Afterthoughts

          "Put the person you are having a problem with in an imaginary balloon," the leader of the Adult Children of Alcoholics Class said. "Then you blow it up, let it rise into the air, and pop it with a BB gun." One lady spoke up and shared that in her mind she took care of the antagonistic people in her life by putting them up in the branches of a tree at Gladewater Lake.  I came up with my own way to cope.  If something is bothering me, I write and I write until I can write no more.  Afterwards I burn the pages and put them in a bottle.  I now have two bottles of ashes on my kitchen window seal.  If the problem reappears, I look at the ashes and know it has been dealt with.   Dust to Dust Ashes to ashes and dust to dust so the saying goes. People ponder what it means but does anyone really know. Something burnt up is no longer in existence as it was. Each day the nature of life changes according to its laws. Unlike ashes, dust talked about in the Bible is you

Sharol Lawson and Grandmother Appling          In 1945 mom and dad got a divorce leaving mom to care for three small children by herself.  My younger brother went to live with my grandparents on their farm until he was old enough to go to school.  Many times, I would visit them and enjoy the love they doted on us. When grandmother died and people came to the visitation, my brother told one of our friends that I was mean to him as a child. I asked him why he said that.  He replied, "Because grandmother told me."       After the funeral, at the grave side service, we stood talking to the same friend.  Confused I said, "Sharol, what did I do that made you think I was mean to you?"       He chuckled, "When I played marbles you would walk across the floor and walk away with my marbles between your toes."      The laughter from our friend and myself filled the afternoon air.  I told him I was sorry and made it a point to send him bag of marbles when I got home.