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| << June08, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Life Is A Bag Of Frozen Peas |
June15, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Right From Wrong >> |
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Hi, Gang. It was a beautiful weekend here in New Jersey. Ginny and I had a quiet one. We watched a few movies, went grocery shopping, and enjoyed each other's company. There's nothing better than spending time with her. To be able to reach out and hold her hand is a miracle from God. I hope you enjoy today's story. The other day I heard a train whistle. It took me back in time - so many memories, so many miles of track under my wheels. If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends. I only ask that you leave the link at the bottom for them to join us. NOTE: IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING MY STORIES, PLEASE USE THE UNSUBSCRIBE LINK BELOW. PLEASE DO NOT MARK ME AS SPAM. MY STORIES ARE ONLY SENT TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO MY EZINE. I Love your comments. Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com If anyone is interested in greeting cards, Ginny belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed together to market their products. Check them out at: http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com Ginny's cards and other crafts are at: http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational sites at the end. There's something for everyone. Now for today's story. Don't Jump the Track I sat on my deck in New Jersey. The birds fed at our feeder. Ginny sat across from me reading a book. The setting sun coated everything in orange. In the distance, I heard a train whistle… ************************ The train rounded a corner. The whistle blew to warn a deer off the tracks. I looked out the window. Miles of rail trailed behind me. It was November 1979. I was twenty years old and fresh from technology school. My degree in electronics was tucked safely in my suitcase. A company hired me as a technician and sent me for three months of training in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It was a city many miles from my home in Nova Scotia It was my first time away from home. I felt sick. All I knew and loved were miles behind me, down those lonely tracks. I didn't want to look ahead. I wanted to go back to what was comfortable. Three months later, I returned home, only to be shipped off to another city. Once again, I listened to the train whistle, watched the miles of track pass by, and separate me from my past. ************************ The train whistle blew, rousing me from sleep. I sat in the last car of the train and looked back down the tracks. My wife and children were back there in Nova Scotia. I was headed to New Brunswick. They'd join me in a year. I wanted to be with them, but I couldn't - a new job and another train. ************************ I sat on the train. As we crossed a small road, the conductor blew the whistle. I looked out the back window and watched the rails speed away from me. New York City towered ahead of me. My first wife was dead. She never had the chance to enjoy our new home and all it had to offer. Her life was taken away from us. My daughter lived five-hundred miles away in Ohio. It was just my son and I, alone, in New Jersey. The train moved forward. Miles of track were behind it. I saw my life speeding away - always behind me. ************************ "Mike?" Ginny asked. I didn't respond. "Mike?" she repeated. "Huh?" I looked up at her. "Did you say something?" "I asked you if you wanted to go into New York City and explore?" "I'm sorry, Hun. I didn't hear you." The train whistle blew in the distance. My past faded away. "I'd love to." I said. ************************ I put my arm around my new wife, Ginny, and pulled her close to me. We no longer sit in the back of the train. We sit up front, watch the future unfold, and don't cry for the things we passed. Just strap us to the front, where we can feel the winds of change in our faces and see our future grow. And if we feel the ride grow rough, as we're looking out the back, we know to look ahead, because we may have jumped the track. Michael T. Smith If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends. My only request is that you include the link for your friends to join our family. To join our family, go to: http://subs.zinester.com/86758/ As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites. I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites. A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all in her latest book. Carol Roach M.Ed, B.A. Publisher: Storytime Tapestry Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485 Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com To join Carol's story site, go to Storytime Tapestry at: http://archives.zinester.com/98907/ Here's a good one by Linda Della Donna Freelance Writer www.littleredmailbox.com www.griefcase.blogspot.com www.storybone.blogspot.com "...and sometime when I wasn't looking, I got a new life." By my good friend Keith in Australia: http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/ My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/ Phil's awesome and brutally honest Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/ Heart Catchers is a wonderful site. www.DianeDeanWhite.com www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two wonderful story sites. http://hodu.com/ http://www.mydailyinsights.com/ www.ripplemaker.com http://www.sermonillustrator.org http://www.SkyWriting.Net Here's a newly discovered one I like: http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/ If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns, struggles,etc visit www.janetperezeckles.com Janet's prayer group will respond. That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with more, I'll add them. Enjoy!!! I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com. I'll include some in every post. Now for some comments on my last few stories: Regarding the story called, "Life is a Bag of Frozen Peas." Mr Smith I enjoyed your story about frozen peas. I know exactly what you mean. I am just getting to the end of a grieving process that took 15 yrs to accomplish. Why so long you say? Well I had 3 to grieve for. My parents and the last one an only sister who committed suicide. All within a 4 yr period. I have just now reached the point where I am gathering the remaining scattered peas. Thanks for putting it in such simple terms. It did not make me cry. I had to smile. For I recognized the process. Peggy ************************** From a wonderful woman, who I consider my second mum. This is one of my favorites and I often mention this one to friends when I am telling them about you and how you can take the simplest thing and write an inspirational story around it. Liz *******************8 To read more of my stories go to: http://archives.zinester.com/86758 To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& |
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| << June08, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Life Is A Bag Of Frozen Peas |
June15, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Right From Wrong >> |
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