Golden Lillies: Tornadoes Fury

Golden Lillies: Tornadoes Fury: "What are the tornadoes saying to us? Do we not want to listen because the tornadoes are not kind to us? Instead, they are horrific and leave..."

One More Birthday, A Million More Smiles!

What a great feeling it is to smile more than a million times after having ONE more birthday! Am I finding out now that my birthdays are more endearing to me than ever before? I believe that to be so. Many times I would not think of my birthday at all; it was just another day. I would not give any attention to the passing birthday. As I say, it was just another day! Somehow I have come to realize that I am to appreciate them. Don’t just let them pass up without an acknowledgment that I “went around the sun one more time.”
I’m thinking about my classmates who have passed on and we the living have celebrated their life. Well, these celebrations have taken a turn to come about more often than one should expect or eve care to have to deal with; it’s been happening on an average of the demise of a classmate bi-monthly. Of couse, that saddens me deeply. Why now, we must have a count of 30- plus classmates, a full classroom that have met their transition on this earth.
Too, what about the young folks who were so much a part of my life who has met their transition? For we know in our hearts that they were too young to die. So much so that you wish it made sense if you could replace them with giving them some of your years. I don’t have to go that far back to bring them to the forefront, like, my late son at 19 years old, almost twenty years ago. What happened? He was the victim of a homicide and too young to die. Not enough birthdays! I also lost two great- nephews. They were a part of my life. One was 14 years old and one was 16 years old. They were both murdered. Too young to die! Birthdays again for them were not to be. Wish I could have done the impossible, given them some of my years, some of my birthdays, but that was not to be.

Though the afore situations were truly dire, they have convinced me that “ One More Birthday, A Million More Smiles” should be most
appreciated. I want to smile many times over but will I be hiding pain? I hope not. I can see them all here with me, my son and my great-nephews,
sharing my one more birthday and a million more smiles. Of course, I would not leave out my classmates who met their transition. For I have learned because of them to consider what it really means to have one more birthday and smile a million more times. By: Berneda Earle

Spring And Summer Again!

After coming out of a cold cold winter one would think that going into Spring and Summer would be smooth saling. Such is not the case with me. All happened to me in one day on several occasions. In the cool of the early morning or late evening I am doing just fine. However, around noon until about two or three o'clock, I observed that I get ill, nauseated, even to the point of sweating profusely, severe headaches and sneezing. It happens like this almost the same time each year. Are these enough symptoms to make you turn away from spring and summer? I'd say, no. It's just how some of us bring in spring and summer. Some of us bring spring and summer in with allergies. At one time that was how I brought in those two seasons. Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining about spring or summer. I just can't wait for spring and summer Just the problems of the body going through changes while spring and summer is coming and finally arrive. In the end, I'd say it's worth the price. Don't you think so?

Tornadoes Fury

What are the tornadoes saying to us? Do we not want to listen because the tornadoes are not kind to us? Instead, they are horrific and leave a path resulting in much destruction, devastation and many fatalities. Remember just a few weeks ago the more than 200 fatalities occurring in Alabama? Again, Sunday, we are met with more fury from the tornadoes, leaving devastation in rampant proportions, resulting in much of the city of Joplin, Missouri being destroyed. After the tornadoes hit in both areas I was upset as many others were also. Tears streamed from my eyes. I was trembling as I held the telephone to find out the fate of  relatives living in or near the area of the tornadoes.  Getting used to it, I would say. I had to do the same thing during Hurricane Katrina.. I had three siblings and other relatives who were effected by those tornadoes in combo to form Hurricane Katrina. Sometimes we are helpless as a result of  the tornadoes' fury.  But what are we to do? 

Well,  I don't  live near Joplin but I do reside in  another locale of the Mid-West.  I am wondering, just wondering will a full blown tornado come our way.  Just yesterday the weather report was that there were heavy rains,  winds at 50 plus miles per hour.  These  weather conditions  caused some downed wires, uprooted trees and minor damages.  Nothing like what happened  in Joplin.  However, there is always the possibility of  a tornado  of similar type to drop its fury in this part of the Mid-West.   Besides being left with the fury of the tornadoes, what are we to do?  Can we ease the blow?  Or is there some discoveries coming about?   We may have to search and research more for answers.