One Quiet Moment

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.
Henry Miller

Meet the Lemon Squeezer!!

At a bar in New York City the Bartender was so sure that he was the strongest man around, that he offered a standing $1000 bet.

The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass and then hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze two more drops of juice out of it would win the money.

Over the years, many people had tried .... weightlifters, longshoremen, etc. but nobody had ever been able to do it.

One day a scrawny little fellow came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit. He sat down, ordered a glass of beer and stared looking around the bar. After reading the sign on the wall about the lemon challenge, he said in a small voice.

"I was just reading your sign and I'd like to try the bet."

After the laughter had died down the bartender said, "OK...."

He grabbed a lemon and squeezed all the juice he could out of it.  

Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little fellow.

But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his little fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass!!

As the crowed cheered, the bartender paid the guy.

"Do you mind if I ask what do you do for a living?"

The little fellow quietly replied.

"I work for the Internal Revenue Service!"

One Quiet Moment

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.--Marcel Proust

Words to Remember -- Believe Me -- Beauty to Enjoy!

When  an old woman died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in Moosomin, Saskatchewan,Canada..it was believed that she had nothing left of any value.  Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. 

  

What do you see nurses?  . .. . What do you see? 
What are you thinking ..  .. .. when you're looking at me? 
A crabby old lady .. ..  .. 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 sock or shoe? 
Who, resisting or not  .. .. .. lets you do as you will, 
With bathing and feeding  .. .. .. a 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 at your bidding,  .. .. .. as I eat at your will. 
I'm a small girl of Ten  . .. . with a father and mother, 
Brothers and sisters ..  .. .. 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 at Twenty  .. .. .. my heart gives a leap. 
Remembering, the vows ..  .. .. that I promised to keep. 

At Twenty-Five, now ..  .. .. I have young of my own. 
Who need me to guide .  .. ..  a secure happy home. 
A woman of Thirty . ..  .. My young now grown fast, 
Bound to each other ..  .. .. With ties that should last. 

At Forty, my young sons  .. .. .. have grown and are gone, 
But my man is beside me  . .. . to see I don't mourn. 
At Fifty, once more, .  .. .. babies play 'round my knee, 
Again, we know children  .. .. . My husband and me. 

Dark days are upon me ..  .. .. my husband's now dead. 
I look at the future ..  .. .. and shudder with dread. 
For my young are all rearing .. .. .. young of their own. 
And I think of the years  .. .. . and the love that I've known. 

I'm now an old woman ..  . .. and nature is cruel. 
'Tis jest to make old  age .. .. .. look like a fool. 
The body, it crumbles ..  .. .. grace and vigor depart. 
There is now 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 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, people .. .. .. open and see. 
Not a crabby old woman  .. .. .. look  closer .. .. .. see ME!! 

The old woman's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis  Association for Mental Health.  A slide presentation has also been made based on this simple, but eloquent,  poem. 

Remember this poem  when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without  looking at the young soul within.  We will all, one day, be there, too!