Ray’s Daily
December 3, 2021
The wisest mind has something yet to learn.
George Santanaya
When you get to be my age you realize you really do not need much more than you already have. In fact in my case I still have too many clothes and want for little more things than I already have. What I do covet is the time I get to spend with the many good people I live with in my senior citizen residence.
It seems like the older folks become the wiser they are. They probably have always possessed the attributes that make them special today, it is just that now they are more willing to share.
I do appreciate the gifts of the friendship given by these good people. The following story is a reminder for all we can have if we are willing to accept the offerings of others.
Gift Exchange – lessons about life!
‘I just got back from the gift exchange,’ she said.
‘Did someone give you something you didn’t want?’ I asked.
‘No, not at all. I got more than I thought I would,’ she replied.
‘So you had too many gifts?’ I asked.
‘Oh, no. You could never get too many,’ she said so seriously.
‘Then, I’m confused. You were returning a gift that you received and didn’t want because you had more than you could use, but never enough of whatever it was,” I said. Of course I had no idea what I just said, but it was what I heard.
‘No. I wasn’t returning anything. I was giving it away,’ she said.
I felt like I was watching an episode of ‘I Love Lucy’ with Ricky Ricardo and Lucille Ball.
‘Let’s start over. Where were you?’ I asked.
‘I went to the nursing home. I volunteer to visit people there,’ she said.
‘You said you went to the gift exchange.’
‘Oh, I see your problem. That’s what I call it, the ‘Gift Exchange’ – I go to the nursing home to spend time with some of the most fascinating people. I’m only in my 40s. These people are in their 70s, 80s and older. They have so much to offer. Their stories are special gifts to me. Their life experience and lessons are so incredibly valuable. I learn so much from them,’ she said.
‘So, that is the gift exchange?’ I asked.
‘Yes, I give them my time, they teach me about life.’
What an incredible way to look at it. All these years that I have been writing, all these people that I have met along the way were all a part of the ‘Gift Exchange.’
Why not join us. Take time to speak to someone at the Mall today. Make time to stop and say “hello” to someone in your neighbourhood. Attend a church function and meet new people. Visit a local nursing home. Phone someone.
You have so much to give and so much more to get. The ‘Gift Exchange’ is open 24 hours a day.
Written by Bob Perks
~~~
The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
William Blake
~~~
Excerpts from some kids’ letters to God:
Dear God, Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma
Dear God, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don’t You just keep the ones you have now? Jane
Dear God, Who draws the lines around the countries? Nan
Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? Neil
Dear God, Thank you for my baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. Joyce
Dear God, It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not hurt him anyway. Your friend (but I am not going to tell you who I am)
~~~
It’s a small world, once you’ve made the long trip to the airport.
~~~
The chief of staff of the US Air Force decided that he would personally intervene in the recruiting crisis affecting all of our armed services. So, he directed that a nearby Air Force base be opened and that all eligible young men and women be invited. As he and his staff were standing near an brand new F-15 Fighter, a pair of twin brothers who looked like they had just stepped off a Marine Corps recruiting poster walked up to them.
The chief of staff walked up to them, stuck out his hand and introduced himself. He looked at the first young man and asked, “Son, what skills can you bring to the Air Force?”
The young man looks at him and says, “I’m a pilot!”
The general gets all excited, turns to his aide and says, “Get him in today, all the paper work done, everything, do it!” The aide hustles the young man off.
The general looks at the second young man and asked, “What skills to you bring to the Air Force?”
The young man says, “I chop wood!”
“Son,” the general replies, “we don’t need wood choppers in the Air Force, what do you know how to do?”
“I chop wood!”
“Young man,” huffs the general, “you are not listening to me, we don’t need wood choppers, this is the 20th century!”
“Well,” the young man says, “you hired my brother!”
“Of course we did,” says the general, “he’s a pilot!”
The young man rolls his eyes and says, “Dang it, I have to chop it before he can pile it!”
~~~
While my wife and I were shopping at a mall kiosk, a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. My eyes followed her.
Without looking up from the item she was examining, my wife asked, “Was it worth the trouble you’re in?”
~~~
The three major food groups are canned, frozen and takeout.
~~~
Here are some questions asked on forms with interesting answers:
Form: Length of Residence…Answer: 73 feet
Form: Reason for requesting employmen Answer: Money
Form: Beneficiary Answer: Wife — Form: Relationship Answer: Strained
Form: Purpose of withdrawal Answer: Get money to spend
Form: Person to notify in Case of Accident Answer: Anyone in sight
Form: Number of passengers in vehicle during accident Answer: Three — Form: Disposition of passengers Answer: Mad as Hell !
Form: Number of employees in your office, broken down by sex Answer: None that I know of, Liquor is a much larger problem
~~~
Monotony is the awful reward of the careful.
A.G. Buckham
~~~
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about six years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, “Are you a police officer?”
“Yes,” I answered, and continued writing the report.
“My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” I told her.
“Well, then,” she said as she extended her foot toward me, “would you please tie my shoe?”
~~~
Pride is what we have. Vanity is what others have.
~~~
A policeman arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree. The cop rushes over to the vehicle and asks the driver, “Are you seriously hurt?”
“How do I know?” the driver responds. “I’m not a lawyer!”
~~~
It takes a long time to become young.
Pablo Picasso
~~~
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than twenty years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@comcast.net. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are hundreds of readers from around the world.
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