No Words

A friend of mine just experienced the loss of his Mother, so I called to forward my condolences and support.  In our conversation we mentioned that it was never easy, but with elderly folks fighting illnesses at least we are somewhat emotionally prepared, not like a sudden loss like a child or sibling.  I’ve lost three immediate family in the recent past.  Mother, brother, and my son.

My friend had not remembered my son’s passing in the past.  And I had, ironically, literally minutes before he returned my initial call,  clipped and saved a quote from a book I had been reading this afternoon.  It follows and I think it is self explanatory ……

 

“A child who loses his parents is an orphan, a man who loses his wife is a widower, a woman who loses her husband is a widow. But there is no name for a parent who loses a child, for there are no words to describe this pain.”

 

No words were ever more true.  The initial grief and hurt fades with time,  but that deep pain of that child being lost never really dissipates.  It takes very little to bring it to surface and when it has risen……there’s just NO WORDS

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Aging, Who Me?

It’s getting harder and harder to do what I used to, and that really bites!   I ran across a funny little bit today about being older so here it is.

 

Old ager says….
It’s almost 2019, I’m 62 years old now and worn out, and I still have so many unanswered questions!!!! I haven’t found out who let the dogs out, where’s the beef, how to get to Sesame Street, and why Dora doesn’t just use Google Maps! Why do all flavors of fruit loops taste exactly the same or how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop. I still can’t understand why eggs are packaged in a flimsy carton but batteries are secured in plastic that’s tough as nails or what does the fox say and why “abbreviated” is such a long word or why is there a D in ‘fridge’ but not in refrigerator. And I still have not found yet why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor yet dish-washing liquid is made with real lemons or why they sterilize the needle for lethal injections and… why do you have to “put your two cents in” but it’s only a “penny for your thoughts” where’s that extra penny going… why does The Alphabet Song and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same tune… why did you just try to sing those two previous songs? And just what exactly is Victoria’s secret or where is Waldo….
Can you hear me now…
but did you really think I am this witty…
I actually got this from a friend, who stole it from her brother’s girlfriend’s uncle’s cousin’s who lived next door to an old class mate’s mailman.
Now it is your turn to take it from me. Copy and Paste, change the age and enjoy your day.
I needed the laugh. 😜😂😉😎✌🤷‍♀️

 

 

 

 

Donate Where It Does Good

I am passing along a piece posted by Shana Habib Brader whom is a client and friend. There were many families severely affected by Hrricaine Harvey and we are still in the process of healing in our community. This is a success story, and I’m sharing …..

 

SHANA HABIB BRADER WRITES….

A warm fuzzy TRUE story that9 should leave you with no doubt where to donate when there is a natural disaster. This is a long post and it’s written by me right here in Rockport, TX, not copied. This is a true story of what happened to someone very dear to me. I will make it public if you are so inclined to share.

Last year she, her husband and new baby lost their home and most of their belongings in Hurricane Harvey. About 5-6 months ago, after having applied at many many places, she applied with Samaritan’s Purse for housing. She had heard nothing until…..

Last week, she was contacted and informed that her application had been approved and they were supplying her and her family with a BRAND NEW HOME! They are already preparing their property with a new electric pole and the pad for the new double wide. This sweet family will be the recipient of a brand new double wide home complete with all of the furnishings and appliances. According to her “everything is moving so fast” and (if the weather cooperates) they may be able to move-in within just a couple of weeks! I asked if she had a chance to see the home yet and she said that they told her it’s a surprise. ❤️ The home is a gift, completely paid for and going forward they will be only responsible for paying their utilities.

What a blessing!!!

So the next time you’re tempted to donate somewhere, please donate to an organization where you can feel confident that the funds are not being used to line some CEO’s pockets. Samaritan’s Purse is still here in Rockport and STILL loving on our community.

When Harvey Came

A year has passed since Harvey the Horrible came knocking.   I wrote a “play by play” description of riding the storm out back last year, but our community has had time to partially heal, lick our wounds, and reflect some.

I recently ran across this piece by a fellow Harvey survivor and felt compelled to pass it along to my readers.

 

When Harvey Came to Town

He came to town an unwanted and uninvited guest full of immense power, untold energy and a belly full of hate. His name was Harvey a purely evil one. He was full of rage with a lust for death and destruction, some say Satan’s spawn. He would crack his merciless cat-o-nine tails whip from early in the dreadful morning on the first day into the long horrific night and didn’t satisfy his evil lust until the next morning’s eerily silent dawn. All knew he was coming, just a tropical storm at first. Just a few palm branches blown away, some extra rain for a thirsty lawn. A day off of work to clean up the branches and chase down the trash cans that blew away.
Harvey built up his strength and went from a tropical storm to a Hurricane of level 1. The death destruction and heart ache had barely begun. Level 2 came along the locals boarded up every window hatch and door, gritted their teeth and said a prayer because they had seen this omen of death before. Level 3 came along the wind became wicked, unbearable strong. Rain mixed with salt water spray soon had their way. In short order the curtain of water and caused the bay to rise and flood. Each and every building, school yard, parks where families use to picnic, the swing sets the teeter totters the slides and jungle gyms in the parks where children use to play. The waters kept rising just like in Noah’s day. Most stay put for awhile in their makeshift cubby holes back bathrooms or hunkered down in any place that looked even remotely safe. Harvey then shifts into high gear and goes into level 4. He took a double deep breath and out of his lungs came a wind of a 130 miles per hour. Tin roof’s and sheet metal panels exploded from houses, offices, warehouses and schools and embedded themselves into telephone poles and oak trees and some 6 feet into the ground. Nary one shingle could be found. Ripping the walls off Hotels so that you could see each and every room like a doll house. A front desk that was missing every drawer and a stair case that led to each and every floor. Communication towers weren’t blown down but bent in a crescent shape over the top of the building that they once towered. Breaking most every window for 30 miles around, sending shards of glass rocketing like a meteor shower.

sign in midst of downtown rubble

Harvey eventually ran out of steam. He had his evil fun, Satan himself would have been happy with the damage that Harvey had done. 1,000,000 in the area evacuated. 185,000 homes were destroyed. 43,000 emergency shelters. 200,000 without water or power. 39 lives lost. He had had his fun but at such a horrific de

Finally, when the deluge and the freight train sounding wind ended they all slowly emerged one by one. No sound of a locomotive at full speed, just a cold eerie silence. No traffic noise, no chirping of any bird, no screeching of any gull, no rustling of palm branches because there was no wind. Just silence. They came out of their shattered, roofless homes and looked all around and they saw their once beautiful town beat, battered, raped by Harvey. Like it was hit by a comet. Most wept and were numb, some raised their eyes to the heavens and gave Thanks for their deliverance. Some staggered around like a drunken sailor. Some just couldn’t take it in all at once, and had to bend over and vomit. Their eyes were vaped, vacant, empty and as if in a war zone had a 1000 yard stare.

What they saw was just as bad as what they didn’t see. They didn’t see the strong noble oaks that had stood their ground for at least 100 years. They didn’t see where they use to buy groceries, just a vacant lot where the grocery store use to be. They didn’t see the humming birds, the sparrows, the gulls, the pelicans, the deer, nor any leaf on any tree. What they did see was an ocean of debris. Refrigerators missing both doors. A single baby shoe. Eye glass frames with no glass inside. Mangled dishwashers. Cameo jewelry box without the jewels. A professional mechanics tool box with drawers bent and twisted and minus any tools. An endless field of shattered glass. Twisted pipes, downed billboards. Telephone poles at a 90 degree angle up and down the street bowing their heads not as in humility but as in defeat. A complete mans suit crumpled but still on the hanger. A tangled wad of rosary beads twisted in a broken cross. A teenage girls secret diary lying wide open and without a lock. All her dreams, fantasy, heartaches and special crush who she

Finally, when the deluge and the freight train sounding wind ended they all slowly emerged one by one. No sound of a locomotive at full speed, just a cold eerie silence. No traffic noise, no chirping of any bird, no screeching of any gull, no rustling of palm branches because there was no wind. Just silence. They came out of their shattered, roofless homes and looked all around and they saw their once beautiful town beat, battered, raped by Harvey. Like it was hit by a comet. Most wept and were numb, some raised their eyes to the heavens and gave Thanks for their deliverance. Some staggered around like a drunken sailor. Some just couldn’t take it in all at once, and had to bend over and vomit. Their eyes were vaped, vacant, empty and as if in a war zone had a 1000 yard stare.

What they saw was just as bad as what they didn’t see. They didn’t see the strong noble oaks that had stood their ground for at least 100 years. They didn’t see where they use to buy groceries, just a vacant lot where the grocery store use to be. They didn’t see the humming birds, the sparrows, the gulls, the pelicans, the deer, nor any leaf on any tree. What they did see was an ocean of debris. Refrigerators missing both doors. A single baby shoe. Eye glass frames with no glass inside. Mangled dishwashers. Cameo jewelry box without the jewels. A professional mechanics tool box with drawers bent and twisted and minus any tools. An endless field of shattered glass. Twisted pipes, downed billboards. Telephone poles at a 90 degree angle up and down the street bowing their heads not as in humility but as in defeat. A complete mans suit crumpled but still on the hanger. A tangled wad of rosary beads twisted in a broken cross. A teenage girls secret diary lying wide open and without a lock. All her dreams, fantasy, heartaches and special crush who she is sure someday she will marry are now at a loss. A foundation and front steps where a house use to be.

Then they all took a deep breath. Their short-lived tears of sadness, prayers, ignoring their needs to help others would bring them some relief. In very short order healing would begin. Every man and woman would roll up their sleeves and work together to remove massive tons of rubble. Repair their own houses and the houses of others. Unknown tons of badly needed items quickly poured in. Water, water, much needed water. Medical supplies, aspirin, bandage, baby diapers, pet food, clothing, can food, bug spray, flash lights, batteries, baby formula anything needed whether it was by the bucket, bottle, bag or by the tin. Even pies and cakes for goodness sakes. The goods came in not from the government but from anonymous Texans.

Harvey now no longer caused any stress or fright but now in some weird, somber yet joyful way caused all to unite and that is how it was when Harvey finally left town.

By Larry Shepherd

 

 

 

 

Golden Years List

Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it’s good advice to follow. The guy who sent this hi-lighted #19.

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together

5. Don’t stress over the little things. Like paying a little extra on price quotes. You’ve already overcome so much in your life.You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer.”

via Through The Depths of A Canyon

Nici Blogs An Island Trip

This is forwarded from my girl, Nicole, who spent some time travelling in VietNam this spring.  She has a very informative style and covers the experience very well.  Just the opinion of a doting father!!

 

via Ly Son Island – City Guide