National Friendship Week

[Guest guest]

Subject: National Friendship Week

>

> Just thought I would pass this on.

> >>> My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my

> >>> sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped

> >>> package. " This, " he said, " is not a slip. This

> >>> is lingerie. " He discarded the tissue and handed

> >>> me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade

> and trimmed

> >>> with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an

> >>> astronomical figure on it was still attached.

> >>> " Jan bought this the first time we went to New

> York,

> >>> at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it.

> She was

> >>> saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess

> this

> >>> is the occasion. " He took the slip from me and

> put it

> >>> on the bed with the other clothes we were taking

> to

> >>> the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft

> >>> material for a moment, then he slammed the

> drawer

> >>> shut and turned to me. " Don't ever save

> anything for a

> >>> special occasion. Every day you're alive is a

> special occasion. "

> >>> I remembered those words through the funeral and

> the

> >>> days that followed when I helped him and my

> niece

> >>> attend to all the sad chores that follow an

> unexpected

> >>> death. I thought about them on the plane

> returning to

> >>> California from the Midwestern town where my

> sister's

> >>> family lives. I thought about all the things

> that she

> >>> hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about

> the

> >>> things that she had done without realizing that

> they

> >>> were special. I'm still thinking about his

> words,

> >>> and they've changed my life.

> >>> I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting

> on the

> >>> deck and admiring the view without fussing about

> the

> >>> weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time

> with my

> >>> family and friends and less time in committee

> >>> meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a

> pattern

> >>> of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying

> to

> >>> recognize these moments now and cherish them.

> >>> I'm not " saving " anything; we use our good china

> and

> >>> crystal for every special event such as losing a

> pound,

> >>> getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia

> blossom.

> >>> I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel

> like it.

> >>> My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell

> out $28.49

> >>> for one small bag of groceries without wincing.

> >>> I'm not saving my good perfume forspecial

> parties;

> >>> clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks

> >>> have noses that function as well as my party

> going friends.

> >>> " Someday " and " one of these days " are losing

> their

> >>> grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or

> hearing

> >>> or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

> >>> I'm not sure what my sister would've done had

> she

> >>> known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow

> we

> >>> all take for granted. I think she would have

> called

> >>> family members and a few close friends. She

> might

> >>> have called a few former friends to apologize

> and

> >>> mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think

> she

> >>> would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her

> favorite food.

> >>> I'm guessing - I'll never know. It's those

> little things left

> undone

> >>> that would make me angry if I knew that my hours

> were limited.

> >>> Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom

> I was

> >>> going to get in touch with someday. Angry

> because I

> >>> hadn't written certain letters that I intended

> to

> >>> write one of these days. Angry and sorry that

> >>> I didn't tell my family often enough how

> >>> much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not

> to

> >>> put off, hold back, or save anything that would

> add

> >>> laughter and luster to our lives. And every

> morning

> >>> when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every

> day,

> >>> every minute, every breath truly is... a gift

> from God.

> >>> If you've received this it is because someone

> cares

> >>> for you. If you're too busy to take the few

> minutes

> >>> that it would take right now to forward this to

> ten

> >>> people, would it be the first time you didn't do

> that

> >>> little thing that would make a difference in

> your

> >>> relationships? I can tell you it certainly

> won't be

> >>> the last. Take a few minutes to send this to a

> few

> >>> people you care about, just to let them know

> that

> >>> you're thinking of them.

> >>> May love litter your life with blessings

> >>> To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a

> >>> mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

> >>> To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the

> >>> editor of a weekly newspaper.

> >>> To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the

> >>> lovers whoare waiting to meet.

> >>> To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a

> >>> person who missed the train.

> >>> To realize the value of ONE-SECOND, ask a

> >>> Person who just avoided an accident.

> >>> To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the

> >>> person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

> >>> Treasure every moment that you have!

> >>> Yesterday is history.

> >>> Tomorrow is mystery.

> >>> Today is a gift. That's why it's called the

> present!!

> >>> It's National Friendship Week.

> >>> Show your friends how much you care.....

> >>> Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

> >>> If it comes back to you, then you'll know you

> have a

> >>> circle of Friends.

> >>>

> >>> HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK!!!!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor ish farmer. One day,

while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming

from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools

and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a

terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved

the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse

surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself

as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

" I want to repay you, " said the nobleman " You saved my son's life. "

" No, I can't accept payment for what I did, " the ish farmer

replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the

door of the family hovel.

" Is that your son? " the nobleman asked.

" Yes, " the farmer replied proudly.

" I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of

education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll

no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of. " And that he did. Farmer

Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St.

's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout

the world as the noted Sir Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog

was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?

Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

It's National Friendship Week. Send this to

everyone you consider A FRIEND.

[Guest guest]

mimi wrote: " ... <snip> ... I got " talked to today " It seems when

I make phone calls and ask for things I end up speaking to the top

people. I made some people angry because their status quo was

disturbed. I am working for a positive outcome for this family, and

maybe my stirring up things will make people take a second look.

Well sometimes getting kicked means you are on the right track. "

Mimi you are an amazing person and should be commended for all the

work you are doing to help this family.

I do know that people usually get quite miffed if you go up the

ladder and over their heads because then their superiors find out

that they aren't doing their job properly. It is upsetting to them

because they have been caught and rather than own up to their shoddy

workmanship, they shift the focus of their anger to you for having

uncovered their poor work ethic.

Don't let it drag you down. They are the ones who are at fault, not

you.

Raven

[Guest guest]

>

> Don't let it drag you down. They are the ones who are at fault, not

> you.

>

> Raven

Thanks it is hard. It is also hard to accept your kind words. they

are kind, but why are people so bent on hurting others. i don't want

to be amazing, I want to read

[Guest guest]

I wanted to add. I find everyone here amazing. We all do what we

do. We all show the world everyday that different isn't wrong

sometimes different is the best fit. I appreciate everyone here as

human. Real and focused. Focused on different things that make us

unique and similar

As has been stated before we need more us. LOL more focused

determined unique individuals. To paint and sing and write and know

history and mend families and advocate for our parents and our

children. Aspie is good. Social interaction is so painful to us

because it is wasteful so often but we are social here with purpose.

to sound out ideas refine our thinking introduce new information that

has nothing to do with tabloids or tupperware. no one is buying

Kay, or starting a piramid scheme. I do not " use " you guys to climb

upward in the sociall heirarchy. i value the opinions and statements

for what they are.

I am not asexual, but I liked to be talked to with some regard for my

humanity and not as a thing (woman, subservient, mushy) whatever

insert what typical interaction is no chest beating, no pecking now

jockeying for position because to me that gets in the way of problem

solving. Problem solving. analysis, honing. i think of all of

these things when I come here. That is my reality. Not hallmark,

dinner parties, social climbing. I am not tring to impress anyone I

am real you are real. I crave that. I am always made to feel

invisible, discounted, difficult. Wordy too smart How many times

have you heard " you think to much " ? Umm yes what else is there to

do. How else does one live and why would one not??

even if we change topics the brain switch is on on. Thanks everyone

both silent and vocal. busy or interacting. Because and maybe it is

just my perception but i view this community as thoughtful.

I imagine silent approval, and am lucky enough to get it verbally.

And I feel it toward others too. We perseverate perserverence.

anyway yeah!! mimi

and thanks again Raven

[Guest guest]

mimi wrote: " ... <snip> ... and thanks again Raven. "

You're welcome, mimi. The truth is always easy to speak.

Raven

Co-Administrator

[Guest guest]

" How many times have you heard " you think to much " ? "

Mmmmmmmmm yep. Check out;

http://thejaywalker.com/pages/thinkers.html

>

> I wanted to add. I find everyone here amazing. We all do what we

> do. We all show the world everyday that different isn't wrong

> sometimes different is the best fit. I appreciate everyone here as

> human. Real and focused. Focused on different things that make us

> unique and similar

>

> As has been stated before we need more us. LOL more focused

> determined unique individuals. To paint and sing and write and

know

> history and mend families and advocate for our parents and our

> children. Aspie is good. Social interaction is so painful to us

> because it is wasteful so often but we are social here with

purpose.

> to sound out ideas refine our thinking introduce new information

that

> has nothing to do with tabloids or tupperware. no one is buying

> Kay, or starting a piramid scheme. I do not " use " you guys to

climb

> upward in the sociall heirarchy. i value the opinions and

statements

> for what they are.

>

> I am not asexual, but I liked to be talked to with some regard for

my

> humanity and not as a thing (woman, subservient, mushy) whatever

> insert what typical interaction is no chest beating, no pecking now

> jockeying for position because to me that gets in the way of

problem

> solving. Problem solving. analysis, honing. i think of all of

> these things when I come here. That is my reality. Not hallmark,

> dinner parties, social climbing. I am not tring to impress anyone

I

> am real you are real. I crave that. I am always made to feel

> invisible, discounted, difficult. Wordy too smart How many

times

> have you heard " you think to much " ? Umm yes what else is there to

> do. How else does one live and why would one not??

>

> even if we change topics the brain switch is on on. Thanks everyone

> both silent and vocal. busy or interacting. Because and maybe it

is

> just my perception but i view this community as thoughtful.

>

> I imagine silent approval, and am lucky enough to get it verbally.

>

> And I feel it toward others too. We perseverate perserverence.

> anyway yeah!! mimi

> and thanks again Raven

>

[Guest guest]

" I've completed round 1 of the great painting endeavor. I've got a

long way to go, so I won't be posting much until I've finished. "

Good luck with the painting Kim. Looking forward to your return.

Tom

Administrator

[Guest guest]

I'll miss your posts and input, good luck with the painting, hope all

goes well.

>

> " I've completed round 1 of the great painting endeavor. I've got a

> long way to go, so I won't be posting much until I've finished. "

>

> Good luck with the painting Kim. Looking forward to your return.

>

> Tom

> Administrator

>