Classmates, how are things going in your lives? Inquiring minds would
like to know, your Classmates. I know, it is busy being us, at this age,
but many of us are going through the same things. It would be great if we
could share, and let others know that they are not going through the same
things – alone. Many of you have reconnected for just this reason. So if
you have something going on, and need some assistance, drop me a note and I
will do my best to connect you to a Classmate that can assist with a remedy.
Now, what’s in store for your visual delights this month. First we
will start with an “actual” wanted poster. Then off we go with a
Carpenter’s Story. Next we will journey into some benefits, that relate to
age. Following that, with November 4th coming close, we will have some
Campaigning. Then we will move on to the Ten Commandments, four legged
style; followed by an IQ Test. And finally, a history lesson for the
times, back to the future. So...time to grab your favorite snack food on
one side and that significant other on the other side, and let’s begin this
month’s Classmate Review.
Article
#54
October
2008
“The M & M Approach”
(Mix Master!)
THE CLASSMATES MOST
WANTED
Contributed By A Classmate
Who Are These Two??
A CARPENTER’S GLASSES
Contributed By Bruce Ahlvin
My mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was
building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in
China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his
glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions,
he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket
unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His
brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six
children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning.
He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. It's
not fair, he told God as he drove home in frustration. I've been
very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and
now this.
Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in
the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that
supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my
grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by
thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting him.
But most of all, he said, I must thank you for the glasses you
sent last. You see, the Communists had just swept through the
orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses.
I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no
way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to
see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much
in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived.
When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses
lying on top.
The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in.
Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued:
Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had
been custom made just for me! I want to thank you for being a
part of that.
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the
missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they
thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an
ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an
extraordinary way.
There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him!
Perhaps we ought to try to thank Him more often. May GOD bless your week.
Look for the perfect mistakes. People are like tea bags – you have to put
them in hot water before you know how strong they are.
~Author
Unknown~
AGE RELATED
BENEFITS
Contributed by Bonita Beck
Someone had to remind
me, so I'm reminding you too. Don't laugh....it is all true:
Perks of reaching 50 or being over 60
and heading towards 70!
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 supper 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 a 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 a
manageable size.
19. You can't remember [what site you’re on reading]
this list.
*Notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.
IT’S TIME FOR
SOME CAMPAIGNIN’
Contributed by Bruce (Jib/Jab) Ahlvin
http://www.jibjab.com/originals/time_for_some_campaignin
THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS FOR FOUR LEGS
Contributed By Bob Graham
1. My life is likely to last 10–15 years.
Any separation from you is
likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well–being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as
punishment. You have your work, your friends, your
entertainment,
but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand
your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could
hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself
if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting
the
right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart
might be
getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say
you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone.
Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I
love you so.
~ Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good
care of them.
~ We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love,
and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!
IQ TEST
Contributed by Mike Graham
http://www.flashbynight.com/test/
A HISTORY
LESSON
Contributed by a Classmate
THE 1500'S
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the
water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to
be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly
bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were
starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body
odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting
married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had
the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then
the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the
water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying,
“Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Houses had thatched roofs–thick straw–piled high, with no wood underneath.
It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other
small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became
slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence
the saying “It's raining cats and dogs.”
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house..This posed a
real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up
your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the
top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into
existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence
the e saying “dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get
slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh, straw, on floor to
help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh
until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A
piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the [name for] a
thresh hold.
Getting quite an education, aren't you?
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always
hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot.
They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the
stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then
start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there
for quite a while. Hence the rhyme “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge
cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.”
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When
visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a
sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut
off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the
fat.”
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content
caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning
death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years
or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous!
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the
loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper
crust.”
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes
knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road
would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on
the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around
and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom
of holding a “wake.”
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places
to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a
bone–house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25
coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized
they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist
of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie
it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the
graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be “saved
by the bell” or was considered a “dead ringer.”
And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !
Don’t
Forget:
Happy
Birthday
to all October Classmates
October
Dates to Remember:
1 – Vegetarian Day
2 – Twilight Zone premiered, 1959
