"My Little Cabin"h

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"In my Father's House are many Mansions."

I hope yours is next to mine!

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When Grief Comes to Call...

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Grief doesn't come and go.

He mostly stays.

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He is like a stranger who comes to call.

A big nasty stranger with mud on his shoes.

Someone frightening - someone you would not normally let into your house.

But he doesn't even ask - he opens the door and walks through you - like in a nightmare.

He picks your favorite chair and props his feet on the coffee table.

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You don't like this uncomfortableness in your home

and hope this stranger will leave right away so you can get on with your chores.

But he moves in without even asking your permission,

claiming closets and bathrooms and dresser drawers and even your secrets.

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Un-invited, he sits in the chair beside you

no matter which chair you choose.

He watches you undress.

He watches you eat.

He hears you laugh and rushes to make you bite your lip to stop.

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He mocks you when you pray.

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And he stays.

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FAMILY AND COMPANY

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A long-ago television commercial sticks in my mind. Some specifics I have forgotten - I think Florence Henderson was selling Jello - but I'm pretty sure of one of the lines:

"Treat Your Company like Family and Your Family like Company."

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I had an aunt and uncle who always treated me like company. Aunt Agnes and Uncle Cecil treated me like I was a real person - not just some little girl who was in the way. Sometimes, on Friday night, I would get to spend the night at their house. Aunt Agnes liked to stay up real late and work on her "paint-by-number" pictures. It seemed like she was always working on one of these and it was always a painting of Jesus. She worked at the kitchen table. I would stand by her side and watch her carefully paint each tiny numbered section. A printed puzzle on a big board, tiny pots of paint, and Aunt Agnes' steady hand. She said many times, "I'll betcha this is harder and takes up more time than somebody just slinging paint on something without having a pattern to go by." She would paint and talk at the same time. Oh the detailed stories she could tell! I was fascinated and loved my visits there!

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On Friday nights, Uncle Cecil liked to "take a drink". But he never bothered anyone like some people do when they get too much whiskey in them. Uncle Cecil had never learned to play a guitar, but on Friday nights, he would get his guitar out of the closet, put a Johnny Cash album on the record player, and sit on the couch, strumming the guitar and singing along with Johnny. I would stand by the doorway of the living room and peek inside, watching him enjoy Friday night.

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I drove to Mississipi to see my aunt and uncle a few years ago. Uncle Cecil was in the last stages of cancer's ugly grip. The minute I got inside, Aunt Agnes started telling me a story, as though she had left off telling it yesterday. They had moved to Mississippi from Alabama many years ago, but I recognized so many things in this house. Whatnots, family pictures... Two things caught my attention at once. Two oil paintings hung on the wall. One was The Last Supper. The other was a portrait of Jesus. I said, "Oh my goodness - I remember when you were working on these!" And just as though she was still in that little kitchen with a paint brush in her hand, Aunt Agnes repeated what she always said over thirty years ago: "I'll betcha this was harder and took up more time than somebody just slinging paint on something without having a pattern to go by."

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I cherish my memories of those who took an interest in me when I was young. I hope you have some good memories too!

Movie Reviews!

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I haven’t been sleeping well, so I’ve decided to review some movies for you:

“Australia” – Good story, but why do they have to put Nicole Kidman in EVERYTHING? That close-up shot of her contact lenses in the party scene was just creepy.

“Valkyrie” – I used to like Tom’s movies. I stopped liking Tom. Now I like Tom again.

“Seven Pounds” – Will Smith, WHAT were you thinking to do this? You are on some kind of hero kick, for sure. Too many body parts to be believable.

“Taken” – Oh My Goodness, it’s good!

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – Haven’t watched it. I may be the only woman on the planet who doesn’t think Brad Pitt is attractive. There – I said it. Plus, in every movie I’ve ever seen him in, he sounds like he is reading his lines. There – I said that too. Well, except for one: Burn after Reading. (I watched that one to see Clooney because he’s just too adorable.) That script was a perfect fit for Brad. Dorky, dumb guy. (He married that tattoo girl – need I say more? However, I do think she is a good actress.) Okay, I digress. You watch Benjamin Button and tell me what you think. The storyline is too creepy for me.

“Quantum of Solace 007” – More of the same, but would have been better with one of the other boys. Daniel is no Sean or Pierce.

“I’ve Loved You So Long” – Pretty Darn Good

“Last Chance Harvey” – Awww, I love Dustin Hoffman. It went on a little too long and Emma Thompson walks like she is nine months pregnant (what was up with that?), but what a sweet movie!

“Slumdog Millionaire”– Magnificent!

Okay - more later!