Wordless Wednesday: Google Maps

Wordless Wednesday: Word from Google Maps

Read This Christmas Message Every Day

Soon the Santa Suit Gets Put Away

The season to be jolly can get fairly exhausting and, I'm feeling the effects, already.

Physically and mentally exhausted, I'm too tired to write a blog post today.

 I want to share this email, that came from my Nene (older sister) and, hope you'll do the same.

It doesn't have to be Christmas and, you don't need to be a Christian. Read it daily:

What Happens in Heaven When We Pray ?

""I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous  paper sheets and scraps from people all over the  world.

  

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

  

The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

  

Finally, at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed.
"How is it that there is no work going on here?" I asked.

  

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."

  

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? "I asked.
"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord."

  

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

  

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep,  you are richer than 75% of this  world. If  you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and  spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8%  of the world's wealthy, and if you get this on  your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the  world who has that opportunity."

  

"If  you woke up this morning with more health than  illness.. You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the  agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...  You are ahead of 700 million people in the  world."

"If  you can attend a church without the fear of  harassment, arrest, torture or death you are  envied by, and more blessed than, three billion  people in the world."

  

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all  those in doubt and despair......."

  

"Ok," I said. "What now? How can I start?"

  

The Angel said, "If you can read this message, you just  received a double blessing in that someone  was thinking of you as very special and you are  more blessed than over two billion people in the  world who cannot read at all."

  

Have a good day, count your blessings,  and if you care to, pass this along to remind  everyone else how blessed we all  are.........

  

ATTN: Acknowledge  Dept.

"Thank  you Lord, for giving me the ability to share  this message and for giving me so many wonderful  people with whom to share it."

  

If you have read this far, and are thankful for all that you have been blessed with, how can you  not send it on?

Thank God for everything,especially all  your family and  friends.""

AFTERWORDS

My Nene and I have been hundreds if not thousands of miles apart, most of our adult lives.

In my travels, I've probably associated with every type unfortunate mentioned above.

Big sister, is certainly more of a Christian than, I'll ever be. But, we're still close, to each other.

She can sort of, read my mind and, knew, I'd appreciate this, as well as, pass it along.

Different angles, have touched me along the way but, I still know right from wrong.

Years ago, I stopped donating any funds, to organized religions and, do things differently, now.

Most of my expendable donations go towards beer and pretty women, these days.

"What Happens When We Pray" could have been authored by any religion, I believe.

All religious denominations have importance, to me. I try to relate to them all, as well.

For example, the Dalai Lama, came to Okinawa once but, I missed him.

In case he ever returns, I'm practicing a little tune, to sing, when I shake his hand.

OK This Blog Is Supposed to Be About Okinawa

  

 

Well That's Where This Photo Originated

 

 

Now, it's hanging on a wall at a place called Sleepy Hollow in Athens, New York.

And, a photo of the framed image was emailed to me this morning.

Original Photo by: Chris Willson

The mail, came from my sister and, I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it with you.

" Mick, 48 years ago you walked me down the aisle.  The sunlight was shining on your picture this morning, so I snapped this one for you.

Love ya,

Kathleen"

Sort of Stunned

 

Big sisters don't lie to their younger brothers but, I did the math anyway.

It got me thinking.  Um, 48 years ago, I would have been 20 years old. 

I was in the USA, after a year visiting a place, formerly known as French Indochina.

And, I was walking my big sister down the isle because, somehow, I was the man of the house.

Later that year, I would return, to the place formerly known as French Indochina.

It was like some sort of crazy internship, I was going through and, I traveled a lot.

Out of six siblings, this sister and I, are the farthest apart, geographically speaking.

But, in hearts, minds and spirits, it's like she's standing right next to me, all the time.

Well, I didn't want to get all mushy so, I sent her a quick reply:

"Wow.  Happy Anniversary!  Being a guy, I don't remember stuff like anniversaries.

 But, you just reminded me.  I think my current, upcoming one, is next week August 5th."

Back to the Island of Okinawa

 Fast forward a few years and, I went to model as the fisherman again.

Chris Wilson, wanted to take, a much more dramatic shot, of the fisherman.

He shot this image of me, with my camera, while taking a break.

See the finished product and equipment, he used on the Travel 67 Blog.

If, you desire, to have a portrait taken, visit Chris, in Motobu, Okinawa.

Just, don't try to steal the part of Old Man of the Sea er, I'll come and spit in yer eye !

Guest Photo and Words from a Long Time Friend

Hilarious Email Arrived

 

 

Just before quitting time last night, my email went "PING."

It was from Myron Akana, a dude from Hawaii, who spends lots of weeks in Okinawa.

Subject: This One's for You !

Right away, I emailed him back, asking for permission, to use this photo and his text.

He replied, almost instantly and, saved me a buncha writing tonight.

Text of the Email

 

 

Haisai Mike!

I shot a photo yesterday that reminded me so much of you.  Rob "Okinawa Soba" Oeschle told me he learned a lot from you.  And I did too.  You taught me that good professional photographers shop for their equipment at...Home Depot.

Cheers!

Myron

Caption for the Photo

 

Ahhh, one of my sisters in the craft of photography! You can always tell the pros by (1) their multiple expensive and sophisticated cameras, (2) their multiple, sophisticated and BIG lenses, (3) their fancy flash attachments, even in bright sunlight, (4) their casual yet functional attire, complete with floppy hat and folding brim, (5) their huge gadget bags full of essential gear, and (6) their reckless courage to take whatever chances are necessary to get the perfect shot, such as standing on the top of a flimsy aluminum ladder...without any other signs of support. She makes me proud to be a professional photographer! LOL. Photographers...we stand out above the crowd!

Closing Comments

  

 The ladder would be more comfortable, is she wore flip-flops.

The story of how Myron and, I met in person is here. 

Flicker has more of Myron's and Okinawa Soba's photography.


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Photographer's Interview and an Excerpt on How I Nailed the Queen