BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY

Sometimes words slip out in anger. We say things we didn't mean to say. There are also times we react and don't realize how our words can hurt. I'm just as guilty, especially in traffic or in line anywhere. I'm anxious to move on. At times one word uttered from our lips momentarily, can impact someones life. A friend shared a story with me the other day regarding a letter she had received from a family member years ago. The letter was full of vitriolic admonitions. My friend shared that over the years she pulled that letter out and re-read it. Causing her much pain. She finally admitted several months ago she destroyed the letter and stopped shedding tears from so long ago. It's okay to be critical of family or friends, when asked for your opinion, as long as you offer hope with that criticism. Give the person something positive to hang on to. This morning I learned of a very sad story. A mother berated her young son. Reminding him daily of his unworthiness, reminded him he was a liar and a bad boy. Never offering hope or positive direction. She found that child, he hung himself. She read the note he left, "I'm a bad boy." Be careful what you say. I love you, thanks for stopping by today. Katt

Go Squirrel, Go

Living in South central Florida one of the many blessings we have, are the birds. My husband loves to surprise me. He came home from Lowe's the other day with two bird feeders. He hung the first one, and in less than an hour, the little squirrels were having a a hay day. They were hanging upside down, tipping it over and had knocked most of the bird seed to the ground. Needless to say, it's become man vs beast, or squirrel. My husband has become determined to feed the birds not the squirrels, except from the ground. So he bought a "squirrel proof" feeder. He hung one of the feeders under the awning, right outside my office window. The squirrel climbs down, and hangs on the bracket, and chomps away. I haven't told my husband that trick yet. The best one, for the squirrel was this morning. I was sitting at my computer typing away. Something caught my eye, hanging over the soffit. Those beadie little eyes, hanging upside down, trying to figure out how to get to the next window. I haven't told my husband yet, but I'm rooting for the squirrel.

DOG LOVER

My son and I were having a conversation one day about the life of a dog. He said as he stroked the head of his poodle, "I wish he could live forever." If you aren't a dog lover, you won't understand. I was looking for a special picture one day when I found an album full of "Simon". Simon was a black and tan, long haired miniature dachshund. He came into my life quite by accident. My sister decided our parents needed a dog. She thought she needed one too. So she bought Little Runt, and my precious little Simon, who remained nameless for 24 hours. My sister took the little nameless puppy to my parents house, and they rebelled. Neither of them wanted this nameless little puppy, with the big brown eyes and floppy ears. My sister called me, after this little puppy had spent the night in her garage. She pleaded, "what am I going to do? I can't handle two puppies. I never dreamed Mom and Dad wouldn't want him." I was recovering from a fall. I had fallen down a flight of stairs, broke my sacrum (tailbone) and jammed my ilium (one of the bones of the pelvis) I was in horrible pain, I didn't need a nameless, floppy eared puppy either. I could barely take care of myself, let alone this puppy. Without my consent, she dumped him on me. He had puppy breath! When she brought him over, he wasn't big enough to climb the stairs from the foyer into the kitchen. By the time she left, about an hour later, the nameless, floppy eared brown-eyed puppy had a name. Simon. Not only did he have a name, but he already had my heart. For the next few years, everywhere I went, Simon was at my side. He couldn't stand to be out of my sight. The only time we were separated was when I left for work. He waited at the door for my return. When I cut the grass, he insisted on sitting on my lap on the riding lawn mower. I used to tell my children, "now don't let Simon outside while I'm cutting the grass. He could get hurt." I should have just taken him with me, because as soon as I had made about one trip around the yard, I would look up and see those little ears flapping as he ran down the hill towards me. I stopped the lawn mower, he jumped up on my lap. Three hours later, Simon and I put the lawn mower in the shed. He's one puppy who should have lived forever. I can still close my eyes and see those big brown eyes, his floppy ears and silky black coat. Am I still upset with my sister? Are you kidding, she gave me the biggest gift of love, wrapped into that little Dachshund body! I still miss that little guy today!

WRITING FOR MILLIONS

A lady approached me the other day and said she wanted to write a book. She said she knew she had at least "one in her". Then she laughed and said, "is that what everybody tells you?" To be honest, no, not everybody tells me that. In fact, most people tell me they don't like to write. However, the people who do approach me about writing a book are usually stuck on where to begin. I always give them the same advice. Just sit down and do it. A gentleman said to me one day, "I know what I want to say, but it just won't come out." To him I replied, "don't worry about how it sounds in the beginning." The important thing is to just start writing. You have to begin somewhere. I supposed it also depends on whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction. Once you get something down on paper, you need to let someone else read it. Someone who's opinion your value. Now don't yell. Maybe you need to decide whether you are writing to be published and want millions (yes think big) of people to read it, or you are writing family memoirs. Let me know how you are doing.