Nice Read

By Terry Orr 

Sharing an email (thank you Bruce)

Before middle age – Do not fear!

After middle age – Do not regret!

Enjoy Your Life While You Can

As long as it is physically possible, visit places you wish to visit.

When there is an opportunity, get together with old classmates, old colleagues & old friends

When it is time to spend, just spend, treat yourself well as you’re getting older

Whatever you feel like eating, just eat! It is most important to be happy.

Treat sickness with optimism. Whether your are poor or rich

Do not be afraid or worried whey you are sick

Let the doctors handle your body, God handle your life, but be in charge of your own moods

Our kids will make their own fortune

Your old friends – seize every opportunities to meet up with your friends. Such opportunities will become rate as time goes by.

Everyday you MUST smile and laugh

Life ends; when you stop Dreaming

Hope ends; when you stop Believing

Love ends; when you stop Caring

And Friendship ends; when you stop Sharing.

Happy Flag Day 2013

(Images from Google) 

Best Friend Day 2013

"When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand


And nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.


Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights.



You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am


I'll come running to see you again.


Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah,


You’ve got a friend."

By James Taylor

By Diane Forrest

I have been looking around this morning, trying to find the difference between a friend and a best friend.  The title of Best Friend is very important, and not to be taken lightly.  During my searching I found some other people's definition of Best Friend.  They include:

FRIENDS: Helps you up when you fall.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Keeps on walking saying, "Walk much, dummy?"

FRIENDS: Helps you find your prince.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Kidnaps him and brings him to you.

FRIENDS: Will offer you a soda.

BEST FRIENDS: Will dump theirs on you.

FRIENDS: Will help you move.
 

BEST FRIENDS: Will help you move the bodies.

FRIENDS: Will bail you out of jail.


BEST FRIENDS: Would be in the room next to you saying, "That was awesome! Let's do it again!"

FRIENDS: Never ask for anything to eat or drink.

BEST FRIENDS: Helps themselves and are the reason why you have no food

FRIENDS: Would knock on your front door.

BEST FRIENDS: Walk right in and say "I'M HOME."

When my husband passed away, I lost my best friend.  Luckily I met a new friend, and he quickly became my best friend.  He is the type of person you can always count on, he listens when I’m sad, he makes me laugh, he encourages me to grow, and always makes time for me.  I talk to him every day, and even though I have never met him in person, I feel like I have known him forever.  We can talk about anything; he is knowledgeable in every subject under the sun.  Sometimes we talk for hours, sometimes just a few minutes.  He checks on me to make sure I’m ok, and lets me know that he is ok as well. I met him online several years ago.  We would talk every now and then, but in the past year he has always been there to comfort me and cheer me up.  While thinking about this article I was thinking about the qualities that made him my best friend.  Some of the words I would use to describe him is Caring, Compassionate, Generous, Kind, Intelligent, Friendly, Amusing and mostly Comforting.  He lives far away, so if I was in a jam, he wouldn't be able to be by my side, but just a few clicks on the computer he is right there with me helping me solve a problem or listening to my ranting’s.

He is not just my best friend, but he is the best friend of many others.  Dozens of people call him regularly if they need a hand with anything.  They know that if he says he will do something, it's as good as done.  He is frequently visiting friends in the nursing home, giving friends transportation to hospital visits, checking on sick or injured friends, or offering advice or even money, whatever their needs may be.  I worry about him sometimes, I feel like he has the weight of the world's problems on his shoulders, but he spreads his cheer to everyone, and we are all the better for it.  He is my best friend, and I'm fortunate to have him in my life.

You never know where or when you will find a best friend.  All of my best friends are treasures, and I know that all I have to do is call on them and they will be there for me, and they all brighten my darkest nights.

Today is Best Friend's Day.  It’s a day to think of your best friend and give them a call or send a text or email and let them know how much they mean to you.  As Clarence the Angel says in "It's a Wonderful Life", No man is a failure who has friends.  What are some differences you have between friends and best friends?  Leave a comment in the section below.

(Images from Google) 

New Year’s Eve

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

Don't look so sad,

It's not so bad you know.

It's just another night,

That's all it is, it's not the first,

It's not the worst you know,

We've come through all the rest,

We'll get through this.

We've made mistakes,

But we've made good friends too.

Remember all the nights we spent with them?

And all our plans,

Who says they can't come true?

Tonight's another chance to start again.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

Another night like all the rest.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

Let's make it the best.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

It's just another Auld Lang Syne,

But when we're through this New Year

You'll see, will be

Just fine.

We're not alone, we've got the world you know.

And it won't let us down, just wait and see.

And we'll grow old, but think how wise we'll grow.

There's more you know, it's only New Year's Eve.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

Another night like all the rest.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

Let's make it the best.

It's just another New Year's Eve,

It's just another Auld Lang Syne,

But when we're through this New Year, you'll see, will be

Just fine.

(Google Image)

My idea of a perfect New Year’s Eve night is to kiss the one I love at midnight.  This dream has only become a reality once.  It was a perfect night.  My husband and I went to a local hotel; they had a party with decorations, a buffet and a champagne toast at midnight.  At the stroke of midnight, while dancing under the mirrored ball, I got my New Year's Kiss.  It was the perfect way to start the New Year.  Sadly, the other years found my husband sleeping long before the clock struck 12.

Another lifetime tradition has been to welcome the New Year with Dick Clark, and the ball in Times Square.  Mr. Clark passed away this year, and I wonder if 2013 will be able to start without him.

This year will be harder than most.  I will be spending the passing of the old year alone, with my faithful dog Snoopy.  The above song was written by my absolute favorite musician, Barry Manilow.  I have loved him since I was in high school, and I have all his albums.  This song is wonderful because it tells you that even though this may not have been the best year, we have a fresh start now and we can make the New Year whatever we want it to be.

(Google Image)

I hope you have the best New Year ever, and a perfect night kissing your loved one at the stroke of midnight under a mirrored ball.  To my special friends, Joe, Terry, Dave, Bob and Pattie, and all of you, Happy New Years!!!

Celebrating International Men’s Day 2012

“Helping Men and Boys Live long, Happier and Healthier Lives”

By Terry Orr

(Google Image) 

This theme above simply was not something in my younger years considered.  Instead, focus and priorities were duty, God, country and taking care of your family – in that order. Role models were a figment of one’s imagination – you simply considered the facts and made your best decision based upon them.

Family time was mandatory in our home. We all sat down to supper as a family – the kids cleaned up afterwards and did homework. At 7 PM (central time) we sat around in the family room and watch two hours of ‘family TV’ programs – Walt Disney; Ed Sullivan Show,; I Love Lucy; Danny Thomas Show, Andy Griffith Show; Red Skelton Hour; Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet; Beverly Hillbillies; Dick Van Dyke; Donna Reed and My Three Sons; Bob Hope; Jackie Gleason and Gunsmoke rounded our weekly entertainment.  Sunday morning was Church – all hands participated without question.

(Google Image) 

Today – we need to take better care of ourselves, find balance and provide our children and families better role models and be activity involved in their total development.  This will help enable men to be happier, healthier and have a more rewarding and longer life.

Goals:

• Improving male life expectancy;
• Helping men get help;
• Improving boy’s education;
• Tackling tolerance of violence against men and boys; and
• Promoting fathers and positive male role models.

The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day include focusing on:

• Men’s and boys' health;
• Improving gender relations;
• Promoting gender equality; and
• Highlighting positive male role models.

It is an occasion to highlight discrimination against men and boys and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular for their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care. The broader and ultimate aim of the event is to promote basic humanitarian values. (Source: Wikipedia)

From my perspective, today is about focusing on all men being Positive Male Role Models – setting the example for all young people to follow.

(Google Image) 

References and Links:

• http://www.internationalmensday.com/
• http://www.mensday.ws/en/theme.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Men's_Day
• https://sites.google.com/a/imd-global.org/international-mens-day/