Amanda's Tree

A young woman was going to pick apples for the first time since she was just a small child she had spent the night before getting all of grandmothers and mothers recipes and must now have a huge phone bill after all the time she spent on the phone with them both. It didn't matter the cost she remembered waking up as a little girl and remembering how exciting it was to go to an orchard and pick them for yourself, big juicy red apples, green and tart, small and sour, she loved them all, the family would go and enjoyed the day talking but eating more than saving and all the while doing this with her family, her father would get the ladder for the ones on top of the tree and she and her sister would be on the bottom of the tree as they would fall they would catch them before they would hit the ground, the taste and feel of a good apple was just what she was needing to get out of the city gloom she was in. Just as she was walking out of the house the phone rang. "Who could that be?" She walked over to the phone and saw on the caller I.D. it was her mother, so she answered wondering what this could be about. "Hello Mom I was just walking out the front door." "Well dear I was telling your Dad about where you were going and said he and I would like to go with you." She was really excited about this going to the orchard again with her parents again. "Really Mom, I'll be there to pick you up see you in a minute." She drove to her parents and her father was ready with the ladder, he was in his usual apple picking clothes she hadn't seen him wear in years, a pair of jeans and short sleve button down shirt with a funny little hat on his head. "Well Misty I got to thinking we'll take my truck you can haul this in your car." Misty was stunned he hadn't had the truck out in years ever since her sister had past when she was a girl, that was the reason they stopped going to the orchard it was her sisters favorite thing to do every year. "That sounds wonderful Dad, I'm happy to see it still runs." Her father was taken aback but said in an understanding tone, "I keep it tuned and ready to go just as I hope you are, ready?" Misty broke into a big smile "Ready, Daddy". Misty's sister was the victim of an accident, when she was climbing a tree to get her cat down when she lost her footing and fell in a way that broke her neck, it broke the famlies heart to loose a young girl at such a tender age, nobody fully recovered but time has a way of easing the pain of loosing a loved one and some days are better than others this happend to be one of those days. Sitting in the front seat of the old 75 truck Misty felt like a little girl again sitting in the middle, with her father driving and her mother and she talking about recipes that her great great grandmother had come up with, the long drive felt like it was just an instant. When they arrived at the orchard it was busy a crafts fair was going on, the apples were fully ripe and families were everywhere, they were having a wonderful time she felt like a young little girl again. Misty's father seemed like he was enjoying himself to the fullest he wasn't an old man but the grief of loosing his one daughter had taken its toll, his hair was white and his face had more wrinkles than it should, but he was the first to say her name. "Amanda would have loved this the three of us here together today." Misty had a tear in eyes and she said. "Daddy she would have, I know she would." Her mother came from behind her and hugged her around the neck and said. "Sisters never die baby, they just simply become our gaudian angel so they are with us all the time protecting us." The father came down off the ladder and hugged them both but was the first to release, step back and looked at them both. "Ladies we're not getting any apples picked are we?" Misty got back to work right away and she saw an apple that was nearly perfect it was just hanging there with last night's rain drops still on it she walked over to it and picked it off the tree but didn't put it in the sack. The family picked until they had four bushels of apples enjoyed the craft fair and the food at the consesion and left, driving back they were passing the cemetery that her little sister was buried at. "Daddy can we go in please" Misty's father turned in and drove to the grave where his baby was buried. Misty and her parents walked over to the grave and planted the seeds from the one apple ten feet away from the grave where there wasn't another grave near it besides her little sisters. "Amanda I hope this tree will grow so you can have your own tree." Just then she felt a warm small hand in her hand but when she looked there wasn't anyone there and the feeling of the hand was gone. "I love you little sis." Her Dad walked over to her knowing what had just happend "Did you feel the hand in your hand?" Misty was shocked "How did you know?" Her father who had never cried to where people could see him broke down. "I came out here yesterday and asked her if it was alright if I went to the orchard, and she did the same thing to me, then I knew it was alright. Your mother is right she is our angel, and I haven't been doing what she would want from me, living, but I'm making a change let's go to the lake next week. How does that sound Kim" Kim turned to her husband and said. "You know George a small drive from here and we're at the cabin and we could take these apples and cook them the way used to, I've waiting a long time for us to begin living again I loved her but we can't stop living, Misty will you come with us?" Misty didn't hesitate "Yes let's go." To which her father said "What are we waiting for let's get home and get the supply and we'll be off by three." They got back into the truck and began driving out and Misty turned around and she thought she saw the apple tree fully grown with a little girl holding a cat in her arms, smiling and waving goodbye, Misty shut her eyes to clear her mind and when she opened them none of that was there, did she imagin it or was it her sister saying, I'll see you later?

Birds Fighting

A man walked out in his front yard one day and the block was busy across the street the old man was mowing his lawn down the street the children was playing catch, and the day was gorgeous the sun was shining and he had just got done spending his morning playing golf with his golf buddies. It seems so hard to imagine that across the seas that the Marines, Army, and Navy was fighting in a war for freedom again against insurgence, but there they were portraying their brave defense. Not here not a single soul was fighting, birds had joined around the bird bath and two finches were taking in the water together. The man decided to watch the birds a while and he loved watching the wildlife of any kind, his father had taught him how to hunt years ago and he loved to hunt still but second to that he loved to just watch the wild life at play. The birds had finished with their baths and flown down and began hunting food of their own, one bird found a worm laying on the ground and began his lunch when the other bird bounced itself over to it and began helping itself to the small feast the other bird took offense and the fight was on. The man couldn't believe his eyes all the ground they have to eat over and they are fighting over this one worm what sense does it make, just then he was reminded of what he was just thinking of, fighting seems senseless but for some it is the only recourse we have to settle a dispute when a person comes in and tries to take what you have, freedom. That is why our soldiers fight, Americans answer that call to war for that reason, our soldiers are the defenders of freedom. The man watched the birds fight it out for a while and saw that the original bird got the worm, but such a small fight for a worm made the man think of his country because we started with a small skirmish then to full out war until we were independent. What we fought for wasn't small it for ourselves, just as a small finch defends his lunch, we defended our right to feed our souls in what religion we choose, we have the right to fill our minds with education from our press, we have the right defend ourselves with our guns, and we have the right to pursue our happiness. The bird fought for his happiness and he enjoyed his worm, then took flight and was gone, the man just turned and walked back inside. He walked across his room until he came to a cabinet, he reached to the top and pulled down a photo, the photo was old and worn in the photo was a man in a soldiers uniform from 1943. "Dad I finally understood why you fought and I only wish you could hear me say that now, funny two birds taught me what it meant."

Sarah And The Birdbath


A young woman was working in her yard on a hot day, she was very hot, so she decided to take a small break and sit down for a few minutes so she got a glass of water and sat down in the shade, she was watching the birds for a moment before getting back to her work. She then saw a bird land in the yard and was really wanting water but she didn't have a bird bath for them and right now money was short and didn't have a way to help remedy the heat for the birds she loved so well. Just then she recalled a bag of cement she had left in the garage from when she repaired her door step, and it wouldn't take long her father taught her how to make things she needed for herself and don't rely on too many people if she didn't need to. So up she got and went to the garage she found the bag of cement and got an old bucket and began mixing, she remembered what her father told her, "Mix it too thin and it won't set, mix it too think it becomes brittle, and you won't be able to work with it." So she got the mix set just right now how to mold it, just then she was getting worried because she mixed the cement too quickly before getting something to mold it with, instead of panicking she rolled more than a few towels up and placing them on the ground then she took plastic she used to cover her windows in the winter, and laid that over the towels, putting a small plate in the middle would make a good indention that would allow for the base to fit neatly in. She poured the cement into the make shift molder and sat back and watched it dry, "Now for the base" she said as her thoughts turned to how she would make this. She would take a garbage can bend it to make the molder and when it had dried for a couple days she would take it out and trim it with a hammer and chisel and then she would sand it down to become smooth. Three days later and feeling a little proud of herself she sat in her usual spot under the tree and watched the birds play gleefully in the cool water, she knew who she could brag to in an instant. She walked inside her home and picked up her phone, the phone rang and a woman's voice answered, "Hi Mom how are you and Dad." The older woman was pleased to hear her daughters voice, "Well dear it's been pretty hot out so we've stayed inside a lot here lately but we're fine" The young woman was bursting from anticipation to the point she couldn't wait any longer, "Good let me talk to Dad for a minute real quick." The mother a bit knowing she had done something and wanted to brag about it to her father just gave in and said, "Oh okay dear" the young woman's father answered the phone "Yes Sarah, I know you had to have done something so what was it honey"? Sarah went into telling her father what she had done and when she was done she waited for what her father would say. The older man took his time and finally "Sarah we had three bird baths right here you should have called."

Rose The Movie Star

An elderly lady was sitting outside of her nursing home one day and was sitting near the roses, she was looking at them all and couldn't decide which one she liked the best until she came across this one in particular one. "Oh would you look at that". The attendant that was pushing her around in her wheel chair stopped and looked for herself, "Do you like that miss, Charlotte"? The elderly lady looked up at the attendant and said "Oh yes that reminds me of me when I was young, you may not know this but I was in the movies once upon a time." The attendant acted as though she didn't believe her, but went with what the elderly lady was saying, "Oh yes I remember you telling me about that". The elderly lady knew she didn't believe her and she couldn't prove it because none of the movies she was in was in print any longer, "Oh yes the would call me Rose because my lips were as red as a rose". The attendant had enough of this she didn't want the old lady to have delusions of grandeur. "Miss Charlotte are you ready to go back inside it is really hot out here today." Charlotte being an old lady and not really having the patients to try and convince anyone of her past just calmly said. "Very well my dear, your right it is very hot in here." Charlotte was heartbroken nobody remembered her any longer she was just another face in the crowd and all her friends that were in the movies with her are gone, her husband was gone, her daughter who wasn't like a lot of the other patients did try and visit her every chance she got, didn't know how to prove that she was in the movies either. The only good thought she had was that rose from that day, it was strikingly red just like her lips were at one time and Charlotte was beautiful at one time in the 1940's kind of way, when a lady was a lady and a tramp a tramp. The next day she had her attendant wheel her back out to the rose once more and had a good long look at it, this rose was something special and she knew it to be true. The attendant couldn't resist any longer, "Miss Charlotte would you like for me to cut this rose and let you take it in your room?" Charlotte thought about it for a moment and said "No just leave it be it will die in its own time just like I will eventually". The attendant a little shocked at what she said "Oh Miss Charlotte you shouldn't be talking about death." Charlotte just calmly said "Death is nothing to be afraid of like a line from one of my old movies "If death is the only what I'll ever be with you again, I'll happily take that trip."" I know you don't know that movie but it was a great one." The attendant almost fainted "You were in Red Red Rose?" Charlotte nearly cried "Yes my stage name was Rose Taylor." The attendant was flabbergasted "Oh Miss Rose I know who you are now and I have a surprise for you, tomorrow if you wouldn't mind seeing a fellow actress I'll bring my mother to visit you." Charlotte a little more than curious had to ask, "Who was your mother dear?" The attendant said very proudly "Clair Bishop, but her stage name was Eva Gates." Charlotte nearly fainted "Oh please bring her she and I played sisters in that very movie." The attendant answered "I'll also bring the movie with me too so everyone in the home can see it for themselves we have a Movie star amongst us". "On second thought dear cut the Rose it's too hot to be out here."

The Man And His Sunsets

"There are just sometimes in life where you just have to sit back relax and enjoy the view". That was what a man was saying on a hot and sunny evening when he was sitting back watching the sunset, he was drinking a beer and talking to his son and just feeling really good about himself. Charlie, who was in his sixties now, wasn't always so optimistic he was at one time an accountant and used to just chase the finer things in life, he didn't consider himself successful if he didn't buy a new car every five years, now he didn't feel that way anymore. See Charlie was fired from his job because he just got fed up with it all, he walked in the office one day and told his boss, "Your a hypocritical dictator, who's only joy was making other people miserable so take this job and shove it up the tail pipe" and the only reason he said that was because the day before, his boss gave him six new accounts and hadn't paid him his salary for two months. Charlie wasn't poor though he was smart with his money he had over a million in the bank after he got done selling his house, pontoon boat, and stock he had accumulated over the years and now he lives on the two hundred grand that would be the interests in the bank account. Charlie gave it all up on a whim one day when his wife Polly said to him, "Charlie I never see you anymore the boys never see you anymore and this can't go on, do something to change it all or I'm going to get a divorce". Well that put Charlie in a depressed mood though most men would go into anger what she said frightened him to the point that he said goodbye to all that really didn't matter. Did his job matter, no, did the boat matter, no, he could buy a small bass boat for him and his boys, did the house matter with it's lavish comforts and it's thirty rooms, no, they could get a smaller house to live in. He knew he wouldn't have to worry about money because the interest alone could pay the college when it was time, and they would still have enough to spare. He could take his wife anywhere she wanted to go, he could take his boys fishing and camping just like his father did him, the only reason he worked was to make more money that he knew he didn't really need. Charlie looked at his son and said, "Do you know the secret to life son?" The man staring back at his father was in his thirties now said, "No, what is the secret to life, Dad?" "The secret to life is knowing when you have enough and letting the excess go, taking everything in as it comes and enjoying beautiful wonders like that sunset." "I'll not forget that Dad." "Good boy, now pass me another beer".

The Horse

A farmer was walking on his farm in the afternoon he had gotten done all he could for the day and the sun was shining so he couldn't see a reason why he would go inside and do nothing. He was surveying his land and looking around when he saw his horse staring right at him, that horse wasn't the prettiest he had ever owned and he sure wasn't much for stamina but he was the best stud horse he ever owned and as for a work horse he could pull a good amount of weight. That horse also pulled his son when he had a hunting accident shooting himself in the leg one day, the horse would’t stop until he got him home. Many times he thought of selling the old stud but he just couldn't he wasn't any color an owner would want and he was bad tempered. Every time he thought of selling him something told him not to he had gotten attached to it, really the only person that old horse would allow to ride him would be his grandson who was 15 now, and he wouldn't have allowed his grandson to ride him either but his grandson being just as stubborn as he was just went out and started riding him. The old farmer guessed that the only reason he kept this old horse was because one day when the man from the bank came to serve papers of over due notices the horse was out of the field and stared him down, the banker got so nervous from the horses continuing stare that he got back in his car and drove off. When the banker got the nerve to come back again they had the money for the farm to pay up complete, that was the only real reason he kept the horse. The old farmer stared back at the horse who was still staring at him, "Well boy I guess you can stop staring at me now you know you won't win, besides I wouldn't sale you then and I won't sale you now". The old farmer continued on his walk knowing because of God and a horse he still owned his farm.

Photographer Vs. The Chipmunk

A photography student who had nothing better to do one afternoon got his camera out and walked out on his front step and began shooting, it was a beautiful and sunny day and this was one of his favorite pass times. He took photo's of the trees and birds, he also took a few of flowers near his home he took photo's of all that was note worthy, sitting down on the steps he decided to see if he could photograph a cardinal that he had seen earlier that week on the small chance that it may return. Right out of the corner of his eye he saw something running fast he jerked his head around and saw what was moving so fast there sat a chipmunk, the little animal was just sitting there looking at him, as soon as he raised his camera to his eye the little chipmunk ran off. Thinking that the little thing had run into its den he went back to looking for birds just then he glanced over to his right again and saw that same chipmunk looking at him again, and again when he raised his camera he ran off. The student was getting a little flustered and felt like the chipmunk was making him into a fool. So he said out loud. "Alright little guy if your going to keep playing this game I'm going to have to cheat." He walked inside him home got his tripod and came back out again. Now with the camera on the tripod he was surly to get the photo of the little chipmunk and sure enough after ten minutes waiting the chipmunk came back around the corner of the house, stood on his usual spot and stared straight at the young man. When the photographer saw him he raised his hand up to the camera looked through the view finder and snapped the shot, only to find he didn't have any film left in the camera, so he had to return with a new roll. After another ten minutes here came the chipmunk he sat there as if posing when the photographer finally got him focused in, off he ran and ruined another chance. The young man was getting discouraged and he started breaking down his equipment, he was ready to give up when here came the chipmunk one more time, this time when he sat still so did the photographer he would wait him out this time, it seemed like three minutes passed and the chipmunk finally moved and ran around a small statue that was sitting in front of the house when he stuck his
head around the corner of the statue he sat there, the photographer knew this was his best chance he raised his camera up focused in snapped the photo, and the chipmunk was still there he didn't move. The photographer actually said to the chipmunk. "Thank you little guy three hours later you let me take this shot, don't think I'm paying you for modeling services." he had to say with a joking smile on his face.

This story is true this is how I got this photo and believe me three hours later it was worth it.