"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

wednesday -happy birthday to Peter Falk

Peter Falk - From Wikipedia

1. Born Peter Michael Falk in New York City. His mother was Russian and his father was Polish, Hungarian, and Czech descent.

2. His right eye was surgically removed at the age of three because of a malignant tumor; he has worn a glass eye for most of his life. Despite the handicap, Falk participated in team sports.

3. He tried to join the armed services as World War II was drawing to a close. Rejected because of his glass eye, he joined the United States Merchant Marine, and served as a cook and mess boy. "There they don't care if you're blind or not," Falk said in 1997. "The only one on a ship who has to see is the captain. And in the case of the Titanic, he couldn't see very well, either."

4. He applied for a job with the CIA, but was rejected because of his membership in the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union while serving in the Merchant Marine, even though he was required to join and was not active in the union!

5. Best known as his role in Columbo.

6. In May 2009, it was reported that Falk is suffering from dementia, and he no longer remembers his role in Columbo. In June 2009, a conservatorship was placed on him by a California.


It does seem to happen to the best of us - life - growing old.

We struggle as youngsters to become adults.

We struggle as adults to buy cars, houses, get married, raise our kids, take care of our elderly parents, and save for our old age.

Then when we feel we've finally 'made it' to our golden years - life becomes a crap shoot (excuse my language) where some people fair better than others. Why that is no one knows.

Yet, look at Amy who we all are praying for in her 30's. Really when you think about things - 'life' can happen to any one at any age - there are no insurance policies. Of course middle-agers get the most because of our age and that is to be expected. We also pray for our one friend whose husband has Alzheimer's.

What you need in life to help you deal - I believe are things called 'sighs'. I didn't even realize they had a name until my friend Jean sent me an email yesterday called Puppy Size.


Puppy Size...
Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this,' the mother told the volunteer.

'What is it she keeps asking for?' the volunteer asked. 'Puppy size!' replied the mother.

'Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.' 'I know..... we have seen most of them, ' the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office 'Well, did you find one?' asked her mom.

'No, not this time,' Danielle said with sadness in her voice. 'Can we come back on the weekend?'

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed 'You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply,' the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. 'Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend,' she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. 'It's this weekend or we're not looking any more,' Dad finally said in frustration.

'We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,' Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning . By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.
One by one she said, 'Sorry, but you're not the one.'

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!' She screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,' Mom said.

'No not size... The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said.
'Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!'


The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said. Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, 'Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!'

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.

They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. 'Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.' Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!!
Wishing all of us some sighs, to go along with our journey called life.
Chatty

2 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Lordy...that one made me tear up. Where's the kleenex. Sigh~

Chatty Crone said...

And a sigh to you too my friend.