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Posted September 3, 2010
"LABOR DAY'S TRUE MEANING"
Growing up in the South, I always thought Labor Day was a marker for the last big summer cookout and swim - the date when one had to closet white gloves, summer white clothing, handbags, and shoes.
Then later, when I left the nest and ventured into the work place, I felt for sure it was because I truly labored to put food on the table.
After my first child, I had a major revelation. That holiday had been gifted to the American women because we deserved a restful vacation strictly for our populating-the-earth efforts.
According to Wickipedia, I learned the following is why we celebrate the holiday:
"The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.[1] In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.[3] All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday."
I'm so relieved to finally know the true meaning of the Labor Day celebration. Guess this means I can now feel free to keep toting that favorite straw handbag my kids gave me for my birthday - the one I dubbed "The Peerless Pocketbook" - with white trim and pockets that will hold my journal, a digital camera, a flip camera, billfold, couple of lipsticks, four vicunas, three alpacas, two goats, a one-hump camel, and a chihuahua.
At least until Thanksgiving.
Posted August 29, 2010
"EARLY MORNING INTIMACY"
Every now and then, I'm at the perfect place at the right time to snap a photo of a scene that leaves me breathless.
Posted August 21, 2010
"ROCKY RACCOON'S AWAKENING- SEQUEL"
Rockette decided she wanted to return with Rocky and have a sampling of some of the gourmet cat food. If cats had their own free cat houses, she wanted a nicer house too. Maybe they could even talk mama into coming to live with them if they could get rid of the fat cats.
But when they arrived at the place where the cats lived, instead of gourmet cat food, they found left over shrimp and grits.
Rockette's first reaction was, "Wouldn't you know we'd get cold lumpy grits.
Mama's first thoughts were those of a typical Mama. "And I wonder if this shrimp came from the Gulf!"
"Rocky," said Rockette, managing to keep her mask from falling around her chin. "Would you dare ask the humans about the shrimp?"
"If we asked, they would probably say something like, 'No, but I can marinate it for you or either throw in a quart of oil for you to take home so you can marinate it yourself!"
Photo credit - Kathy.
Posted August 16, 2010
"THE TELEGRAPHER"
"A young boy’s world suddenly turns upside down when he loses his arm in a teenage prank gone awry in the 1890’s. Hopes and dreams give way to uselessness and despair - until he is introduced to a fascinating device that changes his life forever - the telegraph key. Thomas L. Wiley tells the story of Ollie Parker, The Telegrapher, as he faces the difficulties and limitations of not being whole. From the taunts of the school bully and the awkward self-consciousness and rejection of young love, to the envy that engulfs him as he watches his best friend go off to war, Ollie sees life passing him by. But through the loving wisdom of his grandmother and the captivating dots and dashes of the telegraph, he finds that even in tragedy there is room for hope and fulfillment. A Heartwarming Story of a Young Man’s Triumph over Adversity."
An inspirational story based on true facts, Wiley weaves history into a novel about love and redemption, sacrifice and honor, and in the telling, the reader takes away information about telegraphy and Mississippi's growth during the 1800's and early 1900's. As the main character - Ollie Parker - regales us with impressions about modern inventions like the automobile and airplane, he's also sharing stories about the ravages of war as told from the viewpoint of maimed Civil War soldiers spending their days whiling away time on the front porch of the local general store, or those coming back from WWI and WWII. Spellbinding read.
Thomas Wiley, a lifelong resident of Mississippi, lives in Jackson, where he is a physician, practicing Gynecology. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and The University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He and his wife, Merrie, have four children and six grandchildren. He is the author of The Angels of Lockhart, with a new novel in the works.
I look foward to reading this up and coming Southern writer's next novel.
Posted August 8, 2010
"THE TORTOISE AND THE LION"
The tortoise put down his lunch pail and all of the little wee tortoises gathered around while mother tortoise put the last finishing touches on supper - human toe soup. "Tell us about your day Papa! Was it scary out there in the big bad world?"
Old tortoise chuckled and replied, "Everyday is a scary day out in the big bad world. It's a jungle out there. But let me tell you about my journey home today." The wee tortoises gathered around his shell, eyes wide and blinking to hear the tale. "I was ambling home when I saw a dark shadow creeping up behind me. I began to pray: 'Dear Lord, I've worked all day and I'm just trying to make my way home. O Lord my God, I take refuge in You; save and deliver me from all who pursue me or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions. There's a big black lion with glowing amber eyes breathing down my back, Lord. I think he's been in Mrs. Cramer's trash because I smell garlic on his hot breath. Remember You are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside quiet water, You restore my soul. You guide me in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
"Wee tortoises, I began to tremble and shake, my shell rattling all around me. I searched for shelter, a hole, a pit, any place where I could hide from the creeping black jaws of destruction. I dared not look back for fear I would be entranced by the lion's glowing yellow eyes and eaten alive on the spot."
The wee tortoises scuttled back, knees knocking as they quivered in their shells. Papa tortoise continued, his head weaving and bobbing back and forth with the telling. " I said, 'Lord, what gain is there in my destruction? In my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help. You know Lord, I can hear that sleek lion slandering me. There is terror on every side. He conspires against me and plots to take my life. But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God. My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.'
"And then I prayed even harder. 'Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in Your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide Your face from Your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and resue me; redeem me because of my foes. Help me O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver me and forgive my sins for Your name's sake.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. I'm hoping Lord, about all I have left is hope.
"I've been calling to you God, and the Lord saves me, evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and You hear my voice. I know You hear my voice. You ransom me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. And I'm trying to be still and know that You are God.
"And then," said Papa tortoise in a small whisper, "I felt a breeze." The wee tortoises leaned closer to better hear his words. "It was like a soothing calm settled over me and I remembered these words: 'But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. The lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack for no good thing. O Lord, You preserve both man and beast. How priceless is Your unfailing love.'
"And then my wee tortoises, I saw the light and heard a still small whisper in the breeze. 'Tortoise, be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Because I love you, I will rescue you. I will protect you, for you acknowledge My name. You will call upon Me, and I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble, I will deliver you and honor you. With long life will I satisfy you and show you My salvation."
"So, I, the slow tortoise that I am, shouted with joy to God, all the earth!" The wee tortoises fell back in surprise, rolling around on their backs like a roly-poly tipped over. Papa tortoise bellowed, "I sung the glory of His name; made His praise glorious! I said to God, 'How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing praise to Your name. Come and listen, all You who respect and fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me. Then we your people, the sheep and tortoises of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
And when Mama tortoise called out, "Human toe soup is on the table!" Papa tortoise licked his lips blinked his eyes and said, "And that, my wee tortoises, is how Papa tortoise made his way home from work through the jungle."
Bible verses used by Papa tortoise come from the NIV;
Ps 7:12
Ps 22:21
Ps 23
Ps 30:9-10
Ps31:13-15
Ps 9:16-20
Ps 79:9
Ps 31:24
Ps 33:1
Ps 33:11
Ps 34:10
Ps 36:6-7
Ps 40:1-3
Ps 46-10
Ps 55:16-18
PS 66:16-20
Ps 79:13
Ps 91:14-16
Photo credit - Kathy.
Posted August 1, 2010
"ROCKY RACCOON'S AWAKENING"
Rocky had heard the other animals playing in a special place. It looked like sheer heaven with bowls of cat food mounded with different colored tidbits of yummy looking morsels. The cats even had their own tree houses. It was all free. No dangerous dogs lurked about, no skunks lurking in the bushes stinking up the place, only passing turtles lugging their houses with them.
His mother had warned him not to venture past the tree line unless it was after dark and no humans were out. But something more was drawing him near.
He longed to know what went on in the great wide world, so much more than what he knew about in his narrow neck of the woods. Listening, he watched humans digging around in the dirt and marveling over a ripe red tomato or the size of a yellow squash. It all seemed like such hard work. Why didn't they just eat the free cat food just like he did?
Then later, when the man and woman rested on the patio drinking their iced tea with friends, he heard strange things talked about - the economy and politics, whatever that was - life after death, spirits and angels. And it all sounded interesting. Lofty and surreal. Especially angels. He loved the way some of those big words rolled off the end of his tongue. "Surrrrreaaaallll." And he said to the blue-tail lizard darting past, "So that's who that is standing guard in the hosta below the house where the cat the humans call Callie lives." And he couldn't wait to run home to tell his twin sister. "Rockette, there are angels who watch over us and long to look into things that happen down here on this place the humans call earth. Everyone has their own guardian angel who helps in the daily walk. And this is how we pray." And with that, Rocky folded his hands and bowed his head to pray, just as he'd seen the human's little daughter Angelina do before she ate her tomato and squash.
"But what about the angel wings?" asked Rockette. "What are they for if the angel just sits in the hosta all day?"
"They help the angels to fly, silly," said Rocky. "Haven't you ever watched the birds and hawks?"
"But so far, all you've seen that angel do is sit there in the big broad leaves and pray," said Rockette. "What do you think it all means?"
"I'm not exactly sure. But when I heard the human's little girl Angelina pray, it had something to do with not looking a gift horse in the mouth - whatever a horse is - and something to do with thanking God for our daily bread, loving one another, voting out all of the corrupt politicians who hang out in cat houses, and making sure Uncles Sam's guardian angel helps him pay his debts on time so he won't have his wings clipped and be living in the dog house along with Angelina's big brother Cody."
"But," said Rockette, confusion masking her whiskered face. "I thought there were no dogs around that place, only cats and cat houses."
"I know. I'm confused on that one myself. I'm still trying to learn the human language along with Angelina. They don't always say what they mean, or mean what they say. Some words even have a double meaning. Evidently, some humans can be politicians and some politicians can be skunks and according to Angelina's parents, the promises the politicians make with their lofty words are the most surreal. One thing's for certain. We need to be praying about voting the skunks out or there goes the neighborhood and Angelina's guardian angel is already working overtime because so far, she's never left the Hosta."
"This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." ~ Jesus (Matt 13:49-50)
Photo credit - Kathy.