The Shiny Red Taw.
During the waning years of the Depression in a small
southeastern Idaho community,
I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for
farm-fresh produce as the season made it available.
Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering
was used, extensively.
One particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early
potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of
bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising
a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display
of fresh green peas.
I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas I couldn't help overhearing the
conversation between Mr. Miller
and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them
peas......sure look good."
"They are good, Barry.
How's your Ma?" "Fine. Gittin' stronger alla'time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with "
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize aggie-best taw around here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue
and I sort of go for red.
Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not 'zackley .....but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you
and next trip this way let me look at that red taw."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby,
came over to help me.
With a smile she said: "There are two other
boys like him in our community, all three are in very
poor circumstances.
Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples,
tomatoes or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do,
he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends
them home with a bag of produce for a green marble
or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself,
impressed with this man.
A short time later I moved to Utah but I never
forgot the story of this man,
the boys and their bartering.
Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old
friends in that Idaho community and while I was there
learned that Mr. Miller had died.
They were having his viewing that evening and knowing
my friends wanted to go,
I agreed to accompany them.
Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet
the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words
of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men.
One was in an army uniform and the other two wore short
haircuts, dark suits and white shirts obviously potential
or returned missionaries.
hey approached Mrs. Miller,
standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek,
spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as,
one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own
warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.
Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.
I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had
told me about the marbles.
Eyes glistening she took my hand and led me to
the casket.
"This is an amazing coincidence," she said.
"Those three young men, that just left, were the boys
I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the
things Jim "traded" them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about
color or size...they came to pay their debt.
We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,"
she confided, "but, right now, Jim would consider himself t
he richest man in Idaho.
" With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of
her deceased husband.
Resting underneath were three, magnificently
shiny, red marbles.
After a while, you learn the subtle differences between
holding a hand and chaining a soul;
and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and
company doesn't mean security;
and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and
presents aren't promises,
and you begin to accept your defeats with your head
up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child...you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure,
that you really are strong, and you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn. With every good-bye you learn.
SMILING.........
Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized
I'd passed it on to him .
I thought about that smile
then I realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine,
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!
Keep the smile going by
sending this on to a friend.
Everyone needs a smile!!!
EVERY ONE NEEDS A HUG TOO,
SO WHY NOT PASS ALONG A HUG OR TWO.
HERE'S MINE TO YOU.
((((((((HUG))))))))
((((((((HUG))))))))
"'THE INTERNET....."
I signed onto the internet
Not knowing what to do
The keys all looked the same to me
Didn’t know which one to choose
I Hit Connect
The screen went wild
My journey seemed to fail
~Illegal Operation~ flashed
would I be going to jail??
~You need to run a Scan Disc~
The little prompt had said
This seemed a lot more frightening,
Then was the day I wed....
I clicked on over to the ~Start~
Found ~systems files~ galore
I closed one eye, pointed the mouse,
And very softly swore.....
This (BLANK BLANK) THING
IS BEATING ME
IT’S MESSING UP MY DAY!
I glanced into the mirror near
My hair was turning grey.....
The tech had installed programs
That I knew nothing of
I prayed for intervention,
And guidance from above
Then clear as day
A sound I heard
My shock it sure did show
OUT OF THE BLUE
It was distinct,
A crystal clear ‘oh-oh’
A flashing bar, a number shows
Someone was calling me
I aimed the Mouse,
And gave a "click"
A message I did see!!
"Hello to you, Ya wanna chat"
I read, and smiled wide
My fingers started tingeling
I hit ‘reply’ with pride....
"Oh Yes, Oh Yes" I typed so fast,
and then I clicked the ‘Send’
I finally got the knack of this
And found a Cyber Friend!
Now as I move through Cyber Space
Of miles, time, and fun
It’s 4:00 a.m., my eyes are red,
I turn to greet the sun.
You think I am a Cyber Dunce
Well go ahead and scoff....
But just one question fore ya go?
"How Do I Turn It Off???"
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
BE THANKFUL FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS NOT DOING DISHES BUT IS
WATCHING T.V., BECAUSE THAT MEANS
HE IS AT HOME AND NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES THAT YOU PAY,
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY,
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MYOUR SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT,
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT YOU FIND AT THE FAR END OF
THE PARKING LOT,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED
WITH TRANSPORTATION.
FOR YOUR HUGE HEATING BILL,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND YOU IN CHURCH THAT SINGS OFF KEY,
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY,
BECAUSE IT MEANS
YOU HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS,
BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE ALIVE.
AND FINALLY.......
FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL,
BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE FRIENDS
WHO ARE THINKING OF YOU.
Facts and history of the Canadian 10 Provinces
and 3 Territories
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I call This Page
The Ever Changing page
This month Happy Mothers day
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