Every Day is a time to Gift ! ~ The Art of Gifting !

James Beard aka Noodin

 "Festive Season"

Sometimes we forget that gifting is a daily practice

 

 The Art of Gifting !

 Some think we learned it from Native Americans ~ then again ~ maybe it is the American way.

 

Native American gifting is a practice that goes back through the very thread of the culture. It is the cohesiveness of the people. When a gathering happens it is an accepted practice that the host will put out a blanket in the center of the gathering, called a giveaway, miigiwe, and put various items on the blanket. Each guest from eldest to the youngest will in turn go to the blanket and take one item of their liking. This will continue until there is nothing left on the blanket. Sometimes the blanket itself will also go as a part of the gifts offered. Some people have been known to give everything they have because they feel so honored by the people who visit them.

Ongoing gifting is a normal part of this practice. It is a custom to gift anyone that comes to visit. Often the host will gift something of significance, to his guests. Always food will be offered as well, that no one will be hungry.

When something is done to help the people it is a gift of spirit. At a wedding the people come to witness the wedding. Gifting to the groom and the bride comes generally from within the family. The bride, groom and their families will have a giveaway at the end of the ceremony. The people attending will often gift to the newlyweds at some point during the following year to see that the needs of the new couple are meant. Gift the people that honor us rather than expecting gifts from them.

In our culture we use the term donation for giving. To the Native American that term means having pity on. Giving to the less fortunate. They do not see themselves as less than others.

Gifting is giving of yourself in return for a kindness that has been given to you. The kindness may be a material thing, a teaching, a healing or just a friendship and bonding between people. The importance of gifting is in the honoring of one another. It is not payment for something rather recognition of having respect of one another.

In this society it is difficult for indigenous people to offer the love of spirit through their teachings. In the past they would have been honored in return through the gifting of a blanket or trade item or something of need to them and of value. What was given was always acknowledged in some way.

Today our society says put a dollar amount on the item and we will pay you. This is contrary to the teachings of native culture.

Jim Beard aka Noodin

To read more about Noodin click on this link ~ http://www.northeastcultural.com/WhiteMocsontheRedRoad.htm

Press Release - Northeast American Cultural Resource

 

 Press Release: For Immediate Release

Northeast American Cultural Resource

Northeast American Cultural Resource

James B Beard aka Noodin

 

 

James Beard aka Noodin of Northeast American Cultural Resource and Author of White Mocs on the Red Road and Andrea Louise Cadwell, MSc Candidate in Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainability at Antioch University, welcome you to visit the newly designed and updated website for Northeast American Cultural Resource @ www.northeastcultural.com.

Please explore the new website, let us know what you think and send us your comments.

We invite you to forward this email to those you think may be interested.

All the best,

James Beard aka Noodin

Passing down teachings in the Oral Tradition

 
        Northeast American
                  Cultural Resource

~ Workshops ~

Workshops are designed to present a value system as it has been adhered to over millennia by peoples of the American Continent. The purpose being to demonstrate an ethical culture that lives in harmony with all things. The values of these people demonstrate principles that can improve the balance of a society.

Programs are provided for business training, environmental centers, camps, individual groups, schools, social groups, teachers accreditation and the community in general.

Medicine Wheel – A Traditional Record of Life Teachings

The medicine wheel is a lifetime teacher’s aid. Correctly used, it helps commit to memory the oral teachings of people with a constant reference guide that is located everywhere. The medicine wheel is an excellent tool for building behavioral concepts. Teachings to do with medicine wheel are demonstrated and discussed.

The work shop includes a slide presentation to show the history, make up, purpose and teachings within the medicine wheel. Learn how to make a medicine wheel and have a working outline of how it works. The presenter structures the program to the group that is present. The workshop can be introductory or in depth depending on the audience, amount of time and purpose of the presentation.

           

Animal Talk – Understanding nature and what it can tell you

The animal kingdom has much to teach at many levels. Animals do things for a reason in the wild and they offer many messages. Their language can tell you the condition of our land, the dangers that are present or be a sign to the heart for new direction. The program is a demonstration of interpreting animal behavior on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. Animal talk encourages the use of self identification with animals to build personal values and self esteem. 

The work shop includes a slide presentation of various animals and the teachings understood of each animal. Workshop objectives and activities include an understanding of the lessons animals offer to mankind and knowledge of how they teach us. The workshop can be introductory or in depth depending on the audience, amount of time and purpose of the presentation.

Information about programs offered can be found at this link:         http://www.northeastcultural.com/Services%20Programs%20Workshops%202010.html

            

.

Remembering Serenity



James Beard aka Noodin

 

 

Moment of Peace

   




On a warm sunny summer day back in 1954, as I recall. I was about nine years old and was very bored that day. There was no one around to play with and my mom and dad were busy so I decided to go for a walk. There was a place about two miles away from my home that was owned by the Catholic Church. They ran a home there to care for people who were invalids. Maybe the people there were veterans from World War II or something. I really never did know for sure what they did there. It was a property where you just weren’t supposed to go. The place was a big old estate, thirty or forty acres of land, and was surrounded by a large forested area. At the back of the estate was a small cottage where one of the nuns lived with her dog. The dog was a beautiful golden retriever who we called Rex because we really didn't know his name. I thought by walking down to the cottage maybe I would find Rex and play with him. Rex always liked to join my friends and I and wander around the fields when we were playing.

When I got near the estate I crossed a field and worked my
way up the dirt road along the back of the property looking for Rex. I remember being very quite so no one would discover that I was on the property. The dog was nowhere to be found so I figured he must be out wandering himself. I continued on my way up along a field near some bushes where my friend Philip and I had built a Fort. The bushes folded over like umbrellas making tunnels through the brush and we had cleared the spaces in the tunnels and made it into our little private Fort. I crawled in and started going to the different areas. I would sit in one place and then another just looking and listening. I remember it being very quiet so that any noise that was made was very distinct. If a bird moved on a branch you could hear it. At one point I looked on the ground and saw a stick lying there that I did not remember having been there before. We had cleared the ground completely in our fort just a few days before and I wondered how that stick got there. I picked it up and looked at it. It was a very straight stick about five feet long. It was only about three-quarters of an inch thick but when I tried to break it, it would not break. First, I took hold of each end and tried to bend it. It would bend a little bit but it would not break. I was surprised at the strength of the stick. I held the stick at either end and put it to my knee and pulled back and still I could only bend it a little and it would not break. This was an unusual stick if I could not break it. I noticed that the stick had not been broken off from its original tree very long because the bark was still green. After awhile I left the little Fort and started to walk back home. I took the stick with me.

In the garage of my house I used a saw and cut the stick so that it was about four feet in length. That made a good length for a walking stick. I went out to the tree house in the back of my yard, climbed up, sat down and looked at my stick. This was my new walking stick. I took out my pocketknife and began to clean off some of the bark. First I peeled off the bark at the top of the stick so that it would have a clean handle to hold in my hand. Then I cleaned the bark off about 2 inches of the bottom of the stick so the bark would not look scruffy at the bottom. Then I found that because the bark was green, it peeled off easily when I cut into it. I began to cut designs into the bark. Sometimes I would cut crosses, sometimes a circle, serpentine like designs and diamond shapes. I cut designs all up and down that stick. When I was all done it looked really neat to me. I put the stick down in my room that night and it remained there for a month or so. When I looked at it again it'd dried and it still looked nice but not as fresh as when I had found it. I decided it needed something to protect it or the bark would eventually peel off and would not look so pretty. I took my new walking stick down to the garage and found some shellac my father had and painted that stick. Then I put the stick back in my room and went on with my life.

You know sometimes when you think back and remember some of the things you had as a child and you wonder what happened to them. What happened to my toy cars? Where did that blanket I liked go? I wonder where that stuffed bear went. What happened to the old lamp that was on my chest of drawers? Well for some reason that didn't happen with the walking stick. Over the years, wherever I went, I always took the stick with me. It wasn't that it was anything special, just that it was pretty and reminded me of that day in the little Fort in the bushes. Maybe the stick was a little special. For some reason that day, the day I found that stick. That was a special day. I did not know it then, but that day was a calm day in my life. It was a day when I was by myself and accepting of a gentle summer day with nature as my companion. Birds moving in the bushes, a snake crawling through the grass, a breeze rustling the leaves and an awareness of life all around me. My mind was quiet that day and my heart was listening.

When I found that stick I counted the rings on the end and there were nine. The stick was nine years old. I still have the stick!

Author: James B Beard aka Noodin

Article posted at (free site) : http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/outdoors-age-nine

Also a version of the story ~ If you would like to read more about Noodin click on this book ~  White Mocs on the Red Road ~ Walking Spirit in a Native Way
 

First Nation People Speak!

 

First Nation People - Speak Up for All against domination

Do not be fooled! What is happening in Canada is only a little of what is happening to all people. Listen to my brother! Unity is the way to speak and be heard. Noodin

Idle No More ~ Brantford: New Credit Elder Peter Schuler

About helping people - Northeast American Cultural Resource

NORTHEAST AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCE

Northeast American Cultural Resource

~ is a multifacited web site ~

 

Northeast American Cultural Resource is a information board to provide insight of cultural values and personal ethics to aid people in finding ways to enrich their lives and the lives of others. The intent is to encourage awareness of Native American teachings and Native American people. It is a pathway to give those seeking knowledge of their heritage a place to begin. The hope is that all people will understand and respect Creator as well as the Native American people with their rich culture.

 

T O P I C S

 

www.northeastcultural.com

Cultural Education Services

A variety of programs tailored to open new ways of understanding while gaining knowledge shared by the Elders of Aboriginal decent. Offered to enhance personal and community values.

 

News ~ About programs and people

To make available to all people an understanding of Native American people living in a traditional way. Our efforts are intended to share all understandings of spirit to help people achieve balance in life.

 

About James Beard

James B Beard aka Noodin

Jim is the coordinator and founder of Northeast American Cultural Resource. He welcomes you to join with him in a pursuit of balance and centering and is an advocate of traditional lliving and natural spirit teachings. His page includes links to biographical information and online social media activly utilized by Jim to connect with others.



James Beard Books
As an author Jim writes on subjects to do with social, economic, political, and environmental values. His first book is a true story of walking with his Elder Larry Matrious of the Ojibwe Native American Nation.

World Faiths 

To Native American Aboriginal People there is no one way to honor the creator and the creation. The Elder will often say "all of Spirit understanding is true". This section offeres links for information pertaining to many diferent beliefs around the world.



Northest American Cultural Resource is not incorporated and funds are raised specifically for the purpose of offsetting costs associated with programming. Our programs are given freely in order to carry the traditions of Native peoples forward.  Donations are gratefully accepted and considered private donations.


“To be centered is to stand alone together” Noodin

TRUTH

Understand all that is of those things that you use.  Truth is the completeness of understanding of what is.  Be true to yourself and true to your fellow man. Always speak the truth. 

Miishiikenh

BOOK : WHITE MOCS ON THE RED ROAD 

  

“To be centered is to stand alone together” Noodin

ACCEPTANCE

People are seldom what we want them to be

 ~ ~ ~ unless ~ ~ ~

we want them to be what they are.

 

MAANG

 

“To be centered is to stand alone together”            Noodin

To Speak Without A Tongue

To Speak Without A Tongue

by: Peter Schuler    
Ojibwe Elder - Mississauga First Nation





They came from a place we knew not where.
We fed them when they were cold.
Little knowing;
They could eat so much more than we.
Little knowing;
They would eat so many birds, buffalo... trees.
Little knowing;
They would poison Mother Earth
That sores of greed would open to run rivers of pus
Where once ran Mother Earth's crystal clear blood.

Our tongues crossed theirs
So that they could travel our lands and see what we saw.
Little knowing;
That they saw things so much different than we.
Then; slowly, surely they cut out our tongue
And replaced with theirs.

To speak without a tongue can mean many things.

loss of language speaking without your own language.
To speak with your actions, to speak with silence.
To speak through art, dance , drumming.
To speak with a look.

LET MY VOICE BE PURE

 

Skye Stephenson

 

It is always good to know of others of like heart with Spirit. Your poem is so beautiful and so true to direction. Would you mind if I share it on my blog.

 

Noodin

 



 

 

 

-  The Spirits of Jade  - 

Skye can be reached through www.skyestephenson.com

IAN Interview ~ Author James B. Beard aka Noodin

Independent Author Network

http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/james-beard.html

Author Bio:)

Author, Cultural Story Teller, Native Cultural Consultant

Jim Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional living and natural spirit teachings.  His topics address many concerns to do with wellness and balance in life.  He is a student of native teachings from Ojibwe Elders, Algonquin language based people, living throughout the Great Lakes Region of the US and Canada.  The audiences for his presentations vary from youth to elderly.

Please tell us about your latest book:

Some things in life happen that one could never foresee. The story you are about to read is about one of those things. Like most people, my life was pretty well laid out for me. Growing up in a small town in western New York, going to school, serving in the military, getting a job, getting married and raising a family. The typical American dream.

The walk that follows was so far from my path that I doubt anyone even twenty years ago would have guessed that it would be how I would spend the rest of my life. My past wives and family knew me, as did my peers, as a business man and one who was vested in my community in Southern New Hampshire. Serving on boards of non profits, going to Rotary, doing Chamber of Commerce functions and running an insurance agency were a part of what I saw as my whole life. I was a three piece suit.

What would come to be was never intended in my mind. In a time of transition, I began to look for answers about living that seemed to be missing in my life. It seemed as if the fulfillment of the promise of the American dream was somehow incomplete. I began to look for something to fill in the missing pieces. As I searched for that missing part I almost literally stumbled on the first people of this land. As I began to learn of their continued existence, they led me on an extraordinary path of understanding. These people who I did not even know still existed continue to have the gifts of a beautiful culture that respects all things. The goal for me then became to find those gifts.

With the history between the original people of this land and the people who have more recently come here, it can be difficult to gain an understanding of the depth of the teachings within the culture of the Native American Indian. The trust level is understandably not there. The oral teachings carried by the Elders are not openly shared with just anyone who would ask.

   

  The original intent of my quest was to gain new insight and add it to my existing life. It was not to change my lifestyle or relationships. What came about began to take me from the life I had known and to begin an adventure into a different world. I found myself in transition to a person that I did not know existed within myself. My white heritage would be enhanced by the ancient teachings that we all once had. I would learn to wear white moccasins to walk a red road in order to better understand the original teachings of my own people. The path that I would follow would give me a new family, a new community to be a part of and a new identity beyond anything I could have imagined. The life style, values and dedication of my life would now change for the rest of my time. To all of this I can only say, miigwich! thank you!

Q. How long did it take to write the book?

A. In real time about six months. The writing was sporadic over three years.

Q. What inspired you to write the book?

A. My children and past wives were my inspiration. I was not attempting to write a book so much as to write an explanation to my family to help them understand the path in life that I had taken. The path that led me away from being a family and business man. I guess I wanted them to understand why Dad went crazy and that maybe it wasn’t so crazy as it seemed at the time.

Q. Talk about the writing process. (do you write at night or in the morning)

A. For me writing is a way to relax. I am very active in all the things I do and I enjoy every moment of my life. When I am tired and want to chill out I often find myself writing bits and pieces. Sometimes the bits and pieces become whole stories and other times they are just a thought or concept,

Q. Did you use an outline or do you just wing the first draft?

A. I guess one would say that I winged it. I did some outlining to determine timelines or to reconstruct conversations that occurred in the writing.

Q. How is your book different from others in your genre?

A. The first sentence of the book is a question for one thing. “What do you want me to do?” Most fellow writers advised against that. The book lays out what it takes to find a Native Elder that will share the inner teachings of spirit and cultural ways of the Native American Indian. It takes the reader on a journey into the depth of ancient teachings and ceremony that few, other than native people, have experienced. There are no books that take someone through that process in detail that I have found.

                                                                                                                           

Q. Is your book published in print, e-book or both?

A. The book is in Hard Cover, Paper Back and e-book

Q. What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

A. Most important, the realization that they must pursue their dreams. What came to be for me was not what I thought I was after yet it is the best gift any man could ask for. I know who I am. I know where I came from and I know where I am going. Every moment in life is a gift and I have been gifted the way to live it.

Q. Where can we go to buy your book?

A. The book is available through all online outlets. Amazon.com, Lulu.com, Barnes & Noble, ibookstore and direct from the author at http://www.northeastcultural.com/white_mocs_on_the_red_road.html

Q. Tell us about your next book or a work in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?

A. What is in this book tells of the pivotal experiences of a progression through the teaching of my Elder over twenty or so years. I am presently writing on several subjects and more than one book will come. One writing is about Rangering on Mt Monadnock in New Hampshire. Another tells of travels with my Native brothers and sisters but in a novel format rather than a biographical way. I will always be writing and who knows what will come. I look forward to writing and can’t wait to see what comes myself.

Q. Any other links or info you'd like to share?

A. I put several of my sketch writings on a blog just to see if people want to read them: http://northeastcultural.blogspot.com/

Title: White Mocs on the Red Road ~ Walking Spirit in a Native Way

Author: James B. Beard aka Noodin

Page count: 178

Genre: Life experience, biography,

Publisher: Lulu Publishing, James B Beard

Excerpt from book:

                                                      Man or Spirit

It was still dark out.  I thought I heard something outside my tent and awoke with a start.  What was that I wondered?  Then I heard a crackling of a fire and saw light on the side of my tent.  The crackling was close.  That is my fire!  I had put it out last night so how could it have started up with no wood.  I heard someone pick up a piece of kindling and put it into the fire.  It couldn’t be the kids?! 

“This is my camp!” I said, in as strong and firm a voice as I could muster.  “Can I help you?”  I tensely waited for a response.

A quiet, yet also strong, male voice came back.  “Are you looking for someone to tell you about the Iroquois people?” 

“Yes I am.”  I answered. 

“Why don’t you come out and we can talk?”  Said the voice from outside my tent.  

I quickly put on my pants and shirt, thinking to myself, this can’t really be happening.  Who is this guy and what have I gotten myself into this time? 

As I came out of my tent I looked up at the man standing on the other side of the fire.  He was tall, about 6’2” and had a strong solid looking build.  His hair was black with gray streaks and hung loosely over his shoulders and down his back.  Even with the gray in his hair he didn’t look much older than his mid forties.   His jeans were weathered and he wore an old sweatshirt with a faded picture of whales on it.  The features of his face were unmistakably Indian and he had a proud and contented look about him.  He looked to have a quiet and gentle demeanor and to be very much at peace with himself.

“I knew you were coming.” he said.  “I had a dream two weeks ago that you and your children would be here and would camp in this place.” 

I was taken back a little. How could this man find us out here?  I thought, what did he mean, he knew we were coming? 

“I brought coffee,” he continued, and handed me a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee.  The coffee was hot, fresh and strong. No sugar added. It was just the way I like it.

I went over to my car and took out a red wrap of tobacco to give him.  I wanted him to see that I was aware of the customs of the Native people.

“I brought tobacco.” I said, and handed a cloth wrap of tobacco to him. 

He took it and said; “I know.” 

What is this? I thought.  This isn’t believable.

He invited me to sit down and he sat on the other side of the fire.  He put a donut bag down beside him, and said, “My name is Maize and I am from the Cattaraugus Reservation over by Lake Erie.”

He looked up at me and straight into my eyes, yet somehow deeper.  “Why do you ask about us?”  He said. 

I thought to myself; well that is cutting to the quick of it. 

I answered; “I want my children to know the truth about Native American people.” 

He didn’t say anything for a moment and looked back at the fire.  Then he slowly looked up, looking me straight in the eyes again, and asked more slowly; “Why do you ask about us?” 

I told him that I want to understand spirit teachings of the people.  What I have found about my own ancestors doesn’t give me what I am seeking and I am looking to the Indian to see if what I seek is there. 

Now I had said it!  I am seeking an understanding of the spirit teachings of the Indian.  I have felt drawn in this direction as I have become aware of the Indian over the past year or so.

He answered; “There are those who are Indian in heart, which must be why I heard you.  I will talk to you and your children.  Wake them and ask them to join us.  I brought donuts for them.  I will smoke this tobacco you gave me tonight when I get home.”

http://www.northeastcultural.com/white_mocs_on_the_red_road.html

  

Spirit is always with us!



NOODIN AKA JAMES BEARD

 

LOOK ! LISTEN ! FEEL ! SENSE !

 

DID THAT JUST HAPPEN ?

 

 

 

Spirit is always with us! You already know this.  I do not know a whole lot and certainly do not hold pretense that I understand the presence of Spirit. I am only a man walking a journey in this realm.

 

I do know this. There are moments when Spirit chooses to appear to us and, for me, they are not happenstance. I believe that Spirit will show a sign or act as a guide in a time when there is need. Our task becomes a challenge to understand the message.

 

Many years ago when I was still a young father in my late twenties I had such a visit, or I should say, my second oldest daughter had a visit. It was around midnight and everything was silent through the house. My oldest daughter was ten and sleeping soundly in her room. I awoke and went to the bathroom. Our bedroom had a bathroom connected to the master bedroom and, knowing my way, I did not use a light. As I re-entered the master bedroom I noticed the whole room was filled with light. Not a light of lamps but almost like daylight only with a white hew. My wife awoke and said to turn the lights off. I answered that I did not have

any lights on. At that moment I could see a light coming toward me down the hallway from my youngest daughter’s bedroom. She was three at the time. It was like a white globe and put out a tremendous amount of light. My three year old was following it toward our room. As my daughter approached me the light disappeared. I picked up my young one and put her back in her bed. The next morning, sitting in the kitchen having my morning coffee, I asked my wife if she remembered the light in the room. She did not but she remembered my being up and moving around. I told her what I had witnessed and we kind of put the incident aside with no real answers. The existence of Spirit was not a reality in my world at that time in my life. My daughter had no memory of the incident either. I often have remembered that moment and thought my daughter seemed to have some sort of a Spirit presence watching over her. Maybe she was visited by an ancestor or angel or Spirit friend. Kids sometimes tell of these things.

 

Last summer my daughter, now in her mid thirties, was out biking on a path in the foothills in Colorado. She loves to do marathon bike rides among many other outdoor activities. Her one big hang up in this world is snakes. She hates them and cannot even stay in a room if there is a picture of one on TV or in a magazine. Not an unusual thing to fear snakes. While she was riding she came down a path and around a turn. On the path in front of her was a large rattle snake lying across the path. She posted this incident on Facebook that day. “I ran into a snake on the path today but I am okay”. I read her post and knowing of her fear I immediately phoned her to make sure she was okay. She asked me if I remembered the ball of light I had witnessed when she was a little girl. When I affirmed the memory she told me, “When I turned the corner and saw the snake, a ball of white light appeared and guided me past the snake.” Thank you Spirit for what you do watching over my little girl. Thank you Spirit for what you do watching over my sister Hannah.

 

We presume we know so much when we actually know so little.

 

 

 

 

Apane [ always ]

noodin indizhinikaz, maang indodeim

a.k.a. Jim Beard

Cultural Story Teller, Educator, Speaker, Author

Phone: 603 261 7228

 

NEWS STREAM for NORTHEAST AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCE ~ Go to: http://www.northeastcultural.com/northeastnews.htm

"White Mocs on the Red Road / Walking Spirit in a Native Way" ~ Go to: http://www.northeastcultural.com/WhiteMocsontheRedRoad.htm

"Wisdom of the Wind" - (Listen to Noodin's interview with Hannah Thomas) ~ http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-rising-podcasts/id449446669

 

TO THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 

1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!  

First, we survived being born to mothers 

Who smoked and/or drank while they were 

Pregnant. 

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, Tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints. 

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, 

Locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode 

our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads. 

As infants & children, 

We would ride in cars with no car seats, 

No booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day w

as always a special treat. 

We drank water 

From the garden hose and not from a bottle. 

We shared one soft drink with four friends, 

From one bottle and no one actually died from this. 

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. 

We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. 

And, we weren't overweight. 

WHY? 

Because we were 

Always outside playing...that's why!

 

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, 

As long as we were back when the 

Streetlights came on. 

No one was able 

To reach us all day. And, we were O.K. 

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps a

nd then ride them down the hill, only to find out w

e forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes 

a few times, we learned to solve the problem. 

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. 

There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, 

No video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, 

No cell phones, No personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS  a

nd we went outside and found them! 

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth 

And there were no lawsuits from these accidents. 

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, 

And the worms did not live in us 

Forever. 

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 

Made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, 

Although we were told it would happen, 

We did not put out very many eyes. 

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and k

nocked on the door or rang the bell, or just 

Walked in and talked to them. 

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. 

Those who didn't had to learn to deal 

With disappointment. 

Imagine that!! 

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law w

as unheard of. 

They actually sided with the law! 

These generations have produced some of the best 

Risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. 

The past 50 years h

ave been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. 

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, 

and we learned how to deal with it all. 

If YOU are one of them? 

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Kind of makes you want to run through the house 

with scissors, doesn't it ? 

The quote of the 

month is by Jay Leno: 

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, 

mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms 

tearing up the country from one end to another, 

and with the threat of swine flu 

and terrorist attacks. 

Are we sure this is a good time 

to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us.. ..go ahead and delete this. 

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.

I could not find the author of this piece but felt it needs to be shared.