Derf!

This poem is for my brother.

My brother calls, himself Derf. He's not the size of a Smurf! Growing up with him, he'd go out on a limb, to save a small cat. Yes, he'd do things like that! He loves camping outdoors. Seeing Bears with Big Claws. They make him EXCITED and THRILLED! While it gives me the CHILLS! Knows how to put out a campfire, he relieves himself, while it transpires. He plays's Practical Jokes, while hoping no one Croaks. Many jobs he can do, Fixing Electric & Boilers to name a few. So many things I could say about him. He just takes off and goes on a whim. Love's cruising in his Chevy, Boy, that is Cool & Heavy! I want you to know, I love you brother too, You are always there and always come through. Thank you my Brother and also my friend. No, I'm sorry it's, all a few Bucks I can lend. You know I'm just kidding, but, I thought it was fitting!

We crack each other up with jokes all the time. So I made this for Fred!


By Marsha Neuschwanter

CHILD CARE TODAY!

CHILD CARE TODAY! Babysitting my Niece and Nephew, Rachel and Jeremy!

I take care of my Niece and Nephew for about 4 weeks so this is what I go through. Oh, they are 3 months and 2 years old.
I wake up and go to the bathroom at 7:00A.M. in the morning. Go to turn the knob on the door. It won't turn! I've got my legs crossed now in a knot. The Mother comes out looking at me strange while I try ripping the door off the hinges! She looks at me strange and smiles. Oh, She says, I forgot to tell you. We have to put these new covers on the door knobs, so the kids can't get into any room, they are not supposed to be in. Oh, you squeeze it this way. She opens it so nice and closes it. Now the mother leaves saying good bye. So I try it for an hour and yes I finally get in! Wow, what a relief! Now that, that's done I'll make some coffee and scramble eggs. Now I go to turn on the gas jets. She has plastic covers over them and a ridge you have to squeeze in to open it, to put the jets on. Now that lasted what seems like, a good week! O.K. I did it!!!!!!!!! Now to get the knives and forks. I go to pull out the draw and it is not opening! Yes there is a lock on that too! Well, I got into that too but, took awhile. I have come to the conclusion!! This place would be great for people who want to be on a diet or just to drive someone NUTS! I don't have to worry about that I'm there already but, I'll never understand why all of this! I wasn't raised this way!!! So now I have two more weeks to get more of this. Oh, and she has the seat cover down in the one bathroom with a bar across it. I couldn't get that up! So now I'm sitting on my NEPHEW'S POTTY, trying to go. Then the door won't close in the bathroom and I see these two cute eyes looking in at me opening the door. OH BEING A BABYSITTER TODAY IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE!!!!!!! TAKE IT FROM ONE WHO KNOWS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Marsha Neuschwanter

Great Thoughts of Mom & Dad!

While I'm sitting here and thinking, of the years being with my Dad. He tried to teach me to make bread. He was preparing it and Kneeding it and he had forgotten the flour for it. His hands are sticky with the dough on his hands. Then he realized he had no Flour for the rest of the Bread. He asked me to go to the store and get him some flour. I stood there smiling with the dough stuck to his hands. I went and got the flour and he made his bread. He put the dough on the table and said it had to rise. We got up the next day and bread did rise. He put it in the oven. When it came out it was such a great sight, I grabbed a Knife and ate it with pleasure. Then I decided to make a bread years later, without my Father telling me what to do. Now I use that bread for a Paper Weight! My rule is Make the Best of Everything. Like the saying. when you get a Lemon make lemonade. I'll never forget his laugh and the jokes he used to tell. It's nice to go back and remember what a great man he was!

My Mother was an all around handy person. She'd be there for anyone who needed help with anything. She repaired things all the time. She'd make rugs, cook, sew, wash, clean and repair. She made a costume for me for a Fashion Party I went to. She had only an hour to fix me up. She dragged out fringe, she puts shoe boxes on my feet and covers them with wrapping paper, now that's my shoes. Then she makes a hat with wire and fringe. The wire stuck up a flower and the fringe was drapped around the outside of the paper plate hat. My dress looked like a potate sack with a big bow on my butt. Then she said, now you're done. I'm thinking you're right about that and walked back to the party. This party was: Your Funny Outfit Fashions. Needless to say, guess who won for best costume. That's my Mom!

That's my Mom and Dad we laughed and had great fun!
They'll always be with me.
Until my life is done.

Thoughts of my Angel!

While in dispair and out of a job, I looked to the Heavens above. I prayed, to my Gardian Angel Gabriel, in which he sent me so much love. I asked him to find a job for me, in a lace place near my home. I looked in the yellow pages and found a number to call. I spoke to a lovely lady. She said I had the job! Then I got off the phone and just began to sob! She said to wait for three months and call her back again. I started to go to school for computers then I got a call from her. It was part-time, until someone came back. I wanted to take that job but, was training for computers. I did go for the interview and she said, keep me in mind. She gave me her card with her name on it. While walking out of the Lace Place, I looked upon her card. Her name rang out so in my mind, I'm never alone and this is true her name was GABRIEL and he was with me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!I don't lose sight of my angel for he'll be with me my whole life through!!!!!!!!!!!

By Marsha Neuschwanter

I'm still with You!

My Mother has been in my thoughts lately. I think she is letting me know she is still with me. I took care of her for a number of years when she started to have a Stroke, I put her in the Hospital. I'd visit her and talk to her when, she was in a coma. One day I didn't go was feeling sick. She died that day. I had a feeling she was going to die but, I guess I just couldn't say good bye. Now, I was in a trance. I went home from the funeral. While trying to go to sleep, I heard my Mother call me. I thought it was just my imagination. Then turning around I saw a young women in the doorway. I stared at her and it was MY MOTHER, SHE WAS YOUNG AND IN A STANDING POSITION AND HAD A GREAT SMILE, then she faded from view. I couldn't believe my eyes! The next morning I FELT ARMS AROUND ME SO TIGHT! I woke up with such FRIGHT! Now I know what it all meant. My Mother told me in this method that, she was happy and will always love me. Yes, and she is taken care of now and made me know not too worry. That's was my Mother's loving goodbye!

By Marsha Neuschwanter

Did Not Die
By Melinda Pacho

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am diamond glints in the snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's Hush,
I am the swift uploading rush,
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night,
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there,
I did not die.

The Loss of Common Sense!

Not Written by me, but who ever did it should have put his name on it. No common sense here either, So I decided to use it. We'll, see if I have any common sense now too.

Orbituary: The Sad Passing of Common Sense Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for surehow old he was since his birth records were long ago lost inbureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, whythe early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe itwas my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parentingstrategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended fromschool for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired forreprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do in disciplining theirunruly children It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or asticky plaster to a student; but, could not inform the parents when astudent became pregnant Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses;and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar cansue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee washot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded ahuge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and hisson, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him pass this on. If not join the majority and do nothing.

These pictures are of my Nephew and Niece. The Mother let him eat his Mac and Cheese by Himself! No Common Sense!

The Flea Market!

While walking through a Flea Market, one gets a chill! Touching and feeling of the objects that belonged to someone now, still. You wonder who these people are and how there life was. Yes, and was this Wedding Band from a couple who was Really Deeply in love? You pick up an Old Doll and saw how worn out it was, thinking of all the hugs it got from a girl who had much love. Now there's a Record Player and I could here the sounds of it in my mind, and the dancing of the people and smiles they left behind. Yes, an Old Wash Board I saw next with the thoughts in my mind, of a women washing cloths for kids and her man she loved so fine! There was a Rabbit's Foot there, that was good luck for you. I'm telling you it's not good luck, He lost his foot that's true. There was a Certificate of Death, for a Man that died in the Civil War. It makes you wonder why he died and what was it all for! While heading out of the Flea Market and looking back at what I saw. I'm hoping all the lives I've dreamed were really not that poor. Yet , I thought about the things they had and who am I to say. They might have had not much like us but, love that will always stay.

by Marsha Neuschwanter