How Sweet The Sound

A Friend To Man

When I was in the sixth grade my Englsh teacher, Mrs. Spears, put quite a bit of emphasis on literature.  Every few weeks we had to choose a poem to memorize and recite in front of the class.  I chose "The House By The Side Of The Road" by Sam Walter Foss for one of my presentations.  Even at eleven years old there was something about this poem that spoke to me.  I believe it was a life message, and this poem still stirs my soul.  I believe it conveys a message that is worthy of using as a life standard.

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that swell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by;
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban;
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears
Both parts of an infinite plan;
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by;
They are good, they are bad, they are weak,
They are strong,
Wise, foolish - so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban? -
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Sunday

Genesis Chapter Two Verses Two and Three

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  It is, for me, a day to be still and quiet; to listen to my soul, and to take the time to realize and be grateful for all of my blessings.  It is a day of spiritual renewal.

And, it is a day of family.  We try to have what we call Sunday Family Dinner every week.

I hope you enjoy your Sunday.  Recognize and be thankful.

One Of My Pleasures

Have I told you how much I like Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi with fresh lime?

1. The recipe:
3. 1.  Use pretty glass with flowers painted by your cousin.
4. 2.  Fill glass with crushed ice.
5. 3.  Pour Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi over the crushed ice.
6. 4.  Garnish with fresh wedge of lime.
9. Just look at it.

Isn't it beautiful?

Now squeeze that lime wedge into the filled glass, and then take a sip.

Need I say more?

Would you like a glass of cool refreshment?

Qualifications For Being My Best Friend

   

• We have to have known each other since I was eighteen years old
• You have to have given me a surprise baby shower
• Since I am an only child, you have to be willing to be my child's aunt
• You have to love my parents
• You have to have red hair
• You have to have worn "hot" pants in the day
• You have to have left gallons of paint on the trunk of your cars to shortly splatter all over the road and your car
• You have to have been stopped by the police while extremely pregnant and having several of your small children in tow
• You have to subsequently have made the police feel so sorry for you that they couldn't wait to get rid of you
• You have to have been attacked by a frog in your car
• You have to be a member of an incredible family that adores you
• You have to be one of five sisters
• You have to have accidently gone into the men's shower while on vacation
• Not to mention that you have to have accidently gone to the men's restroom on another occasion (do we see a pattern here?)
• You have to be "slightly" accident prone
• You have to have broken bones in the past
• You have to be highly competitive and not like to lose
• You have to love to play games
• You have to be beautiful - inside and outside
• You have to have a doll named Pretty Patience
• You have to be an incredible hostess - even though your days of procrastinating until the last minute used to drive me crazy
• You have to be a girl born in Michigan
• You have to be someone who nervously yacked during a bank robbery
• You have to be someone that turned over their desk chair and fell backwards in front of a male customer
• You have to be a person who has great decorating style
• You have to be incredibly smart
• You have to be someone who would take on security at Miami International Airport on July 4 in order to get me to the hospital to see my father before he died
• You have to be someone who can make delicious raisin pie
• You have to be the mother of five children who are all now admirable adults
• You have to be someone who always gets up and makes breakfast for their husband
• You have to be someone that won't drink "sweet" tea
• You have to be someone that dozes off unless they have had their coffee
• You have to be someone that once ran for public office
• Subsequently, you have to be someone whose political sign blew off their car on a multi-lane extremely busy road
• You have to be someone who can pull off the impossible at the drop of a hat
• You have to be someone that hated turning fifty
• You have to be an expert wallpaper hanger
• You have to be someone that loves me in spite of myself
• You have to be someone that has seen me with no makeup and wasn't scared
• You have to be someone that always knows how to make me feel better
• You have to be someone that I will love forever and ever

As you can read, it takes quite a special person to meet all of these qualifications.  It is not an easy job, and hopefully (for her) there are some benefits reciprocated.  My best friend is quite a special person, and I am so glad she applied for and accepted the job.  She has changed my life forever, and I am a better person because she is my friend.

And, to my best friend, thanks for being the best friend in the world.

You Pronounce It ca-MAYL-ya

Each year when my camellias are blooming, I think fondly of Emily Whaley.  Mrs. Whaley said you pronouce if ca-mayl-ya.

Is the name Emily Whaley familiar to you?  Mrs. Whaley died in 1998 at the age of eighty-seven, but during her life she accomplished great acts.

I first came to know of Mrs. Whaley when I read a review of her memoir, "Mrs. Whaley and her Charleston Garden".  The review immediately appealed to me because of my love of Charleston, and it was that same day that I purchased the book and read it in its entirety.  The book is always within easy reach in our home, and I often peruse it with pleasure.

Mrs. Whaley was one amazing lady.  She was born in a small town in South Carolina, and later married Ben Whaley who became a prominent lawyer in the Charleston area.  Mrs. Whaley was one of the first to open her garden to the public to raise money for charities, and her garden became one of the most well-known private gardens in our country.

She was quite an accomplished pianist and dancer, and she is credited with helping to start the Cotillion in Charleston.  She raised her family in Charleston, and became one of the city's most respected citizens.

She tells her life's story in a totally captivating manner, and she fast becomes someone you know you would have been honored to have as an acquaintance.  I am happy to have known her even though it was only through her books.  If you have the opportunity, read this book.  Allow yourself to be charmed and fascinated by Mrs. Whaley.

Aren't They Lovely?

My sweet husband brought these in Easter morning for me.  He knows I love having flowers in our home.  He is an incredibly special man, and having him in my life is one of my greatest blessings.

These lovely blooms came from two of the five camellia bushes we have in our yard.  I thought I would put a few blooms in a bowl of water to float, but when he handed me these, I had to rethink my plan.  They are huge!  The largest one in the center is almost eight inches across.  I can't imagine why the blooms are so large this year since we have been in extreme drought conditions, but I am certainly enjoying them.

Camellias have always been a favorite of mine.  It surprises me how often the camellia is overlooked in favor of other flowering shrubs.  The blooms come in the most exquisite shades of reds, pinks and whites.  They seem so reminiscent of a lifestyle of charm and beauty.  I believe my love of flowers was passed to me by three of the most important women in my life - my mother and both of my grandmothers.  My mother loves having flowers blooming in our yard as much as I do, and my grandmothers loved having flowers growing, too.

Beatrice

Remember Theodore?   Now please meet Beatrice. Beatrice stands at the foot of our front steps. She is quite beautiful and a bit shy.  She stands quietly, but observes all and welcomes all with an open and giving heart.

The name Beatrice is of Latin origin, and has several meanings to include: she who blesses, bringer of joy and voyager through life.  There was Beatrix who was a saint martyred in Rome, and the name also appeared occasionallly in England in the Middle Ages.  The name was revived in the nineteenth century when Queen Victoria named her youngest daughter Beatrice.  Beatrice was in Dante's Divine Comedy and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.  And, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson named one of their daughters Beatrice.

I mentioned earlier that I name some of the special "characters" around my home.  The names I choose are especially meaningful to me because they are related in some way to someone very important to me.  And, Beatrice is no exception.  The Beatrice in my life was truly a person who blessed and brought joy to all around her.  Her spirit remains in each of the people she loved.

I hope you will let Beatrice bring you joy today.

The Prophet

Have your read this?  I was introduced to this book many, many years ago, and it immediately became the most captivating book I have ever read.  And, all of these years later, I go back to this book almost daily.  I have found a deeper understanding of life in the words.

Kahlil Gibran is considered a genius - he was a philosopher, an artist and a poet.  He wa born in Lebanon, and his gift is one that is now valued worldwide.  He lived from 1883 until 1931, and he lived his last twenty years in the United States.

The Chicago Post said of The Prophet:

If there is a man or woman who can read this book without a quiet acceptance of a great man's philosophy and a singing in the heart as of music born within, that man or woman is indeed dead to life and truth.

Those may sound like strong words, but in my opinion they ring true.  I suggest if you haven't read this that you allow yourself the opportunity.  Gibran's vision of the meaning of life and its intricacies are words that have helped me to understand God's purpose for our lives.

My Favorite Easter Hymn

Christ Arose

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor o'er the dark domain,
And He lives forever, With His saints to reign.
He arose!  He arose!
Hallelujah, Christ arose.

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior.
Vainly they seal the Dead, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor o'er the dark domain,
And He lives forever, With His saints to reign.
He arose!  He arose!
Hallelujah, Christ arose.

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior.
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes. 

He arose a victor o'er the dark domain,
And He lives forever, With His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah, Christ arose.

It Just Can't Be Easter Without It

Easter Parade. This is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite movies - ever.  I can't remember a time when I didn't love this movie.  What's not to love?  There's the wonderful dancing of Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Ann Miller.  Then there is Peter Lawford - he was such a nice looking man.  And the singing, dancing, beautiful clothes and the love story all ending in the wonderful Easter Parade.  I just have to watch this movie every year.  Easter just would not be the same without it.  It makes me want to put on my Easter bonnet and twirl around.  For me this is one of those feel good movies.

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.

So just overlook my frivolity and indulgence.  After all, Easter is my favorite holiday, and Spring is my favorite season.  I can't help myself.  Why don't you join me by watching?  If you do, I hope Easter Parade gives you a big smile, too.