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#534306 04/23/21 09:49 AM
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I don't usually post non-pond stuff but this is worth a few minuets - everyone needs to think about what matters :

Unknown Author :

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good..'
'They are good, Barry.. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir.
Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked..
'Not zackley but almost.'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs... Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances.. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever..
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes...
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size.....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral :
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles:
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...
An unexpected phone call from an old friend .....
Green stoplights on your way to work...
The fastest line at the grocery store...
A good sing-along song on the radio...
Your keys found right where you left them.
Share this with the people you'll never forget.
I just Did...
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
















6 members like this: DrLuke, 4CornersPuddle, RStringer, FishinRod, anthropic, gehajake
ewest #534311 04/23/21 10:04 AM
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Good one Eric!!


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
ewest #534315 04/23/21 11:41 AM
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Wow! Good story, definitely gives more meaning to the "It's better to give than receive" words my parents spoke about when growing up. Giving something or doing something small could really change someones life.

ewest #534316 04/23/21 12:39 PM
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Got something in my eye.....


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

ewest #534317 04/23/21 01:01 PM
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Dang allergies


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
ewest #534319 04/23/21 01:04 PM
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Who's cutting onions in here?

ewest #534322 04/23/21 01:37 PM
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I think I dropped my Man Card!

Funny think is, I've read a similar story before...it got me again.


Fish on!,
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Wow!

ewest #534324 04/23/21 02:30 PM
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We all need a few more feel good, positive stories like that in our lives these days, and less of the negative! Thank You!


All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
ewest #534328 04/23/21 05:11 PM
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Nice story! While we wasn't poor when I was a kid, we was for form wealthy. Never went hungry but with 6 kids we didn't get a lot of spending money. This story reminds me of when I was a kid, the really nice lady that ran the feed/corner store down by the creek would trade us candy, snacks, and soda for fish we caught in the creek. She would give them to her cats. I know she gave us more than they was worth and did it just so she could give us stuff.

Last edited by Bobbss; 04/23/21 05:16 PM.

Bob


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ewest #534338 04/24/21 06:35 AM
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The story makes me think back to my life where so many people helped or shared things with me. So many stories, too many to mention. Even here, there have been many who just jumped in to help me with my goals with the pond. Good Story Eric.


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


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ewest #534348 04/24/21 12:42 PM
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Give a boy free food - and he will eat for a day.

Teach a boy to barter marbles or trade something else of value for food - and he will eat and be successful for the rest of his life!

Good post, ewest.

ewest #534350 04/24/21 01:01 PM
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Pretty good read makes you think about life. In general how you will be remembered. Thanks for posting we all need positive things instead of what the media seems to always show. I hope I will always think most people are good.


The people who say I can't do it can just sit the @^#% down and watch me. Friends call me Rusto I also subscribe to pond boss mag. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=504716#Post504716
ewest #534352 04/24/21 01:20 PM
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I just shared it!


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