General Chat

Only a Genealogist regards a step backwards as progress.

Oh, nigglynellie, I agree with you 110%. One cannot have a multitude of friends, really. Surely those folks would be acquaintences. It takes time and care and nurturing to have a really meaninful friendship. I think.

AND My family tree needs more wood and less sap -- this is my tree for sure : )

I agree lovely poem...for a laugh a few one liners relating to family trees

Genealogy isn't fatal, but it is a grave disease

My family tree needs more wood and less sap

Genealogists climb trees

Genealogists dont die they just lose their roots

Having children is hereditary, if your parents hadn't any, neither will you

Genealogy, the only hobby where dea people can excite you !

and lastly for now from Mark Twain

Why waste your money looking up your family tree, just go into politics and your opponents will do it for you

And as Basil Brush said BOOM BOOM !!

What a lovely poem Miah, I hadn't read it before now, but it is really thought provoking! Here's a snippet that I saw this morning which I think is relevant to the world we live in!

True happiness consists not in the mutitude of friends,
But in the worth and choice.

And then there is this wonderful poem; wouldn't Life be Positively Glorious if everyone did as it says. . . .

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

These days, political leaders are only brave by proxy. They just instruct their armies to fight for them.

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light
In summer quite the other way
I have too go to bed by day

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree
Or hear the grown up peoples feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you
When all the skiy is clear and blue
When I should like so much to play
Not have to go to bed by day?

R.L.Stevenson

How right as a child you always feel like this

Dorothy Parker also said

Summer makes me drowsy, Autumn makes me sing, Winters pretty lousy, but how I hate spring !

A Life with love is like a year without summer

Swedish Proverb

Here are two quotes


The Human mind
is like an umbrella
It functions best when open.


A German architec.


2nd one

God gives us the ingredients
for our daily bread
But he expects us to do the baking.


an american writer.

Rita

THREE OLD RHYMES


THE WISH

Oh that I were where I would be!
Then should I be where I am not;
But where I am, There I must be,
And where I would be I can not.





IF

If all the world was apple-pie
And all the sea was ink,
And all the trees were bread and cheese,
What should we do for drink ?
It's enough to make an old man
Scratch his head and think.





A CANDLE BURNING

Little Nan Etticoat
In a white petticoat
And a Red Nose
The Longer she stands
The shorter she grows

I expect you all know this one, but I'll post it anyway!!

THE DONKEY by G.K Chesterton.

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely was I born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
and ears like errant wings,
The devils walking parody
On all four footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears
And palms before my feet.

Mau, your poem 'Forever' bought tears to my eyes, my mother died in 1986 and I still, after all these years, miss her companionship, laughter and wisdom. I now have three beautiful grandchildren who are gorgeous, but even they don't fill that particular gap. Spanish Eyes, I worked with elderly people for many years so your poem hit a particular nerve as all too often it is very true that old people spend a lot of time on their own, as familes are 'Too Busy' or 'Too Far Away' to visit. Very Sad!

Another poem about growing old

There is no person lonelier,
Than he who lies in bed,
And must depend on others,
To be comfortable and fed,
Who never has a visitor,
To talk to him and smile,
And make the life he has to live,
A little more worthwhile.

He does not ask for magazines,
For candy, fruit, and such,
But just a friendly visit and
The words that mean so much.

He wants to see the sun come out,
In place of all the rain,
And know that someone cares about,
His trouble and his pain.
And surely somewhere out of all
The moments made for play
There must be time to call on him,
And say hello today.

I am going to send this to a former colleague who is going to do some new training to improve her staus, and working experience. I hope you like this as well

14.19hrs Spain

:-)

OH Mia, I would be devasted if I could not live either by the sea or a vast expanse of water. Where are you moving to?
I think I fell in love with poetry because of this poem, surley no-one could ever dislike this.

I have been askled to find a poem about old age for a friend whoo is doing a special course for her work. Now she has the Purple hat one so any suggestions would be welcome.
as from next Ttuesday afternoon I will not be at home, going to Army son in Winchester for his church blessing of marriage..We will be away for about 8 days so please keep this thread "Live"

Many thanks

13.14 hrs Spain

I love that poem too Miah, always reminds me of lovely family holidays.

Here are two Summer sayings

James Dent said A perfect Summers day, is the sun shining, the breeze blowing , the birds singing and the lawn mower broken !

Anton Chekov said People don't notice whether it is Spring or Summer when they're happy

How true both of these are !

Well, I'll share a poem now that I really should wait a bit to share.... We live on an island and our house is for sale. When it sells, we will be living 3 hours from the ocean; a sad, sad location for me. So this dear poem by John Masefield - a favorite from my youth is already on my mind --

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Oh, me, my eyes are misting over ...

Green fingers ,have you tried Friends reunited.I did a couple of years ago and found several friends from school,it was/is great fun?

I am somewhat surprised that the view on here fas changed.down the right hand side is a box attached to each entry and it shows when the person sending the message because member and how many posts they have made.

There are also at the bottom of the page showing emotions.......When did this start,I do not recall seeing it before

13.16hrs Spain

Jeramiahbulldog, thank you for such a delightful reply to Greenfingers,I am looking forward to your next poem or saying.

Yes it is I can't remember half the names on my school photos and wish I had written them on the back !

8.50 am Norfolk UK

Great poem Greenfingers

Strangers in the Box is © 1997 by Pamela A. Harazim. To me, that poem says it all regarding each of us writing our own story and the stories and memories we have of those who have passed on. And perhaps those around us who refuse to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. A Fantastic Poem!