From: "Jacana Enterprises" Bcc: "Wittstock, Jenny" , "Wilmot, Hazel \(SA\)" , "Wentink, Brian" , "Strugnell, Noel" , "Schleicher, Tom 2" , "Safaris Botswana Bound2" , "Palmer, Terry & Mervyn" , "North, Tish" , "Myburgh, Joe" , "Myburg, Gert" , "Montjoie, Chester" , "Maun Rest Camp" , "Mantel, Andrew" , "Kempson, Jeffery" , "Jubber, Craig" , "Jourdan, Phil" , "Haywood, Amanda" , "Hardwick, Warren" , "Fella, John" , "Constantino, Jose" , "Chobe Photo Lab" , "Cantle, Nigel" , "Bullock, Mike" , "Bullock, Digby" , "Brits, Gert" , "Berg, Paul" , "African Horseback Safaris" , "Fallon, Sallie" Subject: jhl120507 Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 13:53:56 +0200 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="multipart/alternative"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0112_01C7949C.FB9E67E0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3028 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0112_01C7949C.FB9E67E0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0113_01C7949C.FB9E67E0" ------=_NextPart_001_0113_01C7949C.FB9E67E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Websites All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough = time considering, or caring, how their on-line names might appear ... = and be misread. These are not made up. Check them out yourself... 1. Who Represents is where you can find the name of the agent that = represents any celebrity. Their Web site is www.whorepresents.com=20 2 . Experts Exchange is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange = advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com. 3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at = www.penisland.net=20 4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com=20 5. There's the Italian Power Generator company, www.powergenitalia.com 6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales, = www.molestationnursery.com 7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always = www.ipanywhere.com=20 8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is www.cummingfirst.com 9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their wacky Web site, = www.speedofart.com www.speedofart.com ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ 10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon=20 1. Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can = lower LDL cholesterol.=20 2. Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on = blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 = diabetes.=20 3. In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop = medication-resistant yeast infections.=20 4. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of = Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia = and lymphoma cancer cells.=20 5. It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.=20 6. In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon = of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning = before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week = and could walk without pain within one month.=20 7. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, = making it a natural food preservative.=20 8. One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and = memory.=20 9. Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the = E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.=20 10. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium. ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ World Peace Three guys -- a Canadian farmer, Osama bin Laden, and an American = engineer are walking together one day. They come across a lantern and a = Genie pops out of it.=20 "I will give each of you one wish, which is three wishes total" says the = Genie.=20 The Canadian says, "I am a farmer, my dad was a farmer, and my son will = also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Canada ."=20 Pooooof!=20 With a blink of the Genie's eye, the land in Canada was forever made = fertile for farming.=20 Osama bin Laden was amazed, so he said, "I want an impenetrable wall = around Afghanistan , Iraq and Iran with all believers of Mohammad inside = and all Jews, Christians, and other infidels forever outside our = precious state."=20 Pooooof!=20 Again, with the blink of the Genie's eye, there was a huge wall around = those countries.=20 The American engineer asks, "I am very curious. Please tell me more = about this wall". The Genie explains, "Well, it's 5000 feet high, 500 feet thick and = completely surrounds these countries........ it's virtually = impenetrable.=20 Now what is your wish?"=20 The American engineer smiles and says, "Fill it with water."=20 Pooooof!=20 WORLD PEACE ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ Living in Joburg This happened on a flight getting ready to depart for Johannesburg. Jack = was sitting on the plane when a chap took the seat beside him. The chap = was an emotional wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear.=20 'What's the matter?' Jack asked.=20 'I've been transferred to Johannesburg, there are crazy people there. = They've got lots of shootings, gangs, murders, drugs, poor public = schools, and the highest crime rate in the world.'=20 Jack replied, 'I've lived in Johannesburg all my life. It's not as bad = as the papers make out. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own = business, enrol your kids in a nice private school. It's as safe a place = as anywhere in the world.'=20 The man relaxed and stopped shaking and said, 'Oh, thank you. I've been = worried to death. But if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your = word for it. What do you do for a living?'=20 'Me?' said Jack. 'I'm a tail gunner on a Castle Lager truck.' ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ Best Exercise Suggested For Seniors I came across this exercise suggested for seniors, to build muscle = strength in the arms and shoulders. It seems so easy, so I thought I'd = pass it on. The article suggested doing it three days a week. Begin by = standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each = side. With a 5-lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out = from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a = full minute, and then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold = this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb. potato sacks. Then 50-lb. = potato sacks, and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a = 100-lb. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more = than a full minute. Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the = sacks. ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ The Epol Diet I was in Shoprite buying a large bag of Epol nuggets for my dogs and was = in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........ = Duh, helooooo!=20 I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting = The Epol Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up = in the hospital last time, and that I'd lost 50 kg before I awakened in = an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and = IV's in both arms.=20 Her eyes about bugged out of her head. I went on and on with the bogus = diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an = easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets = or purse with Epol nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel = hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was = going to try it again.=20 I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now = enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her. Horrified, = she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why = I ended up in the hospital.=20 I said no.....I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls when a car = hit me. I thought the tall guy was going to have a hernia. ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ Wisdom of the aged A young ram and an old ram were standing on top of a hill overlooking a = paddock full of sheep. The young ram said, "Lets run down the hill and = service a few of those sheep." The old ram answered, "Lets just amble down there and service all of = them." ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Peek-A-Boo) is not = just an athlete.... She is now a nurse currently working at the = Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital. She is not = permitted to answer the hospital telephones. It caused too much = confusion when she would answer the phone and say, Picabo, ICU.=20 ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ A Queensland grazier visiting a NSW farmer asked him to show him around = his property. After seeing the 1,000 acre spread, the Queenslander = bragged that up north, he could get into his 4-wheel drive and drive all = day, and by nightfall would still not have reached the opposite = boundary. The NSW farmer simply replied, "You know, I had a car like that once." ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ The seven dwarfs went off to work in the West Driefontein mine one day, = while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their = lunch. However when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches, she found = there had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarfs. Tearfully she yelled in to the mine entrance: "hello - is anyone there. = Can anyone hear me". A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine: "South Africa will win = the Rugby World Cup" "Thank god" said Snow White "at least Dopey's still alive" ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ A woman went on a tour of the White House. As the guide led her down one = of the historic halls, a door burst open and a large aquatic sea mammal, = balancing a beach ball on its nose, scurried past.=20 "My, what was that?" exclaimed the woman. "Oh, that's just the Presidential Seal," replied the guide. ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ The boss was complaining in our staff meeting the other day that he = wasn't getting any respect.=20 The next day, he brought a small sign that read: "I'm the Boss!" He then = taped it to his office door. Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone had = taped a note to the sign that said: "Your wife called, she wants her = sign back." ~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~ The Pickle Jar The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the = dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would = empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as = they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the = jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as = the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper = and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun = poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would = sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the = bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly = in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on = the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me = hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, = son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going = to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the = counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly "These are = for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life = like me." We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream = cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at = the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few = coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again."=20 He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar.As they rattled = around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll = get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But = you'll get there. I'll see to that." The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and = noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had = been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser = where the jar had always stood.=20 My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of = determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than = the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my = wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in = my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how = much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop = his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the = mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a = single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup = over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined = than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he = told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - = unless you want to " The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the = holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each = other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. = "She probably needs to be changed," she said, carrying the baby into my = parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living = room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into = the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on = the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never = been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with = coins.=20 I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out = a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the = coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had = slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was = feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak. This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as well. Sometimes we = are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our = blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture = you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. The Jacana Humour List To unsubscribe (or join) contact jacana@botsnet.bw He who laughs, lasts ;-) :-) :-) :-) :-) Humour =3D Sanity (-: (-: (-: (-: (-; ------=_NextPart_001_0113_01C7949C.FB9E67E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Websites
 
All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite = enough time=20 considering, or caring, how their on-line names might appear ... and be=20 misread.

These are not made up. Check them out = yourself...

1. Who=20 Represents is where you can find the name of the agent that represents = any=20 celebrity. Their Web site is www.whorepresents.com

2 . Experts = Exchange=20 is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at = www.expertsexchange.com.

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com =

5. There's the Italian Power Generator company, www.powergenitalia.com

6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New = South Wales,=20 www.molestationnursery.com=

7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always = www.ipanywhere.com

8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is www.cummingfirst.com

9. And the designers at Speed of Art await you at their wacky = Web site,=20 www.speedofart.com www.speedofart.com
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
10 Health Benefits of=20 Cinnamon
 
1. Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day = can lower=20 LDL cholesterol.
 
2. Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory = effect on=20 blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 = diabetes.=20
 
3. In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop=20 medication-resistant yeast infections.
 
4. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of=20 Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia = and=20 lymphoma cancer cells.
 
5. It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
 
6. In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a = teaspoon of=20 cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning = before=20 breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and = could walk=20 without pain within one month.
 
7. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food = spoilage,=20 making it a natural food preservative.
 
8. One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function = and=20 memory.
 
9. Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon = fights the E.=20 coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
 
10. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and = calcium.
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
World = Peace
 
Three guys -- a Canadian farmer, Osama bin Laden, and an American = engineer=20 are walking together one day. They come across a lantern and a Genie = pops out of=20 it.
 
"I will give each of you one wish, which is three wishes total" = says the=20 Genie.
 
The Canadian says, "I am a farmer, my dad was a farmer, and my son = will=20 also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Canada ."
 
Pooooof!
 
With a blink of the Genie's eye, the land in Canada was forever = made=20 fertile for farming.
 
Osama bin Laden was amazed, so he said, "I want an impenetrable = wall around=20 Afghanistan , Iraq and Iran with all believers of Mohammad inside and = all Jews,=20 Christians, and other infidels forever outside our precious state." =
 
Pooooof!
 
Again, with the blink of the Genie's eye, there was a huge wall = around=20 those countries.
 
The American engineer asks, "I am very curious. Please tell me more = about=20 this wall".
 
The Genie explains, "Well, it's 5000 feet high, 500 feet = thick  and=20 completely surrounds these countries........ it's virtually = impenetrable.=20
Now what is your wish?"
 
The American engineer smiles and says, "Fill it with water."
 
Pooooof!
 
WORLD PEACE
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
Living in = Joburg
 
This happened on a flight getting ready to depart for Johannesburg. = Jack=20 was sitting on the plane when a chap took the seat beside him. The chap = was an=20 emotional wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear.
 
'What's the matter?' Jack asked.
 
'I've been transferred to Johannesburg, there are crazy people = there.=20 They've got lots of shootings, gangs, murders, drugs, poor public = schools, and=20 the highest crime rate in the world.'
 
Jack replied, 'I've lived in Johannesburg all my life. It's not as = bad as=20 the papers make out. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own = business, enrol=20 your kids in a nice private school. It's as safe a place as anywhere in = the=20 world.'
 
The man relaxed and stopped shaking and said, 'Oh, thank you. I've = been=20 worried to death. But if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your = word for=20 it. What do you do for a living?'
 
'Me?' said Jack. 'I'm a tail gunner on a Castle Lager truck.'
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
Best Exercise Suggested = For=20 Seniors
 
I came across this exercise suggested for seniors, to build muscle = strength=20 in the arms and shoulders. It seems so easy, so I thought I'd pass it = on. The=20 article suggested doing it three days a week. Begin by standing on a = comfortable=20 surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
 
With a 5-lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight = out from=20 your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full = minute,=20 and then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position = for just a=20 bit longer.
 
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb. potato sacks. Then = 50-lb. potato=20 sacks, and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb. = potato=20 sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full = minute.
 
Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the=20 sacks.
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
The Epol=20 Diet
 
I was in Shoprite buying a large bag of Epol nuggets for my dogs = and was in=20 line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........ Duh, = helooooo!=20
 
I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was = starting The=20 Epol Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in = the=20 hospital last time, and that I'd lost 50 kg before I awakened in an = intensive=20 care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both = arms.=20
 
Her eyes about bugged out of her head. I went on and on with the = bogus diet=20 story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, = inexpensive=20 diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with = Epol=20 nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The = package said=20 the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. =
 
I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by = now=20 enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her. Horrified, = she=20 asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I = ended up=20 in the hospital.
 
I said no.....I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls when = a car=20 hit me.
 
I thought the tall guy was going to have a hernia.
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
Wisdom of the=20 aged

A young ram and an old ram were standing = on top=20 of a hill overlooking a paddock full of sheep. The young ram said, "Lets = run=20 down the hill and service a few of those sheep."

The old ram = answered,=20 "Lets just amble down there and service all of them."
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Peek-A-Boo) is = not just=20 an athlete.... She is now a nurse currently working at the Intensive = Care Unit=20 of a large metropolitan hospital. She is not permitted to answer the = hospital=20 telephones. It caused too much confusion when she would answer the phone = and=20 say, Picabo, ICU.
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
A Queensland grazier visiting a NSW farmer asked him to show him = around his=20 property. After seeing the 1,000 acre spread, the Queenslander bragged = that up=20 north, he could get into his 4-wheel drive and drive all day, and by = nightfall=20 would still not have reached the opposite boundary.

The NSW = farmer simply=20 replied, "You know, I had a car like that once."
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
The seven dwarfs went off to work in the West Driefontein mine one = day,=20 while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their = lunch.
 
However when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches, she = found there=20 had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarfs.
 
Tearfully she yelled in to the mine entrance: "hello - is anyone = there. Can=20 anyone hear me".
 
A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine: "South Africa will = win the=20 Rugby World Cup"
 
"Thank god" said Snow White "at least Dopey's still alive"
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
A woman went on a tour of the White House. As the guide led her = down one of=20 the historic halls, a door burst open and a large aquatic sea mammal, = balancing=20 a beach ball on its nose, scurried past.
 
"My, what was that?" exclaimed the woman.

"Oh, that's just the Presidential Seal," replied the = guide.
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
The boss was complaining in our staff meeting the other day that he = wasn't=20 getting any respect.
 
The next day, he brought a small sign that read: "I'm the Boss!" He = then=20 taped it to his office door.
 
Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone = had taped=20 a note to the sign that said: "Your wife called, she wants her sign = back."
 
~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~= ~<"((((((><~~~<"((((((><~~~
 
The Pickle=20 Jar
 
The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor = beside the=20 dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would = empty his=20 pockets and toss his coins into the jar.
 
As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made = as they=20 were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar = was=20 almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar = was=20 filled.
 
I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the = copper and=20 silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured = through=20 the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the = kitchen =20 table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.
 
Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked = neatly in=20 a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the = seat of=20 his old truck.
 
Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me=20 hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, = son.=20 You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to = hold you=20 back."
 
Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins = across the=20 counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly "These are = for my=20 son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like = me."
 
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream = cone. I=20 always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice = cream=20 parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in = his=20 palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the
jar again."
 
He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar.As they = rattled=20 around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each  other. = "You'll get=20 to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,"  he said. "But = you'll=20 get there. I'll see to that."
 
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another=20 town.
 
Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, = and  noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its = purpose and=20 had  been removed.
 
A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser = where=20 the jar had always stood.
 
My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values = of=20 determination, perseverance, and faith.
 
The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently = than the=20 most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife = Susan=20 about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as = a boy.=20 In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had = loved=20 me.
 
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly = drop his=20 coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, = and=20 Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime = was taken=20 from the jar.
 
To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring = catsup over=20 my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than = ever to=20 make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his = eyes=20 glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to = "
 
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent = the=20 holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each = other on the=20 sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.
 
Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's = arms. =20 "She probably needs to be changed," she said, carrying the baby into my = parents'=20 bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living  room, = there=20 was a strange mist in her eyes.
 
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me = into=20 the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on = the floor=20 beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been = removed,=20 stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins.
 
I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and = pulled out a=20 fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the = coins into=20 the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped = quietly=20 into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same = emotions I=20 felt. Neither one of us could speak.
 
This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as well. Sometimes = we are=20 so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our = blessings.
 
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small = gesture you=20 can change a person's life, for better or for worse.
 
The Jacana Humour List
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He who = laughs,=20 lasts
;-) :-) :-) :-) :-) Humour =3D Sanity (-: (-: (-: (-: (-;
 
 
 
 
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