From The Past: October 16, 2007

First things first; mom is not coming home today. Even though she is no longer running a fever, her doctors still want to make sure she is stable and well enough before she goes home.

I know she is in the best place she can be and it gives me comfort knowing if anything happens, they are right there monitoring her.

*****

I received the following in email:

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

I know I wasn’t supposed to answer the questions literally, but I thought it could be fun, so here goes ….

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

First off, let me just say that I have had some wonderful teachers throughout the years.

* I had Mrs. Campbell in the fifth and sixth grade. Her hair always reminded me of Flo’s on the TV show Alice. At that time, I was big into Alice so I latched right onto her. I would daydream about where she might live and what her furnishings might look like. I would wonder what she did at her house and if she watched TV; did she ever watch the show Alice. These thoughts were always in my head and one reason why my grades weren’t better 😉

* Dr. Price was my chorus teacher in middle school and then again in high school. He was a good looking man with silver and white hair and a full beard. He was always so sweet to me and I really think we had a bond. At the time I knew Dr. Price, Lionel Ritchie was popular and his new song was Sail On. Dr. Price had us sing that song along with John Denver’s Grandma’s Feather Bed. That song always cracked up the entire class. He had everyone singing and laughing and having fun. We also watched the movie Fiddler on the Roof. My parents had taken me to see it years earlier, but I was too young then to understand it. In Dr. Price’s class, I learned a new appreciation for this movie. Maybe his influence is the reason I love bearded men to this day. They just have a smarter more wizard-like look to me.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

In no particular order: Beki, Bobbi, my parents, and Kevin. I know, I named four, but I actually should have named a lot more! These people know what they have done for me when the going was rough and I appreciate them and what they did.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

* My Aunt Patt has taught me about loyalty.

* My friend Bobbi has taught me to stand up for who I am and what I am worth.

* Kevin has taught me to say “whatever”.

* My children have taught me unconditional love.

* My parents have taught me that life is too short to stay mad.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

My husband, daughter, people who comment on this blog, and Aunt Patt have made me feel appreciated or special within the last few days.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

This one is easy – my family! There are more than five of them, but that’s okay. I also enjoy friends I already have and meeting new people.