CYCLE

When summer's burning heat at last is over,
and autumn rains again refresh the earth.
There is a burst of life which like a nova
hurls out the light that precedes icy death.

The wind boils leaves in heaven's flashing cauldren
an endless stream of color swirls and falls,
and reveals Seurat's dappled vision,
a patchwork quilt that flows and covers all.

That which spring began and summer nurtured,
at autumn's end must safe be stored inside.
With winter's cold the cycle's finally ended.
Tender life digs deep, flies south, or dies.

At last comes winter's quiet time which brings
All life's return in resurrection spring.

             G.W. Bill Miller

PARKING LOT DUST-UP

The other day I was sitting in my car waiting for my wife to  return from the shopping mall. As I watched, a drama began to unfold just one lane over.

A little blue Honda approached a handi-capped space in the crowded lot. The driver had a handicapped parking sticker hanging from her rear view mirror. Just as she began to turn into the parking space a large green van nosed in front of the Honda.

“This is mine,” snarled the lady in the van, “I saw it first.”

“No,” said the Honda lady, “I was here first, and I have a handicapped sticker. Besides, you are going the wrong way. You will have to back up to pull in here and by then I will be parked.”

“You better back up and let me in there or I will get out and kick your butt,” the van lady shouted. She appeared to be very angry.

The lady in the Honda thought to herself. “If I can get into the parking spot it will be very difficult for her to extract me. I can honk to make noise, and if she keeps yelling we should attract some attention. With enough people watching I don't think she can do much to make me move.”

The Honda lady cracked her window and said. “OK, move back a few inches so I can get past you.” The lady in the van gave a little smirk of victory, slipped her car in reverse and backed up just enough so that the Honda whizzed into the parking slot with a blast of her horn. Grabbing her purse, she locked her doors and limped off toward the mall with her cane flying.

The van lady roared her disapproval. Honking her horn she began to curse loudly. By this time a few people had stopped and begun to watch the angry woman who shook her fists and shouted a barrage of insults.

She turned to the laughing crowd to direct her anger at them and noticed that a police car had just pulled up to see what the ruckus was about. “What seems to be the problem ma'am?” the officer asked.

“That little witch just stole my parking place.” she whined, as the crowd burst into laughter.

“I see.” said the policeman, “Would you care to go down to the police station to make a complaint?”

“Uh, no, no that's OK,” she said with a scowl, and began to back away.

Meanwhile, from a short distance away the Honda lady watched with a smile and shook her head. “Thank you Lord.” she whispered.

           G.W. Bill Miller

CANADIAN COUNTRY SPRING

Spring time at the Barn
The sight of the Lake is grand.
All the Flowers' colors so beautiful
Just makes me want
To hold them in my hand.

Will this be the
Season of Corn or Bean seed?
The Farm already is ploughed-land
Waiting for the rain
To quench its thirst.

Trees stand firm,
Mighty, tall and green,
Swaying from side to side,
Dancing to the wind.

The Farmhouse overlooks
And soaks it all in the Neutral.
Chicken-house,
Right by its side
Almost as if
Holding its Hand.

          Patrick Cheptiony

IT COULD BE WORSE

are you seeing a nurse?

is there something you must rehearse?

just remember this verse'

it could be worse

over the ages people have feared

what shouldn't be so highly revered

they run and hide or shout and curse

but it could be worse

disasters will always happen

as long as this earth is here

but we must always stand firm

let there be no fear

so even when you face death

and being whisked away in a hearse

just be thankful

it could be worse

Vaughn

SCROOGE

darkness surrounds me

i'm not a merry stooge

watch out world, don't get in my way

i've become a scrooge

don't ask for money

because i don't even care

you won't get one red penny

and i don't have time to spare

don't hassle me with your deluge

i've become a scrooge

don't ask why

because you won't get a word from me

in my darkest hour

you couldn't set me free

i spent three years in a strange city

and each day i thought of you

i planned to return

as soon as my plans went through

most people would appreciate

someone being so true

but not you

so i've stopped wasting my time with you

and everyone else

and if you ask me why, i'll tell you

you've created a scrooge

Vaughn

THE GREAT CHEESE BLUNDER

     President Obama invited both the Democrat and Republican Members of Congress to share the one-thousand-four-hundred pounds of cheese that he received from Chicago as a gift for winning the last election. The cheese measured three feet thick and five feet in diameter.

     Obama had the movers gently place the "cake" of cheese in the basement to age.  Any time anyone would open the door the smell could only be described as horrendous.  "Someone played a trick on us," an elder staff member would bellow.  The house keepers tried their best to keep the smell at bay, and keep it from rising up into the living quarters, and away from any "unsuspecting" guests.

     One day the local shops and officers declared a special Holiday, and twenty thousand cheese "Connoisseurs" stormed the White House shouting at the top of their lungs, "Where is the cheese?"

     The guests ate the cheese until it was all gone.  After they departed, the Senior Cleaning staff called the "Cream of the Crop Cleaners" to come rid the Oval Office of the horrendous scent.  Even after their very best attempts the smell still lingered for many months!

          Teresa Robey

Prayer: MAY WE LEAVE AN ETERNAL LEGACY

Guide us Lord Jesus, that our pens may inscribe
words arranged in a pleasing manner that your
message might be widely known.

Heavenly Father, May the daily message we are
developing in our lives translate our beliefs into
actions and leave an eternal legacy to those
who follow after us.
                                             Amen

          Jackie Goodman

THE GRAND CANYON VIA WHEELCHAIR

     My husband and I were traveling west to meet my brother and sister-in-law. .  They were in Phoenix, Arizona to attend convention and we agreed to meet them at the Skybridge at the Grand Canyon.  Because of my physical "condition" we try to make the inaccessible accessible.

     We drove up and checked out the gift shop.  An employee there said they could arrange a way for me to see.  (I weighed many many less pounds than I do now).

     Two young men walked over and to my amazement picked me and my manual chair up as if it was lighter than a feather (it was not), and set me down at the beginning of the glass overhang.  A lady in front of us was on her hands and knees sobbing uncontrollably.  She was helped off the enclosure.

     We marveled at the beauty and remarked after seeing the glory of the Grand Canyon, "How could someone not believe there is a God?"  One thing that truly surprised us was that there were no massive gates around the exterior to prevent people from falling, either accidentally or on purpose.  We were told the latter does happen on occasion.

     Our trip was as GRAND as the Canyon itself.

          Kathy Hobby Lewis

WHERE'S MY BAR OF SOAP?

My early years - a bar of soap was large and Heavy!
Two fisted - a cleaning product and "MANLY"  scented.

Recently found remains from the latest bar -
Surprised how quickly freshly unwrapped soap
Could so quickly decompose to uselessness

Today I hold a new "unwrapped" bar of Dial -
Contoured to fit a dainty ladies hand or palm.
The product - a molded, carved, gouged, fitting young lady.

Holding toward the light - like church "stained glass"

          Jerry Letzkus

JUST AS I AM

Just as I am
How I feel today
Knowing God is with me
As I travel along the Way

This journey is rough
This life is hard
It can be made easier 
By following the Lord

          Geneva Warren