Nature's Message

My Friend Went Home

Well, I helped sing at Hugh Allen’s funeral today. He was my friend, and a very good man. He was almost 80 years old. He was essentially comatose his last 5 weeks on earth. I went to see him a couple days before he died and took an autoharp that I had retuned to a special tuning that sounds like one might imagine an angel harp would sound. I stood by his bed, near his head, and strummed softly on it….I just know he could hear it….and I hope it brought him some comfort and peace.

Hugh had the kind of heart that this world really, really needs. I thank God that he puts those people on this earth. Hugh really would help anyone in anyway he could. You could not count the number of times he has stopped on the side of the road and either fixed someone’s car for them, or took them home with him, fed them and then went back and fixed the car, if possible. His children remember that happening many times. Shortly after I first came to know Hugh, and his sweet wife Betty, I told my wife that they were straight out of Mayberry, NC with Andy Griffeth. I meant that in a very complimentary way…..they had the purity of simple, loving, non-judgemental hearts. Betty first saw Hugh when she was 14 years old, and never took her eyes off him. She never dated anyone else, and they were married 56 years. Being around Hugh was like sitting in your favorite chair….you felt very comfortable and cared for.

He had some stories to tell, I mean! One I will never forget. He ran a TV and radio repair shop in the small town of Edwards, MS, where he lived, back in the 50’ and 60’s. He told me he had repaired an older black man’s TV. The gentleman came in and got it, took it home, and brought it back to Hugh’s shop the very next day….very angry at Hugh. He told Hugh, “I want you to put my cowboy show back in there!!” Hugh says, “What are you talking about?” He said, “When I brought my TV in here there was a cowboy show I always watched, and you took it out….it ain’t in there anymore!” Hugh said that he never did convince that man that they must have changed the programming while he had the TV in the shop. He didn’t believe Hugh, and he left angry!! Ha! He mighta been from Mayberry too, you reckon?

We love ya, Hugh! We’ll see ya at the Taco Bell when we get up there. Save us a seat and make sure they give us those “old people” (senior) drinks free!

Stanley :)

First Kiss

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone

Stanley :)

I Know Nothing

(Thoughts on Ecclesiastes 11:5)

I do not understand
the winds that blow
Where they come from
where they go
So how might I understand
Your works, O God
Maker of all things?

I do not understand
the mothers womb
The way a life
is made to bloom
So how might I understand
Your works, O God
Maker of all things?

Stanley :)

Drive....and Laugh!

Here's some interesting and entertaining driving. Should at least give you a break....and a laugh!

Stanley :)

Sound Financial Advice

Don't gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don't go up, don't buy it.

Will Rogers

New Couch

We have been wanting to get a new couch. I think we will. The one we have just isn't quite long enough for a good Sunday afternoon nap!

Stanley :)

A New Musical Insturment

This is one of the neatest newly invented muscial instruments I've seen in a long, long time....and what a wonderful use for it! There are no wrong notes. Did you hear that....no wrong notes. That's got to be the way an angels harp is made. Yeah....angels have harps....the pictures are correct. :)




I took my autoharp tonight and totally retuned it to a very similar tuning as this Reverie Harp....and it sounds beautiful....played by anyone.

Stanley :)

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of the page before starting the video)

The Power of the Mind

There is an old, and wise, belief among Native American peoples....that 90% of all illnesses come from bad feelings, guilt or negative energy.

Stanley :)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

There once was a very, very talented young lady....not very well known....mainly because she "passed over the rainbow" at very young age of 33....skin cancer. Her talent is greatly missed by many. This is one on my most favorite songs she does.....especially with the feeling and expression she presents to it. I think I would be very happy if this song....sung by her....was played at my funeral. It would be somewhat melancholy, but a beautiful thought. On a side note....I would also really appreciate another song at my funeral....sang by the entire audience....and that is...."Happy Birthday"....I'm serious. Anyway, here's Eva.....there couldn't be another quite the same on this song:

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of the page before starting the video)

Stanley :)

Homeless

I've always enjoyed what I might incorrectly call African Tribal music. Cum-Bah-Ya, when I was a teenager, was thought to be of African origin. The Africans have always seemed, to me at least, to have such a "real" "truthful" way of presenting life in there songs....both the words and the music. Until recently, with the advent of YouTube, etc, I hadn't been able to really listen to much of this type music. I've been enjoying listening to more now. Here is one of my favorites of late. It's called Homeless and is by a very talented group of Africans. It's about being homeless....really homeless. Listen, as one of the singers quickly tells the words in English at the beginning of the presentation. Crank up the speakers.....and Enjoy! :)

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of this page before playing the video)

Stanley :)

What Day is It?

Now that I'm retired, I sometimes get up and ask myself...."What Day is It??"




Stanely :)

What Do You Think?

Every thought is a seed.
If you plant crab apples,
don’t count on harvesting golden delicious.

Bill Meyer

Baptism

Is There Good Anger?

While in the checkout line at my local hardware store I overheard one man say to another, "My wife has been after me to paint our shed. But I let it go for so long she got mad and did it herself."
His friend nodded. "I like women who get mad like that."

Readers Digest

Clean Up After Yourself