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WITandWISDOM™ - May 18, 1999 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Love 'em for what they are and forgive 'em for what they ain't. - Grandpa - Courtesy of Jerry Scott, A deaf/blind INSPIRE subscriber (E-zine: INSPIRE http://www.infoadvn.com/inspire/) ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: OLD LADY'S POEM When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was felt that she had left nothing of value. Then the nurses, going through her possessions, found this poem. Its quality so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on the poem. What do you see nurse, what do you see? What do you think when you're looking at me? A crabby old woman, not very wise, Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes. Who dribbles her food and makes no reply When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try." Who seems not to notice the things that you do. And forever is losing a stocking and shoe. Who realizing or not, must do as you will. With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill. Is that what you're thinking; is that what you see! Then open your eyes, nurse, you're not looking at me. I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still, As I do your bidding, as I eat at your will. I'm a small child of ten, with a father and mother, Brother and sister, who love one another; A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet, Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet; A bride soon of twenty - my heart gives a leap, Remembering the vows that I promised to keep. At 25, now I have young of my own Who need me to build a secure, happy home. A woman of 30, my young growing fast, Bound to each other with ties that should last; At 40, my sons have grown and are gone, my man is beside me, to see I don't mourn. At 50, once more babies play around my knee; Again we know children, my loved one and me. Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead, I look to the future, I shudder with dread. For my young are all rearing children of their own, And I think of the years and the love I've known. I'm an old woman and nature is cruel. ‘Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool. The body it crumbles; grace and vigor depart. There is now just a stone where I once had a heart. But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells, And now and again my battered heart swells. I remember the joys, I remember the pain, And I'm loving and living life all over again. I think of the years, all too few, gone too fast. And accept the stark fact that nothing can last. So open your eyes, nurse. Open and see, Not a crabby old woman; look closer - SEE ME Submitted by Diana Anthony ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: THE PERFECT PASTOR Results of a computerized survey indicate that the perfect pastor preaches exactly 15 minutes. He condemns sin, but never embarrasses anyone. He works from 8 a.m. until midnight and is also the janitor. He makes $60 a week, wears good clothes, drives a new car, and gives $50 a week to the poor. He is 28 years old, has been preaching for 25 years, is wonderfully gentle and handsome, loves to work with teenagers and spends countless hours with senior citizens. He makes 15 calls daily on parish families, shut-ins and hospital patients, and is always in his office when needed. If your pastor does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other parishes that are tired of their pastors, too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list. In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors. One of them should be perfect. (Stanley Baldwin) ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A priest was walking along the corridor of the parochial school near the preschool wing when a group of little ones were trotting by on the way to the cafeteria. One little lad of about three or four stopped and looked at him in his clerical clothes and asked, "Why do you dress funny?" He told him that he was a priest and that this is the uniform priests wear. Then the boy pointed to the priest's plastic collar tab and asked, "Do you have an oowie?" The priest was perplexed till he realized that to him the collar tab looked like a band aid. So the priest took it out and handed it to the boy to show him. On the back of the tab are raised letters giving the name of the manufacturer. The little guy felt the letters, and the priest asked, "Do you know what those words say?" "Yes I do," said the lad who was not old enough to read. Peering intently at the letters he said, "Kills ticks and fleas up to six months!" (E-zine: HEADSCRAPS™ Mailto:headscraps-subscribe@onelist.com) ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Snoring in women might increase their risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. That's according to an eight-year study...which found women who snored occasionally were about 20 percent more likely than non-snorers to develop a heart problem or have a stroke. And they were 29 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. Women who snored regularly were about 33 percent more likely to develop such a cardiovascular problem. . . and about 46 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure. Lead researcher Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health says snoring is more likely in people who are older, heavier, less physically active and who sleep on their back rather than their side. He says age, obesity and lack of physical activity boost a person's risk of stroke or heart disease. But the link between snoring and cardiovascular disease held true even after accounting for these factors. (Hu reported the findings at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida.) (E-zine: DAYTIPS.COM'S LIVING TODAY Mailto:livingtoday-on@mail-list.com) What is a cyclic number? . . . Answer tomorrow. |