Hello there Phil and Forum members

What a fantastic forum. Looking forward to meeting great Friends Online.

I am based in South Africa. Bright Sunny Skies, Massive Thunder and lightning Storms, Great People Friendly people.

There is nothing like making friends with like minded people.

Kindest regards

Hi Phil,

I got the following email today and I thought you would enjoy this one. So I thought this forum would be a good one to post it.

THE OLD PHONE

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in
our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall.
The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach
the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to
it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived
an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing
she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the
correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while
my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the
basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but
there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give
sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally
arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in
the parlor and dragged it to the landing Climbing up, I unhooked the
receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please" I said
into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

"Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came
readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said
the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked
her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She
helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the
park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called,
Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said
things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her,
"Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all
families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne
always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."
Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
"Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?"
I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When
I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my
friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back
home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on
the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those
childhood conversations never really left me

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene
sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding,
and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in
Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes
or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without
thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown Operator and said,

"Information Please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please
tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess
your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any
idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me. I
never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked
if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice
answered "Information." I asked for Sally.
"Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been
working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five
weeks ago."
Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your
name was Wayne ?" "Yes." I answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you
called.
Let me read it to you."
The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in.
He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
---------
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.
Whose life have you touched today? Why not pass this on? I just
did....

Lifting you on eagle's wings. May you find the joy and peace you
long for.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. What love was showed here.

Hugs and Blessings,
Myrna

Hi Myrna,

Thanks for the lovely story. I've heard it a few times before, but I still get a little misty-eyed whenever I read it.

Apparently this wonderful story goes back quite a way. Urban Legends claims to have found a pre-Internet version in Reader’s Digest in 1966. Even if you're not reference librarians, I thought you all might appreciate this link~~~http://www.snopes.com/glurge/infoplea.htm

I whole-heartedly agree with you my Sweet Friend, we never know how great an impact we can make in another's life. May we all practice random acts of kindness, and may we entrust everything to God's Hands. He will always know what to do...

Thanks Again & God Bless My Friend,

Phil

Hi Phil,

Well it is a beautiful story anyhow.

Here is another one that is great. Sent to me from a ministers wife.

To all my family & friends I want to

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ONCE YOU READ THIS

YOU WILL UNDERSTAND!



A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.


Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.


"Jack, did you hear me?"


"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.


The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.


"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

5. You mean the world to someone.

6. If not for you, someone may not be living.

7. You are special and unique.

8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

10.. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

11. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

13 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy .

14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life...for the better.

To everyone I sent this to " Thanks for your time".

Let me know what you think.
Hugs,
Myrna

Hi Myrna,

I'm here for the first time and read your threads - the content is so true!

Thanks for your time. - Thanks for your acquaintance/friendship. - Thanks for your attention.

There are so many reasons to thank somebody. We only need to remember it.

Hugs n light n love

Rieke