An AMazing man and a good friend.

Long, but BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Two Choices

What would you do? You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot unde rstand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his hand icaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guida nce and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance t o win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that woul d have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a se cond thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cybersp ace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

Life...or Something like it...

Is Chivalry dead? No, it is just a rare jewel. There are men out there that still have that hopeless romantic in them. But, what do they want? I do not think that I can believe men when they say trust me. Why should I? Why should women? We are told again and again, trust me, blah, blah, blah... I do not trust men anymore than a stranger trusts anyone... You tell me why I should, and I will consider it.

School... How do you balance? How does an individual work 65+ hours a week, take 12 hours a week in classes, try to eat right, exercise, raise children, do homework, participate in the community, serve on committees, help kids with homework, keep house, do yard work, get rest, and maintain sanity all in an average week? It is difficult, but hell... it is easier than finding a man worth his salt.

The Bucket List...

This movie was phenominal! I laughed, I cried, and then I laughed until I cried. It is the type of movie that makes you think. Re-evaluate your life, and see just what there is to be thankful for. :) I have my bucket list, and I know that people may think I am crazy sometimes, but I want to LIVE life, not make regret! :)

I wish!!! She is GORGEOUS!!!!

With no make-up...I think NOT!!! LOL...

The Perfect Man…

The Perfect Man…
He would be at least moderately attractive.
He would be an intellectual type.
He would be respectful.
He would be honest, almost to a fault…
He would be compassionate.
He would be kind.
He would think of people for the good in them, and not judge them.
He would trust until given a reason not to.
He would be employed.
He would responsible.
He would NOT be socially retarded!!!
He would not have any addictions other than the love of others.
He would not yell, hit, or be controlling.
He would be generous to the point of spoiling.
He would love unconditionally.
He would be a master chef, and a fabulous baker.
He would be a masterful masseuse.
He could sing harmoniously.
He would clean, cook, and tend to the yard.
And most of all… He would LOVE me!!!

A new woman...

Amazing how a woman can get a new hairdo and feel like a MILLION bucks!! 30 + years of being a blonde, one as a brunette, and back to blonde. :) Feels GREAT!!! Christy IS the "HAIR GODDESS".

Love you girl!!!