:)

[Debbie]

My mother even ironed Christmas Ribbons - They were
Rayon then.

I grew up in the Forties and Fifties with a practical
parent --My Mother, God love her, Who ironed Christmas
wrapping Paper and reused it and who washed Aluminum
Foil after she cooked in it, Then reused it. She
was the original recycle Queen, before they had a name
for it... 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, Reheating, 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 I sat in my Kitchen that
Sunday afternoon reading her old handmade Cookbook in
a Binder, I was struck with the Pain of feeling all
alone, 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 with bad report cards..... And dogs 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.

[Paulie]

I love that Deb!

[Gabe]

Beautiful Deb.
You're a keeper to me too.

[Debbie]

(This is my favorite smilie - I remember seeing one that was animated though )