The name -- of it -- is "Autumn" --by Emily Dickinson

The hue -- of it -- is Blood --
An Artery -- upon the Hill --
A Vein -- along the Road --

Great Globules -- in the Alleys --
And Oh, the Shower of Stain --
When Winds -- upset the Basin --
And spill the Scarlet Rain --

It sprinkles Bonnets -- far below --
It gathers ruddy Pools --
Then -- eddies like a Rose -- away --
Upon Vermilion Wheels --

Breakfast with Mama

As Mama and I had a French breakfast this morning with bacon, poached eggs in unsalted butter and croissants with grape jelly made by Rachel, my daughter in law, with, grapes from her father’s vineyard and cafe au lait for me, of course English breakfast tea for her, we discussed the richness of our lives. She related all the wonderful experiences God brought into her life in spite of the fact that as a teenager she thought everyone had a boyfiend except her. I wish the whole family could have been here to hear her tell about it. But one thing she did say this morning that I feel everyone of you should hear.

She listens to lots of political television and reads voracioiusly about all the candidates in this election. Her thoughts were that all of the candidates were the kind of people you would love to have as neighbors. They are all caring, considerate and the kind of people who are willing to lay down their lives for the good of this country. All of them would do the right thing for us as they saw it.

She also stated how proud she was of her children and grandchildren who took a stand and made it a priority to take advantage of our privilege to vote even the ones who did not necessarily agree with her political viewpoint.

She said also that the reason she makes her choices is that she uses God’s Word as a plumbline for the issues and measures the candidates previous choices by that standard.

ON GETTING OLD

Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly
widow and asked, "How old was your husband?" "98," she replied. "Two years older than me." "So you're 96," the undertaker commented. She responded,
"Hardly worth going home, is it?


Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman: "And what do you think is the
best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked. She simply replied, "No
peer pressure."


I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new
knees Fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear
anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make
me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts Have bouts with dementia. Have
poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if
I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends But, thank God, I still have my
driver's license.


I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's
permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an
aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down,
and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class
was over.


An elderly woman decided to prepare her will and told her preacher she had
two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted
her ashes scattered over Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart?" the preacher exclaimed. "Why
Wal-Mart?" "Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week "


My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as
it used to be.


Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.


*It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffeemaker.


**These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, "For fast
relief."


**Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old, You grow old
because you stop laughing.



**--- THE SENILITY PRAYER : Grant me the senility to forget the people I
never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the
eyesight to tell the difference.