Drugs of Fifty Years Ago

The other day I was talking to an older gentleman, about my age, who had read that a meth lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county.  "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?" he asked.

I replied, "I did have a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to weddings and funerals.   

I was drug to the woodshed when I was disrespectful to adults, told a lie, brought home a bad report card or didn't perform my best in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in the garden and cockleburs out of the fields.

I was drug to the home of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard or repair the clothesline or chop some firewood; and if my mom had found out that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say or think.  They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America and the rest of the world would be a better place."

Thank goodness for parents who drug (and drag) their children.  They are doing them and all of us a great favor!

I don't know who wrote "Drugs of Fifty Years Ago" but I thank them for sharing their wisdom!

Juggling Five Balls

"Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls...are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered."  ~James Patterson

What a profound observation! Seniors know how true this quote is!  We've lived long enough to see the consequences of putting work before family and friends.  We've known friends who've grown old before their time because they've spent too much time sitting on the couch.  We've seen how someone letting down their guard for just an instant can impact their integrity for a lifetime.  

Each day, let's ask ourselves:  "What will change because of the choices I make today?"  Will I be more connected to people I care about?  Will my health be better?  Will I be the kind of person other people can respect? 

Let's find our balance and go play ball!

Mother's Day Gift and Quote

It's always a challenge to find fun, inexpensive gifts for our groups for Mother's Day.  This year I made Pretzel Flowers.

I put two pretzel flowers in a small ziplock bag and the quote.  They turned out really pretty and were delicious!  

Here's how I made the flowers:

I used mini pretzels and Bright White Candy Melts by Wilton (found at Michael's in the cake decorating section).  I, also, used M&M's with the M side down.

You can use the small square pretzels, too.  Put pretzels on a cookie sheet and center one candy melt  on each pretzel.  I put them in a 200 degree oven for 2 minutes.  You don't want the melts too soft or they will drip down through the pretzel.  When they come out of the oven, have fun decorating them with the M&M's to look like flowers!  So fun!!

Rut Blockers

Stand with legs out and arms straight and held out overhead - like the letter X.  Hold the ball in the L hand.  The R hand sweeps over the head toward the upheld ball -oblique stretch. Repeat 8x's and repeat on other side.