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~~~~~~~ WITandWISDOM™ - March 30, 1999 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. - Albert Einstein (E-zine: INSPIRE http://www.infoadvn.com/inspire/) ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: TWO FAMILIES By Diane Rayner One family, which had emigrated from Japan and settled at the turn of the century near San Francisco, had established a business in which they grew roses and trucked them into San Francisco three mornings a week. The other family was a naturalized family from Switzerland who also marketed roses, and both families became modestly successful, as their roses were known in the markets of San Francisco for their long vase-life. For almost four decades the two families were neighbors, and the sons took over the farms, but then on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Although the rest of the family members were Americans, the father of the Japanese family had never been naturalized. In the turmoil and the questions about internment camps, his neighbor made it clear that, if necessary, he would look after his friend's nursery. It was something each family had learned in church: Love thy neighbor as thyself. "You would do the same for us," he told his Japanese friend. It was not long before the Japanese family was transported to a barren landscape in Granada, Colorado. The relocation center consisted of tar-paper-roofed barracks surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. A full year went by. Then two. Then three. While the Japanese neighbors were in internment, their friends worked in the greenhouses, the children before school and on Saturdays: and the father's work often stretched to 16 and 17 hours a day. And then one day, when the war in Europe had ended, the Japanese family packed up and boarded a train. They were going home. What would they find? The family was met at the train depot by their neighbors, and when they got to their home, the whole Japanese family stared. There was the nursery, intact, scrubbed and shining in the sunlight - neat, prosperous and healthy. So was the balance in the bank passbook handed to the Japanese father. And the house was just as clean and welcoming as the nursery. And there on the dining room was one perfect red rosebud, just waiting to unfold - the gift of one neighbor to another. From A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (E-zine: CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL http://www.soupserver.com/) ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: OFF THE WIRE News We Just Couldn't Pass Up A 99-year-old Chinese widower who posted a lonely hearts ad looking for a wife has been swamped with offers, including several from women in their 20s and from a 58-year-old who flew to his hometown to meet him. A rampaging squirrel broke into the home of a vacationing couple in Shrewsbury, England, and did $8,250 damage. After a court fight, the insurance company paid in full. An elderly woman who accidentally locked herself into her pantry in Budapest, Hungary, survived for a month on bottled fruit and tomato juice before being rescued. In High Point, N.C., complaints rolled in about a policewoman sleeping on the job in a patrol car. The "officer" was a female mannequin dressed in police uniform to deter speeders. Thailand's Health Ministry says persons wanting to live past 100 should brush their teeth and bathe twice a day, and keep their homes tidy and clothes clean. If Shanghai diners feel a nagging urge to visit their favorite "hot pot" restaurant, there may be a good reason. Health authorities found that many of the city's hot-pot eateries were adding opium poppies to the broth to keep customers coming back for more. Compiled by Ivan Weiss, February 06, 1999 Copyright © 1999 Seattle Times Company (E-zine: KEITH'S MOSTLY CLEAN HUMOR Mailto:KSullivan@worldnet.att.net) ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: The boss called one of his employees into the office. "Rob," he said, "you've been with the company for a year. You started off in the post room, one week later you were promoted to a sales position, and one month after that you were promoted to district manager of the sales department. Just four short months later, you were promoted to vice-chairman. Now it's time for me to retire, and I want you to take over the company. What do you say to that?" "Thanks," said the employee. "Thanks?" the boss replied, "Is that all you can say?" "I suppose not," the employee said. "Thanks, Dad." (Kitty's Daily Mews ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: INTERESTING USES FOR Bounce® Part 3 of 3 (Mar.10,19) Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they'll smell great in the morning. (E-zine: THE FUNNIES Mailto:Andychap@aol.com) |