Count Down to 60---- He just wanted to know

Part of me, feels a failure. Part of me, thinks it was inevitable. Part of me, hopes that he learned what he wanted to know and will not revisit this place.

My son, is an adult. My son is 27 years old. My son still lives at home because of a heavy student loan burden. My son, moments ago walked into the house rip roaring drunk. He had drank some hard lemonade in the past but only a can here or there. Tonight, I'm not sure what he drank, but what ever he drank, was 14% alcohol. He was, staggering, slurred speech, falling down, giggling hysterically, then hanging onto something as the room spun, drunk.

 He purchased the drink and then stopped down at a neighbors to visit, and to drink his purchase.He knew that this neighbor would not judge him. He knew this person was his friend and partner in discussions of various topics from abstract, to zoology. They covered it all, great thinkers that they are. He knew, he could find out what he wanted to know in the safety and acceptance of this home. Thankfully a home not that far from here.

I was sitting here, having just finished writing on a topic I feel adamant about, clean water and its availability, when I heard him come in the gate. He was talking away, which isn't unusual as he always talks to the dogs. This time though he sounded as if he were arguing with someone, when the only ones there were the dogs. He came into the house, slumped up against the door frame into the kitchen  and said something about Buddy being a good dog. He was covered in leaves and dust and was obviously and without any shred of doubt, drunk. I will admit that I blew up. I thought he would know better, I was incredibly disappointed that he didn't. I hadn't heard his motorcycle drive up, but that didn't surprise me as the bike is rather quiet and I was focused on what I was doing. So the bike didn't enter my thoughts at first, what did enter and knock me backwards was the sight before me. Flushed and wobbly, slurred speech and every other obvious sigh, my good son, was drunk. The young man who works every day. The young man who takes responsibility seriously. The young man who stands back and makes sure everyone else has their food at gatherings. The young man who helps out with sound at our church. The young man who does his best to show respect to those he knows and those he does not. The young man who gets annoyed at social injustice and the mistreatment of others no matter who they are. I was looking at someone who just got knocked off the superman podium and into human. Because he just wanted to know.

He staggered, he giggled, he complained about the room spinning. He complained about being dizzy. He  alternated between being overly giddy and silly to being angry and wondering why people "do this". He  told me fifteen times that he just wanted to know. Now he knows. He has asked me not to tell his dad as his dad would get angry. He stood there at one point and told me that he was trying not to be mean to me. I asked why would he be mean to me and he told me that his dad was mean to me when he would drink. It was one reason his dad quit drinking anything at all. I don't remember the last time my husband drank a beer. I know the last time I drank anything it was less than half of a mixed drink when my son was two years old. Alcohol is not a part of this family now, but it is a part of society. He sees it in the movies, he sees it in the many videos he watches about games and gamers. He has seen it out in public, in the general crowds at event and at events with people he knows. I guess the curiosity was inevitable. (As an aside, I have no problem with those who do drink socially. I don't pass judgement on anyone who responsibly drinks. I realize that it is just one more form of getting together with friends. It is those who drink and drive drunk, or drink and get mean that I have feelings against.)

I will admit to blowing up when he first walked, or rather staggered, in the door.I was angry and I said somethings that I probably should not have, even though I doubt he remembers them. That brief flare of anger was replaced by disappointment. He repeated over and over that he just wanted to know, now he knew. He knew, and he wondered why. He would repeat he wanted to know followed immediately by the question of why. He wanted something to drink so I mixed a packet of flavored tea in a bottle of water, then proceeded to make a pitcher of sweet tea. I heated the oven and stuck a frozen pizza in as soon as it was hot, it was the quickest thing I had to get some food into his system

He tried to feed the dogs, but ended up stretched out on the dusty ground. Again he told me that Buddy was a good dog.  The cats went into hiding and one of the dogs doesn't know whether to stay with him or run away. As he was trying to eat his pizza Bella sat right in front of him as if she knew in his state he was going to drop at least some of that pizza and she wanted it. My son's pitiful cry of "mom, make her move." brought a smile and my calling her away.

At one point I found him stretched out on the floor in the living room. I asked him if he had been going somewhere, coming from somewhere or even if he needed help getting up. He answered no to each question so I left him there in the floor. A few minutes later he accepted my repeat offer of a hand up. He made it to his bed where he ended up half on the bed and half in the floor. I told him that didn't look comfortable but he said he was fine. The next time I checked in he was all the way on the bed and half asleep. He said he had just wanted to know, now he knew, but he didn't understand why.

He was safe. He had food in his system and aspirin at the ready for in the morning should he need it.  I had found out earlier that his bike was still down at the neighbors, he had walked home. I wondered how many times he had fallen over trying to walk up that dirt road in the dark. My disappointment had faded in the wake of seeing my son as human, but yet realizing that he had found out what he wanted to know in the safest, most responsible way that he could. He didn't risk driving home from anywhere. He didn't hurt anyone, he didn't hurt himself. He learned what he wanted to know in the safety and under the watchful eye of a friend, and he came home to sleep it off. He is still superman.

He swears he has learned his lesson. He swears he doesn't like this. As his mom, I don't like this. I know he is an adult. I know he is of legal age to drink. I'm glad that he is home, and that he didn't try to ride that motorcycle home. I know what I did when I was younger..but I do hate seeing him like this, even though part of it is kind of funny in a sad, coming of age kind of way.

Count Down to 60....Angered and Ashamed....over the lack of water.

 Moments ago I watched a video on social media that left me angry and ashamed. Angry and ashamed to the point of wanting to jump up and head out to do something. Instead I sit here and wonder, how, in this day and time, could this even be true.

I, am a big time, heavy, got to have it, coffee addict. One of the first things I do in the morning is flip up the faucet handle for the water to prepare my coffee. I freely rinse cups and dishes. I rinse out the shaker mug I use for a protein shake. When I want a shower, I turn on the faucets and wait until the water temperature is not too cold or hot but is just right. On those stress filled days, or days of over exertion I fill the tub with good hot water and bubbles. Have to make use of the restroom? Flushing is not a problem. I do several loads of laundry a week. I simply open the washer, turn to the preferred setting and let the washing machine do its thing. Its the same with the dishes. I water my flowers or vegetable gardens. I play water games with the dogs getting them nice and soaked to cool off in the summer heat, then make sure their water bucket has fresh, clean, cool water.

The only time we don't have water is when the power is off for what ever reason- someone hit a power pole, a tree fell, a transformer exploded- or if there is a problem with the well. Other than that, we have water.

 Having water readily at hand, is taken for granted. It is there, it is almost always there.

We wash our cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, decks and homes. We fill birdbaths, we fill swimming pools of all manner of sizes. We have sprinkler systems and water games for the family. We can even purchase those misting systems to attach to the porch, deck or gazebo or where ever we desire so that we can cool off.

All we have to do, is turn on the faucet, turn a knob, turn what ever so that the water flows. It is there. We expect it. We have it. We use it without thinking. We waste it, without considering those who do not have it.

Right................here..............in...............this............country.

How, in this day and age, how, can there be people without water?

How, in this day and age, can there be people who depend on water trucks to bring them their monthly supply?

How, in this day and age, can we sit idly by and not care?

Because it isn't us? Because it doesn't concern us? Because it isn't next door to us? How many excuses can we produce so that we can avoid doing anything?

https://www.facebook.com/IndigenousAmericans/videos/332519830426137/?pnref=story

I watched the video and it broke my heart. Native American people, the Indigenous people, proud people, doing without one of the necessities of life. One of the things we take for granted and they have to be so very careful of the small amount they have. They do not have wells on their property. They do not have water lines bringing all or any water into their homes. They must ration, use multiple times, make it last as long as possible because it will be a while before the water truck returns. They use paper plates and disposable utensils and cups so that they don't have to be washed. they share water when washing their hair. I turn water on and let it run.

How, can this be in this day and time?

Where are those that could do something? Where are those who should do something? How many excuses are they coming up with? How many times has the so called buck been passed to someone else? How many have said that it isn't up to us, they have to handle it, and 'they' have turned right around and handed the problem right back? All the while, nothing is being done. Nothing is being done, nothing is being solved. Nothing is being corrected. All the while, in this day and age, there are so many people, going without, water.

Knowing this, breaks my heart, it angers me, and it saddens me. I am ashamed, that this is happening, in a country that is supposed to be so great, and all the while people are doing without.

Water, is one of those things that we can not do without. We have to have water to survive. Our body can go without food longer than it can water. While all of those people in power, as so busy sending all of those dollars to foreign countries, they need to look in our own backyard and take care of those who are suffering. An organization called Dig Deep is in process of trying to dig a well, a deep well, to help in providing more water for those without. The cost is over 500 thousand dollars and all funded by private donation. Five hundred thousand dollars is nothing compared to what our government has sent to others, why can we not do something here? Because in this day and age, this should not be happening.

I am angered and I am ashamed, that it is.

Count down to 60--- We should have just stayed home

We should have stayed home. Yes, we recently went on a weekend away. My husband, myself and our grown son took off for Myrtle Beach for the Labor Day weekend. We should have stayed home. Even though it did have its moments.

Back at the beginning of August, James (our son) put forth the idea about us going to the beach. We hadn't been in years and he thought the idea of going to the NASCAR race at Darlington, SC and on to the beach would be fun. This was before he found out he had dates incorrect.

In the first place, waiting until August to try and find a hotel room that wouldn't cost several week's pay was going to be a challenge. Ever so often I do love a good challenge and this was sure one of those. After searching for several hours I managed, thanks to a well timed advertising, sometimes called spam email, to find a hotel room we could afford. It had a good rating and was cheap, it would work.

As time drew closer we managed to talk James into him going to the race alone and we would go on to the beach. I enjoy watching the races, but from my own living room where there are no lines to the fridge or bathroom. That and it doesn't cost six dollars for a cold drink, besides the fact that I don't think you could purchase sweet tea at the race.

So the plan was that my husband and I would drive to the beach in my explorer and James would follow behind on his motorcycle. He would spend a short time at the beach and then go back to the race. Our driving down also included the voice on the dash, my husband's GPS. Silly girl talks a lot, but I did get used to her and even managed to follow her instructions most of the time. I will admit to turning too soon once, but luckily where I turned I could pull up a way and do basically a U-turn around a medium and back out to the traffic light. A little further down I missed a turn (because my husband said that wasn't it when it was), which meant going a little further down, another U-turn and back to where I was supposed to go. We drove past the speedway, which was packed with people, vehicles and campers, along with an army of police. We drove through some small towns that had enough turns and traffic lights to drive one slowly mad. Slow being the operative word as we were caught by every one of them.

 Several times I had to be quick with my reflexes as there are some really dangerous drivers out there. I had people drift over into my lane. I had people think they were going to turn into a place only to change their mind part way in and stop int he road. I had people who suddenly realized that their exit was coming up and would travel across all lanes no matter who else was in the road to keep from missing that exit.

 We got to the hotel finally only to find that it was so far back from the beach we felt as if we were still only half way there. But it had good ratings and was affordable. The room we were given was on the first floor not too far from the front desk, the breakfast area or the pool that was out back. Our refrigerator didn't work. Okay, so? We were only going to put drinks in it and we did have a cooler. Oh, did I mention that my husband swore that for a two night trip I had brought half the house? He said that for what we were paying, he wanted a refrigeration that worked. He goes up to the front desk and we end up with the room that was right beside of the one with the dead fridge. So the half the house that I had brought was shoved through the connecting door and we carefully locked it back. The fridge worked, the remote to the television did not. My husband and I are not the most technologically knowledgeable people. He decided that the remote had dead batteries so back to the desk he goes and they give him another remote. Try as he might he could not get it to work. Then someone knocked on the door and asked if I had left some keys in the first room. Yep, those were mine, thank you. The housekeeping staff, then told my husband how to get the remote to work. No matter what he tried, he could not get it to function and then he managed to get the television all out of sorts.  James had grown weary of our bantering and gone for a ride. When he got back he managed to get the remote working, turns out you have to hold the button down for what seemed like forever, then you heard an audible click and it worked.

 We piled up in my car, James as driver and we went to get something to eat. We pulled into the Shoney's parking lot fifteen minutes before closing. Still , they were open, and they did seat us. My husband, silly man, chose the buffet. I would never chose the buffet fifteen minutes before closing, but he did. James and I both got sandwiches and were satisfied as they were both good. My husband wasn't as he said you could tell that the stuff had been under the light too long.

 My husband has asthma. In the middle of the night while we were sleeping he woke up having a difficult time breathing. He could not find his inhaler. So, in the middle of the night, we are up searching for the inhaler, finally found it- exactly where he had left it- got his cpap machine all set up and again tried to get some sleep.

James by the way, had found out that the race was not Saturday but Sunday. I'm still trying to understand how he got the dates wrong as he pretty well has all of the dates memorized.

 Sunday morning we enjoyed a really good breakfast at the hotel. The small dining area was packed and I knew that James would not want to eat in that crowd so we prepared him a plate and took it back to the room. That earned me a smile. I do love to see my son smile.

 We rode down to the CVS where my husband got his inhaler refilled and then on to Broadway, James who doesn't care for shopping was humoring me, my husband was struggling in the heat and even after taking several rest breaks we headed back for the car.

 At 3:30 in the afternoon James, after telling us that we had forgotten how to have fun, left for the race. He told me that after the race he would just go on home. It really made more sense, as why drive all the way back to the beach, to sleep a couple of hours and then get up and drive all the way home, when the track was half way home.

 My husband and I went out a little after than and got a bite to eat at KFC. It was greasy, but hot and filling. From there we went to find a place to park. He didn't want to pay ten dollars to park in the parking deck so we moved on, we were flagged down by this one guy, turning into a small, gravel lot he told me, $10. I thought my husband was going to choke. I pulled up slowly looking for the place he had said, the only place to park was incredibly small and I really didn't think I was going to get the explorer to fit. After a while, and after being told no refunds, I managed to get parked.

We walked down to the shops. My husband wanted, no had, to go into the Gay Dolphin. A crowded, jumble of cheap souvenirs and a lot of people in a small space. It got hard for me to breathe and my husband quickly had to get out of there. We get outside and find a spot to sit down for a moment. Once he felt better we walked down the street, he even reached for my hand. My husband is not a hand holding type person so for him to do that was a pleasant surprise. Turning the corner I found yet another bench for my husband to sit down and catch his breath. I could see the ocean. Finally, I could see the ocean. When I walked a little closer I saw several empty benches and motioned for my husband to move down there. He found a spot in the shade where he could catch his breath, listen to a band that was playing and enjoy the breeze coming off the ocean. I walked up and down the boardwalk taking a few photographs.

From there it was back to the hotel, dodging crazy drivers and golf carts. We both got a cup of coffee near the front desk and went out to sit by the pool for a while. It was nice to simply sit and enjoy the moment. There were a couple of kids in the pool and listening to their laughter was some of the nicest music we had heard.

 My husband had slept a lot Sunday, so Sunday night he was restless. I lost track of how many times he woke me without meaning to. He had no idea really just how much noise a microwave makes. Or the fridge opening, or the curtains, or his turning up or down the air conditioner. he finally told me he was going out to the pool even though I told him he couldn't because it was closed. He came back and told me it was locked. yep.

 At five in the morning he was waking me telling me we had to pack up and get home as he had stuff to do. Dragging my weary body from the bed I started throwing stuff into suitcases, bags and back packs. As I gathered, shoved, packed and piled he went for coffee. Once everything was together I realized he hadn't returned. Finally wandering down the hallway I heard voices. He had found a common spirit, they were having a political discussion. I meant to slip away but was caught. After a few minutes he finally wandered off and we  got breakfast. Finishing up my husband went and got the luggage cart then moved the car around to the front. We piled everything inside, checked out and pulled out for home.

 My explorer is a 1999 model. My Explorer showed me what she could do as I pushed her hard on the way home. Several times my husband asked if I knew how fast I was driving. Yes. Yes, I do. While it wasn't any speeds that would have had me placed in the back of a squad car, it was testing the capabilities of my aging car. We only stopped one time and that was so I could get a drink out of the back.

Pulling into our driveway was the best feeling. Getting the luggage out and into the house almost as good. We went, we paid hotel, gas and eats but left all of the cheap made and over prices what nots, shirts, cups and doo dads there..

Today I was sitting on my front porch watching the sunset and thought...

we should have just stayed home. I was comfortable, I was at peace, I had a working fridge and television remote close by, family and friends near, along with everything I could need or want at hand. But then, every once in a while, we need to get away, just to find out that everything we need, is right where we were.

Count Down to 60----- I stand with them

Early this morning I shared two videos I watched that is dealing with the Native Americans protesting the pipeline that is being installed across so many states and across their sacred, supposed to be protected lands.

5 things to know about the Dakota Access Pipeline

				5 things to know about the Dakota Access Pipeline Proponents of the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline tout its economic benefits, but opponents, including Native American groups, question its envi...
				View on www.cnn.com	Preview by Yahoo

A brief overview of the pipeline:

Dakota Access Pipeline

		Dakota Access Pipeline The Dakota Access pipeline is proposed to transport light, sweet crude oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois.
		View on www.daplpipelinefacts.com	Preview by Yahoo

Why protest?

Dakota Access Pipeline Protests: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

				Dakota Access Pipeline Protests: 5 Fast Facts You Need t... Native American protesters are trying to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline's construction, leading to dramatic videos and photos of dogs…
				View on heavy.com	Preview by Yahoo

Again, why protest? What could go wrong? What harm can possibly come from this pipeline?

How Oil Harms Animals and Plants in Marine Environments | response.restoration.noaa.gov

				How Oil Harms Animals and Plants in Marine Environments... The type of oil spilled matters because different types of oil behave differently in the environment, and animals and birds are affected differently by ...
				View on response.restoration.no...	Preview by Yahoo

Effects and recovery (?)

Environmental Effects - ITOPF

				Environmental Effects - ITOPF ITOPF
				View on www.itopf.com	Preview by Yahoo

another viewpoint:

5 Ways Oil Spills Hurt the Environment

				5 Ways Oil Spills Hurt the Environment That oil spills are bad for the environment is a universal truth, but what makes them so bad? How long do those damaging effects last?
				View on environment.about.com	Preview by Yahoo

A list of pipeline accidents in the US on wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_century

 I could add link after link but this is already link heavy so here are my thoughts....

If you know me, you know how much my woods and beyond means to me. You may have seen, or can see the many photos that I have taken of plants, wildlife, from insects to birds to mammals or landscapes. In my youth I have dipped my hands in the small creek, that runs across this property and drank heartily, to quench my thirst. I have felt the spring breeze, the summer sun, walked among the brilliance of the fall colors and played in the snow. These woods were my playground, I loved their peace, their serenity, their living history. Before the loggers came many years ago, there was a very large White Oak that had carvings all across it. Many dates from the 1800's along its bark. Then, even as my heart broke for the loss of trees I understood that there was a disease in some of the trees that this was necessary for the rest to survive. My grandparents were being responsible landowners and nature conservationists. Now, large Oaks reach skyward and the wounds from then are long healed.
I have hiked mountain trails, followed alongside of meandering rivers, and stretched out in fields of high grass. I have seen Louisiana bayous and played in the ocean. I have stood in awe watching sunrise and sunset. I have stood on the side of a high mountain pass and looked out across this land feeling a true sense of awe at its beauty.
This is an incredibly amazing land gift, upon which we reside. It is up to us to protect it from ourselves.
We act as if everything is permissible. We toss trash out of car windows, we dump garbage where ever we think no one is looking. Companies pump their pollutants into the air and or waterways without concern. They construct collection/ retention ponds that seep pollutants into the ground and ground water.
I do understand those who are gathering in the Dakotas and their reasons for protesting and I stand with them. Too many times pipelines have leaked, too many times there has been damage done to waterways, too many times we pretend to protect, we pretend to clean up, we pretend to care as we turn a blind eye with a shrug and the words, its progress. It is something we must learn to accept, adapt to and live with.
It may be progress, but there has to be a better way. There has to be a way to protect what is endangered. This planet, this country, the lands and waterways that are so precious and so necessary for the future. We have to take a stand and peacefully, prayerfully, legally, do what ever is needed to protect this land, these waterways, the history, the sacred lands, the lifestyle of the people from this so called progress.
They are doing what they can to speak up. To protest. To be the difference for the land that they and I love. I stand with them.

Count Down to sixty---- keys, keys, where are my keys?

It isn't looking very good for the weekend. First there is this hurricane that decided to travel up the coast and give us some rain here (thank you because we seriously needed it) and then suddenly my keys vanish. Poof! Gone.

 My husband is a long haul truck driver and he's home for the holiday weekend. He got home earlier today while I was at work. He didn't bother getting his stuff out of the truck, he just came on up to the house and found a good spot in front of the television.

 When I got off from work and headed home there was a problem. Vehicles traveling toward me kept flashing their lights. I knew that was a bad sign. As I drove on, much more carefully, I saw flashing lights coming up behind me. Pulling over as far as I could, I watched as they passed, seeing a third set of lights quickly approaching I stayed where I was. Finally we moved up far enough to see the problem. Someone had missed a curve in the road and flipped their car over into a ditch. I sat there for a good twenty minutes watching as a firetruck arrived and then I could hear the rescue trucks approaching. I could see the firetruck easily, but all I could see of the vehicle was the back bumper. People moved about, none seemed to be in a hurry, I was hoping that was a good sign. Finally then ended up turning us around and sending us back the way we had came. As I made my way back I passed a school bus and all I could think was, 'I'm sorry, I know you're going to be here a while.' There is no way a bus could turn around or even back up from where it sat.

 Getting home my husband told me he needed to get some of his medicine refilled. He made the  call and they told him that it would be ready around seven pm. He had a half hour to wait so he and our son went down to his truck and got all of his stuff out. Dirty clothes, refrigerated foods, cpap machine, and that thermos that he swears he's going to replace. By the time they got everything in the house it was time to go for his medicine. There was only one problem. We could not find my keys. It was obvious they had to be somewhere as my vehicle won't move without keys and they had just driven it.

We tore the house up looking. We looked on the table and counter tops, moving and replacing as we went. Well, I was replacing, James was knocking stuff off to the floor for me to pick up. We looked out on the back porch where he had dumped his dad's dirty laundry. We looked in the fridge, inside the bags I had placed on the shelf. I finally told them to go on the the pharmacy and get his medicine I'd keep looking. I grabbed the flashlight and systematically went from one room to the next. Even if it meant looking where we had already looked three times I did it. I even went outside and looked all around the driveway and in the carport. Back in the house I tried one more time, going from room to room. Those keys were not in the house.

 When they get back home my husband asked if I had any luck. No, I had not found them. Once again we started looking. Once again we did not find them. James got on his motorcycle and rode down to the truck to look. I'm not sure why, I really doubted that they could have decided that they liked it better down there and managed to walk their own way back. He came back into the house, made one more cycle through and was getting back onto his bike to head out toward the pharmacy. He was going to try and see if they had been on the car and slid off somewhere along the way.

 As he started out of the driveway my husband stepped out onto the porch, suddenly calling out, "James!! Wait, I found them. I have the keys!"

 I walked out onto the porch and yes, he had my keys. "Where were they?" I asked..

Him, sheepishly, "In my pocket."

All I could say was, "he's going to hurt you." Turning I started back into the house when James walked back up onto the porch.

To his credit, my husband did apologize several times. In...... his... pocket. All this time, they were in.. his. pocket. Ah well, at least they aren't lost.

Count Down to 60----- words

                                              [I know, its upside down]
All day long at work I kept having these amazing ideas for things to write about. I guess I left them at work because right now I can not remember a single one. Where are the words when I need them?
Words are amazingly powerful.

They convey ideas. One person says, "We can take the rimwidget and add it to the whambuckle with a wazzle tuck as a power provider. Push the wingdingle button and stand back and watch it go to work." The focus group around him breaks out in simultaneous speech, each with their own thoughts and ideas on how to make this invention work better.

They convey thoughts. I think that a dish of mint chocolate ice cream would be wonderful right now. I think that if we took a step back into teaching our children what respect and hard work means then life would be better. I think that a wingdingle button is the wrong way to make that wazzle tuck work.

They convey emotions, "I'm so angry I could chew ten penny nails in two and spit tacks." "My [dog] Bella is always on guard, so I trust her to keep us safe." "You are the one I wish to spend my life with, I love you more than mere words can express."

They inform us of the news of the world. Telling of earthquakes, of floods, of war, the acts of terrorist and the acts of those who seek to make life better. They keep us up to date of the weather, of the state of the country, of sports and the silliness or the responsible acts of those involved.

Words strung together create songs, poetry, novels, plays to entertain and educate.

Words warn us, [when we are paying attention] if you don't lose weight, if you don't get exercise, if you don't put that phone down and pay attention, if you leave something cooking on the stove......

Words help us to communicate with each other, "good morning beautiful, you do look wonderful this morning. Just holding you will make my day so much better, you my first cup of coffee of the day" or, "Good morning, how are you?" "Excuse me, but may I help you carry some of those bags?" "Pardon me, but will you purchase one of these packs of cookies or chips so that I can earn money to go bowling with my group?"

Words can be misused. By lying, by gossip, by arguing, by using the wrong form of words that have more than one.

Amazing things words, they are good, they are bad, they are colorful. They can explain or confuse. But using words, is really a lot better than trying to pantomime everything and hoping that others understand. Hopefully when I get to work tomorrow, I'll see where I left all of those wonderful ideas and write them down on a scrap piece of paper, stick it in my pocket and bring them home to share..but for now, the word is

finished.