Archives at Zinester: "Smile". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "Smile" - April19, 2007

"I Believe in you!"

A message of Hope...stories from the road.

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Thanks to all my AOL friends for the "warm welcome back" into your mail boxes. Please

remember to bookmark my website in case you lose me again. http://www.BobPerks.com

Now I take a deep breath and say...

I could easily write about the tragedy, the senseless loss of life. But you are most likely

already drenched in the sadness of it all. I prayed about it and discovered that my role

remains the same. I write about hope. I tell stories that light the world. Not because I am

insensitive, uncaring and out of touch. I weep daily with those who are in pain.

It is my mission in life to lift you up, give you hope and make you smile when you feel you cannot.

The world is in shock. The images horrifying.

Not just In Virginia, but Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and the streets of every major city of the world.

Please pray in your own way for the sake of all of us.

Today I give you a chance to smile again.

Love always and all ways,

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"Spring is an affirmation of hope, a time of renewal and exists

eternally in the hearts of those who choose see the

light in darkness." Bob Perks

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Appreciate what I do?

Here's how you can help me:

This link will take you to my web page for more information,

shopping, and ways you can help.

I humbly thank you in advance...

Love always and all ways,

Bob and Marianne Perks

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I took a stand today. I won't declare it an act of bravery and it will mostly go unnoticed

But I am a man driven by a need and I stood tall and strong and said, "Enough!"

I found myself cold and unresponsive. I felt empty and physically beat up. My body ached,

my mind was foggy, empty, void of happy thoughts.

I opened the closet door located just inside the room which leads to the back yard.

Two hooded sweat shirts, three heavy jackets, a camel hair sport coat, two thermal vests

all hung there before me.

The top shelf held hats, gloves, scarves and ear muffs while the floor had a collection of

I turned to my left to look outside. The yard was littered with winter. Two huge branches

which, when ripped from the tree, hit hard enough to create a six inch hole in the ground.

Our small garden was still covered with remnants of last fall.

The six bird houses scattered throughout the yard, now empty and abandoned by former

transient residents, now need to be readied for new ones.

Small piles of snow from the last "Nor'easter" dot the property.

Reaching into the closet, I select a jacket, remove it from the hanger and stop cold.

"No!" I scream. "I can't do this any more!"

I found myself at that very moment face to face with the demon of dark days. I could take it no more.

Back in February, the most famous of all weather forecasters emerged from his home and declared

Our local newspaper editorial mocked his prediction as evidence of winter's cold grip on the northeast

became more apparent each day.

I, the self appointed ambassador of hope, minister of all things bright and cheerful (only after a strong

cup of coffee and just on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) immediately penned a letter to the editor.

"How dare you mock and belittle the efforts of a few to bring a spark of hope to the world!" I declared.

This was followed by some of the worst weather we had seen in years.

Still, I found myself today bravely taking another stand.

No more! Even if the temperature drops to sub freezing, the snow falls by the foot and yes, hell freezes over,

I will not wear another winter coat.

Today, I begin my journey into spring. I bravely slipped on my light summer jacket and headed out the door.

Please hold the applause! Instead join, me no matter where you are, and declare it a brighter day.

I want you to do something silly, have fun, stand up and claim all that is good in this day and choose to

see tomorrow as the first day of brighter days ahead.

Wear shorts! Put a flower in your hair. Don't wear a jacket when you go to the store.

Okay, that doesn't apply to my friends who already live in warm places. You are charged with

being the sunshine for someone who can't see the bright side of things today.

The rest of you stand up and declare this the last cold day ever!

Some may think of me as a great warrior heading into battle. I humbly accept that.

Okay, the weatherman said it will be in the 70's here

over the next few days anyway.

But in an act of defiance, I will still put my long underwear in storage in the attic today.

Okay, now you can applaud!

Here's a silly picture of me I just took to make you smile...

I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and

contact information with my work.

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Have a comment about today's story?

please write to "2 believe @ comcast .net"

(spaces were placed between words in email address for security)

RE: "Cracked and Chipped" (Note from Bob...I still shop the "Sallies and Goodwill for bargains

and donate stuff too.)

Bob, ESA made me smile Bob for when I worked back in the 60's and 70's and even part of the

80's I wore different clothes at my factory job almost every day and when some one would ask

where I got something I was wearing that they liked I would say "Sals" or "Goodies" .. like

your Salvation Army and my Goodwill ... .

Have a Blessed week , Good Night

Shirl , Spring Hill Florida

Bob, I just returned from vacation and am thrilled to find that I am receiving your messages again.

This is great!

Thank you!

Lynne

Dear Bob:

We jokingly call Salvation Army Sally's (like a specialty shop) and Goodwill

(Willy's-like a fine Department store). I have friends that furnish their whole

beautiful homes from these fine establishments as well as yard sales!

I chuckled at your symbolism of the imperfect plates

You see, as gravity takes hold, we no longer sit perfectly, even with others. We

certainly do not look like everyone else.

We have nicks, cracks and rough edges that God gently chisels away at. Our

uniqueness is that God finds us valuable.No one matches us perfectly.

God loves us just the way we are but too much to leave us that way!

Blessings as you change!

Pat

Florida

Dear Bob and Marianne,

You did it again! I was just thinking yesterday that you lift us up, you make us

better people, you make us try harder, but the main thing is that you allow

us to be human and imperfect!

Your story today really brought that home.

Thank you again for the difference you have made in my life.

Kas

Hi Bob,

What a wonderful story today--I TOO am cracked and worn, but never thought of it

quite that way. Guess I am worth a SMALL FORTUNE!

Love to you and Marianne

BEV

Great message, Bob. I guess I'm cracked and chipped also. Eighty-one and
still going strong ---not as strong as once, but strong enough. I believe
you're familiar with that word, "enough!"
Richard

Hi Bob...........Loved you story and received it again, just like last week...........I put

this email address in my address book so I should continue to get your GREAT

stories............They make me laugh and sometimes they make me cry...........

And yes, I am a little cracked and chipped too..........:)

I WISH YOU ENOUGH !!!!!! Vickie

Bob,

Always a pleasure my friend... but this one is hilarious. Because it's true!! I saw the

ripped hats in the store the other day and just shook my head. When I was a kid the

boy who wore a hat like these was laughed at for wearing rags... it seems now that

it's cool! **sigh** I'm not old by any stretch but it certainly is funny the difference

between my Generation X & the new Generation Y. But it is always good for a

chuckle... God Bless

Rick
San Angelo, TX

Thanks for today's story. I'd never looked at things that way. It was a wonderful

insight for a Monday morning! I'm glad that you are different! Isn't it great that our

Great Creator designed each of us to be a mismatched set! But together we make

up a very unique universe.

May God continue to bless you and your family! Janet

Hi Bob:
I did receive a story from you this last week....and now this one. I thought you were

sending them to me via some special way after my email to you last week (smile).....

but praise the Lord it sounds like they are actually coming thru AOL now....yahoo!

After I received your email saying it was AOL that was blocking your stories I complained

very LOUDLY.... I explained to them they didn't have the right to tell me who I could and

who I could not receive mail from, considering how much I pay them each month. They

assured me they would look into it!!!!
So just let me say I am "THRILLED" that I'm getting your stories on a regular basis again,

it's like a long lost friend has returned, and I am grateful and thankful!
Give Marianne a hug for me!
Blessings,
Angel Vickie

Hi Bob

I'm so excited to have you back in my "inbox" again. I too, have been trying for a while

to get you back again - for a few months now I haven't been receiving your messages.

I have a "yahoo" address and your mailings were being blocked. I knew you weren't lost,

I know I can find you in the archives, which is what I have been doing- but - this may sound

silly, it's just not the same as you showing up regularly like an old friend in my mailbox.

In the archives, I still got to read the same message, but I felt like an "outsider"- it was

somehow less personal. It doesn't make any sense at all, I know, but it just felt "different".

Today I found you accidentally while scanning through my (huge) Spam file before deleting it.

All of a sudden, there you were. Today's message - "cracked and chipped" - In Spam! It's

rather ironic, isn't it. I immediately put you back where you belonged - #1 on my contact list.

There is truth in that old saying - one person's "trash" is another person's "treasure". You

are a treasure - to many. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Kate

Bob--

It's good to see you back! I thought you had stopped writing your inspirational pieces. I'm

glad you're able to get through to us AOL subscribers again.

Sincerely,

Diane

Bob, this tells me we are marked as one of God's own, a reflection of the million ways that love

shines in this world. I would not change one wrinkle because I smiled them all and even the

worry lines came with a price - loving too much - if there is such a thing... blessings of peace

and love to you and Marianne this day and all days... Fran

"I Wish You enough!"
� 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."