"Problems With the First Snow Contest This Year" by Susan Pearl

 I missed seeing the geese fly over this year on their way to the South for warmer weather.

It is special to me to see the geese formation and I am surprised I missed it. 

I have been marking my calendar for over twenty years.

An older person told me that three months after the geese fly over should be the first snow.

So three months after the geese fly over I mark "first snow" on the calendar.

In the over twenty years I have done this it has not been right,

Not even one time.

So this year on the day of the first snow I am turning the calendar back three months-

To write "Possible Geese" on the appropriate three month prior date.

It may be the first year it could be right,

But after its zero track record I don't really think so.

At any rate, I am not making any bets without the geese verification.......

Unless I call the Wildlife Department.

They might not understand the first snow game I play each year.

I just have to do to a better job watching for the geese next year.

I didn't realize how much I look forward to playing my first snow game

  until I missed seeing the geese.

"Chime Time Takes too Much Time" by Susan Pearl

 We have a lovely mantle clock inside our front door.

It is not only beautiful to look at, but--

Our clock has beautiful chimes to hear each hour on the hour.

But what is it really there for?

It has been years and years since we have heard the clock chime telling us the time.

We stopped winding it.

We stopped winding the clock because- you know how time goes-

Oh, so fast!-----and it doesn't last, so soon it has past.

We just felt we were spending too much time-

 winding the clock to tell us what time it is by hearing a beautiful chime.

Besides, we got the chimes mixed up with the door bell, too.

So we thought not winding the clock was the best thing to do.

The clock is there because we like the way it looks.

But the bonus of the chimes we choose not to use.

Too many trips to an empty porch answering the door.

Plus time spent winding the chimes wasn't needed anymore.

But, I do miss hearing the beauty of the chimes,

Maybe we can wind the clock from time to time.

I think that would be fine.

 

"The Fairest Tree in the Land" by Susan Pearl

 The fairest Autumn tree in the land,

Was planted by the hand of a very wonderful man. 

He was the dad I didn't get to know.

So it was important to me to watch the red maple tree grow.

 He planted the tree in the Fall and he was gone in the Spring. 

Probably not realizing how much joy the red maple would bring. 

I am so thankful he planted the tree. It has been like he gave a special gift to me.

"The Thoughtful Way" by Susan Pearl

 I'm no Cinderella story.

An earthly prince I may not ever meet-

but, still the promise of love I keep. 

My Knight in shining armor is the Kansas farmer who pledged his love to me.

We have had a very good life together building memory after memory,

Two ordinary people with an extraordinary love,

The kind that movies are made of.

We keep the promise of love alive-

By giving and saying everything good we could do or possible say.

Building each extraordinary day in a kind and thoughtful way.

That keeps giving more and more extraordinary love than ever known before.

"Friendship Class" by Susan Pearl

Several years ago I had an idea for a short story about bullying.

I told the idea to our oldest grandson who was in grade school then.

After I told him the story I asked how he liked it. 

He answered, "I just wish they would have found a way to all become friends".

I thought that was a beautiful answer and I am writing the story now with a friendship ending in mind.

Rudolf was the name of a new student at school. Before school started the bullies took a red washable marker and colored his nose red for the holiday song about a reindeer with a red nose.

The school bell rang and everyone went to their classroom.

People were surprised Rudolf had a red nose but everyone knew who likely did it. The bullies were laughing the hardest.

The teacher explained that she wanted to have Rudolf introduce himself and tell something about himself but if he wanted time to attend to his nose she would allow for that.

Rudolf said, "That won't be necessary.  My name is Rudolf and I was named after my Great Uncle Rudolf Faircamp. He was a Fireman. He lost his life in a fire right after he rescued eight children. He handed the children out the upstairs window and after the last child the floor collapsed and he fell through the floor and died. He was a hero.

A student in the back of the class began waving his arm. He had something to say. Rudolf nodded for him to talk.

The student excitedly said, "That eighth child was my Grandfather. I have heard this story many times. I am so proud to meet you. I hope we can be friends".

The teacher asked the class, "Who would like to be friends"? Every student raised their hand even the bullies.

It was a wonderful schoolyear and was remembered for being the best class that ever graduated from the school. It was like they all were friends.

Thank you to our Grandson for his wonderful idea.

"Heart of Gold" by Susan Pearl

 Well, look at you with your heart of gold.

Ever ready to help for the good of all

Ever desiring what is best and filled with hope for everyone.

They say that gold is a precious metal that gives a bright reflection of us to see.

And shows back to us the possibility of what we all can be.

They say "The Golden Years" are a special time of reflection.

A time of seeing what has been done by those who have gone before,

A time of knowing what we need to do, to achieve what we believe to be true,

And build a lasting treasure of things being better for generations to come,

So in their "Golden Years" they can reflect on what we have done,

With our hearts of gold to bring in a new time and answer a call-

That will reflect love and will forever shine for the good of all.

"My Cat Rim Glasses" by Susan Pearl

 The head cheerleader wore cat rim glasses.

I was counting the days for my eye appointment.

If I needed new glasses I definitely was going to order cat rim glasses.

 I think it was 1963.

Wow, everything went like a charm.

I told the cheerleader I had ordered cat rim glasses just like she had.

She answered, "These old things? I can't wait to get my new ones. They are the new block style frames

and very highly fashionable"

I think my mouth dropped open.

So if ever people want to find me in the 1963-1964 High School year book- I'm one of the very, very few wearing cat rim glasses.

"Meow".