Episode 103: If Teacups Could Talk →

Episode 103 - If Teacups Could Talk

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Summertime. Good, ole' summertime. It is a good time to get in some summer reading. My grandchildren from Ohio sent me the book, "If Teacups Could Talk" by Emily Barnes. I have enjoyed reading the many warm thoughts in this book over a cup of tea. I have also had many special moments with the grandchildren, as we have our tea party. I have learned some interesting lessons about tea cups. China dishes recovered from shipwrecks are often good as new, long after the ship itself has dissolved in the salt water. Porcelain is fragile, but it is also remarkably durable, like us, like life. Humans are beautiful and breakable, like china cups. Humans can heal and grow and move beyond disaster, we can reach out to one another and encouragement and comfort. Nancy Reagan has stated that a woman is like a tea bag. It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is. Tea Time offers so many wonderful possibilities for nurturing friendships, and if tea cups could talk, they would say so much about the past, and also about the future. For hundreds of years "come for tea" has been another way of saying, "Come, let's share a little bit of our lives together." If tea cups could talk their message no doubt would be "Use Me."

Episode 102: Live and Learn and Pass it On →

Recently I read a book by H. Jackson Brown, Jr., entitled, "Live and Learn and Pass it On." In the book people ages 5 to 95 share what they have discovered about life, love and other good stuff. Some of the thoughts are a bit humorous, but somehow we can get the message. I have personally discovered throughout my years that if we really listen, we can learn so much. The following are a few quotes from from individuals and it lists their age, when they said these words.

Episode 101: Time Together →

Where has the month of July gone?

When many of you read these warm thoughts, there will only be three precious days left in the month. Does time really fly faster when one gets a year older? I am reminded of the words I overheard while sitting in church one Sunday morning, and listening to voices around me, before the service. "Every day is the day to celebrate," I heard it said. I realized how true those words of wisdom really mean to me as I celebrate life each day. Jonathan Swift has said as well, "May you live all the days of your life." This plaque is high on the kitchen range this summer, and is a reminder to live and enjoy each day of your life. July is a month when many families celebrate, beginning with Independence Day and family reunions. Have you ever thought of celebrating Christmas in July? Our family has found it a most convenient time to celebrate Christmas with all the family Christmas traditions. Perhaps this is nontraditional, but we managed to celebrate everything that has happened during the past year. This includes those who have birthdays, anniversaries, and additions to the family. We recognize achievements and graduations and each member of the family is so special. Traditional holiday and birthday gifts and treats are given to the loved ones, good food, good memories, all go together. It is probably the mother of all celebrations.

Episode 100: Mailed Letters - A Gift of the Past →

It is such a joy to receive letters from the readers of this column. I appreciate it so much when they include some gems of thought that I can share with you all through this column. In this day of high technology, the fax machine is used to communicate, email, and the computer for our relationships. That personal handwritten letter may soon become a gift of the past. Here is the thought a faithful reader from Florida sent me.

Episode 59: The Millenial Generation →

Recently, I read an article on the Millennial generation. I found it most interesting and would like to share my thoughts on this generation with my readers. We have heard and read about the Baby Boomers and the Generation X, Baby Busters. But what do we really know about the next generation? Neil Howe, and William Strauss have written a groundbreaking new book titled, “The Fourth Turning,” to describe what is being called the Millennial generation. That generation, beginning with those born in 1982 and later, is now entering high school. Howe and Strauss have discovered that this emerging generation is considerably different from the Gen Xers, who preceded that there were significant findings about Millennials, that will affect the way youth activities will be like in the next few years. Millennials are a generation nurtured during a veering of protective family structures, they are looked upon very favorably by elders. Movies that tended to demonize Gen Xers now characterize Millennials, as virtuous, and nearly angelic. Older people are very interested in protecting this generation.