My day started early as I had to take Linda and Guy’s van in for a service and the appointment was at 8.30am..after I dropped the van off down town I walked home and just really messed around at home doing some chores and cleaning and some sorting and then this afternoon went back to pick up the van but was told it would not be ready until tomorrow…..back home I washed Little Blackey and really just relaxed…….so I know not a very interesting post today!!!
…
This is taken from the blog archives!!!!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Funny how things work out..today I had to go on an errand in Ramona and close by is this great farmer’s market store, where I stopped and bought some fruit and vegetables. One item that I bought, I think for the first time, were some fresh peas in their shell. Brought them home and sat out on the deck overlooking the ocean and shelled peas. I have not done this since I was a young kid and I would sit on the stoop with my Grandma and shell the peas.
So after supper, the peas were great, I check my e mails and there I find this story below…small world.
Wanted to share this with you…
> > RED MARBLES
> >
> > I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes.
> >
> > I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged
> but clean hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas.
> >
> > I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.
> >
> > I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I
> > couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store
> > owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
> >
> > 'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
> >
> > 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas.
> They sure look good.'
> >
> > 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
> >
> > 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
> >
> > 'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
> >
> > 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
> >
> > 'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
> >
> > 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
> >
> > 'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
> >
> > 'All I got's my prize marble here.'
> >
> > 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.
> >
> > 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
> >
> > 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for
> > red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.
> >
> > 'Not zackley but almost.'
> >
> > 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way
> > let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy.
> >
> > 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
> >
> > Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
> >
> > With a smile said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
> >
> > When they come back with their red marbles, and they always
> do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
> >
> > I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.
> >
> > A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the
> > story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
> >
> > Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.
> >
> > Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho
> > community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.
> >
> > They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my
> > friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
> >
> > Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the
> > relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
> >
> > Ahead of us in line were three young men.
> >
> > One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice
> haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking.
> >
> > They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by
> > her husband's casket.
> >
> > Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke
> > brieflywith her and moved on to the casket.
> >
> > Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket.
> >
> > Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
> >
> > Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of
> > the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her
> > husband's bartering for marbles.
> >
> > With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
> >
> > 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you
> > about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.
> >
> > Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color
> or size...theycame to pay their debt.'
> >
> > 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided,
> > but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '.
> >
> > With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased> husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
> >
> > The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
> > Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
> >
> > Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn t make yourself.
> >
> > An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
> >
> > Green stoplights on your way to work.
> >
> > The fastest line at the grocery store.
> >
> > A good sing-along song on the radio.
> >
> > Your keys found right where you left them
A nice story!!!
This would be around 1975 on the departure of a soccer tour from Bermuda to Florida…can you spot me??
This is the small waterfall close to where my Dad and Uncle Bram grew up!!
My first and probably last visit to the province of Labrador!!!
Wish you all a great weekend ….les
