Friend, please don’t mourn for me
I’m still here, though you don’t see.
I’m right by your side each night and day
And within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I’m always near.
I’m everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I’ll never depart
As long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I’ll never wander out of your sight-
I’m the brightest star on a summer night.
I’ll never be beyond your reach-
I’m the warm moist sand when you’re at the beach.

I’m the colorful leaves when autumn’s around
And the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I’m the beautiful flowers of which you’re so fond,
The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I’m the first bright blossom you’ll see in the spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I’m the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
And you’ll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking there’s no one to love you,
You can talk to me through the Lord above you.
I’ll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,
And you’ll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I’m the hot salty tears that flow when you weep
And the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I’m the smile you see on a baby’s face.
Just look for me, friend, I’m every place!

Author Unknown

He and my daughter have broken up, and made up, and broken up again a couple of times. At the moment they are not together. I find this very hard to understand and wish I could make them see what I see. They’ve hurt each other, no doubt, but the love remains. If only they could learn to forgive and forget. She attempts to move on and so does he. Other’s have come and gone out of their lives, but they’ve failed miserably, and the tie that binds those two stays tight. And my bond with this young man has just continued to grow. It’s simple, really. I love him as if he were my own. He remains part of our family, no matter where the two of them are in their own personal relationship. My wonderful daughter not only has never resented this, but has encouraged it. And that is just one of the reason I know she still truly loves him.

But at the moment life has hit and hit hard. In the space of a week this young man had broken up with the girl he’d been seeing, his boss gave him a bad payroll check, he ended up unemployed, and then his Mom suffered a brain aneurysm. He was moving in with her the day she collapsed. In one fell swoop, for all practical purposes, he lost his Mother and became homeless. His Momma passed away a week ago.

I’ve never felt such compassion or empathy for anyone in my life. His family is small and his Mom was the one constant in his life, just as mine was. She was in her early 50’s and he’s in his early 30’s. Just like my Mom and I were, when she passed. But I had a wonderful partner during that time and a bit bigger family to support me. And I had a place to live, money in my pocket, and a sense of security. I had a family of my own that kept me busy and who needed me.

I’ve been there for this young man through this entire tragedy. He’s sleeping on our couch most nights and my family has pulled together to find a way to make things a little easier on him in any way we can. We’re fixin’ him up a little space in my brother and sister in law’s basement this week-end, where he can go to be alone, sleep, watch some TV, and grieve as he needs to, in order to heal. It isn’t ideal, and it’s only temporary, until he can get a couple of pay checks under his belt and can afford first and last month’s rent and deposit on an apartment.

He doesn’t want a hand out, but he’s going to accept a hand up. And he’s starting to realize, he is not alone. He does have a family that loves him. And another Mom, who can’t compete with his own Mother, but intends to be there to make sure his Mother’s little boy never feels alone, and to fill as much of the hole she’s left in his heart as I can. Because he is a child of my own heart. RIP Linda, and know we’ve got your back!

The false teeth, specially designed to disguise Churchill’s lisp, were sold by the son of the technician who was commissioned to make them. Yada, yada, yada, click here for the rest of the article I just read… more…

WTH??? I understand collecting memorabilia, and even thought the microphone was quite a coup for a collector, but false teeth? $24,000 false teeth??  As thoughts of all the wonderful things that $24,000 could have done bounce around my brain, I feel a little nauseous! Considering the state of our economy and that of the entire world’s, It’s My Opinion… this guy deserves the Richard Cranium Award hands down this week!

Richard Cranium Award