Friday, August 29, 2008

One of the Best Stories.

Post 501 ~ ~ ~ Friday, 29th August, 2008.

Hello Everyone ~~ I hope all is well at your place. I am
fine and we have another lovely day. And my brother,
Peter has come to my aid ` AGAIN and told me how to
avoid the large spaces, so I am happy about that.

The photos today are of the Lilly-Pilly trees that surround
my home. My son Geoff cut a lot of branches down and
we have three filled bins of them and more to go next time.

The first picture was taken of the ones in my carport and shows the
purple berries up close. I have several purple patches to clean up
when they are all gone.


This large tree is nextdoor at the front, after trimming was done.



This one is out te back and they are huge trees, with millions of little
purple berries that drop and then grow little trees everywhere, which
have to be weeded. They grow everywhere. I hate them passionately.

My friend Barbara sent me the first story, which I have seen before
and probably posted, but it is worth another run. Thanks Barbara.

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day
of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers,
she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the
same. However that was impossible, because there in the front
row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed
that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes
were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition,
Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs.
Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with
a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big fat "F" at
the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to
review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until
last. However when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a
ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners . . .he
is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student,
well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his
mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teache wrote, "His mother's death has been hard
on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much
interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps are
not taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and
doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many
friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students
brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons
and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily
wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery
bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the
other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she
found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing,
and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she
stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty
the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume
on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day, just
long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just
like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that
very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid
particular attention to Teddy. As shw worked with him, his
mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him,
the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had
become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite
her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy
became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy,
telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his
whole life. Six years went by before she got another note
from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school,
third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever
had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that
while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school,
had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college
with the highest of honors. He assure Mrs. Thompson that
she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had
in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree,
he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that
she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now
his name was a little longer . . . Theodore F.Stoddard, MD.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was another letter
that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to
be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of
years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might
agree to sot at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved
for the mother of the groom. Of course Mrs. Thompson did.
And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several
rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing
the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on
their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in
Mrs Thompson's ear,
"Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you
so much for making me feel important and showing me
that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who
taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how
to teach until I met you."

(For those of you who don't know, Terry Stoddard is the Dr.
at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today . . .pass this along. I love the
story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to
make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow?
Just do it.

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it.

"Believe in Angels, then return the favour."
<><><>
Time for some jokes ~ but I hope you enjoyed the story.

My dear friend Margaret sent me the first lot. Thanks.

One day a man came home and was greeted by his wife
dressed in a very sexy nightie. "Tie me," she purred,
:and you can do anything you want."

So he tied her up and went golfing.
<><>

A woman came home, screeching her car into the drive-
way and ran into the house. She slammed the door and
shouted at the top of her lungs, "Honey, pack your bags.
I won the lottery."

The husband said, "Oh my God. What should I pack,
beach stuff or mountain stuff?

"Doesn't matter," she said, Just get out."
<><>

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always
right, and the other is a husband.
<><>

A Polish immigrant went to the RTA to apply for a
driver's license.

First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test. The
optician showed him a card with the letters:
"CZWIXNOSTACZ"
"Can you read this?" the optician asked.

"Read it? the Polish guy replied, "I know the guy."
<><>

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said
to them. " I must tell you that we have a case of
gonorrhea in the convent."

"Thank God," said an elderly nun at the back, "I'm so
tired of Chardonnay."
<><>

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her
husband. Suddenly, her husband burst in to the kitchen.
"Careful." he said, CAREFUL. Put in some more butter.
Oh my God. You're cooking too many at once.
TOO MANY. Turn them. TURN THEM NOW. We need
more butter. They're going to stick. Careful, CAREFUL."

I said Be careful. You never listen to me when you're
cooking. Bever. Turn rhem, Hurry, use the Salt.

The wife stared at him. "What in the world is wrong with
you? You yhink I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?

The husband calmly replied, " I just wanted to show you
what it feels like when I'm driving.""
<><>

Some Call Center conversations. from Lady Di.Thanks.

Customer : "I've been calling 700-1000 for two days and
can't get through. San you help?"

Operator : "Where did you get that number, Sir?"
Customer : "It's on the door of your business."
Operator : "Sir, those are the hours that we are open."
<><>

Samsung Electronics.
Caller : Can you gi
ve me the telephone number for Jack?"
Operator : "I'm sorry sir, I don't understand who you
are talking about."

Caller : "On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly
states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the
AC wall socket and Telephone Jack before cleaning. Now
can you give me the number for Jack?"

Operator : "I think it means the telephone plug on the wall."
<><>

RAC Motoring Services,
Caller : Doe your European Breakdown Policy cover
me when I am traveling in Australia?

Operator : "Does the product name give you a clue?"
<><>
Caller : (enquiring about legal requirements while traveling
in Europe)
"If I register my car in France, and then take it to England,
do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of
the car?"
<><>

Directory Enquiries.
Caller : I'd like the number of the Argo Fish Bar, please.
Operator : I'm sorry, there's no listimg. Are you sure that
the spelling is correct?"

Caller : Well it used to be the Bargo Fish Bar but the B
fell off.
<><>

Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company
in Woven.
Operator : "Woven> Are you sure?"

Caller : "Yes. That's what it says on the label ---
Woven in Scotland."
<><>

Tech Support : "I need you to right-click on the Open desktop.
Customer : "OK."
Tech Support : "Did you get a pop up menu?"
Customer : "No."
Tech Support : "OK. Right- Click again. Do you see a pop -up
menu ?"
Customer : "No."
Tech Support : OK sir. Can you tell me what you have done up
to this point?"

Customer : "Sure. You told me to write click and I wrote Click."
<><>

Tech Support : "OK. At the bottom left hand corner of your
screen, can you see the OK button displayed?"

Customer : "WOW. How can you see my screen from there?"
<><>

Caller : "I deleted a file from myPC last week and I just
realized that I need it. So if I turn mt system clock back
two weeks will I get my file back again ?"

There is another longer one , but I will post it another day.
<><>

Only the billionaire and his friend remained after all the
guests at his weekend party scurried off for the afternoon's

entertainment. The host answered the phone and slammed
down the receiver in disgust. "I have to go to town and I've
no way to get there."

"Sure you do," his friend reassured him. "Isn't that a
Cadillac convertible with the keys in it?"
"Yes, but that's my wife's car."
"So why can't you use it?"

"Are you kidding? The windows are ground to her
prescription."
<><>

"Las Vegas is loaded with all kinds of gambling devices,"
says Joey Adams. "Dice tables, slot machines, and
wedding chapels."
<><>

While at the pub, an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scot
each found a fly in his beer. The Englishman asked the
bartender for a napkin and a teaspoon. Elegantly scooping
the fly out, he placed it on the napkin and delicately folded it.

The Irishman pushed his sleeve up, immersed his hand in
the beer, caught the fly, threw it on the floor and stepped on it.

The Scot silently took his jacket off, draped it neatly over the
chair, folded his shirt sleeves up, and bent over his pint.
Carefully he fished out the fly out by picking it up by it's wings.
He lifted it just above the mug, shook the fly, and in a very
threatening voice bellowed, "Now spit it out."
<><>

"In times of trial," said the vicar to his congregation, "what
brings the greatest comfort?"

A small voice at the back piped up, "An acquittal."
<><>

A ninety year old man checked into a posh hotel to celebrate
his birthday. As a surprise, some friends sent a call girl to his
room. When the man opened the door he saw before him a
beautiful young woman. "I have a present for you," she said.

"Really?" replied the bewildered gent.
"I am here to give you super sex, she said in a whisper.

"Thanks," he said thoughtfully, " I'll take the soup."
<><>

Well that is enough for this post. I hope you all have
a wonderful weekend ahead. Take care of yourselves
and each other. Love and best wishes to you all.
Cheers, Merle.
<><><>


8 comments:

Dave said...

Merle, my daughter is a teacher and I'm going to send her that first story today... it really touched me!

Have a wonderful weekend...

Patty said...

Dear Merle, as usual some interesting items in your post. Especially the teacher story, I hope it is a true story. Makes you feel good all over to think that might have happened. I also see you got your problem solved. Going to my Mom's today for lunch, I know she's up right now making her delicious apricot pie. I'm taking some chicken along that she likes, plus several other items she likes but doesn't get too often. Have a great week-end. Your friend, Patty

Gigi Ann said...

G'day, Merle,

That was a very nice story about the teacher and her student...even if it is true or not it still alerts us to the fact that things aren't always as they appear. So sit back and take a second look see.

Enjoyed the jokes. They made my chuckle for the day;)

Merle, it is so nice that you have someone to help with the trimming of the trees. I know what you mean when you say you hate those little blue berries. We have a tree with little tiny leaves and when they fall to the ground they stick to our shoes and we track them all over the kitchen. What a mess they make. And I would think the blue berries make an even bigger mess.

Have a great week-end.

Ann

Lady Di Tn said...

Merle
Another good one. If we think hard we can always find that one teacher who made a difference in our lives. Thanks for sharing the call centers jokes. At least I hope they were jokes as I would hate to met the callers if they are not. Now you just have to love the Scottsman. LOL.
Peace and have a wonderful weekend.

Jeanette said...

Hi Dear Merle. Ohh those Lilly pilly trees are so messy dropping purple berries everywere, and leave a stain on concrete and grow like weeds in the garden. We had them next door in Melbourne..

Oh Merle nice Teachers story it torn at the heart strings. I dont think there as caring today..
Great jokes.. Hahaha the Ninety year old got me today.....

Weve just had a very light shower hope we get a bit more rain to follow..
take care heaters on going to watch a bit of the footy..Love Janxxxx

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Thanks so much for the teacher story, Merle, a real thought provoking tear jerker!

Puss-in-Boots said...

Yes, I've read about Teddy Stoddard before, but it's a story that makes one think about not judging a book by its cover.

I'm sick of Chardonnay...lol. That's a good one. So is supersex...

Thanks for the lovely story and the laughs, Merle. BTW, glad you got your lilly pillies under control. They can certainly get away on you.

Have a lovely week. Hugs.

audrey` said...

The story from Barbara is so touching.
May all the kids feel loved and appreciated by an adult in their lives =)