A Tribute to Diane

By Terry Orr

Image from Google Search

Today my heart is heavier than normal. Last night, I received shocking news that my dear friend Diane Forrest has passed. Her Mother replied to my text to Diane, stating,“This is Diane(s) Mother, I just found (out) Diane has passed away.”

Over the next few days, hopefully we will learn more. 

I met Diane on the Internet twenty-four years ago and we have been good friends since then. She also was my partner in developing, writing and maintaining this Blog. Diane wrote more than three hundred and helped on countless more articles on a very wide range of topics.

I am going to share a poem she forwarded to me after her birthday in May 2013 that her Uncle Jack had written for her.

Diane

How wonderful it is to know those who thrive

Happily bringing joy while living their lives

With a wonderful smile you carry each day

The world is made better as you go your way

We know that a Taurus is embedded with traits

Live Love and giving plus remember special dates

You are faithful to your passion of sending cards to friends

It reflects who you are, the perfect means to an end

Twas warm on the fiday when you came into the world

The family was blessed with a beautiful baby girl

Your professional vocation is a mission of love

And your caring heart fits like a glove

You take everyday events all in stride

While staying the course is your mark of pride

Then there’s the picture Perfect Love

Your caring for Dave until he was called above

As a daughter and sister and daughter and a son

You reflect all that’s good when all is said and done

Routines become habits and some make you glad

Like watching judge judy each day with dad

And snoopy, yes snoop

Is you live in king

While enjoying attention he does his own thing

As an excellent chef, cooking is your flair

Your uncle jack’s favorite is chocolate eclairs

So congratulations is now offered on this 3^rdof may

Reaching a high mark on your special birthday

THE QUESTION: DO YOU LIKE GETTING OLDER?

By Terry Orr

(Sharing email)

"If you are unwilling to defend your right to your own lives, you are merely like mice trying to argue with owls. You think their ways are wrong. They think you are dinner. "~  Terry Goodkind

I can hit the golf ball any way I can and laugh if it goes in the lake. Them's the breaks. I'm just happy I can still hit that golf ball.

I am forwarding this to those on my Seniors email list because it is so well written. Please send back. (I did) It's neat.  Don't delete this one, you'll laugh when you see the return message.

As I’ve aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free.  I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

Celebrating National Hugging Day

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By Terry Orr

Hugs and hugging are one of those emotions that should never go out of style!  An expression of caring, love and friendship – we are sometimes just too far removed from our fellow beings.  Hugging pets is also a beautiful thing that all can enjoy.

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According to punchbowl.com - Scientific studies have demonstrated that hugs are incredibly good for us. A hug can lower your blood pressure, trigger the release of healthy hormones (like oxytocin), and relieve stress. Doctors recommend a minimum of 4-6 hugs per day for our emotional and physiological well-being, but more is always better!

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The record for most hugs given in one hour by an individual is 1,749. Nick Vujicic achieved this feat at an expo center in Oregon in 2010.

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References and Links:

http://4tenderheart.com/hugpoem1.html

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Homemade Bread Day

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By Chef Diane

One of my father's favorite sayings is, "It's the best thing since sliced bread!"  Before bread was sold sliced, it was purchased in solid loaves.  So...I decided during my younger homemaker period, that I would make fresh bread in loaves.  In the 90's a big fad was the "friendship" bread, or sourdough bread, or potato bread.  It starts with a liquid "starter" it has to ferment, and then you add to it, and put it in a jar and share it with others.  Hence the name - Friendship bread.  Well, this recipe takes 3 days to bake and it makes 3 loaves, but it is absolutely delicious.  Since you had to "feed" the starter every week, I would bake the bread every week.  The first loaf that came out of the oven was consumed immediately.  If you have ever had the opportunity to smell bread baking, then you will understand why the first loaf disappeared immediately.  The other two loaves were either shared or frozen for meals during the rest of the week. I continued baking the bread every week for a few months, until our clothes stopped fitting, then I stopped baking.  Apparently this bread made such an impression on my son, that when he was away at college, he asked for the recipe, and made it at school for his dorm friends.

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These days they have a bread machine, I have never tried one, but seems like that is cheating in a way.  But there are all kinds of different breads to bake, that don't require all the kneading and rising.  One bread that I bake alot is banana nut bread.  To me that is more like a cake, but many slice it, toast it, and eat it for breakfast as well as a dessert.  Another bread is cornbread, and it is readily found in many restaurants here in the south.  My father is a member of an organization called the Rotary Club.  They hold meetings each week where they have lunch before it starts.  The chef of the restaurant where the meeting is held is from the north, and is not familiar with the southern rules of cornbread with greens, so, frequently my father comes home and complains that there was no cornbread on the buffet.

A friend of mine recently went to a home party where they sold food spices, mixes and dips.  One of the popular items was a beer bread mix.    I had never heard about this, but it made sense to me, since beer is made with yeast, that it would be good for using in a bread recipe too.  i figured if there was a mix for this bread, that maybe I could find a recipe as well, so I Googled it, and found this simple recipe on recipe.com:

BEER BREAD

Ingredients:

3 cups flour (sifted)

3 teaspoons baking powder (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)

1 teaspoon salt (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)

1/4 cup sugar

1 (12 ounce) can beer

1/2 cup melted butter (1/4 cup will do just fine)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients and beer.

Pour into a greased loaf pan.

Pour melted butter over mixture.

Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.

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Today is Homemade Bread Day.  It's your chance to get into the kitchen and bake something delicious and nutritious for you and your family or friends.  Below is a simple recipe for you to try since it is Fall, and there are plenty of sweet potatoes available.  This recipe comes from a friend of mine who bakes many loaves during this time of year to share with friends and neighbors.  So give this recipe a try, or bake up one of your favorite breads, and celebrate homemade bread day.

SWEET POTATO BREAD

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups sugar
• 3 cups self rising flour
• 2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp coconut extract
• 1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients and bake in loaf pans at 350 for one hour.

Friendship Day

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By Terry Orr

Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in large number of countries including India. On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. Exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.

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• Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. -- Cindy Lew
• Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. -- Claude Mermet
• "Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil." -- Baltasar Gracian (1647)
• "Friends are the sunshine of life." -- John Hay (1871)

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Get to Know Your Customer Day

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By Terry Orr

Growing up in the Midwest years ago helped me establish a solid foundation as an adult and businessman.  In addition of knowing our customers, in most instances they were also our friends.  You knew their families, church they attended, what they enjoyed doing and important dates in their lives.

When I started my second career as a consultant after retiring from the Navy, I was very fortunate to meet fellas who own his business in San Jose California – Jerry.  He maintained a very nice record of all his business acquaintances that included: name, business and home contact information; birthdays and anniversaries; name of spouse; children and their birthdays; what type of food, wine; drinks, and favorite restaurants; sports and other entertainment information.  In addition, he kept track of when the talked, met, corresponded and the jest of those events.  He also sent personal greeting cards and notes.

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My brother Dwight sends personal notes to his customers on a regular basis – frequently with a copy of a news article that the two had discussed recently.  This is an excellent example of knowing your customer and taking the extra step.

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From my perspective, both in business and personal, each and every acquaintance I make are considered life-long relationships.  Why?  The vast majority of these people keep reappearing in my life.  So from the get go, I consider each person someone I will know forever.

The Real Means of Words

(another nice email)

Love

Sorrow

Innocence 

Departure

Pain

Respect

Compassion

Friendship 

Patience

Rescued

Best Friend

Divine

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about caring and loving your relatives and friends while you can touch and see them, and they are still among us. 

May you always walk in sunshine, my friend!!

Be especially kind to all you meet, each of us carries a burden that others can't see.
AMEN