi Merle, The "Rain From Nowhere" was so moving. Wish I could send you some of the rain we had yesterday...
Today, it's sunny, bright and very breezy!!
xoxo

Leann said...

yours is the only blog where you can come and laugh and cry all at once.
I enjoyed the poem it was so cool.I know how that poor guy felt.
my Dad and grandpa and his Dad before him were farmers.its a hard life.and the govement makes it no easyer.

God bless you friend glad the rain came. and hope you get some more.
hope all goes well with the one who had the eye operation.

audrey` said...

"How to impress a woman" is so true =)
HeHe!