Coin dropped in Salvation Army collection kettle may be worth $14,000
And nope, it wasn't an accident!
The donated 1908 Indian head coin has a face value of US$2.50, said Capt. Louis Patrick. But it's worth at least at $250 and possibly as much as $14,000, according to a preliminary analysis.
The coin was enclosed in a protective plastic case.
Posted in: holidays, inspiring on December 08, 2006 0 comments
This story really makes you reflect on courage, family, love, and the meaning of "in sickness and in health". Prayers to you, Katie.
CaringBridge: Katie Ferrarias
via Life in a Nutshell
Posted in: inspiring on November 21, 2006 1 comments
Okay, I'm essentially posting a forward here, but I think it has a lot of good wisdom for life - things that we tend to forget as we get caught up in the rat race, striving to be perfect, make lots of money, and keep up with the Joneses.
- - - - -
If I Had My Life to Live Over
Reportedly written by Erma Bombeck after she found out she was dying from cancer.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I wasn't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you"s. More "I'm sorry"s.
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back.
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what we are blessed with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.
Posted in: inspiring on 0 comments
Free Hugs Campaign
Via IzzyMom
Technorati tags: free hugs, Juan Mann
Posted in: inspiring, videos on November 01, 2006 3 comments
This is a pretty inspiring video clip.
It's a video of Fred Rogers ("Mister Rogers" to most of us) giving a speech to a U.S. Senate committee in 1969. It's amazing the kind of influence such a softspoken man could have, even before he became a household name. Watch until the end - it will make you smile.
"In 1969 the US Senate had a hearing on funding the newly developed Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The proposed endowment was $20 million, but President Nixon wanted it cut in half because of the spending going on in the Vietnam War. This is an video clip of the exchange between Mr. Rogers and Senator Pastore, head of the hearing. Senator Pastore starts out very abrasive and by the time Mr. Rogers is done talking, Senator Pastore's inner child has heard Mr. Rogers and agreed with him."
Posted in: inspiring, kids, videos on May 11, 2006 0 comments
I've been corresponding with Melinda Terry, a teacher in Seattle who is asking Canadians to help her create a lesson plan on Canada for her 6th grade class. I came across this story, and decided to share it with her. I find it really inspiring. Not only does it show the hospitality and generosity of a place that I love, but it reminds us all that one person really can make a difference.
I was reading Alan Doyle (of the band Great Big Sea)'s road journal tonight, and read that there are talks of making a movie about a black sailor who survived the shipwreck of the U.S.S. Truxton off the coast of Newfoundland in 1942.
This story is about the people of Newfoundland affecting the U.S. civil rights movement.
I'm almost embarassed to say that I didn't know the sailor's story; I feel that I should know the history of this disaster better. My Dad & Grandmother are from the small town of St. Lawrence, which helped to rescue drowning sailers from the stormy waters.
I've heard about the incident in general. Two U.S. Navy ships (the U.S.S. Truxton and U.S.S. Pollux) ran aground on Newfoundland cliffs during World War II, on February 18th, 1942. 203 sailors died; 185 were saved.
Well, it turns out that there was only one African American survivor of the U.S.S. Truxton, named Lanier Philips, and he says that it was the hospitality he received from the people of Newfoundland after the disaster which led him to become a civil rights leader for equality for all races in the U.S. military.
I wanted to know more, so I did an Internet search and found a National Public Radio program about Lanier Philips. Listen to it - his story is pretty amazing!
There's a second, shorter story from Carleton University here, which has some additional information, but listen to the NPR one first, it has more background information, and is more like a story than a news report.
If you'd like to know more, the St. Lawrence town website has more information about the tragedy.
FYI, I first read about the Seattle teacher's request on Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy (forgot to post the credit/link back in this post earlier - oops!)
Technorati tags: Newfoundland, Canada, United States, Navy, Truxton, civil rights, Lanier Philips
Posted in: equality, inspiring, Newfoundland, war on April 09, 2006 1 comments
