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| From the Net.
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The pea story
Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. Sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not zackley. but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will Thanks Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man.
A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there, I learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening, and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt. We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles. A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself. An unexpected phone call from an old friend. Green stoplights on your way to work. The fastest line at the grocery store. A good sing-along song on the radio. Your keys right where you left them."
I hope eveyone has a great day.
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| Well not much happening,,,,except the HEAT. 100+ days ain't human!!!
Check out www.photobucket.com In the upper right hand corner is the search window. Type tater48gem for my latest pics. | | |
| Well, looks like it has been a couple of months since I posted
last. Long Island Ice Tea is still my favorite drink. The
best in Little Rock I have found so far, Lone Star Steakhouse.
Second, Saddle Back Grill in NLR. I have heard Zach's Place
has a great one. I need to go there.
We are on vacation this week. We were supposed to be in Pigeon
Forge, TN but because Papaw Corker fell last week and broke his hip,
those plans got changed. He is in rehab and doing much better.  We are heading to Heber Springs and will be staying at Abbehouse, a bed and breakfast  Don't know what all we will do but I am sure we will find something to do.
One of Chris best friends Andy Greenfield got married last Saturday, congratulations Andy and Rhonda !! 
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| Hey Kids and Fansm
Had a new drink last night at Applebee's. Had Long Island Ice Tea. Rum, Gin, Vodka, hmmmmmmm,,,no wonder I woke up with a headache at 2 am. Was one of those drinks that tasted better as you went along. Hmmmmm??
One more week left in my exercice program at the gym. I weighed myself last night I was at 245.5. That is 9.5 down as I started out at 255. This is after 8 weeks I told the trainer last night in class that I was going to tweek my routine and let him look at it. This will be what I use for the next couple of months.
Not much else going on. Have not been anywhere to take some cool pics. But the jonquils are blooming and Chris told me I needed to come to their house to get pictures of Canadian geese on the pond behind their house. Supposed to be about 80 today. Man that is going to be tuff to stay indoors at work. I got to take off Friday to get some work done on the truck.
Here is your public service announcement for the day. Do you know what does not mix? Give up? Washing machines and cell phones do not mix. DUHHHHHHHHH !!!! Who would have thunk?????? Last Saturday while down in the boonies in South Arkansas I put Nozymom's cell in my pants pocket for safe keeping. Well, I kept it safe alright. Right into the washing machine. It may be squeaky clean now, but it does not go Ring a Ding Ding now. So we had to jack that one up and drive a new one under it last night at full retail as we were not out of contract and able to upgrade. BUTTTTTTT,,, we now have insurance on all the phones,,,,,so next time,,,,no problemo!!.
Well,,,the shower is calling my name,,,CrazyeyeJim,,,,,,,CrazyeyeJim. So I must heed the call of the hot shower and ponder my day.
All is well in the world of CrazyeyeJim,,,,I am outta here
CrazyeyeJim | | |
| Howdy everyone.
Well,,my trip to Seattle, Washington was great. Weather was sunny and in the 50's all week. Too bad Seattle did not win the Super Bowl as it would have been a blast in downtown Seattle if they had.
Here is a link to some pics. www.photobucket.com. The user is tater48gem. Key that in the user search in the upper left hand corner of the home page.
Got to see snow when I got back home Friday (2 hours late). Tried to get on an earlier flight out of Dallas. I was not on that plane but my luggage was. Thanks American!! At least I did not have to wait on my luggage as it was waiting on me in Little Rock. I was walking out the door when the buzzer was sounding. Hmmmm,,,maybe I ought to do that more often. That way the luggage is already at my destination.
Well that is about it. Think Nozymom wants me to clean out the refrigerator this morning. Wonder what science experiments are lurking??
Looks like Disco has set up a "Disco needs New Puter" fund. Hey Disco, I got a couple of pennies I found on the parking lot you can have.
Love ya all
CrazyeyedJim | | |
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