There once was a saying " don't judge a person until you walked a mile in their shoes ", I know from experience the pride this lady had to swallow to ask for help. This Holiday season will be a shock for us Americans that will experience, see, hear of or be part of mass poverty at a huge scale. We seem to be able to bale out the very Rich and Well off out of trouble, then our leaders turn into people like this grocer and turn their backs on the needy and helpless.

Remember those that have and remember those that helped. Now is the time to see what we Americans are about.

Thank you for the soap box.

MAWOY

Richard W.


GROCERY LIST

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.

She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.

Visualizing the family needs, she swallowed any pride that she may have still had and said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

”Well okay,” the grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"

Louise replied, "Yes sir."
“O.K" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer both showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.

It was not a grocery list … it was a prayer, which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store.
The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, "This was worth every penny … only God Knows how much a prayer weighs."

If a Dog Were Your Teacher

If a dog were your teacher you would learn stuff like...
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest -- practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout... run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently..



SPEAK! SPEAK!

Dogs don't need to talk.
They've got humans to do their public relations.
Here's what a couple of famous people had to say in defense of dogs.

"No man can be condemned for owning a dog.
As long as he has a dog, he has a friend;
and the poorer he gets, the better friend he has."

Will Rogers, humorist

"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."

Mark Twain, author




IF DOGS COULD FLY

If dogs could fly, would they lose their manners,
hovering over the stove sampling forbidden treats,
ignoring the fruit bowl while nudging open the cookie jar,
leaving telltale drizzles of drool?

If dogs could fly, would they soar through the woods,
dodging branches, whirling around tree trunks, teasing red squirrels-
or roll on their backs in mid-air and bark in pure joy?

If dogs could fly, would they pause before you,
wagging as they stare into your eyes,
kissing your face until your nose and cheeks are shiny with saliva,
knowing you can't scold them for jumping up?

If dogs could fly, would they remember to
come, sit, stay, heel, lie down?--or just laugh
because life is too cool to obey....
At least until supper time!

by Karen Dowell




WHAT DOGS DO FOR US
Catch frisbees.
Keep a night alone from being truly lonely.
Get us outside on beautiful fall days, rainy days, and snowy winter days.
Listen to our singing.
Treat us like celebrities when we come home.
Warm up our beds on cold nights.
Make our hearts more vigorous.
Alert us to the arrival of the mail.
Help us live a little longer.
Make us smile.
Agree with everything we say.
Warm our knees with their chins.
Provide a use for old tennis balls.
Signal when a thunderstorm is coming.
Pull sleds.
Help lower our blood pressure.
Test how fast we can run.
Keep the squirrels from overtaking our yards.
Teach us the meaning of unconditional love.

....(author unknown)....

And you thought it was a Myth! HA! Heres proof!

1) When it seems that you've killed the monster, never check to see if it's really dead, just run.

2) Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

3) Do not search the basement, especially when the power has just gone out.

4) If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they do not know, or if they speak using a voice other than their own, shoot them at once.

5) When you have the benefit of numbers, never pair off or go it alone.

6) As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

7) Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other domicile of the dead.

8) If you're searching for something which caused a noise and find out that it's just the cat, leave the room immediately if you value your life.

9) If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are female.

10) If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior (e.g. hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness,) get away from them as fast as possible.

11 ) If your car runs out of gas at night, do not go to the nearby deserted-looking house to phone for help.

12) Listen closely to the soundtrack.

13) If you find a town that looks deserted, it's probably for a reason. Take the hint and stay away.

14) If a meteor strikes nearby, move out of town.

15) When something bad is chasing you, bear in mind that when you try to start your car, no matter how reliable the vehicle is normally, you'll have to crank the engine over many times before it will fire up.

16) Strange lights are seldom harbingers of joy.

17) People arriving to rescue you generally get ambushed by the monster, so don't rely on them as your only means of escape.

18) On no account do ANYTHING because someone dares you to.

19) If you realize that the people in your town/county are having their minds taken over by some strange force, alien or otherwise: DO NOT call the police as they are A) either already taken over themselves, B) will not believe you.

20) If a small band of children appear to be smarter then the adults that are around them, be cautious.

21) If you assist the villain of the film, do not expect gratitude in exchange for your services.

22) If any animals begin to exhibit behavior that seems a bit more hostile towards mankind than normal, immediately get out of town.

23) When you find objects that look like eggs, leave them alone.

24) Never, EVER go in/out there ("there" being the attic, closet, barn, basement, dark alley, dark room, dark anywhere else, the all-concealing shadows, the woods or the lake.)

25) If someone who seems important tells you to do or not do something (like DON'T fall asleep, DON'T leave me, DON'T look for the (homicidal - chain saw - wielding - psychopath by yourself), LISTEN TO THEM

26) If you are using a gun to combat the all-consuming evil, you'll run out of ammo just before you kill the monster.

27) Don't open the closed door, especially if you hear scratching, heavy breathing, or any other strange noises from the other side.

28) If you're a male, get out of there as fast as possible. The only one who ever survives is a female.

29) Never bathe or shower, especially if you are a female, and especially when in the house alone.

30) In terms of weaponry for fighting the monster, never rely on any tool more complicated than a pointed stick. Anything more mechanical/electrical will break down at the worst possible time.

31) If you are a female, never show your breasts; naked women almost always die early.

32) Ask why the estate is being sold so cheap.

33) If the phone lines are dead, and you hear footsteps upstairs when you're supposed to be alone, for God's sake don't yell "Who's there?" LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.

34) If you have defeated the monster, pay close attention to the camera, if it pans away for no apparent reason at all

I want to thank all the Imeem'ers and especially my friends. Since day one you have made me feel welcomed and at home. You have given me feelings of caring, love of friendship, comfort of peace, mutual understanding for love of muisc and art. Most of all it's those from different locations and places with different beliefs and hopes, that tells me that music and love of art is the greatest peace maker in our world. I wish all of you a safe place to sleep, food for the morning and good health for all.

May Angels Watch Over You and your love ones....................
Richard W.

L O V E

When I was a child, love to me was a stuffed animal, as I grew older, Love was an other word for lust, as I grew older still, LOVE was something I never really had. Now that the end is nearing I find LOVE is having good people around you.

So here is what I have figured what LOVE truly is: Break it down to a sentence:

L = Liking
O = One
V = Very
E = Exceptionaly