Tuesday, March 20, 2012


Lend Me Your Ear



I was trying to daydream but my mind kept wandering.

Steven Wright



The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

Thomas Jefferson



A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Jean de la Fontaine



I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I’m not.

Kurt Cobain



When you have only two pennies in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one and a lily with the other.

Chinese Proverb



Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

James Baldwin



Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom

Thomas Jefferson



It is a sweet thing, friendship, a clear balm, a happy and suspicious bird of calm.

Shelley



Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration.

Lou Erickson



Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible

Doug Larson



All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.

Walt Disney



Steven Wright’s and Thomas Jefferson’s quotes have particular resonance with me.

The Chinese Proverb reminds me of my late MIL who once told me she was taking the children up to Scotland and – with only a few pence in her purse she had the choice of a cup of tea or a cigarette; she chose a cigarette.  She was rarely without a cigarette and some knitting when I knew her in her seventies.  Her hands were the hands of a much younger woman – her lungs a different story sadly.  I still have woollen hats, tea cosies and cardies knitted by her.



Shelley would be appalled to find that the latest ruse of the Education Department is to discourage school children from having ‘best friends’.  Discuss!

As regards Erickson’s gardening quote – it seems most of the UK is facing drought conditions – unheard of at this time of the year.



Larson’s quote rings true - especially when one marvels at incredibly courageous feats.



Finally – excuse the levity but here’s an old Scottish joke:

Wha’s the difference between Bung Crosby and Walt Disna’?


Bung sings and Walt disna’.

21 comments:

Kim Ayres said...

My mother always used to say, if you have a penny, spend a ha'pneth on bread and a ha'pneth on flowers. I guess it was passed to her as a variation of the Chinese proverb - or that Chines proverb has been updated because half pennies no longer exist :)

Pat said...

Kim: good sense comes in many
guises.

Anonymous said...

Thomas Jefferson was one of our best presidents. I'm afraid we won't see his like again.

Cheers.

LL Cool Joe said...

I've actually encouraged my kids not to have best friends at school but to try and be friends with everyone. I've always felt if they have one best friend, and things go wrong between them, which they often do, they'd have no one else to talk or play with.

Pat said...

Randall: men like that do seem to be thin on the ground these days - over here also.

Joey: what you say makes sense although on the other hand they have to learn that life holds many disappointments and one has to learn to deal with them.
I have found that trios and quartets work well.

Ms Scarlet said...

My best friends from school and from my early teens are still my best friends today - they can prove to be life long relationships... but then again I had more than one best friend... you just can't beat that relationship though, it is so special.
Sx

mapstew said...

I too like the Chinese 'loaf & lily' one!

And I really did 'Laugh Out Loud' at the corny Scottish joke! :¬)

xxx

Pat said...

Scarlet: I also have great friends from childhood but a couple of the quite intense 'best friends' faded away.

Map: that makes me happy:)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Jefferson, Steven Wright and James Baldwin are the ones the stood out for me....I LOVED Baldwin. His writing was superb and his insights into the horrors of Racism, unforgetable.

Actually I liked all the quotes, my dear Pat...AND I liked the Joke, too...(lol).

The Unbearable Banishment said...

Kurt Cobain was a coward who doesn't deserve a place in this respectful roster. He left a daughter behind. For shame.

Pat said...

Naomi: Mr Baldwin was a hero of mine when I was very young and idealistic and horrified by the racism which was being uncovered at that time. He was a very angry young man - and who could blame him?

UB: I always seem to upset someone by my choices but art would be very sparse if you weeded out the monsters.

Unknown said...

That joke! Oh, dear!

It's your life, make the most of it!....Me!

SDC said...

I love your blog! I usually lurk, but wanted to comment on banning best friends. I find it horrifying that the adults that children have to deal with during their formative years seem to be systematically removing their ability to cope with daily life. Pain, struggle, hurt feelings and sometimes humiliation is a part of life. In my opinion, a lot of it is parental shortcomings. They can't be bothered to plug in, so get all the institutions to insulate children from reality, thereby making the parent's lives easier. Poor kids will pay for this in years to come.

Unknown said...

My comment isn't here! Boo.

Pat said...

SDC:you must come more often and comment. There is a lot of truth in your observations - unfortunately.

Granny Annie said...

That Scottish joke was a real groaner...still I laughed.

Pat said...

Granny Annie: sadly they are the ones I remember.

Granny Annie said...

And thankfully this has been the story of my life: "A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."

Jean de la Fontaine

Pat said...

Granny Annie: what tales you have to tell!

Marjolein said...

Being best friends is great if you have a connection and it's effortless. But I remember other girls telling me I wasn't allowed to have another best friend next to them and they would be angry with me for being friends with other people... so I kind of get where they're coming from!

Pat said...

Marjolein: I think the intensity diminishes as one matures.