My prayers are with the people on the Gulf Coast.

My eyes and ears are hurting from the barrage of horrors reported from the Gulf Coast. My brain is scrambled from attempting to cope with processing images that will haunt me for a long time to come. I turn off the television and play CD's with classical and oldies music with the hope of achieving a sense of normalcy. But, something from deep within me causes me to pick up the remote control and once again tune in to CNN! What is wrong with me? What is making me feel the NEED to see and hear the ongoing reporting of the devastation over such a wide area, affecting so many people?

My emotions have been on a literal roller coaster - from awe at the scope of the merciless power of mother nature; confusion as to why some have resorted to shooting at those who are attempting to help; anger at the reports concerning help needed that seems to be heading south at a snail's pace; amazement upon hearing (finally) that assistance and funds will be sent from many countries around the world; understanding for those who have had to resort to stealing food in order to feed themselves and their families; admiration for the fortitude of so many under such dire circumstances; frustration because I can do nothing physically or financially to help; relief when someone is rescued, receives a hot meal, or a lost loved one is found; and most of all, overpowering sorrow for those who have lost everything and who now have no idea where they will go and what they will do.

I have no answers for the two questions I asked.

However, I believe in the power of prayer and I will continue to pray for those who are displaced and for all those who will help.

No title - I'm just very angry right now!

The horrible news concerning the Gulf Coast causes me to wonder: Who comes to the aid of the United States when disaster strikes? Has the United Nations passed any kind of referendum to offer aid to us? Do our so-called allies abroad give any consideration to the fact we might need help?

I remember when the disasterous tsunami hit, the United States was severely criticized for not giving what was considered to be ENOUGH money and aid for the victims.

I got more than a little bit angry today when I received an e-mail from a friend? in which it was stated "It's about time Americans learn how to suffer a little bit." In fact, I could have wrung this person's neck if she had been within arms reach of me - I was that upset with her.

This posting may make some folks angy - so be it. I think it is a crying shame that countries of the world consider the United States to be their pocket book, but tightly close their minds, hearts, and wallets when we are in need. Makes me think strongly about the need for the United States to become an isolationist nation for a while. We might as well - we are isolated from the world today by their lack of concern for us.

If donations from outside our our borders have been made to America to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it surely hasn't been announced on any newscasts I've viewed.

Micky Finn has spouted off!

Reading Rocks!

The Jane Pauley show is winding down and I felt an overpowering urge to post my feelings about it. It's a re-run about adults who couldn't read, but learned how! Images of my friend Archie flashed before my eyes and I can still clearly recall his telling me "I'm ashamed to tell anyone I can't read." My heart hurts with the knowledge there are 90,000,000 (yes 90 million) adults in our country who cannot read!

As a college student, I was amazed and horrified at the number of recent highschool graduates who couldn't read, but were striving for a degree in their chosen fields! Proof-reading papers for these students was heart wrenching when it was most apparent they couldn't write simple sentences, much less a complete paper or report!

I can't imagine what my life would have been like without being able to read, and as a result of being able to read, write! The places I visited, the people I came to know, the things I learned to do, and the opportunity to totally become immersed in a story are experiences which cannot have a price placed on them.

From Erma Bombeck to Shakespeare - and everything in between - has been a joy for me to read. I remember as a young girl anxiously awaiting the arrival of "Mechanics Illustrated" to arrive so I could literally devour it from cover to cover! Is that magazine still being published, I wonder?

How is it possible for folks to achieve without learning how to read? Astoundingly, they do it! Most people who do achieve feel as if they don't deserve their success and that they've cheated themselves, as well as others. Lack of intelligence isn't the main factor here - as most adults who can't read compensate beautifully by memorizing, listening attentively, having others covertly do their reading for them, and many other tricks to prevent others from learning their deficiency.

When adults finally do come forward and either join a group or have a private tutor to learn how to read, they learn quickly and passionately. They have become my new heroes because they usually become reading tutors themselves!

Inspirational, to say the least!

Smile!

Ever had a day when you wish you hadn't? Today is one of those days - nothing is going right and the greyness of the day only adds to my misery! I don't exactly feel bad, but I don't exactly feel good, either. Energy level is below zero!

However, to overcome and revive myself, I started thinking about what makes me smile in spite of myself. Here are some of the things that not only make me smile, but sometimes laugh out loud:

The cartoon "Maxine" Just love her attitude!
Another cartoon "Marmaduke" Creator has a wonderful approach to being a big dog!
A toddler's laughter - so infectious one can't help but laugh too.
Newly-born lambs - how sweet they are.
Finding money in the pocket of my winter jacket just when I need it the most!
The wonderful smooth taste of a hunk of a dark chocolate candy bar.
Discovering a puffy white cloud that looks like somebody or something unusual.
A double rainbow against a completely black sky.
The cachink of a deer's hoof against the top of the fence as he/she jumps over it.
A kitten playing with a ball of yarn.
A youngster concentrating very hard while trying to color "inside the lines."
Making repairs that actually work - rewired my utility light and it works great!
Letting someone with only one item go ahead of me in the check-out line.
Finishing a crossword puzzle correctly with a pen instead of pencil.
Hearing my best friend on the other end of the phone line saying "Hello, you old bag." (She's the same age as me, you understand!)
Miss Freckles singing for her supper.
Walking during the first snow of the year - doesn't happen often in Alabama!
Finding items I usually buy at the grocery store ON SALE!
Teaching - doesn't matter what I'm teaching 'cuz it makes me happy.

There are bazillions more LITTLE things that bring me joy and cause me to smile. Even when we feel so low we would have to be scraped up with a putty knife, there's always something - no matter how insignificant it may seem to others - which will bring a spring to our steps, joy to our hearts, and a smile on our faces. I'm already feeling better!

Be responsible

Never dreamed my previous post would cause a stir! Controversey is not my forte - I usually will walk away from it. But, not this time!

I worked hard all of my life and saved every penny I could over the years - only to have family members wipe me out - not once, but twice. My original savings account grew to nearly $90,000.00 (yes, ninety thousand dollars) - my parents stole every penny without my knowledge while I was living in Germany as a military spouse. What did they have to show for that money? NOTHING! Booze, booze, and more booze was their primary expenditure. They never had a pot to pee in nor a window to throw it out of all of their lives. Their existence depended upon what they could take from others rather than work for it themselves. I strove hard and mightily to NOT BE LIKE THEM.

Most of my working years (which were many, by the way) there were no such perks as a 401K, no company sponsored investments of any kind into which one could deposit funds. In fact, medical insurance only became available to me when I was 45 years old! I, along with many in my age group, were led down the proverbial garden path by wonderfully phrased spoutings from the powers that be in our government that social security "will always be there to assist the elderly."

Somehow, though, I managed to recoup and saved AGAIN. Put my savings into Certificates of Deposit, which afforded me some sort of security for my so-called "golden years." Another member of my family (and I promised I would NEVER cite the name or relationship to me) raided my accounts over the internet five years ago and wiped me out AGAIN. Rationale was "she will never find out because I can pay this money back before she knows it is gone." Suffice it to say, I did find out, the money was gone forever (spent on heaven only knows what), and I couldn't even afford an attorney to recover that which no longer existed!

To the two young men who posted their comments yesterday, I hope you return to my site and read this posting. I closely read your comments and appreciate your opinions. Thank goodness for the right to voice them! However, it is important that you know I have lived by the following premise: It's not worth having unless you work for it and earn it yourself.

The money I've received from social security hasn't yet made a dent in the funds I paid in over my productive years. Never, and I repeat, NEVER have I contemplated begging others to give me money. Even now, in my advanced years and with my declining health, would I give credence to the idea that begging for money from others would be an acceptable option.

In our youth, we think we know all the answers to all the questions. In our mid-life we learn how smart our elders have suddenly become. In our senior years we realize we must face the disdain of the younger generation because we dared to grow old.

During this process of growing from young to old, hopefully, we truly come to understand the meaning of responsibility. We, each of us, is responsible for ourselves - what we say, what we do, where we go, what we become, who we choose to be, how we act.

My opinion remains firm: Rather than beg from others, be responsible enough to do for yourself. The pride of achievement attained from doing so is priceless.