Winning Words 10/18/12
“If you don’t get everything you want, think of the things that you don’t get that you don’t want.”  (Oscar Wilde)  Tig Notaro does standup comedy.  Hours after her cancer diagnosis she went on stage.  “Good evening, I have cancer.”  There was laughter and some shushing.  Somehow she was able to make tragedy into comedy.  Sometimes good and bad happen in our lives at the same time.  We make the best of it.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE:  I'm laid up again with another knee problem, but this has let me see the fall colors and appreciate them more as I drive my car and not do work I'm not able to do at this time. ////FROM JACK:  That's turning a negative (knee problem) into a positive (enjoying fall colors).

 FROM HONEST JOHN:  Do you acknowledge any evil in the world?   Are there any real disasters?   When the Mongols surrounded a city and then massacred its men, raped its women and enslaved its children, was that a time for comedy?    A tragedian would be bankrupt in your world!!!////FROM JACK:  I was simply relating how one person sought to handle the "evil" that came into her life.  I'm sure that her story affected some who were in the midst of their own "evil" situation.  I wonder what it would be like if a pastor began his sermon one Sunday by saying, "Good morning, I have cancer?"  Could I do it, and then witness to what faith means to me?////HJ:  I've actually heard sermons that begin in similar ways....they were well done.    I would rather not do it for a while but I would not be afraid to do it.    Life is life and death is death.    "The word of our Lord lives on forever."     Thanx for the excellent reply.

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  My mother-in-law now says she is ready to move into an assisted living. I prayed real hard that a place open up in the assisted living she prefers. "God, if she needs to go into an assisted living, please make it the one that is her choice." Her preferred home called her and made an appointment for this past Tuesday. then I gratefully started praying in thanksgiving that God gave her and me what we wanted. Last night I found out the appointment didn't happen for some reason. Still praying, but now not so sure she won't be disappointed in where she spends her latter years. Essie could go on stage and say "Good evening, I have to go into an assisted living that I might not like nor choose." and it won't be so funny to our family. "think of the things that you don't get that you don't want" is the kicker--I wonder what might have been unhappy about that cancelled appointment and why we should be grateful about the answer there. We're a community and definitely make the best of it.////SHARON FOLLOW UP:  More about the saga of the assisted living for my mother-in-law. We had heard from our sister-in-law about the cancellation of the appointment. Were trying to call Essie last night and she wasn't answering because, as it turns out from her calling me this morning, the Activity Director of the assisted living was showing her the room and she was enjoying a cooking class at the Harmony Club last night. Things are turning out even better because now when she does have the appointment Essie will know better all the questions to ask. Why do I doubt so much so many times I wonder?!!!!!!!////FROM JACK:  "God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform."  (Hymn by William Cowper)

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  OH;, WHAT A GREAT QUOTE!  I'M GOING PUT THAT AT THE TOP OF MY S.S. CLASS SHEET THIS  WEEK!  I STILL HAVE BILL'S QUOTE ON THE FRIDGE: "WANT WHAT YOU HAVE, AND YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE WHAT YOU WANT!"  NEW COMPUTER...DON'T HOW I PRESSED UNDERLINE!!  THANKS FOR THE MEMORABLE THOUGHT BY O.WILDE!////FROM JACK:  The Tig Notaro interview on NPR is worth listening to.  There really are people who can make lemonade when life hands them a lemon.