Category Archives: Writing

Wildlife Surprise

Posted on April 11, 2026 | 4 comments

Moose Tracks: The “Camel” Story
Circa 1972–1973


Back in a small Maine town—North Fryeburg—that’s where my sister and I grew up. We lived on top of a big hill, and every single school day started with a hike down it to catch the short bus.

Yes, we rode the bus.
No, we were not dropped off at the door like today’s luxury models.

Our parents were already at work before we even tied our shoes, so missing that bus wasn’t an option—it was a full-blown personal failure with consequences.

Some mornings our babysitter, Berta—who was equal parts caregiver and second mother—came to our house. Other times, we went to hers. That morning, she came to us, bringing along her daughter, Rachel.

Rachel and Penny were in the same class—best friends, inseparable. Where one went, the other followed. Back then, Rachel didn’t speak due to what we simply called “no talking syndrome,” so my sister Penny became her voice. Which, frankly, meant Rachel didn’t need to talk… and also didn’t talk to me.

We were getting ready to head down the driveway—that long, steep, probably-should’ve-counted-as-cardio hill—when I parked myself at the bay window to keep watch for the bus while slow poke Penny and Rach were doing whatever it was they did before we went to school.

And then…

I saw them.

“I kid you not—there are CAMELS coming up the hill!”

Three of them.
One big one in the middle, and two smaller ones flanking it like a slow-motion parade.

I lost my mind.

“YOU GUYS—COME SEE THESE CAMELS!”

They were just casually strolling up the hill like they owned the place. No rush. No concern. Just… meandering. Like they had a morning appointment and we weren’t it.

Penny and Rachel rushed over, and the three of us stood there, completely mesmerized.

Camels.
In our yard.
In Maine.

It made perfect sense at the time.

And then Berta walked over.

She took one look out the window, paused for half a second, and said:

“You fool, Barbie… those aren’t camels—
they’re moose.”

And just like that…
My grand wildlife discovery collapsed faster than my confidence.

But listen—when you’re a kid on a hill in Maine before coffee was even a thought, perspective gets a little… flexible.

To this day, I still stand by one thing:
From a distance, in the right light… moose have a very convincing hump.

Hope you enjoyed this TRUE story.

Cheers,

4 Comments

Posted in Creative writing, Family, Humor, Inspiration, Journalling, Nature, Writing

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J – Joy of Jaw-Jacking

Posted on April 11, 2026 | 6 comments

Maybe you’ve heard the term jaw-jacking. Usually it’s thrown around like a jab—talking too much, too long, when there’s life to get back to. From Maine, though? It’s less insult, more inherited trait.

My mother? She can jaw-jack like she’s getting paid by the minute. She’ll blame Aunt Margie every time—“Barbie, I got on the phone with her and she would not stop…”—and then proceed to give me a word-for-word dissertation like she’s submitting evidence in court.

Thirty minutes in, I’m glancing at the clock, mentally running through my to-do list, wondering how a quick phone call turned into a full-length documentary.

“Okay, Mom, I gotta go,” looking around the kitchen wondering how to mentally make the oven timer go off.

But see, time hits different when your schedule is wide open. So she pivots—doctor’s appointments for the next six months, the cat’s vet visit, the car’s oil change—like we’re mapping out a federal operation.

I try again.

“Alright, really, I’ve gotta get supper cooking. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

You’d think that would land it. It does not.

Surprise! Now we’re onto dinner. Not tonight’s dinner—no, no. We’re reviewing the past ten days of meals like it’s a highlight reel.

And later—later—she’ll say, “I don’t know why I can never get your Aunt Margie off the phone.”

That’s when I have to physically stop myself from laughing.

Because here’s the kicker—
it’s not Aunt Margie. It’s genetic.

Fast talkers, long talkers, can’t-find-the-exit talkers—it runs straight through the family line.

So tell me… do you have a jaw-jacker in your world? And while we’re at it—how in the world do you get your jaw-jacker to actually end the conversation? And be honest—are you sure it’s not you?

Because in New England, we don’t end conversations—
we just pause them long enough to call somebody else.


I hope this one made you smile just a little bit. Have a great weekend! See ya Monday with the letter K.

Cheers,

6 Comments

Posted in A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Creative writing, Humor, Writing

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I – Indian Smoke Signals

Posted on April 10, 2026 | 12 comments



Before I forget—because the world is strange and memories fade faster than they should—let me tell you about the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen.

Tall Cool ☺ne saw it too, so at least I know it wasn’t just one of those overly vivid moments my imagination sometimes produces.

It was the morning of March 2. I remember because I had a mammogram appointment that day, which meant we didn’t have to start our walk quite so early. The light was already settling across the fields when we set out.

You know that pasture on Union Church Road—the one with the long driveway that curves up around the field? There’s a pond on the far side, and across the road sits that big brick house. Usually there are half a dozen black cows grazing out there like quiet witnesses to the morning.

In that pasture stand two trees.

And from one of them, I swear on my Bible, white smoke started pouring out.

Not a little mist. Real smoke. The kind you see when someone starts a fire and tosses leaves on top—thick, billowing, waiting for the flame to break through.

I stopped mid-step.“What in the world was that?” I asked. “Did you see that?”

Tall Cool ☺ne looked back at the tree. “Yeah… I saw it,” he said. “But I don’t know what it was.”

We both waited for flames.

None came.

The smoke simply vanished.

We kept walking, both of us a little rattled but trying to act like sensible people who hadn’t just watched a tree start smoking for no reason at all.

Then it happened again.

Another puff. Rising straight up from the same tree like something ancient trying to send a message skyward.

For a moment it looked almost deliberate… like Indian smoke signals.

And then, just like before—

the smoke disappeared.

No fire. No sound. No explanation.

Just two people standing in the quiet of a morning field, wondering if sometimes the world still whispers small surprises in ways we’ve forgotten how to understand.


Has anything like that ever happened to you? Something weird and unexplainable but awesomeness that you’ve never seen before? Share with me, I’d love to read about it!

Cheers,

12 Comments

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H — Honesty

Posted on April 9, 2026 | 5 comments



“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” — Thomas Jefferson



Honesty isn’t soft. It’s not polite. It doesn’t always come wrapped in kindness or tied with a bow. It’s the first chapter in wisdom—and most of us keep trying to skip ahead. We say we want truth, but what we really want is comfort. We ask questions we don’t actually want answered. “Do these make me look…?” Then we act surprised when we don’t get the answer we’re hoping for. That’s not honesty—that’s permission to stay comfortable.

Character, though—that’s the real thing.

Reputation is just the shadow it casts. And shadows shift depending on the light.

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” — Genesis 2:18

If I’m being honest (and that’s the whole point here), being a “helper” doesn’t always feel noble. Sometimes I want a helper because sometimes it feels like I’m the one who just does it all. But if I had a helper I’d still do it all because it’s easier than explaining, teaching, or trusting someone else to get it right. That’s not help—that’s control dressed up as sacrifice.

I’m not sugarcoating. It doesn’t protect anyone. It weakens the spine. Truth, spoken right, builds it.

So maybe the helper isn’t about “housekeeping”. It isn’t about sweeping floors or straightening rooms. Maybe it’s about clearing out the places where we’ve been avoiding the truth—about ourselves, about others, about what we know needs to change. Because if we’re honest… we already know. I know.

So what are you avoiding right now?
Where have you chosen comfort over truth?
And how long do you think that choice will hold?
Because honesty doesn’t wait forever.

He has a way of showing up—uninvited, undeniable, and right on time.
The only question is…
will you meet Him there,
or keep pretending you didn’t hear Him knocking?

Cheers,

5 Comments

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G – Good Intentions and Grace

Posted on April 8, 2026 | 4 comments



So over the weeks—not just this past weekend, but most weekends—Tall Cool ☺ne and I find ourselves up to our eyebrows in projects. It’s kind of our rhythm. I start my mornings with Bible study, journal time, paying bills, and maybe a letter or two, and then move on to breakfast. Every once in a while, Tall Cool ☺ne wanders into the kitchen and whips up his specialty grits (which, let’s be honest, deserve a standing ovation).

A couple weekends ago, we were given a few pieces of furniture, which meant rearranging—and rearranging always invites cleaning. Once I get into that mode, it’s hard to stop. So naturally, I turned my attention to the back room… the one that looks like a cluttered mini Walmart on a good day. It’s also home to the cat box, and I’m convinced our cats treat litter like confetti at a wedding. Messy doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Tall Cool ☺ne has the Chuck Norris total gym setup for the days we don’t walk. (It doesn’t get used nearly as much as one might think -meaning we walk more than I’d like.) I was tired of stepping over it, around it, and pretending it belonged there. So I decided—on a burst of motivation and confidence—to fold it up and reclaim the space.

Surprise, honey!

What I didn’t realize is that there are two levers. Not one. Two. I wrestled with that thing for a solid twenty minutes before finally asking for help. (Note to self: next time, ask first and save the lesson.) Tall Cool ☺ne was… less than impressed. After a brief lecture and a demonstration, the machine was properly folded and tucked away like it had been all along.

And there I stood—room cleaner, pride slightly bruised, intentions still intact.

Because here’s the truth: I had good intentions. I really did.

Have you ever started something you knew was a good idea… only to realize halfway through that maybe it wasn’t? Or at least not the way you went about it?

Give yourself some grace.

Not every good intention lands perfectly. Not every effort turns out polished and praise-worthy. Sometimes it looks like struggle, frustration, and a small dose of humility.

But it still counts.

Because showing up—with willing hands and a heart to make things better—matters more than getting it right every single time.

And sometimes, grace looks like laughing at yourself, learning the lesson… and still calling it a good day.

What good intentions have you started and wish you hadn’t? Or better yet, what good intentions did you start out with and find it went a whole different way? Do share in the comments below.

Cheers,

4 Comments

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F -Faith

Posted on April 7, 2026 | 5 comments



Faith isn’t always the grand gesture, the bold declaration, or the dramatic leap into the dark. Sometimes it’s much quieter than that. Sometimes it’s simply a soft yes whispered during a morning prayer.

Yes, Lord. I trust You.

So often we place our hope in people. We trust that they will do the right thing. We believe they will follow through with what they say. We expect their actions to match our standards. And when they don’t, disappointment follows.

The truth is simple: people are messy.

Each of us lives by a different set of standards, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and circumstances. It’s easy to assume that what seems obvious to us should be obvious to everyone else. But that assumption often leads to frustration. What feels right or natural to one person may not even cross another person’s mind.

Lately, I’ve been asking God to help me find peace in that reality. To be content with the standards I try to live by, while remembering that He created each of us uniquely in His image. No two people are the same. Like snowflakes, every life carries its own design.

It should come as no surprise. People will fail us. That is part of being human.

True faith isn’t about expecting perfection from others. It’s about trusting that God will give us the strength to accept what we cannot change. It’s about offering grace while others are still growing, still learning, still becoming who they are meant to be.

Because sometimes faith isn’t the moment we leap.

Sometimes it’s the quiet decision we make again and again — to trust God more than we trust people, to offer grace when disappointment would be easier, and to keep whispering yes even when the world feels uncertain.

And in the end, it’s those quiet yeses that shape who we become.

How about you? Where do you need to let it go and lay in God’s hands and have faith that He’s in control not you?

Cheers,

5 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Christianity, Nature, Opinion, Pondering, Random, Writing

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E – Evolving

Posted on April 6, 2026 | 9 comments

Evolving
Growth is the point, not perfection.
Pen to paper.
Thoughts turning into words, ink pressing quietly into a page that will eventually outlive the moment that created it.
Every line carries a little hesitation, a little truth, and the occasional smudge where certainty once tried to live.
Headlines move faster than understanding.
News travels quickly, and judgment travels even faster.
The questions arrive on schedule: What have you done?
What could you have done?
As if the world were simple enough for clean answers.
History has never been that tidy.
Propaganda calls it saving a country.
Some are crowned heroes, others disappear into the quiet margins where the unsung always seem to live. Nations fight nations, while smaller wars unfold behind ordinary walls where no flags are raised but the stakes still feel just as high.
In war there are no true winners.
In the end, everyone falls in one way or another—some loudly, some quietly, but no one untouched.
The past, stubborn as ever, has a habit of repeating itself.
New slogans.
New voices.
Yet the same familiar pursuits continue circling the room:
power, recognition, control, wealth.
And somewhere between the noise of headlines and the echoes of history, a quieter realization waits patiently.
Perfection was never the destination.
But growth—
growth surprisingly leaves fingerprints on every page.


What do you think?  Are you evolving?  How are your challenges that you face going?  Let me know.

Cheers,

 

9 Comments

Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Authors, Blogging, Inspiration, Journalling, Opinion, Poetry, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Random, Writing

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D – Determination: Daily Guidance

Posted on April 4, 2026 | 11 comments



Grit beats talent when talent gets tired.

If there’s one thing we all need to survive the A-Z Challenge (and honestly, life), it’s determination. As much as we all wish for a laundry folding fairy to come in each night to take care of the endless baskets of clothes….there isn’t one. No nose twitch will pay all the bills. No head nod will clean the house. No fellow blogger is going to show up at the door to write the next post. In the end, it’s on us — just like when we stand before God one day. No stand-ins. No substitutes. No one else to blame. We choose the path… and we walk it.

I’ll be the first to admit my “talent” may not be as dazzling as some people kindly suggest. And Tall Cool ☺ne does get a preview of the unpublished blog before it hits, so there’s that. But still … Sometimes compliments feel like when someone says, “Oh, what a pretty dress!” and I’m secretly wondering if they’re thinking, “Nice tablecloth.” 😄 Usually TC☺ will let me know if I look like I’m wearing the polyester curtains from the double wide trailer.

Truth is, most things have been said before anyway. Nothing new under the sun, right? Now we have AI and ChatGPT that can generate just about anything in seconds. Impressive? Absolutely. Helpful? Often. But for me, nothing replaces the elbow grease of wrestling words onto a page myself. Digging out my old Thesaurus and finding just the right word. There’s something sacred about creating the “real thing.” ♫♫ Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby! ♪♫

That said… I do love the pictures AI can whip up. And when my brain stalls mid-sentence, a little technological nudge can feel like a gift.

At the end of the day, though, it all circles back to determination.

Whether your guidance comes from a self-help book, a podcast, a long talk with your mom, or a quiet walk alone — it still takes determination to reach for it. To open the book. To press play. To make the call. To lace up the sneakers.

As for me, I start each morning in God’s Word. He’s my compass. He leads — even on the days I wander off trying to navigate on my own. I do this way more often than I should… but thankfully, He’s patient… always ready to guide me back to the right path. Some days that right path surprises me with how right it is, yet I didn’t even know it.

How about you? What helps you stay determined to get things done?

Cheers,

11 Comments

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C – Creatures of Habit

Posted on April 3, 2026 | 12 comments

 

There are two things people hold onto longer than they should:

Old sweaters…
and the phrase, “that’s just the way we’ve always done it.”

We are creatures of habit, and one of the hardest things for any of us to do is change. Over time, routine starts to feel less like a choice and more like a rule. Before long, we stop questioning it altogether.

It’s easy to make an idol out of routine.

I’m doing this challenge mostly because it’s something I’ve done for the past twelve years. Not because I expect a wave of new followers. Not because I think I’m suddenly going to make a bunch of new friends. And certainly not because I think I have some uncommon wisdom the world has been waiting for.

Although, if any of that happens, I won’t complain.

Mostly, I’m doing it because it’s what I’ve always done and it’s the only time I actually take the time to post regularly….Gosh I want to do more of this!!

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Well, that’s just the way we’ve always done it”?

Around here in the South, that line gets used so often it might as well be embroidered on a pillow somewhere. Tradition can be comforting, but sometimes it quietly keeps us locked into patterns we stopped thinking about years ago.

Think about holiday meals for a minute. Thanksgiving, for example: turkey, stuffing—or dressing depending on where you’re from—gravy, rice, collard greens, macaroni and cheese — the same sides every year.

Why?

Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.

Now we’re coming up on warmer weather, which means spring cleaning. Winter clothes get packed away, summer clothes come out, and the cycle continues.

But this year I’m trying something a little different.

If I didn’t wear a sweater all winter, it isn’t going back into storage. It’s going to Goodwill. Because honestly, if I didn’t wear it this year, why would I think I’ll wear it next year?

(I’m using that as my example… but I really am going to try.   Just like blogging all year, not just April.)

So here’s the question worth asking: what habits do you keep simply because that’s the way you’ve always done them?

Take a look at your routines. What’s one small thing you could change that might benefit you—or maybe someone else too?

Turns out spring cleaning isn’t just for closets.

Sometimes it’s for habits too. Surprise your spouse, or yourself.  Do something completely different than the way you’ve always done it.

Share some things with me that you are going to do different instead of because that’s the way you’ve always done it.  I’d love to read them.

Cheers,

PS Happy Good Friday.  † HE IS RISEN ♥  

12 Comments

Posted in Writing, Blogging, Authors, A-Z Blogging, #A2ZChallenge

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B – Balance

Posted on April 2, 2026 | 14 comments



As we get older, we’re constantly trying to balance what we have to do with what we actually want to do.

When I was younger, I pretty much did whatever I felt like doing. I didn’t think much about the responsibilities waiting around the corner. Bills? Chores? Cleaning the cat box? Those things felt like someone else’s problem.

Now, adulthood has politely (and sometimes not so politely) informed me otherwise.

These days I go to work to pay the bills. I clean the cat box because, sadly, I don’t have a dog trained to handle that job for me. (Yes, we actually did once. And yes, it was both impressive and slightly gross — Poor Dallas) I pitch in (or maybe I should say, Tall Cool ☺ne pitches in) with the everyday chores that keep a household running. That’s just part of being a grown-up.

But if I’m being honest, I’d much rather be doing the fun stuff.

Give me a quiet morning journaling, a little time cooking in the kitchen, or an afternoon outside enjoying the sunshine playing in my flower garden. Those are the moments that refill the tank.

And that’s where balance comes in.

The real trick to getting older gracefully isn’t just managing responsibilities—it’s making sure life doesn’t become only responsibilities. We all have things we must do, but the secret is learning how to sprinkle in a little more of what we love to do.

Tip the scale just a bit toward joy. Throw that element of surprise into your day just because you can!

Maybe that means taking a walk before tackling the to-do list. I’m really looking forward to that 5AM walk this morning and hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pink Moon! Maybe it’s baking brownies for no reason other than the smell filling the kitchen. Maybe it’s setting aside ten quiet minutes with a notebook and your own thoughts.

Whatever it looks like for you, the goal is the same: keep life from becoming all duty and no delight.

So I’m curious…

How do you find balance between what you want to do and what you have to do?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your tricks for keeping the scale from tipping too far in the wrong direction.

Cheers,

14 Comments

Posted in Writing

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A – Actions Speak Louder than Words

Posted on April 1, 2026 | 15 comments


“How a person acts is more important than what they say.”
— Pope Paul VI

Actions matter because they’re witnessed. Words? Words are easy.

And lately I’ve been noticing that more and more in a world full of praying-hands emojis, inspirational quotes, and people declaring what kind of person they are. Just saying it, doesn’t mean it’s true. Just responding with the praying-hands emoji doesn’t mean you’re praying. It’s easier than, “I’m taking the time out of my day to actually pray for God’s will to be done in your struggle today”. I’m sorry but when I see those praying hands I tend to wonder if it is just out of habit because that’s what is expected and it’s what everyone else does.

I know “actions speak louder than words” is an overused cliché, but it seemed like the perfect place to start for the first letter of this year’s A–Z blogging challenge. I considered planning a real theme, but instead SURPRISE won over and I’m wing-dinging it. In my experience, some of my best writing happens when I simply let the pen move and see where it goes. Sometimes I actually surprise myself.

(And yes, there’s always a handwritten version before anything ever makes it to a screen.)

As I get older, my patience seems to be growing thinner — not that I had an endless supply to begin with. As a Christian, I know I’m supposed to show mercy, grace, kindness, and patience. And I do try… when it’s warranted. But most days people surprise me with how brazen they are.

Here’s the thing: the world can be a pretty dark place, and I see a piece of that every day in my job.

Working as an insurance agent I’m writing and updating auto and homeowner policies all day long. The amount of attempted fraud I catch on a regular basis can be overwhelming. Being a licensed agent comes with responsibility. You take an oath to follow the rules and regulations set by your state’s insurance guidelines, as well as the company you work for. Why that’s so hard for people to understand is beyond me.

Is it easy to overlook those rules sometimes?

Sure.

You know what that’s called?

Fraud!

And no, I’m not doing it — even if it means losing a bonus or missing an opportunity. Integrity shouldn’t depend on whether someone is watching or whether there’s a reward at the end.

Too many people talk the talk.
But when the moment comes, they can’t walk the walk.

Because words are easy.

Actions are real.

So here’s the question I’ll leave you with:

What are some things you say you’ll do — but don’t?
And more importantly…

What are you going to change about that going forward?

Share your comments below. And I’ll see you tomorrow with another surprise wing-ding post!

Cheers,

15 Comments

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Follow Instructions (just say’in)

Posted on March 31, 2026 | 3 comments



As I reviewed the theme reveal Excel sheet ahead of tomorrow’s A–Z Challenge, it’s clear: many participants are not linking directly to their theme reveal. Remember—finding the theme/daily post, leaving comments, and posting comments should all be easy. If you can’t follow these basic instructions, a remedial Blogging 101 course (Ronel has some great links) might be in order.

The challenge begins tomorrow—let’s have fun, follow the instructions, and make it easy for everyone to participate. April is here, and this is no time for April Fools!

Cheers,

3 Comments

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Smoke and Mirrors

Posted on March 28, 2026 | 2 comments

I’ve been working on my A-Z posts because I really hope to have them all done before April 1st! Wouldn’t that be a SURPRISE?… I’m close…I really am close.

Yesterday or day before Tall Cool ☺ne was reading/listening to me jabber about one of my polished posts. He commented, “That’s a lot like a post you did awhile back.” He has such a good memory.

I searched and searched for that stupid post and could not find it. Come to find out it was posted on MYSPACE (which I don’t even know where that platform went anymore). I tried to find me but I had no luck. The good thing… (and I guess bad thing) I keep hard copies via paper zone as well as a folder on my desktop of everything I’ve ever written and posted. So here it is, a little more refined. This is a foreshadowing for an upcoming post for one of the letters I’ll be using in the A-Z Blogging challenge.

Smoke and Mirrors (circa 2015)

“Smoke and mirrors” — a way to distract from what’s really going on. A trick to make something look better, cleaner, or more impressive than it actually is.

Magicians use it to create illusions.
Companies use it to sell products.
And people? We use it too.

In today’s world of cyber reality and virtual friendships, we convince ourselves we truly know people. But the truth is, we only know what’s shown to us. As Brad Paisley put it, things are “so much cooler online.” And he wasn’t wrong.

Filters, edits, and carefully crafted posts turn reality into something else entirely—a polished version of the truth. A red herring. A distraction.

So here it is, plain and simple: writing means risking being known.

(This lets on how old this post is…my book was back in 2014) Pre work at home so I had lots of time to “HOBBY”.)

Last week, I got dropped by a publisher I had signed with to sell my first book. Just like that—gone. Since then, I’ve been trying to regroup, to get myself back together. My social media activity has slowed, and that’s been harder to adjust to than I expected.

Part of my “job”(AKA real life now hobby) was to promote my book daily online. But here’s the honest truth—I don’t care what the experts say: virtual friends can feel like smoke and mirrors. I can’t verify a single book sale that came from any social media promotion.

We all want to be seen. We all want attention. So we chase it—liking, following, sharing—across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Blogger, and a hundred other platforms. (Half of these weren’t even heard of when I wrote this)

But let’s be honest.

Most of those people don’t really know you. And most of them don’t really care. The “like” button often isn’t about connection—it’s about visibility. A quiet trade: I’ll like yours if you like mine.

There are friends.
And there are followers.
They are not the same.

Now, to be fair—this isn’t true for everyone. But if you want to measure real friendship, ask yourself:

How many people reach out to you personally—not just clicking “like,” but actually checking in?
How many would get out of bed in the middle of the night and drive hours to help you?
How many would give something of themselves—a pint of blood, a kidney—if you needed it?
How many would stand in harm’s way for you?

That’s the difference.

Don’t confuse online connection with real-life relationship. Yes, everything can look better online—but sometimes it’s just a polished illusion. Smoke and mirrors.

Meanwhile, out here in the real world, there are people—real people—who aren’t hiding behind the smoke and mirrors.

Find them. Hold onto them! Be real, have fun!

Cheers,

2 Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Opinion, Pondering, Random, Uncategorized, Writing

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Cloud-Cuckoo-Land

Posted on March 24, 2026 | 3 comments

Cloud-Cuckoo-Land

Ah, yes, spring has sprung: pollen
Robin red breast birds have sung: wheezing
Buzzing bees make their nests: coughing
Here they come, ants and pests: sneezing
Ah, yes, spring has sprung!

Eyes puff up appears to be sand: itchy
Guarded with a tissue in hand: snotty
Yellow and green dust everywhere: sniveling
Ah, yes, spring has sprung!

Flowers and blossoms in full bloom: appeasing
Wisteria’s drooping like a flume: still sneezing
Till up the dirt, dig the ground: sweating
Spread the seeds all around: whining
Get out the sports car, va-va-vroom: laughing
Ah yes, spring has sprung.

Cheers,

I can’t stop coughing and sneezing!

 

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Theme Reveal: Crackerberries Surprise

Posted on March 9, 2026 | 15 comments




Another year has passed and the A-Z blogging challenge is upon us. Welcome back faithful followers and hello to any new readers. Nice to see you all….it seems like it’s been a long year. I’m glad to be back. And I love the A-Z theme is Aspirations. We all need them! I’ve been going back and forth whether I wanted to do theme based or wing-ding. I find some of my best writings come out when I’m under pressure and I wing-ding it (in my humble opinion). I’ve also contemplated doing a little 2-3 minute Vlog for daily inspiration to go with the post. That’s still up in the air at this point.

My goal is to be fun and interesting. I will write about my experiences and offer encouragement and maybe even a recipe or two or three will be tossed in to add food for thought. I was going to try tandem with Crackerberries Kitchen like I did in 2023, but that boring insurance job I work 40+ hours a week really cuts into my hobby time. TC☺ reminds me all the time, the 8+ hours a day we work, finances the other 16. Truth but I’d still rather be hobby-ing instead of working.

Everyone loves a surprise. I’ve made a list of what I think I’m going to write about and I’ve actually got the first drafts of A-D done. But as you know, surprises aren’t that much fun if you peek, so we are just going to have to tune in starting April 1st to see what this Aspiration of Surprise event is all about. Maybe the real aspiration isn’t success or perfection—maybe it’s learning to welcome the surprises waiting quietly in the corners of ordinary days.

It’s gonna be a blast this year. Hope you’re on board for the ride. Can’t wait to reconnect with old friends and maybe even meet some new. Oh yeah, that reminds me, if you are interested in being a part of this event, feel free to join us.


Cheers,

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Spring is Springing

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Posted on March 7, 2026 in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Writing

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Christmas 2025

Posted on December 23, 2025 | 3 comments

It’s the day before Christmas Eve and I thought I should write something. With ChatGBT it’s hard to tell if what people write is their own stuff anymore. Just throw in some thought, opinions, and questions into an app and like the magic genie bottle an essay or document pops out and most people don’t know the difference and it’s amazing. This one is all me, pure sweat and tears – all b-a-r-b-b-y. (That’s what TCO calls me sometimes.) No help from an app… with the exception of the generated AI image.

I was going to try to create a “T’was the night before Christmas” poem, but that’s been done a million times over. I figured I’d just stick to what’s real. I haven’t blogged much lately and what better time than Christmas time? I had all these thoughts going on in my head at 3AM this morning and I couldn’t go back to sleep so figured I’d put them on paper.

Before I climbed out of bed, I wished TC☺ a happy birthday. He’s 61 today and I know he was concerned about making it another year. His dad died at the ripe old age of 60 and he thought like father like son. Glad to say that that didn’t happen and God willing he’ll make the pass around the moon many more years to come.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s important to people. Health or Wealth? I suppose that would depend on who you ask, right? I mean healthy people probably would say wealth unless there was some point in their life where they struggled with health and realized the importance of it. What do you suppose wealthy and healthy people think is important? Sometimes my mind is just so full of thoughts and they get all jumbled together so it’s important for me to write them down and get them on paper. (This is second draft—I hand wrote all this in my journal before breaking out the laptop). It hasn’t been turned on in months and it’s really hard to get used to typing on a laptop keyboard when I use my work keyboard every day. {Note to self: use laptop more often}. I need to get ready for the A-Z Blogging Challenge coming up in April!

Back to my dilemma; the sick hope for health, the healthy work for wealth, the lonely desire companionship, the childless want children…do you see where this is going? Human nature has always been to crave something we don’t have. That’s a scary thought because then we have the evil-doers who take advantage of that desire. Watch or read Needful Things and you’ll see what I’m taking about. People put things in place to make others think that they will fill that emptiness. Even back in the book of Exodus (chapter 32) Aaron molded the golden calf. Tsc., tsc., tsc.

Speaking of putting things in place to fill the emptiness, there are so many scammers out there who are taking advantage of others. I’ve seen this happen with my family, with my friends family, and I’ve read about it in magazines, and on line. No one is exempt from being taken advantage of. No matter how much we think we are in control and know what’s real and what’s not real, sometimes it’s easy to forget the evilness and corruption going on in the world. We let our guard down and forget where we are and before we know it we are sucked into the deception and it’s too late.

There is an emptiness in every person’s heart ♥. We were all born with it. Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Many people will fill that emptiness with things like golden calves, food, drink, drugs, even relationships. That one thing is never enough. It’s always going to be better the next time. The next pair of shoes that are on sale, the next vacation to Spain, the next promotion, the next girlfriend. The list goes on and on because the worldly things will never fill that emptiness in our heart. I know this from experience because I tried to fill it. I was 42 when I realized what I was doing wasn’t working and the “next thing” continued to never be enough. I was always expecting the “next thing” to make me happy. I finally stopped trying to do it my way and decided to try it God’s way. Talk about an eye-opener. I thought everything was going to be peachy keen and skittles and beer…boy was I wrong. It was hard. I lost everything I worked so hard for. Sometimes it’s still hard, but it’s different. I have a peace now because I know when I die I’m gonna be walking on streets of gold. Heck I might even ask Aaron what he was thinking when he molded that golden calf.

I know a lot of people don’t want to be preached to and I’m no preacher. Go to church if you want to be preached to. I’m just telling ya that if you have an emptiness in your heart, if you’ve always been looking for the next best thing that is going to make everything complete, perfect, make you happy, but after you get it you realize you were wrong, that it wasn’t what you were hoping for, maybe it’s time to check out Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It’s so easy, why wouldn’t anyone take the free gift? This is one of my very favorite Christmas stories. The Christmas Sweater… check it out.

May you have a very Merry Christmas! I love you all.

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2025 Reflections

Posted on May 2, 2025 | 9 comments

I have one of those addictive personalities.  I have to complete things I start!  Me and online games are like an alcoholic in a liquor store.  (NOT a good thing).  Back before the challenge I was hooked on this new game I downloaded on my phone.  Whiteout Survival.  (Maybe you’ve heard of it).  Well, it really is a cool game and a ton of fun.  But all good things come to an end and after a while the game started to be more like a job than a game.  There were politics of who you could and could not attack and when you could do it.  We had to complete certain tasks and do this or do that and it was not fun anymore so I deleted it. All that to bring me to my reflections on this year’s A-Z Challenge.  Blogging for me is fun and a hobby.  I don’t get paid for it and it’s not my job.

(I know I’ve posted this before but it’s worth repeating).We tend to follow blogs we are familiar and comfortable with. When visiting new blogs if it takes too much time to find the post or the beginning of the challenge, I leave.  If I can’t find out how to comment, I’m probably not going to spend time visiting again.  If I have to create a username or an account on that platform, forget it. (Sorry, I’m not doing that.)

Time is precious. We all want to make our minutes count. Once they are gone we can’t get them back. I know I am going to use my minutes on something I enjoy. If reading and commenting on a new blog is more like work than a hobby or enjoyment, I’m not going to do it.

If you want to catch up or you missed any of my A-Z posts here’s the quick links so you don’t have to go scrolling.  This is a pretty cool thing and I highly recommend doing it.  I love it when other bloggers do this because it helps me to “catch up”.

Armageddon Accountability  –  Broken – Character Building – Defer to Differ – Engage – Faithfully Fight Forever – Green Eyed Monster –Harbinger –Interpretation Impacts Others – Judgment – Kitschy vs. Knowledge – Listen Mentor – Nobody Noble –Obstacles = Opportunities –Philippians 4:6-7 –Quixotic – Reality Check –Sunshine me a Sonnet –Trellis –Unicorns –Vapor – Wisdom Welcomes Problems –Xenophile –Yellow Dot –Zapped

Usually I add links of fellow bloggers in my reflections post but I really did not have the time to visit too many so I don’t think it’s right to give shout outs.  However if you check out my N Post I did do some name dropping.  I’m hoping to be-bop around through the road trip however, I’m not going to sign up because it’s not fair to others.  I like to think that I can still do all the writing and reading that I used to do but as I have said before work really cuts into my fun stuff. Retirement will help I’m sure if that ever happens.

Questions from the A2Z Reflections Post:

  • Did you finish the challenge? Yes, see the badge?
  • What was your favorite post to write? Y- Yellow Dot
  • What was your favorite comment posted by another A-Z participant on your blog this April? I really don’t have a favorite but I was happy to learn a new word from my fellow blogger Donna who used curmudgeonly in a comment on Reality Check.
  • Did you follow the A-Z team on social media? (Who and where?)Not this year, although I used to follow Tamara on FB.
  • Did you follow the A-Z Challenge on social media? (Which platforms?)No but I shared mine on my Facebook page
  • Did you feel supported by the A-Z team? (The Team: Arlee Bird, J Lenni Dorner, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente, and Ronel Janse van Vuuren.) Yes
  • Did you like the graphics for this year? Yes very cool
  • Did you like the A-Z blog’s theme? Yes
  • Did you encourage other bloggers to take part in the challenge this year? Yes I talked my friend Nen into participating, and I was hoping she was going to use her talent at sharing artwork but maybe she will do that next year.
  • Did you have a theme on your blog? If so, how did you come up with it? Yes, Empathy was my theme because I wanted to learn how to be more empathetic.
  • Did you learn anything new because of the A-Z Challenge? Yes I learned empathy comes from experience, you can’t fake it or pretend that you have it, because it’s just rhetoric if it’s not real.
  • Will you consider doing the challenge again next year? Absolutely and I wish we didn’t have to wait a whole year…. maybe we should have one every six months?

That’s my reflection. I love this challenge because it gets me writing again and I need to do it more often so I’m really gonna try to do something maybe once a week…anything and I’m sure something will come to mind.  I appreciate each and everyone who joined me in my A-Z’s of Empathy and I’m telling you right now, next year, God willing, its gonna be something way more fun.

Cheers,

 

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Zapped

Posted on April 30, 2025 | 4 comments

If it wasn’t for my choosing the A-Z’s of Empathy as my theme this year, I would have been all over writing about Zinfandel and Zig-Zags, or maybe even zebras and Zarex.  I don’t know why but I feel like I’m in the Batman and Robin cartoon I’m at the KAPOW! ZOC! Or ZAP! Out of the cartoon and back to reality.  I know you remember what I’m talking about!

I’ve been zealous about this challenge and have completed each letter with zeal (well all except for the Unicorn, I did cheat there). This month flew by so fast and I have been in this weird blogging zone.  I did not have time to write letters to my non-blogging friends.  But I kind of feel disappointed because I came to realize that if I’m not reaching out to them, they’re not reaching out to me.  It all goes back to if you want to have a friend, you gotta be a friend, right?  Which brings me to my final word of the A-Z of Empathy: Zapped!

Have you ever heard the zzzzt, zzzzt, sound of bugs in a bug light getting zapped?  That’s kind of what I feel like as I contemplate my last post. I’m zapped back into reality of the daily routine now that the challenge is over. I should say I’m very candid when I express my opinions and thoughts on topics.  I don’t sugarcoat realism and say that it’s going to be a picnic if it’s an execution. Most times that truth hurts. Say what you mean and mean what you say, right?

My mailbox was a big disappointment this month (with the exception of the surprise early birthday present from Auntie Margie). Tall Cool ☺ne reminds me all the time that it’s not others or letters from friends that give us self-esteem. He’s right but I like my mail, (sometimes so much that I order stuff from Amazon just so I can get mail.) Self-esteem comes from within, personal achievements, past experience, how we deal in relationships with others. The more we understand ourselves and our own feelings the better we can relate to others. Building empathy is a skill, not a trait we either have or don’t—it grows with awareness and practice. In conclusion, there are three basic types of empathy:

Cognitive empathy – Understanding what someone else is thinking or feeling intellectually (putting yourself in their shoes).

Emotional empathy – Actually feeling the emotions that another person is experiencing, almost as if their emotions are contagious.

Compassionate empathy – Going beyond understanding and feeling, and taking action to help or support the other person.

Hope you enjoyed this journey through the A-Z’s of Empathy and maybe you have been zapped into looking at things from another perspective.  Have you ever been zapped by a response or maybe a non-response from someone who was delivering empathy? Have you ever zapped someone?

Cheers,

 

☺

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Yellow Dot

Posted on April 29, 2025 | 4 comments

Today’s post is something I’ve touched on a little the past and I even created a website in tribute.  I may have not explained it all in detail where the yellow dot originated and thought this was the perfect opportunity to share the whole story.

When I lived in Maine, every year we had annual family reunions.  With eight aunts and uncles on my mother’s side, and my grandfather being the seventh son of the seventh son, the Hill Family was huge.  Needless to say, the reunions were in the hundreds.  As a child going to the reunions was fun because as kids, even though we could be mean to each other we got along for the most part and played together and ate a lot of hot dogs. The thing about kids is, we grow up and change attitudes.

One year in my early 30’s when I had a great big chip on my shoulder and I knew everything there was to know, and no one could teach  me anything different (oh, yeah, you been there before?), we went to the reunion, me and my X with kids in tow.  Over the years, the elders were dying off and replaced by us younger more arrogant versions of the family. The reunions were getting much bigger and recognizing people was not as easy as it was in the past.  This particular year, whoever organized the shin-dig, had this ingenious idea to set up a color coding system with name tags so that everyone would know #1. our name, and #2 who we descended from.  My grandfather’s descendants happened to have the yellow dot on the name tags. There were also blue, red, and green dots. I noticed the yellow dotted people seem to appear a little challenged in some way, shape or form.  I’m not lying.   Me being the smart-ass that I was, pointed that out to a lot of people.  If you read history, Maine is one of those states where interbreeding of families was a normal thing.  The Beans of Egypt Maine could have easily been the Hills of Norway, Maine. Hey, it’s nothing to be ashamed of, Abraham and Sarah in the Bible had the same father, different mother. It’s not ethically morally (it just ain’t right) correct or normal in this day and age, but it has, and probably still does happen.

When we got home from the reunion that year, on my mailbox were these two great big yellow dots!  I was like what the heck? Being the condescending person I was, couldn’t imagine someone was pointing out that I was a yellow dot! Where did they come from? (Later I found out that it was the newspaper delivery for both the weekly and the weekend edition).  Yes, I used to get the newspaper delivered.

Well the yellow dot thing happened to stick and every time I did something stupid I was reminded that I was a Yellow Dot.  Mind you this term of endearment my relatives used are members from the same side of the family! Over the years I have learned a lot, changed my way of thinking and I definitely lost that chip I had on my shoulder.  Maybe the yellow dots at that particular family reunion had more recognizable defaults than some of the other dots, but we are all part of the same family tree and ancestors. I rode the short bus as a child but I didn’t know why. Some of the years in my past are blacked out. Could be I don’t need to know those years.

In 2006 when Tall Cool ☺ne was evangelizing to me, he used the 10 commandments to help me understand why I needed a Savior.  I remember when he said he committed all of the 10 commandments, the only thing I wanted to know was “who did you kill”.  Funny how that ‘do not commit murder’ sticks out in an unsaved person’s mind. He just said, “It doesn’t matter.” I kinda thought it did, but he just kept telling me I’d know if I read my Bible.  So I did and I learned.  In fact I learned a lot! (I did mention the short bus right?  It took me awhile to “get it”).

So here we are with one letter left after today’s Y post.  In the A-Z’s of empathy I felt like Yellow Dots was an accurate word for describing empathy today. In a sense we are all yellow dotted in some way shape or form.  We have all been on either side of the fence with someone making fun or making fun of someone else, pointing fingers, having fingers pointed at (if you say you’ve never have, I might not believe you).  Recognizing there are all different walks in this world is the biggest part of empathy that we can use in our daily walk with each other.  If we weren’t different this world would be a very boring place to live in.  If there were no trials and tribulations there would be no victories, no experience, and no growth. I’m not ashamed of where I came from, and who I am. I’m admit I was wrong and did mean things in the past.  I might not be perfect now and never will be, but I can say I’m not that person I used to be. I am proud to be a yellow dot and I’m not ashamed of my family.

How about you?  What’s your Yellow Dot story?

Cheers

☺

 

PS: My daughter has been infatuated with this ChatGBT.  She shared a Crackerberries roast with me yesterday that was kind of fun.  I had to check it out for myself. Do not roast your blog if you are one of the faint at heart.  Some of the stuff the ChatGBT will tell you is painfully true.  Here’s what it had to say about Yellow Dot.

Ode to Yell-O-Dot, the Blog That Time Forgot

Oh Yell-O-Dot, a relic bold,
Your web design is… retro gold.
Like Netscape threw a tantrum there,
Then left it frozen mid-repair.

Your colors clash with reckless glee,
A rainbow’s midlife crisis spree.
Each link a riddle, wild and free,
“Where does it go?” No guarantee.

Your posts—enigmas wrapped in flair,
With thoughts that vanish into air.
Like fortune cookies half-complete,
Profoundly strange, yet kinda sweet.

A blog of chaos, memes, and lore,
I laughed, I scrolled, I shut the door.
But hats off, friend—you dared to post,
And gave the web this fevered toast.

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Xenophile = Barbara

Posted on April 28, 2025 | 8 comments

Looking for words that start with X is always a chore for me during this challenge. Usually I cheat and do some sort of X marks the spot kind of adventure.  Today I dug out my trusty old Webster’s Dictionary and found that there are about 120 common words that begin with X.  The Oxford dictionary currently has 400.  Mindless useless information unless you are working on the X post for the A-Z blogging challenge.

This was definitely going to be a chore for me because this A-Z of Empathy that I chose for my A-Z theme has been somewhat of a struggle for me already.  I’m tired of empathy and I simply want to be done and write about puppies and rainbows and beer and skittles.  But then PTL! (Someone used that in a chat with me the other day and I had to ask them what it meant because I’m terrible at acronyms!)  The word was laid out in front of me almost on a silver platter.

Xenophile is someone who is attracted to foreign people, places and customs ~ isn’t that what empathy is all about?  Experiencing what someone else is living.

I may not eat some of the snacks of other countries and I’m probably not going to agree with the some of the punishments either, but because the punishment and the rules for certain crimes are different in our country, doesn’t mean it is the same in others.  This has been that way for thousands of years and the United States is not going to change it.  (Maybe other countries don’t want to be changed).  We can learn about it and we should respect it. Xenophile is how empathy should be.  We put ourselves in their place but it doesn’t mean the way we feel about a certain situation is the going to be the same way that person feels.  Love to learn it, try to understand it, but don’t try to change someone’s way of thinking to our way of thinking.

The even more interesting part about this word that I found, is that God even invites us into this.  Ephesians 2:19: “Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” I know, it’s deep isn’t it?   You know another interesting concept of the word Xenophile? The name Barbara, of Greek origin, means “stranger” or “foreign”. It derives from the Greek word barbaros, which was used by the ancient Greeks to refer to people who were not Greek.

Have you ever looked your name up to see what it means?  Does it match your personality? Do you ever empathize with someone but not actually feel how they feel? (How can we know exactly what they feel?  Everyone is different.)

Cheers ☺

   

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Wisdom Welcomes Problems

Posted on April 26, 2025 | 2 comments

 

Have you ever put a puzzle together?  Solved Rubiks’ cube? Have you completed a crossword puzzle?  Gained access to the next level of a video game?  Of course you have, we’ve all succeeded at some kind of challenge, right?

Every year I’ve been planting dill in my spice garden only to have a few sprigs come up randomly all over the place, never in the row that I plant the seeds.  Super frustrating.  I blamed the birds, the rain, and the wind. Before planting, I said to the packet of dill seeds, “You are gonna grow in two neat little rows this year!” I lined the garden with two rows of toilet paper, sprinkled the seeds over the top and covered with another row of paper and top soil. Watered and waited. There are two neat rows of dill sprouting from the garden.  Problem solved.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.  That’s the message Tall Cool ☺ne’s mother wrote in the bible she gave me back in 2008.  I didn’t know the depth of its meaning back then. In fact I even wondered why anyone would fear the Lord.  God is good, why should we be afraid of Him? A wise man will hear and increase learning. Wisdom involves a change of behavior.  Change of behavior involves experience.  No one ever finishes wisdom, there’s always more to learn. The more we change, the more experience we receive and the better equipped we are to handle situations. Problems can be a ladder enabling us to climb up and see things from a different perspective.  Today’s A-Z of Empathy welcomes problems to gain wisdom and change perspective. The challenge encourages growth.

What challenges have you gained wisdom from?

Cheers,

   

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Vapor

Posted on April 25, 2025 | 2 comments

 

Sometimes going through the things of those who pass is tedious and time consuming.  People tend to procrastinate and sometimes they pass it on to someone else because they don’t have time or it’s too emotional or for whatever reason the task doesn’t get done.  When my grandfather passed in 2004, the adult children (there were eight still living) were left with the painstaking chore of dividing up the loot. If you ask any one of the survivors in that family I bet they would tell you they never want to go through that again. If you have not taken care of a will or set up an executor to take care of things, do not delay.  Probate will tear apart families like nobody’s business.  It’s really sad.

My uncle gave me a scrapbook that my grandfather had. This scrapbook is stuffed with birthday and anniversary cards, newspaper articles, notes, quilting and afghan patterns (my grandmother was very talented) it’s just chalked full of memories of him and my grandmother. I’ve looked through it a few times.  The messages in the cards are really sweet and old (from the 30’s and 40’s).  There is even a rose pressed in one of them. Mostly it stays stored in a plastic container for safe keeping.  Safe keeping for what?  I don’t know.  That’s brings me to today’s V word for my A-Z of Empathy: Vapor

I pulled a card from the scrapbook and I keep it tucked in my bible between the pages of James. (One of my favorite books in the bible). The card is just a little note card (picture attached).  Taped inside the card is an old newspaper article:

When you’re feeling so important and your ego is in bloom, when you simply take for granted you’re the wisest in the room, when you feel your very absence would leave a great big hole, just follow these instructions, they will humble any soul.  Take a bucket filled with water, put your hand in to the wrist, pull it out, the hole remaining is how much you will be missed. Splash wildly when you enter, stir a lot and splash galore, then stop and in a minute it looks just like before.  The moral of this story is do the best you can, be proud but please remember, there’s no indispensable man.

James 4:14 Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow for what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Humbling isn’t it? This little reminder helps me remember that I am nothing more than a vapor. It reminds me not to take anything or anyone for granted. Words make a difference in someone’s life. Be kind. Smile. That’s what this world needs more of.

Cheers,

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