your kindness

like sugar stored

in hessian bags -

sweetness hidden

behind rough ways

 

                            a tanka by Jan Foster

 

Some Foreign Words and Phrases:-

 

Wanderlust (G) – Passion for travelling  or wandering.

Raconteur (F) – a teller of stories.

Sans souci (F) – Without care.

Terra Firma (L) – Solid earth;   a secure foothold.

Ubi supra (L)  - Where abovementioned.

Vale (L) – Farewell.

 

 

  Jan Foster 22.04.09

When I was young, I made up tales to pass the time. Now, as I look back,I see the need to write was 
there in me at the start and it still goes on and on. Life will tell its own tales if we just give it space in our heads and room in our hearts to do so. Some day I’ll stop, but not yet, I think, for there is still more to be told.  Just think what it would be like if there was no more to be said, how dull life would be for us scribes. 

 

 

 

§         Have a good attitude – It’s healthier than a plate full
of carrots.

§         Cultivate your sense of humour.  Laughter hides in many places.

§         Make a list of your talents.  You’ll be amazed at yourself.

§         Think of a special friend.  There’s someone who loves you because you’re you.

§         Keep things simple. You’ll have more time for fun.

From “Keeping-up-your-spirits Therapy” by Linda Allison-Lewis
              (Chapters  1-5)       JYG  Editor

“You never can tell what children will say in response to a question. Readers might enjoy these lovely thoughts:-  A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4-to-8- year-olds, 'What does 'love' mean?'  The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:-“

◘'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her
all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.   Rebecca - age 8.

◘'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.  You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'   Billy - age 4.

◘'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'  Karl - age 5.

◘'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissie-age6.

 

◘'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'  Terri - age 4.

◘'Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

◘'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My Mummy and Daddy are like that.  They look gross when they kiss'.    Emily - age 8

◘'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'   Bobby - age 7
◘'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'    Mary Ann - age 4.

◘'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'    Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

◘'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'    Noelle - age 7.

◘'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'    Tommy - age 6

◘'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared.  I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.  He was the only one doing that.  I wasn't scared anymore.'   Cindy - age 8

◘'My mummy loves me more than anybody.  You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'   Clare - age 6

◘'Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'  Elaine-age 5.

◘'Love is when Mummy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'  Chris - age 7.

◘ 'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'    Lauren - age 4.

◘'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)  Karen - age 7.

◘'Love is when Mummy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'    Mark - age 6.

◘'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it.  But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.  People forget!’’    Jessica - age 8.

And the final one - Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.  The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.  The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.  Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.  When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry”

When there is nothing left, that is when you find out that love is all you need.

 
An email sent to me by a friend …
Jany G.  (Editor)