Lessons

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,ÔÇ¿
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿

He said, "Please excuse me too;ÔÇ¿
I wasn't watching for you."ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿

We were very polite, this stranger and I.ÔÇ¿
We went on our way and we said goodbye.ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿

But at home a different story is told,ÔÇ¿
How we treat our loved ones, young and oldÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,ÔÇ¿
My son stood beside me very still.ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿

I had on new clothez,
New kickz upon my feet.
I was there for class on time,
Went to the back and took my seat. 

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what THAT man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wifeÔÇ¿
Who judgement upon you must pass,ÔÇ¿
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you a straight-shootin’ chum,

By Roger Darlington

Martin was returning to work in his London office after spending two weeks with his brother over in New York. He was coming back with a heavy heart. It was not just that it was the end of a wonderful holiday; it was not just that he invariably suffered badly from jet lag; it was that Monday mornings always began with a team meeting and, over the months, he had grown to hate them.

By Roger Darlington

You can tell which day a loaf of bread was baked by the color of its plastic twist tag.

Collected on the Internet, 2001

Blood Clots/Stroke - Good to review - even if you've read this before!
Now there is a Fourth Indicator... the Tongue.
 
Here's a story that will get you thinking about this life-saving information:
 
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call  paramedics). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.
 

"I WOULDN'T WANT THIS HAPPEN TO ANY OF YOU!"-- CHERYL

This is a combination of story, journal entries, and pictures from a woman who says she got chemical burns from wearing a pair of inexpensive flip-flop shoes or thongs purchased from Wal-Mart. Cheryl was employed at the store she got them from and bought two pair before leaving for a vacation trip.