lucky men

today in stop n' shop i noticed these 2 strange looking men. they were a little louder than everyone in the store and they dressed in old worn clothing. at first i thought maybe they were learning disabled, but now i'm not so sure.

these men were clearly very best friends. they were laughing and joking and enjoying each other's company immensely. they both spoke a little differently and maybe a little slower than some people might like. but they seemed to understand each other on a deeper level.

it took only minutes to realize they were like family to each other. though I am certain they were not family. they had a tenderness we rarely see between people. when one slowed down the other was right there in pace. they stopped to look at things and comment on whatever amused them.

it would have been easy to feel very sorry for these 2 men. they both may have many hardships in their lives. yet I found myself smiling as i watched them. they had found someone like them to share life. and though they both were probably disabled in a way, in the end they were very lucky to have found each other. and i think they knew it!

american idol critique

let's face it. this is not a good year for the idol. crystal or shiobhan (pronounced with a v?!!) will probably win it. unless all the girls come out and vote for that raspy voiced guy who is kind of cute or the long haired blonde boy who is really cute, but less talented.

where is the talent america. really, all those people who tried out and these are the best. frankly, my kids beg me to quit singing at least ten times a day, and i have strong illusions that i am better than most of the finalists this year!! the guy with the long hair who slid across the floor, unfortunately not to his demise!! i literally have to change the channel when he is on for many reasons:

embarrassment for him

pain for me

my husband rolling his eyes again and again and again

kids throwing food at the tv

kick him off and the show will improved somewhat. i'm thinking of not watching until the final 3, and hoping they don't kick the good ones off. still can't believe they kicked the cute blonde off, lilly i thing?

too bad cause i really like drinking my wine and analyzing everything about each god awful singer. maybe i'll stick it out for one more year . . .

pretty and plain

two girls walked to the school bus every day together. one was stunningly beautiful, with auburn wavy hair and porcelain skin. she dressed in all the most expensive styles too. the other girl was a plain girl, with strait brown hair and dull brown eyes. she dressed in simple clothes, some that her mother made for her.

the plain girl felt so lucky to have the beautiful girl as a friend. she was especially proud to walk to school everyday with her. she felt others looking at her with envy, and she enjoyed every minute of it. but she knew her friend did not feel so lucky to be walking with her. and she wondered how long it would last.

one day the beautiful girl approached the subject. she told the plain girl that she really didn't like walking with her every day. she said the plain girl needed to be funnier, have more interesting things to say, if she wanted to continue to walk with her. the plain girl was heartbroken. she went home that day and cried. she was shy by nature, and certainly could not change. then she made up her mind. she would rise to the occasion. she looked through books and found jokes, she read articles on how to win friends and influence people. that night she thought of a story that made her laugh and repeated it to herself and practiced until it was effortless.

the next morning she met the beautiful girl at her house, as usual. the pretty girl seemed bored and annoyed as usual too. her plain friend smiled her big smile and dug way down for the confidence she could find. she focused on the outcome. she wanted to be her friend more than anything.

her first story was brilliant. she picked her adjectives and adverbs perfectly. the pretty girl could picture everything in her mind. her timing could not have been better. she hesitated just enough to make the red head lean in for the punch line. by the time they reached the bus stop, the beautiful girl was laughing so hard she could barely breath. she was holding onto every word the plain girl said. and the strangest thing happened. the other people wanted to be around the plain girl. they gathered around and joined in the audience, for each story she told. the plain girl had never felt so loved in her entire life.

from that day on the plain girl spent hours and hours learning the art of conversation, the way to tell the perfect joke, and perfected every story she knew. all the beautiful people in the school gravitated to her, and longed to be her friend. she became the most popular girl in school. but she continued to walk with the beautiful auburn haired girl to the bus stop every day. and throughout her continued success in school and in life, she always gave her first beautiful friend credit. for making her become an interesting person.