ABOUT ME     YEAR THREE     CONTACT ME    

Articles: 104
Different US States: 29
Different Countries: 22
MY LATEST WORK
A Note to my Mom Above 05/10/13
To Live In Minnesota 04/27/13

THROUGH MY EYES
Published At Last 02/20/11
The Green Thumb from Above 01/19/11
My Picture Window of Roses 02/05/11
A Special Valentine's Thank YOU 02/12/11
Our Family of Hummingbirds 02/12/11
Those Little Leprechauns 03/17/11
Easter 2011 03/22/11
A Tribute to our Mothers 2011 05/06/11
Memorial Day 2011 05/30/11
LIFE Without a Computer??? 06/30/11
The Fourth Of July 2011 07/04/11
Remember So We Never Forget 9/11/2011 09/11/11
Veteran's Day 11/11/2011 11/11/11
ThanksGiving Day 11/24/2011 11/21/11
Merry Christmas 2011 12/21/11
New Year's 2011 12/27/11
What's Your Name? 02/01/12
Valentine's Day 2012 02/12/12
Life is a Step 03/10/12
Cinco de Mayo 2012 05/03/12
Happy Mother's Day 2012 05/13/12
Memorial Day 2012 05/28/12
Father's Day 2012 06/16/12
4th of July 2012 07/02/12
July 6, 1945 07/06/12
Friday And Thirteen 07/13/12
A Storied Life 08/01/12
The American Flag Forever 10/07/12
Staying Alive 11/04/12
The Vietnam Wall Of Remembrance 11/10/12
Life In The 50's 12/03/12
The Candles Of Chanukkah 12/06/12
Papa Cigar~My Dad~12/12/12 12/12/12
Nostalgic Memories 1/25/13

THROUGH THEIR EYES - FROM THE USA*
Drugged In Alabama Alabama 01/05/12
Puterpals Are A Mainstay Alaska 02/24/12
Adventure By The Sea California 02/24/12
God Through A Child's Eyes California 04/03/12
A Bounty Of Bounce California 06/14/12
Our First Colorado Zebra Finch Colorado 01/05/12
A Poet In The Everglades Florida 04/05/13
Thanksgiving Week 2012 Idaho 11/22/12
Helping Others Get Through It! Illinois 07/27/11
The Odds Kansas 12/16/11
The Fall Of Winter..The Spring In Maine Maine 05/01/11
Slo Poke Sam Michigan 05/14/11
To Live in Minnesota Minnesota 04/27/13
A Day In The Life Of Santa Missouri 12/16/12
A Trip on a Harley Nevada 10/30/11
Dogs and Cats and a Family of Laughs Nevada 06/15/11
A Nurse In New Jersey New Jersery 03/21/12
Stormy Solitude On The East Coast New Jersery 11/17/12
Pieces of Peggy New Jersey 04/21/13
A Garden for Mary New York 06/03/11
For the Love of People New York 04/17/14
God Watches Over Us! North Carolina 07/12/11
An Old Brick Road North Carolina 08/03/11
Captain Wilbert North Carolina 10/06/11
The Circle Of Prayer North Carolina 03/31/13
A Grandmother from Ohio Ohio 12/05/11
Retirement Ohio 02/08/13
A Miracle On Christmas Day Ohio 03/27/13
One Life in The Philippines Philippines 08/24/11
Jovie In The Philippines Philippines 09/24/12
Nursing in the Philippines Philippines 06/25/12
Puerto Rico: The Land I Love Puerto Rico 08/25/11
The Ocean State....Rhode Island Rhode Island 09/19/11
A Fear Of Snakes South Carolina 09/05/12
My Beautiful Tennessee Tennessee 01/10/13
Harmony In Texas Texas 06/02/12
Eyes Tell A Lot Texas 09/30/12
I'm Happy With Alfie Texas 01/18/13
Loving Utah Utah 10/23/11
A Picture Of Vermont Vermont 08/10/12
Washington Is Our Home Washington 07/23/12
Washington Washington 09/14/12
The Beauty of West Virginia West Virginia 08/28/12
Honoring Our Teachers West Virginia 10/19/12
What About Wisconsin? Wisconsin 07/19/12
Off To Wyoming Wyoming 08/20/12

THROUGH THEIR EYES - FROM AROUND THE WORLD*
Australia’s Beauty~Nature’s Fury Australia 04/18/11
Life in Canada Canada 03/06/12
A Note to My Mom Above Canada 05/10/13
The Cayman Islands Cayment Islands 01/10/12
Freedom of Religion Behind The Iron Curtain Through HIS Messengers East Germany 01/2/13
Sarah's Garden In England England 04/12/12
A Spitfire Over Germany England 04/24/12
Vera from Germany Germany 11/16/11
A Life In Greece Greece 06/14/12
The Power Of HIS Words Iraq-US Soldier 09/05/11
The Pride Of Ireland Ireland 03/16/12
Working in Israel Israel 10/13/12
Life on the Rock Jamaica 12/20/11
A Butterfly In Malaysia Malaysia 05/12/12
A Bit About Malta Malta 08/19/11
A Friend In The Netherlands Netherlands 04/24/12
Jade in Nigeria Nigeria 10/25/12
Christmas and Peru Peru 12/10/11
A Peek At Romania Romania 01/26/12
Elvira from Russia Russia 07/27/11
Love For My Country South Africa 08/12/11
The Good Side Of Snakes Saint Helena 02/18/13
A Friend From The Islands Of Tokelau South Pacific 08/19/11
A Look At Swaziland Swaziland 07/11/12

*One of my dreams as a Creative Writer is to write stories from each State & Possession of America & every Country & Spot on the most recent World Map! I'm writing these stories from letters via my WorldWide Network of PenPals! Send your letters to me labeled "Life" along with YOUR FIRST Name and State, Possession, Country or Spot on The Map! At the beginning of each story this information will acknowledge you with your written permission!


THROUGH MY EYES

Published At Last
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

February 20, 2011
How true that sound of strong words rings in my ears so clear~
WORDS I wanted to share with the world were trapped in my brain~
Thanks to God my "Published" Adventures started in my 65th year~
And the WORDS continue their steady flow like a neverending rain~


The Green Thumb From Above

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
January 19, 2011
Living in Waikiki Beach was a treat in itself! Not much land to plant your own flowers, especially living in a rented upstairs home with no land whatsoever for planting! In the rear of our home was a nice sized patio partitioned from the beauty shop next door and a wrap-around wooden lanai. Plenty of room for my "Potted" Garden Of Eden!

With Hulas Bar on our right and Canlis Restaurant parking lot in the front of our old shabby home there wasn't much privacy to speak of! Launiu Street dead ended right in front of our home!…… I remember that time In 1974 like it was yesterday!

Ever since I can remember I've had a love for plants and flowers starting them from seed, watering them and watching their growth, coddling then cutting them and proudly displaying their beauty in our home! Ruth Anne and I moved into 382 Launiu Street, Honolulu, Hawaii in 1974!

For the next 3 years I was extremely involved with my potted paradise which includes 13 rose bushes, 3 asparagus ferns, a large white ginger, 6 coleus, 2 zinnias, a mock orange tree, a sprouting red bougainvillea, 2 4 o'clocks, a nasturtium, a red gardenia, 3 ti leaves, a clinging cypress vine, 6 marigolds, 2 cosmos and various other creations of nature! After taking a count of my potted paradise I came up with 87 potted beauties growing a fence along our lanai giving us privacy where there was nothing before! It was the top of a gravel topped garage used by the downstairs tenant! I was heralded by plant enthusiasts saying most of my plants were miracles because they thrive best in the ground not in pots! Why did they have such splendid blooms in our backyard in pots? Simply my tender touch and attention like they were my own children!

Of course God was nurturing them too because he knows how much we revel in their beauty and are completely at peace with the world in our Garden Of Eden! You might say our back yard was our church, Garden Of Eden and our trees and flowers were one of our links to God! We attest to the fact that the Lord moves in strange ways!


My Picture Window of Roses

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Feb 5, 2011
When we moved into our rented home in sunny California in April of 2008 I anticipated a lot of changes to spruce up the property! Since I’m paralyzed on my right side from head to toe I had to be choosy on the projects I could tackle! The place I would be spending a lot of time was the red brick front porch with a built in planter running the eight foot length of the porch! It was an unsghtly mass of ugly, overgrown weeds and I imagined some thing that would be attractive to our family, guests and the passersby on the street! So I started pulling the weeds and bringing the dirt back to it’s natural state! When that was accomplished I was ready to start! I mentally plotted how many Rose bushes would fit in my 8 foot space! I came up with the lucky number 7! Five in the dirt and 2 in pots one on each end! Since shopping was an inconvenience to me I used a mail order nursery to choose my flowery gems! They are better roses when bought directly from a nursery! My favorite nursery is in South Carolina because they make sure their products are the best! I ordered a specific color and type in 2008 and when it bloomed it was beautiful but not what I ordered! So they told me the following Spring they would ship the right rose! Yeah right? Guess what…they did!

I looked at their shiny catalog with all the different colors and styles and chose 7 of the finest! The Sweetness is a beautiful shaded light purple which grows upward with a sweet scent to please the senses! This beauty would be on one end of my porch! I chose a dark red growing up for the other end with a bold inviting scent ! To fill in the red brick planter I chose a bright yellow bare root that doesn’t climb but produces blossoming blooms most of the year with a mesmerizing scent! Next to that I planted an orange and white beauty that dazzles the eyes and tickles the nose with a scent that spikes your romantic imagination!! The next floral splendor was a pink and white rose with tantalizing colors and a Heaven sent scent!! The next is an almost pure white bare root with speckles of yellow and a “Down Home” inviting scent! The last and best is the bare root bright red with fabulous huge blossoms making every day Valentines Day with a strong scent of Love!

My 7 babies who I prune and coddle with water and love have taken well to their new surroundings and have grown up and out after their 3rd year of love forming my picture window of Roses!


A Special Valentine’s Thank YOU

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Feb 15, 2011
I have literally thousands of friends on the net since I regained my speech, memory and will to live in March of 2008 from a CVA {Cerebral Vascular Accident} on 6/18/98! Though I’m permanently paralyzed on my right side from head to toe my dream of being a WRITER has become a REALITY!

This Valentine’s Wish is dedicated to my Family, Friends and Planet Wide Pen Pals who have never given up their faith in me as a writer! Thank you from "my heart, soul and spirit".jrl.

Just showing my gratitude to all of you who have stayed with me or come into my life and inspired me to never give up the ship no matter what the crcumstances are! If it wern’t for YOU my life would still be at a “dead end” with absolutely no light at the end om my tunnel! Now my life is a bright light forever shining so I can write for the world to enjoy!

A friend is always there for the good, bad, happy and especially the sad for that is when you need them the most and most of them swiftly disappear! But YOU don’t! The daily emails are a great conversation piece but don’t say much about yourself but we have become personal friends who exchange banter about ourselves and Life in general! That’s one of the reasons I Love my friends on the net! YOU are not fake , cyberspace characters but real people who all have some stories to tell of your own!

Whether you live a block away or in another city, state or country I’m always home writing YOU for what you’ve done for ME!
“Valentine’s Day comes but once a year that’s oh so true!
But I have the honor of YOU, MY FRIENDS, all year through”!


Our Family of Hummingbirds

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
March 14, 2011
Since we lived in California since 1978 we’ve always been fascinated with the little birds that flitter around the neighborhoods with the greatest of ease! Not till 2002 did we get a chance to have our own family of Hummingbirds! Since we lived in a home with a yard we had space & enough room to buy a feeder & hanger! We bought the nectar till we learned to make it ourselves! It’s a mixture of 2/3 water and 1/3 sugar! Food coloring is optional! You warm the water in a microwave; add the sugar so it dissolves completely! After this cools you’re ready to hang it for the hummingbirds to feast on!

California has an assortment of 13 hummingbird species including the Allens, Annas, Black Chinned, Blue Throated, Broad Billed, Broad Tailed, Calliope, Costa’s, Green Violet Ears, Ruby Throated, Rufous, Violet Crowned and Xawtus’ which is rare to see or find!

The names basically define the colors which are so beautiful to view as they sip their nectar! So many shades of green like emerald, light, brush, metallic & bronze! Some parts are ruby red, white breasted & ruby throated! The feathers are usually buff {shiny} yet some are rufous {red brick} colored!

Some have streaked, violet , blue, brushed green & red patches above and below their eyes forming a mask extending to the neck with a black band near the base with yellow/green tips & a black bill & feet & quite a sight to see. Others have white or black or red speckles. There are rust, pale, purple, blue throated, gray, white tipped, orange red, iradescent, coppery red, light green or gray & dark rose red feathers!

The Costas female has long side feathers & the Rufous female has a longer bill than the male! The Broad Tail makes cricket like sounds where most chip, chip rather than chirp, chirp!

Hummingbirds are extremely territorial especially at our home! There is only one feeder with 4 “seats at the bar”! It’s like cars waiting their turn at a busy gas station! But our little “chippers” circle the feeder sometimes “dive bombing” the patrons at the nectar bar! It usually takes 3 or 4 days for our family to empty the delicacy!

If our family doesn’t notice the empty tank the little hummingbirds will knock on our window with their beaks or maneuver like helicopters going straight up and above our window then to eye level flapping their delicate little wings, nipping, chipping & acting like the children that they are!

One day I observed a sorrowful site at the feeder! A cute hummingbird was hanging upside down on the side bar completely motionless! I called Ruth Anne, my wife, to see the poor little thing! I told her we would have to give it a proper burial! It was soooo sad! Ruth Anne went out there and was about to take it off the bar and it stood upright, jumped on her hand & sat there a couple minutes till it woke up! It tipped its red head, gave us a wink & flew off till next time!

We enjoy Our Family Of Hummingbirds all year long because of the temperate climate, our hospitality and their feeling at home with us!


Those Little Leprechauns

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
March 17, 2011
Since I was a boy and into my 38 years of married bliss my Family & I have traditionally celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day with the usual menu of carrots, greens, corned beef, cabbage, beer {green if it’s a tradition in your Family} or whiskey or non alcoholic treats to whet your fancy! Green is a must…. Stopping by the wishing well and picking a four leaf clover is part of this celebration! And what about those pots of gold at the end of each rainbow in plain view all over the world but never reached or found? Especially true in Ireland!

Leprechauns are part of the Tuatha De’ Danann of Irish Mythology! Leprechaun means “one shoe maker”! This colorful faerie is a tiny, about the size of a hand, ugly sort who dresses in green with unsightly eyes, pointed ears, leather apron, silver buckled boots, a bright red hat & tilted glasses precariously balanced on the edge of a disfigured nose! He is a cobbler by trade mending his fellow fairies shoes only “one at a time”.

These little fellows don’t care much for "the likes" of us humans only to use their trickery to befuddle us reaching that elusive pot of gold!

If a wily leprechaun is caught escorting the search he has to reveal "the spot of the hidden pot" which is a rarity if not a "dream"! You see if he catches your attention with his wandering eyes the little guy will disappear and the hunt is over with a "twinkle in his eyes"!

Since it’s a natural thing to blink, how can one successfully find that pot? Hope his spectacles fall off & are crushed to smithereens by a human foot?

"Those far off, expanding, colorfully painted rainbows will be mesmerizingly bright!
But the black pots of gold & 'Those Little Leprechauns' will remain a bit out of sight!"


Easter 2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
March 22, 2011
HE came upon us thousands of years ago into the city of Jerusalem with his disciples! Jesus was not welcome for fear that he would become King of the Jews so he was turned-in to the Romans by Judas! The Romans decided to make an example of HIM by crucifying Him on a cross along with criminals on either side!

Christians celebrate Easter week beginning with Palm Sunday which reenacts Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem, a happy occasion till the CRUCIFIXION was ordered! The last supper was celebrated on Maundy Thursday where Jesus broke bread with his disciples! The Lord carried the cross on his back to the top of Calvary Hill being ridiculed all the way to the top! He was literally nailed to the cross in his arms and legs leaving him hopelessly inescapable by the soldiers who took joy in what they did! One of the prisoners on a cross beside HIM asked to be forgiven for his sins & Jesus forgave him! Then Jesus eventually died!

He was taken to a place where a huge sepulcher & boulder blocked his body from outsiders! And that was supposed to be the end of Jesus! When the Romans discovered the boulder removed and Jesus gone but his clothes still where his body was, they knew he had not died but was Resurrected!

Good Friday is celebrated then Easter is a solemn day celebrating God’s Resurrection as Lord And Savior for Forever and A Day! Many disbelieve because they can’t see or hear HIM but others know he is HERE on Earth through their Faith, Hope and Promise of an Eternal Life with HIM in Heaven!

On Easter Sunday for centuries families and friends have gathered at their places of worship in their Easter Sunday best where the choir and congregation praise the Lord! Then they proceed to their humble homes to break bread {so to speak} but with turkies, hams, vegan gourmet cooking and pies and the fellowship that Easter draws us into! The young ones have Easter Egg hunts all over the world with plenty of chocolate and real peeps and rabbits and baskets filled with jelly beans and special gifts with games to play! Germany has Easter Egg Trees,a tradition started in 1945!

Wherever in the world you live, whatever your religious belief, thanks for being part of Our World because we are really just One Big Family!


A Tribute to our Mothers

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
May 6, 2011
Since the creation of woman and man, male and female, civilization began and has prospered through time giving us human and animal lives to cherish! A life starts mostly after a male and female make love and hope to start a family of their own! The female houses the baby for 9 months {in humans} and gets to know the child while it's growing inside her! There are many instances during the pregnancy where things can go wrong! Most Mothers and babies make it through! The ones who didn't are with God in Heaven! inspiring me to write this story!

A definition of a MOTHER is a woman who makes babies! Left out was the man who is so much a part of making a life! Let's concentrate on our Mothers!

A woman is a woman from birth. She becomes a MOTHER after her nine month pregnancy welcoming a son and/or daughter to the outside world! She and her child had a head start on everyone else during those months of growing inside her! That’s why Mothers are soooo special!

They can be happy, sad, even mad at times! But Moms are always caring regardless of their mood! Their hearts have no dimensions encompassing their very being! They nurse and nurture their children through their lives till they become adultson their own hopefully having a family of their own someday to continue the family into the next generation giving their Parents some Grandchildren to take care of while they are both working! Sad but true!!

One thing for sure a MOTHER is the first person in your LIFE and will remain with you after they are called HOME!

M. Mothers remain with you forever And A Day~
O. Only A Mother is with you on your trip to and through Life~
T. Thank You MOM~
H. Her Heart, Soul And Spirit is with the Family~
E. Everyone is thankful for what you do and what you’ve done~
R. Remember us for the LOVE you gave and we appreciate~
S. Smell the beautiful bouquet of Roses which remind me of LIFE with You Mom~


Memorial Day 2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
May 30, 2011
I remember when as a little boy my parents took me to all kinds of parades! The Macy's Easter Parade was my favorite one because my Dad painted those huge balloons that flew high above the crowds from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was an upcoming "artist/designer" of his time in the 50's! The Memorial Day Parade held no significance to me at that time....It was just another parade!

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May this year being Monday, May 30th, 2011! It was originally called Decoration Day and first celebrated in Waterloo, New York in 1911! *A bit of trivia..... My Dad, Raymond William Losier, was born on 12/12/12 the next year.

This solemn day was officially made into law in 1968 when Congress passed a law making 3 separate holidays into 3 day affairs by making a specific Monday the holiday! Memorial Day is one!

Though Summer technically falls on June 21st every year it is celebrated as the beginning of the Summer season each Memorial Day!

There are special flag placement ceremonies commemorating the lives lost to keep our country free at Arlington National Cemetery and all burial places around the United States and the planet!

Parades are held with horses, floats and the feeling of happiness {for the children who know no better, like I was}, looky loo fun seeking spectators and legions of men and women who survived the perils of war marching down the street!

Memorial Day is a significant day in the annals of time because it honors each and every one of our Family. Friends and some still unknown who laid down their lives so America can and still to this very day remain FREE!


LIFE Without a Computer???

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
June 30, 2011
I really gave it no thought until mine was inoperable! That happened the other day when I went to a favored site to gain more friends as a prowess of my friendliness and my desire as an accomplished writer reaching every corner of this world as we know it!

I not only hit the wrong key but I got the most undesirable virus on the net as we speak! It was the virus of 2012 and takes control of your mainframe where you have no say about it!

Since my CVA on June 18th, 1998 I went through LIFE more or less like a vegetable until I regained most of my speech and memory by the summer of 2007 and was on the computer in early April of 2008 even though the right side of my body (including my right hand is still paralyzed) from head to toe!

Slowly but surely my friends mounted and my writing is still a sprouting development getting better as I write! Then bam….. The virus of 2012 {in 2011, no less} struck my mainframe and paralyzed my whole LIFE!

Now I was back to my scribbling making no sense without my computer! And I didn't even like computers before! Now I shudder to think what I would do without one! I'm back on the road to my writing and things couldn't be better thanks to my steadfast friends like Clem, Maggie, Faye and a gamut of others in our country and yes across the globe!

People can now be reached at the flick of the send key where it took a few weeks to get an answer! Even misspelled words and things like that can be corrected before being sent out! LIFE is tolerable without a computer but barely!

What will the world be like in 2021! Oh my! Hope I'm there with you my friend if we are still lucky enough to write as we do now!


The Fourth Of July 2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
July 4, 2011
As I ponder what to say that would be different from what has been said before I realize our country has been free since 1776 and we have no intention of being otherwise! Every year since July 6th, 1945, my debut on this wonderful world as a free person, I realize how lucky we are to be just that!

It has taken many a brave women and men through the years giving the ultimate sacrifice of their lives depriving their loved ones of themselves! Some survivors have missing limbs but still live in a free society and would do it all again to Be FREE!

While we are celebrating another year of FREEDOM let us NOT forget those who are making this possible on the current battlefields in Iraq, our son being one, Afghanistan and other war torn places across the globe!

All branches of our armed services volunteer the ultimate from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and do so without blinking an eye but leaving behind their Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, Grandpas, Cousins in hopes they will see them again on earth!

The pomp and circumstance never get boring with the worldwide parades, picnics, and HONORING those who have given the ultimate, LIFE, and would do it again, JUST TO BE FREE!


Remember So We Never Forget 9/11/2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
September 11, 2011
I write this letter on a somber day around this earth! The tenth anniversary of 9/11! We are remembering those who were lost on earth but went with God that day and their families who have memories, faith and undying love in their place!!

I really had no reason for putting up my Website "Our Window To The World" over a year ago other than showing others my writing talents and how we live in every state, possession and territory of the USA and every country of the world and spot on a recent world map!

I think because God is always by my side and shepherding my every move that I started this website.

People from all over the world are responding to my queries about their country {4 or 5 paragraphs} and things they love in Life to our home in California because they want the world to know about how they live and think so something like 9/11 will never happen again! We have to understand and respect how others live!

I'll be here Forever And A Day To Write For You from letters from You My PuterPals

Always Love Life Friend
Jack


Veteran's Day 11/11/2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
November 11, 2011
On this monumental day in history not only it being Veteran's Day where we honor all past, present and future Veterans who defend our freedom and put THEIR families on edge and their lives in turmoil and danger of the ultimate sacrifice it is a day that comes around not too often! 11/11/11

You add those ones up and you get six and multiply that by 11 and you get my age which happens to be 66. Each 11 gives you a doorway to what is in your mind for your future! Which one is the right one to take or is there a wrong one anyway? The first 11 appears the same as the third but how do we know for sure? Is this a bunch of malarkey or is there really some mystifying situations that will come of this day 11/11/11 and represent future annals of our history?

People have been planning weddings for this special day and hoping for the best Life ever because of those 6 ones! Births have been planned also but only God knows when we will be born so that is not a definite or we could call it luck!

There is so much activity on this special day in history with most schools, banks and public offices being closed giving those lucky ones a 3 day weekend! Parades and honors ceremonies will be held throughout the land and tears will be shed for those who sacrificed THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM!

History tells the tale as we look back to when we first became The United States Of America with the signing of The Declaration Of Independence. We have fought for and kept our Freedom since then and we have sadly lost many along the way through the years and they are in Heaven today and Forever and A Day celebrating Our Freedom with their loved ones down here!

As for 11/11/11 I wish you all the best in the future!

I'll be here Forever And A Day To Write For You from letters from You My PuterPals

Always Love Life Friend
Jack


Thanksgiving ... 2011

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Nov 21, 2011
As we enter the Holiday Season in many parts of our world I can't forget about the multitudes of people who won't be celebrating because of illness, war, poverty and various other reasons. I wish them too a ray of Hope for better days especially during the holidays starting with Thanksgiving and all year through!

There is an interesting history to this holiday I want to share. Most think Thanksgiving started with the Pilgrims in 1621 at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. That is true but before that the Spanish explorers celebrated an abundant harvest in 1565 in what is now known as St. Augustine Florida and an area in Virginia that later became the Virginia Colony as early as 1609. A traditional Thanksgiving day didn't start till the late 1660's.

Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated by 2 countries with Canada on the 2nd Monday in October and America on the 4th Thursday of November. Other countries like Grenada celebrate Thanksgiving Day on October 25th while Liberia in West Africa gives their thanks the 1st Thursday in November and Norfolk Island, an Australian territory who learned of the tradition from American whalers passing though celebrate the last Wednesday in November.

A lot of the Pilgrims lived in Leiden, the Netherlands from 1609-1620 before going to the Pilgrim Plantation and births, deaths and marriages were recorded in Pieterskerk, a Gothic non-denominational church which celebrates the hospitality the Pilgrims received on the morning America celebrates Thanksgiving!

There are as many dishes as there are people who eat them! The turkeys and hams,beef or Vegan. condiments a plenty, an assortment of potatoes and gravies, vegetables and soups hot or cold, an array of home specialty dishes from friends, and the pies and desserts with no calories or lots all the while washing it down with your favorite beverage, alcoholic or not!

As your feast settles in and you contemplate seconds or Pepcid look around at those you love &those who have already gone on with their Lord and enjoy this Thanksgiving 2011!




by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Dec 21, 2011
As Christmas 2011 nears and we prepare for fellowship with our families and celebrate the birth of Jesus for some of us and just another day for others I give thanks for Life on Earth!

The entertainment world has the latest stars and music leading into the season and up to the New Year with the CHRIST mas sales starting closer and closer to the end of Thanksgiving not to miss some extra revenue!

There are the lights, decorating the CHRIST mas tree at home and around the world. The shopping centers and specialty stores and the Internet are buzzing and selling in the name of CHRIST mas. We are so thrilled each year as the innovations get our attention and we buy the best on the market knowing there will be something better and more expensive in a short time but we'll find it cheaper somewhere!

Then we place those lovingly wrapped gifts beneath the tree when the children are sleeping to keep the Santa Claus magic alive as long as possible to watch the gleam and the wonderment in the children's eyes and even in the older ones on CHRIST mas morning as the gifts are opened carefully by the adults and care freely by the little ones.

As we sit down to eat the family feast at home if we're fortunate enough to have one or food to place on the table we give thanks for that and all else! Our families are all there if not in memory or at war or sick or invalid or living in another town just a phone call or a SEND away on the computer or simply LOST but not forgotten!

The CHRIST mas season and those of the other religions especially in the month of December bring this world closer together as one family!

As we observe these holidays and pray for those who don't believe in anything or anybody I can't help but notice the joy on the faces and the fulfillment in the hearts, souls and spirits of those who help the needy, homeless, hopeless, helpless people in our world! That service is not from them but through them from God! That is the true meaning of CHRIST mas!

Always love Life friend because God is Life! So when I say Merry CHRIST mas I mean it 24/7/365!


by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

December 27, 2011

This story involves friends from California, Nevada, Canada, and Holland to name a few. The important thing all the way through is the joy of Friendship!

Our friendships began on a casual basis a long time ago on of all places a poker table! As we got to know each other and trusted our Internet friendships we set up a regular daily meeting time for one hour of card playing each night if Life didn't have its usual untimely interruptions.

There is a Maggie and Margaret, two Jacks , Linda, Heidi, Shannon and Marty as part of our regular crew at the poker table with plenty of people waiting for someone to leave so they can try their luck!


It's just a game and is played with the house's money so big deal! We basically spend our hour socializing so our table is slower than most! The bingo, heavy wagering types get on and complain of our slowness by making rude comments or putting abundance of zzzzzzz's on the chat line to empathize their irritation! We either take their money as we play even slower or they leave out of frustration!

At this point you might be wondering what does any of this have to do with New Year's 2011? The powers that be noticed our group of friends playing on their site at the same time every day and asked if they could use a picture of us a promotion! Of course the proper releases were signed and it was a GO!

So we are on the Times Square electronic sign, which flashes a new picture approximately every 10 seconds, till that final minute of 2011 when the ball in the Big Apple descends into 2012!


Do us a favor, if you're there and happen to see us on the electronic sign; snap a picture! Sure we'll be there with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin and Ryan Seacrest and the rest with billions of people watching and the people packed in like sardines for blocks down below!

We are just an image on a sign but our friendships are for real as we wish the world the best of 2012!


What's Your Name?

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
February 1, 2012

My son and his wife are expecting their first child on or about 2/10/12! Be it girl or boy can be discovered before the occasion but finding a name requires much thought and consideration for the yet to be born child and family on both sides of the relationship. In our case it will be a Daughter for John and Lar and a Grand Daughter for Ruth Anne and I and a Niece for our son David! This story is dedicated to our yet to be born child! What shall we call you Mystery Girl?

The name chosen is legally with this child and can be changed at a later date in Life if they don't particularly like the name they were given on their birth certificate. This happens from time to time and I had a friend whose name was Gary D. Smith who legally changed his name to Yardg Shmit because Smith was too common for him! Same letters not to offend his parents but a different spelling altogether!

Some people spend a lot of time researching the names already given since creation and try to come up with one of their own! Rather than list a bunch of names for each gender I'll contrast them where possible as we go along! And this is just a few!

There was Adam & Eve & Matthew & Ruth & Mark & Sarah & Luke & Kathryn & John & Elizabeth. And of course Mary the Virgin who had miraculously given birth to Jesus! We have many Jesus & Mary's through the centuries as a result. Also Noah & Jezebel to name a few from the beginning.

The Pius and the royalty had the same names through the centuries such as John, Paul & Boniface & Henry, George, Richard & John ! As another of the same name took control of the throne or pulpit a digit was added to their title! The queens had Mary, Elizabeth and Anne then names from the Bible adding a digit as thrones changed hands if names didn't change.

Many gender names are similar as if to say way back when: Is it a boy or a girl? Modern day technology can tell you now. No more guessing. You can call Shaun's & Rene's, Jessies & Cory's & Tony's & Hunter's & Chris's & Shannon's & Brook's & Brett's & Babe's & Pat's & Chet's & Leslie's a boy or a girl and the list goes on but now you can name them for their gender alone!

There are Susan's & Larry's, Beverlie's & Stan's, Margie's & Martins, Pamela's & Harry's, Anya's & Andy's, Priscilla's & Ben's and the names continue to grow! You have Sallie's & Sam's, Andrea's & Wendel's, Polly's & Jeff's, Julie's & Michael's, Kathy's & Jim's, Tanya's & Kevin's, Becky's & Bill's, Bonnie's & Clyde's, Jenny's & Jethro's, Garth's & Gail's & Jack's & Jennifer's & Gilbert's & Dorothy's , Warner's & Maria's, Nick's & Veronica's, Cleopatra's & Von's, Beth's & Bentley's!!

Adding some Lottie's & Ray's, Carole's & Rick's, Fred's & Penny's, Frieda's & Raymond's, Emma's & Ollie's, Anna's & Karl's, Richard's & Louise's & Matt's, Dale's & Collette's, Mike's & Ina's, Tim's & Tina's & Ruth Anne's & Jacques, Sanford's & Rosemary's, Ron's & Raquel's, Maggie's & Jame's, Heidi's & Mas's, Linda's & Todd's, Helen's & Mike's, Susie's & Frank's, Luna's & Leo's, Vanna's & Lester's & Michelle's & Mickey's!

It's funny how the names keep coming in focus as I remember people through my Life who mean something to me or my family! There were Leanna's & Chester's, Irene's & Gabe's, Suzy's & Jerry's, Melvin's & Marissa's, Peggy's and Zed's, Zara & Roy's, as well as Rachel's & Rivero's, Steve's & Felicity's, Manuel's & Margarita's, La dean's & Sheldon's & Clement's & Eve's & Dave's & Belinda's!

Those bring to mind Carmelita & Jose, Francisco & his Family, Zoila & Manuel, Librada & Augustine,Sylvia & Nash, Emmi's & Benji, Khalid & Jenny, Lourdes & Cary, Caroline & Eugene, Vicki & Charlie, Pete & Faith, Cathy & Larry, Todd & Tammy, Alex & Dixie, Eileen & Glen, Mohamed & Sherry, Bubba & Billie, Yolanda & Don, Gerald & Judy, Javier & Rosa, La Verne & Lance, Greg & Victoria & Morley!

Some singular feminine names get an extra frill with an added Anne, Ann, Jo, Lu, Lulu, Lou, Jane & Sue! Others are Mikaela, Michaeline, Amy, Wendy, Cheyenne, Rebeca, Savanna, Crystal, Honey, Babs, Clarissa, Lea, Lei lane, Christy, Autumn, Faye, Diane, Diana, Donna, Mandy for starters!

Getting some names down on paper leads me to realize there are a lot out there to choose from and it will be the best for the families involved with God's guidance and your name is....................?


Valentine's Day 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Feb 12, 2012
This is an emotional day for most and conjures up happy memories and present day situations of love for our fellow family, friends and those who are special in our lives~

I am a writer and use my own words for what I feel about life but I received this letter last valentine's day and it so closely relates to my thoughts that I got permission to send it to you, my loyal friends and readers this year because it holds true every year! Read and enjoy and I thank Pat for her permission and thoughts on this Very Special Day!

"Just wanted to let each and every one of you to know how very special you are to me. I want to thank you for being there in the good times and the bad with the laughter and the tears. The phone calls, lunch/dinner meetings and the confidential talks among good friends. For the help around the house, the shop and the fabulous cakes you share with me. The help with my computer which I need a lot of and the endless emails that I look forward to reading every day. For all of the wonderful nicknames, remembering the good and bad times in my life, the holidays which are sometimes hard for me to get through. Some of you have been with me 40 years and some just a couple months. It matters to me that you are here now! I've enclosed some words from a special song in my heart by Johnny Mathis called "My Funny Valentine" from the musical "Babes In Arms" performed in 1937."

"You are my valentine my sweet comic valentine. You make me smile with my heart. Your looks are laughable, un-photographable. Yet you're my favorite work of art.

Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? And when you open it to speak are you smart? But don't change a hair for me not if you care for me. Stay little valentine, stay. Each day is valentine's day."

"Sending you all love, hugs and kisses but no candy because I have a sweet tooth!"

Of all the cards on the shelf or the net this little story is true like all of you. Thanks for your friendship!


Life is a Step

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Mar 10, 2012
As my Magic Carpet Of Life whirls this paralyzed body across the hemisphere for all that I can do and see I have learned and realized that our Life Is A Learning Process!

The best classroom around these days is listening to what the older generation has to say about their childhood "way back when". When you truly love someone it's something you can't disguise because it shows. Making a person's day also makes yours a little brighter. Having a newborn infant doze off in your arms tells you how important and trusting that child really is!

Being kind hearted surely beats being right all the time. Never turn down a gift from a child for they remember those little things which may affect their attitude about you in years to come. No matter how serious our Life goals may be you need friends and family who you can joke with! We all have the ability and some faith for those who need help and the only means for us at least to pray which does help believe it or not!

Sometimes all it takes is a comforting hand and an understanding heart to ease the pain of a friend. Walks in the park with a loved one during all the changing seasons in a year are memorable occasions. The latter years of one's Life are not like the proverbial roll of paper coming to an end but the beginning of a wonderful journey. God does give us only what we can handle and money and fame are left behind when we meet Our Maker!

Those daily little incidents add up to a remarkable journey in Life. Under every hard shell is a person who wants to be wanted and appreciated and maybe loved if the right person comes along. Ignoring the facts won't make them go away and "it is what it is" so deal with these bumps in the road the best that you can. Don't plot against people who make your Life difficult you think because "will come back and bite you" in the end!

Love, faith and time will heal all wounds with God always by our side. You will only learn from the smarter ones what they want you to know; find out for yourself. A smile versus a frown makes it easier to meet people. Life is tough but with God in our lives nothing is impossible. No need for bitterness where happiness reigns as a believer!

I wish I could have told departed family and friends I Love Them One More Time. Opportunity comes to those who seek it. Speak soft and tender with a smile all the while. When you hold a little grandchild's finger that is an extension of another generation. Climbing to the top is not referring to a mountain or hill but alas heaven Above, our ultimate destination! Life is the trail to Everlasting Life for Believers!



Cinco de Mayo 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
May 3, 2012
Every month has 5 days but May 5th is kind of special and is celebrated in the culture and households of many!

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout the USA and in regions of Mexico especially in the state of Puebla. They call it El Dia de la Batalia de Puebla! In the USA it is a celebration of Mexico's pride and culture and represents their cause for freedom and democracy dating back to the start of the Civil War in the state of Puebla. This date remembers Mexico's sterling victory against all odds pitting them against the French in the Battle Of Puebla in 1862! They accomplished this under the watchful eyes of General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequin.

Though most think Cinco de Mayo is the national holiday that honor goes to September 16th! Since the Battle Of Puebla no European country has invaded American soil! And you could compare the actual battle to David & Goliath in biblical times! Four thousand Mexican troops defeated eight thousand better equipped French forces! Amazing!

The Battle of Puebla helped the United States gain a stronger army by keeping Napoleon III from supplying the confederate army for another year with supplies and ammunition! This powerful army defeated the confederates at the Battle Of Gettysburg fourteen months later!

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by parades and music and feasting with no holds barred. The traditional chips and salsa for starters with a cervaza or other stronger or no alcoholic beverages at all. Then the huevos and carne or seafood or vegan dishes make the menu with many variations for everyone's taste buds and dietary needs! They go all out in the parades with the horses and bands and floats and people having a good time enjoying the occasion and each other!

There are events linked to Cinco de Mayo from all over as well as the USA and Mexico. Vancouver Canada hosts skydiving while the Cayman Islands way off in the Caribbean Ocean has an annual air guitar competition. and the Maltese encourage their residents and tourists alike to drink Mexican beer while the Australians hold an annual Mexican Festival on May 5th to highlight a few. Wherever you may be on May 5th, 2012 ENJOY!


Mother's Day 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
May 13, 2012
In our daily rush of Life we never forget certain holidays for they mean so much to us all. Mother's Day especially comes to mind for without a Mother where would we be if at all?

A Mother provides you with your needs for approximately 9 months before you see your first light of day! Then when you're conceived the journey of Life begins. It will have many twists and turns and times only God knows why some things happen. Rest assured if your Mother is doing her job if at all possible she will be there with you no matter what!

Some Mothers breast feed according to their baby's needs and their ability to do so without endangering Life! The months of the breast feeding varies from child to child. Then it's into the baby bottles and foods that the commercial world thrives on. This is all and well as long as it is good for the baby. This is all up to the Mother's watchful eye!

At no time is a Mother not thinking of her children no matter what else she is doing on any given day! You are first on her mind regardless of what is on her agenda. There is a paternal instinct that all Mothers have and was given to them by their Mother's and ultimately by Our Creator!

A child is a gift from God and we are all part of this creation. But as a Mother we are especially in it for the long haul whatever that may be. As the world goes on about its business so does Life. As a child grows older Life will paint their picture and give them a direction, hopefully the right one!

A Mother tries to show her child the meaning of Life giving her Love and guidance from the early years to the schooling years and higher education if desired and can afford it. There should always be a positive outlook no matter what Life has in store! Mother's make this possible with their sometimes false smiles to build up the confidence of a child. Whatever it takes!

Around the holidays and special dates on the calendar Mothers always shine to prepare or organize meals for the Family and make sure everything is okay even if they might not be. They will never show it on the outside as her Love protrudes. We have all had a Mother in the beginning and will always remember her forever and a day! Thank you Mothers of the world for Life!


Memorial Day 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
May 28, 2012
Another Memorial Day is drawing near in 2012 being the last Monday in May. We honor each branch of our country's military services who put their lives at stake so we can remain a free nation!

There will be the graveyard ceremonies to honor those who died for our country cutting theirs and their families lives together short. We have sacrificed a lot for the right to be a free nation and will continue to do this as time goes on.

The various cities, towns and states will have their proud parades, picnics and ceremonies remembering for we'll never forget our fallen nor our still standing nor our wounded or those who have lost a limb or more!

The military are a special group of citizens who enlist their services knowing that they sign a contract with the United States to protect and serve during peace and war and some don't make it back home with their families grieving and remembering their Lives before they enlisted.

They are all members of a family, including the Great's represented in our armed services like a Mother, Father, Sister, Brother and "Steps" the like. With the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins too. Grandmothers and Grandfathers stand up for our country as well. Grandchildren are also in our military with their children to follow.

I have fond memories of my Life as a child when my Mother, Father and Brother were still on earth and we used to enjoy Life as a Family! The same holds true for my loving wife whose Mother, Father and Brother are with God and saving her a place! We have 2 sons and one went to Iraq and he and his wife had a Daughter who is our Grandchild and my other son's niece! Life goes on come what may.

I am proud to be Alive and an American who, thank God, can still remember the past without Alzheimers or Dementia erasing it all!


Fathers Day 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
June 16, 2012
Father's Day was started in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd from Arkansas in Spokane, Washington to honor her father William Jackson Smart. A Civil War veteran who single handedly raised his 6 children! Sonora thought to her pastor after he finished a sermon on Mothers and their day. So the celebration started the third Sunday of June and traditionally remains the same in America and other countries.

While Russia regales The Defender of Fatherland Day on February 23rd.

On March 19th Andorra hosts Dia del Pare. Bolivia, Lichtenstein, Honduras and Belguim as do Italy, (Festa del Papa) Switzerland, (Canton Ticino) Portugal, (Dio do Pai) and Spain, (Dia del Padre). Romania (Ziua Tatalui) treats their father's right on the second Monday of May! And May 8th the South Koreans have Parents Day. Tonga is the 3rd Sunday of May. And Ascension Day for Germany comes on May 9th, 2013.

Lithuania (Tevo diena) celebrates their fathers on the 1st Sunday of June as Austria reserves the 2nd Sunday of June for their country's fathers. The 3rd Sunday of June is for America and a great portion of the countries of Our World!

"Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cambodia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmat, Nambia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay. Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar. Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinadad & Tobago,Turkey,United Kingdom,Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe." They all celebrate Father's Day on the 3rd Sunday of June!

El Salvadore and Guatamala celebrate his day on June 17th while June 21st has Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Uganda honoring their fathers. June 23rd is reserved for Nicaragua and Poland's Dads. Uruguay sets the 2nd Sunday of July and The Dominican Republic holds the last Sunday of July for its fathers. Brazil and Samoa host their fathers on the 2nd Sunday of August.

Latvia remembers their fathers the 2nd Sunday of September as the Ukraine their daddy's the 3rd Sunday of September. Luxembourg saves the 1st Sunday ofaven" who created us and the world we live in we celebrate, rejoice and believe in 24/7/365 and forever more!


July 4th, 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
July 4th, 2012
Another year has come and gone quicker than the last it seems and the countries that enjoy their freedom are still fighting to preserve it!

This has been happening in the United States since we adopted and signed into law The Declaration Of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 4th, 1776 and it continues to this day in July of 2012 and rightly so for we are a free nation and will sacrifice the ultimate to keep it that way! What is the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of July 4th?

Is it the cookouts with family and friends, dazzlingly bright firework shows across the country, parades honoring those who have fought and lost their lives so their loved ones remain free and those who fight today as I write this tribute for them and the next generations to come who will do the same? It is for all these reasons but add them up and no matter how you look at it they stand for and proudly represent OUR FREEDOM in The United States of America and those who have a free country elsewhere in Our World!

Here are some interesting tidbits on the 4TH of July through the years to add to your conversation. Every year the Aphelion, the point where the Sun is furthest from the Earth, occurs on or about this date. In 414 Aelia Puchelria, Augusta, proclaimed herself Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire. In 836 Pactum Sicardi (peace) was declared between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples.

In 993 Saint Ulrich of Augsburg was canonized then in 1054 a Supernova was spotted by Chinese, Arab and Amerindian astronomers near the star Zeta Taun. Its star is bright enough to be seen for months in daylight and the remnants form the Crab Nebula. And 1120 shows Jordan II of Capua being anointed Prince after his infant nephew's untimely death! While the Crusades, in the Battle of Haittin in 1187 where Salidan defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.

Then the Siege of Nandorfeherar (Belgrade) begins and is part of the Ottoman Wars of Europe in 1456. When in 1534 Denmark and Norway elected Christian III their king in the quaint town of Rye. The city of Trois-Rivieres known as New France back in 1634 (Now Quebec, Canada) where the French way of Life thrives today! And the city of Providence, Rhode Island was founded in 1636.

In 1744 the Treaty of Lancaster where the Iroquois Indians gave the British colonies the land between the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio River in Pennsylvania. In 1754 George Washington surrendered Fort Necessity in the French and Indian War! And on July 4th,1776 the American Revolution resulted in the Declaration Of Independence for us Americans to carry on Our Freedom Forever And A Day Come What May!


July 6TH, 1945

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
July 6, 2012
That was the day the stork paid my parents a visit 67 years ago! Those 2 are pleasant memories as well as my Brother as they watch me write a story about the year of my birth from their place in Heaven above anticipating our reunion!

We are born and hopefully live a long, healthy, happy and rewarding Life. It wasn't to be for young President Teddy Roosevelt as he succumbed to Polio on April 12TH. The World War II in Europe ended when Germany was defeated in early 1945 and made official on May 7TH, V-E Day! President Harry Truman authorized the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (Little Boy) then the 2ND on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered ending WW II on August 14TH, V-J Day!

My Brother was a year and 2 days old and I was a little over a month getting used to Life outside the womb. Back then you could purchase a home for a scant $4,600, rent one for $60 a month, pump a gallon of gas for 15 cents while buying a dollhouse for $3.19 and buying a car was a little over $1,000 . Typewriters sold for $60, Ladies Fur Coats cost $70 while Men's dress shirts went for $2.50! Are our prices today inflated to the point of no return?

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dies in office while 50 countries start the United Nations. Five Navy bombers are lost in the Bermuda Triangle while a US bomber crashes on the 79TH floor of The Empire State Building in New York City. As Clement Attlee defeated Winston Churchill's Conservative Party in the U.K.. "Your Lucky Hit Parade" made its debut while they watched "Anchors Away", "The Paleface", "Spellbound", "The Lost Weekend" and "National Velvet" at the local picture show!

George Orwell published his anti-Stalinist allegory "Animal Farm", Arthur C. Clarke suggested a communications satellite in a "Wireless World" magazine article! Making their debut to the world along with me were Don McClean, a newscaster, Henry Winkler (The Fonz) , Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Mia Farrow, Davy Jones, Steve Martin and Rod Stewart! It was a very good year in that respect anyway!

Percy Smith accidentally discovered the microwave can heat food! Only 5,000 Homes had television sets in the USA. The 1ST electronic computer was made and it took up 1,800 feet of floor space. We have made "leaps and bounds" in technology since then! The microwave oven and the atom bomb were invented and we still use the microwave with hopes and prayers that the atom bomb is NEVER USED AGAIN!

As my 67TH year on Our Earth begins I am a Friend Forever And A Day! Always Home Writing For You


Friday And Thirteen

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
July 13, 2012
I've had a fascination with the number 13 since I learned to count! It does have an interesting history especially if it happens to fall on a Friday of any given month or year.

The first reference to this Friday was in a biography about Giachino Rossini who died on Friday the 13TH, 1869!." Rossini was surrounded to the end by his Italian friends, many who like him regarded Fridays as an unlucky day and the day he died was a Friday THE 13TH in November." And that is how the superstition was started!

In comparison 12 represents completeness with the hours on a clock and months of a year, 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 successors of Muhammad in Shia Islam and 12 signs in the Zodiac while 13 was irregular, ruining this completeness and referring to the Last Supper or a Norse myth that if 13 people are seated at a table one will die! Fridays have been considered unlucky since the "Canterbury Tales" in the 14th century and not a day to start a trip or begin a new project! One author attributes the 13TH's rise in popularity to the novel "Friday The 13th" in 1907, where a devious stockbroker taking advantage of the lore creates an all out Panic on Wall Street on a Friday The 13TH.

Of course many take advantage of Friday 13th's popularity as The Bike Rally in Port Dover, Canada, on November, 1981, Black Sabbath's debut album was released on February 13th. While 5 of the 12 Friday The 13th films opened on a Friday the 13th and a long running theatrical show was showcased on February 13, 2004. Adventure Quest's MMORPG features Voltaire and other musical guests every Friday the 13th. The Cabin In The Woods horror/comedy film was released on Friday April 13, 2012!

Many died on Friday the 13th as history recalls some notable names. Diamond Jim Brady , April 13, 1970, Martita Hunt on June 13, 1969 with Lily Pons on February 13, 1976 then Mickey Spillane on May 13, 1977. Also Hubert Humphrey on January 13,1978 going to Benny Goodman on June 13, 1986 moving on to Tupak Shakur on September 13, 1996 and Tony Roper on October 13, 2000 then Julia Child on August 13, 2004 and Edwin Newman on August 13, 2010!

There are also notable births, deaths marriages, divorces, graduations from kindergarten through a doctorate, religious confirmations and promotions and firings. It seems like everything is OK with the number 13 and the Fridays it falls on till you notice elevators and hotels and office buildings have no 13th floor and the unpredictable finds its home on a Friday the 13th! Your thoughts about the subject could go either way but I am positive there is something to the myth and superstition of Friday The 13TH!



A Storied Life

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
August 1, 2012
I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be starting today, August 1st, 2012, my third year as the creator of Our Window To The World with lots of help from my Friend Maggie~ I write the stories from Letters received from friends all over Our World or myself like the one I am writing now and she puts them UP on our website after they are published by Triond just as it was meant to happen many years ago!

I always had the knack and the time for writing letters to family and friends and they suggested to keep on with my writing and I did through grade school, high school college then it came time to get a job, pay bills and get into a career with a stable place in Life after I enlisted and served my time in the United States Air Force during the Viet Nam War! It was a sad time for most because family members were drafted back then and some never came back with others losing limbs and mental faculties!

As a veteran I realized how important Life is to all of us no matter who we are or where we live or what we do or don't do! Keeping this in mind I chose the hotel business so I could work with people for people and always making the guest my #1 Priority! Needless to say my eagerness to write never left me but the time to do it was not there anymore! The hotel business, our marriage, raising two wonderful sons and Life had taken all my time. and after 28 1/2 wonderful years in the business the last 16 1/2 years working for Clement Chen III whose management techniques and ability to work with others showing true humility led my career to its highest goals possible as a person who started out as a part time desk clerk in Waikiki~

On vacation while celebrating my wife's 50th birthday on June 18th, 1998 I succumbed to a death defying stroke which more than likely should have taken my Life then but didn't. After losing movement on my right side from head toe, speech and memory I spent years coming back and gaining what I had lost in the summer of 1997~ Except for the total paralysis on my right side. I've learned to treat this as an ally not a disability in my goals as a creative writer~

I write Letters daily to make pen pals all over Our World. If they become a friend I ask for Letters about Life in their State or Country or people or pets or things they Love mailed to our Home Email address at Email: 4everwriting@gmail.com and after receipt I put them in WORD for a future story in Our Window To The World! So far I have had visitors from close to 100 countries and over 30 of the United States 50 with more Letters coming in at a steady pace~ Check my Website whenever you have time to peruse my SHORT STORIES and take a break from the daily rigors of LIFE if just for a little while. Visit Our Window To The World at http://www.magicalthoughts.com/onearmedwriter

I thank God for giving me the ability to write at random for you my reader



The American Flag Forever

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
October 7, 2012
Since my childhood I have always looked up to the American Flag as a symbol of our freedom in the United States and what we will defend till the end and many do as witnessed by the military funerals and flag draped coffins!

At the end of the Honor Guard military funeral ceremony the flag is presented to the next of kin after an elaborate and very meaningful folding in 13 steps. During the ceremony there is a 21 gun salute. The steps do not represent the original 13 colonies as most would think. The 21 gun salute represents the sum of the numbers 1776, the year of America's founding!

The 1st fold of the flag represents Life. The 2nd stands for belief in eternal Life. The 3rd honors and remembers those veterans who have given their lives defending America to attain Peace world wide. The 4th stands for the American citizen's faith and trust in God for His divine guidance always!

The 5th fold hails the USA for always striving to do right with other countries but right or wrong it is Our Country. The 6th is where the heart lies when we place our hand over it by "Pledging Allegiance the flag of the USA and the Republic, for which it stands under God, indivisible, with Justice and Liberty for all. The 7th fold honors our military for protecting us from all enemies at home and abroad!

The 8th fold immortalizes the person who walked in the valley of the shadow of death so that America and her Allies will see another day. The 9th fold pays tribute to our Mothers who put their love, faith, and loyalty in the women and men of Our Armed Services and molded their character which makes America great!

The 10th fold tributes our Fathers for they have given their 1st born sons and daughters to defend freedom. The 11th shows the lower portion of the seal of Kings David and Solomon, glorifying in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The 12th fold represents Eternity and the Christian belief that God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On the 13th fold it is complete with the stars on top reminding all of Our nations motto of "In God We Trust"!

My Brother Dale was in the Honor Guard during Vietnam. He was a good man, of few words and never said much about his Life in the Army! He has been with the Angels for 15 years now and I learned after his ascent to Heaven that his platoon averaged 12 military burials per day. God Bless America, her people and her flag forever!

To print this story, click here, do File Print,
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Staying Alive

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
November 4, 2012
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you had a heart attack and were by yourself not near a phone or shouting distance to call for help?

Suddenly you're having severe pain in your chest that starts moving up your arm into your jaw. You are close to a hospital but no help around! You have earned the credentials for giving CPR to others and saving lives when it happens to them but how do you save your own life?

How to survive a heart attack when you are alone. You have about 10 seconds before you lose consciousness so you have to "keep your wits about you". What you do next.

Start coughing repeatedly as best you can. Take a deep breath before each deep and prolonged cough so you can produce sputum from deep within your chest. Try to take a breath and a cough every 2 seconds until help arrives or the heart regains a normal beat.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and the continual coughing squeezes the heart and keeps the blood flowing! This simple procedure can save Your Life and your Friends. We worried about this happening to those over 25 but due to our reckless eating habits a heart attack can come at any age!
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The Vietnam Wall Of Remembrance

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
November 10, 2012
The only war that I was associated with was the Vietnam War which started when I was still a child in grade school. When I graduated from high school in 1963 we were still at war and I was on the list to be drafted. Being a loyal American I enlisted and served my country to the best of my ability.

So many others were loyal Americans and lost their lives in the process! They are remembered forever on the Vietnam Wall of Remembrance and in the hearts, souls and spirits of all who knew them and America at large.

As Veterans Day 2012 approaches I want to honor these people and all who have fought for our country and lost their lives or were missing limbs or their mental capabilities in all wars since we became the United States of America and have kept it that way over the years at wars end!

The first recorded death of 58,272 in the Vietnam War was on June 8th, 1956 and placed on the black marble wall. The names are arranged on the dates they were taken from us then alphabetized. It has been 37 years since the last casualty of the Vietnam War has' been recorded. Many years ago but always in our memories! The first killed son of the father who was killed in 1956 was killed 9 years later in 1965. This was an ongoing war that affected many generations!

There are 3 sets of fathers and sons on that wall. There were 39,996 soldiers killed who were 22 years old or younger. There were 8,283 who were only 19 years old. There are 33,301 18 year old and 12 on that wall are 17. Five soldiers are 16 years old and one lad is 15! On their first day in Vietnam 997 soldiers were killed! On their last day in Vietnam 1,448 soldiers died. There are 31 sets of brothers on that wall!

There are 32 sets of parents who lost 2 of their sons in this war. Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia has 54 students on that wall. Eight women who were tending the wounded were also killed in this war. During the Vietnam War 244 soldiers received the Medal Of Honor and 153 of them are on this wall. From a town of 475, 6 of their sons lost their lives. West Virginia had the highest casualty rate with 775 names on the wall.

The little town of Morenei, Arizona had the scrappiest football and basketball teams coming out of that small mining town anf 9 of their star players enlisted in the Marines on the 4th of July 1966 and only 3 returned. The Buddies of Midvale, Utah lived on 5th, 6th and 7th avenues only a few yards apart since they all played ball on the same sandlot. They went together to Vietnam and were killed in a span of 16 days.

The most casualties was on January 31st, 1968 at 2:45. The most in one month was 2,415 in May of 1968. No war chooses who lives and who dies and the Vietnam War is no exception. For those of us who lived we will always honor those who lost their lives and are on that wall and those like it around the world defending Freedom! Thank you Veterans of the present, past and future of Our World!

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Life In The 50's
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
December 03, 2012
I've met people from all parts of the world who talk about Life as it is Now. Here is a story about Life in The 50's that everyone should read!

There were no emails back then and communication was slower and so was Life. We enjoyed the simple Life with our families. This was before Dylan and Camelot in the land of the free. I was a 5 year old kid back then with no clue!

I like Ike was our President and navel oranges were for eating not part of the anatomy and Peyton Place was considered porn. We learned to fix a muffler and wash our hair when the rooster crows. We hung our freshly washed clothes on a line in the land of the Free!

We waited for our "one and only" till the right one came along and Eddie Fischer married Liz and he hasn't been seen since! 'Stagger Lee' and 'Little Darlin' were the songs of the day and we cried when Buddy Holly died in the land of Justice!

Only girls wore earrings and two were enough and the boys wore crew cuts except for Jean McKinney. And what a surprise to see a boy named George wearing lipstick. We followed Frankie Avalon and Annete Funicelllo and they only made movies once not like StarTrek, Psycho, Rocky and Rambo in the land of Liberty!

'Gunsmoke' had Miss Kitty with a kind heart, Matt Dillon with a smokin gun and Chester with a limp while later day President Ronald co-starred with a chimp. We had Mr.Wizard and Mr. T was just a fantasy in the 50's. And Oprah wasn't discovered yet but many stars were heroes and we lost Bobby Darin and Marilyn Monroe in the land of Life!

Youth was forever and adulthood would come eventually while Elvis wowed the crowds and Howdy Doodie did his thing. Many "got their kicks on Route 66", as the Beatles lived in gardens and the Monkeys in the trees and Madonna was Mary in the land of Plenty!.

Back then there were no car phones, microwaves and babies were bottle fed but NOT grown in a bottle. Pumping iron got wrinkles out and 'gay' meant fancy free and dorms were NOT co-ed and we didn't see enough jets to get 'jet lag' or get 'micro-chips' only at the bottom of a bag. All in the 50's, 62 years ago!

In those times hardware was a bag of nails and a 'byte' came from a mosquito and rocket ships to the moon were idle dreams and purely fiction. Bathing suits came big enough to cover 'both' cheeks and 'Coke' came in bottles and skirts below the knees and Fidel Castro came to power in nearby Cuba, a land NOT FREE!

We had no Crest with fluoride but did have 'Hill Street Blues' and no patterned panty hose or Lipton Herbal Tea or world-wide ads for bodily dysfunctions which were personal problems in the 50's . There were no golden arches, fish called Wanda, Perrier to chill or cats called Bill. Middle Age was 35, old was 53 and our parents were ancient in the land our ancestors gave to us!

Revlon is passe as we swear by Retina and we get formal invitations to join AARP. 'We've come a long way baby' as the saying goes. Now we live in a different world where the print is smaller, our jeans are larger and we tell our children how it was back then. I lived it and thank the Lord for my youth and Life In The 50's!



The Candles Of Chanukkah
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
December 6, 2012
Chanukkah is celebrated by my Jewish Friends each year and is not one of the holier holidays of the Jewish calendar. And it is not mentioned in the Jewish scriptures. It is better known as The Festival Of Lights! I dedicate this story to one of my Forever Friends M & M. Shalom Sis!

The eight day celebration is observed from sunset December 8th to nightfall December 16th. The Rabbis taught the rule of Chanukkah with lighting the candle on the 1st day and one candle on each day thereafter, always increasing their sanctity. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum known as a menorah. Or sometimes it is referred to as a Chanukkah.

The menorah holds 9 candles representing one for each night and a Shamus (servant) at a different height, usually in the middle of the 8 candles. On the 1st night the candle is placed on the far right while the Shamus candle is lit and 3 blessings are said. After these blessings the 1st candle is lit with the Shamus candle and placed in the holder.

Candles can be lit after dark until midnight. The candles are allowed to burn out after burning 1/2 hour. On each night a candle is added from right to left like the Jewish language. A candle is lit from left to right to honor the newer things first. On the 8th night all 9 candles are lit. After night 1 of this ceremony only 2 blessings are required.

Eating fried foods and the giving of 'gelt' money is traditional for the close Jewish families. Since The Festival Of Lights is so close to CHRISTmas and where Jewish people have CHRISTian friends exchanging gifts is not frowned upon! Shalom



Papa Cigar~My Dad~12/12/12
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
December 12, 2012
Whenever December rolls around I get a twinkle in my eyes with fond memories of my early years thinking of my Dad. Raymond William Losier, who was born 12/12/12. This story is in his honor and Papa Cigar which he was lovingly nicknamed in later years . He kept a cigar dangling but never smoking to remind him that he quit smoking a nasty pack of cigarettes each day!

Ray was born in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a loving family with a brother and 2 sisters. He always got top honors in school and went to a local college majoring in art and design and anything related to art because he likes people and the creative side of Life which he passed on to me.

While he was in Pittsburg he frequented a local soda shoppe for lunch where he met a waitress named Freida who later became his wife and later on my and my brother Dale's Mother. Life was beautiful for them because they were so much in Love. Unfortunately Love doesn't pay the bills. My Dad was always positive about the necessary bills in Life. He did chalk drawings of children looking so real that you thought they would crawl, laugh or cry off the canvas. He was known in Pittsburgh for his artwork and design.

As Life went on his design work was noticed by a rather large construction company in Brooklyn, New York, owned and operated by the Levi Family and appropriately called Ivel, Levi spelled backwards. So Dad moved the Family to Manhasset, Long Island New York to an upper income neighborhood when I was a 6th grader. He commuted to Brooklyn via the car on New York freeways spending 3 hours in grueling car to car, bumper to bumper and horn beeping expletives each way! What a stressful, unavoidable situation but he did this to keep the family comfortable in their 2 story home on the North Shore.

During his Life he did work at the Seattle World's Fair and the job that catapulted him to the height of his career he created and Ivel built the State of Hawaii Pavilion at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair in Flushing, New York. The Fair land since has been used to hold tennis tournaments like The US Open! My Dad was on a wonderful trip through Life where he was hired by an exhibit company on Oahu, Hawaii,

His job at the company was to land major conventions coming to the Hawaiian islands and build their exhibits in the islands rather than them being shipped at tremendous cost to the customer. This idea was financially sound and adopted as new companies sprung up. But the customers knew who was the best in the business in Hawaii and they looked him up and booked their conventions with Papa Cigar, my DAD.

We owned a 2 bedroom condominium on the 4th floor across the street from the Honolulu Zoo and next door to the Queen Kapiolani hotel giving us an unobstructed view of Diamond Head on the left and the ocean by the beach at Waikiki. We were living in paradise as if in a dream come true.

It was a wonderful Life till God called my Dad home to Heaven in 1989. I can only guess what he is doing there but I know he might be sketching the Angels with my Mother Freida and my Brother Dale and the friends and relatives on either side of the family that have gone before me! I Love you Dad, Papa Cigar, Raymond William Losier and wish you a Happy 100th Birthday as I look up to Heaven with a twinkle in my eyes!



Nostalgic Memories
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
January 25, 2013

This is not a history lesson or something you have to remember, only if you want. The 50's and 60's were the days of my youth and a number of people who are still on earth and can remember thot era or for those of you who weren't born yet it shows how much we've progressed. This video is longer than most but worth a look into the past FOR ALL AGES. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE






THROUGH THEIR EYES


Now my Magical Carpet of LIFE is embarking on an exciting ongoing Adventure as A Creative Writer! I get some of my material from letters via my Cherished "PuterPals"! *Introducing this word to be more accurate in how we write these days!


Australia’s Beauty ~ Nature’s Fury
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 18, 2011
Thank you Lady Wilma…Australia!
When I think of Australia I yearn to go there because of its kangaroos, wallabies, beautiful reefs, abundance of sights & pictures to click, koala bears, flowers, anything to suit your cuisine with a flair for the “Outback” & proud people who take joy in sharing their wonderful country with us!

Early this year the worst floods in history hit some areas with no specic target! It was the way Nature can be! Wilma lives in quite a unique,old Queenslander home atop a hill high off the ground away from any danger of whatever comes below her!

Then the rain started and kept on for days, weeks & months and the flooding began! The authorities were asking everyone to stay home, safe and out of danger! Wilma could do this for she was out of danger & could only watch the devastion below!

While she still could her son took her down the hill to get some groceries and she tried to see if her friend’s house was ok her being a registered nurse and out of town! She went to her street, which was underwater, and the next street higher up was also and a washed out bridge to boot! There were people trapped in their cars, houses which were oozing into mud from the floods and atop their roofs with whole towns being gobbled up! Many human lives were lost as pets and livestock were washed away! It will take years of patience, faith, hope a positive attitude at all times to get back to any kind of normalcy! While Wilma is praying for those down below she is also thanking God for saving her LIFE high atop a hill “Down Under”!

Have A G’day Everyday NO MATTER WHAT


The Fall Of Winter .... The Spring In Maine
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

May 1, 2011
Thank you Sir Charles.....Maine!
It amazes me the transformation that takes place as I look at the snow melting that had accumulated half way up the side of a rather large barn in the countryside of Maine! No footprints at all except for the occasional fowl and curious animals frolicking in the pretty picture of a long & cold winter on the plain of Maine! Spring is taking over the helm for a brilliant ride through the countryside!

Spring has sprouted as the snow melts into the rivers, off the hills into the creeks, nurturing the soil finding its way to the sea!

Riding the country roads of Maine gives us a glimpse of what a Maine lander takes for granted! Picturesque farmlands with century old homes at the top of cascading hills with graveyards twice that age! As far as the eye can see from any direction there isn't much else but jutting rocks, dense woods, plenty of open fields with silly looking Llamas, mountain vistas, pigs in the pen and a cascade of rivers, creeks, cricks with their banks bursting with the beauty of Spring for the perfect click of a camera/phone!

What a sight to see at the lowland of the farm where there's a lake of seagulls 50 miles from the ocean! A stroll though the woods shows last years leaves being pushed aside by new growth of ferns, goldthread, bunchberry moving Winter aside making way for the eruption of Spring!

Always and a Day


Slo Poke Sam
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

May 14, 2011
Thanks Lady Barbie....Michigan, USA
It was errand day and a beautiful one at that and Barbie wanted to get a head start! She backed her snazzy, classic 1957 Corvette out of the garage closing it with the remote! Maneuvering the top down as she checked the rear views to be safe, she discovered a sizeable rock which might damage her fine piece of machinery! She slid out of the car perching her sunglasses over her sun glinted hair and went to throw the rock away from danger to her "Vette" and more important to any people! She was startled when a head peeked ever so slowly out of the rock giving Barbie an unforgettable glare as if to say "I'm Slo Poke Sam and need to find my way back home!" Sigh! Barbie smilingly put Sam on the lawn, pulled down her shades and zoomed off having done her good deed for the day!.......So Sam's adventures start!

Sam is average height, weight and description of any other turtle on the block except for his speed! It's like his LIFE is actually in Slo Motion! This creates problems for him and survival is an every day thing! His motionless shell fools most but there are times when that doesn't hold true!

He had finally found the direction he was going to get home but a wild, nasty, stray dog had picked up his scent and wouldn't leave Sam alone constantly barking and trying to gnarl his head off if he ever had the courage to stick it out of his protected shell! Sam found the solution to this obstacle by letting loose some irritating stomach gases and the dog {phew} went whimpering away!

On his way home Sam had some escorts in the birds, squirrels and friendly animals that God provides for all of us! As one who doesn't enjoy or like the company or existence of snakes so is Sam! In this instance a poisonous rattler was following him.....At his speed and sense of direction Sam couldn't stray too far! So he played the "waiting game" and the snake slithered away looking for easier prey! Slowness is sometimes advantageous for Sam!

Closing in on HOME Sam happened on a Possum who is most times friendly but a whiff of a threat can beat Sam's Phew "nose down". He gave Sam a friendly smile and sat watching a long while as he put his body's gear in "Slo Motion"!

The wooded area felt and smelled like HOME as he got closer to the lake that was so close but so far! To affirm the right spot was the baby turtles that had hatched in his absence with nature all astir with happiness for Slo Poke Sam and the debut of his Family.

Always and a Day


A Garden for Mary
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

June 3, 2011
Thanks Lady Anna....New York, USA
This story started almost 14 years ago in New York involving Anna, her love for LIFE and a promise of the Afterlife with her strong faith in God! She was looking outside her nicely placed condominium with a view of the rear of their building with nothing to see but a hill with nothing else in sight but unused land just outside the property line! Then it dawned on her what she should plant a garden for everyone in the building to enjoy! Thank you Lady Anna......New York

While browsing through the local garden shop she noticed a rather large statue of something almost hidden from view because of hoses sloppily hanging from it! She summoned the clerk and asked what was underneath the "hose hanger". He took the hoses then dusted it off a bit to reveal a shabby resemblance of Mary! Anna exclaimed that was just what she needed to start her project!

She purchased Mary for a pittance and the different paints to bring her back to LIFE! She had to call her hubby to pick up Mary and load her in his truck which got a bewildered reaction for sure!

Anna painted her up and brought her back to her holiness and placed her at the top of that hill starting a tradition still being practiced today! Plants were placed in the ground, all perennials, that would start their blooms after the hazardous winter months! All colors and schemes were exhibited to whoever might want a private word with Mary! Even in the winter nature's animals like the beautiful deer and others sought refuge under the statue of Mary's Garden!

Where there was once an eyesore from Anna's "condo" there is now rows and rows of nature's perennials under the watchful eyes of Mary in HER Garden!

Always and a Day


Dogs and Cats and a Family of Laughs
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

June 15, 2011
Thank you Nevada Sandy!
The title doesn't say it all for this family in Nevada specifically Sandy! We will be hearing from her from time to time because she has done so much and all of it is interesting to read about! She typifies my expression that "Age is not your appearance or health but how you act with positivity at all times." Thank you Nevada Sandy!

Tiffany was adopted almost 7 years ago and from the beginning she adopted us and the inside of our home because she would hide under the bed when visitors came and was even afraid of the beautiful birds on the outside! She meows our household awake in the early morn crying "Mama, mama"! She does this periodically to let us know she is there and wants food and our utmost attention!

She follows us into the laundry room, scratches her back while eating and spends many special times playing with a simple feather dangling from a stick! The feather is mangled beyond recognition but Tiffany knows what it is! ^_^

She loves that feather so much that she takes it out of her toy box dragging it while wildly meowing tantalizingly teasing Willie and Casey the uppity Shiatsus in the family who have a personality of their own! Casey and Willie were adopted from a Reno family! Willie is beige mixed with blond while Casey is black and white! Casey is quiet as a monk and Willie is up barking with the sunrise till sunset under twilight of the moon! They were assigned their own feeding bowls but constantly switch thinking or hoping the other one is better!

Casey sleeps on an enormous pillow while Willie prefers sleeping with the family! Willie also follows the family all over the home thinking he might miss something or an extra treat! Willie is the aggressor as he constantly shows his attention to Casey by slobbering licks all over till Casey retreats under a bench in the foyer!

Reminds me so much that pets are our guests and so much a part of the family and not a possession! Treat them well and they'll be your friends for LIFE!

Always and a Day


God Watches Over Us!
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

July 12, 2011
Thank you Lady Donna....North Carolina, USA
This took place over thirty years ago in North Carolina and Donna remembers it like it was yesterday! Her family has always been church going and her alike so whatever God foresees or tries to tell Donna through various means she tries to abide! Read and you be the one who believes or doesn't that HE watches over us! Thank you Lady Donna....North Carolina, USA

One day her pastor called Donna aside and asked if he could pray for herself, her husband and five children! He explained this was a question from God and he was just following orders and so they prayed!! Donna agreed and wondered all the following week why her family needed prayer?

The following Saturday morning her husband was sleeping in the living room so as not to disturb the family with a breathing problem and Donna went down to see if he was all right! He said he was and he came back to the bedroom in 5 minutes or so! Not long after that they noticed the hallway light on probably by one of the kids making a bathroom run! Curiosity led them to the downstairs where flames were bouncing off the wall and the couch that he was sleeping on minutes before was engulfed in flames!

They rushed into action getting the children out of the house! They got a few belongings out but Life was more important! After calling the fire department and her pastor they all watched helplessly as their home burned to the ground! The pastor and Donna gave knowing glances as to why prayers were given a week before!

A month before they took down the For Sale sign after receiving a sign from God to do so! This was all coming together and making sense now! The insurance company said it would take months to realize any money due to investigation, etc. the regular "red tape"! Donna told their agent it was okay and that it was in God's hands and things would be a lot better than before because of their faith in God! The agent looked at them as if to say "yeah right"!

Two weeks later the agent called Donna and told her he had her checks! One for the total value of the home and the other for the contents! He admitted to Donna he didn't know why he was doing this but he knew it was the right thing!

So one month after Donna's old home burned to the ground they were in a brand new fully paid and PRAYED for one because God WAS WATCHING OVER THEM!

Always and a Day


Helping Others Get Through It!
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

July 27, 2011
Thank you Lady Mag G … Illinois!
During my daily travels on the net throughout the globe I encounter people who touch my heart, soul and spirit with their tender tales! Whatever their disease or disability or whatever I somehow make their LIFE better than before just by listening to their dilemmas with some kind words always attached!

Some know and some don't that I am paralyzed on my right side from head to toe but as with others who are worse off than me, I try! This is also the case of Mag G from Illinois who does her best and stands out from the rest! Thank you Lady Mag G.....Illinois!

A letter from Mag G as told to me!

Thank you so much for your letters and stories on your website that have awakened my senses into realizing there is Hope! Though with an amputated right leg and the possible deletion of personal assistance and free meals I have appealed the decision as advised by friends and relatives and will be waiting months on end before a reversal is possible! However the services will continue till then.

I am getting in home services from an occupational and physical therapist for upper body strength and confidence on a walker! Eventually this PT will lead to going upstairs, walking with 2 quad canes and having my right artificial leg all the time instead of being trapped in my wheelchair!

Thank God I have some talent as an artist painting outdoor scenes and selling them to several nearby college students and faculty!

Meeting you, Jack, has given me the jolt I needed to concentrate on Life! Thank you!

And thank you Mag G. Illinois
Always and a Day


An Old Brick Road
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Aug 3, 2011
Thank you Lady Wendy Lou....North Carolina, USA
This story reeks of nostalgia for whoever reads it! We have gone from an innocent society to a non-stoppable age of computers in the past century or so and with that we have lost a lot of the simpler things in Life in the name of progress! Thank you Wendy Lou for your heartfelt words!

When I was a little girl growing up in North Carolina our family lived in a 2 story home which was at one time an old school house aside an old brick road!! There was a canal that ran off to the side of the property and into the woods where my friends and I used to fish and explore and just be a kid!!

There was a lonely gravestone just sitting there by itself! It was Charlotte H. Overton who died in the late 1800’s and an older man, Mr. Wilkins, who had a water pump on his land, where you could still pump the water from the ground!! Best water you could imagine straight from God’s earth!

When I was about 11 our home burned to the ground and everything was lost except for what my father could save by throwing things out the bedroom window! Many good things came from this since it was an electrical fire our family was safe and we rebuilt a new home almost in the same spot! And a picture of Jesus survived; it hangs on my wall today, to show us HE is with us always!

An old wooden trunk also survived with old school pictures and drawings! But the best news yet the old brick road was still there too!

It ran in front of our new home down by the old church passing some old houses and past the country store and deeper into the woods! We used to get candy bars and soda pop there….Sigh! It was owned by Rex Mann who went to meet his maker and the store was boarded up! Sigh

Come to find out this old brick road was part of the first paved highway in North Carolina! I have one of those bricks as a souvenir too! Sigh

Always and a Day


Love For My Country
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Aug 12, 2011
Thank you Veronica....South Africa
Some people have mixed emotions about where they are born and whether they should stay or go depending on the circumstances they live in! This is the story from Veronica in South Africa, a woman of strong convictions!

I am a woman from South Africa and proud of my birthplace since it was gifted by God even with its discrimination, different ethnics. skin color, high crime rate (which is kept under control} and the endless “no win” political issues! Each race here has its own unique respect, unity, friendliness and teamwork to get along only if they try! It angers me to see so many of our skilled people go to other countries to avoid the problems in our country!

I believe that problems can have solutions if they are addressed! Our citizens must take a stand! If we sift through each problem we can build our country and the good things outnumber the bad so we have to keep the good and do away with the bad! My prayer and hope for South Africa is that we can stand out for our good not the bad and stand up to our enemies and rid ourselves of the numerous diseases that have plagued our land for so long!

As a born and raised South African I will watch every sunset here until the sunset of my Life!

Always and a Day


A Friend From The Islands Of Tokelau
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Aug 19, 2011
Thank you Mas....Tokelau, South Pacific
I was doing my daily trips around the world on the World Wide Web when i ran across a message from a very lovely lady who lives literally on a spot on the world map! What a surprise and honor to hear from one so far away but willing to share Life with us! Thank you Meselina from the islands of Tokelau!

Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand consisting of 3 islands in the South Pacific and named Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo situated half way between Hawatt and New Zealand and North of Samoa! There are only 1,500 people on all 3 islands and proud of their Polynesian heritage dating over a thousand years ago!

Tokelau means north wind in Polynesian! It has no harbors or airports! The best way there is by ship which stops every two weeks! The majority of the Tokelauans, approximately 6800 people, live in New Zealand!

The people who still live on the islands are special and I am fortunate to have one as a PuterPal! Her full name is Maselina Faafu Lemana, a solo parent of 2 beautiful children, one boy (17) and one girl (10)! She goes by Mas for short!

They live on Nukumanu where Life is quiet and peaceful and the main protein is fish! But since the invasion of diseases from outside her culture they are getting together as a community and buying meat! They have islets for getting their daily needs, lu {a vegetable} and coconut and use those same islets for vacations and school holidays and special occasions! These islets are not sheltered like on the mainland so they sleep under the stars or rent or bring a tent!

I am thankful for sharing my wealth of people from around the planet
when they share their lives with me!
Thank you Mas...The islands of Tokelau!
Always and a Day


One Life in The Philippines

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thank you Ofelia ....Philippines
Aug 24, 2011
When we know little or nothing about a particular thing or place in particular we look it up in the library or now a days we simply do a quick Google or Wikipedia it on the computer! There is another way though it takes a lot longer because it deals directly with the source: The people who live around and amongst us in our world! This story tells of Ofelia from the Philippines!

Ofelia feels and truthfully spoken that "Life Is How We Make It". We are the carpenters of our lives and we'll have interruptions and good things happen from time to time or not but in the end we are responsible for whom we are and what we become! And when our lives cone to an end here on earth we have everlasting Life with our Lord in Heaven with no sickness or pain only if we believe in Him!

Life in the Philippines is good for those who want to make it that way! Other countries offer higher salaries and better opportunities to our people. During my younger years I was given opportunities to work in other countries but declined the money for being with my family and children most of all! Money is not a priority. Family comes first for me and the Love for my family is my specialty! Sure money makes Life easier and abundance spends that much faster!

Most workers who venture outside our country for employment don't understand how hard it is to get a job anywhere these days and end up with broken homes and families! There are some who make it to the countries where they work with their families or the United States where they can follow their dreams and hope they find that elusive rainbow!

We have strong family ties here in the Philippines and we love our family no matter what! Most of our people speak English, are hospitable and eager to please! I'm always happy to tell visitors about my country with its year round beaches and tourist trade!

Even though most still think of us as a 3rd world country I am proud to call myself a Filipino!

Thank you Ofelia.....The Philippines
Always and a Day


Puerto Rico: The Land I Love
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Aug 25, 2011
Thank you Blanca Leilani....Puerto Rico
In my travels across the web I am always meeting new and interesting people who are more than happy to tell of their land and the pride they have for being a part of it! This is a story put together in a letter from "Life" her Puterpal name but I much prefer Blanca Leilane her God given name which befits her personality and love for Life! "Un poquito sobre Puerto Rico". A little bit about Puerto Rico. Thank you Blanca Leilani!

We are a little land at the Caribbean Sea between North and South America! Spanish is our native language and 18 % of us have English as a second language! We are an unincorporated colony and property of the USA since 1898! From 1493-1898 we were a colony of Spain! Since 1917 American citizens, we have participated in every USA war, have our own constitution and are self-governing. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is translated in Spanish to "Gobirerno del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico".

We have elections every 4 years and have 3 political parties! One who wants statehood, which presently governs. One that wants independence which has little or no support. And a third that supports the independence of the island! We have 3 branches of government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The Legislative System, our House of Law, is a bicameral corporation with a Senate and Chamber of Representatives. We are represented in the U.S. Congress with a voice, our Resident Commissioner in Washington, but not a vote!

Well now you know a little about Puerto Rico! My English is poor and I hope your readers understand that I practice every day so you'll understand me better! We welcome all visitors to Puerto Rico with its sun-glistened beaches, friendly people and fun in the sun! This is Puerto Rico "The Land That I Love" and hope you do too!

Thank you Blanca Leilani......Puerto Rico
Always and a Day


The Power Of HIS Words
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Sept 5, 2011
Thanks to our son John....Iraq
This is the beginning of September, 2011 and so much going on this time of the year with the change of seasons, students returning to school, college and professional football starting, the US Open ending the tennis season in Flushing, New York, the World Series approaching, preparing for the holidays again where families get together to celebrate each other and practice their religious beliefs!

A brave and patriotic young man has been in Iraq almost a year now except for a week's leave to China where he met his wife who flew in from the states to meet at her parents' home to finally meet Mother, Father, younger Sister and Brother! After a long overdue visit for all concerned John flew back to Iraq and she to the mainland!

This special person is our son John!

He has a lot of time to think about Life being in a strange land, away from his family but he manages well because God is always by his side! And he knows a thing or two about God's Words!

My communication skills are a lot like yours Dad but I use scripture in mine for many a good reason! That's where God's promises are. Where he tells us of the past, present and future and his plans for our salvation! In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was God! He existed in the beginning with God who created everything and nothing was created except through Him! The Word brought Life into everything that was created and His light to the world! The Word brings light into the darkness and the darkness can never switch that light off! He is the true light welcoming all life into our world!

He came into the same world he created but was shunned by even his own people! But to those who accepted and believed in Him he gave the right to be God's children! They are reborn not in the physical sense but a spiritual awakening from God! So the Word became human and lives amongst us full of unfailing faithfulness and love and we have witnessed the glory of God's only son!

Yes, Dad, the Word created our imagination and knew who I was before I did. People can imagine stories about God but what if they are contrary to what God has revealed about himself? I rely on the Scriptures! It would grieve the Holy Spirit if I didn't refer to them in my daily life here in Iraq and the USA God willing when I finally get home! So Dad, I'll always share what God has done for me with the Word!!

Our son John is back on American soil 3 weeks now with his loving wife who is carrying their child. God answered our prayers! Thank you John and thank you God for your Words!.....a US Soldier in Iraq
Always and a Day


The Ocean State....Rhode Island
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Sept 19, 2011
Thanks to Maria....Rhode Island
I have always wanted to visit Rhode Island since I spent my high school years in the early 60's so close in Manhasset, Long Island, New York. As Life never goes the way you thought it would I never had the opportunity! Fifty years later I'm discovering what I missed!

Rhode Island, the Ocean State, is the smallest in size bordered by Connecticut to the west. Massachusetts to the north and east sharing a southwest water boundary with Long Island, New York!

I met Maria on the net who lives in Rhode Island and is a dynamic part of society as a teacher! She takes frequent walks to the beach and here is what she has to say:

On my way to the seashore I pass under a tunnel with flowers above ending in front of a rustic beachfront home! I'm entering a private world away from the hustle bustle of everyday Life to a world of stillness and tranquility!

Continuing on toward the water I observe the local business people carrying on or enjoying a day off by the sea and the tourists doing their thing! Checking out the scores of shops along the way surrounded by ocean themed items only adds to my love for this moment! Snapping pictures for memory's sake!

I rest on a bench by the water's edge and a seagull descends on a post some 4 feet away. He was staring straight at me as if to say "take it now" which I did! Now Mister Seagull's image is framed and sits by my bed and is available anytime I want peace!

Thank you Maria.....Rhode Island
Always and a Day


Captain Wilbert....North Carolina
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Oct 6, 2011
Thanks to Anne....North Carolina
This story begins in a seaside town called Waterlily in Coinjock County, North Carolina. Now we have the WWW but on November 16th, 1936 Wilbert Woodrow Whitson made his stillborn arrival! His parent's midwife instructed them to get her a pan of iced cold water and she would pull the lifeless child back to life! The midwife dipped the baby in the water and Waa Waa Waa Wilbert had arrived!

He was born into a family of commercial hunters and fishermen who have a love for the outdoors and nature's creatures in their natural habitat! Wilbert did his 1st hunt at the tender age of 10 when a large group of hunters was scheduled and his father's scheduled guide was a no show. The burly hunters had the best time ever with little Wilbert as their guide.

His 1st pay for his 1st day at work was $10. Not bad for a 10 year kid in 1946 and way ahead of his age! Word caught on in North Carolina and its neighboring states about Captain Wilbert and his father Woodrow and they prospered!

There were no roads where they lived only horse and buggy or by canal to get to Worth Gard's the local dry goods store. As the business grew larger so did Wilbert's wallet! Every chance he could he would catch a ride to the 5 and Dime in Elizabeth city to buy clothes for him and his younger sister!

Business was brisk as Mrs. Whitson had to book customers 5 month's ahead to accommodate the demand for Woodrow and his son the Cap't! She also had to have provisions for food and lodging as well! It was a family thing and teamwork was essential!

Wilbert had to wait a year to start school cuz he was too young at the time! As Life went on he quit school in the 9th grade to help with the family business which was bustling and the cash flow outweighed the education!

On his 18th birthday Wilbert joined the USCG rather than wait for the draft! On leave one year he decided to get married! They had 3 children all when he was out to sea and it was then he decided "the Coast Guard is not for me." He missed his family.

He left the Coast Guard and became a North Carolina Game and Wildlife Guide for the remainder of his Life!

He met Anne his wife on Halloween, 2002! It was a Cinderella moment for her....like in a dream....but really real! They were married the following March 16th 2003 at the Barco Nursing Center so his parents who were living there could attend! That's the type of guy the Captain was! Anne thought of him more as a best friend rather than her husband! He was there to comfort and console her when she needed someone to talk to. The Captain was a wonderful husband and father, friend, guide, and mentored many!

The Lord Shepherded Wilbert home to Heaven on 7/3/2010! Here on Earth his memory will be passed on from one generation to the next! But when you get to Heaven he'll be your guide!

Thank you Anne.....North Carolina
Always and a Day


Loving Utah....Utah
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Oct 23, 2011
Thanks to Bonnie....Utah
For a man who did little travel in my 66 years I get around quite well on My Magic Carpet Of Life! This trip takes us to the state of Utah in the Western United States and the 45th state to come aboard in 1896.

Most of the population is centered around Salt Lake City around the Wasatch Front. This leaves a large area uninhabited for the most part leaving a huge gap to make it the 6th urbanized in the United States! The origin of the name Utah comes from the Ute tribe which means “people of the mountains”. Utah nestles on the south by Arizona, touching Colorado on the east, skimming Wyoming by the northeast, Idaho on the north, Nevada to the west while touching a bit of New Mexico. A reported 60 percent of Utahans are members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints Church (LDS) better known as Mormons! This group has a great deal of influence on the history, culture and everyday life in Utah! Utah centers around transportation, communications, government services, mining and tourism leading the visitor to the great outdoors of this picturesque state! It prides itself as the fastest growing state in the 2008 census and St. George Utah as the fastest growing metropolitan area from 2000-2005!

There is a lot to be proud of and thankful for as a resident of Utah. My PuterPal Bonnie who lives there told me this about her state:

I’ve done some traveling in our country and over the seas to other countries but living in Utah is a special treat waking up each morning seeing the mountains on the east of Salt Lake Valley! They are 30 minutes from hiking, walking around the lakes, picnicking in the summer and skiing in the winter! A close relative of mine has water skied, snow skied and played golf ALL IN THE SAME DAY! I love opening my curtains in the morning and having those mountains greet me! There’s no comparison to having lunch at the base of the mountain while watching a storm at the top through a large picture window. What a site to see for free!

Thank you Bonne.....Utah
Always and a Day


A Trip on a Harley....Nevada
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Oct 30, 2011
Thanks to JP....Nevada
For a man who did little travel in my 66 years I get around quite well on My Magic Carpet Of Life! This trip takes us to the state of Utah in the Western United States and the 45th state to come aboard in 1896.

Some of you know a lot about Harley Davidson and some know nothing at all! I’m sure there are in every city in the world a phone book full of Harley Davidson the person but Harley Davidson the motorcycle is another story that needs to be told!

The Harley began in the early 19th century and was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which is also known for its beer and cheese. It survived the Great Depression and competition from overseas companies because of its superior craftsmanship which some say holds true today!

The company manufactures cycles over 750 pounds for easy highway cruising with a distinctive design and exhaust system! Their particular customization led to the “Chopper” and the classic Harley designs.

There are loyal Harley riders and owners in every major city all over the world and they ride for pleasure but most of all for their communities giving charity where they can to brighten the lives of those who need it during the holidays and special occasions!

I personally have Harley riders as friends all over the world and JP from Nevada had this to say the other day:

There were 4 of us coming home from a community rally and they were predicting rain so I had my rain gear packed to be ready! One of my fellow riders thought he would save some money by wearing a cheap plastic cover up and as it turns out our trip back was rain all the way home! As we were going down the highway and looking for the next gas station we were getting bombarded by what looked like sacks of potatoes from a car window up ahead but was only the remnants of that cheap plastic rain suit. When we reached the nearest gas station all that remained on my unprepared friend was the waistband of his cheap plastic rain gear!

Funny story JP and this is a reminder to all who ride and want to be a Harley owner to be prepared in all kinds of weather on a ride on a Harley!

Thank you JP.....Nevada
Always and a Day


Elvira from Russia
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Nov 5, 2011
Thanks to Elvira....Russia
I've never been to Russia and probably never will but on my Magic Carpet of Life I had the pleasure of meeting Elvira who is a teacher over there all her life and enjoys working with students helping them learn Life and grow! She has this to say about Life in Russia.

Thoughts of the FIFA World Cup being held in our country Russia in 2018 NOW bordering two parts of the world- Europe and Asia in my city of Ekaterinburg, Russia cross my mind This place is totally apart from any other city because of its grand European flair with a sprinkle of Asia. Ekaterinburg has the nuances of Europe and we consider ourselves Europeans.

The border has changed through the years. The Greeks thought it was the Balkan Peninsula. In medieval Russia it was the Don River. Later the Volga River was the border. And later still it went across the Ural mountains!

For the past 30 years I have been writing pen pals (now puter pals) from Canada through the Soviet Era, the Cold War, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the fall of Communism!

So in 2000 I was lucky enough to visit them! In 2002 my puter pals from Canada visited me in Ekaterinburg and we enjoyed my city in all its splendor and history!

In 2014 the Olympics (XXII) will be from 2/7 -2/13 in Sochi, Krasnodar, Russia! This will be the first time the Russian Federation hosts since the 1980 Summer Games in 1980 in Moscow! Sochi has developed their natural resources and resorts with icy mountains and warm sea breezes and water to make it a perfect place for visitors to my country Russia!

Visiting St.Petersburg and Moscow are other options if you visit for the Olympics, on a vacation or to say hello to me Elvira in Russia!



Thank you Elvira.....Russia
Always and a Day


Vera from Germany
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Nov 16, 2011
Thanks to Vera....Germany
Germany has a lot of history that we will always remember in honor of those who lost their lives at the hands of a maniac and his troops during the war!

As life goes on so do we and before you know it 2011 is almost history! In my travels I had the pleasure of meeting Vera from Germany and she had this say about Life in Germany!

I don’t know where to start or what to say so I’ll start with my birth in December of 1956 the last daughter of 3. My parents were poor refugees from East Germany and Serbia and we lived in a small town in Southern Germany where the people were rude and we weren’t accepted so we moved further South to Lake Constance! It is a beautiful tourist area where we made lots of friends! As I grew older I got a job as a forwarding agent at the Frankfurt Airport and had to move to Frankfurt away from the tourist atmosphere and did customs clearances for all the shipments & met my husband who also worked there! We eventually moved to the Rhineland Palatine near Mannheim or Ludwigshafen. We then moved to where we are now in a quaint and medieval part of “Deutsche Weinstrasse” - the German road of wine! The area is perfect and the people are friendly and open minded and I found a job in a bigger city called Frankenthal in the Ocean Freight Department near my hometown! I am in charge of worldwide shipments and have made friends with a lot - I am happy to share part of my life with you in Our Window To The World! We need more of this so we better understand the lives of people in other countries!

Thank you Vera.....Germany
Always and a Day


A Grandmother from Ohio
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer


Dec 5, 2011
Thanks to Diane....Ohio


I've often wondered about how a woman reacts after one of her own has their own child! First of all they graduate to another stage in life as a grandmother. If that grandchild grows up and has children then she becomes a great grandmother. And if that child grows up and has children then she becomes a great great grandmother! I guess it could go on based on the ladies longevity! A cousin of mine has over 20 grandchildren! This story tells of Diane from Ohio, a grandmother of seven! She has this to say about her grand children!

What tickles me is their innocence. At times they are fighting and just as quick all "lovey dovey" hugging and kissing. Each grandchild reacts to Life in their own special way.

Gavin our youngest at six is the humorist of the family and an inspiration for my abstract art. When I get on my computer he is "all eyes". He is building quite an imagination for a six year old! He tells me what he imagines like the super villain, monsters and grandpa his idol always getting the bad guys!

Saccura at eight acts like she's already grown up and way too savvy for her age. She cares about people's opinions and tries to please everyone. Grandpa tells tall tales and gets an "oh really?" Now she just rolls her eyes and says "yeah right!"

My other five grandkids I can't spend too much time with because they're going to school and church and sports programs after school. All of a sudden it seems they're grown up and gone!

Our eight year old set of twins Ashton and Trinity are quite the opposite! Trinity is the all-girl type dressing up and playing with dolls! She does play soccer because she doesn't get too dirty! She took dance for a while and is in the church choir and calls her mom and dad Mother and Father! If we lived in California she would be a typical Valley Girl with lots of beauty and a lot more ego.

Ashton is more the tomboy type and not so much the Girly Girly. Her favorite saying is "if a boy can do it, I can do it; I can do it better and quicker!" She is a tiny and petite girl and that's probably why she is so tough! Ashton likes snakes, lizards and bugs and climbs a tree faster than her brothers most of the time. She usually has to change clothes twice on church days because she keeps getting into things.

Ten year old Derek does Pee Wee Herman impressions and what's coming from his mouth next is anybody's guess. Derek "cracks me up."

Fourteen year old Dustin is quiet til he has something to say and even then it's "off the wall" funny. He loves and has played most of the popular sports. He's currently in track running hurdles without breaking a sweat. Dustin keeps in shape!

Sixteen year old Landon is one hunk of a young man who the girls adore! It seems not so long ago that he was in my arms while I rocked him to sleep! Sigh! Landon is hot for the Lord and that's a good thing! He is a messenger of God and lets others know where he stands!

I'm so glad my children's children, my grandchildren, turned out so well! We must have done a few things right in that God Has Blessed me Diane, a Grand Mother From Ohio!

Thank you Diane.....Ohio
Always and a Day


Christmas and Peru
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer


Dec 10, 2011
Thanks to Lucy....Peru


My Magic Carpet Of Life takes me to Peru, a South American country with borders to the West of Columbia and Ecuador, Brazil on the East and Southeast by Bolivia, on the South by Chile and the Pacific Ocean on the West.

Peru consists of 25 democratic republics. The land varies from the dry plains of the Pacific coast, over the peaks of the Andes Mountains to the tropical forests of The Amazon. The poverty level is at 31 % with economic activities in agriculture, mining, fishing and manufacturing of textiles!

The main language spoken in this country of 29.5 million is Spanish and some Peruvians speaking Quechua and other languages native to the land with Europeans, Amerindians, Africans and Asians adding to the cultural mix! This mixture of cultures and people leads to a country filled with diversity in music, the arts, literature and cuisine.

I received this letter from Lucy in Spanish which a friend of mine translated and she expressed her happiness that I asked about her country and she wrote this about CHRISTmas And Peru.

I loved God as a child and this year I want to send many blessings and good health to everyone who reads this message.

Thanks for another year of Life and the opportunity to make friends on the internet because I see them as people who have good health, faith and hope in times of pain and anguish and joy!

God bless all the children of our world. Those who are with us today and those who will be with us in the future and those who have left us! Remember them on CHRISTmas and every day of the year!

May we all be peaceful and accept our differences. Friendship is worth more in spite of the miles. May you and your family have a blessed CHRISTmas which has already begun. May you feel these blessings and know you are never alone. Look up to the sky and know HE is always watching over & protecting you. Love Always.

Thank you Lucy.....Peru
Always and a Day


The Odds
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer


Dec 16, 2011
Thanks to Kaye....Kansas


On my daily adventures I happened to land in a quaint town in Kansas and befriended a pretty lady named Kaye who was wondering what are the odds?

Kaye is always thinking about the way things happen the way they do. What are the odds? When you pass through a small town or city or farmland or metropolis do you think about the people who live in those homes and what their lives are like? Are they happy or not or like me or not? Where do they work and do they like what they do? What do they like or not? Do they have children or are planning a family and what kind of a future do they have?

What are the odds you would see the people you did when driving in your car? Not that you would remember them anyway. What are the odds of them being there when you passed them? What are the odds that you would sit next to or talk to someone when you stop for a break from your driving? In the restaurant some people will be friendly and others not. Some are in a hurry and hardly notice because they are wrapped up in their own lives and don't have time for chit chat.

When or if you fly what are the odds you would meet, talk to or sit next to a person at that particular time of day? Most of us are concerned with personal matters and just want to be left alone! This creates awkward and tense situation on a long flight together in the next seat over! What do people think of me after we've met? Are they happy we made the connection or not? The odds of them meeting us are the same as us meeting them. How do we know if our meeting made or will someday make a difference? We don't.

We may never know if that friendly smile or hello made a difference in another's Life. Or living our daily lives might be making a difference in somebody's Life without us realizing! So what are the odds when we feel we don't matter that someday, somehow, against the odds we'll make someone's Life a little bit brighter!

Thank you Kaye.....Kansas
Always and a Day


Life On the Rock
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer


Dec 20, 2011
Thanks to Hilary....Jamaica


Jamaica is affectionately called the ROCK by those who live there and have visited promising their return again and again! The island's beauty is described by Hilary who was born there and wants to share Jamaica with you!

We are 4,442 square miles with 146 long and 51 miles wide. Jamaica is 90 miles from Cuba and 600 away from the famed Miami Beach. Our capital city is Kingston to the southeast of the island and Mont ego Bay to the northwest is an irresistible magnet for the tourists. The island has a mountainous terrain with much of the land rising above 1,000 feet with Blue Mountain Peak at 7,402 feet on its tallest point! We have no winters but from December to March the temperature is cooler at 55.4 degrees than the rest of the months which average 89.6 degrees!

Jamaica was first called Xaymaca, land of wood and water, by the Amerindians its settlers. The Europeans fought to own it and the Africans were brought here forcibly while the Asians, Indians, and Middle Easterners came for better living conditions. All have meshed quite well as time progressed to give Jamaica its rich cultural blend attesting to their national motto "Out of many one people". We were first ruled by the Spanish, 1492-1655, then the British, 1655-1952, then we gained our independence! Port Royal, one of the historic parts of our island was called the "wickedest city in the west" in the seventeenth century! It was inhabited by pirate Sir Henry Morgan and his gang of thieves. Now two thirds of that land lies beneath the sea from an earthquake in 1692!

Our island Jamaica has beautiful white sand beaches, attractions and the hospitality of our people is second to none! The scenic views are many with an abundance of places for those favorite pictures. We have given the world our Jamaica Blue Ribbon Coffee, Bob Marley, Reggae music, Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, Jamaica jolt (our way of cooking) and many more! Let me hope that you and your family are fine wherever you may be! It's a cool but sunny day here on my hilltop after a lovely shower of rain last night and heavy dew into this morning! The plants and grass are lush and green as I am surrounded by trees and shrubs and a vibrant splash of color at the steps to my home. My faithful bougainvilleas provide me with year round colors and Life would be so green without them! Thanks for visiting and we give thanks to God for creating our piece of land called the rock!

Thank you Hilary.....Jamaica
Always and a Day


Our First Colorado Zebra Finch
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Jan 5, 2012
Thanks to Kathleen....Colorado
There is much to be said about Colorado and its outdoor life for visitors and those who are lucky enough to live there! This story revolves around Kathleen and her daughter their first Colorado Zebra Finch!

I used to go next door on my breaks and lunch hour to the bird sanctuary when I worked at an assisted living facility in Colorado in the summer of 2000. I was fascinated by the different types and colors of birds flying around free and happy as it should be. The mama birds would eat while feeding their young and building a nest. They were busier than the beavers with important things to do too!

At a nest near my bench was a mama Zebra Finch feeding her recently hatched 3 babies taking turns on each with tender loving care. After two weeks watching this ritual I noticed one bird missing! The birds were just getting their feathers and couldn't fly. The other birds pecked and chased this poor little one and it "flew the coop" as they say!

I spotted the missing bird and asked the attendant for the key to the cage so I could put it back but there were already 3 birds there? What to do now? I put it in a box with holes and took it back to work hoping it would survive till I got off that day!

The bird survived that ordeal and my 8 year old daughter was so pleased to have a Zebra Finch of her very own! We called him Pete. I told her we would have to play Mother Bird and feed it every 2 hours very carefully with loving care and tweezers! I went to the store for bird seed and the clerk advised me to wet it first before feeding it to the little one which I did as we nursed him back to health!

When Pete became a spry young Zebra Finch he courted a mate called Rosy and as time pushed forward they parented 20 new Zebra Finches! I have lovingly given them to family and friends and lonely people over a period of 11 years! This is in memory of Pete who made his final flight to Birdie Heaven on August 25th, 2011!

Thank you Kathleen.....Colorado
Always and a Day


The Cayman Islands
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Jan 10, 2012
Thanks to Rita....Caymen Islands
Traveling the world on My Magic Carpet of Life I see many cruise ships filled to capacity with tourists seeking fun, information and relaxation at their next destination of the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands are a British owned territory in the western Caribbean Sea. It is 3 islands in total with the Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman just south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. The islands are part of the Western Caribbean and the Greater Antilles Zone. They are a global financial hub!

They were first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 and he named them Las Tortugas after the number of sea turtles frolicking in the area. Sir Henry Drake, an Englishman, later called them "Cayman", another name for alligator!

The islands started populating in the seventeenth century with pirates, refugees from The Spanish Inquisition, shipwrecked sailors and deserters! What a crew huh? The first recorded birth and permanent resident was Isaac Bodden in 1661. England took control of the Cayman Islands in 1670.

A perceived need for slaves in 1734 saw the island's population grow with many of the slaves from Africa! The first census in 1802 had 545 of the 933 residents' slaves with the rest mostly of English descent! Slavery was abolished on the islands in 1834 with 116 Caymanian families owning approximately 950 slaves!

The Cayman's and Jamaica were ruled as one until the islands became an independent commonwealth in 1962.

Besides the beach activities which is enough for some the Tourism flourishes with Seven Mile Beach, where most of the tourists stay with attractions such as Pedro St James Castle, Sting Ray City, 2 shipwrecks, the Ironshore landscape of Hell, Boatswain's Beach, Cayman Turtle Farm, A Gourmet Sea Salt Factory and the Mastic Trail with trips through the forests in the center of the island and the East End Lighthouse to name a few!

Rita is a resident of Grand Cayman Island and watches the tourists every day as they come home from their excursions! She knows they'll be back judging from their smiling faces and desire to see all that the islands offer!

Thank you Rita.....Caymen Islands
Always and a Day


There's Hope In Indiana
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Jan 10, 2012
Thanks to Deb....Indiana
Our Magic Carpet Of Life lands us in Indiana, known as the Hoosier (train) state in the Midwest Great Lakes Region of the USA and is the 15th most populated! Deb brings Hope to all those who have given theirs up!

Deb has this to say of Life in Indiana.

I got saved at 16 in a typing class of all places! We were just awarded help many years later in our fight to end cancer and other nasty diseases!

Recently my husband and I celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary with him helping me get through the last 40 years of surgeries and illnesses! Thanks to the installation of spinal stimulators in the recent past my pain has been eliminated. This came a bit late but better than never! And Deb is reaching out for more miracles!

I was so afraid of entering my profession of working with cancer patients. My brother had died of brain cancer at the age of 49 and was never sick before that. Three years after that my Dad had passed due to multiple myeloma. Mom and her high school sweetheart met again and got married this time. Six years later he died! Mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer! As you can see by my family's track record of Life, I knew all that I could take and why do I persist in this struggle to save limitless lives?

It was as if Life was pursuing me like a runaway freight train for the past 20 years and then God told me to STOP, turn around and welcome it with out-stretched arms! I did this with shut eyes for the fear of the wreckage of lives that won't be whole again but they affected my peace of mind!

Deb finds solace in doing what she can to help others! She admits that God "roped her in" and HE knows how to "ring our bell" to the tune of "There's Hope In Indiana"!
Thank you Deb.....Indiana
Always and a Day


A Peek At Romania
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Jan 26, 2012
Thanks to Adelia....Romania
My travels bring us to Romania at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the lower Danube bordering the Black Sea!

The kingdom of Romania was a result of the merging of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 by Prince Albert loan Cuza. They declared their Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. At the end of World War I Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovinia united with Romania to become Greater Romania which grew and prospered until World War II. As the war ended many of Romania's cities were occupied by the Soviet Union resulting in its becoming a socialist party in the W Warsaw Pact! When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 Romania started its push toward Democracy and after 10 years of economic recovery Romania has become a middle income country with much potential for the future. Romania belongs to NATO, the European Union, and several other unions including the United Nations!

There is an abundance of protected areas because of Romania's undisturbed forests and fauna! Some places like the Chilia Branch of the Danube Delta, the Stanisoara Stream at the Retezat National Park, Pietrosu Peak, Iron Gates National Park, Piatra Craiului Main Mountain Ridge, Red Lake, Bicaz Main River Canyon, chalets on Balea Lake, Bucegi Mountains and Hasdate river are among the most popular!

Tourism covers the above attractions plus destinations such as Venus, a resort on the Black Sea, Mangalia, Saturn, Olimp, Constanta and Mamaia, often called the Romanian Riviera for summer vacations! The seaside offers the Black Sea and seashores with capes, bays and inlets for all with varied menus for the culinary traveler!

Winter offers Valea, Prahovei and Poiana ski resorts!

Transylvanian cities like Sibu, Brazov, Sighisoara , Ciuj- Napoka, Targu Mures and Miercura - ciuc offer a medievil atmosphere with castles till your feet get tired! The painted churches of Moldavia, the wooden churches of Meramures and Selaj and the Merry Cemetery add to the folklore!

Among its famous churches, cathedrals and castles, beaches, flat lands and mountains there lives the people of Romania, like my puterpal Adelia, who welcomes us to her country!
Thank you Adelia.....Romania
Always and a Day


Drugged In Alabama
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Feb 13, 2012
Thanks to Linda....Alabama
Alabama is located in Southeastern United States with borders in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi. It is the thirtieth most populated state and has the second most inland waterways.

It has the name yellowhammer state after its state bird and is proudly nicknamed in the "Heart of Dixie". The long leaf pine is their tree and the Camellia their flower, Montgomery is their capital with Birmingham their largest city. Huntsville and Mobile add to the Southern hospitality.

Tourists from the USA and countries like Canada, England, Japan, Germany and others contributed to the 8.3 billion dollar revenue and 162,000 jobs in 2006! Their beaches and waterways add to the attraction of this state!

UAB Hospital is the only Level I trauma center in Alabama employing a workforce of 20,000!

The various speedways for the race car enthusiasts and the football stadiums for the long revered "Bama" fans from childhood is a part of Life from one generation to the next!

Alabama has its share of drugs which they are controlling and getting rid of as I write but one kind of drug we don't have enough of any more is explained by Linda, a native of Alabama.

I read in the paper the other day they found an Amphetamine lab in a vacant farmhouse near here.

One of my friends asked why we didn't have that problem when we were kids. Linda said she had a "drug" problem back then and her children and their children will have it too! I was "drugged" to church for worship, weddings and funerals! "Drugged" to family reunions come rain or shine. "Drugged" by my ears to the woodshed if I got bad grades, told a lie, had no respect, spoke bad about the preacher or teacher or didn't give it my best effort when asked to do something.

If I swore I got my mouth washed out with soap at the kitchen sink. I was "drugged" to my mom's garden and flower beds and dad's field for other chores. Was "drugged" to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help in times of sickness and helplessness. Tips were not allowed in the spirit of kindness to mankind or another trip to the woodshed! Those "drugs" are engrained in my brain and will carry on after I'm gone!
Thank you Linda.....Alabama
Always and a Day


Adventure By The Sea
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Feb 24, 2012
Thanks to ....Sandy....California
There is an abundance of material on the state of California to write about so I'll leave that up to the historians while I tell you about Sandy's "Adventure By The Sea".

Some years back she was about to visit her first husband's grandmother in Long Beach when she found her taking a nap so Sandy decided to visit the Queen Mary instead. Some portions of the old ship were partitioned off for the filming of the Poseidon Adventure. Being the curious lady that she always is she wandered onto the set through a carelessly let open door. There she found Red Buttons and Shelley Winters. The director saw Sandy and yelled cut, cut and asked her to walk down the promenade away from the filming.

She had just returned from a week at Parker Dam, Arizona and had a stunningly beautiful tan. They broke for lunch and the director asked HER to join them on deck for lunch and he asked her if she could do a "walk on" part as a patron of the gift shop on board! She went crazy looking for a phone to ask her husband since cell phones weren't around back then! She finally found a phone to ask her husband's permission and he told her she couldn't because he didn't want her driving home in the dark! Sandy was devastated and disappointed but she did love and respect her husband.

At that time Sandy had her tantalizing tan, sexy white slacks, beige and white tee top and long blond hair to compliment her sunny disposition. She never had time to tell the director she couldn't do the part because it was rapidly getting dark! To think that she could have been in the classic "Poseidon Adventure" or as her husband thought on the cutting room floor!
Thank you Sandy.....California
Always and a Day


Puterpals Are A Mainstay
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Feb 24, 2012
Thanks to Cora....Alaska
As a young and curious man growing up I often wondered what Life was like elsewhere. Sure reading books, listening to the news and reading magazines gave me a hint but nothing like finding out directly from someone who lives there! So I started writing letters in my high school years back in the 60's and sent them to places I wanted to go or know more about and addressed them to a pen pal I found who looked like they would respond to my endless questions about their area of the USA or the big, wide world as we knew it back then! The postage was low so mailing was no problem and I collected stamps so it was fun in more ways than one. I wrote to people in states and countries that peeked my interest and I got responses as I wrote the letters weeks or months later but most of my pen pals responded to my curiousity in them and their area!

I remember struggling with a pen or a typewriter and trying to make my letters perfect and understood much as I do today on a computer but with no struggling whatsoever! When a letter back arrived in our mailbox from Japan or Canada or Vermont or Alaska it was a big deal to me that I got a response from someone who I had never seen or met!

When the price of stamps kept rising and my Life got busier and I started my career as a hotel man and attending college and other time consuming goals in 1969 my interest in pen pals waned!

Then they invented the computer and the changes started happening! Now I have literally hundreds of friends from all over the world and the USA who write me letters about their state or country and after they have said what they wanted to say and did a spell correct they hit the send key! In a minute or less the email is at my computer in box! No more waiting....postage.....You can also talk to your friends via Skype or Yahoo Messenger or many others! This is progress and I no longer use the expression penpals in my writing and alas it has changed to puterpals!

Cora from Alaska has this to say about her puterpals on the internet.

"I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a friend on the internet! Online friends may never meet. We see pictures and cams. It isn't the same. We grow close. We care, share and show our love. One day we may not hear from one another. All we see on the computer is the name of the person we don't see anymore. We pray for that person to come back! All I ask is you to remember me in the good as well as the bad like a family member would do. Keep me close to your heart, soul and spirit as a forever friend would do."
Most important of all you are a puterpal of mine and a mainstay in my Life.
Thank you Cora.....Alaska
Always and a Day


Life in Canada
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

March 6, 2012
Thanks to Edna....Canada
Traveling on my "Magic Carpet Of Life" I had the pleasure of meeting Edna, an octogenarian, who remembers "Life In Canada" 80 years ago!

Canada is a North American country with a vast expanse of land having 10 provinces and 3 territories. It is here where our story begins. "Oh Canada's" vast expanse of land extends from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the East and West going northward to the Arctic Ocean covering 9.9 million kilometers & the 2nd largest country in Our World. It shares its border with the United States and is the longest land border in existence today!

"My memories in bits and pieces bring me back to the early days of the thirties called 'the dirty days' in the 'dust bowl' of Southern Canada. My first memory was when my big sister left home. I know now that she was going to Edmonton to be a nurse. All I can remember being three at the time was her leaving in a big grey car and my mother crying!

I remember before starting school with the teacher boarding in our home and the family cat eating her bananas and cream! I remember my two brothers wiring the pasture gates shut so when her boyfriend came to call he carried wire snipers in order to get through the gates!

I was invited to do a school recitation at the Christmas concert. I had a 'ready-made' dress from Eaton's catalogue made of pink angel skin and very pretty. When it was my turn to go on stage I burst into tears and refused! A little creep, Cyril, who was even younger than me got up and gave his!

I vividly recall the dust storms blowing the topsoil across the fields nearly suffocating man and beast and damaging anything in the way. Many of the farmers collected Indian Arrowheads left in the 'hard pan' or what was left after the storm. One of my brothers even found a tomahawk head!

Thoughts of winter bring plenty of cold, snow and sunny days hooking a sled behind a horse drawn cutter going to town with Pa! After we fell off a few times and wore out his patience Pa with his icicle laden mustache would put the sled and us in the cutter while trying to untangle the lines from the team of horses in the front! And he would when he could slap his arms around his body to try and keep his hands warm.

I remember homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, canned meat, fruit and vegetables. My Mom was the best cook in the world so I seldom went to friends' homes because their Moms weren't! Memories of Mom shearing sheep with her simple dressmaking shears with Pa assisting. Pop hated the sheep but every springtime he would let us adopt a couple orphan lambs from the local sheep ranch. We fed them warm milk through a baby bottle and they left 'raisins' through the yard.

I recall 1937 when the only thing growing was Russian thistles! Hoards of Army worms invaded our property! The whole idea of Santa Claus was blown when I found some dolls in the back seat of our old Buick while CHRISTmas lives on forever!

I recollect the home made sleds & ice-cream, school picnics, picking chokecherries and Saskatoon's and Mom sewing doll clothes. I remember thinking the Saturday confirmation lessons would never end! Our pastor used to pick my sister and me up for confirmation classes and would drive us home afterwards to partake of my Mom's good cooking!"

And time goes on as we all get on~
Thank you Edna.....Canada
Always and a Day


The Pride of Ireland
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Mar 16, 2012
Thanks to Vera....Ireland
I'm at the Emerald Isle of Saints & Scholars otherwise known as Ireland.

lt is the third largest island in Europe and twentieth largest in Our World. The population is 6.4 million people with 5/6 in The Republic Of Ireland and the rest in Northern Ireland. Spacious low lying mountains surround the island of rich vegetation with mild oceanic temperatures avoiding the extreme fluctuations. The Atlantic Ocean is on the west, the Celtic Sea is to the south and the Irish Sea to the East.

Visitors frequent the Bunratty Castle, the Rock of Cashel, Holy Cross Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle. Dublin is the most visited city with the Guinness Storehouse and Book of Kells. Other areas boast the Lakes of Killarney and the Dingle peninsula. Achill Island, Ireland's largest, has 5 miles of Blue Flag beaches, vast expanses of challenging surf with Croaghaun being one of the World's highest sea cliffs. Stately homes from centuries past are available for viewing and the Ashford, Leslie and Dromoland Castles have been converted to unique one of a kind hotels. Giant's Causeway, Bru na Boine and Skellig Michael are Ireland's World Heritage sites.
Ireland has such colorful names as Donegal, Cork, Dublin, Derry, Galway, Lisburn, Limerick and Waterford to name a few. I could continue with more places to visit but instead I want to introduce you to a longtime friend and puterpal Vera McCafferty, a lifetime resident of Ireland!

"Our Emerald Isle is a green gem of an island off the northwest of continental Europe. It is my birth place and loved by many. I was born in the early 50's and up until we joined the European Union in 1973 we would have been quite the poor country with high emigration to Europe and the USA".

"Agriculture and fishery were the two main industries. I grew up on a small farm to the north in a family of twelve! We were self sufficient growing our own potatoes and vegetables. We had dairy cows to provide milk and butter and our extended family to provide us with fish especially through the bitter cold winter months. I lived by the sea which brought its own tragedies back then. That convinced my parents to never have their children work in the fishing industry!"

"Life flourished in the 1980's and 90's but by then most of my family had moved overseas and I to Dublin City, the capital, in 1971 and spent 10-12 years there where I met my husband before returning again to the family farm to care for my aging parents and bring up my own family. It took me almost 5 years to get used to the tranquil Life on a farm again as compared to the hustle bustle of city Life."

"Ireland is the perfect place to bring up children with its unaltered beaches and rugged scenic landscapes, unspoiled countryside with narrow and winding country roads where you can today still learn Life the way it used to be! Those roads can lead to Heaven or other places but Heaven is my goal. The recession has hit us hard as everywhere else in this World with mass emigration and high unemployment but despite these set falls Ireland offers its beautiful country with friendly and warm people who extend 100,000 welcomes." "A -cead- mile-failte"

It's nice to know places like Ireland still exist in Our World! Thank you Vera McCafferty!.....Ireland
Always and a Day


A Nurse In New Jersey
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Mar 21, 2012
Thanks to Peg....New Jersey
My travels take me to New Jersey, the garden state, where their motto is liberty and prosperity.

It is in the northeastern and mid Atlantic USA bordered by New York on the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean on the south and southeast, Delaware on the southwest and Pennsylvania on the west. New Jersey is the most densely populated with sprawling cities between New York City and Philadelphia and the third wealthiest per capita and the 11th most populated of the 50 states.

I zero in on Peggy, a health care provider with a heart of gold and a disposition to match! She takes advantage of the priceless opportunities in the workplace to practice Eckhart-Tolle's teachings. Every day she comes in contact with patients and their families who are going through a dark period of their lives.

One night she entered a room with an elderly man and his wife to give a respiratory treatment. The room was dark and the mood was somber. Peggy moved to the side of the bed opposite the gentleman's wife. From their position at the head of the bed they see the husband was uncomfortable, ill and needing assistance.

Before Peggy could explain what she was going to do the wife started blasting her, the doctors and the hospital as a whole accusing them of gross negligence and going on and on. Peggy was there only to help and knew this outburst was the lady's grief showing though Peg wanted so badly to defend herself and the hospital but let her emotions fall to the floor under the bed and out the door! She knew there was no room for argument though she could feel the verbal blows from across the room! This was an epiphany, a great moment in her life! All she had to do was let her arms fall to her sides and listen to the poor wife's pain in every word that she directed at Peg since she entered the room at that moment. And she knew exactly what to do and she did. Nothing but listen and be acutely present!

Surely as a pendulum on a clock the wife's anger slowly subsided and her voice came back to normalcy. Then there was a hush and when Peg felt she had said all she had to say never taking her eyes off the wife as she fired the accusations at her like the rat-a-tat of a machine gun. When an appropriate time of silence passed Peg asked what SHE could do to help. Just then from across the bed Peggy could feel the wife's body relax as she crossed over to give her a sincere hug and in a whispering voice she said "Nothing but thank you for listening to me vent.' It was an invaluable nursing experience that Peggy will always remember!

Thank you Peggy.....New Jersey
Always and a Day


A Bit About Malta
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

Mar 27, 2012
Thanks to Alex....Malta
My Magic Carpet of Life whirred me to the country of Malta which is celebrating less than a century as an independent country at Harrah's in London this month but having existed 1,000 years before the pyramids.

This story comes by way of Hawaii where I met Alex in 1973 on Waikiki Beach and we are still friends today! He is a Maltese native and has much to say about his country! I have also made puterpals with friends like Tessie and her husband who run a local business there.

Malta is made up of 3 islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. It encompasses 122 square miles in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, 60 miles south of Sicily and 300 miles north of Libya. The language is Maltese, which is similar to Arabic, left by the early Phoenicians (today called Lebanon) with influences of Italian. The 2nd language which is English is spoken by most of the 405,000 population!

Historically speaking Malta holds a strategic location because of its position in the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians, Romans, Sicilians, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and others have held the title of ownership through time. Malta is linked to the Knights of St, Johns of Jerusalem who ruled through the mid-16th century. In 1798 Napoleon took the reigns without resistance. The country was ruled a scant 2 years when it was surrendered to the British in 1800. In 1814 Great Britain legally took control of Malta which supported the UK in both World Wars. Malta gained independence from Great Britain in 1964 and adopted the Euro as a currency in 2008.

This small but vibrant country was first inhabited by the Sicilians in 1500 BC who were hunters, farmers and fishermen who lived in caves and open dwellings. During their existence they made contacts with other cultures as documented by their pottery. Most prevalent in Malta's culture is the Temple Period starting in 3600 BC. These temples are still standing today throughout all 3 islands and are deemed the world's oldest man made structures. While the people who built them disappeared in 2500 BC without an explanation! Some speculate they were totally extinguished from the face of our earth. After the temples came the Bronze Age where bits and pieces of stone slab towns, settlements and structures still remain today on the islands of Malta.

Today this country is favored by tourism with all the major hotels represented! Shipbuilding and repair is a mainstay. Technology based businesses claim Malta as their home. Easy to get to being 2 1/2 hours from London, an hour from Rome and 100 miles from Tunis.

The restaurants serve the local Maltese faire and international cuisine. As a connoisseur of fine foods, cooking and eating, Alex says "If you like Italian you'll LOVE Maltese."

Thank you Alex.....Malta
Always and a Day


God Through A Child's Eyes
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 3, 2012
Thanks to Cathy....California
Easter is coming upon us again with the celebration of Christ's Resurrection from the grave and it never gets old since the beginning of Christ as we know HIM because it is a truth that a Christian believes in their every day life! Actually God is Alive and with those who believe!

We are saddened with Maundy Thursday then Christ was crucified the next day on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday he rose from the dead leaving the grave cloths in the tomb for all to know that he had risen!

The final week of Easter is a busy one for those who celebrate Our Lord. The food is plenty and the fellowship abounds with singing, praying and praising his existence amongst us sight unseen!

We really don't understand that God made Heaven and earth in what we call 7 days, a week and too many adults don't believe in HIM for a number of reasons with not being able to see or touch HIM for two. How does a child understand all this material about God, Easter and the Bible?

Cathy, a puter pal and forever friend from California, made these observations in a Christian school for children pretending to write commercials for a local TV station about God! HE performs miracles daily just like Bayer Aspirin. God is like Ford because HE has better ideas. Being the real thing The Redeemer is like Coke. The Prince of Peace is like a Hallmark card sending the best for all occasions. Our Lord is like Tide because He gets the stains out where others don't really care. He's a lot like General Electric bringing the good out of Life. The Shepherd reminds us of Wall mart because HE has everything. Like Alka Seltzer if you try HIM you'll like HIM. Jesus is like Scotch Transparent Tape in that you can't see HIM but you know He's there. You're in Good Hands just like Allstate. Like Delta HE is ready when you are. Like VO 5 hairspray God will be with you in All types of weather. HE reminds us of Dial soap where we wish everyone has some. The US Postal Service delivers in All weather conditions as does Our Savior! Somewhat like Chevrolet, the heartbeat of America but He's the peace maker of the world. Somewhat like Maxwell House, good till the last drop but Life Everlasting! Similar to Bounty, the paper towel, God is a quick picker upper & will help handle All the tough battles without ever falling apart!
Thank you Cathy!.....California
Always and a Day


Sarah's Garden In England
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 12, 2012
Thanks to Sarah....England
My Magical Carpet of Life whirs me to England where I have many friends. Sarah in particular this time! A little about England first then Sarah will fascinate you as she did me with her beautiful WORDS!

England is a monarchy ruled by Queen Elizabeth II since 1952. This country is the size of the state of Alabama and 74 times smaller than the USA. It is 59 times smaller than Australia and 3 times smaller than Japan! It is the largest country in Great Britain with major cities of London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and to name a few.

It is bordered by Scotland on the North, the North Sea to the East, the English Channel to the south and Westward is Wales. England has the famed Thames River and their flag is a red cross on a white background; the emblem of St. George. Lake Windemere is the largest lake. Their motto is "God and my right". The national flower is the red rose, the robin the bird. the oak the tree and the lion roars the animal!

Scaffell Pike is England's highest point with the Fens the lowest. The temperature typically stays in the low 50's. The southern part of England is low lying hills and land a plenty for agriculture. The northern part is primarily mountains and moorlands. National Anthem is "God Save The Queen" and "Land Of Hope And Glory".

Tourism and the service industry keep the economy alive! Two percent of the workforce produces 60 percent of the food needs in a highly mechanized industry! Two thirds is devoted to livestock and the rest to agriculture. The exports of England are pharmaceuticals, cars. crude oil and petroleum, aircraft engines and of course alcoholic beverages!

Sarah has a respectable job in her community and has this to say about her garden in England!

"How are you dear friend Jack from America who constantly cheers me with his optimistic mail? I am off today from work and planting and watering my "Balcony" garden. Such visual delights with the hydrangeas and their fascinating variations of blue and pink never cease to amaze me. Also my two royal regal red and gold roses sparkling in the sunshine.

Then in shady nook secret purples and vivid greens of mysterious origins. Cool, calm and soothing to the gaze. With two pots at either end of my line of beauty are my prized Forsythia starting to bloom and heralding the arrival of Spring. Finally as I approach my front entrance a pot of sweet basil to delight the palate and a blue pot of feathered lavender which I always give a loving squeeze coming in from work giving me peace and calm and wishful dreams that someday I'll have a garden I can call my own".

Thank you Sarah.....England
Always and a Day


A Spitfire Over Germany
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 24, 2012
Thanks to Sarahj....England
This story happened in 1945 the year of my birth. It's from a relative of a friend of mine, Sarahj, in London and dedicated to my wife's Dad whose 98th birthday was April 22nd, who served in England during World War II. Though the pilot survived and he has since passed on as well as my wife's Dad the story will live forever and a day!

As told by Bill Harvey who was on that plane that day when it happened!

"Our section of 4 "spits" took off into the bright blue clouds with the usual two 20 mil cannons and two 5's augmented by a 500 pound bomb on this particular trip! Our primary mission was to disrupt rail traffic by dive bombing and cutting (blowing up) a railroad track!"

"We flew into the area of Wesel, Germany at about 10,000 feet altitude and noticed 2 Me262 jets below us. Les was in the lead position and I was at #3 and Pete, a new boy, was my wingman. Les suggested we jettison the bombs and have a go at the 262's! We dropped the bombs but the "Jerrys" saw us coming and speeded out of sight in their faster 262's. Oh well, it was worth a try!"

"Without bombs we were searching for ground targets with our 5 and 20 mils. Les noticed a train barreling along the line from Munster to Borken. It was trying to make the cover and protection of the trees and ack ack guns surrounding the town. Having a go at the train before it got close to the ack ack guns seemed the thing to do. So Les leafed over dropped down to the deck while Pete and I stayed above to give cover against any Jerry 190's having a go at them while my men are pursuing the train. They had a good attack with lots of hits on the train."

"Pete and I were next and descended to take our turn. I checked over my shoulder at 1.000 feet or so and Pete was right with me on the starboard side. We attacked the train at right angles. I took the engine and told Pete to concentrate his fire o the next 3. At 300 MPH shooting time is only a few seconds before you have to pull up to avoid hitting something. I had a good run with lots of cannon shots on the engine. I ended my attack easing up on the throttle to move the engine over when things started going amiss".

"I got hit by an .88 over my left wing and through the Grace of God we didn't explode. Fortunately the gunfire went right through! But the engine was clobbered on the right by light .30 mil.flak. I gained altitude to 7,000 feet when the engine sputtered making weird noises and stopped! Then flames shot through the firewall signaling us to part company with our beloved Spitfire!"

"I stayed with her till 2,500 feet then bailed out! The parachute opened & the ride down was smooth & I wasn't taken prisoner as I watched our Spitfire explode and perish a few miles away."
*Les and Pete were later shot down and went with God to their final destination!

Thank you Sarahj.....England
Always and a Day


A Friend In The Netherlands
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 18, 2012
Thanks to Dick....Netherlands
My Magic Carpet Of Life beams down in the Netherlands referred to by most as The Low Country because of its population being below sea level and the rest barely above! I met a Puterpal named Dick in the Netherlands and he tells about our Friendship at the end of this tale!

Most refer to the Netherlands as North and South Holland which are but two of its twelve provinces. A majority of the land is formed by the European Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt river delta. The terrain is primarily flat with abundant sprinkles of foothills and low hill ranges.

The Netherlands was one of the first countries to have an elected parliament and founding memberships in the EU, NATO, OECD and WTO. As they link up with Belgium and Luxembourg they form the Benelux economic union The capital is Amsterdam and the Hague is their government in a parliamentary democracy organized as a unitary state.

It hosts the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons. It is the home of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and a Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. All but one are situated in The Hague as well as the EU's criminal intelligence agency Europol and judicial co-operation agency Eurojust. As you might have guessed by now it is named "the legal capital of the world".

This country has the sixteenth largest world economy and since the sixteenth century has specialized in trading, shipping, fishing and banking. Foodstuffs head the industrial list with chemicals, metallurgy, electrical goods, machinery and tourism. Most of the major hotels are represented as well as Heineken, Unilever, ING, DSM, Shell, ASML, Philips and Tom Tom, the car navigator to name a few.

They joined the Eurozone in 2002, one of 17 countries using the euro as their currency. Tourism in the Netherlands is Europe's 5th largest. It is one of the five largest investors in the United States and attracts worldwide investors to the Netherlands as well!

Rotterdam is the largest shipping port in Europe using the Rhine and Meuse rivers to get up to the hinterland reaching Basel, Switzerland and onward to France. Goods are transported from Rotterdam to the European continent and overseas by ship, river barge, rail or road. The Betuweroute, a fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany was completed in 2007.

As Our story nears its final destination let Dick tell his!

"My name is Dick and I live in the city of Schiedam, the Netherlands. I am a bus driver in the public transport. I read your profile with your body being paralyzed on the right from head to toe and I think of how lucky I am! Three years ago I stayed in the hospital for three weeks and I was paralyzed too like you but now I am almost healed! Mine was due to stress my doctor told me. I like water sports like swimming, skiing, diving and fishing and I have a boat on Cape Verde Islands, Sao-Vincente City, Mindelo. Thanks for your friendship and the inspiration to go on no matter what Jack"!

Thank you Dick.....Netherlands
Always and a Day


A Butterfly In Malaysia
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

May 12, 2012
Thanks to Butterfly....Malaysia
Distant countries have a certain intrigue about them and Malaysia is a good example. While journeying over this spacious land I had the good fortune of meeting a Lady who insists I call her Butterfly to remind her of a long time friend from Canada. She has a story to tell but let us learn a bit about Malaysia.

Malaysia is a thirteen state and three federal territories monarchy in southeast Asia. It is separated by the South China Sea, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. It shares borders with Brunei,Thailand and Indonesia and ocean borders with Vietnam,Singapore and the Philippines.

The population of 27.5 million has their capital in Kuala Lumpur while the government is run from Putrajaya. Since its independence in 1957 the Malayan kingdoms merged with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to what is Malaysia today. Singapore was expelled from this union in 1965.

This country has one of the best economic growth records at 6.5 % per year for the past 50 years! The economy is stabilized on its natural resources but is highly successful in science, medical, commerce and tourism. Their motto "Unity Is Our Strength" holds true!

Butterfly confessed that she was worried about her Canadian friend who was undergoing his last blood transfusion and chemo treatment. He was so weak and had no family to be with him! Good thing there are people like Butterfly to Brighten Our Lives!

"My children are still staying with me and none married yet. The third son was in the police academy for two months then his training was terminated when they discovered he had heart problems. My second son was teaching at a secondary school on a contract since he hasn't earned his credentials yet. Recently, all the temporary teachers were laid off by the ministry and he was laid off with a promise that his contract would "some day" be renewed. My eldest son is driving his truck doing odd jobs when he can while studying at a local university. My daughter has a degree in pharmacy but is not working yet. It's very hard to get a place in the local university and I can't afford to send her overseas to further her education.I am worried about my children's future!"

"My salary as a Head Mistress is not as much as the teachers in the USA but I'm so thankful to God to have this job and my health and a husband who works in a blood bank at a local hospital and my family under one roof at our HOME in Malaysia. I retire in 2014 at the age of 58."

Thank you Butterfly.....Malaysia
Always and a Day


A Bounty Of Bounce
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

June 12, 2012
Thanks to Kathy....California
You can use the Word bounce in many aspects of a busy and active Life such as: bounce around the room or bounce a ball or bounce this thought around in your mind and try some of the applications of a certain item other than its intended purpose and see if they work for you!

These days of job elimination to keep business afloat are a sorry fact of Life! And we have to deal with the problem if it ever affects US. Cost cutting will be part of your strategy so give them a try! The Post Office suggested their carriers use a sheet of fabric softener on their person to thwart yellow jackets! They say it's also good for outdoor work, sports and activities. Some claim sheets of this will chase away ants and mice. Others say they take the staleness out of old books and photographs!

Static electricity on TV, venetian blinds and computer screens are eliminated as well as dust build up. One sheet will keep closets and drawers "smelling like a bed of roses". II you travel "once in a blue moon" keep a sheet in each of the travel gear. To clear waste basket Oder you could place a sheet at the bottom or just empty it!

Some say a sheet does magic removing soap scum from your bathroom! Others "swear by" a sheet after using a drill, saw or sandpaper to clean up the floor. They use a sheet in the laundry hamper to keep the clothes bearable till the laundry is done!

Wearing the same pair of shoes or sneakers each day creates an Oder problem. Simply place a sheet in each shoe overnight. Golfers have a sheet on their bodies to keep away bees and other nasty critters Campers use them before and after their excursions for the sweet smell of nature!

To keep a car free from "love bugs" wet a dryer sheet then hose your car down and wipe the bugs away. When you do travel keep a sheet in each of your gear to stop any uninvited bugs to "hitch" a ride back to your home.

To end and begin each day on a pleasant frame of mind rub your linens with a dryer sheet! If any of these suggestions worked and saved you some time, money and stress I'm "Bouncing" with satisfaction!

Thank you Kathy.....California
Always and a Day


A Life In Greece
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

June 14, 2012
Thanks to Giota....Greece
There are many places in Greece to visit as a tourist then you go back where you came from to show and tell family and friends what an awesome time you had! This is from my friend Giota who has lived in Greece all her Life! "Hello my friend. Last week I went to my home village to visit my parents and help with the olive picking. It's a change of life style there compared to my daily busy big city hustle bustle stressful Life in Athens!

At the olive orchard in the solitude of our garden I picked an orange from our big tree like I did when I was a little girl and it tasted sooo good! I ate as many as I could while I was there and brought some back to Athens for my friends.

Then we had the pancakes my Mother always prepared for me in our huge fireplace. I had them with honey every morning as I did when growing up. Trust me when I tell you I have never tasted anything better ever!

Next we went to one of our olive trees which was halfway harvested. We first put a canvas on the ground then cut off portions uf the tree. Then we shook the ripe olives onto the canvas sorting out leaves and branches and put the olives in bags. It was a nice Spring day and made the work easier and actually fun!

Some of the olives are packed (we picked 35 big packs of olives that day) from our 125 trees to give us 325 kilos of olive oil! The next day we brought the olives to the factory where you can see the first olive oil coming out. A picture or video can't capture the true aroma of fresh olive oil! I miss that since living in Athens!

Then the product is boxed and sold and given to special friends! As this visit ends and I go back to the city Life of Athens I hope you enjoyed my story."

Thank you Giota....Greece
Always and a Day


Nursing In The Philippines

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thank you Edison ....Philippines
June 23, 2012
This trip takes us back to the Philippines where I have a friend whose name is Edison and one of his goals in Life is to help others who can't help themselves as a nurse in the medical profession. He tells it like this.

"You know I delivered a newborn early dawn today inside of a car before I even got to my shift at the hospital. My neighbor forgot to alert me when her labor pains were bad and her perineum was already bulging with the head of the baby starting to show."

"The midwife was not around at this time so I took charge as best I could and decided to get the terrified mama, papa and "almost here" baby to a nearby hospital as I asked the parents to calm down and have faith."

"The husband got their car then we carefully lifted mama in. It took us twenty minutes to reach the nearest hospital and 10 minutes later the head started out and the next rotation was the baby's shoulder and my goodness the baby was born in my hands! It was a beautiful baby boy. Then he had a good cry just like "in the movies".

"When finally reaching the desk at the private hospital I asked for a newborn kit with suction bulb, cord clamp and sterile linen. I held the baby while the nurse got the kit. After that the umbilical cord was snipped and baby and mother were put on the stretcher headed for a Life Adventure."

"In cases like this in a government hospital where I work we would have been prepared to handle it routinely! They should have had an emergency newborn kit for transient deliveries such as ours. That's how I started a day before my shift as a physical therapist in a government hospital in the Philippines."

A nurse is dedicated to the lives of others 24/7 and I thank Edison for his efforts!

Thank you Edison.....Philippines
Always and a Day


Harmony In Texas
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

June 27, 2012
Thanks to Faye....Texas
My Magic Carpet of Life takes me to a quiet town in Texas to Faye, a Puter Pal of mine who recently celebrated her 50th year together with the man she loves. The longevity of their marriage can be seen as a give and take partnership of Love and Understanding.

Life goes like this.

"A birth and death certificate and pictures throughout our lives prove that we were here. The rest is up to us. When 2 people argue it doesn't mean they are not in Love and when they don't can we think everything is okay? We will be changing friends over the years as that is part of Life."

"Some friends are going to hurt you sometimes regardless of how good a friend they seem. And we must forgive them in order for a friendship to grow. Nobody is perfect, only God! You can do things so quickly without thinking it through 1st that will affect the rest of your Life so engage brain before acting. It takes one a lifetime if at all to be the person they want to be."

"Always leave the ones you Love with Kind, Endearing words for it might turn out to be the last time you ever see them! Everyone has the will to keep going against all probability. We are responsible for our actions regardless of what we feel. Either you control your attitude or it will control you! Heroes are the ones who "take care of business" when it needs to be done regardless of the outcome."

"It's a comforting feeling that a best friend can always have a good time with you doing something or nothing at all. And to find out the ones you thought will kick you while you're down will help you UP! Sometimes we have the right to show our anger but not to be cruel to others at any time. Maturity comes if ever with one's Life experiences we have and what we've learned from them rather counting the candles on a birthday cake and making a wish!"

"It's not enough to be forgiven by others as in your heart you have to do it too! No matter what is going on in your Life the World will go on not skipping a beat. What we were born into should have no influence of who we become. Finding out a secret might change your Life forever. Two people can look at the same thing with two different views. Your Life can be changed by strangers. The credentials "on the wall" don't make you a credible human being. That the people you love the most are taken away too soon."

Surely we'll meet those who have gone before us when HE calls us Home.

Thank you Faye.....Texas
Always and a Day


A Look At Swaziland
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

July 11, 2012
Thanks to Coleen and LM....Swaziland
As I was roving around the world I encountered a Kingdom in Africa that intrigued and had me concerned about the people who live there since I met Colleen and LM! Colleen tells it like they do in the literature available to the public but she is not as kind about her native Swaziland and LM, a former South African friend tells me similar things!

The Kingdom of Swaziland is in and surrounded by South Africa on the North, South and West and Mozambique to the East. There are mountains in the west with a temperate climate descending to lowveld terrain in the East bordered with Mozambique and South Africa is shadowed by the Lebombo Mountains. The lowveld region can get up to 104 degrees in the summer with most of the Kingdom's rainfall happening then too!

Seventy five percent of the people are subsisting farmers with sixty percent earning $1.25 per day! Swaziland's growth and development is drastically hindered with an HIV/AIDS epidemic. The rate of infection is the highest in the world and it is predicted that this country will cease to exist as its people average a little under 32 years on Earth! A sad outlook when the Life expectancy is double that number or more in many parts of Our World!

The world has to come together and help areas like Swaziland beat diseases rather than fight wars! We would all benefit rather than saying "that's too bad" and going about our business!

Colleen has this to say about Swaziland.

"Swaziland is probably the only Kingdom in Africa. We have a King and not a President. He is 43 and doesn't have a clue how to govern us. That's why we are a poor nation. Mind you we are less than a million and should be living like royalty but we are not! Instead we are sharing the poverty. It is a shame Jack!"

LM, My South African Friend has this to say.

"Tragically this is what is happening to Africa these days Jack due to the greed of their own people. Compared to West and Central Africa South Africa is relatively calm. Africa is helped along through the years by the Eastern Block who provides them with arms and empty promises to fuel their uneducated brains. At least under the old Colonial Service the African people were educated and provided for!"

My friend left Africa for a better Life. I like positive endings so let's say a prayer for those less fortunate than us and hope they get the help they desperately need!

Thank you Coleen and LM.....Swaziland
Always and a Day


What About Wisconsin?
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

July 19, 2012
Thanks to Janice....Wisconsin
When I think of Wisconsin many things come to light like the dairy and cheese state known for its rough and tumble sports teams sometimes up there in the standings but what else is there?

Wisconsin is nicknamed the badger state known for its dairy land of cows and cheeses located in the Central Northwest area of the United States, part of the Midwest Great Lakes Region. Its borders are Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Lakes Michigan and Superior. It is the 23rd largest and 20th most populated state of the 50. Madison is the capital with Milwaukee its largest city.

The city of Ripon held the 1st Republican Party meeting at the Little White Schoolhouse in 1854! Dairy farming grew across the state in 1903 with the erection of the Stone Barn in Chase, Wisconsin. Renewable lumber as in furniture and paper milling helped the economy as well as recreational tourism in the woodlands to the north. The Swedes were one of many countries to flood the state with industrial jobs and opportunities!

These immigrants started brewing companies, food processing plants, producing heavy machinery and tool making in major cities like Milwaukee from border to border. Their motto is forward which they are moving at a steady pace. During the War years the battleships BB-9 & BB-64 were proudly renamed USS Wisconsin's in honor of the state of Wisconsin and those who served on their decks! Other jobs in agribusiness, education and medicine abounded.

State specifics include the bird= Robin, song= "On Wisconsin", flower= Wood Violet, tree= Sugar Maple, fish= Muskellunge, animal= Badger, wildlife animal= White Tailed Deer, domesticated animal= Dairy Cow, mineral= Galena, rock= Red Granite, peace symbol= Mourning Dove, insect= Honey Bee, soil= Antigo Silt Loam, fossil= Trilobite, dog= American Water Spaniel, beverage= Milk, grain= corn, dance= polka and dessert= cream puff (pending}.There are a mixture of countries represented in Wisconsin like the Swedish, Germans, Polish, Norwegians, Irish, English and Italians.

Janice who was born and raised and still lives in Wisconsin calls it her home. She likes following the collegiate Badgers and the NFL Green Bay Packers on the football field.

Colleen has this to say about Swaziland. "Not much else I like about Wisconsin as I get older because of the cold winters but this year we got a break and I thank God and everything good that we did. I was born and raised here and I call Wisconsin my HOME and it's the best place to be for me!"

Thank you Janice.....Wisconsin
Always and a Day


Washington Is Our Home
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

July 23, 2012
Thanks to Althea....Washington
It is a rare time when I don't have to give a lead in to a Letter from a Friend and this is the case for Althea who hails from the State of Washington!

"Washington rains a lot and snows some and we have a delightfully schizophrenic climate. What they say around our part of the state is if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes and it's bound to change. We spend a lot of time outdoors skiing, hiking and mountain climbing. There are dry planes, deserts and good rivers for rafting on when the time is right."

"There are a lot of islands, where I spent my enchanted childhood growing up, fishing and playing from my brother's front porch on the river and further on to the sea with endless boundaries to explore. Some badlands and rocky places but gee it's a fun place to Live. I have been in different places through the years and have enjoyed the variety of people and climates along the way that Washington has to offer. There is good hunting for Deer and Elk but I am a vegetarian so I can't tell you much about that. However my family is equipped to defend ourselves if need be. There is excellent sailing and boating and we still do enjoy both to my families delight!"

"Then there is Seattle, a land unto itself. They have more political clout in that city than the entire state because its voting population is bigger! It is a lovely city as cities go but I avoid the city Life at all costs. Although I went to high school there in my younger years when it was less populated and the streets weren't congested with traffic from Boston and California! It has fun hills to run up and down, architectural wonders, Pike Street Market, a host of fine museums and theatres and the usual problems that are attached to a populous city nowadays!"

"Washington has a fluster of national parks and forests and fishing and oyster beds and managed logging. We grow peas, corn, onions, potatoes, winter wheat with a substantial dairy and meat trade making up a portion of our economy. A lot of us still keep small kitchen gardens to cling to the roots of our past! What I enjoy most about our state is you can still jump in your car and ride in the countryside till your heart's content without any interruptions!"

Thank you Althea.....Washington
Always and a Day


A Picture Of Vermont
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

August 10, 2012
Thanks to Darcia....Vermont
The mention of Vermont reminds me of maple syrup, Paul Bunyan and Life in the great outdoors.

Nicknamed the Green Mountain state with half of its western border taken up with Lake Champlain and New York State and Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire looking east and the Canadian Province of Quebec to the north. The 2nd smallest and least populated state with no borders to the Atlantic Ocean. Vermont's mottos are freedom and unity.

It was originally inhabited by the Iroquois and Algonquin (Abenacki) Indian Tribes then conquered by the British in 1763 in a battle called the Seven Years War. Vermont became the 14th state in 1791 and the first to abolish slavery!

As well as being the #1 producer of maple syrup in the USA they pride themselves in what they offer in their skiing and outdoor activities during all seasons for the tourists and residents alike!

Snow skiing and boarding are always popular at resorts like Stowe, Burke Mountain Ski Area, Bolton Valley, Mad River Glen, Sugarbush, Smuggler's Notch, Jay Peak, Stratton, Okema, Suicide Sis, Bromley, Snow and Magic Mountain Ski Area for a Lifetime of winter excursions. The sprawling resorts all over the state keep the tourists busy as well as the thankful employees and just ordinary people like you and me! I had the pleasure of befriending Darcia, a long-time resident of Vermont, who tells it like this!

"Vermont is bordered by Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Canada and is known as The Green Mountain State having beautiful mountains for as far as the eye can see with its Maples, White Birches and Evergreen trees!"

"The fall season is incredible with colors ablaze like the yellows, reds, oranges and greens as the leaves do their thing! There is nothing like it anywhere else but Vermont. Winter comes early and stays late for the skiers and snow boarders delight!"

"My home is in a small town of 37,000 with road construction all around but at the same time it is beautiful with grandstands in the park, church steeples rising above the trees, festivals, chicken barbecues and a town fair are some of the highlights of our small Town. Add to this a community Family Feeling where the kids walk or ride their bikes to school and it is Safe to raise a Family!"

Nice to know there are still towns like this in Vermont and elsewhere in the USA Darcia! Thanks!

Thank you Darcia.....Vermont
Always and a Day


Off To Wyoming
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

August 20, 2012
Thanks to Cathy....Wyoming
In my extensive travels all over Our World in My Magic Carpet Of Life I beamed down in Wyoming and had the pleasure of meeting Cathy later on in this tale.

Wyoming is officially called the "Cowboy State" nestled in the mountains of Western United States and is the second least densely populated while the tenth in area of the 50 states! The western two thirds are mountains and mountain ranges in the foothills of the Eastern Rockies while the eastern two thirds of this state is called the "High Plains" prairie. They are for "Equal Rights" as that is their motto! Cheyenne is the most populous city of near 60,000 and the capital as well.

Wyoming is where "The Great Plains meet The Rockies" and what a sight to imagine. It has Montana to the north, South Dakota and Nebraska in the east and Colorado on the south with the southwest by Utah and the west by Idaho! What a pretty picture! This state is the US A's #1 coal producer with the work at "Powder and Green River" basins. Mineral abstracts, travel and tourism and agriculture keep their economy alive!

Visitors GO to the national Parks like Yellowstone, Grand Te ton and Devil's Tower and Independence Rock and Fossil Butte Monuments for many moments and feelings of Awww. Even though ninety one percent of Wyoming's land is considered rural it is put to good use. They have livestock (beef), hay, sugar beets, grain (wheat & barley) and wool. Sad that we can't use alternate ways to feed and clothe our population excluding all the innocent animals and someday we will!

The Continental Divide flows into an area in southwest Wyoming called The Great Divide Basin. Since Wyoming is not near an ocean the water either evaporates because of the dry area or sinks into the ground making the soil rich and fertile! Several rivers begin in this state and flow through it like the Yellowstone, Bighorn, Snake and Green Rivers. Wyoming has quite a few islands with 32 named and many others to explore! As this story comes to a close let me you what Cathy has to say about her state Wyoming!

"I raise chinchillas in Wyoming and I love each and every one I take care of!

Right now there is Poncho, Cheyenne, Reeses, Taz, Rex, Reba, Zuce and Nikki. All but 1 I have had since birth and that one I rescued from an abused life elsewhere and it knows NOW it is safe with me! He has gotten blind and growing old but he is still my puppy! I live in the "Cowboy/Girl State" where Cheyenne is the capitol. We have a rodeo called "The Big Daddy" of them all where spectators and participants and entertainers from all over come to our state. You're always welcome here!"

Thank you Cathy....Wyoming
Always and a Day


The Beauty Of West Virginia
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

August 28, 2012
Thanks to Carolyn....West Virginia
I've heard a lot about West Virginia through the years in bits and pieces and tend to forget most of it having never been there! Now I know a lot more through reading up and making friends with Carolyn a lifetime resident.

West Virginia is in the Appalachian area of the southern United States. It has borders by Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Maryland. It was part of Virginia till the Civil War when they became a separate state in 1863 as Nevada did when they separated from Utah. It is the 37th most populated state and the 41st largest. Charleston is the largest city and serves as the capital. They are called the mountaineer state where their motto rings out "Mountaineers are always free".

This region is known for its coal mining, logging, self sufficient electricity management and is the #1 exporter of electricity in the USA and sits in the middle of the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Bed which goes from Tennessee north to New York in the midst of Appalachia.

Farming is practiced on a limited basis due to the mountainous terrain! But the soil is rich because the water has no outlets to drain to so it either evaporates or sinks into the ground!

Because of its state wide overpopulation of trees like the oak, maple, poplar, cherry, pine and others West Virginia has a successful logging industry. Wind generation is increasing for now and future generations. West Virginia is an ideal state for recreational caving and scientific exploring. It has some of the oldest mountains known to man and are there for anyone who wants to see them! The outdoor person has a choice of skiing, white water rafting, hiking, fishing, mountain biking and hunting!

The tourist at large has their pick of historical sites in all 55 counties of this colorful state which could easily take a lifetime to see all! All year the West Virginians celebrate Life with variations of the Appalachian folk lore like fiddling, ballad singing and modes of Scot-Irish music popular to this state! Their present slogan "wild and wonderful" show what the tourists think and songs like "The West Virginia Hills", "This Is MY West Virginia" and "West Virginia, MY Home" reflect the deep feelings West Virginians like Carolyn have for their home.

"Many years ago my family settled in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Through the generations they migrated to Spencer and Welch until they finally settled in Huntington. This is where I had the pleasure of growing up. I lived on Huntington Avenue, less than one city block from Fairfield Stadium. If I close my eyes I can still hear the cheers as Marshall scores a touchdown. I remember sitting in my bedroom listening to all the bands competing each year in the battle of the bands. I remember riding my bicycle on the brick streets of Huntington and decorating my bike each Fourth Of July for the celebration in Ritter Park. My sixth grade class placed a time capsule there!"

"Now as I drive through the streets of Huntington these fond memories come back to me and I share them with my. children. I often drive to Holderby's Landing in River Front Park and enjoy the peacefulness of the Ohio River. I love to take pictures of the beautiful sunsets. I have always thought that West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The beauty of Spring and Fall is magnificent to me. Each day I see something beautiful here and cannot imagine living anywhere else."

Beautifully said! Thank you Carolyn....West Virginia
Always and a Day


A Fear Of Snakes
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

September 5, 2012
Thanks to Chris....South Carolina
My Life Adventure continues as The Magic Carpet whirls me to the state of South Carolina where we'll be hearing from Chris who tells us about her life long fear of snakes until now. I am 67 and she is 3 years my senior!

"This story took place on the farm. You can say that three-fourths or most of my childhood experiences took place on the farm or in the country.

When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I was out swinging in the yard. Our swing was on a hill and when the swing was fully extended, it went out over a high bank. I used to love swinging as high as I could!

One sunny afternoon I was outside alone swinging. I had swung really high one time and the swing toppled me out onto the ground at the bottom of the hill. When I got myself up off the ground I looked back at the bank to see how far I had fallen. I saw something curled up on the bank right under the area where I had been swinging. It really frightened me. It didn't take long for me to realize it was a rattlesnake. I am sure I had been taught to fear any kind of snake, otherwise I wouldn't have sustained a fear all my life (70 years) and couldn't bear the thought of seeing one, regardless of the type it was. I was even afraid of a rubber snake because it brought up all kinds of fear within.

I encountered many instances where I saw a snake or came close to putting my hand on one or stepping on it. Another time when I was a little older, it was my daily chore to gather the eggs from the hen house. I always made sure to get in there, get the eggs out and hurry back to the house so that I wouldn't have to encounter a snake in the hen nest. Snakes liked to get in the hen nest and suck the eggs to get all the protein they could out of the eggs.

One afternoon around 4 or 5 pm, my oldest niece. Brenda, was staying with us for a week. She, my younger sister, Pat and I were out playing and I decided to go ahead and gather the eggs before it got too dark in the hen house. Once I got in the hen house I heard the door click from the outside. I started yelling but my niece and sister ran away and eventually they forgot that I was locked inside. I screamed bloody murder but no one seemed to hear me. It got really dark and evening set in and there I was huddled by the inside door not knowing when I could get out of there.

When my family gathered for dinner and all were sitting around the dinner table. that is, all of them except me, my mom said to my dad,"I wonder where Christine is, why she won't come on to dinner." Brenda piped up and said, "I locked her in the chicken house." My dad hurried out to get me. I was so relieved. Suffice it to say I never did let Brenda do any more tricks on me.

Another encounter I had with a snake was more recent. One Sunday morning during Christmas time I went to my dining room closet to get some wrapping paper for a Christmas gift that I planned to take to church that morning for a friend. As I opened the closet door and started reaching for the paper on the top shelf I saw something curled up and a head sticking up

A voice said to me, "don't put your hand up there." My mind went into shock as did my entire body. I quietly closed the door, never did get the gift wrapped, in fact I forgot about it. The entire day I never did go back into the dining room but stayed in the kitchen. That night I was afraid to get up from the bed and go to the bathroom for fear the creature would be close to where I was sleeping. I rolled and tumbled all night as if having a nightmare.

The next morning my husband remarked that I must have had a nightmare the night before as I rolled and tumbled all night. So I told him about my episode the day before. He fussed a tme for not telling him sooner. We went into the dining room and removed everything out and never did find a snake. I was then even more afraid to be alone in the house by myself.

When I returned to work after the Christmas holidays I told my boss about my episode. He told me the best thing I could do was to get myself a cat because snakes were afraid of cats. Billy, my husband, highly objected but I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn't allow me to get a cat I would leave him. Finally he consented and my co-worker said she had one I could have. He was about 6-months old.

I decided if the cat were a male I would name him Jasper. If female her name would be Ginger. So that's how Jasper came to live with us. The first night I brought Jasper into our home he went directly to the dining room and stayed under the table for about a week, only coming out to eat and use his litter box.

During the time he was in the dining room he ate something that stunk to high heaven. Presumably I thought it was the snake he ate. As I look back I think the snake would have been too large for him to eat. After all it gave me a sense of peace to think that Jasper had eaten the snake! I don't know how the snake got in the house and I don't know how he got out. Jasper lived for 16 years and was boss of the house for about 6 months until Smoo came to live with us. But that's another story.

Upon our move to our present home I walked out on the back deck one Saturday morning. Lo and behold there was a baby snake on the deck too. I yelled for Billy to come get rid of the baby snake because I knew if there was a baby around the mother snake had to be close by. The mother snake was the one I feared the most.

A couple of days after seeing the baby snake, I was worrying about the mother snake appearing at a time when I least expected it. As I was thinking about my fear of snakes I talked to God about it. I said to God, "I've been taught that you are everything! Now if you're in that snake help me not to be afraid." Instantaneously the fear went away and I've not been bothered by the thought of snakes anymore and have not seen them except at the zoo.

A couple summers ago we were at the Riverbanks Zoo putting on a square dancing exhibition for some cancer patients. This guy came by with a huge snake wrapped around his forearm. I felt an instant urge to get up and go touch the snake. I asked God, "Are you asking me to go touch the snake? God said, "If you believe I am in everything then yes, go touch it." I immediately got up and went to where the man was. He asked if I wanted to feel the snake and I said "yes." I rubbed the snake's skin and under belly and was not afraid. So my fear of snakes went away, and I am grateful!"

And I am happy that you sent this letter Christine and that God cured your fear of snakes. Thank you Chris....South Carolina
Always and a Day


Washington

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Diane....Washington
September 14, 2012
My Magic Carpet Of Life whirs me to the state of Washington where I befriended Diane along the way who has some nice things to say about her state later on.

Washington is in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, north of Oregon, west of Idaho. to the south is British Columbia and it is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It was Great Britain's territory until they ceded it to the United States as settlement for an Oregon boundary dispute in 1846 and was admitted as the 49th state in 1889.

It is the 18th largest and the 13th most populated state with a good portion of its people settling in the Seattle area which is the hub of its transportation. business and industry. Situated along the Puget Sound region of the Salish Sea Seattle is an inlet of islands, fjords and bays carved out by glaciers. A beautiful area to see for a tourist and live as a resident!

In other areas of this state are the deep rain forests and mountain ranges in the west, center, northeast and far southeast. Then there is the east for extensive farming and agriculture. Washington is the second most populated state in the western United States with California being the first! Washington's motto's are "eventually" and "by and by" and is known as the evergreen state which is evident every Christmas season!

Businesses in Washington include Boeing Aircraft, Paccars, Computer Software= Microsoft, Bungie, Amazon.com, Nintendo Of America, Valve Corporation. Then T-Mobile USA, electronics, biotechnology, aluminum, wood and lumber production, Weyerhauser, mining, beverages= Jones soda and Starbucks, real estate= John L. Scott, retail= Nordstrom's, R.E.I., Eddie Bauer and Costco, tourism= Alaska Airlines and Expedia, Inc. The state is making rapid progress in hydro-electric power generation! Trades with Asia through the ports at Puget Sound are a mainstay. Fortune 500 lists Amazon.com. Starbucks, Microsoft and Costco, all headquartered in Washington, as 4 of the most admired companies in the United States!

The Seattle Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders have professional teams in Baseball, Football and Soccer. Washingtonians love to square dance and are proud of the largest ferry system in the country. They are second only to California in wine production in the USA. They have led the USA in apple production since the 1920's! Washington's largest cities are Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver and Spokane and many others where the tourists do their thing. And Diane wants to welcome all who want to visit!

"I live in Washington between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan.De.fucca. I watch deer outside my window. They don't see me so they do what they do since I'm not there! My spelling and words I hope you understand cause it comes from my heart! People are friendly and the temperature is cool and we didn't get much snow this year. Went to a yard sale, watched deer, raccoons and all of God's creatures playing in the woods by my home. I like making friends and thank you Jack for being one!"
Thank you Diane....Washington
Always and a Day


Jovie In the Philippines

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Jovie....Philippines
September 24, 2012
I have been a puter pal of Jovie since last Halloween and the coming of Halloween brought her and her family to mind as My Magic Carpet beams me to her home in The Philippines this year!

"Hello Jack. today as our customs in the Philippines during this time of Halloween, its not about trick or treating. All people do is to prepare foods and we visit our dead in the cemetery. We did visit my late husband in the cemetery today, we brought some flowers, lit candles. We also had a church service and offered flowers in the altar for all the dear dead families as the pastor called our dead names, we go to the altar and offer flowers in the big cross that we put the flower.. We also visit other friends and relatives.. It is also declared non working holiday today."

"About me, Well, I like going to church, know why? It's my belief that It is in the bible seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness shall be added unto you.. Every Sunday, I have to wake up early, and see to it that all my children and my granddaughter wakes up early and at 7:30 all of us must be in the church. Being the layleader of the church, I also attend meetings of Church council being a member of the different boards and committees. I believe that being active in the church, our God will return it a thousand folds.. and I believe in the power of PRAYER.. When the Pastor is out of town, or when they attend meetings outside the town, they assign me to be the speaker. I always prepare my sermon based on the assigned bible reading and my sermon is based also on the reading. After our church service, all of us drop at the grocery store for us to buy our week needs and commodities."

"Aside from that, I am also busy at work where I am working. I had been in the service since 1981 and this is where I got my bread and butter and I thanked our almighty Lord for giving this job for me.".

"Then i am also fond of going outside to eat in the restaurant after our church service if we have enough funds. Then visit our parents, brothers and sisters in the barrio. We bring them some foods, and some good things. My mom and Dad are already very old and they all need our help. They cannot produce their own foods, so we have to bring them foods. My dad is 82 years old and mom is 76 yrs old. They are very prayerful parents and active also in the church, this is the legacy where we followed their footsteps.. My brothers and sisters do the same.. Thanks and God bless you my dear friend..."

Thank you Jovie for revealing your life through your heart for others to see!
Always and a Day

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Eyes Tell A Lot

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Jaren....Texas
September 30, 2012
When you first meet a person you can find out a lot about them through their eyes because the eyes are the window to the soul! They say so much without a word being spoken! As I visited my friend Jaren from Texas on my Magic Carpet Of Life she had this to say about one's eyes!

"People with blue eyes tend to be the most romantic and stay in a relationship the longest. They are very pleasing and fun to be with!"

"Brown eyed people are attractive, adorable and love making new friends. They will do most anything for that special friend being kind and polite by cheering them up with a laugh or a smile. They can also be very distant. One thing for sure they love and care for the ones they love!"

"Green eyed people are the most passionate of the group. They tend to have long relationships and would rather touch than talk."

"Hazel eyed people tend to get in unusual situations. They are the center of diversity trying new things and rarely say NO to a challenge."

Thank you for your input from Texas Jaren. This is just the opinion from one girl in Texas who stereotypes people by the color of their eyes! Boy we could really mess that theory up if we had a different colored pair of contacts for every day of the week huh?

Always and a Day

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Working in Israel

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Helen....Israel
October 13, 2012
This is a story about Helen from the Philippines who lives and works in Israel and took the time to write me this letter. I corrected most of the grammar so my readers can understand what she is saying from her heart, soul and spirit within to you my loyal readers.

"ISRAEL...the Holy Land. A very small country but progressive. No heavy traffic and not polluted as well. People are mixed with different nationalities. I noticed Russians were very dominant. In spite of the conflict between Israeli's and Palestinians I'm not scared to stay here because this is land of God. Life here is very accommodating. The weather is good but rain is very rare. During winter, its cold but snow only can be seen in the north part where the highest mountain is located , the Ramat Hagolan. At springtime, you can see different flower species, so beautiful. There are also many different kinds of fruits here. I learned to eat vegetable salads here, so delicious especially vegetables that are so fresh. The main food here is milk products, yogurts and chesses, salads. In my eleven years of stay here, I learned also how to speak Hebrew but not fluently and learned to read and write a little. Their writing is different and they read and write beginning at the right."

"I like Israel. I ended up here eleven years ago. I'm so blessed that my first work outside my country Philippines is here in Holy Land. It never came into my mind that I could reach Israel. God is so good to me. During my depression, He led my path to Holy Land...my healing place. I came to work here as a caregiver. My first job was an elderly couple. They came from Afghanistan. We were three in the house, a small house. They are not rich. The woman was 85 years old suffering from rheumatism and that she can't walk and one eye is blind while the husband has Parkinson's disease who was then 88 years old. He was a leader of one of the "Beit Keneset" church here. They don't know how to speak English so I was forced to learn their language...Hebret. They were religious people with six children living in different neighborhoods. I'm like their daughter to them.. I even called them "Aba and Eima" father and mother."

"Every morning and afternoon, I took them to the beit keneset. The old woman is in the wheelchair. Aba can still walk. They were kind-warm people. Their three(3) sons come to eat with us every Friday while the daughter visits us during Sabbath. Because they were religious, they only eat "kosher products" food prepared and sealed by the "Rabbi" priest. I can't eat what I want so in my first month with them was so hard. We only eat yogurt and cheese in the morning and seldom eat rice and fish. Just only on Sabbath. At lunch only "marak" soup with meat or chicken and vegetables. During supper, tea or coffee with biscuits or bread and eggs. After then, I used to eat their foods especially vegetables and salads. The religious people observed Sabbath solemnly. During Sabbath, no turning on and off of electricity so they cooked and prepared their foods, everything before Sabbath begins. It's forbidden to work during that time..Just pray and rest. Religious women cover their head or wearing wig emphasizing they were already married and not to be looked at by men. They don't comb their hair during Sabbath. They have to fix it before sunsets."

"After one year, I transfer to another place, another employer. That time, I took care of an Iraqi woman suffering from severe osteoporosis. The woman can't walk anymore so I have to carry and lift her to put on and off the bed. She was also on a wheelchair wherever we go to the doctor and to sit in the park for unwinding. She is so sick for she has problem also in the lungs and was in and out of the hospital. She passed away because of that. And then I got another job in one of the nursing homes here in Israel. A couple who survived a tragedy in Hitler's holocaust. The couple were both from Poland. According to their stories, all their families suffered and died in that tragedy. They say both of them survived in a concentration camp in Poland and were also in the Ghetto together. And they came here to Israel. They met again here and got married. They have two daughters, one living in Israel and the other who was the youngest based in Canada. The woman is a retired employee in the ministry of labor and suffering from mild stroke but because of her strong determination to be good as before and with the undergoing therapy and everyday exercises she's a little bit ok. She's a strong and sociable woman. The husband died last December 2010 exactly when I'm on my vacation in my country Philippines. I'm 9 years now working with them and hoping to stay more years."

"In my eleven (110) years here, I worked 2 jobs. The other job is during the night in a hostel for special children where I'm taking care of 6 girls of ages 19 to 31. The parents of course put them to this institution because they have no time as they were working. How I love these girls so sweet and innocent."

"I valued so much my time in Israel. I just had little time during my day-off. Just work, work and work. Sometimes I took a trip organized by the Catholic church to some biblical places here. I like Jerusalem, a 45 minute travel from Tel Aviv where I live. During Saturday which my is day-off, I spent my little time going to this old city of Jerusalem Also the Holy Seplacur where Jesus Christ , died and was buried. That place is always full of tourists Whenever I was there, I felt peace of mind.. Now that Christmas is near you can see many people in Bethlehem from around the world. It's very hard to go during this season. I've been also to Nazareth and the Dead Sea. They call it The Dead Sea because of the very salty water and has kilometers of low water where you can lie down not to be drowned and just to feel the water at your back. But now this sea is getting dry."

"I'm so blessed God sent me into this place. I've learned a lot and became a stronger woman. Being here, my son achieved his biggest dream in the field of medicine. what he had achieved is my fulfillment also being a mother. Soon, I'm going back home for good, to my home, to my family. And spend the rest of my life where I was born and grew up...in my farm in the PHILIPPINES."

Thank you Helen for the story about Israel.

Always and a Day

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Honoring our Teachers

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Joem....West Virginia
October 19, 2012
As I whirred through West Virginia in my Magic Carpet Of Life I had the honor of befriending Joem. She later sent me a letter about our teachers that I want to share with you.

Those who are in this profession do it for the student and the betterment of their lives from preschool to the highest doctorate degree The teacher is there for the student!

A teacher was at an awards dinner with a mixed audience of salaried middle incomes to CEO's where the sky is the limit. One inebriated CEO was flaunting his stature, pay and overall position in Life putting down teachers in general! She shot back his nasty comments and had this to say when asked what she makes!

"What do I make Sir? I'm glad you asked said Bonnie, the teacher, who is honest and tells it like it is! I make my students work harder than they think they can and a "C" is better than average in my classes. I make my students sit through 40 minutes of class without an Ipod or any of the latest distractions. She paused a moment and looked at each person at the table and said I make them wonder, question and apologize when necessary!"

"I make my students respect others and take responsibility for their actions whether they are right and especially wrong. I teach them how to write then I make them write on their own. Keyboarding leaves out the "thinking" process. I make them read, read and read to keep their literacy and show proof of their math problems without relying on a calculator and using their God given brain."

"I make my foreign students learn the English language and the customs of the USA while preserving the unique cultural customs of their own. I make my classroom feel safe to all my students and for them to understand that if they use their God given gifts, work to do their best through their heart, soul and spirit they will have an adventure all their Life. And when people try to judge me on what I make my Life is complete as a teacher for I know that money isn't the answer!"

Thank you Joem from West Virginia - and to all the teachers of the world for devoting your lives to the betterment of others.

Always and a Day

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Jade in Nigeria

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Jade....Nigeria
October 25, 2012
My Magic Carpet of Life is always whirling me about to different locations as I met Jade in England who then decided to go back with her Mum in Nigeria.

Since my travels are actually in my head from Letters from Friends like Jade I was interested in what she had to say about England and Nigeria! Much has been written about both countries but not from one who experiences Life in the trenches so to speak. I try to interpret letters to make sense to my readers as the writing is sometimes garbled. The final result is a story from another land or state for your enjoyment!

Jade was smiling as she had this to say about her Life.

"Well my Life has been going good. The UK is a great place to be. We have lots of people over here and the weather is so lovely. I Loved going to the soccer stadiums and everything since I lived nearby. Everybody in the UK enjoys doing things the right way and it's always busy everywhere. I was born and raised here in the UK."

"My Mum is from Nigeria and my Dad is from the UK. For some reason I lost my Dad so my Mum decided to move to Nigeria some two years ago and I went with her. Life here in Africa has been good to us though we have some bad people here but who doesn't? Everybody here in Nigeria seems so nice and friendly here where I found a job as a secretary!"

"At first it was hard for the people in the Company where I work to understand me with my English accent and I was bored on top of that. But as time went on I began to understand them and most important they understood me. Since it's my Mum's country I must learn to adapt to their way of Life. Everything is fine now for me and my Mum in Nigeria!"

Jade had so much to say about Life if you read between the lines and see how nice Life can be if you let it in a single parent home! Thank you Jade from Nigeria.

Always and a Day

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Stormy Solitude On The East Coast

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Peg....New Jersey
November 17, 2012
This story was sent to me by a dear friend and graduate of the same high school we last saw each other at in an affluent town on Long Island, New York in 1963. She has remained on the East Coast and sent this letter from New Jersey where she works in a hospital.

We met again through one of the many social outlets now available some 3 years ago and though she could be called Margaret or Peggy her friends call her Peg. She reminisces about the conditions of things during her youth when hurricanes came and went then gave a description of what happened when SANDY descended on the East Coast and left it in ruins!

"In 1955, I was 10 years old, my brother Roger 15. We were innocents. Pre - technological kids. We had no Nintendo, no video games, no iPod, no Email, Face book or iPhone. As a middle class family living in a suburban community we had the luxury of one TV that sat without a wooden casing, an eyesore in our otherwise stylishly correct living room. We had one dial up phone with a message pad next to it. A night in front of the TV tube was the highlight of the week, with black and white images of Howdy and Mickey and Groucho. With an Almond Joy the shared treat, we were a unit of contentment unaware that we might be missing something. Free of cell phones and computers we were also free of any technological anxiety. That terrible angst that can ruin a day when we feel we are unconnected from something or someone."

"Our father was a great lover of storms. A commercial aviator in its glory days, he would stand in the driveway and breathe in deeply, a damp Easterly breeze. Seeing the counter clockwise motion of the clouds and the dark scud that seem to brush the earth, he'd Lick his finger, place it into the wind and know that something was brewing. Excitement would fill the air. No fear, no apprehension. Just a sense of adventure. When a hurricane was predicted, we were ready and relieved .It was almost as if we had a written permission slip to take a short holiday. When the light flickered and the rooms darkened, we would heat our Campbell's tomato soup on the Sterno stove, and light our way with candles and a kerosene lamp. A wood burning fire place provided heat and we snuggled close making shadow puppets with our chilly hands. And although we were surely unaware of all the futuristic gadgets that would eventually invade and enhance our lives, we were clueless in the now, and it was enough."

"There was no media breaking our sublime silence, just an occasional weather report from a transistor radio. We did not feel stress, just solitude, safety and an abundance of togetherness. In the midst of a mega hurricane that has turned the East coast of this country upside down and sideways, I drive home anxious to get into my own bed, and feel the heat and the simple comforts of my own space and my routines that have been acutely disrupted. I am grateful to be one of the privileged few who have had the return of power in three short days."

"Returning from an arduous day as a hospital worker, the streets are dark and cluttered with debris, the stores are without power and there are no lights except from the occasional frozen crew working franticly on the fallen trees and the restoration of electricity. It seems as if storms are no longer a time to relax and enjoy the imposed holiday. They have become something of an entirely different nature. An angry Mother Nature testing us to our limits?"

"A storm is a storm, be it rain and wind, or snow and ice but aside from being compulsively prepared, I begin to wonder," "Are you better off knowing less?" The media blitz batters us with an endless stream of surreal news that's takes our spirits, chews them up and spits them out until our sincere empathy for those less fortunate has enveloped us and rendered us useless. We are empathetic, yes, but also feeling helpless when the misfortunes of others are so overwhelming."

"Tonight after the miles of darkness, I drive past a Dunkin Donuts. It stands alone like a beacon of light, and it almost vibrates with a flurry of activity. There appears to be a line of frenzied folks standing in the cold, clutching their lap tops and cell phones as if their very lives were in danger. The tables are full, the donuts abound while people compare their storm stories and "Charge". Right in front of me is a massive invisible cloud of technological Anxiety. And it makes me more nervous than I already am. Please take me back to the 50s."

"So now my vintageness is showing. I am conflicted about technology. On one level, it has taken us to places we could never have imagined. It has made our lives easier, our health better. We can feel connected and immersed in a complicated world. We can communicate in an instant and our sense of isolation can be relieved with the press of a button. There is no end to the advantages But the down side is the level of anxiety it creates. The need for speed and instant recegnition."

"In the 60s we sang the lyrics to" Mr. Postman" and waited for that slow mail letter from our boyfriend in Vietnam. Was that so bad? We didn't even call it slowmail. It was simply…"Mail". Now when our technological gadgets don't work, we feel as if we've lost an arm and I admit to the sensation. I am anxious, frantic, and depressed until I see and hear that little "You've got mail " voice tell me I'm back in business."

"I am hopeful that we have not created a technological monster that will shrink the minds and stifle the social skills of the generation that knows nothing of the days of "Stormy Solitude". From your friend Peg (At the end of Sandy with a 1/4 of a tank of gas and no prospects!"

Thank you Peg from New Jersey.

Always and a Day

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Thanksgiving Week 2012

by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Jethro ....Idaho
November 22, 2012
It's no wonder that we celebrate Thanksgiving year after year since the Pilgrims!

The man looking ahead into the future knew that America and other countries like us would be around for eons longer because they fight for the freedom and rights of people. Their race, religion, political orientation or not and location in the world not part of the equation. That man was Abraham Lincoln!, the 16th president of the United States!

Though his Life is remembered in the annals of time his birth date was never made an official holiday. But in 1863 honest Abe made the 4th Thursday of November an official national holiday! My friend Jethro a veteran from Idaho sent me this tribute to the celebration of Thanksgiving and what it means to him that I want to share with you!

This is the week of Thanksgiving. Time to take out the good silver and special tablecloth. The time to stuff the turkey. Time to think about what to say when you're called upon to 'say Grace.' Time to make memories. Time to remember the days of your childhood and time to remember those you once shared Thanksgiving with and are no longer visible but are here with you as you put your hands together to say 'Thank you, God.'

PAST/PRESENT
Memories of childhood -- Linger in your mind
To haunt you -- Until you remember every name
And minute detail of lost innocence.
A movement, a jester, A chance encounter
Re-awakens childhood moments -- And you smile
At your mental snapshot.
But alas the view of the snapshot --Fleets by and disappears
And leaves you mature, Clever and yearning
To jump upon the -- The magic carpet
And journey into the -- Picture before it returns
To its niche -- In the annals of your life.
Memories are the past, Alive in the present, To pass to the future

Thank you Jethro from Idaho.

Always and a Day

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A Day In The Life Of Santa
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Ray ....Missouri
December 16, 2012
This is a story that I've been saving since I happened upon Ray the Writer about a year ago in a sleepy, rural farming town in Missouri. He has a striking resemblance to Santa Claus with no fake beard just his smile, a real white beard and the reassurance of his wife Marilyn who has been with him over 45 years that he is cute. How could he refuse when asked by a local businesswoman who carries his books in her store when she asked him to be Santa Claus at City Hall?

"Christmas is the season when everyone, or at least the young at heart and those magically inclined, wants the answer to the question. "Is there a Santa?" And for once, I know the answer It all started when Susie, a local businesswoman who carries my book said, "Would you be the town's Santa this year?" At first I was somewhat thrown back by the question. For yes, while I do have a white beard, and yes, I have white hair, and yes, I am somewhat horizontally challenged, the image that I was trying to display that morning while signing books was of Papa Hemingway. It was somewhat disconcerting to find that I overshot my mark and somehow entered the fourth stage of Santa life.

You see, I have passed through the great stages of life: (1) You believe in Santa, (2) You do not believe in Santa, (3) You are Santa, (4) and finally, You look like Santa. It's the 'You look like Santa' stage that allows me to come to you now and reveal the answer to the question that all inquiring minds really want to know. I am going to report, as they say, from the front line.

Unfortunately for me, I was not alone in the store the morning Susie made the request, for at my elbow was my wife Marilyn. Before I could get to the "Gee, Susie, I would love to, but that is the day (fill in the blank with any important, and non postponable event)," Marilyn whispered, "You'd be so cute." Now consider that after forty-five years of marriage, being cute to your life companion is no small thing. Gone are the days when she sees me as handsome or heroic, so cute is even better than OK. But, while I might in fact be available, I was not going to be easy. I gave Susie the all-purpose, postponement fallback line: "Let me check my calendar and get back to you." It was sort of an "I'll have my people, call your people" gambit.

Needless to say, given that "my people" thought I'd make a cute Santa, the gambit failed. The day finally arrived, and there I was in full regalia. The suit the town provided fit nicely and without padding. I was somewhat put off by the fact that the belt was a tiny bit short, a matter which Marilyn readily fixed. I really must do something about the horizontally challenged issue. Perhaps a New Year's Resolution is in order.

Regardless, I was resplendent! You just have to love a man in uniform. The mirror returned a figure, if not handsome, surely cute. After a few practiced "HO HO HO's," I was off to city hall (no, no reindeer, I took my car). There I was met by two small girls dressed in green tights and pointy hats, who were cold, but excited to perform the elfin duties that day. Thankfully, within minutes, our conveyance arrived, a small train pulled by a John Deere lawn tractor. Did I mention that we live in a small rural town?

During the ride down main street, the sidewalks were empty. I wondered whether anyone would be out to see Santa on such a day. As Santa's Workshop came into view, there they were, parents, grandparents, toddlers and tween, lined up all the way around the square, smiling, and waving, warmed by heavy coats and mittens, and the Christmas spirit. A few Ho Ho Ho's later, and we were set.

One by one, the elves presented every child to Santa Claus. Well, almost every child ? some only peeked from behind Mom's legs. But, most hopped onto my lap with eyes wide in anticipation and aspiration in their hearts. Clearly and boldly they stated their dreams and wishes: "I wanta Hanna Montana Bean Bag Chair…" "I want a pony…" "I want a doll that pees…" "I want a combine…" "I want a robot…" One young boy patiently worked his way to the head of the line, only to run screaming for the door, as if chased by demons. He and his Dad returned to the back of the line to try again later. I saw him several times that morning, or at least the back of him as he headed for the door. Finally, success. He wants a Transformer mask, preferably Optimus Prime. A few times, I saw parents wince, as they heard their child's requests. These are hard times for small town America. But, when all things fail, hope springs eternal.

Hour after hour they came, the large, the small, the young, and the not so young. The smallest was a five week old, her proud young mother standing by - dad, camera in hand, recording the event. A family legacy in the making, this was their first picture of many to be taken over the years with Santa. I suppose the oldest to sit on my lap were the two cheerleaders, each whispering to Santa their gift desires. The girls giggled as they posed for the picture. Perhaps they came in jest, or maybe to recapture memories of Christmas past. I shall refrain from revealing the desires of these two young women. Let me just summarize their lists in the immortal words of Jan Barrett, "Veni, vidi, Visa." (We came, we saw, we went shopping.)

Our little farming community has a good crop of kids this year. I know this because in all of my questioning, " Were you good or bad this year," all confirmed their goodness. Well, there was a question about one child. He climbed onto my lap and immediately pulled my beard. He was shocked to find that it was real. No faux Santa here. As he left, I heard him say to his grandfather, "He's the real Santa, Paw Paw, he has white nose hair."

How quickly did the day pass? In a heartbeat. A blink of an eye, a wrinkle of the nose, and it was done. Such beautiful children, loving parents, and a great tradition. Each child promised to provide chocolate chip cookies (Santa's favorite) and to be really, really good to their mothers, and to be asleep, and not peek when I arrived on Christmas Eve. Several wanted me to know that I should not try the chimney, that maybe the door was better.

It was a good day, a day of great traditions, a cold day made warm by the love of family and friends. Why did the parents bundle up and bring their kids into the cold morning? It is because Santa and the Spirit of Christmas are built on the love of children and hope for the future. Like the season, the day was quickly gone. I think I'll go and hang out at Susie's, not that I want to be asked again for next year, but just in case."

Short bio: Dr. Edge is the author of several textbooks and works of archaeological fiction; he currently resides with his wife Marilyn, family, llamas, hair sheep, and other gentle creatures in Montgomery City, Missouri. Thank you Ray from Missouri.

Always and a Day


Freedom of Religion Behind The Iron Curtain
Through HIS Messengers
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Maggie ....
East Germany
January 2, 2013
This story comes from Maggie in East Germany, circa 1971, where her husband and her were stationed in the military behind the Iron Curtain where freedom of religion was taboo and if caught with a Bible could very well lead to death!.

Thank you for your courage and bravery Maggie in the name of freedom for mankind Sis! ^_^

Technically, I lived in Berlin, which is in East Germany, surrounded by the iron curtain. So to move out of our city, we had to go thru the Russian territory (East Germany was controlled by the Russians - about a 2 hour drive thru Russian land - scary at the time).

For some it will be impossible to imagine the diabolical division during the Cold War period. The Communist Bloc was deemed an oppressor of all freedoms, including religion with confirmed stories of persecution. The Bible was banned with dire consequences.

My husband and I had political immunity (living behind the Iron Curtain in 1971-1974) and my church asked me to smuggle some Russian bibles. We had access to Russian territory and would enter their checkpoints and leave bibles amongst other literature. Our immunity meant that they could not search our person or our car. However, that did not mean it was okay to leave restricted materials.

I did have one heart-stopping moment. We parked our car at the Russian Checkpoint as usual. My husband left the car and went into the Russian Office carrying his transportation documents and the bibles he intended to leave with other Russian magazines. Then, after what seemed an eternity, the sirens went off - the same sirens we heard when someone was trying to escape across the border. Very scared, I felt like the danger had taken its toll on us. I didn't know how to proceed. Would they come get me too? I just waited with my heart pounding. Eventually, my husband appeared, got in the car and drove toward freedom. He had left the bibles as planned; he was detained because of some OTHER incident (the reason for the alarm). Because of the secrecy involved, there was often very little feedback concerning the effect, or even the safe arrival, of these gospels.

As we left East Germany for the last time, we donated our Ford Maverick to the Christians that remained. It had a section in the trunk which allowed bibles to be hidden and carried across the border and distributed to a network of couriers, who in turn took them round to various underground cells of believers. Now that the Iron Curtain is gone, the persecution, desire for freedom of religion, the organizations that helped evangelize all becomes part of history easily forgotten.

Though people who have never experienced the loss of freedom it is not Free. Someone has to pay for it!


Always and a Day


My Beautiful Tennessee
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Catherine ....Tennessee
January 10, 2013
It does my heart good to write this story about Tennessee because it came from a delightful lady who wasn't so sure about my intentions when we first met on the net. After I convinced her all I ever want besides a never ending legion of forever friends is a story or two about Life in their state or country or people or pets or just to say hello!

She not only gave me this story about Tennessee we are the best of friends off the net and share Life as it happens as I do with most of my friends. Say hello to Catherine Rose from Tennessee!

You want to know a little about life in Tennessee. To me it's the most beautiful state you can be in. When spring comes the flowers bloom, the trees bud and the leaves sprout green. Everything is so beautiful.

Then comes the itchy eyes, asthma, nose stopped up or dripping lol. I live in East Tennessee home of the Vols. I live in a valley close to the Smokey mountains, Look Out mountain, star mountain and the Cumberland mountains. All are beautiful and are for tourists to see. I love the Smokey mountains home of Dolly Parton. The Smokey's are such a beautiful site. You can see the snow on the top of the mountains. In the fall all you see is color.

There are many different places in Tennessee. We have Nashville where the country music is. I am about 4 hours from there. We have the mountain folks. They do things different from East Tennessee. As far as my daily life I sit at home. The economy is bad here just like it is everywhere. The only other place I would like to live is Florida on the ocean. You can do so many things here in East Tennessee. There is Dolly Wood, Pigeon Forge where there is everything to do. We also have Gutenberg which is on the mountain. You can snow ski on the mountain. You can go to Maggie Valley to Ghost town and see the Cherokee Indians where they live.

I love Tennessee. I love the woods around me. Most of Tennessee is very peaceful and when you are in the mountains you can see Gods beauty everywhere. Spring, Winter or Fall.

Your story was inspired and I know it came from your heart, soul and spirit within Catherine and that's all I ever need for my readers.

Always and a Day


I'm Happy With Alfie
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Lisa ....Texas
January 18, 2013
All of us have many wishes and deep, deep thoughts of what will maybe come true someday but alas in the end we forget it all by NOT writing it down for future reference. My friend Lisa from Texas shares her thoughts and dreams with us as reality sets in and she is content with Alfie!

As a child and as an adult I always envisioned what my child might look like. Curly hair for sure. I never imagined that my child would look Asian. In the fourth grade, I had a list of possible names for my baby. My Mother informed me Argentina was most definitely NOT a good name. Well, I thought that Tina was a perfectly good name and adding Argen to the front gave it a sort of royal sophistication. My baby would be a girl….or, girls. Since twins are prevalent in my family, I thought I might have twins and name them Ruby and Scarlett. Two Reds. One for "The Wizard of Oz" and one for "Gone With the Wind." My love for theatre was already ingrained. Life happened and I found myself, marrying late in life and not willing to assume the vast majority of child rearing, along with a job.

That decision was my biggest mistake thus far. But, I like to say that I live with "The hand that I have been dealt!" Play your cards as best you can. I'm a pretty good card player. So, I have very little regrets as I have been blessed in countless ways. But tonight as I lay on my bed stroking the head of my Special Needs Dog Alfie I realize that this is the greatest and most sincere love I will ever know and it's good enough. I have no other frame of reference. I try to imagine what the love for a child might be. I just don't know and I never will. But, I will check my cards and play them well. This love is good enough. It's what I have. Alfie is intoxicating to me. I have had several dogs, but, this Alfie is SPECIAL in many ways.

He's not very smart, but, he tries. He has physical issues which have been addressed. He's paranoid of every little thing. But he's my big boy and I could not find any more joy than he brings. I can kiss him over and over and never get tired of him. His limitations push me to be a better steward for his life. I imagine that is how a Mother might feel for a Special Needs child. Alfie delights me with each new thing that he learns. He delights me …..over and over again. I could breathe in his scent for the rest of my life and be grateful for my stinky dog. It's like perfume to me. So, once again, I try to imagine what the feelings for a human child might be like.

I brush those thoughts off and play with the hand I'm dealt. My hand of loving a being that is not perfect but depends on me every day. In other words a Straight Flush. If I had a real child I just might dissolve into pure energy…….and float away towards heaven…..which is where I am when I hold my special one. Alfie is a winning hand. A loving hand. A fulfilling hand. A very precious life that I am proud to be caring for. Alfie is Special and I Need him. Special Needs goes both ways.

What a heartwarming story Lisa. You and Alfie show that women are Dog's best friend!

Always and a Day


Retirement
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to M&M ....Ohio
February 08, 2013
Retirement sounds like the thing to do these days. You've worked and saved all those younger years to ride into the sunset as you recline into a blissful life when you get older. That's what my forever friend, M&M, from Ohio thought too. Life doesn't always turn out as planned as she candidly relates!

I think I have led a charmed life up until the last few years. After a happy marriage and four gorgeous daughters, who were on their own, I was ready to retire. But Life had other ideas. In March of 2012 I was in a minor collision that left me with tendonitis in my right arm. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot in my LEFT arm and it caused a lot of pain. Then my husband had to have surgery at the local hospital and refused to wait two weeks to go back to work. That was stressful to see him in pain, too. Yet, he never complained.

July was so hot and as our condo faces the sun all day and afternoon, I started to dehydrate. I did drink tons of water, but when the thunderstorms came our building lost power for hours. With no air conditioning, I tried to run down a huge flight of stairs to get to my car. I couldn't open the garage since the key was missing. The week of July 4th was quite an experience. On Monday the dryer stopped working. So, I washed clothes and hung them on hangers. Towels were problems due to the high humidity. I tried to iron them dry like I did when my first baby's diapers froze on the attic clothesline where we had lived. The towels did not dry and all I had for my efforts were bruised hands.

On Wednesday while everyone was celebrating with their firecrackers that sounded like war bombs, my car battery died. I had it jump started but then it died again two days later. On top of that, I misplaced my car keys and had to have new ones made. My washer finally gave up on Friday and so did I. Thankfully my husband had everything repaired after work or on his days off and bought me a new dryer .

The heat wave that blistered our nation grew in intensity and so did my anger and my stress levels. By the beginning of August I was in the emergency room with what looked like a stroke! But the cat scan showed no damage and they let me go home after some medication. Believe me; stress overload can kill a person sometimes.

Going back to 2011, my youngest daughter had survived major stomach surgery. On September 7, she and her fiancé had bought a house and were married in the huge backyard under the lovely green arches of trees festooned with white ribbons and flowers. They had saved and paid for everything themselves, She is Registered Nurse and he is a Foreman for a mining company. We gave them a big check and with the rest they collected, they went on a Hawaiian cruise for their honeymoon. The visited all the sights including Pearl Harbor. Just when you think it's safe--boom! Here comes the next challenge. Six days before Christmas, another power failure and we sat bundled up in the cold for more than two hours. When the power surged on, it blew out the control board on our furnace. With the holiday fast approaching, we managed to get the board ordered and the serviceman brought extra space heaters to our condo. Then the control board got funky and the furnace died. By January 13, the men came to install a new furnace. Luckily, my daughter and her friend took me to the movies to see "Les Miserable." At least it was warm and the movie musical was great fun.

Since I had stayed home most of the winter without a flu shot, I was grateful I wasn't so sick like many others. Then I caught a cold and it went right into acute bronchitis. Fortunately, my chest X ray showed no pneumonia which a lot of small children were suffering from. Poor little darlings.

Okay, it is now a New Year 2013 and all should start off well. Not so, because on Feb 2nd, the furnace stopped working! Found out later it had needed a new circuit breaker. The man who installed was so kind and bought a new one and only charged us for the part. I don't care who or what god you believe in but my God must have had mercy and finally I am warm and safe. Oh, I forgot to tell you about the intruder who tried...never mind. I just bought a door guard to prop up and keep out the bad luck.

Thank you M&M for your adventures in the Life of a retired person who hopes for better years as Life goes on as we get along!

Always and a Day


The Good Side Of Snakes
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Graeme & Hazel ....Saint Helena
February 18, 2013
I have written the feelings and emotions of someone who was deathly afraid of snakes for whatever the reason and that is her right. This time I met a worldly man through a cousin of mine things were totally different. He lives on a far off island and went to college in Africa with my cousin Tom. Graeme and his wife Hazel live on St. Helena Island as missionaries. I will cover them in a later story. About the snakes for now from my friend Graeme:

Perhaps because I grew up in a region where there are a large variety of snakes, some deadly like the black mamba, and some (the majority, in fact) close to harmless. I even had a pet snake, which became tame, except that I had to feed it a white mouse once a month. It was a boring pet, though, because every time I looked into its cage, it was sleeping under something. It would never soil its own cage, and waited until it was slithering on the lawn outside. It liked to drink milk, too. It was called a "brown house snake".

Anyway, the point is that snakes are God's creatures, and like grizzly bears, need to be treated with a great deal of wisdom and respect. Satan, as an angel of light, is far more dangerous taking the form of something or someone pleasant, and he does! You and I need to be wise always, and try and avoid fear of satanic stereotypes like snakes and lots of other things. I have often met folk who seem to have a pathological fear of snakes, and have not bothered to identify the dangerous species, but scream and run, or worse, try and kill every one they see. The truth is they are very useful creatures, and keep down the population of other creatures (frogs, rats, mice, etc - even cockroaches). Snakes do their best to avoid humans. Adders hiss to warn, rattlers rattle to warn, many trust in their camouflage ability, and a few use their speed to get out of your way. Even the python will avoid people, unless it is big enough and the human small enough to see the human as food - as would a polar bear and other large predators. The sheep farmer had no idea he was dealing with a snake. If he did, he may have arranged to have it captured and placed in a wildlife preserve.

Sorry for the sermon! I think snakes will make a colourful part of the earth's fauna during the Millennial reign of Christ, but Satan will be shut up in the Bottomless Pit. Now that's something to look forward to!

Blessings, Graeme

Thank you Graeme & Hazel.

Always and a Day


A Miracle On Christmas Day
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Mickey ....Ohio
March 27, 2013
As I hovered above Ohio on my Magic Carpet Of Life I ran across my friend Mickey who caught me up on the neighborhood news. As she told her tale of Christmas last year I knew I would relay it to you! I believe in miracles as they happen every day and Mickey was blessed to have hers happen on Christmas Day!

"I was driving through a blizzard on Xmas Eve, returning from visiting my grandson in Hamtramck, Michigan. I was in my 5 door hatchback Hyundai and ended up following a snow plow through upper Ohio, The highways were a mess. When the snow plow stopped I turned around and went back to Defiance,Ohio. I called my husband from a pay phone and he said book a room. So, I found one right behind a gas station with a kitchen, bedroom set and a bath. Put on my flannel pajamas and fell to sleeping. Woke up and got dressed and hiked in my white leather tennis shoes to a convenience store across the road. I bought junk food and came back to my warm room. Tried to make instant coffee with hot water from the sink! There was no coffee pot! Then I ate potato chips, candy bars and cookies. After wards, I got all bundled up in two layers of clothing and went out to my car. I tried to turn on my frozen engine. It worked the second time. Scraped the car clean since I knew more snow was coming. At least the room had a radio so I could hear what the weather would be coming along."

"After resting until dawn, I cleaned the car again and headed south to Cincinnati. It was Christmas Day and folks started to wave and honk at me in my car. I honked and waved back saying "Merry Christmas!" A few miles later, I heard the thump! thump! of a flat tire! Pulled into an empty church parking lot, It was below freezing so I hiked up the road to a little farm house after putting on more clothes. The little girl who answered the door at first would not let me in. She had a young boy with her who just wanted to play once he saw I was boring."

"Grandpa was sitting in his rocking chair watching me like an eagle while he chomped on his corn cob pipe. I finally convince "Pa" to at least let me in the door and I closed it, He must have been a little deaf and the girl was his hearing aid. So, I had to slowly explain my situation to her and begged to use their telephone to call for road service. I offered to pay for the call but he said no, I was asked to sit in a chair and I put the old threadbare rug under my wet shoes. The small farm house was so clean and tidy. Finally, the service guy found me because I had left a note on the car. But he had trouble getting those Korean made lug nuts back on the hub caps so I showed him how." "By then, the sun had come out and I was sweating and anxious to get home, only 45 minutes away! Then I looked at my fuel gauge. I was running on Empty! No gas station was open, people said along the way~~it is Christmas Day. I thought "No way am I pushing this car home!" I was very tired, hungry and needed a shower...I wanted to get home"

"Then a little miracle by the name of Marathon appeared and a man dressed in full Marathon uniform gladly filled my gas tank, cleaned my windows, checked my oil and also put air in my tires. Full service and all I wanted was gas; he smiled at me and I thought he was the nicest, cleanest attendant I had ever seen. I could not believe that happened; an answer to my anxious prayers. My family was happy to see me again after celebrating their Xmas at home.."

"A few months later, I drove out on that same road. I looked and I looked and there was no Marathon station there and folks said they had never seen one there before. I guess an Angel was my gas station buddy. Come to think of it, he never said a word to me; he just smiled as brightly as the sun on that Christmas Day."

Thank you Mickey.

Always and a Day


The Circle Of Prayer
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Wendy ....North Carolina
March 31, 2013
Call it a gift that keeps on giving every minute of the day wherever we are and whatever our cimstances may be. My friend Wendy from North Caroline sent me an email about one of her son's girfriends friend who was recently diagnosed with a disease that requires chemo and asked me to ask my friends on Our Window To The World to pray for her! I am doing this now for Nicole and all those who need help in Life! Prayer is a powerful way to get results when nothing else seems to work. It is like a snowball at the top of a mountaain gaining speed ans size as it rolls down..The same is true for a circle of prayer. Attached is the sequence of events which give Nicole and her family and all those who might think no one is listening!

From Wendy

hey everyone, just incase you didnt see my post on fb, want to ask you all to please keep this young lady in your prayers, and her family too. my son brandon's girlfriend amber is her best friend, and brandon is good friends with her and her family. her name is nicole sorey and she has been in the hospital for awhile now, and they just found out what was wrong with her. i am pasting the post that was on her mama's page for you to read. i am sending a pic that i took last yr of her and amber before the prom, she is the one in blue. PLEASE keep her in your prayers, i know God can heal her. she is just the sweetest lil' gal, i know her family is worried sick about her. please pass this on to all your friends and family and churches too. i cant imagine what they are going thru right now"

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support I have gotten today. Nicole has been diagnosed with Hodgkin 's Lyphoma. We will know the definitive type in the next day of two. Please keep Nicole in your prayers as we begin this journey. God is good and we have got this Nicole Ashley Sorey Sorry. I love you to the moon and back.''.............'her mom Tricia Bateman'

Thanks for you Wendy and reassure her Life is being prayed for all over Our World!

Always and a Day


A Poet In The Everglades
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Lisa ....xxxx
April 5, 2013
Here are some poems from Charles

How Long is Life

Long, long years beyond the bang,
When great gasses rolled and rang,
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
When the oceans began to flow,
About a billion year ago,
In the brew was something new,
Something wriggled, something grew.
Like itty bitty bugs astir,
Neither arms nor legs there were.
Some by sun did grow
Becoming the trees we know.
Those that on them fed
On one end grew a head.
In that head brewed a brain
From which we look back agane.

Was the ele' once an ant?
The ant a single cell?
Or because the atom stirs inside,
Are the very rocks alive?
To when then, or maybe where,
Do we look back and stare?
Through the gasses that rolled and rang?
And how long beyond the bang?

How long is life?


In this neck of the woods of a night long gone bye a Shawshuck Indian,
a wise woman know for miles around, was trudging through the snow
when none let her in she was found frozen under a great white pine.

Good Morning Molly Ockett

The cock doth crow, no wind's a blow, all seems sound asleep.
In the glim a ghost walked in. A red from years of yore.
From years when whites saw such in frights and saw no more.
The snow it blew, no house she knew, none let her in.
Though her own, most who'd flown, willed her worldly wise,
Though she knew what few knew too, none let her in.
Yet in the glim she still walked in. With eyes worldly wise.
Eyes that knew what few knew then and fewer even now.
White robes she wore, no ill she bore, and so I let her in.



The Sea Shore

I walked the moon of March,
Or so the sand seamed.
Not another was there there,
Not but sand, shell, and me.
Off with a whisper of waves I went,
Off with a moon mown sea.
And on and on ore trunk and tree,
Cross rock and river running,
Silver shallows of salt sunning,
On and on the beach beckoned,
On and on the sea seconded.
The sea, the shore, the birds above,
A world that spoke of God's love.
And high-a-hill and in the under,
An ooze of clay in gray galore.
Grays and greens, royal red,
Pink and purple up ahead.
These I saw and many more
On a moon marched shore.
These, and many more,
On a moon mown shore.



Spring Sprung

Winter went, a storm blew through, what was old now is new.
Heads once heavy, heads once so, rise with the bulbs below.
Waves wild, winds cold, are not but a tale told.
Limbs a-languor, eyes of old, dance to the sun's gold.
Paddles parked, boats berthed, will soon see the world's worth.
Spring's sprung, winter went, where the hell is my tent?



A Flake a Fling on a Winter Wing

A flake a fling is a marvelous thing,
When falling first they flingaling,
But when a-blur they blow a-low,
Ya aught-a go where it doesn't snow.

Somewhere south would be nice,
Anywhere where there is no ice.
Where shovels shovel only sand,
Where sun and sea go hand in hand,
Where clothes a cling are next to naught,
Where bikini babes are often sought.

Ah if such were only so,
Flakes a fling could blow a-low,
To fall a far, to fall a near,
If only they wouldn't fall here.


Thanks Charles

Always and a Day


For the Love of People
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
Thanks to Pepper the Clown ....New York
April 17, 2013


"BEAUTIFUL DAY, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE" ...I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS TOO LONG?...A TRUE STORY WORKING AS PEPPER THE CLOWN ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES BEING PEPPER THE CLOWN TOOK PLACE AT THE EASTERN CHRISTIAN CHILDRENS RETREAT IN WYCKOFF, NEW JERSEY. ALL OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS HAVE AUTISM OR MENTAL RETARDATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE STAFF THAT I WOULD NOT GET ANY RESPONSE FROM CHERYL WHO HAD DOWN SYNDROME AND DOES NOT SPEAK. SO I SHOULD NOT WASTE MY TIME WITH HER. MY HEART KEPT SAYING TO MY MIND..."I DO NOT LIKE THAT STATEMENT". I WAS TAUGHT THAT "LOVE MAKES MIRACLES HAPPEN."

HOW CAN ANYONE DECIDE THAT COULD NOT HAPPEN SO I KEPT TRYING. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GIVE UP WHEN THE SHOW ENDED. AFTER THE CLOWN SHOW WAS OVER THE GENTLEMAN WHO HIRED US WAS TAKING PICTURES OF SALT AND PEPPER WITH HIS TWO GRANDAUGHTERS. ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE WHO DID I SEE...UNDER MY ARMPIT WAS CHERYL HOLDING ME TIGHT AND SHE WAS NOT GOING TO LET GO. I WAS SHOCKED AND THRILLED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE SHE WAS WITH A SMALL SMILE ON HER FACE. IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS SAYING TO ME..."I HAD TO DO IT AFTER ALL YOU NEVER GAVE UP." I GAVE HER A BIG KISS WHICH SHE DID NOT REJECT AND I WAS SMILING FROM "EAR TO EAR."

A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO WAS TAKEN OF THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS POSTED ON THE COVER OF ONE OF THE NEW JERSEY SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS. THIS PHOTO IS IN A FRAME AND HANGS ON MY WALL RIGHT ABOVE MY COMPUTER. "WHY YOU MAY ASK"? IN LIFE THERE IS ALWAYS A GIFT AND THERE IS A GIFTGIVER THAT DAY WE BOTH RECEIVED A WONDERFUL GIFT. IN THIS CASE WE HELD EXTENDING "LOVE" TO ANOTHER MAKES MIRACLES HAPPEN AND MOST OF THE TIME WORDS DO NOT HAVE TO BE SAID. I RECEIVED ONE ON THAT SPECIAL DAY...AT THE CHILDRENS RETREAT CENTER IN WYCKOFF, NEW JERSEY...THANK YOU CHERYL.. THE END"

This is a story that touches my heart and I know it will do the same for all that read it. Lady Anna, my Forever Friend from upstate New York, sent this to me and I'm so glad she did! In her capacity as Pepper The Clown she does it more for the love of people making them happy and smiling than the money! Anna is special as is her story! Thank you Pepper the clown (Anna) - New York

Always and a Day


Pieces of Peggy
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

April 21, 2013
This is a beautiful story from a Forever Friend from my high school years in the 60's while living on Long Island in New York. Our lives have moved on since then and Peg is a nurse in New Jersey and I am Always Home Writing in California in April 2013.

Peg is from a family of 4 (like myself) whose Mother, Father and Brother have gone out of this world leaving us only memories. Here is part of her story.

When my older brother Roger passed away two years ago, it left me in silent desolation not only from grief, but from the realization that I had lost the last direct link to my past. My parents were deceased for over twenty years, and my brother Roger was my only sibling. Together we had a secret pact, the memories that held the past transported us to our childhood, and to our separate journeys that converged or split apart. How differently we envisioned the past and how opposite our memories. He would ask, "Where were you when that happened? And "Where was I?" It was always sweet and easy and I would miss him on a level so deep it left me stunned and breathless. The phone calls from his home in Nevada were something that punctuated my week and always left me feeling complete. As if we'd been able to capture a time and place that would hold us securely in the present, and somehow, prevent us from growing old. Our talks were a tricky illusion, and we both knew it, but we looked back regardless, and painted elaborate pictures that might not have been entirely accurate. It was what we wanted and needed to hear from each other, a mutual exchange of comfort and validation. We had lived our separate lives fully, and still remembered the tiny details that made the past our precious time together. But now, it is just me, our family of four reduced to one.

As my Sister-In -Law Barbara began the daunting task of sorting thru his files, she came upon a rich legacy of photographs and letters not only belonging to Roger, but treasures that had accumulated thru the years, beginning with my great grandfather. It was like coming across a dusty old history book that lay untouched and never opened. When bulky envelopes filled with letters and photos began to arrive in the mail, my spirits lifted. In a slow and subtle way, it was as if I'd discovered the very marrow of my own essence and how I had grown to be who I am, with my own set of gifts and genetic juice that came from people I barely knew. What were once just musty papers and photographs in a worn album took on a new and deeper meaning. They were filled with the thoughts and accomplishments of my people, my blood and the very building blocks of me.

With each letter and photo came a bit of history, a story and a link to me. I began to wonder, "What did I really know about my grandparents, my parents or even my brother."? Very slowly I begin the task of exploration. Sitting on my kitchen floor, I open a letter written by my grandfather in 1917. It is dark and fragile with age, folded carefully as if to preserve it for this very moment. The words are both cinematic and intimate and I am deeply moved. He is in distress and writing his thoughts on an ancient typewriter while on the Western Front during World War One. As a doctor and medic, he has made his way across Europe in a horse drawn wagon, and marched beside the dazed and despairing troops thru mud, freezing rain and deplorable conditions, to reach the nearest field hospital. Standing in the flooded trenches, he waits to catch the broken and bleeding men as they tumble toward safety. To him, great luxury is a supply of canvas tarps that will scantily protect the mortally wounded from the harsh elements. And writing of the countless deaths of men, they do not "die", but are instead "called away". I am spellbound by the way he has painted devastation in such poetic terms. He does not complain, but instead speaks of honor and respect and of "God," as the spiritual leader that keeps them sane in an otherwise unbearable time in history. And yet this man, before I am even a seedling, comes home to his family, unharmed and eventually becomes my grandfather. Those written words are filled with a wealth of courage, character, faith and intellect and as I gently place this letter in its envelope, I feel a sudden rush of pride for this man, my grandfather. I would later get to know him in my adult years, but this piece of historical writing enlightens me, as it portrays his very essence as a human being. I next begin the exploration of photographs. They are endless and I can only think how lucky I am to have ancestors who wanted to document their lives on paper and in photographs to leave to us who will follow. When I take a break from my search, I open a window to dispel any dust, and as I stretch my back, I am feeling the rush of my ancestor's blood pulsating thru my veins.

On a trip to the East Coast, Barbara has brought to me a narrow grey metal box. It is filled with photographic slides from the 40's and early 50's. Taken by my father, they are meticulously labeled, and put in an order easy to navigate. The grey metal box has served as protection, so the 60 years that have passed leaves no mark on them. They appear to have been taken yesterday. Again I am on the floor of my kitchen near an open window, with a "view finder "in hand, my heart beats a little faster as I begin the exciting job of examining each one of these slides. They are carefully lined up in the grooves that the box provides, and this treasure chest holds a visual diary of my father's journeys that span the early 40's and 50's and a good part of this country. What it clearly depicts, is the life he lived when he was present, and when apart from his family. None of these times remain in my memory bank. I have always known him as an aviator, but have never known the extent of his other passions. When not piloting airplanes, he scours the country photographing historical train stations and majestic steam engines. Photos and published articles showcasing vintage railroad stations and magnificent trains are a revelation to me. He was in fact, a well-known, and sought after photographer, when steam engines were still a symbol of high adventure, mystery and romance.

This grey box has a compartment for each piece of his journey. There is his airline life taking place in Florida. A group of unknown eager young faces, all crew members from his glamorous job as an airline captain, gather lazily beside the azure blue waters of Biscayne Bay. There are photos of his favorite aircraft; glorious magenta views of sunsets and sunrises taken from 18'000 feet. The photos of family vacations capture Roger and me smothered in bulky life jackets, our legs flailing, as we cling to a massive inner tube that is floating off the beaches of Long Island Sound. The photos of our home display the riotous tulip gardens cherished by my mother and I am a witness to a slide show of my father's life and my forgotten memories. Who was this man? I think by now, I have a better idea, and the passage of time transforms what once might have been the pain of missing, into a subtle longing and a deep sense of richness. Days pass and I am exhausted from these historic discoveries. But the metal box beckons to me, and I can't ignore it. I begin to examine the photos that are labeled "Marge, 1951"". It is my mother, young and glamorous, posing for my father, like a fashion model. Her hair is auburn and her eyes a deep blue. A beautiful woman on vacation with her husband, she is leaning against a tree on the banks of Lake placid and lying seductively on the beaches of South Hampton. I notice there are no children in sight. This must be their private time, their lives away from parenthood and work. My mother is an artist. Sitting on a sand dune with an easel and her set of oil paints, she studies her subject matter with an intensity that shows in the stretch of her arm to the canvas, and the steel like posture of her back. I can see that her work is exquisite, but this woman is a stranger to me. As a child I never imagine that my mother might have a life that is separate from me. But here it is, in brilliant color. She must have quietly put her paintings away while I was very young. There are very few memories of her paintings. And I wonder, despite her beauty, why her eyes are sad and often far away. Maybe she is conjuring up her next creation. Maybe she is missing her children?

But now I can set the metal box and the envelopes aside. I am momentarily done with this project, knowing well that I have just scratched the surface. There will be more envelopes and boxes; more letters and photos; more questions and answers. This giant puzzle that will portray a family is just beginning to take shape, and I am now wishing that all my cast of characters were here with me to help place the final pieces together. We would sit close together at my small round kitchen table, gathered in the same room, excited and surprised to be here. My father, with his camera in hand, would watch us with his careful eye as we reminisce, laugh and cry. And we would all know in our hearts, without speaking, the importance of things left behind.

Thanks Peggy - New Jersey

Always and a Day


A Note to My Mom Above
by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer

May 10, 2013
This is from a forever friend Anya from Canada. She has been one of my friends since Classmates a long time ago. Over the years our friendship has grown.and I realize how close a family can be that loves one another like hers. Her sister then her mother passed within monthe of each other and she wants to share her Mother's Day wishe with you!

This Mother's Day is different because you are no longer here. I think about you daily and often shed some tears. I wish that I could talk to you, for there is so much to share. Though expressed throughout the years, I'm sending this Note to You Above......to tell you of my gratitude and how much you are Loved. Your kind and loving character has influenced me all my life. You taught me how to love and care. You showed me how to be kind, honest and fair. You showed ME how to be a loving mom, to listen, be patient and always be there. I'm forever grateful to you, dear Mom, for teaching me these life's lessons. In spite of your loss vision and ailments, you had a sense of humour and never did complain. You were there to help anyone in need, in spite of your pain. You always demonstrated patience and gentleness, and always lent a hand. You were supportive to my sis and me no matter what the circumstance . A few months before you left this world, I stayed with you that week. The time I had alone with you, I will treasure every day. The talks and songs and laughter are in my thoughts to stay. You told me that it's the Cycle of Life, and soon you'll go away. You told me to be happy and not to grieve and cry. I just can't hold back the tears no matter how I try.

I miss you dearly, along with dad and sis. Please tell them that I love them too, and send them my loving Kiss. I LOVE YOU MOM. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Anya

Thanks Anya - Canada
This note is for real and it comes from Anya's heart, soul and spirit within wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day wherever your Mother may be ....she is listening and watching over you. Always Home Writing

Always and a Day


by Jacques Pierre Losier
The One Armed Writer
April 27, 2013
I had the pleasure of working in the hotel business with a man from Minnesota. He never spoke much about his state only that he was from the city where the Minnesota Vikings practiced each year before the football season started.. Needless to say I wanted to know more! While "Magic Carpeting" through this beautiful state I Forever Friended a real treat in Linda who had a lot to say about her state and wants to proudly share it with you!

'Hi Jack, This is Linda from Minnesota. It's a beautiful state. You have your 4 seasons. Winter, there is lots to do in the winter. Snowmobile, ice fish, skiing, sliding, Its's beautiful when you get the first snow fall and all the trees are white, Christmas is'nt the same without the snow when you have lived here all your life. Spring, its nice when spring comes after the long winter. Everything is melting trees and flowers budding all the wild animal coming out of hibernation and all the babies running around.

Summer always waiting for that there is so much to see and do, people cant wait to get their cabins opened and to get their boats on the lake to just cruze around fish, jet ski, tubbing, biking etc. there are so many different towns and parks in Minnesota to see..

Fall, is beautiful when the leaves start turning. That's when you want to see them when they're at peak just beautiful, start changing colors getting ready for the change of seasons.

You would have to see everything for your selves. There is so much to do and see. Im in northern Minnesota and the city folks cant wait to get out of there to go up north Lots of camp grounds, trailer parks etc~ Stop by and say hello~ We are friendly in Minnesota. My writing skills leave a lot to be desired but this piece on Minnesota is straight from my heart to you!"

Thanks for your description of Minnesota Linda!
Always and a Day




ABOUT ME


I was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1945 and was raised as a "farm boy" who loved animals and WORDS as I learned to read and write.
My family moved to Manhasset, Long Island New York to an "upper crust" neighborhood and a totally different way of life that I was accustomed to due to my Dad's promotions as an industrial designer.
I graduated from high school in 1963, attended a college in Lincoln, Illinois then Demorest, Georgia and was elected Editor In Chief of "The Piedmont Owl" where I had my own office and a staff and a small stipend for my trouble. The paper did well but I was asked to leave the school due to failing grades in everything NOT related to English.
I enlisted in the USAF during Vietnam and was assigned to a CBPO at Langley Air Force Base where we processed orders for the Air women and men going to and from and some never coming back alive. This was a sad time!
I spent one of the coldest winters on record in Omaha, Nebraska after supposedly going to live with my "fiancée" who dumped me shortly after I arrived. I rented a room in the basement of a nice couple's home and talked my way into a job with the local newspaper at their copy desk writing headlines for the morning edition!
I wrote a headline that made it through my supervisor for the morning edition and I left in anticipation of my 1st headline in a major newspaper. When I arrived at my desk nothing was there. I was asked to go to the "Editor In Chief's" office where I saw the contents of my desk. It turns out the article should have never made it to the copy desk because of the "political" implications one would have only known if they were "born and raised" in Omaha which left me out in the cold the winter of my worst nightmare. The editor paid me for a week which was neat but on the stub it said "outside correspondence" like I wasn't there at all!
I got a job in a neighboring town at a factory that made intricate parts for bombs in the war. I had no idea what this entailed and it took the "inspectors" a few weeks to discover it was me. The plant manager called me into his office I was assuming to give me the "axe" but offered me a job as the plant "janitor" until I could save enough for a one way ticket to Honolulu.
I lived and worked on the beautiful island of Oahu from 1969 to 1978. Earned 2 degrees on my G.I. Bill....I was a playboy till I met my wife in 1973. Turns out my writing career was shelved for a 28 1/2 career in the hospitality industry where I enjoyed making every customer happy as they would return again and again.
That part of my life ended when I had the CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident - a stroke) which kills or incapacitates. It happened at "Buffalo Bills" in State Line Nevada where my wife and our two young boys were about to celebrate her birthday in 1998. I was one of the "lucky" ones and only am permanently paralyzed on my right side from head to toe and regained my memory and speech in 2007 after many years of rehabilitation, misery and depression with no light at the end of my dark tunnel!
All those years thinking about who I am and what actually happened came back slowly and I asked myself how can a man in my situation be productive!

It was at his time I asked God for help! We have never met personally or spoken and through my years being baptized a Lutheran but never attended church after my high school years I carried my beliefs in HIM in my heart soul and spirit on hearsay from others who have had miracles happen to THEM.

Come to find out I should still be mute with no memory and no ability to take care of myself! Guess what? Not me. God IS for real and I show my thanks by writing to and for my friends and family Forever And A Day!

I put two and two together, dusted off the 65 years of Silence as a Writer and the 2nd part of my life started officially on 7/6/2010 as Jack R. Losier - The One Armed Writer.
The poems are just the beginning of my dream. A book of my thoughts and my memoirs are on the horizon! There is a life after paralysis after a miracle or two with more to come!

Always And A Day
Enjoy Them All

Jack Richard Losier
The "Published" One Armed Writer


CONTACT ME

Email: 4everwriting@gmail.com


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