September 5, 2002
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in this issue
-- The Walk:
-- Sagebrush inspirations
-- IT HAPPENED IN WYOMING
-- Happy Thoughts
-- When I was a girl
-- In memory of September 11, 2001
-- I hope you had a safe and happy Labor Day!
-- From my readers
-- Proud to be an American
-- Sponsors needed
-- Until next time,

Welcome friends,

Sagebrush Inspirations
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I walk a well-traveled path through the sagebrush and dry grass. I see deer, antelope and coyote sign and catch a sagegrouse feather floating on the breeze. I wonder how many animals have walked where my feet now follow. I sit on the damp ground, but move to another place when I see an ant hill. Not far away, two antelope graze. They run a short distance, stop and look toward me, then continue eating. A while later, one of them raises her head abruptly to look at me, as if remembering my presence. Curious, they move closer, looking, eating. Before long, they lie down, sensing that I pose no danger. I utter a silent shout of joy.

Father Sun points to the rocks scattered about. They sparkle and shine; too beautiful for words. In my hand, Sister Rock is warm and smooth. I find comfort in her touch. I turn her over and my heart sinks to see one side is dirty and dull. I rub, hoping to clean her up. The dirt rubs off on me, but this side of her remains ugly. I do not toss her away because I love the beautiful side and want to enjoy her again. I hold in my hand a piece of Mother Earth; she whispers to my soul.

Life is a path. Sometimes we follow a trail laid out by others and other times we create our own. However we travel, as long as we continue to move forward we are living. It is good to stop at times and take a look at the beauty around us.** Like the antelope, people tend to keep their distance when forming new relationships. We are on guard and put up an invisible boundary until we sense that the new person poses no threat. When we feel safe with the new person, we relax and let our guard down and the gap between us closes.

I hold the beautiful two-sided rock in my hand and it speaks to me: "I am no different than a person, hiding my faults and showing my good side. Do you blame me? Would you have picked me up for a second look if all you had seen was my bad side? Because of my good qualities, you did pick me up and decided I was worth keeping. You are willing to overlook my bad qualities in order to enjoy the beauty I possess."** The Wisdom of the Rock is true. People put their best side forth in the beginning of a relationship and try to hide their faults. This is natural. Nobody is perfect. When we care about somebody, we accept the rough spots in their character along with the good. If we learn to do this, our circle of friends grows in the same way as does our collection of pretty rocks. I am a rock collector.

IT HAPPENED IN WYOMING
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Crook County infested with grasshoppers. (1936)

Several people killed in an attempt to arrest Indians for game violations. Jackson (1895)

Happy Thoughts
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Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have. (Hyman Judah Schachtel)

Life is the childhood of immortality. (Daniel A. Poling)

When I was a girl
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Candy bars cost 10 cents each.

Dwight Eisenhower was President.

In memory of September 11, 2001
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All the suffering, the lives that were lost*** America paid a terrible cost*** It brought us together and we understood*** evil can be conquered and used for good

"Proud to be an American"

I hope you had a safe and happy Labor Day!
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INHERITANCE*** The waves of memory lap gently into my sorrow. I am waterlogged with regrets for things not done, Words not spoken, time not spent with you. Now, much too late, I yearn to repay your endless, unselfish love. I would paint a great painting to share with the world your beauty, your wisdom, your endless devotion. I would write symphonies exalting you above mothers. I would pray the angels hold you tenderly in their loving care and enfold you within their consciousness. But for now, I bathe my grandson in waters of love, as, with soft voice, warm touch, and constance, I meld my soul with beautiful Timothy. Show him wonders and share with him joy and laughter, and hope somehow to share with him the essence of you. by Clara Ross

Thank you for sharing, Clara. It is beautiful.
Proud to be an American
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Until next time,

"When holding your rocks up to the light, look at the bright side."

Rosie