Just For Fun

I love her cards... These are two of mine that I purchased.  Her Website Is the Pondering Pool.

Beau

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn't come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.
He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story's long to tell.
Suffice to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The old one and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the old one was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house--
I guess I'm the first to retire.
And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I'd give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel his stare
And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I'd feel him sigh
And I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'd be glad to have me near.

And Now he's dead.

And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stoke his hair,
But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,
I'll always love a dog named Beau.

Jimmy Stewart

One Is The Color of Your Hair

We are now in St. Louis!!!!  Tomorrow we will have the van checked and if all goes well, we will set up a time to get everything fixed.  Then it is off to Camdenton to take care of some business.

Before I left Prairie Village Hannah gave me two books (authors Brautigan and Hegi) which I will return because they need to be in our library.    That is a great way to get on my good side.  It will be wonderful to reread Watermelon Sugar and Trout Fishing by Richard Brautigan and I have not read Intrusions by Ursula Hegi .  I am excited to have these in my hands.  When I moved out of my house on a foundation and into a house on wheels I gave my daughter my library.  She shares my love of books and has an extensive library of her own.    Mom and I even have a mini library in our little house.

Hopefully we will have internet tomorrow. 

Karma Repair Kit 1 - 4  by Richard Brautigan
1. Get enough food to eat,
and eat it.
2. Find a place to sleep where it is quiet,
and sleep there.
3.Reduce intellectual and emotional noise
until you arrive at the silence of yourself,
and listen to it.
4.

Nine Things by Richard Brautigan
It's night
and a numbered beauty
lapses at the wind,
chortles with the
branches of a tree,

giggles,

plays shadow dance
with a dead kite,
cajoles affection
from falling leaves,
and knows four
other things.
One is the color
of your hair.

A Little Conversation With Our Coffee

Silver Cord
Like the umbilical cord that connects the developing fetus to its life-sustaining placenta, the Silver Cord connects the developing Human Being to its life-sustaining Soul. The umbilical cord transfers sustenance to the fetus from the mother; the Silver Cord, Life Force from the Soul to its physical form. The umbilical cord is severed at birth, the Silver Cord severs at death.

Isn't life amazing?

To Read More, Click Here

Wiley Coyote

The coyote is a member of the dog family. Coyotes can breed with both domestic dogs and wolves. A dog-coyote mix is called a "coydog."



Coyotes found in low deserts and valleys weigh about 20 pounds, less than half of their mountain kin, who can weigh up to 50 pounds.



Desert Coyotes are light gray or tan with a black tip on the tail. Coyotes of high elevations have fur that is darker, thicker and longer; the under parts are nearly white, with some specimens having a white tip on the tail. In winter the coats of mountain coyotes become long and silky, and trappers hunt them for their fur.



The coyote's tail is used in threat displays. It becomes bushy and is held horizontally when the Coyote displays aggression.



The coyote's hearing is very acute and is used for detecting prey and avoiding danger. Movement and position of the ears are used to communicate mood and rank.



The coyote is found throughout North America from eastern Alaska to New England and south through Mexico to Panama.



The coyote's sense of smell is highly developed and is used to detect prey and carrion. It is also used to detect the scent left by other coyotes as territorial markers.



The coyote is digitigrade meaning it walks with only its toes touching the ground.



The coyote can run at almost 40 mph and can get over a 8' fence.



Communication



Howling - communication with others in the area. Also, an announcement that “I am here and this is my area. Other males are invited to stay away but females are welcome to follow the sound of my voice. Please answer and let me know where you are so we don't have any unwanted conflicts.”



Yelping - a celebration or criticism within a small group of coyotes. Often heard during play among pups or young animals.



Bark - The scientific name for coyotes means "Barking dog," Canis latrans. The bark is thought to be a threat display when a coyote is protecting a den or a kill.



Huffing - is usually used for calling pups without making a great deal of noise.



According to Shoshone Folk Lore the reason Coyotes howl is long ago, Coyote had many magical powers. He became so proud that he wanted to makes friends with the loftiest of beings. One night he called to the brightest star, "take me with you into the sky world!" Bright Star laughed, then leaned close so Coyote could grab on to one of her points. "I will take you to meet Moon." At first Coyote whispered "oohs" and "aahs" as they glided upward, but when they approached Moon, he became so cold that he called to Star to stop. "Everyone knows that Moon is made of ice. Of course it's cold," she answered. Coyote's paws were freezing. He could hold on no longer. So he fell down through the night sky, until he landed with a thump back on earth. When he woke up, his family was around him. "I feel strange," he murmured. Then much louder, "I have no more magic!" He began to cry and yip and howl, and the other coyotes wailed along with him. When that full ice moon is in the sky, they still howl their sadness at Coyote's loss.

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.

And every day the boy would come..and he would gather her leaves..
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.

He would climb up her trunk..and swing from her branches..
and eat apples.

And they would play hide-and-go-seek.

And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.

And the boy loved the tree...very much.
And the tree was happy.

But time went by...
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.

Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches..and eat apples and play in my shade and...be happy..."

"I am too big to climb and play," said the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?"....

"I am sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city.
Then you will have money and you will be happy."

And so the boy climbed up the tree...and gathered her apples and carried them away.

And the tree was happy...!

But the boy stayed away for a long time...and the tree was sad.

And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk... and swing from my branches...and be happy."

"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house?"
"I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy."

And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house.

And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak.

"Come, Boy," she whispered, "come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play," said the boy.
"I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?"

...."Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree.
"Then you can sail away...and be happy."

And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy... but not really.

And after a long time the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you ...
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them..."
"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb..."
"I am too tired to climb," said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something... but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump. I am sorry..."

"I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is good
for sitting and resting. come, Boy, sit down.
Sit down and rest."

And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

Don't Beat Her With Two Dead Chickens

Hannah here is the septic story I was telling you about.



Millie and Ben had a volatile relationship to put it mildly. One time he beat her up with two dead chickens and Millie had enough. The following is an excerpt from the book, “Bordellos from Silver City to Ketchikan” by Max Evans.

This brought a thought to her mind. She drove to Bayard and bought a sack of slack lime. This stuff will eat and dissolve amalgamated steel. She put it in the trunk of her car. Then she went into the back of the bar and had one of her workers take the concrete slab off the septic tank. She got a rake and started trying to correct the rose gardens. (Situated by the septic tank and the ones Ben had destroyed) Millie figured the odds of her plan reaching fruition at fifty-fifty. They were in her favor that day, however. She told Ben to get back in the bar or go home. She was still giving him a chance. He went back in the bar. She was thinking that if he returned, that would be it. She’d barely started back on the roses when Ben returned, telling her what a bitch she was for leaving him in jail over the long weekend, and uttering various other complaints. Millie just took it and kept on working until he moved right up against the opening of the septic tank. Then, in a sudden move, she raised the rake like a spear and drove it right into his middle, knocking him into the thick fluid, saying “Now take a drink of that, you blubbered headed sot.” He came up gasping for his life and she shoved him back under with the rake. He was harder to keep under than she had figured. After about the fourth dunking, she raised the rake to whack him on the head, when she heard a scream. In the intensity of her endeavor, she hadn’t heard Ronnie Smith and the entire band drive up. She stopped the rake in mid-air and put it out Ben’s blindly grasping hands, yelling at the band, “Help, help the poor son of a bitch is trying to drown himself.”

Millie says, “I intended to drown him in that shit, pour the lime over and let the honey wagon suck him up and haul him to the dump.” At the time, though, she held that back, explaining to the band that publicity of her sweet husband trying to commit suicide in a septic tank would be all bad. Besides, he smelled so terrible, she doubted that they’d accept him in such a clean place as a hospital, dying or not.

Millie say, “I want to tell you, that for the next three or four months, when he’d break out in perspiration, he smelled like shit. He was taking five showers a day.

Ben and Millie divorced after he beat her so badly that she almost lost her sight. Millie later found the love of her life.

Hannah, like Sadie Orchard, Millie had a heart of gold, just don’t beat her up with two dead chickens. It was a fun book but I will put it in the book exchange.


Click Here For Douglas Arizona Cemetery

Click Here For Hotel Gadsden Douglas Arizona

Location:  Douglas

Don't Squat With Your Spurs On

• Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
• Don't squat with your spurs on.
• Don't judge people by their relatives.
• When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
• Talk slowly, think quickly.
• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
• Don't interfere with something that ain't botherin' you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
• It's better to be a has-been that a never-was.
• The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm.The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
• If it don't seem like it's worth the effort, it probably ain't.
• It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.
• Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.
  The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every morning.
• Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.
  If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
• Don't worry about bitin' off more'n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Generally, you ain't learnin' nothing when your mouth's a-jawin'.
• Tellin' a man to git lost and makin' himdo it are two entirely different propositions.
• If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
• When you're throwin' your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.
• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back.
• Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's sure crucial to know what it was.
• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket.
• You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped
• Never miss a good chance to shut up.
• If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen are defrocked, shouldn't it follow that cowboys would be deranged?
• There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works.
• Never smack a man who's chewin' tobacco.

A Poem by Dorothy Parker

One Perfect Rose

A single flower he sent me, since we met.

All tenderly his messenger he chose;

Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet--

One perfect rose.



I knew the language of the floweret;

"My fragile leaves," it said, "his heart enclose."

Love long has taken for his amulet

One perfect rose.



Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?

Ah no, it's always just my luck to get

One perfect rose.

Roscoe Ima Bugg

Roscoe Ima Bugg passed away the evening of May 12, 2007 in front of a refrigerator. Cause of death was a severe impact coming from size 7 ½ shoe. Fortunately, death was instantaneous and he felt no pain.



Roscoe was a sleek, hardback, handsome beetle three inches long. He was a modern day hobo. He walked from town to town until he hitch a ride in a little house on wheels, which took him, places he only dreamed of. He lived there for 3 months before he was called home. During that time, he grew about 1 inch, took up residency under the toilet, and acquired the name of Roscoe. His favorite activities were scurrying under the feet of those who were doing their morning mediation, leaping off the counter, and hiding behind the trash can. He thrived on scaring the beJesus out of the two women who resided with him. One of them snapped and ended his life. No charges will be made since it was justifiable homicide.



Since he was a hobo, his exact age cannot be determined. Since he was an insect we can safely assume that he left behind multitudes of children, the residents of the little house on wheels hope he left no one behind.



He was given a simple burial, wrapped in a shroud made by the finest company (Brawny Inc.), and laid to rest in a large receptacle. He will be missed by all but not by the two women who resided with him.

Thanks Kev

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweat- shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, " University of Oklahoma ."

And they say blondes are dumb...

Another Joke
A man and his wife, now in their 60's, were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. On their special day a good fairy came to them and said that because they had been so good that each one of them could have one wish.
The wife wished for a trip around the world with her husband.
Whoosh! Immediately she had airline/cruise tickets in her hands.
The man wished for a female companion 30 years younger...
Whoosh...immediately he turned ninety!!!
Gotta love that fairy!

And Yet Another
Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?

A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.

Finally any male that wants to do a little female bashing, Post your comment, I find them funny as well. This came to me from a MALE friend.

Awareness

We made it to Effingham IL. Our first full day here we decided to check out the sculptures located in the old town square. They were very interesting pieces of art. Then we took off to the cemetery.

This is our second day and because the weather is rainy we decided to stay put. I finished printing my pictures and I won’t say how many or how long it took to print.


"My Nose Is Growing Old"

Richard Brautigan

Yup.
A long lazy September look
in the mirror
says it's true:

I'm 31
and my nose is growing
old.

It starts about
an inch
below the bridge
and strolls geriatrically
down
for another inch or so:
stopping.

Fortunately, the rest
of the nose is comparatively
young.

I wonder if girls
will want me with an
old nose.

I can hear them now
the heartless bitches!

"He's cute
but his nose
is old."

GAS

Think a gallon of gas is expensive?
This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.
Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 .......... $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ...........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ..... ...........$10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 .......... $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ............ $33.60 per gallon
Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 .................... $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 ........ $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ................ $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 ...................$84.48 per gallon
And this is the REAL KICKER...
Evian water 16 oz $1.79............$14.32 per gallon for WATER!!!!
So, the next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on water, Scope, or Whiteout, or even worse, Pepto Bismol or Nyquil.

2 1/2 More Years

PERKS OF BEING OVER 50

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run--anywhere.
4. People call at 9 pm and ask, " Did I wake you ???? "
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 pm.
9. You can live without sex but not your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.
13. You sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won't get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
19. You can't remember who sent you this list

And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.

Thanks sis for giving me this list and making me look forward to my 50 year birthday.

Take A Moment And Remember

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week.

Larry LaPrise, the man that wrote "The Hokey Pokey" died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

Shut up. You know it's funny.

Thanks mom for the laugh.

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on "THIS" side of the road before it goes after the problem on the "OTHER SIDE" of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his "CURRENT" problems before adding "NEW" problems.

OPRAH: Well I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DONALD RUMSFELD: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

ANDERSON COOPER/CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am for it now, and will remain against it.

JUDGE JUDY: That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level.



DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth in front of your face? The chicken was going to the "other side." That's why they call it the "other side. Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like "the other side." That chicken should not be free to cross the road. It's as plain and simple as that!

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together - in peace.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2006, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet explorer is an integral part of eChicken. The Platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^( C \..... reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Great News

LOWELL, Mass. - Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" will be published in its unedited original scroll version by Viking Press, which published the Beat Generation classic in September 1957.

John Sampas, executor of the writer's literary estate and brother of Stella Sampas, Kerouac's third wife, said he has signed a contract with Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group USA. He hopes the work will be out by the end of next year, the 50th anniversary of the publication.

"Incidents in the original were edited out of the published version because of the censorship of the time," said Sampas, who noted that some of the edited sections refer to drugs and sex. "On the scroll, entire paragraphs are crossed out and not included in the published version."

Sampras said the new version will be in book form, but taken from the original scroll. Any sections Kerouac had crossed out before turning it into the publisher will be excluded in the new edition.

In 1951, Kerouac, hopped up on coffee and Benzedrine, sat at a typewriter and began retelling the tale of an aimless trek he made across America. In a spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness burst, he typed on long sheets of tracing paper, taping each finished page to the previous one to form one continuous, rolling text.

Published six years later, "On the Road" won critical praise and became an icon of the post-World War II subculture of intellectuals, writers, musicians and rebels who identified with the freedom of Kerouac's cross-country odyssey and embraced his disdain for 1950s conformity.

The original, 120-foot, coffee-stained scroll that is yellowing with age was purchased in 2001 by James Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, for $2.43 million. The scroll is touring U.S. museums and libraries.

I Am A Republican and a Realist

This is hysterical.

William Rivers Pitt: 'The Ballad of Dumb George'Posted on Saturday, July 22 @ 08:03:48 EDTThis article has been read 2431 times.
William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t
"I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid. Stupid so stupid that it goes way beyond the stupid we know into a whole different dimension of stupid. You are trans-stupid stupid. Meta-stupid. Stupid collapsed on itself so far that even the neutrons have collapsed. Stupid gotten so dense that no intellect can escape. Singularity stupid. Blazing hot mid-day sun on Mercury stupid. You emit more stupid in one second than our entire galaxy emits in a year. Quasar stupid."- "The Ultimate Flame," author unknown George W. Bush is a good man, word has it. He's plain-spoken, they say. A regular fella. A good guy to have a beer with, except he supposedly doesn't drink anymore.I wish, more than anything, that he were drinking. I wish he were drinking all the time. I wish, oh how I wish, that he were stand-up-fall-down-ralphing-down-his-shirt loaded every minute of every day. It would be a comfort, simply because it would explain a great many things. Having a drunk for a president is, after all, a fixable situation. Put him to bed at Camp David for a few weeks and surround him with Secret Service agents. Let his body clean itself out. Problem solved, and really, would anyone actually notice his absence?

Have You Ever Wondered

Have you ever wondered why you see so many falling rock signs? There is a simple explanation for it. I have been trying to recall it for years to tell my children but I could never recall it. When I was driving home today, it came to me. Therefore, children gather around - mom finally remembered the story of the Indian named Falling Rock.


A lot of Indians used to live in our neck of the woods. One tribe of Osage Indians lived here in Missouri. This tribe flourished. There was a lot food in the area, berries, deer, bear, and a great area to farm. One year two of the Indian braves fell in love with the same Indian maiden. She was a beautiful young girl. The braves would fight each other almost daily for the hand of this young Indian maiden. The Chief being a wise man decided that a contest should be had between these braves to decide who would have the hand of the young lady. Being the prime of hunting season, the Chief gathered the tribe together. He told Running Bear and Falling Rock, the two Indian Braves they were to go on a bear hunt. Whoever brought the biggest bear back to camp would win the hand of the lovely Indian maiden. Running Bear and Falling Rock left the camp for the hunt. Two weeks passed by and neither brave had come back. After about three more moons, Running Bear came into camp with a good size bear that he had killed. The tribe waited for two more weeks, and then the Chief decided that a search party needed to be formed to go find Falling Rock. The search party went out; they looked all over the hills, and never found any trace of Falling Rock. The Chief was beside himself with anguish. He called a Tribal Council together. At this Council, he decreed that from this day on all people would look for Falling Rock. This is why today you see the signs along the Highway. “Watch for Falling Rock”

Solitude

I'd love to take you there, to this enlightening, spiritual place.

Refreshing, rejuvenating, a sanctuary for personal reflection.

I'd love to take you with me, to this relaxing place.

Silent, still, where you can rediscover yourself.

I'd love to take you there, but you must go alone now.

If I accompany you, you'll never discover this place called solitude.

~Mark A. River~