A Life Lesson

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.  'Hello Barry, how are you today?'  'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'   'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'   'Good. Anything I can help you with?'   'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'   'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.'  'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.  'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.  'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.  When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.' I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.  Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.  Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'  'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ...' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath. Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...  An unexpected phone call from an old friend.... Green stoplights on your way to work....  The fastest line at the grocery store.... A good sing-along song on the radio.. Your keys found right where you left them. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED! More Aimless Ramblings

THEY WALK AMONG US

Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day. I know I did.

Below is a post that gave me a chuckle. Some of the same has happened to me, how about you. It really should be titled Stupidity Strikes Again.

was at the checkout of a local Walmart.

The cashier rang up $46.64 charges.

I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46.64.

I gave the money back to her and told her that she

had made a mistake in MY favor.

She became indignant and informed me she was educated and

knew what she was doing, and she returned the money again.

I gave her the money back -- same scenario!

I departed the store with the $46.64.

They Walk Among Us! .....

I walked into a Starbucks with a

buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a Grande Latte.

I handed it to the girl and she looked over at

a little chalkboard that said 'buy one-get one free.'

"They're already buy-one- get-one-free," she said,

"so I guess they're both free."

She handed me my free lattes, and I walked out the door.

They Walk Among Us! .....

One day I was walking down the beach with some friends,

when one of them shouted, "Look at that dead bird!"

Someone looked up at the sky and asked, "Where?"

They Walk Among Us! .....

While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent

which direction was north; because, he explained,

he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning.

She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?"

When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East,

and has for sometime; she shook her head and said,

"Oh I don't keep up with all that stuff."

They Walk Among Us!! .....

I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center.

One day I got a call from an individual who asked

what hours the call center was open.

I told him, "The number you dialed is open

24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?"

Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific."

They Walk Among Us! .....

My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car

designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped.

She keeps it in the trunk.

They Walk Among Us! .....

My friends and I went out to buy beer and noticed

that the cases were discounted 10%.

Since it was a big party, we bought two cases.

The cashier multiplied two times 10%

and gave us a 20% discount.

They Walk Among Us! .....

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area,

so I went to the lost luggage office and

told the woman there that my bags never showed up.

She smiled and told me not to worry because

she was a trained professional, and I was in good hands.

"Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?"

So I replied, "No Ma'am, The Pilot told us we're circling the airport, 3rd in line to land" .....

They Walk Among Us! .....

While working at a pizza place, I observed

a man ordering a small pizza to go.

He appeared to be alone, and the cook asked him

if he would like it cut into four pieces or six..

He thought about it for some time before responding.

"Just cut it into four pieces.

I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat six pieces."

Yep, they walk among us..

See you later for more Aimless Ramblings, Later might mean a couple of months though.