One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

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Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less.

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NOW...........

Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

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MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting.

Well, for example, the other day I went downtown and into a shop. I was only there for about 5 minutes, and when I came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.

I said to him, 'Come on, man, how about giving a retired person a break'?

He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a 'Nazi.' He glared at me and wrote another ticket for having worn tires.

So I called him a 'doughnut eating Gestapo.' He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.

He wrote a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more I abused him the more tickets he wrote. Personally, I didn't care. I came downtown on the bus, and the car that he was putting the tickets on had a bumper sticker that said, 'Obama in '08'.

I try to have a little fun each day now that I'm retired. It's important to my health.

--- On Sun, 7/6/08, jeff@jaaminc.com wrote:

From: jeff@jaaminc.com
Subject: Re: Fw: CLEAN....reliable...Home Computers.... - $85
To: dw5507@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2008, 1:47 AM

Would be happy to look at your computer and see what can be done. Will be home from vacation on Tues....call me and lets talk 337-1612

-Jeff

--- On Sat, 7/5/08, Donald Williamson wrote:

From: Donald Williamson
Subject: CLEAN....reliable...Home Computers.... - $85
To: sale-739127503@craigslist.org
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2008, 1:25 PM

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

I'm on disability and my little dell has run out of room on the C disc and don't have any idea how to increase! A reasonable offer is needed as I only paid 50 bucks for it. The gentleman who sold it to me was a friend and he has moved, So I'm also looking for a computer repair guy on call.

Now for what this is about, I've had it with these guys who claim to want to fix your computer. I can't get to them so if comming to me is hard on you then don't offer. This Jeff seemed to be honest and willing to fix my small computer problem. I said I would be home after 11am and as of 8:22 pm have not heard a word. If he was going to be late or have to change than a COURTESY call is the polite way to handle things or as I was taught. Thats right I'm an old man now and courtesy is a thing in the history books.
Now a family member has said these so called "computer repair folks are strange and because to find an honest one so hard it's better to kiss ass than to anger one. Well my thought now is "tough beans", it's my money and if they want it then earn it. One begins by being on time and if not able to by calling. If you want my buisness act as if you want the job. I am so tired of being told to treat them well no matter how they treat me. NO MORE, from now on I will set a time period and if they are late can't call then they are as useless as a knife at a gun fight. TS

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in overalls, white shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress; wrentch in his hand, and dish-towel in hers. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.*
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about
most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.*

This is true.. For marriage.... And old cars.... And children, and Grandchildren with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are 'keepers' in your life. Send it back to the person that sent it to you if they too are a keeper. Good friends and family are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. You are one of my keepers!!!!*

Painfully beautiful are the scars on my arms
Painfully beautiful lies a child so calm
Painfully beautiful are the stars at night
Painfully beautiful the frog in starlight
Painfully beautiful are the dogs by my side
Painfully beautiful are the sun and the skies
Painfully beautiful as I crash to my knees
Painfully beautiful as I pray as I plead
Painfully beautiful is the man that I love
Painfully beautiful white wings of the Dove
Painfully beautiful I have found what I lost
Painfully beautiful the man on the Cross
Painfully beautiful for the family I need
Painfully beautiful are the flowers and seeds
Painfully beautiful as my heart breaks in two
Painfully beautiful is the life that I knew
Painfully beautiful when I see all I have
Painfully beautiful as I gather and grab
Painfully beautiful are the children today
Painfully beautiful for the love that I gave
Painfully beautiful when I see the new bird
Painfully beautiful that I hear all the words
Painfully beautiful as I stare at the walls
Painfully beautiful if the glittered coals
Painfuly beuatiful when I know what they need
Painfully beautful for the World purest greed

Carol Anne Henderson
This was written by a woman from England who is married to a family friend.