Many Mothers Messages

     On a Mother's Day, a radio reporter took a microphone out to a city sidewalk to ask a question of pedestrians.  "What words did or does your mother say often?"

     One man's quick response was

"It is nice to be important,

and

Important to be nice."

     Just from those few words, an impression of a caring and loving mother comes to mind  with a knowing that this man's childhood was happy.

~ ~ ~

 

     In great contrast is the firefighter, whose reply to the question was "Don't beat up on your brothers."  He said that he was the oldest of seven boys and that they were always fighting.

 

     "What kind of childhood did you have?"  I asked him. 

     "Awful, my parents were always yelling at each other and us."

 

     How much better would his childhood and parent's life have been if the family motto had been that of the earlier quote.

 

     The word ~ don't ~ is not a teaching word unless it is followed by ~ do ~ words.  Phrases such as ~ "Be nice" ~ have no value unless a child has been taught what ~ nice ~ is and how to do.

~ ~ ~

 

     "When in Greece

                     do as the Greeks do."

 

     Nancy Morrisson, Livingston, New Jersey.

     A receptionist at Restoration Pro said that her mother wanted her to honor the traditions and customs of others.

 

     All American passports should have those words printed prominently on them to discourage the often disgraceful behavior and demands of too many Americans when visiting other countries.

~ ~ ~

 

     A friend responded to the question with silence.  I started to repeat the question, but she interrupted to say, "I heard the question, I was trying to think of something, my mother was a party person, she was always going to parties or giving parties.  She did say that a woman should always have a secret bank account from her husband."

~ ~ ~

 

     Jane Lyle Wise, Georgetown, Texas

     A retired nurse.  She said that when she wanted to do something other children were doing, her mother often did not allow her to do so saying, "I'm only responsible for you not the other children."

    

     A wise mother sets her own family values and maintains them.

~ ~ ~

 

     Lindsay Garza, Lenexa, Kansas

     A telephone caller.  "Mothers are never sick."

 

     That also indicates a loving, concerned mother.

~ ~ ~

 

     Coming first into my mind about the most often used words of my own mother are:

"I love you, honey" and "I am so proud of you."

 

     These two sentences are powerful life energizers for anyone of any age, especially a child.

~ ~ ~

 

     If you are a mother do in-depth thinking about what words your children will automatically associate with you.

 

Mothers Are Wonderful

What Would We Have Done Without Them

Often Tell Your Mother You Love Her 



 

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Greetings: I have based many of these monthly writings on quotes from family and friends.  What meaningful quotes have your family and/or friends said that you can share?  Email the quote(s) and a sentence or two concerning each, plus your name, town and state to Joaneastben@mail.com

 

Copyright 2016

Never In Thought Or Speech Will 'You' Claim...

     When writing a long running magazine series on the power of words, I converted the age old saying of ~ "Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it" into ~

Never

In Thought or Speech

Will I

Claim or Personalize

A Situation or A Condition or A Disease

That I Do Not Want

For Myself

or

For Others

     This means that under no circumstances should you (or I) ever put the words ~ I have ~ in front of any 'unwanteds'.  If you discover yourself thinking or saying an 'unwanted,' firmly say, ~ 'Delete, delete, at no time will I claim that which I do not want.

     Often thought thoughts and spoken words/phrase become affirmation and affirmation become reality.

     A great multitude of people found that Affirmation to be exceedingly helpful and made copies of it to put in their car and at various places in their living and work places.

     There is a another version of that original Affirmation, you choose which one suits you best or alternate them ~

Always

In Thought & In Speech

I Will

Claim & Personalize

The Very Best and Perfect Outcome

To A Situation, A Condition, Or A Disease

That I Need or Want

For Myself

or

For Others

~ All Is Well and Good In My Life ~

Greetings: I have based many of these monthly writings on quotes from family and friends.  What meaningful quotes have your family and/or friends said that you can share?  Email the quote(s) and a sentence or two concerning each, plus your name, town and state to Joaneastben@mail.com

Copyright 2016

Hello 2016, Now That You Are Older....

     Two, going on three months old and more 'with it,' as could be said, having finally recovered from the trauma caused by all those people worldwide who made such a racket when you first arrived with their yelling, using all manner of things to make even louder noise, fireworks, firing cannons, church bells ringing and in the south of this country, when the clock strikes midnight, everyone rushes outside with kitchen pots and lids to bang together as they run as fast as they can around the house twice.

     I am certain that even by the beginning of February, that you had realized how incredibly.....well......crazy many people often are.

     In the Great Instruction Book that has been passed from one Year to the next since recorded time began, it states that when humans repeatedly say a phrase or a sentence, it means that they really need or want whatever, and that the Year needs to contact the proper forces to make it possible.

     The tornadoes and the hurricanes that propel people and solid objects despite what weathermen may say are really the result of the increasing use of the dreadful phrase ~ (2016, Know that in no way am I saying these words, I am quoting) "I can't wrap my head around it."  Yuk!  'Grisly and dreadful,' you say 2016, and is it not strange that the speakers do not know the terrible results of repeatedly saying such a phrase.  Repetition of words and sentences create affirmations which become reality.

     "Is there a meaning beside their wish to have their heads become boneless thus flexible enough to go on several sides of a solid object?"

     "Good question, 2016, you are smart for your young age.  They might mean what was previously spoken as ~ "It is difficult to understand."

     2016, have you heard any strange phrases yet, besides the ones from politicians?

     The can?  Yes, that is another strange one ~ "Kick the can down the road."  The basic question should be....Why?  A child might do it just to make an annoying sound but an adult, why would anyone want to admit to such immature behavior?

     2016, I know that you are as baffled as I am about the can kicking ~...........yes, those are good questions, 'Where is the can kept when it is not being kicked?  'Is everyone kicking the same can?  If so, how does it get from wherever ~ down is, up to the next person?'

     'That is smart thinking 2016, your lessons in logical thinking that I sent to you from my father are advancing nicely.

     'While it is obvious that down means below where you or it is, there is another meaning relating to streets ~ the building and house numbers.  The lowest numbers start at the center of town generally, and get higher the further away they are.

     Confusing to many people in their twenties, is when the word ~ down ~ means the south, be it city or country.  Anyone older knows that the word down ~ relates to those wonderful and fascinating folded paper things (usually) called ~ Maps ~.  Generally any area below the half way horizontally is considered ~ South ~.  In this country, ~ Down South ~ is lower than just south.

     So you see, 2016, "Kicking a can down the road' can have a number of meaning.

     "Is there anything in the can?"

     Good question, 2016, I wonder for the first time if the can kicker was trying to mix the can's contents, I use to mix paint by letting the cans roll down my steep driveway.

     So 2016, disregard statements such as those two and be aware of others like them so you do not waste your time.

     Many people and I, 2016, ask that you go more slowly, you are going by much too fast.

~ Relax, enjoy where you are ~

Joan Eastman-Bennett

For Jose:  See I remembered

Joaneastben@mail.com

Steal So No One Will Ever Know

     Was it love at first sight when you saw the charming oil painting of a young child's look of wonder and delight when a beautiful orange butterfly alighted on a nearby yellow rose, and you knew that you just had to have that painting?  No need to request James Bond to do a daring, midnight heist via a long rope through a skylight.

     Nor do you need to develop accuracy with a slingshot in order to decommission the streetlight near the jewelry store window and sharpen your glass cutter in order to take the stunning, ruby and diamond necklace beautifully displayed on royal blue velvet ~ even though you really want it.

     I have devised an excellent way to steal items without anyone ever knowing; as I have been doing for many years and have taught others how to also do.

     No tools are needed to ~ mentally ~ take the 'I LOVE IT' item home with me.

     A major addition to my collection occurred when I visited my cousin, Vievia in a town near Boston and she took me to a special collection of Tiffany Silver at the famous Museum of Fine Arts.  On the drive there, I explained how I steal from museums, art galleries, stores and more recently from fine specialty mail order catalogs, Vievia loved the idea and was eager to start her own collection that day.

     The guard began to eye us with concern when Vievia and I discussed which one of the many silver objects handsomely displayed on pink linen we were each considering taking home.  Concerned, until I explained to him and several of the other exhibition viewers, my 'Steal It Home' collecting.

     Among the many advantages of this project is that many people can have the same piece.  My listeners, including the guard, were entranced and went back to look at everything again.  Several people and Vievia agreed with my choices and, also, took with them, a silver tea caddy with enameled Chrysanthemums on it and its top as well as the silver water pitcher with the tall enameled cattails on it.  No more than one piece is generally allowed from each museum or gallery, but an exception was made this time to allow for two items.  If another 'I Love It' piece is wanted, then one would need to be relinquished.

     Carry in a purse or pocket, a pen and a small notebook to record the where and what, size and pertinent facts of each of your items as well as a sketch of it. 

     As my collection increased, I soon realized that a large Display Room was needed.  Considering my house's layout, the best place for the Display Room was off of the left side adjacent to the Dining Room.

     Although there is a close neighbor house, it took just a moment of mental activity to push it and its property further to the left, so that the length of half a football field was created thus allowing ample space for the currently planned display area as well as future expansions.

     The land on which my house rests slopes towards the back, thus allowing the new room to have its front partly into the hill, while at the back, there can be a full height lower level that can open out to a terrace and garden where garden sculptures could be displayed.

     What fun and joy to imagine all this and to think of variations.

     That lower level can contain a charming small apartment for the person who will curate the collection, maintain the dust-free equipment and see to the proper installation as I have designed for each new 'I Love It' item. 

     The Dining Room was made larger and the majority of the left wall replaced with floor to ceiling glass so that the Display Room and its treasures can be easily seen by me and a person with good visualization skills.

     Often at night, sometimes while I am in pain, I mentally wander through my Treasure Room to look and again enjoy the Tiffany Silver pieces, the three large Chinese Kites hanging from the rafters at the far end of the room, some pieces by a renowned fabric artist, a large watercolor painting by a client of Queen Anne's Lace, a favorite wild flower and so many other treasured pieces and memories; it is most gratifying and calming.

     Apartment dwellers, fear not, for you too can have a Display Room for your 'Steal It Home' treasures.  Just mentally push or slide over the neighboring apartment that is adjacent to your living room's side wall.  Then visualize a handsome wide, arched doorway with double doors that open into the new room.  If there is furniture along that wall where the doors are, the furniture can be screwed to the doors, so when they are opened, that furniture will move into the next room.

     You can expand your visions by using an architectural program on your computer to create plan and elevation drawings of your Display Room, as seen from the outside, the view from inside the house looking into your Treasure Room and various vistas within that room.

~ Enjoy Stealing So You Can Have A Treasure Room
To Enjoy Forever~

Joan Eastman-Bennett



Goodbye 2015, You Are Leaving Too Soon

     Yesterday was February, now is December, what happened to all those months, days and hours between then and now?

     I know that it is traditional to leave after 12 months, but I would certainly be appreciative if you departed from tradition to insert, at least, another week into the end of December or, perhaps add a new little month.  If Julius Caesar can add two full months in the middle of the summer ~ July for himself and for his son, Augustus, August ~ then why can I not add a skinny little one at the bottom end of the year?

     The calendar, before Julius, is seen in some of the month names ~ September ~ Sept means 7, October ~ Oct means 8, an octopus has eight tentacles.  November ~ 9, as Novena, a form of worship lasting nine days.  December ~ 10 as in decimal.

      The new little month could be named December Jr. or 
Dec-Jan.  Better yet would be a distinctive name all its own.  After serious thought, I wonder about the name ~ Gratitude ~ but later thinking, it seems that the logical solution is a layered system.  Continue December seven more days, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th 37th and 38th.

     The new year is always depicted as a baby, so it probably would not even notice if a week was taken from it.

     With the layered system, while people are doing all the projects they had wanted to complete before year's end, Baby New Year could have been quietly born and have a week of quiet, thus being better prepared for all the whoop-de-do and noise people make when they know of its arrival, as was done when you, 2015, first arrived.  Have you ever wondered why people do this for, or perhaps, a better word would be ~ to ~ all Baby New Years, but never make all that racket when their own babies are born, they want quietness to prevail.

     Dear 2015, I have so very many 'manys' for which to thank you as I quietly do purposely alone each year for all the years.  Top among them is that I have lived another year.  As you know, I have been affirming for many years to live to 100 years and be in excellent health, both mentally and physically, however, recently, I have raised that age to 125 years as there are so many books to finish and inventions for which to do prototypes and ~ ~ ~

     2015, while you may not be physically here, so to speak, I will not forget you.

     Before you depart, please leave a message for Baby New Year to get as soon as understanding is possible.

     Greetings, Baby New Year, there are some 'things' that 2015 gave to me and alas millions of people that were more than enough, so you do not need to give anymore unwanted, unpleasant, painful, life threatening challenges. 

     Therefore 2016, you can just concentrate on providing pleasant, prosperous and interesting challenges ~ ~ ~ And happy, healthy experiences, heavily sprinkled over with love.  For all this and more 2016

~ We All Thank You In Advance ~

Avoid Conceited Gift Giving

     As I sat with my parents and sister in our church each Sunday, a nearby large beautiful stained glass window was my main focus successfully getting me through many dull sermons.

     It was not just the sweet little lamb in front of a flowering shrub in the lower left corner, (I named her Laura Lamb) but my indignation at the bold words in the glass across the bottom of the window.  "Given in loving memory of her sister by Mary Stewart White" (Not her name).

     Every Sunday, I inwardly told Mary exactly what I thought of someone as conceited as she, wanting everyone to know of her generosity and not notice that she disliked her sister, for, of course, the inscription should have been ~ Given in loving memory of Lucy Stewart by her sister ~. 

     I imagined a wealthy (in money only) pampered, middle-aged woman.  Unfortunately, Mary is typical of a great many people.  Nevertheless, Mary reverse inspired me to do in-person nice acts for people without telling them my name. 

     An especially rewarding experience was when I drove to distant clients, or to visit family or friends, was to arrange my trips so that I could be in a rural area on a Sunday morning.  I looked for and stopped at a poor, little, often one-room protestant church with people entering it.  I told them that I was just passing through the area, then went in and sat in the back pew, often just a chair adjacent to a side aisle  so I could leave easily if I wished.  In my purse, I had several different colored, sealed envelopes, each containing a different amount of money.  I did not put anything in the collection plate.  Then depending on how friendly they were to me, before and after the service, and whether I liked the service, I would select an envelope and give it to the minister, leaving before he opened it.  Along with the money, I had a note with just three words on it, ~ Love from Joan.

     At one church, where I was the only Caucasian there, they gave me an especially warm welcome.  One matronly woman appointed herself as my guide, and sat beside me to find the hymns in the hymn book, and give loud whispered instructions.  There were no looks of disappointment when I failed to put anything in the collection plate.

     The minister welcomed me to the church, and everyone seconded the welcome, turning to smile a personal greeting to me.

     After the service, everyone spoke to me and I received three invitations to come for dinner.  Although tempted, these people had little money, and I did not want to eat their hard-earned food, so I declined, saying that I was expected elsewhere.

     Before I left, I shook hands with everyone and asked the minister to walk with me to my car as I explained about the envelopes.  Then I got into the car, started the engine, and handed him all the envelopes and drove away.  The contents of the envelopes totaled fifty dollars, which, at that time, was a lot of money for me, but I knew that for this group of people, it would be almost a fortune.

     I had noted the minister's name, as well as that of the church and its address.  When I returned home and told my parents of my experience, Mother went into action.  Soon there was more cash in an envelope with a note "Love from Joan's Family," which my Father mailed from New York City, as well as a sizeable package with a duplicate note; neither had a return address.  I, of course, used a pretty note card to thank them all for their warm welcome.  Mother was always clever about the things she put into gift packages for "the less fortunate."  This one contained a variety of nice things with which to decorate the church in various seasons.

  ~ Enjoy in-person anonymous gift giving. ~

 

Joan Eastman-Bennett

Create A Thanks ~ Full Box

     Much in one's life these days is temporary, "Here today, gone tomorrow," as the age-old saying states.

~ While a Thanks ~ Full Box Lasts a Life Time

 

     It is akin to a Memory Box, except that prior to placing anything in this box, there are some ritual words to be said.

 

     In a quiet time, with the box open in front of you, hold the object, the new entry, and say aloud, 'I am thankful for this (name the what-it-is) because ~ ~ ~ ~.  Take time to remember in detail why you are thankful.

 

      Often what is put in the box is in a representative form, for how can you put your Mother in the box except with a photograph.
 

     This is also a worthwhile experience for a family with children of any age, the recently-born can be included in a photograph showing the family sitting on the floor around The Thanks ~ Full Box.

 

     Generally the box is a plastic storage box with a snap on lid that provides safe, dry storage as long as the lid is kept securely down.

 

     Make a nice big label, for the top handmade preferably; ask a grand-parent to do it for the Thanks ~ Full Box; some future time  you will perhaps get misty-eyed when seeing it.  There can be other labels put on one end and one side inside box facing out.

 

     Store the box in the back of a deep closet, if there are children, put the box high on a shelf, they should be instructed that The Thanks ~ Full Box is never to be opened by them unless the family is together.

     Make a starter Thanks ~ Full Box as a unique Christmas or anytime gift for someone you know really well.

     First, an explanation then the words to be said.

     Start with a "gift card" explanation, perhaps written in an appropriate themed greeting card attached to a ribboned bow attached to the top.  Be certain to tell of the words to be said.

     Put in the box as the starters, a postcard of some places you went together, a menu from their favorite restaurant, ~ ~ ~. 

     Remember this is a starter for them, avoid giving them things thereafter, for it.

 

 

  Having A Thanks ~ Full Box

Can Be A Forever Joy ~