Miep Geis dies at age 100.
Anyone that knows of the Anne Frank story should read this.

Miep Gies did what she could to hold on to humanity during a time and in a place that it was all but gone.

Here's the link.

http://http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34814027/ns/world_news-europe//

Ice Skating and nostalgia

Something about watching televised ice skating and gymnastics makes me nostalgic. I don't know what it is, but I do know that it ties in with some of the best times of my childhood and some wonderful memories, which aren't always easy to access. It brings back memories, even the skating of the non-competitive variety, which is what I'm currently watching.
It's been a while, though, and I don't know m any of the up-and-comers. My loyalties still mostly rest with the old timers, m any of whom are no longer in the sport. Those like Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Brian Boitano, Michelle Kwan, Elvis Stoiko, Dorothy Hamill, the teams fo Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto and Ekaterina Gordeeva/Sergei Grinkov, Sasha Kohen, Victor Petrenko. There are several more, but they escape my memory right now- and some I simply can't spell or pronounce correctly! Some o fthem are a bit more recent than others, of course.
And of course, I've saved the very best for last- my very favorite skater, Scott Hamilton! I don't think anyone is as great as him, and I was devastated when I heard he was sick, and then later, retiring. Every dog has thier day, though, and all good things must come to an end. Some of my best memories are of watching Scott Hamilton do things on the ice that the other skaters- even the best- could only dream of doing.
These days, I don't watch the skating- or gymnastics- as much as I used to, but when I do I am always taken back to those days of memory. I will always treasure what these unknown strangers have given to me. I don't think many of them realize or understand what part they play in the lives and memories of so many people, as opposed to the movies stars and starlets, tv actors and actresses, and the music stars.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Out with the old, in with the new!

Not only are we beginning a new year, once again.......
but we are beginning a new decad, as well.

I hope the new year, and the new decade, is kind and full of blessings for each and every one of you!

Welcome to my new nephew

Welcome to my new nephew, Bryant Hunter Bradley! He entered the world safe and healthy on Dec. 20th, 2009. He weighed 6 lbs and 2 oz.

He looks just like his daddy!

Goodbye and God Bless 2

In loving memory of Jessie Oleta Southerland

January 7, 1921 - October 23, 2009

God looked around His garden

and found an empty place.

He the n looked down upon the Earth

and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful....

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering.

He knew that your were in pain.

He knew that you would never

get well on Earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough

and the hills were hard to climb,

so He closed your weary eyelids

and whispered "Peace be thine".

It broke our hearts to lose you,

but you didn't go alone

for part of us went with you

the day God called you home.

author unknown.

Goodbye, Aunt Jesse, and God bless.

Goodbye and God Bless

RIP Uncle George

In Loving Memory of George W. Reed.

Novever 19, 1929 - October 2, 2009

I am home in heaven, dear ones:
Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last.

There is work still waiting for you.

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth-

you shall rest in God's own land.

When that work is completed,

He will gently call you home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting

Oh, the joy to see you come.

author unknown

Good bye, Uncle George, and God bless.

The Stages of Grief

A very good friend of mine has a young niece that has just suffered a terrible and tragic loss. I don't know her niece, and she doesn't know me, but I can't help feeling for her very strongly.

So this is for Tahsa.


The Stages of Grief

Sometimes things happen beyond our control
and we lose those we love in life.
We are full of anguish yet empty inside
unable to get past the strife.

The grief is over-powering everything around
guilt and blame take root in the heart
It's hard to believe that the world didn't stop
and from others you feel apart.

Denial is the first that enters the soul
'It didn't happen', your heart must say,
'yesterday was just fine, nothing wrong,
how could he be gone today?'

Anger is next and takes denial's place
You shout, 'someone's to blame!
it's somebody's fault, probably mine,
but someone must shoulder the shame.'

'He was too young, he was too kind
it shouldn't have happened to him,
how could he do such a thing to himself?
Did death pick him on a whim?

'Bargaining follows, you must make a deal
surely there's something to trade?
'What wouldn't I give to turn it around,
to not feel so afraid?'

'I'll be kind, I'll pray to God
in going to church I'll never slack,
I'll never say a mad word to him,
but please let him come back.'

Depression is fourth taking it's place
dulling the world to gray
It hard to move on after what's happened
it's hard to greet each new day.

The grief takes hold, not raw anymore
but settled and constant pain
it affects everything you do and think
with no happiness to attain.

Acceptance is the last stage of grief,
the understanding coming slow
That maybe the world is still moving on
and you can rejoin the flow.

Sooner or later we all tragically learn
that a part of life is death
and true healing comes the very first time
you take your second breath.

That breath that comes after you've grieved so long
but you finally raise your head
and realize that though you lost a love
you yourself aren't dead.

You must live your life to celebrate
the time together you had
and realize that you can be happy
even while you're sad.

You'll never get over what happened
you'll know it forever-more
you'll cry for him through your life
but you'll remember him as before.

You'll remember the times you had with him,
when you played and lauged and fought,
but you'll remember him with happiness
and heal more than you ever thought.


Tammy Boyd