A Pea Story

People, I don't care if this is true or not. It's essence is right on the money.


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?"

"H'lo, 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 that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there 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.

Let me tell you this again you gutless wonder...

This is MY blog, where I express MY opinions. You do not have the right to leave comments here that have no intellectual merit or redeeming debative properties.
Get a life or be MAN OR WOMAN enough to leave a coherent thought to be discussed. Otherwise I'll know you're simply flotsam floating and rotting in a sea of bile.
Oh, and sign your name if you have the courage to do it. I somehow doubt you do. That would take balls.

Earning The Right?

A poster in a national forum was very snotty towards anyone republican during the election. He admitted on the forum that he was drunk. Now, a mere three days later, he seems to believe he should get a pass on that behavior. He says he "earned" the right to be belligerent that night.

Um
Since when?

How do we "earn" the right to belittle other Americans because of their party affiliation? How do we "earn" the right to prejudge their positions and comments without even taking the time to learn about the facts they post?

That's the problem, imo. The demonizing of people because of party affiliation must stop on both sides. It's an issue the dems used to almost universally agree with. Now there are some nasty bits revealing themselves.

If you've read my other posts you'll see I've been stung. Don't expect me to reach my hand out again, especially if you think you've EARNED the right to diss me.

No man has that "right".

Amazing Photos

The lady in question is the wife of a photographer. They live right on a migratory route for hummingbirds. These are some of the most amazing photos I've ever seen. I'm jealous. I'd love to have the talent to take those types of pictures as well as have the opportunity to actually touch one of these amazing little birds.

http://www.abigailsings.com/hummingbirds

Election Day - Where's the difference?

I'm going to piss some people off. It's not my intent but it's gonna.

In the past month the BS from BOTH sides has increased. I'm sick of it.
I used to have clearly defined opinions on which party would be best in power. Now I don't see a big difference, especially in the rank and file members.

From 2000 I have proclaimed that Dubya was NOT the best choice for president. I've railed against him in blogs and on message boards. It used to be so clear. There were the Bushites who believed everything they were told about Valerie Plame and Iraq and then there were the rest of us: Dems, Green parties, independents and those republicans, like myself, who were sick to death of Bush, his bad policies, his mangled speech and his sidekick, Rove.

A couple of months ago I started sensing a huge change from "my" side. Forget reason. Forget dialogue. They became as putrid as any Bushite ever could be. Forget examining arguments. If it was republican it was automatically evil,
would support the election being stolen again, walked in lock step with Bush and wouldn't admit that we really know the pentagon was hit by a Bush supported bomb and everything we thought we saw was a holographic image!!!!

I don't have patience for loons and hate mongers. So it's sad to say but I could care less who wins today. I have no faith that a democratically controlled congress will be so much better than one controlled by the republicans. I have every confidence that should the dems take over the revenge will begin, including the actions of those on the bottom of the party roll.

I thought politics was a noble cause. One where those concerned with the betterment of mankind and the nuture of every single American was the first and utmost importance.

I was wrong.

It's simply about power aka money. Who's got it. Who wants it. How to keep it.

Let's See A Show Of Hands

Will post a few thoughts later but suffice it to say I can't wait till Tuesday is over. Can I see a show of hands of those that agree??