Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together
at the airport.

They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said I love you
and I wish you enough.

The daughter replied, Mum, our life together has been more than enough.

Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mum.

They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I was seated.

Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking did
you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?

Yes, I have, I replied. Forgive me for asking but why is this good-bye
forever?

I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality
is - the next trip back will be for my funeral she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough.' May I
ask what that means?

She began to smile. That's a wish that has been handed down from other
generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.

She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and
she smiled even more.

When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have
a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.

Then turning toward me she shared the following as if she were reciting it
from memory ---

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much
bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate
them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....

To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH !!!

We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold anymore so it started filling up the rest of me! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

adopt your own virtual pet!

Click on the water or the rock if Harry is in the water to make him move from spot to spot :) Every turtle my husband ever got when he was a kid was named Harry so just in case you're wondering how I cam up with that :)

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a ...... ?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, "housewife covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day ..... I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.

*"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."*

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Mother hood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but
never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little
smiley faces on this card-just the stone cold truth of our great
friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge

against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you finally got laid.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath..... I pledge it to the end "Why?" you may ask;

"because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.