My take on Firearm restriction laws...

Bloomburg and many other anti-gun enthusiasts are really out strutting their stuff these days, like vultures in a grave yard. They're trying hard to get sentiment on their side before the furor, or at least the uncomfortable feelings we have die away.
But you have to ask yourself why? Why now? Why do they always do this after something horrible like this? Why aren't they including the Clackamas Mall shooting, too? By the way, at Clackamas, the shooter was thwarted, after shooting only one victim, by a legally armed US Citizen who took aim at him. When he saw this, the shooter killed himself rather than his next-intended victim.

The truth of it is just this. To take away all of the legal guns in America, to disarm the law-abiding, wouldn't have helped at all at Columbine, or the Virginia shootings, probably not Sandy-Hook either. Or almost all of the other mass-shootings we've had in the US. Why? Because our Government can't control the influx of illegal firearms. The same Government that can't control the influx of illegal aliens. The same government that can't keep track of the firearms it is supposed to be 'selling' in a sting-operation that they inadvertently let get into the hands of real, live terrorists. The same Government that gives a license to own fully automatic weapons to 'collectors' for a fee, without anything more than a cursory check, anyway.
Another truth is that there's the little matter of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. They have added and removed minor amendments before, but never removed one that's considered a cornerstone of American Citizen's Rights, put there by the very first Constitutionally seated Congress and approved by the President. Which President you ask? George Washington. He and they thought it was that important that the American people be so armed as to guarantee our liberty from Tyranny. Remember that just eight years earlier they had finished a messy, expensive war against a Tyrant.

Here are two versions of the Amendment, both valid, BTW:
As passed by the Congress:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State:
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.[8]"

The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by scribe William Lambert and resides in the National Archives.
Notice that the 'as ratified' version, the one seen as law in all 50 States, uses a lower-case 'S' for the word 'state' where the as adopted by Congress uses a capital 'S.' The one adopted by Congress is for a Militia being necessary to maintain the freedom of a State. (A corporal Entity. the US, or any and/or all of it's incorporated States) Whereas the 'adopted' version with the lower-case 's' is referring to a state-of-being. Not the Corporate State, but rather the state-of-freedom which is the Right of All Men as stated in the preamble of the Constitution itself.
Here is the pertinent sentence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Now my question is this: How can we guarantee our Rights without means to stand up to our very Government? We have the Right to dissolve our very Government and start it over if we so choose. How are we going to exercise that right if we give guns to the Government along with all of the authority to use them when, where, and how they please with absolutely no recourse? How will they actually be answerable to us? The American people are unique in the World in that we do have these particular rights and responsibilities to preserve our freedom.

Now a lot of Americans are more than willing to sell off their Rights in exchange for so-called 'Security.' But are you really secure? As long as you don't step out of line? As long as you don't get a cop's attention? As long as you don't have to face a Judge who lusts after your possessions?
As long as Congress and the President don't want everything you have?
We've already given up a whole lot of Rights in this Country, the Right to own property, the Right to travel freely, the Right to representation without undue taxation, the Right to vote in our very own President. The Rights to be allowed to live our lives and pursue happiness, justice and freedom?

Now if we do allow them to take away our firearms, to repeal the 2nd Amendment, what's to stop them from from repealing the first Amendment? The third or fourth? or all of them? What's to stop them from repealing the whole Constitution?
After all, it was written over two hundred years ago, right? It MUST be outmoded. Surely it doesn't, or shouldn't, have a place in our Post-Modern World?
Why don't you ask that when you go see a group of Foreign Nationals swearing their Oath as US Citizens? Why don't you go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and ask all of the names etched there? How about a VA Hospital? How about going and asking any Marine or Soldier serving at the pointy end of our Diplomacy? Go over and ask the Bosnians what they think of us?
No, we should NEVER take ANY portion of the Constitution or the Bill of Rights away. Should never demean them.

If you want to do something about gun crime, then make Congress actually ENFORCE Laws they had passed before this feeding frenzy first started. Let's take out all of the obfuscation. Let's take it away from the Politicians and for once, make them follow our lead! That's what they're supposed to be doing anyway! It's time that the US got back to reality. It's time to realize we can't afford to be diverted by little internal arguments that were unnatural and promulgated by the Government in the first place to keep us from noticing their attempted grab at the power that belongs rightfully in the hands of American voters.

That's my take on it. 

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/bloombergs-limits-gun-laws-and-stop-and-frisk.html

THE USA AND FUNDAMENTALISM

This Country was NOT founded on Christian principles. Ben Franklin, although the Christians have tried to hijack him and make him one of them, disliked Christianity. You see, he was old enough to remember Cotton Mather. In fact, Franklin argued with Mather publicly and that was one of the main reasons he relocated to Philadelphia. Cotton Mather, BTW, was the force behind the Salem Witch Trials. That was the view of Christianity that Franklin, and most (if not all) of the rest of the Founding Fathers had. They were 'Deists' at best. Remember they were living and working in a town and Colony founded by Wm. Pitt. You may remember that he was the man who was granted land to establish a Colony that wasn't under the Church's thumb?

The Founding Fathers all saw the same sort of Fundamentalism that you people espouse today as an unholy trap. It had created and sustained the Dark Ages, the Inquisition, the rejection and murder of the Huguenots and lately, (to them), the Witch Hunts throughout England, Europe and America. They wanted a Gov't that was free of the sort of Fundamentalist, Christian only, Festering Pustule of misguided 'Faith' that has reared it's ugly, prejudiced head again in the US of late.

"In God We Trust" was NOT their motto and should NEVER have been adopted. The phrase, "Under God," should NEVER have been added to our pledge. They espoused freedom FROM religion as much as freedom OF religion. They correctly thought that Church should NEVER be allowed to have a part in State. Look at the Church of England's response to Wm. Pitt, Sr. To how it handled the 'Quakers.' Look at what it did to the Huguenot leaders, whom they had rescued from France, when it realized that they weren't going to espouse the Church of England as a National Religion any more than they had Catholicism, in France. England, for a Century before the Colonies were founded and for almost 2 full Centuries after, was rife with Civil Wars, persecutions, first of Catholics, then of Protestants, back to Catholics and finally persecution or even execution for anyone who wasn't a card-carrying member of the Church/State. And it was NO BETTER in the Colonies at the time. These were the 'Christian' principles that our Founding Fathers were faced with.

These are the 'Christian' principles you Fundamentalists and your sort, would have us bound to, today.

Now, all of that is NOT to say that you and your Faith have no place, no Right, in this Country. You do! I, along with millions of other people, swore an Oath to defend that Right, among others. But so do all other Peoples have the same Rights. The Church, any church, has NO RIGHT or RESPONSIBILITY to control Marriage, it is a CIVIL Institution (contract), anymore than they have a RIGHT to tell women that they may NOT get an abortion. People in this Country have, and rightly should ALWAYS HAVE, the Freedom to choose, to do with their relationships and their own bodies as THEY SEE FIT, without Witch Hunts, without interference from anyone else, and especially any Church, Religion or Faith!

Grow up, Fundamentalists, and go learn something!

What is God, after all?

God is Omniscient 

  Definition:
 The attribute of God by which God perfectly and eternally knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God knows how best to attain His desired ends.
  Meaning: This, like omnipresence, demonstrates that man cannot hide from God because God knows all things. He knows the number of hairs on each head, He knows the heart and thoughts of every man. Just because no man is around to see us do wrong doesn't mean nobody saw it happen - God did. The proverbial tree falling in the forest that doesn't make a sound because no man was there to see it or know about it falling at that time, God sees and knows. Our intentions in the things we do are known to God. We need to be sure that our attitudes are congruent with our actions because God knows when we are doing things for the wrong reasons or motives.
  Scripture Support:
 Psalm 147:4,5 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
 Acts 15:18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
 Psalm 33:13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
 II Kings 13:19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. Jeremiah 38:17-20 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be will unto thee, and thy soul shall live
 Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and calleth those things which be not though as they were.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
 Matthew 11:21-23 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
 I Samuel 23:5-14 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. Conclusion:
 God knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He knows when we do things for the wrong reasons and when we do things for the right reasons. All things we do should be to serve Him and bring glory to Him.  “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9–10). Yet this passage shows that declaring the end from the beginning is not just a function of “seeing” what is “destined” to happen. Continuing in Isaiah, we read that God acts and intervenes in history to accomplish His ends, “calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (v. 11).

  My Comment:
 (God knew what he planned to do before he did it. Before he ever created anything, he already had the 'plan of salvation' in mind. To be a Christian, one must accept this as true, It is written in his infallable word. So then he knew that Lucifer was going to be flawed and fall before he ever created him. This leads us inevitably to the realisation that God created Lucifer perfectly flawed for the specific purpose that he would fall and bring sin into the Universe. How else could he prove to the Universe, to all of his creation that his peace, his vision of harmony, is perfect? Satan was created as catalyst. This also includes all of the 'fallen' angels. God created them knowing that they would fall.) 

 God is Omnipotent

 Definition: The attribute of God which describes his ability to do whatever He wills. God's will is limited by His nature, and He therefore cannot do anything contrary to His nature as God, such as to ignore sin, to sin, or to do something absurd or self-contradictory. God is not controlled by His power, but has complete control over it; otherwise He would not be a free being. To a certain extent, He has voluntarily limited Himself by the free will of His rational creatures.
  Meaning: This means that if God says something will happen.   He has the power to make sure that it will happen.  Therefore, when He promises eternal life to those who believe in Christ, He has the power to grant it.   Just as He cannon sin, He has the power to forgive those who do.
  Scripture Support:
 Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
 Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
 Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
 Jeremiah 32:17,27 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
 Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
 Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
  Conclusion: God is omnipotent! There is even a verse that, in the King James Version and New King James Version, uses this very word: “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Revelation 19:6)

 My Comment:
 (So, according to the Bible, God is all-powerful. He can do or create anything in his perfection. So, either God created Lucifer with his flaw on purpose, or he isn't Omnipotent. It is also interesting to note that he gave dominion of this world to Satan. In a very real sense, Satan still is God's minion.)

God is Omnipresent 
 Definition:
The attribute of God by which He fills the universe in all its parts and is present everywhere at once. Not a part, but the whole of God is present in every place. This is true of all three members of the Trinity. They are so closely related that where one is the others can be said to be, also.
Meaning:
Therefore, when man is sinning God is there. If a child is doing something a parent has told him not to do, God is there. There is no place man can go to hide from God.
  Scripture Support:
 Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Jeremiah 23:23,24 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Psalm 113:5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high.
 Psalm 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
 I Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
 Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
 I Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
 Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Romans 10:6,7 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? Or, Who shall descend into the deep?
 Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
  Conclusion:
 There is no place to go where God is not already there. Ask yourself: is there any physical location in this universe where we can hide from the presence of God? The answer, according to Scripture, is a resounding “No!” In fact, King David posed this question directly, asking: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell [the grave], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7–10).

 My Comment:
  (No creature, great or small. No man, nor angel can be out of God's presence. Including fallen angels. God observes and directs the flow of events on this Earth. So even though he has given 'dominion' to Satan, God is in charge. In fact, no angel [including Satan and all of his fallen angels] is capable of acting against the will of God. Actually, if this is all considered in the 'Plan-of-Salvation,' that should be 'No Creature.' If God is perfect, his Plan is Perfection itself and all of the 'War in Heaven,' and it's aftermath here on Earth, is a part of God's Plan.) 

 God is Immutable 
 Definition:
 The perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in essence, attributes, consciousness, will, and promises. No change is possible in God, because all change must be to better or worse, and God is absolute perfection. No cause for change in God exists, either in Himself or outside of Him.
  Meaning:
 Perfection means perfection. There is no reason for God to change because there is no change that would make Him better. However, man should be striving to be found complete and perfect in God's eyes.
 Scripture Support:
 Psalm 102:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
 James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
 Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
 Hebrews 6:17, 18 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Conclusion:
 There is no reason for God to change. When something is perfect it is best to leave it alone and avoid causing it to lose it's perfection.
 
My Comment:
  (God is perfection. So God can only create perfectly.When God decided to create Evil, then he created a perfect Evil, a counterpart to himself, being that he is billed as Good-Perfected. This leades to the question, is Lucifer-Satan then another manifestation of God himself? Perhaps his 'bad' side? We are taught, “Moderation in all things.” We tend to think of this as don't drink too much, do eat too many sweets, too much red meat is bad for you, but the phrase is “... in all things.” Paul says, “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25).” There are arguments as to exactly what Paul meant in saying, “temperate...” But it's fairly obvious that he's talking about maintaining a balance in life. So perfection is perfectly balanced. Good perfectly balanced by Evil, Sweet perfectly balanced by Bitter... etc. So God as perfection is that god is the 'balance-point' that all other things are measured against. When in Genesis, god saw that, “It was good,” would logically mean that he saw that , “It was balanced, perfectly.” We know that the Earth, in order to survive, must maintain a balance. That animal life, must keep a balance or species tend to go extinct. The more species who go extinct, the more Nature has to try to balance the others until such point that the balance-point is tipped and all of it comes crashing down and there is no animal-life left on Earth, including Human Beings.) 


God Is Truth 
 Definition:
Truth is the interrelated consistency of statements and their correspondence with the facts of reality and the facts themselves. It suggests an integration of character, and adherence of virtue, a kind of reliability, which includes and goes beyond the literal meaning to include those aspects of personal behavior which seem to be implied by the love of truth. The concept of truth is derived from the character of God, and is the exact opposite of the concept of lying. "It is impossible for God to lie."
  Meaning:
 Since it is impossible for God to lie we know that everything He says about what will happen will actually take place. If we are to become perfect we need to be known as individuals who tell the truth, like God. That means when we promise something we need to keep that promise or not make it in the first place. We need to try to place ourselves in situations where we don't feel the need to lie to defend either ourselves or our behavior.
  Scripture Support:
 Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
 John 17:2, 3 As thou has given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
 Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
 Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
 Psalm 57:10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
 John 8:31, 32 If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
 John 17:17 Sanctify them through truth: thy word is truth.
 John 18:37, 38 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
 II Thessalonians 2:10-13 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
  Conclusion:
 Whatever God says He will do, He will do. Therefore, when He says those who believe in Jesus shall have eternal life, you can rest assured that will take place. Just as sure is His providing a way out of temptation, protection from the flaming arrows of the enemy, and Satan's eventual demise by being thrown into the Lake of Fire forever.

  My Conclusion: (What is Truth? God, obviously, but then what is the truth about God? Is God a being? If so, where did he come from? A Race of Beings? Or is it more Earthly than that, it just could be that God is nothing more than an ancient People's attempts at explaining the Natural Balance through creation of a Supreme Being that interposes Order on a perceived to be disordered world. The whole nexus of both Evolution and Creation is Natural Balance. One from the standpoint of atttempts to understand the history and artifacts of life on Earth as discovered, and the other an attempt to explain the same through means of a Supernatural, Supreme Man/Being. One view's foundations are no older than Galileo and DaVinci, the other has it's origins in the emergence of Man to self-awareness. Mankind has always had a need to explore, to understand, to explain to satisfaction, all the world around him. He has a need to order things. Everything has it's place and for millenia that place was extra-determined by God(s) for lack of any other sufficient determination, but the fact that Man was able to discover Evolutionary Theory and then to advance down that line of thought, shows that we are still evolving from what we were when we emerged as a separate species to what we will be. God has his/her/it's/their place in our history, does it have a place in our future?)

 References: 
http://www.parentcompany.com/awareness_of_god/aogtoc.htm http://www.cogwriter.com/god-omnipotent-omniscient-omnipresent.htm

Hari Seldon

I think and have thought since I was 12, that all emotion, all art, all of love can be reduced to Chemistry and Mathematical formulae. We are attracted to potential mates based on visual comparison of the form to the Divine Integer. Once a potential mate has been selected visually, we further winnow the choices down by smelling pheremones. I have actually become aware of rejecting possible mates because they just didn't 'smell' right to me. It's basically the same as the smell of your home. Others walk in the door and notice 'odors,' good or bad. You walk into your own home and unless something has changed, rather than consciously 'smelling,' you feel relaxed, comforted, safe, because it smells like you. We all smell our children. Underneath it all, we are making sure they give off our own particular 'family' scent. Other people's children don't. Some, like their parents, smell offensive to you, others are compatible. You know that person that you just instinctively know will never be your friend? Yep, pheremonal imbalance to you. And we think we are so far above the other Apes. How about music? Art? They both follow the fibonacci spiral and the divine integer. In fact, everything in our lives can only be pleasing if they fit into a set of rules we aren't even aware that we set. When I read Aasimov's Foundation Trilogy, at 11, I was completely taken by Hari Seldon and the whole idea of Psychohistory. Like Aasimov, I think that the whole of Human existence can be set in Mathematical form and seen/predicted; beginning, middle and end - from individuals, to Societies, to the entire Race's History and Future. At some point, anyway. Of course I loved the whole mathematical puzzles he put into all of his works. The Foundation trilogy and the double-helix quandary had me at my desk with slide-rule and papers for months, off and on, lol.

My First (for real) Building Search

jul 20, '06 11:57 pm for everyone Back about, well, more than a few years ago! My best friend at the time, "Rod", and I had graduated Peace Officer Training, (or for you plebescites out there, Police Academy) and had gone to work at the same small Department. After proper training with a Field-Training Officer, we'd been assigned as partners to patrol duty. As I said, this was a small Dept. and a small town, about 35, or 40 miles down a backroad from Ft. Worth, Tx. The only excitement we usually had was drunks coming north from Lake 'Whatnot' on the weekends, and of course, the ubiquitous speeders; the mayor's kin, who thought they could get away with anything; and the local "characters". One night, we were bored, riding around, pretending there was an outbreak of "Alien Ninjas landing in our area",( Those of you who have patrolled late night in rural areas know the type of boredom I'm talking about.) we got an alarm at the High-School Gym. Some of you may know how important football is in small-town Texas, and in this gym was all of the football equipment and training gear this town owned, including some really expensive weight training stuff. Well the alarm was for an open door at the boy's locker room, which enters directly into the weight-training room of the gym. Needless to say "Rod" and I were very keyed up! We ran 'code' (85mph[the fastest our worn-out old patrol car would do] with lights and siren going full-tilt) all the way to the school, ( a good 6 blocks) screeched up to the open door, and did the classic one-two entrance into dark unknown buildings, just we'd been taught. We cleared the weight-room, then turned left into the bathroom, cleared it, and continued on into the shower area. The shower stalls were set five individual open-front stalls down each side of this long, narrow, dark room. "Rod" and I were leapfrogging each other,(this is a method whereby each officer goes through a view restriction area, such as a doorway, then covers the other officer as he/she goes through the next one), weapons free, and interlocked with our flashlights, so that wherever you pointed your flashlight, there your weapon would be aimed also. You cops out there know the technique well. Anyway, there we were leapfrogging in the dark. In the last room to check, the shower room, tension level and adrenaline meter at "Full-throttle High". We got to the last two stalls, sweating, tense, nervous. I cleared the one to the left, then "Rod" leaped around the corner to the one on the right, and "BLAM!,BLAM!" I crouched, and turned to cover "Rod". He said he'd seen a man dressed in dark clothing, pointing a gun at him! I turned the corner, slowly, peaking around it, and found a full-length mirror, which had been shot-to-death in it's prime! I was so relieved that was all it was! Of course he had to buy a new mirror, and justify the shots fired. and be called "Barney Fife" for a while. As a matter of fact, the rest of the time he and I were partnered, they called us "Andy and Barney". Ah the old times! ©F.Pierce 7/21/06

all those questionaires and online dating jul 16, '06

all those questionaires and online dating jul 16, '06 11:24 pm for everyone What's up with all of that? I mean, really! Does someone think that by asking 10, 20 or 50 questions about what color are my eyes? what's my middle name? What color underwear do I have on my head, right now?...uh, well honestly, my head's going "commando", but, anyway. Are these people really serious? Do they think that I'll be anything other than put-out, bothered, or mildly agitated by these questions? Unless they come from an established friend, bam! Off they go to the delete bin. Did you ever think these were generated by some Pop-Psychology person, or Company, and that these will end up telling them all kinds of consumerish things about you, that they have no right to know? If I want them to know what I want, I'll buy it from them! Otherwise, it's none of their damn business if I sit around the house in my fuzzy-slippers, reading Dean Koontz books, while watching tv, while monitoring my computer! Another annoyance! These online dating scammers! Jeez, I'd like to E- harmonize Dr. Neal Clark-Warren's head! What kind of name is that anyway? Clark-Warren, is that a Clark, married to a Warren? Did he take his wife's name? Can you trust people with hyphenated names? I think not! At least not for important things like, is that lady in Illinois as big a psycho as the one in Louisiana? Are either of them as Psychotic as my ex? I've tried the yahoo! personals. Never got one reply, Lovehappens? the only reply I got was from somebody who was married, and thinking about leaving her husband. I told her, fine, decide, and if you leave him call me in two years! And this E-Harmonica! Boy, production-line to the max! and way too expensive! Anyway, that's just my thoughts on a couple of subjects. See ya later! ©F.Pierce 7/17/06

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys? jul 14, '06

my heroes have always been cowboys? jul 14, '06 11:00 pm for everyone I just, I mean, well I saw this as a blog entry from one of my friends, and her blog really didn't have much to do with cowboys, per se. Except that I come from the heart of "Cowboy Country". We have always had the "dime-store" cowboy types here. They look like the tv/movie image of "cowboy" but, God help them if they actually had to ride a horse, let alone do real cowboy work. They usually wear nice hats, really nice "western-cut" shirts, jeans, and some fancy kind of boots. Then we have the "Rodeo" cowboys. Texas, folks, is full of "Rodeo Cowboys", and "Bullriders". These are distinguishable from the "dime-store" variety, in that they usually have a Texas, or Oklahoma accent to start with, they really do know how to ride a horse, if not for more than 8 seconds, and most of them, not that long! Else, they'd be champions, every one. Fancy belt-buckles notwithstanding. (You can buy these). Also, their hats have a more beat-up, used look to them, they've worn their fancy shirts more than once, and, if they're wearing fancy boots, they have a work pair somewhere nearby. They also wear Wranglers! Not just jeans. Wranglers tend to wear better, and last longer than your run-of-the-mill jeans, and they make our butts look better. So there. A lot of them have grown up on ranches, or farms, and they are real cowboys, as far as that goes, kind-of like Cowboys-in-Training. Then there're the real cowboys. A cowboy isn't as easily discerned as one might think. He isn't always wearing a cowboy hat, or boots. He looks uncomfortable in a fancy shirt, and jeans. "Them're Sunday clothes". He's almost always willing to help, and is polite. "Yes, ma'am, just keep on that way another five miles, and you're there." If you were to walk into a room with several guys hanging around, how would you be able to tell the cowboy? He's the one listening to everyone else, the one who smiles and nods at you when you walk in the door, or offers to help if you've got a load in your arms, unless the load is your kid, then he just smiles, sympathetically. A cowboy has lots of stories about the places he's been, the things he's done, and there's usually a lesson learned, somewhere in that story. A cowboy is the one, that if you were stranded somewhere, you just know, would know exactly what to do, and how to do it, to keep you safe, or he'd die trying. Cowboys have big knuckles, and scars, but not a lot of calluses on their hands, because they have to wear gloves when handling rope, and wire. It gets to be a part of who you are. If you're going out to work, you put on your gloves. The work cowboys do, if they didn't wear gloves, they'd have no hands left. So, don't look for calluses so much as a worn out pair of gloves. Their clothes usually look really comfortable, who needs their pants chafing in the heat of the day, or a shirt binding you around the shoulders, when you have to do some lifting? And their boots? Stories could be written about the old pair of run-down boots on that man's feet. They look to be a part of him. The uppers may have been repaired where spur-straps have rubbed through, the heel is run-down, they probably sag out a little, but they fit his feet like that worn-in pair of gloves fit his hands. If you look into a cowboy's eyes, you'll see traces of sunsets long-gone, and sunrises he never thought he'd see. You'll see that blue-norther that came down like a freight train, and caught him out with the stock, or the Tornado that crossed the valley in front of him that time. You'll see time after time of riding drag. (that's following the herd, and breathing the dust they kick up) You'll see the speculation of what he might find up the trail, over the next rise, or around the next bend, as he's riding lead. Everything when you're riding lead is examined in respect to what it means to the herd, you learn to think that way. Nowadays, there are not a lot of open ranges for the cowboy to learn his trade, not a lot of herding done anymore, no place really to drive them to, so the cowboy, in that respect is a dying breed, but he can still be found. He can be found in the firefighter that goes in, when common-sense says to run. In the cop, who enters a dark, unfamiliar place to make sure it's safe for your family. In the Paramedic who holds your hand, and tells you no matter what happens, he won't leave you. You can find a little bit of the cowboy in each of these, and in the truck-driver who stops to help, or guides you through a bad storm in the middle of the night, even though you cut him off earlier that day. I guess the thing is, we all of us have a little bit of the "Cowboy Heritage" in us. If we just stop to think about it. ©F.Pierce 7/15/06

July 13, 2006

entry for july 13, 2006 jul 12, '06 11:20 pm for everyone THIS ENTRY IS PART II OF JULY 12, 2006...Previously posted... If you haven't already, read the previous entry. The story starts there. Thanks. Next installment. When we last left Fred, the intrepid Truck roller-overer, he was being removed from the wreckage of the truck and placed in an Ambulance. Now, I don't know why they put me in an Ambulance, except they did take a blood sample for the state trooper who'd arrived at the scene. I knew they were careflighting me out, and frankly, just being free of the truck, I was a happy little camper, but that's where they first put me. They took my vital signs again, took off my boots, and belt, then started cutting off my clothes. I think they turned the Ambulance around, I'm not sure, but within a very few minutes, they told me it was going to be cold and windy, as they were transferring me to the Helicopter, which they promptly proceeded to do, so farewell to my nice, good friends Jerry and Chris, and on to bigger, and better things I hoped. At least I felt like I was in pretty good hands because Jerry and Chris hadn't led me wrong yet, and they trusted these new people, and that was good enough for me! Wow! It was sure-enough cold out there in that wind after being clothed, and confined for so long, at least it had been sheltered, and they'd had a blanket over me! Now, I was out in a STRONG wind, the Sun just coming up, and the predawn chill being blown all about my delicate, semi-naked, strapped down, and wounded self! B-R-R-r-r-r-r!! The Flying Nurse/Dr/Paramedic/Person Guy locked my gurney onto what appeared to me the edge of this tiny little helicopter, and shut the door, then came in the other side, which if my arms hadn't been strapped down, I could have held open for him, and sat by my upper body, placing my boots right at my head. I could see there was another Person down by my feet, but not clearly. I was strapped into a cervical collar, so I had no range-of-motion to see. All I could see was a little bit of sky, and the rotor whirring by, I figured as long as I couldn't make out the actual blade, we'd probably be ok. The Nurse/Dr/Paramedic told me he was going to give me a shot to help relax me, which he did, and boy, it worked! Morphine! I asked him when we were going to get airborne, and he laughed, said we'd been in the air about 5 minutes already, and were about 20 minutes out from the hospital. The rest of the flight was uneventful, except that I told him this was my first civilian helicopter ride, and I'd have liked to have been able to see. He laughed and told me to relax. When we were coming in to land the helicopter bumped around a little, turbulence, so he and I decided to tell the pilot we didn't really like roller-coasters. By, the way, during the flight, they'd cut the rest of my clothes away. When we landed, it was quick, onto a bigger hospital gurney, and roll away into the building. I met a nice new Doctor. I don't remember his name, but he told me they were going to roll me onto my right side, pull out the rest of my clothes from under me, and that he was going to check my neck and back for spinal injuries, and that he was sorry, but that he would have to stick a finger in my butt, to check for something in there too, nearest I can figure, they wanted to feel if my guts had compressed down and were pushing that way, I don't know for sure. I do know that I told him fine, but since he had to check there anyway, and I'm almost due my year 50 prostate exam, if he could go ahead and do that too, I'd be grateful. For some reason the whole Medical Team around me exploded into laughter. I thought it was cute, but not that funny. He checked my neck, spine and sphincter, then when they rolled me over he said By the way? You're Prostate's fine, no problem there. So I felt better about that. They covered me with lots of heated blankets, got me started to be warm and cozy, between the blankets and the morphine, then ripped it all off to send me thru a cat scan machine, then full-body X-rays. About this time things were getting to be a little fuzzy. I was really starting to relax after the cat-scan, thinking they'd see I was ok, and probably send me home in an hour or two, when 3 Oral-surgeons came in, or 1 Oral Surgeon, 1 Resident-in-Training Oral Surgeon, and some guy they must have picked up at the local diner who looked like maybe he could learn, so they were teaching him along the way. This is the one who had the needles full of novocaine that the Senior guy insisted he shove up to my eye-balls. Seriously, he told this kid, that when he thought the needle, must be about at my eye-ball, that it was really about "here" marking a place about my cheek-bone, where there is an apparently large nerve center that just demands to be deadened, before they could operate. (side-note: One of my friends who saw me just before this point said that indeed she could see through where my top lip should have been into my sinus cavity. She said you could see way into the back of my head! She was creeped out and, knowing her, she probably fainted! Girls!!) Anyway, they got it all deadened, I couldn't really see much of what they were doing and I couldn't feel anything but a tug here, or a tug there, so I went to sleep, pretty much. That's about the whole thing, except they sewed up my arm at the same time, and I didn't even know it. Oh! and the catheter!! They should put that in while you are asleep! I think that thing is made of super-small braids of barbed- wire! Jeez!!! that thing hurt!!! ©F.Pierce 7/13/06

July 5, 2006

entry for july 05, 2006 jul 5, '06 11:27 pm for everyone Well, yesterday was the fourth of July, and I had lots of family over, neither of my older kids bothered to show up, but that's ok, we had fun anyway. It rained like you wouldn't believe. Of course, it didn't start until after I got the fire going in the grill! Reference the above picture. You will see a grill, standing alone in the middle of a dreary backyard. That's because it was raining! I mean Noah's flood raining! By the way, that grill was full of hamburgers and hot-dogs. The rain was cold enough that it kept cooling the grill, and I kept having to go out and coax the darn thing into actually cooking the food I'd put in it! I couldn't get the temp above 120 degrees for the life of me, but I perservered. The running joke was that if everybody would come back in a week, the food would probably be cooked by then. Thank God, my brother-in-law James was here. He's an Ace grill-cooker, and helped tremendously, when he wasn't snickering about me having to attend the darn thing in the rain. But, all-in-all it was a good day. We had a lot of fun, and we all got to catch up with each other a little. Not something that we get to do much.©F.Pierce *Note* I later found out that James and Denise were very angry that I was able to buy myself a grill and yet not be able to repay them for helping with Laurie's burial. We had agreed that I would repay them as soon as I finished paying $500 a month to the IRS for taxes Laurie hadn't paid. We had an argument later in the year over it and have never talked since.

June 28, 2006

entry for june 28, 2006 jun 27, '06 11:41 pm for everyone Well, today I got letter from an old friend, Danny Gamble. For those of you who don't know, Danny and Darla (his ex-wife) were some of mine and Laurie's earliest, and we thought, best friends. Darla was cheating on Danny, and so he fondled his daughter. They got divorced, and he got 10 years probation, and Laurie and I haven't seen him, or heard from him in a couple of years. Now, all of a sudden, he sends me a letter from prison! Acts like we're long-lost brothers! Actually, to my mind, we were Brothers before he screwed up. I can't countenance what he did, but it's not up to me to forgive either, just to be wary for my own daughter's sake! Anyway, no word from him after Laurie died, nothing! Now he wants pictures of 'his niece?' Oh yeah, as an aside, he also sent me vouchers to put money on his inmate fund. Can you say 'Ulterior Motive?' I knew you could! LMAO!! I'm going to write him back. I don't think I'll send any pictures though, and I don't know about the inmate fund either. I guess I'm doubtful of his interest, shall we say?©F.Pierce *NOTE* a little over 6 years later and I've never heard anything else from him.

June 26, 2006

entry for june 26, 2006 jun 26, '06 11:49 pm for everyone Tara's over ten months old now, and I want to let her know how I feel about her Mom, and our life together, but I want her future to be hers, not a constant reminder. I want her birthday to be about her, she desrves that, and Laurie wouldn't want to take our daughter's special day away from her. I still have mixed feelings about the day she was born, it was the worst day of my life so far, the best too. But, and this is a BIG but, it was the day my little baby was born, and I wouldn't trade her, or the joy she's brought me for anything. So, I want to shift the focus of that day from the pain, to the joy. It was a painful day, but the anniversaries should be happy days to mark the times of the life her mom gave her. We should consiously give her the best birthdays we can, to celebrate her life, and the gift Laurie gave us all. So let's make August 23 a special day in our family. I think I'm going to start shifting the focus of this blog too. I'll still write occasionally about my feelings concerning Laurie, and my loss, but more about the things that are happening now, and the feelings/thoughts they inspire in me. ©F.Pierce

June 19, 2006

entry for june 19, 2006 jun 18, '06 11:47 pm for everyone There is a darkness in me, that's almost overwhelming sometimes. The GRIEF!!! I know it's easier than it was at first, I thought it might consume me back then, now I know it won't, but sometimes it comes over me like a wave coming in at high tide. Thank God it comes in waves, if it just hit me and stayed, I don't think I could take it for long, and I've a strong psyche. Also, thank God for my friends! They've surely gotten more than an earful of my moping sometimes. I got one of them crying so hard, missing Laurie, she had to hang up, and didn't talk with me for three weeks. To that special friend, "Thank you for listening". You all are special friends to me, you know. You are what keep me on an even keel. Truthfully, along with the darkness, there's an incredible light. The pure joy of being. And being aware of how temporary this life is, and how precious everyone of us is, not to mention how precious is every breath we take. Along with the darkness, there are times when I feel like dancing for the pure joy of life! I'm reminded of the psalm, "Make a joyful noise unto the lord." He is so sweet to us, and we miss it so often. I grieve over losing my Laurie, but He gives me love again, and the ability to love again, and so goes Healing! The picture above, is of Laurie and I at my Dad's funeral, all unaware that within such a short time, Tara and I would be at one for my dear Laurie. People, don't ever take life, or those living around you for granted. Not even the stranger who cut you off! We are all God's children, and there's no way to know when one of us may be called Home. Be loving, Be loved.©F.Pierce *Note* The picture referred to was lost when Yahoo 360 went offline.

June 14, 2006

entry for june 14, 2006 jun 13, '06 11:44 pm for everyone I was thinking about how man is made in God's image. It occurs to me that neither a man, nor a woman is really in God's image, but the two, joined, fit His image rather well. Consider God as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Then look at a truly loving couple, soulmates if you will, there's a lesser parallel: The Husband, The Wife, and the spirit of love that surrounds them. This is how we are made into God's image. This thought brings me to soulmates, we've all heard about them, the lucky ones of us have met ours, and unfortunately, I, among others, have lost mine. (see previous blogs) So, can there be more than one soulmate? Is there a chance for me, and others like me, to find that degree of love and happiness in our lives again? What, exactly is a soulmate? I think there are soul-matches out there, and that when we find a soul-match, that as we date, and get to know that person, their soul, and ours will begin to become more than a match, or that the match will grow to be all-encompassing. Eventually, a soul-match will grow into a soulmate. In becoming soulmates, our individual souls merge into a greater soul, shared by the soulmates, so that together they are apparently more than the two halves, and as fellow humans, we can all feel this difference to some degree or another. That's the Union, under God that we all need so fundementally that we crave it, or conversely, give up, and turn our backs on it. When a soulmate dies, then the one left feels something more than grief. You feel that a part of you has been amputated, or more accurately, that some indefinable part of you has been torn away. This is the loss of the "joined soul" that you've grown accustomed to,and that you need so badly to feel whole. It feels like you'll never be whole again, although your own soul is still left in place, and intact. You feel less than you were, and indeed you are! The rub here, is to realize that this is what's happening to you, and that God, in His Wisdom, and in His Own time, will heal you, and then bring you into contact with other soul-matches, because to be soulmates is the Natural Way of being for Humankind. We flounder, we fall, we get into all the wrong relationships because we don't want to wait, we are impatient children, and this is more true for those who have never found a soulmate than those of us who've lost one, because we have a yardstick to measure with, if we've come to realize the truth about soulmates, and trust in God's guidance. I'm not sure that I've fully expressed this thought, so there may be more to come. If anyone has questions, or wants to discuss this further, I would be more than happy to converse with you. (6 years later... I had left Christianity behind me long before Laurie's death. At the time and in my grief, I suffered a relapse because it does give the mind some comfort in believing what they teach. Now, I've come to understand that Man wasn't made in God's image. God was made in man's image. There may or may not be a God out there, I sincerely hope that there is, but I'm almost certain that if there is, He/She/It/They are most emphatically NOT the God of Churchianity.) ©F.Pierce

June 3, 2006

entry for june 03, 2006 jun 3, '06 11:14 pm for everyone This is the picture of the ship I was attached to in the Navy. It was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1999. I was aboard when this picture was taken. I downloaded it Memorial Day this year. On Memorial Day, we're supposed to focus, and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country, but I was thinking, hmm, well I was the suicide prevention/ drug and alcohol rep for this ship during the evacuation from Vietnam, and subsequent trials and tribulations. I witnessed a lot of guys who committed, or attempted to commit suicide because they had lost faith, or just couldn't see a way back home, or were scared, or just plain couldn't handle the stress and pressure. We should remember them also, for they gave more than they had available to give. they were broken, or bent severely by a situation they had no control over, or by things they'd seen or done that they couldn't live with anymore. These men sacrificed their lives every bit as much as those who died, and went there willingly, not knowing the price they were to pay for it. None of us knew the price. Almost all of us, if not all, have had broken marriages, broken homes, broken dreams, nightmares, restlessness, and broken lives. We've got an extraordinary amount of alcoholism, and drug abuse in our ranks, we tend to be distant with our relatives. Cold to our children. We are generally a bunch of hard men, because we had to be hard when we were still boys. Some have achieved remarkable success, some remarkable failure, but we all still stand shoulder to shoulder with the men we lived, fought, cried and died with. We will never forget each other, and as we age, we begin to understand why our fathers tried to stay in touch, because now, 30 years later, we are finally beginning to be able to find each other and share a little. So, for Memorial Days from now on, if you read this, look at the Veteran in your life, and realize there are emotions locked in there you will never understand, that he, or now she has seen, done and dealt with daily nightmares to keep us all free and safe. And we did it out of love! Love for our families, for each other, and for a nation that didn't, and still doesn't care one bit, and we'd do it again in a heartbeat, if we had to. That's the man you see when you look at me. By the way, tomorrow, the 4th of June is the 3rd Anniversary of my Dad's death. Just an additional note concerning that: I love you, Dad, and miss you very much ©F.Pierce 6/3/06

I am actually a member of a Nudist community, centered around a nearby Resort. The first time I went there, as a guest, I was nervous going through the gate, and into the parking lot. We were passed by a couple in a golf cart as we were parking. They were around 130 years old. He was skinny and saggy, she was fat and saggy and neither of them were one bit ashamed, or apparently even aware, of their state of undress. They cheerily waved and greeted us as they passed.

So, we get parked, grab our coolers and lawn chairs, towels, sunblock, hats, etc. and drag it all up to the community center and pool area. There were about 150 naked people of all sizes, shapes and colors. I quietly asked the people I had gone with where we were supposed to change. They smiled, shucked their clothes and said, "Wherever you feel comfortable, except the pool - no clothes of any kind in the pool." So, still a little nervous, I disrobed, and sat down on my chair - sunglasses firmly in place, and privates covered just-in-case. Now you'd think that, as a guy, you'd notice all of the women first. Nope, the first person I noticed was a guy about my age, with a beer belly, lots of hair all over (including his back) and no apparent penis. He was completely oblivious. I began to relax. After that, I started noticing the women, they also came in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. None of them were the least bit concerned about being naked in front of other people. I realized that I wasn't at all aroused, but the nervousness was taking a step back.

After about half an hour of baking, I got in the pool. There were about 15 people standing or floating in a loose circle in the water, talking and laughing. They all took care to introduce themselves to me, make me feel comfortable and include me in their conversation. I began to feel comfortable with these folks.

By the end of that first day, I had a great tan, a slight burn and about 75 people who were friendly with me. And I had stopped noticing all of the naked people, or that I was naked too.

Last time I went, I began to make a deal to buy a travel-trailer on the premises, so that we would have a place to stay over on weekends when we go there. When the crowd heard we were buying in, they all stood and welcomed us to the community as full members.

There's a small house for sale there too. If my circumstances were different, I would have bought that house and moved in permanently.

I can't begin to tell you how free, how comfortable it feels. If there's a place within travelling distance of you, where you can try it, I would definitely recommend giving it a go. It's not for everyone, but a lot of people would be surprised that they rather like it.

May 21, 2006

entry for may 21, 2006 may 20, '06 11:56 pm for everyone This time, at least it's been less than a month! I've been working my little tail off, and think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, if it's not an oncoming train! Ms. T has gotten so big! She can say "Dada", "Bubba" and "diaper" now. She's rolling all over the floor, can get on her hands and knees, but not crawl yet. She plays "peek-a-boo" and has developed this weird habit of grabbing double-fistfuls of hair and pulling herself up into it, then opening her mouth wide, and wiping her face in the hair. I don't know why. She's also doing facial expressions, like squinting while snorting through her nose, trying to wink, and this huge grin! She's so funny. She knows Daddy's leaving when he puts on his ballcap, and tries to take it off my head when I bend to kiss her goodbye, so I can't leave. She is such a precious little gift of God! I'm so glad He gave her to me, and know deep in my heart that her Mom is there, just out of our sight, watching, and is so proud of her. I still miss her Mom with all of my heart. The ache sometimes is almost intolerable, but T's such a precious little person, having her here helps so much. It gives me the strength to face each day, and realize there is life, and hope still to go on, maybe thats what courage to go on is all about. ©F.Pierce 5/21/06

May 1, 2006

entry for may 01, 2006 apr 30, '06 11:25 pm for everyone Well it has been a very long time since I put in an entry here. Sorry 'bout that. Last week was mine and Laurie's 8th anniversary of when we set up house together, or shacked up, or whatever....and I had a long, serious talk with Melissa that day, April 25. Sometimes it's hard to realize how others take a life-changing -or wrecking- event. So, anyway I think it was good, At least it was for me, even though I cried like a baby. When do you get over the pain? Most days are ok, although I usually choke up at least once, sometime during the day. She meant so much to me.... I was going to tell about our last day, so little Ms. T could read it later, but instead, I'll let it suffice to say that our last words were "I love you, and I'll see you in a little while," from me. Laurie answered, "Either in a little while, or in Heaven, and we'll hold each other then." Then Laurie added that I should take care of Ms. T for her, then we kissed. The next time I saw her was in the ICU a couple of hours later, and the Staff was desperately trying to stabilize her. After 5 1/2 hours, they gave up, and Paul and I went in and held her hands, and told her how much we loved her for her last 45 minutes on this earth. We held on until about 10 minutes after her heart quit beating, just in case she could still hear us. It was the worst few hours in my life. To lose your Soul-mate that way..Oh, man its completely indescribable for anyone who hasn't been there, and completely unnecessary to describe for those who have. ( I later found out that she had actually died within 30 seconds of Tara's birth. The Doctors decided to try to keep her body on life-support long enough for us to gather our family. She actually died at 2:05pm, but wasn't officially declared dead until after 8pm that night.) Her heart quit beating...it was such a large heart, and so full of love, I just couldn't believe God would let that happen to us, I still have trouble with that one, even though I know better, and He probably saved her from something much worse, that she couldn't handle. That's what I tell myself, anyway. I hope its true. I know I'm not afraid of death, because in a little time I'll be reunited with my sweet Angel, and I won't even care about the two credit cards, or the IRS debt. It'll be enough just to hold her again. I tried so hard to protect her, and give her a good life. I couldn't protect her from death though. If sheer will-power could have, she'd still be here. I can't complain though, I have T, and she's such a precious gift, worth both our lives, and more. I have to do the best I can now for her, she's the focus of my life now. I've tried dating twice now, and realized some things about myself. I'm ready to find someone to invest time in, and getting to know, not to replace Laurie, and not to marry, not yet, its too soon. Just to have companionship, and love. We all need love in our lives, and I realize that, so it's not time to move on yet, but maybe its time to make a beginning. I just need someone to snuggle, hold and give me a stiff drink! ok, well that didn't quite come out the way I planned it, but I'll let it ride.......more later ©F.Pierce 5/1/06

Dec. 8, 2005

entry for december 08, 2005 dec 8, '05 11:26 pm for everyone Well, here it is almost Christmas, I don't feel much like Christmas though. I haven't set up a tree or bought presents or anything. Thanksgiving was a bust, I went through the motions, but wasn't really into it. I quit my job at GTI, and am planning to go to work for L&P rentals hauling a water tanker. Keep your fingers crossed. They were supposed to call me today, and didn't. Since my last entry, I got a girl-friend, and broke up with her all in a month, life goes on. There are three others I'm talking with, and a 4th that I'm interested in. My friends Wayne and Melissa got back in touch with me, Good. I miss them a lot, and wish I could see them, maybe some time soon I can. Ms.T's growing, way too fast for Daddy. She Talks! All the time. She's trying to say Daddy! It's so cute. She can sit up now, a little, and she's discovered her tongue. She's trying to learn to click it. She sticks it out at you fine, though! Paul has also taught her to "do the lip!" They pooch their bottom lip out at each other then giggle like little fiends! He's so good with her. I almost forgot to mention, today is my mom's 80th birthday. Hooray!! Mom!! She's doing ok, we went and saw her today. Well, that's the news for now. Laurie, I miss you baby! XOXOXO ©F.Pierce 12/8/05 *Note* I had started dating this woman and very soon began to feel guilty, like I was cheating on Laurie. I also realized I was trying to transfer emotions. Very unhealthy thing to do. These led up to this woman and I breaking up. I didn't date again for several months and nothing serious for another year.

Sept. 18, 2005

entry for september 18, 2005 sep 17, '05 11:13 pm for everyone Well, here we are again, I've been really missing Laurie the past couple of days. She was the center of my whole life, and it's a lot duller without her.Life goes on however, and we're taking it one day at a time. here's another composite picture, hope you all like it. ©F.Pierce 9/18/05

Sept 11, 2005

entry for september 11, 2005 sep 10, '05 11:39 pm for everyone Well, it's been a while since I wrote in here. Lets see, I went back to work last week, and that was rough. Laurie and I were on the truck together for 5 years, then when I got this local job, she was always nearby, so we could meet for breakfast, and she'd always be waiting to meet me at the door in the evening, so it really hit home. T went to the baby doctor on Wednesday, and has gained 15 oz. in a week. She now weighs in at a whopping 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and is growing. The Doctor was thrilled, she's a tiny vietnamese lady named Lin Doan-Pham, and I'm really pleased with her so far. Since today is sept.11 and some of you may not know, I'll tell you what we were doing on 9-11-01. We started the day on I-80 in eastern Indiana, right at the Ohio state line, heading east to New Jersey. I turned on the cb to find out what was going on around the state line, and heard some driver talking about "dirty ragheads", I said "Can't we all get along?" He asked if I'd heard the news, and told me to turn on the radio. That's when we heard about the first tower. by 9:00 we were pulling into the truck stop at Toledo, and they were telling all traffic to get off the road. We had just walked into the resaurant when the second tower was hit. Laurie started crying, because she'd been having dreams about a fiery crash, and lots of bodies. We sat and watched till about noon, then got the word that refrigerated trucks (which we were) going east could go on to Carlisle, PA. So, a bunch of us headed out that way. We drove right past the crash in Pa. on the turnpike, funny thing about that. They were telling us that the plane had crashed east of Pittsburgh, and south of the turnpike. We were driving along, looking right for signs of the crash, and went right past it. It was within view f the road, but on the north side, to our left. The state put the information out wrong, in order to stop people from slowing or stopping traffic to rubberneck. We got to Carlisle, Pa. about 3:30 that afternoon. (Oh, while we were in Toledo, it was broadcast on local news that an airliner had been shot down in the great lakes, headed to Chicago, and that another one was taken over by the passengers and landed safely in Cleveland, neither of these items ever made National news, but we saw the one in Cleveland) That night we were sent on to New Jersey, where we were checked at the Delaware river, given a white sign with a big red dot in it to put in the windshield, dropped our trailer at the reciever, picked up an empty trailer, and spent the next three weeks shuttling I/V meds from Knoxville Tn. to Jersey City on what they called the "Red-Ball." ©F.Pierce 9/11/05

Sept. 3, 2005

Well, last night little Ms. T and I didn't get much sleep. We finally got settled in after her 4:00 feeding. note: never feed your baby coffee and formula!(bad combination) {by the way, I didn't}. We met Suzie and Steve for breakfast this morning, then T went with her aunt Denise for a big trip to Dallas, and boy she was glad to be home! She wouldn't settle down till I'd held her for about 20 minutes. Here's something strange, Suzie told me this morning that right about the time Laurie died, while they were on their way to the hopital, they saw (a plane?) something she thought was an angel, going straight up into the sky, with gold vapor trails streaming off the wings. She started crying, and told Steve that Laurie had just died, and she'd seen her spirit going up to Heaven. Beautiful! ©F.Pierce 9/3/05

Sept 2, 2005

entry for september 02, 2005 sep 1, '05 11:40 pm for everyone (Image missing) Here's Laurie at the Fort Worth Zoo. She loved it so much. She wanted to adopt a koala bear, so if any of you want to, go ahead and do that in her name. Thank you to our friends, and family for your unconditional support during this time, it is appreciated so much, special thanks to Denise, you're the best ever, sis. Oh yeah, and Cecil for lending an ear, and a shoulder, and Becky and Della for hugs, love and support.

Originally posted on Yahoo360, Sept. 1, 2005

Laurie was such a special person, she loved her life so much, and was looking forward to raising our daughter, Ms. T. I've set up this site in remembrance of her, and to share our love with all interested parties. I have set up a not-for profit fund in memorial to Laurie in Tara's name, and hope that this will help defray some of the expenses incurred, help Tara with needs as she grows, and hopefully contribute to research into this terrible, devastating event. Please contact me for information. Please feel free to comment, add memories of her, or your special loved one, or just browse the page. I will be updating this page as time goes on

Pecans in the Cemetery

  On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.
 
    'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me' said one boy.. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.
 
    Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..'
 
    He just knew what it was.. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.
 
    'Come here quick,' said the boy, 'you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls.'
 
    The man said, 'Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk.' When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.
 
    Standing by the fence they heard , 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.'
 
    The old man whispered, 'Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord..'
 
    Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.
 
    At last they heard, 'One for you, one for me. That's all.... Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done..'
 
    (They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the kid on the bike...)

Cinderella

This is pretty much the way I tell this story to my child.

Once upon a time, there was a Princess named Cinderella who didn’t know that she was a Princess. Her evil step-mother moved the family to this new city far from where she had been born, so no one knew her or her evil step-mother and her three evil step-sisters.  They were all very mean to her and made her clean everything up and do the laundry and fix all the food, wouldn’t help at all and made fun of her a lot. They even made her wear a dirty, torn up dress and didn’t let her have any shoes!
Well it so happened that there was a Prince who lived in the city too and he needed to find a girl to marry, but he didn’t want to settle for just any girl, she had to be just right for him. His dad, the King, had tried to set him up with a Princess from another Kingdom, but when she saw that he wasn’t very handsome, she screamed and ran away. He really wasn’t very handsome on the outside, in fact he kind of looked like a frog! But that’s another story. The point is, he was a really nice guy, very kind and loving. The kind of person that people like to call ‘Beautiful on the inside.’
So, the Prince decided to throw a big party, called a ‘Ball,’ with a live band and dancing, clowns and apple-bobbing, barbeque and lots of  juice and soda-pop, and even pony rides. He invited all of the single girls in the Kingdom to his Ball and, of course, their mothers.
The big day arrived and Cinderella’s evil step-sisters and her evil step-mother were all beside themselves thinking about what a great time they were going to have eating barbeque and riding ponies and drinking soda and planning on how they were going to make the Prince notice and marry one of the evil step-sisters. In fact the evil step-sisters got into a fight about it and got their party dresses torn and their hair messed up. They yelled and hollered and said mean things to Cinderella till she got their dresses fixed back up and re-brushed their hair and got their ribbons all straightened up.
As the time to go got closer, Cinderella went to her evil step-mother and asked if she was going to get to go too because she really wanted to get out and drink some soda-pop and ride a pony or three. Her evil step-mother just laughed and, with a meaner face than usual, said, “Bigfoot!” They called her ‘Bigfoot’ because she had really, really big feet, “You aren’t going anywhere, why you would trip over your own huge feet and besides that you’re too ugly to be seen in public!” Which was a flat-out lie because Cinderella was a very beautiful girl (under all the dirt and grime). So they left her at home and went on their way up the road to the party.

A few minutes after they left, Cinderella was in the garden beside the house, crying and feeling sorry for herself when up popped a lady fairy from out of nowhere! Scared out of her wits, Cinderella leaped to her feet and exclaimed, “Hey! Where did you come from? Aren’t you that Tinker-something person? Where’s that boy from your story if you are?” The fairy lady laughed and said, “No, I am a fairy and I think she was a pixie. I am your Fairy Godmother. I was there the day you were born and Christened and have been watching over you for your whole life, just like your angel-mom has.” Cinderella said, “That’s so wonderful! I remember my dad telling me that my mom went to be an angel and was watching over me when I was little, before my evil step-mother took me away.” Her Fairy Godmother told her that it was all true and that there wasn’t really time to talk right now because if Cinderella wanted to go to the party they had a lot of work to do!
Her Fairy Godmother flew all around her, looking at her dress and hair and bare feet then flew back a few feet in front of her and hovered there thinking for a few minutes and looking very serious. Finally she waved her magic wand over Cinderella’s hair and *POOF* it was clean and perfectly fixed and the rag she had tied over it became a beautiful sparkly tiara. She said, “There, that will do.” Next, she told Cinderella to turn around slowly and waved her wand over Cinderella’s dress as she turned. *POOF* the old torn and dirty dress became a beautiful full ball gown.
Now back in those days, soda-pop came in glass bottles. Noticing that Cinderella was barefoot, her Fairy-Godmother told her to go look in the trash heap and see if she could find two empty bottles that were pretty clean. Cinderella ran to where she kept stuff for recycling and got two empty Mountain-Dude bottles out of the glass bin and brought them back to her Fairy-Godmother. “Will these do?” She asked. Her Fairy Godmother said, “Perfectly! Just lay them on the ground side by side.” After Cinderella laid the bottles down, her Fairy-Godmother waved her wand over them and *POOF* they changed into a pair of glass slippers which fit perfectly when Cinderella slipped her feet into them.
“Next,” her Fairy-Godmother said, “We need to get you a ride if you are going to make it on time. Fetch me that pumpkin in your garden.” Cinderella ran to the garden and grabbing the pumpkin in question, hurried back to her Fairy-Godmother. As Cinderella approached, her Fairy-Godmother told her to, “Put it in the road, won’t you. Just there, that’s a good girl,” pointing at a spot of road by the curb.
As she placed the pumpkin by the curb, her Fairy-Godmother saw two white mice and a cricket in the brush across the road. Pointing at them, she said, “You lot! Yes the three of you, come here and stand by the pumpkin.” The two mice ran to the pumpkin while the cricket in one large hop, HOPPED across the road and landed right on top of it. “Very nicely done!” said the Fairy Godmother, “Nice, indeed! Just perfect if I may say so. OK, hold still now.” and waved her wand over the pumpkin, two mice and yes, the cricket too…  and *POOF* they turned into a beautiful pumpkin-colored coach, two beautiful white horses in harness and a smallish man with long legs in the driver’s seat at the reins. Cinderella was standing there just completely amazed! She had her hands at her cheeks and was bouncing up and down in her glass slippers in excitement.
“In you go, dear.” Said her Fairy-Godmother, “Don’t stand here gawking now, you’ve a Ball to get to and a Prince to meet. Go on.” and Cinderella curtsied to her Fairy-Godmother and ran to the carriage. As she was climbing in, her Fairy-Godmother told her, “One more thing, Cinderella. This is most important. You have to leave the Ball by Midnight.” Cinderella had gotten into the carriage by then and sat down. Holding the door, she asked, “OK, but why?” Her Fairy-Godmother replied, “Because when the clock finishes ringing Midnight, the carriage, horses, coachman and your fine new clothes will all return to what they really are.” Cinderella said, “OK Fairy God-mother, I won’t forget. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.” Cinderella was a good girl and always remembered to say thank you. Her Fairy-Godmother  said, “It was my pleasure child. Remember, I’m always here for you.” With both Cinderella and her Fairy-Godmother waving goodbye, the horses pulled the coach into motion, headed to the Ball.
She got to the palace just in time for the Ball. Her coach pulled up to the entrance and let her out and went on to park with the other coaches. Knowing about the midnight deadline, the cricket-driver turned the coach around and backed the mice-horses into a front row parking space where they would be able to see Cinderella coming down the steps.
A large man in a bright red, black and gold uniform was standing at the entrance, “Excuse me Mistress, the prince has stationed me out here to give all of the young ladies a message as they enter. Although the prince is in there, he won’t introduce himself as the prince. As far as you will know, he could be any one of the boys you see.” Cinderella listened to the man and responded, “How strange, but alright. Thank you so much good Sir!” With that, she went on towards the open entryway.
Cinderella went through the doors into a huge, brightly lit room. One like she didn’t remember ever seeing before. It was all painted in white and off-whites, even the fireplace, which was the biggest fireplace she had ever seen, was made of white marble. There was a beautiful curved staircase to the left with a deep red carpet going up the steps. The parts that held the rail and the edge of the staircase were all done in a cream color and wood carved to look like ivy and covered with gold on it.
Looking around again, Cinderella noticed that there were columns all along the walls and they were all cream colored with gold ivy on them too. The floor was wood and polished so well that you could see your reflection in it.
Across the big room, called the ‘Ballroom,’ and against the far wall was a stage with a band on it, playing really good dance music. To the right was a refreshment area with cookies and cake and pies and ice cream and every flavor of soda-pop she could imagine! There were lots and lots of people in the Ballroom, dancing and talking and the girls were all wearing the prettiest gowns and the boys had on the nicest clothes she had ever seen boys wearing. She wondered how they kept them so clean because she knew that boys were just naturally messy and she had heard they even had cooties.
Cinderella felt out of place and really shy. She kind of believed the lies her evil stepmother and evil stepsisters told her about how ugly she was.
Just as she was about to run away, this very handsomely dressed but very ugly boy came out of the crowd and asked her if she would like anything to eat and drink and would she mind if he walked her around. It wouldn’t have been right for her to just run away now, since he was standing there so politely. She nodded and said, “Yes, it is so nice of you to ask. I would be honored if you would walk with me and if you’d like, you could eat with me too and we can talk.” The ugly boy’s face split open into a wide grin and all of a sudden, he didn’t seem nearly as ugly as she had first thought.
They went over to the snack bar and got hotdogs and a soda-pop then sat at a table nearby to eat. Cinderella had noticed that everyone nodded or sort of half bowed to the boy walking with her and that he responded with a wave or nod of his head each time. She decided not to ask him about it, though, thinking it must be just a Palace custom or something.. The huge smile never left his face.
They sat and ate and talked and had fun, telling each other knock-knock jokes and stuff, then decided to go and get an ice cream. As they were standing at the edge of the crowd, eating the last of their ice cream, the boy asked her if she would like to dance or go ride ponies or something. She said that she loved ponies and wanted to get one someday and would love to go riding. But since she was wearing a ball gown and didn’t bring any shorts or jeans to change into, that they should maybe just dance instead if that was Okay with him.
The boy bowed and took her hand and, grinning, said, “My pleasure, my lady.” And with that, they went off onto the dance floor and had lots of fun dancing to every song the band played. As Cinderella danced with the boy, she realized that she didn’t see him as ugly anymore, but in fact, he was quite charming and handsome in his own way. She was amazed by that thought. She also noticed that everyone else who was dancing always gave them room and seemed to nod and smile at them.
All of a sudden, Cinderella heard a huge clock somewhere start to bong out the hour, *BONG!*. “what hour is it?” she asked the boy, “Why Midnight. The clock only bongs at *BONG!* midnight.” Cinderella’s face turned pale and she said, “You’ll have to excuse me, I have to be home at Midnight!” *BONG!* As she let go of the boy’s hand and started to run for the exit, he asked, “But what is your name? Will I see you again?” *BONG* Running, she replied over her shoulder, “I’m so sorry! I have to go, now!” She was running through the door when the next *BONG!* came. The not so ugly boy was trying to fight his way through the crowd to follow her. Her driver saw her come out of the Palace from his perch on top of the coach and got it going right up to the bottom of the steps down from the porch. When Cinderella started down the steps, she was in such a hurry that she wasn’t minding her footing and just as she heard *BONG!* she twisted her ankle and halfway fell down. She got back up and ran into the open door of the coach and yelled, “GO! Go now!”
As the coach lurched into motion, she saw the actually quite nice-looking boy running across the porch and stop at the steps, bend over and pick something up. It was one of her glass slippers! “Oh no!” she thought, that is going to turn back into a soda-pop bottle right in his hand! But her Fairy Godmother, watching invisibly from above, had a different idea and gave the slipper an extra *POOF* with her wand and fixed as a glass slipper permanently.
Just as the coach turned a bend in the road, Cinderella faintly heard the clock strike it’s last midnight *BONG!* and then, *POOF!* she was sitting on the road and right in front of her, the pumpkin was a pumpkin again and there were the two white mice and sitting on top of the pumpkin was a cricket and a coke bottle was rolling from near her foot to the curb. She sighed and got up, put the bottle in one pocket of her raggedy torn up work dress, politely asked the mice and cricket if they would like a ride home. It was the least she could do since they had so kindly given her a ride to the Palace. The mice scampered into the other pocket of her dress and the cricket hopped onto her shoulder. Picking up the pumpkin, Cinderella trudged home, wondering which one of the boys had been the prince and if she had seen him.
Now the boy, who actually was the prince after all, was standing on the porch, holding the glass slipper in his hand when his dad the King walked out and put his hand on the Princes shoulder. “What are you going to do now, son? Have you found the girl you want to marry?” The Prince looked sadly up at the King, “Yes I think so, dad, but I don’t know her name or where she lives.” The King said, “Well, that could be quite a problem! Maybe you should pick one of the other girls.” The Prince determined, “No, dad, I’ll take this slipper and try it on every girl in the Kingdom till I find the one it fits!” The King answered, “What if it fit’s a lot of girls?” The Prince held the slipper up and said, “Look at this, dad, it’s really large, I bet your foot would about fit in there. There can’t be but one girl in the whole Kingdom with feet this large. I’ll get it all arranged, starting tomorrow and get to looking as soon as I can.” The King grinned, “That’s my boy. Come, let’s get everyone out and go get some sleep.” With that, the King and the Prince went back into the Ballroom and told everyone it was time to go and that they hoped everyone had fun.
It took a week to get a list of all of the girls in the Kingdom who were the right age and to send notices throughout the whole Kingdom that the Prince would be searching for one particular girl. The Prince was anxious and pacing the halls of the Palace the whole time, wishing everyone would just hurry up!
Finally, the Monday a week after the party, the Prince and his helpers started out, looking for the girl that the slipper would fit. He went to the farthest corners of the Kingdom first and worked his way back toward home.
The house where Cinderella lived with her evil stepmother and evil stepsisters was the last house the Prince would get to. By the time he got there, he was really discouraged. One of his helpers had the evil stepsisters sit on the couch and take their shoes off so the Prince could try the slipper on each one of them. It was pretty obvious to him that it wasn’t going to fit any of them and it didn’t. The Prince looked like he was about to cry. “ I guess that is all of the girls in the whole Kingdom.” One of his helpers was looking through pages in his notebook. “Wait a minute, your Highness. This says that there are four girls living in this house, not just three.” Looking at the evil stepmother, the Prince asked, “Where is this fourth girl and why are you hiding her from me?” Cinderella’s evil stepmother looked kind of sick, “Your Highness, she is only a housekeeper and wasn’t even at the Ball last week! We had her home, cleaning the place up.” The Prince said, “I don’t want to hear any of your excuses, woman, bring me this fourth girl right now!” So her evil stepmother ran to get Cinderella because she had locked her in her room.
“Here she is your Highness, as you can see she is nothing but an ugly thing, fit for nothing more than doing laundry and dishes and barely fit for that.” Her evil stepmother said while pushing Cinderella towards the Prince.
Cinderella was amazed and speechless, the Prince was the boy she had spent eth evening with at the Ball. She remembered how ugly she had thought he looked. Now he just looked tired. She sat on the couch and tentatively held her foot out for the Prince. He saw that her foot looked to be a match for the slipper and tried it on her. It was a perfect fit!
The Prince saw that this really was the girl he had gotten to know at the Ball, hiding under the old clothes and dirt smudges on her face and hands. He took Cinderella’s hand and gently pulled her to her feet.
Just then, Cinderella’s Fairy-Godmother suddenly appeared to everyone in the room, *POOF!* She startled everyone except Cinderella who said, “Oh never mind, it’s safe, she just likes to make a dramatic entrance. Everyone, this is my Fairy-Godmother.”
Her Fairy-Godmother waved her wand and *POOF!* Cinderella was clean and beautiful with her hair all done up, wearing a Princess dress and tiara and even had her nails done. “Prince harming, let me introduce you to Princess Cinderella. She was kidnapped from her daddy’s Kingdom and put under a forget spell by this evil old hag and her evil daughters because they were jealous of her grace and beauty.”
Prince Charming kissed Cinderella’s hand and said “Delighted.” Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the evil stepmother and evil stepsisters edging toward the back door. He straightened up and pointed to them and said, “Men, arrest these three, put them in jail and send a messenger to Cinderella’s daddy telling him that we have found her and arrested her kidnappers. Meanwhile my dear, you will be safe in our Palace if you wish.”
Cinderella and Prince Charming spent a month walking together in his Palace gardens and going for picnics. Prince Charming gave Cinderella a beautiful white horse that looked just like his and they added horseback riding to their activities.
Finally, one afternoon, Cinderella’s daddy got there and gave her a big hug! He shook Prince Charming’s hand and Prince Charming’s dad and him went into the King’s study to talk.
Prince Charming and his dad threw a big dinner party that night to honor Cinderella’s dad getting there and in the middle of the party, Prince Charming stood up and took Cinderella’s hand. He said, “Cinderella, I have come to deeply admire and respect you over the time we’ve known each other and I’ve fallen in love with you. Would you consider being my wife?” Everyone clapped at that and the two Kings grinned at each other. Cinderella stood up and said, “Prince Charming, your name does fit you so well. The first time I met you, I only saw an ugly boy at first, but then your personality, who you are, began to shine through and I began to see the wonderful person you are. You are well named because you are the most Charming man I have ever known. I would be deeply pleased to be your wife.” With that, the whole room erupted in cheers and whistles. After a few minutes the two Kings stood and raised their hands. The crowd got quiet to hear what they would say, because it was the Kings who decided who their sons and daughters would marry back then. Prince Charming’s dad looked at Cinderella’s dad and said, “What say you, my old friend?” Cinderella’s dad grinned at his daughter and felt his heart swell with pride. He said, “Today, I am not losing a daughter but gaining a son and a fairer son and more Charming a man, a father could never hope for, You have my blessing!” Once again the crowd cheered and whistled their agreement. Holding up his hand to quiet everyone down, Cinderella’s dad turned to Prince Charming’s dad and said, “What say you, old friend? Shall our children and Kingdom’s be wed?”
Prince Charming’s dad looked at Cinderella and Prince Charming, then raising his voice he said, “Today, I am not losing a son but gaining a daughter. A fairer, more gracious and lovely daughter, no man has ever had, you have my blessing as well!” This time as the crowd cheered and whistled, the two Kings hugged each other, smiling with joy and Cinderella and Prince Charming hugged each other too.
When it got to be midsummer, they had the wedding, it was a grand wedding and at the reception, they had more soda pop for everyone and cakes and cookies and ice cream and a big outdoors dance with a live band and this time, they even had bounce houses and slides for everyone to play on.
And after that, Cinderella and Prince Charming lived happily ever after.©FCPierce 01/05/12