TRY AS YOU MIGHT
FOR GOOD OR BAD
"IMPRESSIONS RECEIVED IN CHILDHOOD CANNOT
BE ERASED FROM THE SOUL."
Frederick The Great
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NOT WRITTEN ON THIN PAGES
"TO MAKE YOUR CHILDREN CAPABLE OF HONESTY
IS THE BEGINNING OF EDUCATION."
John Ruskin
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TO MY children, cousins, dear aunts, Melba, Mom and Mary Robbins:
"We wander far and wide,
In city, town and valley.
Seeking the necessities and life,
Which requires long hours of strife,
and leaves too little time for real living,
Which our country farm life is now giving,
With all its freshness and contentment.
Contrast cannot be made of the two,
For there is so little in common we do,
But, tis true indeed we imitate each other.
City people’s joys are like unto a step-mother.
Where rural folks have the real things,
Clubs, bridge and the like little happinest brings,
Just a way to forget for the time, some sorrow
or exchange by chance some money, and regret, tomorrow.
Nature with all her mystery,
Makes life of this history,
For in these places of God’s creation
We find happiness and inspiration.
It’s romance here among the gardens,
The field of grain; as it grows and hardens,
The fresh cool drink as it bubbles beneath from the earth,
Reminds us of life, and death and birth.
There is the slender green pine,
The large oak and the grape vine,
Cool are the nights with fragrant breezes,
On wintery days when everything freezes.
There is no worries; rush to the cellar,
Find plenty, some for self and the other fellow.
No profits for the grocer or tax or rent,
Here are happy and also content.
The dreamer’s dream only comes true,
Not by dreaming but, by the things we do.
Nothing is so facinating as planning and scheming,
But this takes more wondering and wishing and dreaming."
A. V. Robbins
undated
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WHERE HARD WORK AND STUDY LEAD
Yesterday Joanna and Tommy closed on their house. It is near Sallye and Will’s new house.
We can and should expect to enjoy the fruits of our labors. When time comes perhaps more grandbabies too!
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THE MANY CIRCLES OF LIFE
There are no downsides to Mary Robbins Bowlin’s birth. There were however unfortunate things to happen the day before--on October 19. Hollie’s great-grandmother died as did her great-uncle...within 30 minutes of each other.
Already I had thought about Mary Robbins being born the day after MawMaw Bowlin died in 1981.
I am often surprised at people who could care less about dates and things. It appears to be a most interesting element of life.
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"SUCCESS IS THE HEALTHY PURSUIT
OF A
WORTHY GOAL."
-Earl Nightingale
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"Unconditional love is the greatest gift a parent can give a child.
Once you know your family will always love you, you are free
to try anything. You are free to fail. You are free to succeed."
George W. Bush A Charge To Keep
eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta eta
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO LAST NIGHT
WILLIAMSBURG
TOM COLLINS
phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi phi
GRANDMOTHERS TO THE RESCUE
Have you had a momma bird or a hen get after you?
Well, that’s nothing compared to getting on the wrong
side of a grandmother. Protection is a key compotent
of their makeup.
We attended two funerals this week of ladies who were
grandmothers. Stories were told about both performing
acts of love and how this turns into action.
Men, let us not forget why we engage a threat and why it
is wrong to make battles last an hour more than they should.
Grandmothers should not be the only "grands" around enjoying
the fruits of the next generations.
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"SMARTNESS RUNS IN MY FAMILY. WHEN I WENT TO
SCHOOL I WAS SO SMART MY TEACHER WAS IN MY
CLASS FOR FIVE YEARS."
Gracie Allen
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"UNITY CAN ONLY BE MANIFESTED
BY THE BINARY.
UNITY ITSELF AND THE IDEA
OF
UNITY ARE ALREADY
TWO."
Buddha
THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Thirty-one years later I asked Melba this morning what I gave her on our first Christmas of marriage.
She quickly responded that I gave her a table lamp...that is still in our den, and she gave me a floor lamp...that is also still in our den.
Hopefully I will need only one reminder.
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"IF I HAD SIX HOURS TO CHOP DOWN A TREE,
I’D SPEND THE FIRST HOUR SHAPENING THE AX."
ABE LINCOLN
bluegrass state bluegrass state bluegrass state bluegrass state bluegrass state
I HATE SNAKES TOO!!!
My daughter, Joanna, enjoys giving cards as I do.
Her birthday card to me this year was terrific...with Indiana Jones
and the theme song plays when you open it up. It must have a
powerful little battery.
On the inside it reads, "New Big Adventure..." Right on target!!
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PASS RUN AND DON’T KICK
Coach Croom of the MSU Bulldogs was on target Monday night saying a offense cannot stand if execution does not occur.
By just allowing i goof by each player on offense--that’s at least 11 mistakes.
Do it til you get it right, I bekieve was the coach’s message.
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WHY NOT
"Be bolde! Be bolde! and everywhere, be bolde";
Be not too bold! Yet better the excess
Than the defect; better the more than less."
Longfellow
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NOTHING TO GAIN
Israir is cancelling it s Tel-Aviv to New York route effective September 13th.
The company cited jetfuel prices and the low roat of the dollar. Restart maybe in 2009.
Less competition=higher prices on other carriers.
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A FANASTIC START TO AUGUST
William Bowlin & Sallye Clayton were engaged August 1. On the roof of The Peabody Hotel in Memphis. That’s just like being in Mississippi!
Congratulations to Will and we are very happy, Sallye!
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MOTHERHOOD
as I understand it
One of the most exceptional things about mothers is their ability to make a meal on a moments’ notice at any time of day.
Sugar and powder and butter start spinning, pot and pans bang, and heat rises when company comes unexpected.
They really like to be alone to work their magic until they take their rightful place at the table. Some time between the Amen and the final bite of pie is surely an occasion for a compliment that makes all the work worthwhile.
After years of seeing this performed we take on this ritual of doing our best at whatever we do. It is what we are taught to do after all...nothing but our best.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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ONCE A YEAR EVERY YEAR
Mother’s Day 2006. Indianola, MS. It was called a Pre-Mother’s Day. The week prior to Mother’s Day. I am glad we were there.
The pastor asked the men to tell why their mother and/or the mother to their children were so special.
The first man was a deacon. He stood and said a few words about his wife. Then he announced: "Baby, you are the sugar in my koolaid."
Including today I have told Melba that for two years in a row. I strongly believe sugar is going to be one of those things that is going to be around a long time.
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MAKING CERTAIN TO DO YOUR BEST
includes the big boys too!!
If any company has the opportunity to make good days better or bad days good it is the company that all us rural people refer to as "the store." Certainly you know the one--the one snooty people distain and all us country folk would hate to do without.
Well, they have returned to their habit of having only 3-4 checkouts open. Its really leaves a bad taste in your mouth (even after all the savings!) to wait in line for 20 minutes to shell out $60 for 5 bags of groceries that disapper in 2 days.
Just seems heartless to make hard working folks do that.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
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IT AIN’T JUST THE BIG BOYS
WHOSE PLANS ERROR
Our favorite place to run in and get a few things in a hurry is DG. "Dog gone" is a small place that has a lot. One of the best things is it is easy to get checked out and headed home.
But even DG has a problem with almost every store--parking!! There are normally enough parking spaces, but it is hard to see it not being difficult for some drivers having a hard time to navigate the parking lot.
To make matters worst their drive ways and entrances are narrow too. What are they thinking??
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WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT
Remember the story of the team manager, Jason Mac, in New York state that suited up in the last game of the season and scored 20 points in 4 minutes?
Last week I met the special Ole Miss fan--Cliff. Cliff is the type person who is easy to like and fans show their affection. They buy him food, drinks, baseball caps and give him hugs and "bump fists" with him.
While it’s not certain if Cliff has a watch, somehow he shows up when the Rebels are about to play. When I was told no one gets through the door, they forgot to tell me about Cliff. Cliff has a permanent pass--and he deserves it.
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Bellow Away
A beagle won the Westminister Dog Show this week for the first time in like 60-70 years. It was a beautiful dog!
Will & John use to hunt with their beagles. We had a pen and everything. It was a great deal of fun for them and a lot of responsibility.
It pretty much ended one day when Malou failed to return. It was sad. We still wonder what happened to her.
hound dogs hound dogs hound dogs hound dogs
Good sounds
Mississippi Mass Choir, "I’m not too tired yet."
Cool Hand Luke’s band watching him work,
"Ain’t no grave gonna keep me down."
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"Excellent wine generates enthusiasm. And whatever you do with enthusiasm is generally successful."
Philippe de Rothschild
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NO MOUNTAINTOP NECESSARY
I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT I WAS A PART OF MISSISSIPPI AND ONE HAS TO LOVE THE THINGS THAT ARE HIS. James Meredith 1966
It is indeed sad to find people who will travel hundreds and thousands of miles to minister to people who they would not want to live in the same state with much less the same town.
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FAMILY WISDOM
Uncle Bill’s stories of flying into the eye of hurricanes.
Uncle John demostrating how to fast to get away form a snake (that I never saw).
Seeing our children’s determination.
Melba’s assurances on a bad day.
These and others have been memorable. What have I added? I remember saying something once that I thought had the potential to make a difference because I thought seeing this would be a valuable witness to the community: Preachers//Pastors should mow their own yard.
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WHAT"S NEXT??
Scents of root beer, maple syrup and a ringing finish? I wouldn’t mind learning a little of the complexities of some decent wines.
How do you pick out the grapefruit zest out of a sappy finish?
Some of that good sweet Hawaiian King Bread we have every week should go well with it.
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LT KNOWS
HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? L. T. HAS A CLUE. LADAINIAN THOMAS IS A RUNNING BACK FOR THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS.
IF HIS LIKABILITY IS BASED ON BUILDING A BRAND AS HINTED BY BUSINESSWEEK, I WOULD BE SURPRISED AND TRULY DISAPPOINTED.
I HAD HEARD THIS STORY BEFORE: L. T. WAS APPROACHED BY NIKE TO PUT HIS NAME ON A SHOE. L. T. INSISTED THE SHOE SELL FOR NO MORE THAN $50. HE SAID IT SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE. many yards to you, LT!!
BusinessWeek 10-8-07
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"Good and evil...are not what popular opinion accounts them; many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are miserable." Tacitus
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"THEN I SAW IN MY DREAMS THEY WENT VERY LOVINGLY ON TOGETHER, AND HAD SWEET DISCOURSE OF ALL THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED OT THEM IN THEIR PILGRIMAGE." The Pilgrim’s Progress
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DECIDING WHAT’S REAL
Our trip to Jackson to view the exhibit Between God and Men with members of our church was fun and very worthwhile.
My favorite angel paintings included the "Rebel" angel. Just by looking you couldn’t tell he/she was up to anything!
As usual Melba had an entirely different take--completely out of the Angel exhibit and in the permanent Mississippi Collection exhibit. When she escorted me to the painting, artist and name I don’t remember, I immediately knew she had found the prize. There before us were the most fantastic 4 or 5 onions I could ever imagine anyone painting.
If I had not seen it I would not have believed it!
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TO SHOE OR NOT TO SHOE: IS THAT A QUESTION?
Last year I did something I had never done--I bought two pair of shoes in one day.
Four years ago we had a revival at church. The preacher included this statement during one sermon, "Ladies, how many shoes is enough?". Evidently, this struck a cord with Melba. Ever since she has not gone to a shoe sale and hasn’t purchased over a single pair of shoes at a time. I wished that visiting preacher had those words back in his mouth. Besides, is there anything wrong with a lady having an equal number of $39-59 pairs of shoes compared to ministers’ $399-599 shiny-silk suits? You may want to check the Bible again on that one.
Seems to me there are a lot more important things to say from a pulpit AND I will be glad when Melba is back to normal, willing and able to enjoy shopping for shoes and never feeling guilty about shoes again!
Last fall, three years after the revival, I stopped at a Texaco station in the large city where this preacher has his office. A man asked for help from me as I left the store. I asked him questions and gave him what I could. I promised to seek help for him.
After my meeting I went to the very nice office of the minister. When I spoke of this man he asked his color. He seemed to want to believe something was wrong with me--he did not understand--expain again--was I ok--was I drunk? There was nothing he could do.
I should’ve asked him for just one of his shoes...for the beggar’s only foot.
MEN OF FEW WORDS ARE THE BEST MEN.
Shakespeare Henry V Act III scene ii
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Another excerpt from William Winter’s, The Measure of Our Days:
"...We have gotten along pretty well in this state for a long time in rearing our children in accordance with the highest traditions of the American system. Love of country has always been a foremost concern of the people of our state, but it has been a love of country free of suspsion and fear. It has been a love of country based on the idea that truth and our national destiny were somehow intertwined together, and that in the search for truth we would eventually realize our full destiny as a people."
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CONGRATULATIONS WILL BOWLIN ON RECEIVING CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR--2006 BY THE MISSISSIPPI WILDLIFE FEDERATION. WILL HAS IMPACTED HIS AGENCY POSITIVELY IN FOUR YEARS.
HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM.
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SAM BOWLIN MARCH 2006
Although he did not better his fishing feat of last spring,
Sam landed a part-time job with Wal-Mart yesterday.
He will earn twice what he was paid last summer and is very excited!
It is not an easy job, but Sam can handle it.
"A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm." Shakespeare <SPAN style= |
