Graduation Day.

Post 632 ~ ~ ~ Thursday, 24th September, 2009.

Hello My Friends ~ ~ I hope you are all well and that things are going
well for you. I am fine and all is well here. A little bit of rain now and
then, and I have small Broad Beans on my plants - Yay!! And I have
some green bean plants about 2 inches high. My Wisteria is almost
in full bloom and the Pelargoniums are starting to bloom. I think that
Spring is really with us at last. Also a few Sweet Peas flowering.

Please pop over to wish, our blogging friend, Sandy a very happy
birthday for the 24th. I hope you have had a lovely day, Sandy
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I have posted this nice story before, but feel it could run again. It was
sent to me again recently by my friend, Linda Lander. Thanks, Linda.

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 of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone
bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."

I had quite a weekend 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 toward 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 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 as he crawled
around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really
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 why hadn't I
seen him before. He said that he had gone to a private school before.
I would never have 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 cool kid. I asked if he wanted to play 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 and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books
again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you're gonna really 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 that we would always be friends, 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 school. He filled out and actually
looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girl
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
he smiled and said, "Thanks."

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat and began . . . .
"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through
those tough years. your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a
coach . . . but mostly your friends. . .
I am here to tell you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you
can give them. I am going to tell you a story.

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he
had 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 a little smile. Thankfully I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable. I heard a gasp go
through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his
weakest moment. I saw his 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.

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.

A bit long but a lovely story, so be generous with your actions.
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Now for some jokes ~ ~ ~ Thanks Margaret in Q'ld for - -
"Why Men are Never Depressed"

Men are just happier people - - What do you expect, from such
simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another
snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO
shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world
is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station rest-
room, because this one is too icky. You don't have to stop and
think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000, Tux rental $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff
about tanks . A five day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest
act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she
can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are
more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your
face stays its original colour. The same hairstyle lasts for years,
maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes --
--one colour for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how
your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have
freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th
in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier.
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Thanks Warren for the next one.

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day
while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph
suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom and
stayed there..

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom
and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware
of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged
from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.

When she went to tell Edna the news, she said, "Edna I have good
news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged,
since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in
and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that
your act displays sound mindedness.

The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bath-
robe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead."

Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself. I put him there to dry..
How soon can I go home?"
Happy Mental Health Day !!
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"Confessional Realization."

A Catholic guy goes into the confessional. He notices on one side a
fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap and on the other side, a
dazzling array of the finest Cuban cigars. Then the priest comes in.

Father forgive me for it's been a very long time since I've been to
Confession, but I must admit the confessional box is much more
inviting these days.

The priest replies, "Get out. You're on my side."
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A few more from my friend Linda - Thank you.

A middle aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always
talked about having a son. They decided to try one more time
for the son they always wanted. The wife got pregnant and
delivered a healthy baby boy.

The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son.
He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen.
He told his wife; "There's no way I can be the father of this
baby. Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered.
Have you been fooling around behind my back?"

The wife smiled sweetly and replied, "No, not this time."
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A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her
husband opening the front door.
"Hurry," she said "stand in the corner."
She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum
powder. "Don't move until I tell you. Pretend you're a statue."

"What's this?" inquired the husband as he entered the room.
"Oh, it's a statue," she replied
"The Smiths bought one and I liked it, so got one for us, too."

No more was said, not even when they went to bed.
Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and
returned with a sandwich and a beer.
"Here," he said to the statue, "have this, I stood for two
days at the Smiths and nobody offered me a damned thing."
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A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.
"Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent.
"One cent ?" the man exclaimed. "How much for a nice juicy
steak and a bottle of wine?" "A nickel," the barman repied.
"A nickel?" exclaimed the man. "Where is the owner of this place?"

The bartender replied, " Upstairs with my wife."
The man asked, "What is he doing upstairs with your wife?"

The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business
down here."
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Jake was dying. His wife sat at his bedside. He looked up and
said weakly "I have something I must confess."
"There's no need to," his wife replied.

"No," he insisted, "I want to die in peace. I slept with your
sister, your best friend, and your mother!!"

"I know, she replied, Now just rest and let the poison work."
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Time to get myself to bed. Look after yourselves, my dear friends.
Bye until next time. My love and best wishes to you all.
Cheers, Merle.

Post 632 ~ ~ ~ Thursday, 24th September, 2009.
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