The Grey Knit Vest
by Linda Caroll

When I was little,
the sun rose & set
on my Grandpapa.

Frozen forever in time are memories of wire rimmed glasses and a grey knit vest that almost always had chocolate covered raisins in the left pocket. Grandpapa always read to me. I'd curl up beside him and listen, spellbound.

When Grandpapa got old & couldn't see well enough to read anymore, I read to him. Agatha Christie. I'd read until his eyes closed and his head started to nod.

As I quietly got up, Grandpapa would reach into the pocket of his grey knit vest and pull out a box of chocolate covered raisins, pressing them into my teen-aged hand. Eyes still closed, he would whisper "I remembered".

Grandpapa always said things like; "You scratch my back an' I'll scratch yours," and "Share, little one. Sharing makes everything better." Somehow, everything always was better.

I'll never forget the call from the hospital. Grandpapa had suffered a massive stroke. Mom sobbing. Heartwrenching sobs. It was snowing that night. Great big fluffy snowflakes falling through the glow of the streetlight.

It's snowing this morning. Inevitable as the hands of time, big fluffy snowflakes fall through the glow of the streetlight. I sit and watch the snowflakes fall, walking down memory lane with a lump in my throat and a cup of coffee in my hands

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emmerson, "I used to always think that I'd look back on us crying and laugh, but I never thought I'd look back on us laughing - and cry."

How wise the words, "Sharing makes everything better." The need to reach out to another human being is instinctive, and as necessary as the air that we breathe.

It is my sincere hope that sharing this story with you will inspire you to share something of yourself. A kind word to a stranger perhaps, or a compliment to someone that deserves one. It is these small acts of sharing, and caring, that make this world a better place.

As the sun rises on a new day, I leave you with this thought;

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life
that no man can sincerely try to help another
without also helping himself.

(Ralph Waldo Emerson; 1803-1882)

Life's Little Lessons

Linda Caroll has been helping people increase their profit for over four years.
Is success your goal? Visit http://www.LindaCaroll.com
Reprinted with permission of the author. All rights reserved. May not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the author.

"Fishing With Grandfather"
by Linda Thomas
Billy grabbed his fishing pole from the closet and headed for the back door. As he went out the door, he called to his grandmother that he would be back soon.When he reached the river, he put bait on his hook and threw the line into the water.

Meet the Author:
I'm Not Getting Older;
I'm Getting Better at Denial
by Leigh Anne Jasheway
FREE excerpt & interview
Leigh Anne Jasheway's book I'm Not Getting Older; I'm Getting Better at Denial is a hilarious look at aging. Leigh Anne, a humor writer with 8 published books,a humorous speaker,  and a stand up comic is from Eugene, Oregon.  Her wit and writing comes from her unique position as a woman facing mid-life.   Leigh Anne uses her sense of humor to help us get over the bumps of the "middle years" and encourages us to look at life with laughs, not tears.

FREE coloring page
Caring
A mother seal protects and nurtures her calf on a small iceberg. Have fun coloring this page along with your child. Print two copies, try different colors and take a few minutes to learn more about your "calf".

"Lunch with Tammy Faye"
by Sue Spataro
I had lunch with Tammy a couple of weeks ago. Over chicken cashew and iced tea we got to talking about life and the cards that life can deal you. Tammy felt strongly that when life hands you a bunch of lemons you should make lemonade. Find out more about Tammy, her life and her new role as a columnist on Pinksunrise.com

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