DON'T BE JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON
By Olivene Godfrey
I once found myself in "hot water"--largely because of a matter of semantics--in a conversation with a Georgia state senator over the definition of the word,"ordinary." And since then I have tried to refrain from referring to myself as ordinary. Actually, I had never considered myself an ordinary person, anyway.

And after reading some words on this subject a number of years ago by Joe D. Batton, author of "Dare to Live Passionately",
I renewed my vow to never say, "I'm just an ordinary person."
He says that you can't show him a single statement in the Old or New Testament that urges you to be common. But, he said, you can find 2,000 statements that urge you to be uncommon, to climb to the heights of your potential.

The author adds that the greatest sin a man or woman can commit is to focus on their weaknesses, to hide behind what they think is wrong with them. He agrees with my own philosophy, that enthusiasm and discipline are two of the most needed ingredients
in our daily lives. And if you are truly enthusiastic it is something you are. Others are aware of your enthusiasm for life. So, remember you aren't just an ordinary person.

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It had been weeks since I had a Sunday outing until last weekend. It was a lovely spring day and I was determined that I was going out to eat and then go to the mall for a haircut. I didn't feel too chipper but never mind, I told myself, as I dressed to go out. Son Barry drove us on the scenic two-lane road to Dalton and the pretty farms and houses and yards were all looking spring-like and that lifted my spirits. We ate a delicious buffet lunch at Western Sizzlin and then we both got haircuts at the mall. So, don't worry, I told myself, even if I did have to go to the restroom twice while we were away from our house, I was feeling cheerful as we did our chores when we returned home.

Quote: " One can understand the raised eyebrows of the book store clerk when a man returned for a refund on a book, entitled, "How to be Master in your own home.". He said his wife wouldn't let him keep it."--The Scrap Book.

See you next time.

CONVERSATION REVEALS AGE & MORE MUSINGS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Nowadays,nobody knows how old anybody is just by looking. And, only nine-year-old boys, 9O year old men and 38-year-old grandmothers talk about their ages. (I don't mind telling my age as I am so proud that despite my ailments I have lived 81 years.)

Now, if you've lived all of your life in one town it's a lost cause to try to hide your true age. Some smart Aleck will be continually reminding you of when you graduated from high school, got married, etc.... You may be able to conceal your age in a new town--if you develop amnesia or keep quiet. Someone once said a liar needs a good memory. But when lying about one's age, a good memory can be a liability.

There's a foolproof way to pinpoint the age of someone you suspect is subtracting years he or she should be hiding. Cosmetics are deceptive but the ear is perceptive. And the way to figure out someone's age is not through the eyes but through the ears. To find out the age of such a person, don't ask,just steer the conversation carefully, and you'll be able to figure it out.

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Thinking of the years of our youth, were they really the good old days? I think it's more the way Herman Fay, Jr. defined nostalgia as, "The realization that things weren't as unbearable as they seemed at the time," or, as James Shaker said about the same subject, "Longing for the place you wouldn't move back to." We all have a tendency to remember the pleasant parts of our past, especially our youth, and we forget the agonies of adolescence and that is a blessing.

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For "quotation collectors."-- "They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable. But, couldn't something be worked out, such as being moderately rich and just moody?"
Augusta (Kans.) Gazette.

From Earl Wilson's column,"The really small town is one where there's no place to go that you shouldn't." and, "Middle age is that time of life when you figure that in another day or two you'll feel as good as new".

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--try to please everybody." Herbert Bayard Swope.

See you next time.

STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF CARDINAL SONGBIRD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I've told you in previous columns about our bird feeder which draws many different species of birds and turning our yard into a bird sanctuary. The Northern Cardinal or Redbird is a North American bird in the Cardinal family. It is abundant across the eastern United States from Maine and Texas and in Canada in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in wood-lands, gardens and and swamps. The male is a vibrant red, while the female is a dull red brown shade. The male behavior, marking out his territory, will sing.

Mated pairs, who usually stay together for life sometimes sing together before nesting. During courtship, they may also participate in a bonding behavior where the male collects the food and brings it to the female, feeding her beak to beak. If the mating is successful, this mate-feeding may continue throughout the period of incubation. The female builds cup nest in a well-concealed spot in dense shrub or a low tree three to 10 feet off the ground.

All of the above is to prepare you for the strange behavior of a male Cardinal on our patio. A glass door opens to our patio and has a floor-to- ceiling glass wall. We have several plants placed in front of the glass and the Incredible Poinsettia has some red leaves which matches the color of the the male Cardinal. For several days, the male Cardigan has been flying hard onto the glass door and wall, desperately trying to get inside the house. Son Barry covered the plants but the bird is still in a frenzy. While he is trying to get in the house, he is singing loudly. Barry did some research on the Internet and found out the Cardinal fiercely defends his breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces. it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder. So, we believe that solves the mystery. We will be glad when the eggs hatch and hope the redbird will be busy finding food for the chicks and stop fighting the imaginary Cardinal reflection.

Barry has continued to do spring cleaning here and has also taken care of a lot of odd jobs around the house. He even did some painting in my bathroom and has it looking spiffy.

See you next time.

MUST TURN KNOB TO OPPORTUNITY

By OLIVENE GODFREY

We're all familiar with the quotation by Chamfort:"Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice at your door." And Samuel Johnson wrote: "To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life."

As we grow older most of can look back and see that opportunity does knock more than once in our lives. But rarely does it knock more more than once at the same door. That is, we have different opportunities for different situations. For instance, suppose that one of your ancestors had been offered stock in the Coca-Cola company in the late 1800s when the company was formed and they neglected to take that opportunity. It's doubtful that particular opportunity knocked twice at that door.

We miss much by not accepting the choices we still have.
"If only" and "I wish" are over used expressions by most of us. Too often we refuse to recognize the volume of opportunities open to us. Someone said that all of life is not free, but there's much available for our personal selection.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, " Give me a young man with brains enough to make a fool of himself." He didn't mean intentionally acting foolish but one who would dare to stand on his own chances of winning or losing, to step outside the realms of what others might call foolish.

See you next time.

GOOD MEDICAL REPORT & SPRING IS IN THE AIR HERE IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
By OLIVENE GODFREY
I had an appointment this week with my primary care doctor to discuss the results of my recent complete lab work. The new report was, "quite good"my doctor told me. The earlier report seemed to indicate that my anemia had returned. The doctor said the earlier test may have been influenced by the sore throat and cough virus I had at that time. I will return to the doctor's office for another lab work up in two months. Meanwhile, I was given a prescription to lower my blood pressure as I have been having a problem. I am taking two other blood pressure medicines . Also, the doctor gave me a new prescription for my allergy as my old one doesn't seem to be helping me much. I hope I don't have any side effects from the new medicines.


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Son Barry had the week off and for a couple of days we ventured out in extremely cold weather to take care of errands. Since my recent cataract surgery, my reading glasses needed a new right lens. So we picked up the lens and I can read and do close work so much better now. We also placed a pretty artificial spring bouquet on my late husband's grave. As I write this, I am growing weary with all the gadding about but have been glad to be out of the house more.

-------------------------------------------Despite the very cold weather we had earlier this week, there is a touch of spring in the air here in northwest Georgia. And now the temperatures are more spring-like but I'm sure we will have a few more cold spells before summer arrives. My jonquils are blooming and the pear tree was covered with white blossoms but the heavy frost earlier nipped the blooms. The forsythia has a few yellow flowers and inside the pink germanium

is blooming. My niece, Charlene, said in an e-mail this week that, "I can feel my green thumb aching and my hay fever, too"
She is planning to have a vegetable garden this year, and I remember when people had gardens-called Victory Gardens- during World War II. Barry has been busy this week with spring cleaning and things are looking good and are so clean. He is planning to work in the yard some the rest of the week while the weather is so nice.
See you next time.