How the Dog Got its Name
When God made the earth and sky,
The flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
And all the birds and bees.
And When his work was finished
Not one was quite the same.
He said, "I'll walk this earth of mine
And give each a name."
And so he traveled land and sea
And everywhere he went
A little creature followed Him
Until its strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
And in the sky and sea,
The little creature said," Dear Lord,
There is not one left for me."
The Father smiled and softly said,
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
And called you Dog, my friend."
- Author Unknown
I totally love dogs. of all kinds, and when I read this I wanted to share it because it is so awesome~~ enjoy.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Dignity and Grace.
I am an avid watcher. I watch, I look, I see, I notice, and generally, when the wheels of this process are in motion, I will be thinking about what I see. Some people will view this process as being nosey, well so be it, I am nosey then. Most generally what I watch I will file away in my brain's filing cabinet for another look-over at a later time, and today was no exception.
I had to run some errands, the usual stuff, go to the bank, go get groceries, go to the pharmacy, and all of this happened with the usual amount of enthusiasm on my part, well, more enthusiasm at the grocery store, I like it there~ good nummies.
My final stop was to the pharmacy, and I pulled into the parking space with nothing much on my mind other than getting the prescription I came for.
A car pulled into the space to my right, and as usual, I looked to see who was driving, my nosiness kicking in, I guess. The driver was a very old man, and there was a passenger in the seat beside him.
A few thoughts crossed my mind as I glanced at him. I was thinking that I hope I am that able when I am that age, to do the necessary things needed to keep myself independent, and, slightly ashamed of myself for thinking it, I wondered if it was exactly safe for a person of that age to still be operating a motor vehicle. But I suppose when he needed to get things done, and there was no one else available to help, he had to fend for himself.
I kept glancing over, like I said, just from curiosity, and as I watched, I saw the old man get out of the car on legs that seemed to frail to support his bent body, and he slowly made his way to the passenger side where he opened the door for the other person.
The other person, a lady whom I took to be his wife, slowly made her way out of the car, using a body that also seemed too weathered to be able to do the job properly, and as she straightened herself, the old man shut the car door behind her and gently took her by the arm and guided her to the sidewalk.
The sidewalk in front of the pharmacy was a step higher than the pavement, and he went ahead and then turned and helped her make it up the step. Together, arm in arm, they went the few steps to the pharmacy door, where once again, he opened the door for her so that she wouldn't need to try. I was almost afraid the door would prove too much for them, but he held it for her and in they went, once again arm in arm.
They had no idea that I had watched them, and as I picked up my prescription, they were at the other end of the counter, placing theirs.
They seemed so tiny and frail, I suppose they were, really, their bones less able to hold up to too much shock, muscles tiring quicker and more often in need of a respite from activity, but there was something else I could see in them as I kept glancing their way; it was something I couldn't quite pinpoint until I was on my way home, and pondering this small event.
There had been a quiet dignity and grace in their actions, and mannerisms, and it showed in every thing they did.
Most people today have had this dignity and grace beaten out of them. It now is totally unacceptable to do a kind act for another. There is shame in holding a door for another person, it is a sign of weakness to let a person take your place in line, women won't allow men to help them because that would be too feminine, and men won't help women because that would be too sissy. Time and again we shun a kind act because of what it may mean for us, instead of doing it because of what it may mean for another.
If I had to try to tell this couple's age, I would say they were at least in their eighties, if they were that young, and still guessing, I estimated that they were probably married when they were in their twenties, so their lives and marriage have spanned two centuries. How many other couples can boast that? Most marriages last until the ink dries on the marriage licence, then sadly, the friendship ends and they go their separate ways.
I have to wonder if each sees the age in the other, or do they see themselves as they were when they were young? Does he see her wrinkles or does he see her when she was young like a bright penny, sparkling in the sunlight? Does she see him as old and bent, or as the strong young man that could lift her up in the air as if she were a feather?
This couple has seen decade after decade, wars, sickness, birth, death, and they have endured it all, and are still enduring it, still with dignity and grace.
All too soon they will no longer be here for us to learn from, if this can be called a lesson, there will be memories of them, living in their family and friends, but while they are here, I wish somehow that I could have every person look at them, or a couple just like them, and have them understand what it is to make it that far, through all trials and tribulations, and still have the dignity to hold open a door for someone, and the grace to hold another's arm because it was offered in kindness.
I had to run some errands, the usual stuff, go to the bank, go get groceries, go to the pharmacy, and all of this happened with the usual amount of enthusiasm on my part, well, more enthusiasm at the grocery store, I like it there~ good nummies.
My final stop was to the pharmacy, and I pulled into the parking space with nothing much on my mind other than getting the prescription I came for.
A car pulled into the space to my right, and as usual, I looked to see who was driving, my nosiness kicking in, I guess. The driver was a very old man, and there was a passenger in the seat beside him.
A few thoughts crossed my mind as I glanced at him. I was thinking that I hope I am that able when I am that age, to do the necessary things needed to keep myself independent, and, slightly ashamed of myself for thinking it, I wondered if it was exactly safe for a person of that age to still be operating a motor vehicle. But I suppose when he needed to get things done, and there was no one else available to help, he had to fend for himself.
I kept glancing over, like I said, just from curiosity, and as I watched, I saw the old man get out of the car on legs that seemed to frail to support his bent body, and he slowly made his way to the passenger side where he opened the door for the other person.
The other person, a lady whom I took to be his wife, slowly made her way out of the car, using a body that also seemed too weathered to be able to do the job properly, and as she straightened herself, the old man shut the car door behind her and gently took her by the arm and guided her to the sidewalk.
The sidewalk in front of the pharmacy was a step higher than the pavement, and he went ahead and then turned and helped her make it up the step. Together, arm in arm, they went the few steps to the pharmacy door, where once again, he opened the door for her so that she wouldn't need to try. I was almost afraid the door would prove too much for them, but he held it for her and in they went, once again arm in arm.
They had no idea that I had watched them, and as I picked up my prescription, they were at the other end of the counter, placing theirs.
They seemed so tiny and frail, I suppose they were, really, their bones less able to hold up to too much shock, muscles tiring quicker and more often in need of a respite from activity, but there was something else I could see in them as I kept glancing their way; it was something I couldn't quite pinpoint until I was on my way home, and pondering this small event.
There had been a quiet dignity and grace in their actions, and mannerisms, and it showed in every thing they did.
Most people today have had this dignity and grace beaten out of them. It now is totally unacceptable to do a kind act for another. There is shame in holding a door for another person, it is a sign of weakness to let a person take your place in line, women won't allow men to help them because that would be too feminine, and men won't help women because that would be too sissy. Time and again we shun a kind act because of what it may mean for us, instead of doing it because of what it may mean for another.
If I had to try to tell this couple's age, I would say they were at least in their eighties, if they were that young, and still guessing, I estimated that they were probably married when they were in their twenties, so their lives and marriage have spanned two centuries. How many other couples can boast that? Most marriages last until the ink dries on the marriage licence, then sadly, the friendship ends and they go their separate ways.
I have to wonder if each sees the age in the other, or do they see themselves as they were when they were young? Does he see her wrinkles or does he see her when she was young like a bright penny, sparkling in the sunlight? Does she see him as old and bent, or as the strong young man that could lift her up in the air as if she were a feather?
This couple has seen decade after decade, wars, sickness, birth, death, and they have endured it all, and are still enduring it, still with dignity and grace.
All too soon they will no longer be here for us to learn from, if this can be called a lesson, there will be memories of them, living in their family and friends, but while they are here, I wish somehow that I could have every person look at them, or a couple just like them, and have them understand what it is to make it that far, through all trials and tribulations, and still have the dignity to hold open a door for someone, and the grace to hold another's arm because it was offered in kindness.
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