Every now and then I get a little story via e-mail that I think it would be a tragdy if all didn't read it. This is one of them.

The Pickle Jar

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents’ bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar . They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate’s treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.
When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.

Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. ‘Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You’re going to do better than me. This old mill town’s not going to hold you back.’

Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. ‘These are for my son’s college fund. He’ll never work at the mill all his life like me.’

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. ‘When we get home, we’ll start filling the jar again.’ He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.

‘You’ll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,’ he said. ‘But you’ll get there; I’ll see to that.’

No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.

To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me ‘When you finish college, Son,’ he told me, his eyes glistening, ‘You’ll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to.’

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed.

A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly and Susan took her from Dad’s arms. ‘She probably needs to be changed,’ she said, carrying the baby into my parents’ bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. ‘Look,’ she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles
that we forget to count our blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life, for better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact one another in some way. Look for GOOD in others.

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller

· Happy moments, praise God.
· Difficult moments, seek God.
· Quiet moments, worship God.
· Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

Friends there has been a William sighting!

ain't life great!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOES Part II

I start with the "I sorry" for not letting the shoe thing go, but is it just a female hormone thing or what! NO! it happens to guys too. Good grief! Do you not understand that those shoes are for hunting bears in the woods and they just don't go with a tie! Guys guys guys... Take a second and thing. Unless you have "problems with your feet" get something that doesn't make you feet he topic of discussion after you leave the room.

Here's a clue, OK, some clues. Right list time.

Clues you made a mistake in shoe selection or reasons to "get thee to a shoe store.":
1. Your toe is sticking out between the slits in the shoe.
2. You have walked the heel down on those shoes where they look like mountain man clogs.
3. There are parts of leather (or something that looks some what like leather) "hanging" off the heels.
4. One shoe is a different color than the other and yes, you have tried to polish them several times with that can paste polish your dad used.
5. SOMETHING Smells!
6. My sister has a pair like yours but she wears a dress some.
7. The heel is "way" high making you look like you're walking in high water.
8. You laces form the shape of an exotic animal.
9. They are the same color as your Christmas tie.
10. The toes are shaped perfectly for kill insects running to the corner of the room.
11. Good grief men unless you name is "Huggy" purple is not a shoe color.

12. STEELE toes???? What are you afraid of??? are you planning a dance contest with a BIG women??

Now... GO... get thee to the shoe store.

What is the source of you actions?

Speaking today of a widely published report of a Florida church's plan to burn the Muslim "holy" book the Kuran. Let me be clear how I stand on this.

STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not just the logical stance to prevent provocation of extremist who, to begin with are just looking for reasons to murder people that might be wearing the same tag as those who perform this action, but the better reason of "faith and action" this is stupid and dumb.

Why would you want to do such a thing? OK, we were all shocked at the actions of a few Muslim extremists of September 11th and I can imagine the hurt and hate of those who suffered lost of friends and family towards those of like faith and beliefs, but is hate a good reason to demonstrate a hateful act that is most assuredly gong to create more acts of hate. What more is at the center of this "burning" than hate, hate, and more hate.

Show me where Christ demonstrates hate except where it relates to sin and convince me in the least way that "hate" is not SIN!!!

Our whole existence as Christians is centered around Glorifying the Father. All things are to glorify the father and for that much all things do glorify the Father whether it is our intentions or not. God is in control always no matter what.

As to the "pastor " who came up with this idea I say, GOOD GRIEF! Get out, get out! Go away! Run into the wilderness and seek to find the truth you probably had at one time. You cannot stand at the Holy desk and present the Word of God and then not follow the teaching of that Word. You are not the care keeper of those in the faith family at your church. You are the wolf in sheep's clothes, the agent of the dark one, the false one spewing puss from you mouth leading others away from the true Christian walk.

The source of our actions as Christians is Christ the son of God. His love eternal.

Do all as you would be doing it unto God.

They will know you by your love for one another.

Now, of course I want to have an open mind. SO, if you can show me in the WORD of God how burning the "book" will glorify God I will bring the matches to Florida. Better yet I will buy a zippo with the emblem of the USMC on it and start the fire myself.

Sir you are the 1% percenter of the Christian family of faith.

QUESTIONS 926-1240

Caught you though, cause you skipped 1101-1199!!!

926. Have you ever held someone and appreciated how delicate and fragile all life is and felt that they were even more precious and beautiful because one day they would die.and so will you?
DIE? Good grief!

927. In ten years someone else might own your house and the room you are sitting in now. Someone else might be standing right next to where you are sitting now. So that means you could be standing right next to someone but you can't see him or her because they are ten years away.Ever look at life like that?

WHY? There are better things to think about than stupid time warp stuff.

928. When was the last time you:Soaked in a bubble bath-
You don’t soak in a bubble bath you soak under it.

Read a good book outside-
July 10

Held someone's hand-
last night

Felt truly joyful-
?????????????????

929. What do you bring to this world that no one else can?-
fine children

930. Do you feel that you are part of every living thing in this world and that all those things are part of you?
no

931. Are you more afraid of death or not completely living?-
Not completely living. Just here… in the land of the dying on my way to the land of the living

932. What was the last thing you wanted to do but didn't or couldn't do?
have ice cream, give a friend a lot of money, beat the hell out of a hateful person

933. Why don't you try and do that thing now?
same reasons

934. What is the most wonderful thing happening right now in the world?
my family
935. Name 7 things going on around you that you normally wouldn't notice:
1.air blowing on my arm
2. lingering taste of a soda
3.piano playing
4.Burn notice on TV
5.fan blowing
6.nose runnnnnnnnnnning
7.legs hurting.

936. Name three things you hate
1.people dying
2.greens
3.two faced people

937. Name one GOOD thing about each of those 3 things you hate.
1. they leave this world of hurting
2.the color
3. I can leave them behind1045. Have you ever given blood?yes1046. Have you ever been thrown out of someplace?no
1047. What do you daydream about?
fishing, eating, Libby

1048. Are you a miracle?
yes

1049. If America is one nation under god then are atheists citizens? of course, God made atheists too

1050. Should they be?

PAY ATTENTION!

1051. If you could pick any rock star to replace the Ozbournes in their reality show, whom would you pick?
the Chipmunks

1052. What are your feelings about Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of Christ?
very realistic!

1053. What did you think about the last episode of Sex in the City?
I didn’t think about it.

1054. What is your favorite movie with Adam Sandler in it?
Click

1055. What is your biggest problem?
depression

1056. Have you ever been arrested?
not completely

1057. Can musicians be held responsible for influencing people to behave badly?everyone is held accountable for their actions

1058. Do you believe that there are subliminal messages embedded in some TV shows, movies & music?
yes

1059. Is there anything that you believe should be banned for any reason?
Muslims

1060. How often do you eat too much?
daily

1061. Have you ever descended into pure madness?
yes, twice

1062. Would you want to?
never again

1063. Do green m&m's make you feel sexy?
nothing makes me feel sexy

1064. If you died tomorrow, what mark would you have left on the world?
a long brown streak

1065. What movie would you NEVER want to see?
the one with naked skinny and naked fat people

1066. What annoys you the most about yourself?
desperation

1067. How do you feel about capitalism?
it’s CAPITAL

1068. How do you feel about socialism?
has its place

1069. How do you feel about communism?
not needed

1070. Has anyone ever tried to injure you?
many times

1071. Has anyone ever tried to kill you?
yes

1072. How do you know when it's time to break up with someone?
they let me know

1073. What is your opinion of the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake superbowl exposure incident?
touching but NOT revealing

1074. What's the most annoying sound?
certain people’s voices

1075. Who was your childhood hero?
superman

1076. With nearly 100 channels why is NOTHING ever on?
reruns

1077. Would you adopt a stray kitty wandering through your neighborhood?
don’t like cats, that would be NO!

1078. Describe what you look like:
a calorie free, fat free reducing pill

1079. Describe what you ARE like:
falling apart due to injury and mileage

1080. What bad habit do you have that affects other people as much as it affects you?cussing

1081. How did you party new years eve 1999?
with the family, nothing exciting

1082. Does second hand smoke bother you?yes!
1083. Have you ever:Dumped a drink over some one's head?
yes
Dumped a drink over your own head?
yes
Bit someone?
yes
Torn at some one's clothes?
yes!
Made out in the bathroom?
yes!
1084. Which Lord of the Rings movie has the best ending?
the last one

1085. Do you have any interesting scars?
all scars are interesting, make up any story

1086. Is it better for people to change and evolve their ideas or always be consistent?
change to what the need be

1087. Warped tour, Lollapalooza or Area concert?
no way

1088. What are you missing in your life?
fun and a hearts desire

1089. Do you ever know when someone is thinking about you?
mostly if they tell me, not many other times

1090. What could you make a sculpture out of that's in the room with you right now?
anything, rocks, pencils …

1091. Do you believe in the lost city of Atlantis?
yes,

1092. Have you ever read The Little Prince?
no

1093. This is Mr. fish <><>

1094. What did Mr. Octopus say to Mrs. Octopus? get a grip

1095. Let's see if I'm psychic. Write a yes or no question here. Is the boss having an a fair with the PE coach?

1096. Write another yes or no question. Is the PE coach having an affair with the boss?

1097. Think of just one more yes or no question. Does anyone care whether the boss and the PE coach are having an affair?

1098. Type one question that can be answered with a color (example: what color is my car) What solid color is my underwear?

1099. Think of a number between one and one hundred & type it down.

3

1100. Write one more question, anything you want.

Who killed JFK?

Caught you!!! the list skips to 1201 from 1100!!!!!!

1201. Have you ever owned a record?

Yes, shot put 55’11 ¾”, south Mississippi, high school, junior high, city

1202. In some states people want to make it a requirement that creationism (god made the world) be taught alongside evolution in high school sciences classes. What do you think of this?

The truth and scientific theory should always be taught to generate fresh thought

1203. Should evolution also be taught in religious establishments like church or temple?

Churches are for worship and truth

1204. Can a person believe in creationism and in evolution at the same time? of course, it is a scientific principle, but God also created evolution

1205. You obviously like surveys since you are filling out a 5,000 question one. Do any of the following surveys sound interesting:

The Doors/Jim Morrison Survey:

The David Bowie Survey:

The Beatles Survey:

The Rocky Horror Survey:

The Labyrinth Survey:

The SLC Punk Survey:

The birthday survey: yes
So this is love, the survey: yes
The heartache/break up survey: yes
Creationism vs. Evolutionism Survey: yes
Opinion Survey:
World Trade Center Survey:
Halloween Survey: yes
Survey of Sin: yes
How evil are you? Survey: yes
The Roaring 20's Survey:

Well, once, long ago, I created all those surveys. Now they are floating around in people’s diaries because the diary I had them in (Simply Surveys) was deleted due to disuse.

1206. Who did you get this survey from?
Gretta Internet

Say one nice thing about the person you got this survey from:
Broad

1207. Here is a list of priorities...
Love/sex

Family #1

Close friends

School/learning next to next to last

Job/career
Being true to yourself/self respect
Honesty Aesthetics (beauty in the world)
Creativity
Patriotism
Knowledge
Wisdom
Leading an exciting life
Making a contribution to humanity

Being rich Being famous last

Having power next to last

Justice/fairness
World peace
Accepting and understanding others
Finding yourself

Spirituality/religion #2

Health #3

Happiness What are your top three priorities from this list?

1208. Out of that same list what are your BOTTOM 3 priorities?

1209. How many hours of TV do you watch in an average day?
3-4 hours

1210. Do you want to have a car, a house and 2.5 kids?
Only 2 kids

1211. What song, CD, or band is a 'guilty pleasure' for you (meaning you know it sucks but you like it anyway)?
The Purple Wiz

1212. If you were going to vote for a candidate for president and then you found out that the person you were going to vote for is HIV positive would that effect your vote and why?
Depends on how he got that way and what his life style was now.

1213. Have you ever had an HIV test?
no

1214. What time do you:
Get up in the morning: 6:10-628 AM
Eat lunch: 11:45
Do something active during the day: 4:45
Go to bed: 10:00

1215. Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?
of course all people of character have

1216. When you hear the word ‘biker’ what kind of person do you think of?
FREE SPIRIT rider

1217. Did your parents ever talk to you about sex?
no

1218. If your pet dies, you can now have it cloned for $50,000. How do you feel about this?

possibly a good idea for those who have the money, not me

1219. Are you or would you be embarrassed about buying condoms?
NO

1220. Do any of your clocks make an odd noise or play a song when the hour strikes?

Used to but broke, sounds like a motor cycle

1221. What are the things that make you go 'Hmmmm....' (remember that song?)?
Nothing, absolutely nothing

1222. Are you a sinner?
yes, we all are.

1223. Are you naughty or nice?
neither

1224. Is belly-dancing sexy?
Never done it

1225. What celebrity would you love to be able to dance with?
I don’t think so

1226. What is your favorite comic book movie?
X-men

1227. What movie would you recomend for couples to watch on Valentine's day?
Each other

1228. Besides when you were little how many people have seen you completely naked and who?
Hundreds, the folk I took showers with after practice

1229. Is sex something that should be treated casually?
NO WAY!!!

1230. Have you ever participate in an orgy?
Is that where you build a house like habitat?

If no, would you ever consider it?
Build a house? sure

1231. What song is in your head right now?
none

1232. What was the best day of your life like?
Any day with my Libby

1233. What are you all about?
I’m not all about anything, maybe family

1234. You have won a contest where you get all these great prizes but you can only keep one for yourself and must give the others away to friends, family or whoever. Which one do you keep and who do you give the rest to:
A $5,000 gift certificate to radio shack: Ross

A brand new yellow jeep:katie

An all expense paid vacation for 2 to Italy: FOR ME!

Lunch with N'Sync:Katie

A lifetime supply of herbal essences shampoo: LA

A $1,000 check:Mission first

A palm pilot? Ron

An autographed picture of Shakira: some guy on the street

Breakfast with kid rock: Chennault

A shirt once worn by Jonathan Davis: Evan

One round of mini-golf with Sharon Osbourne: Becky

A phone call from Robert Smith: LA

A brand new washer/dryer: Anna

Free medical insurance for 1 year:Libby

1235. Who do you think you might have known in a past life?
No one in this life, past life… good grief!

1236. Do you take vitamins?
yep

1237. Do you prefer fake or real flowers around the house?
real

1238. Sometimes roses are pink, yellow, white or red. If you give someone a rose, does its color change the meaning behind it as a gift?

YES!

1239. What's the most deadly thing you can think of?
Cliff diving

1240. To-MAY-toes or to-MA-toes?

MAY!

War HUH!… What is it good for?????

Allow me to step to the soap box and shout with vigor… GOOD GRIEF!!!!

Mr. Obama has declared the war in Iraq, Iran, and Uran over. Hello, we’ve been at war?? Seems to me that we were in a war on terrorism and terrorism is where it is found. Whether Iran, Iraq, or Memphis. I was around when JFK was murdered because he was prepared to get out of Viet Nam. The “war we lost”, remember those kind of statements back in the 70’s. Seems it was to costly for us to stop the “war” then because of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to be made because of the “war”.

I see the “end of this war” as the same pulling out of a military action that was never unleashed on the true enemy. “Look but don’t touch” as I see it and at what cost? Lives of young men with loved ones that are shaking their heads at why. It’s not like the enemy is wearing a uniform that we can identify and pop a cap on him. Oh yea, we kill those that shoot at us but the ones that sit back and set off a bomb with their cell phones, the throw the brick and hide the hand group, they walk away to blow up kill kill kill another day.

Hell yes it is time to get out of the country but who do we send the bill for these years of “conflict” to? Now we’re going to sell $13,000,000,000 worth equipment to them. Get me right on this, we are leaving $13,000,000,000, of equipment behind. We don’t need it, opps, I forgot the Mexican border where bunches of people are flooding in to suck the tax payers money away from them. That will have to be for another time.

Now don’t take me wrong. I believe that being the strongest nation in the world comes with a price. We are called to stand for freedom and liberty, but where is the respect and “thank you”s for our expenses and sacrifice? WHERE IS THE RESPECT???

What do you think would happen if we took just 1/10 of the price of the “conflicts” and spent it on the gulf coast to restore the BP oil spill, or maybe another 1/10 and built fresh water wells in eastern nations of the world of need. We might cause some good and it wouldn’t be hazardous to any one’s health. 27,000 children dying daily of preventable diseases… how about doing something about that.

Here’s my decree for dealing with conflicts, since this is Walden World I can decree, No more “conflicts”!!! If we have to go to a nation to clear up a “problem’, we go full speed, fully manned, guns a blasting and then get out!!! No forming government, no training the army to take over just wham bam thank you mam.

Here another decree just because it my world and this one is a list of course.
1. One billion dollars to the Mississippi and Louisiana coast to rebuild from Katrina and the BP “accident.” One each, keep the change.
2. 3 billion dollars to supply fresh water wells for the peoples of Africa.
3. 4.5 Billion dollars to states education funding directly to alternative education to get the dummies out of class rooms with the students that want an education.
4. I decree that no “checks” will be provided any person who is not a productive citizen and does not work! No matter how many kids they have out of the union of marriage, NO CHECK!

War HUH!… What is it good for?????

Allow me to step to the soap box and shout with vigor… GOOD GRIEF!!!!

Mr. Obama has declared the war in Iraq, Iran, and Uran over. Hello, we’ve been at war?? Seems to me that we were in a war on terrorism and terrorism is where it is found. Whether Iran, Iraq, or Memphis. I was around when JFK was murdered because he was prepared to get out of Viet Nam. The “war we lost”, remember those kind of statements back in the 70’s. Seems it was to costly for us to stop the “war” then because of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to be made because of the “war”.

I see the “end of this war” as the same pulling out of a military action that was never unleashed on the true enemy. “Look but don’t touch” as I see it and at what cost? Lives of young men with loved ones that are shaking their heads at why. It’s not like the enemy is wearing a uniform that we can identify and pop a cap on him. Oh yea, we kill those that shoot at us but the ones that sit back and set off a bomb with their cell phones, the throw the brick and hide the hand group, they walk away to blow up kill kill kill another day.

Hell yes it is time to get out of the country but who do we send the bill for these years of “conflict” to? Now we’re going to sell $13,000,000,000 worth equipment to them. Get me right on this, we are leaving $13,000,000,000, of equipment behind. We don’t need it, oops, I forgot the Mexican border where bunches of people are flooding in to suck the tax payers money away from them. That will have to be for another time.

Now don’t take me wrong. I believe that being the strongest nation in the world comes with a price. We are called to stand for freedom and liberty, but where is the respect and “thank you”s for our expenses and sacrifice? WHERE IS THE RESPECT???

What do you think would happen if we took just 1/10 of the price of the “conflicts” and spent it on the gulf coast to restore the BP oil spill, or maybe another 1/10 and built fresh water wells in eastern nations of the world of need. We might cause some good and it wouldn’t be hazardous to any one’s health. 27,000 children dying daily of preventable diseases… how about doing something about that.

Here’s my decree for dealing with conflicts, since this is Walden World I can decree, No more “conflicts”!!! If we have to go to a nation to clear up a “problem’, we go full speed, fully manned, guns a blasting and then get out!!! No forming government, no training the army to take over just wham bam thank you mam.

Here another decree just because it my world and this one is a list of course.
1. One billion dollars to the Mississippi and Louisiana coast to rebuild from Katrina and the BP “accident.” One each, keep the change.
2. 3 billion dollars to supply fresh water wells for the peoples of Africa.
3. 4.5 Billion dollars to states education funding directly to alternative education to get the dummies out of class rooms with the students that want an education.
4. I decree that no “checks” will be provided any person who is not a productive citizen and does not work! No matter how many kids they have out of the union of marriage, NO CHECK!