Sunday, March 04, 2012

Freedom and Jeff.

Post 770 ~~ Sunday, 4th March, 2012.

Hello my Friends ~~ It is nice to be with you once again. We have
had three days of rain and there are some homes in places close
to Shepparton who have been evacuated from their homes as the
water had got into their homes.. Some face heartbreak when they
get back to them. Carpets get ruined and then t
he furniture, etc.

I hope all is well in your lives and that you are enjoying them, There is
always someone worse off than us. So we have to try to be positive and get
on with our lives. I am having quite a lot less pain on the new tablet and
the chair as well as vitamins. So I am not sure what to give credit to, but
it is wonderful not always being in pain.

I had a lovely surprise on Friday afternoon, after talking to my daughter in
Queensland, then my other daughter and her husband and youngest girl
arrived . They were going to see their eldest the next day. Kate with the
restaurant and her partner have bought a house with 6 acres of land..
They stayed overnight and we all enjoyed that. Kathy and Ard have been
married 25 years. Jorja is 13 and very tall. It doesn't seem long since I was
taller than her. As I have lost so much weight, a lot of my clothes just hang
on me so Kathy took me to buy some a bit smaller which was great.

First item today is called "Freedom and Jeff" and has been written b y Jeff.



Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came
in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't
open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in four places.
She is my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were
broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision
to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the Vet's office. From
then onI was always around her.

We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off and it was loaded
up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in. I used to sit and talk
to her, urging her to live, to fight and she would lay there looking at
me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4 to 6 weeks, and by then she still could not stand.
It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if
she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that
line between torture ad rehab, and it looked like death was winning.

She was going to be put down that Friday and I was supposed to
come i on Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go that Thursday
because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized, but
I went anyway and when I walked into the center everyone was
grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage and
there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was
ready to live..

I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove
train her. I got her used to the glove and then to jesses and we
started doing education programs for schools in Western
Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, on radio (believe
it or not) and some TV Mlracle Pets even did a show about us.

I the spring of 2000 I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
I had stage 3 which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere.)
So I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair-the whole bit
I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough I would go and take
Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in dreams
and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November, 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I
went in for my last check-up. I was told if the cancer was not all
gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell
transplant. Anyway they did the tests and I had to come back on
Monday for the results. I was told all the cancer was gone.

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl
out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and
jessed her up ad we went to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a
word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me
and wrapped both wings around me to where I could feel them
pressing in on my back. (I was engulfed in eagle wings). and she
touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we
just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a
magic moment.

We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very
special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us
when we are out and Freedom has some sort of hold on them.
Ice had a man who had terminal cancer and I let him hold her
His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel the power
course through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a
magnificent spirit as Freedom.

Hope you enjoyed this. Jeff.

But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and
not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Isiah 40.31.

Please pray: Dear God, I pray that You will guide someone to
find a cure for cancer in 2012. In Jesus Name, Amen.
<><>

Now for some jokes. I enjoyed the story about Freedom and
hope you did also. I have a couple of jokes from my good friend
Lady Di. Thank you Dianne for "Senior Moment" and also
"The Ventriloquist"

Several days ago I left a meeting at our church. I desperately
gave myself a TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys and they
were not in my pockets. Suddenly I realized I must have left them
in the car. Frantically I headed for the parking lot. My wife Diane
scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My
theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory
is that the car will be stolen.

As I burst through the doors of the church,, I came to a terrifying
conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty.
I immediately rang the Police. I gave them my location, confessed
that I had left the keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.

Then I made the most difficult call of all. "Honey" I stammered.
I always call her "Honey" in times like this. "I left the keys in the car
and it has been stolen."

Theer was a period of silence, then I heard Diane's voice, "Ken" she
barked, "I dropped you off."

Now it was my turn to be silent. Embarrassed I said, "Well, come
and get me."

Diane retorted,"I will as soon as I convince this policeman that I
have not stolen your car."
<><>

"The Ventriloquist and the blonde."

A young ventriloquist is touring Sweden and one night, he's doing
a show in a small fishing town. With his dummy on his knee, he
starts going through his usual dumb blonde jokes.

Suddenly a blonde woman in the fourth row stands on her chair
and starts shouting, "I've heard enough of your stupid blonde
jokes, What makes you think you can stereotype Swedish blonde
women that way?hat does the color of a woman's hair have to
do with her worth as a human being?"

"It's men like you who keep women like me from being respected
at work and in the community, and from reaching our full
potential as people. It's people like you that makes others think
that all Blondes are dumb.

You and your kind continue to perpetuate discrimination against
not only blondes, but women in general ..pathetically all in the
name of humor."

The embarrassed ventriloquist begins to apologize, and the blonde
yells,"You stay out of this. I'm talking to the little shit on your lap."
<><>

My friend Linda in Canberra sent me the next one. Thank you
Linda for "Questions you just can't answer."

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard when he lives in a jungle
without a razor?.

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the
batteries are flat?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they
know there is not enough.?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four
billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

What is the speed of darkness?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies
wake up every two hours?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be
twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

Do married people live longer than single ones or does it just
seem longer?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured
out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage.?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money
in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Did you ever stop and wonder .......
Who was the first person to look at a cow ad say, "I think I'll
squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes
out?
Who was the first person to say " See that chicken there...... I'm
gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's bum"

Why do toasters always have a setting so high thatcould burn the
toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

Why do people point to their wrist when asking the time, but do
not point to their bum when they ask where the bathroom is?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They are both dogs.

Why does the Gynacologist leave the room when you get undressed
if they are going to look up there anyway?

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

If corn oil is made from corn, snf vegetable oil is made from
vegetable, then what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from
morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle Twinkle Little star have
the same tune?

Stop singing and read on .....
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet soup?

Does pushing elavator button more than once make it arrive
faster?

Do you ever wonder why you gav
e me your e-mail address in
the first place?
<><>

A Pearly Gates item called "Airline Tantrum"

As the crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered
by a five year old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild
temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated and embarrassed
mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream
furiously and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly from the ear of the plane, an elderly man in a Marine
uniforms seen slowly walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the
flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white haired, courtly
soft spoken Marine leans down and motioning to his chest he
whispers something in the boy's ear.

Instantly the boy calms down, gently takes his mother's hand
and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst
into spontaneous applause.

As the Marine makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin
attendants touches his sleeve, "Excuse me sir" she asks quietly,
"But coul I ask you what magic words you used on that boy?"

The Marine smiles serenely and gently confides,"I showed him
my pilot's wings, service stars and battle ribbons, and exclaimed
that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door
on any flight I choose."
<><>

Some "Idiot Sightings" sent by my dear friend Jeanette. Thanks Jan.

My daughter and I went through the McDonald's driveway window
and I gave the cashier a $5 note. Our total was $4.25, so I also
handed her 25 cents. She said, "You gave me too much money."
I said, "Yes I know but this way you can give me $q.coin back"

She sighed and went to get the manager, who asked me to repeat
my request.
I did so and he handed back my 25 cents and said, "We're sorry
." but we don't do that sort of thing."
The cashier then proceeded to give me back 75 cents in change.
Do not confuse the people at MacDs.
<><>

We had to have the garage door repaired.
The repair man told us that one of our problems was that we did
not have a large enough motor on the opener.
I thought for a minute, and said that we had the largest one made
at that time, a 1/2 horsepower.

He shook his head and said you need a 1/4 horsepower.
I responded that 1/2 was larger than 1/4 and he said, "NOOO, it's
not. Four is larger than two."
We haven't used that repairman since. Happeed in Ipswich,Qld.
<><>

My daughter went to a Mexican take-away and ordered a taco.
She asked for "minimal lettuce". He said he was sorry but they
only had Iceberg lettuce. From Bankstown, Sydney,
<><>

The pedestrian light on the corner beeps when it's safe to cross
the street. I was crossing with an "intellectually challenged"
co-worker of mine.
She asked if I knew what the beep was for.
I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red.
Appalled, she responded, "What on earth are blind people doing driving?

She is a government employee in Adelaide P.O.
<><>

An irrevalent one from my friend Warren. I'm with you Mate.

First Book of Government.

Julia is the shepherd I did not want.
She leadeth me beside the still factories.
She restoreth my faith in the Liberal party.
She guided me in the path of unemployment for her party's sake.
Yea though I walk hrough the valley of the bread line.
I shall fear no hunger for her bailouts are with me.
She has annointed my income with taxes.
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life
And I will live in a rented home forever.
I'm glad I am Australian.
I am glad that I am free.
But I wish I was a dog
and Julia was a tree.

Amen Brother.
<><>

I will close with a couple of quotes from Mountain Wings.

Never be Ashamed of the scars that life has left you with.
A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you
endured the pain and God has healed you.
~~Author Unknown.

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing
can be changed until it is faced. ~~ James Baldwin.

Time to close now, Take great care of yourselves and
each other my friends. Enjoy something nice each day.
My love and best wishes to you all. Cheers, Merle.

Post 770 ~~ Sunday, 4th March, 2012.
<><><>

11 comments:

audrey` said...

It's so comforting to know that you're feeling much better now, Merle. You've the best daughter in the world who visited you and bought new clothes for you :)

I had read about the floods, especially in Sydney. I'm very glad that your home is on a higher ground.

Please take very good care of yourself. (((HUGS))) and love to you!

Granny Annie said...

I am betting you can relate to Jeff's story as you achieve your own recovery with perseverance:)

That Marine on the airplane sounded like something Ron would say.

Gina E. said...

I'm with Warren too! Was thinking of you tonight while watching the flood updates on the news...hope you are safe! Shocking state of affairs over in the USA though..

Kat said...

Hello Merle, I was so touched by Jeff's story. It is indeed a beautiful story and so heart warming. I myself am a lover of animals and I'm so glad that she was given a chance! And the story of the lost car keys is wonderfully funny I laughed out loud!
Hope you keep getting better and I'm glad that none of you were involved in the bad floods that affected Queensland recently.

Dave said...

One of your better posts Merle, if not just because you seem to be your old self again (not that you're old!).
Loved the jokes... *Smile*

Jim said...

Hi Merle ~~ I am glad that you keep on having realatives for company and some help, I would hope.
Good news about Kate's business! Study and hard work helps a lot!

Good for your back that you lost the weight. Time will tell how much will stay off. I lost 25 pounds and hope to keep 20 of them gone. I waver between 20 and 24 now depending on how much I eat.

You had a lot of good thoughts and jokes today. Thank you for the blonde joke. I wasn't seeing how this would be funny until the punch line. Hilarious!

Finally, your Freedom story reminded me of our Adi. She is doing poorly but still gives me sympathy when I need it.
Cheers,
..

Joy Des Jardins said...

I certainly can relate to your feelings about having less pain in your life Merle. That's my on-going goal every day. I'm SO glad that you are feeling so much better. Whatever is causing your releif; and maybe it's a combination of everything...bravo for it.

What a wonderful family you have sweetie....so loving and caring. But then...you are a very loving and caring person too and deserve all those wonderful visitors.

Continue to feel good sweet friend... Love, Joy

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear Merle,

So wonderful to hear that you are feeling much better and not in pain all the time. Long may it continue like that!! Pain is a terrible thing to have to endure at any time so I can't even imagine having it all the time. How wonderful that your daughter, her husband and her daughter surprised you with an overnight visit, I have no doubt you really enjoyed that:-)

I had tears in my eyes after reading Freedom & Jeff's story. Such a touching story and it just goes to show that God's creatures are sent to us for a reason:-)

I thoroughly enjoyed the jokes, as well as the questions you just can't answer...how true they are!! lol

Take good care of yourself, dear friend. Sending love and hugs. xoxo

Anonymous said...

Loved it all Merle...but the Eagle story was the best!

So happy you're not having the pain you were...good news!

Love and hugs, Theanne

Lady Di Tn said...

I was thrilled to hear you are doing better and do not care which one of the 3 things have helped, I am just proud they did. What a lovely surprise you have with the visit and new clothes to boot. I loved the Idiot Sightings and will steal the First Book of Government and insert our so called President. He is the biggest unfunny joke ever played on our country. Peace be with you and Yes I wish you ENOUGH.

Big Dave T said...

It's always nice to visit with family. We had a nice visit with my sister and her husband up in my hometown of Bay City this past weekend. And next weekend our youngest son Scott comes home from Washington DC. Today we babysit our grandson Grant. It keeps life busy, doesn't it? Glad to see you're still feeling better bit by bit.

Liked your jokes. I never thought about Tarzan. And the uplifting story about freedom.