A Jewish Dream

      I know ! A Jewish Dream ? How weird is that? I'm not even Jewish, but who cares.  So here it is: Suddenly I found myself in an apartment or house, couldn't really tell and i Was a teenager again wearing penny loafers which I did wear as a kid, and a long print dress, which I never wore. My hair was shoulder length and more curly at the bottom and I wore bangs. I never had bangs except as a five-year old.

     Well inside this home was gathering of a lot of people, all in their mid twenties to late thirties and me. Someone was missing, the old man. I didn't have any idea who the old man was or his relation to anyone yet. I walked around the people, looking and listening. Everyone was drinking, what they were drinking I couldn't tell. Glasses were clear. It was crowded and so much chatter was going on. Then the old man came in.
       He was so slender, wore a dark suit and shirt. He had a hat on and took it off when he came in. He was stooped over, but not sing a cane or walker. He was shaking his head and nodding, looking about. I went to him and asked why he was gone so long. Hands up he said, look, why would I want to be here? This is family ? We walked and sat at an old wooden table. I asked if he wanted something to eat. He took out another round hat and placed it on his head. He said, no, I cannot what they  have on plates, that every hand gas touched, so unclean.

      He asked me if I had a candle. I went to my room-oow I had a room-took out a candle, matches and gave to the old man. He lit the candle and said a prayer for family, old values and traditions. He took me to the refrigerator and showed me how the food was all scattered and then a hand reached around him grabbing lunch meat off a tray. The old man said, see, unclean. A man standing at the sink came to us and said hello dad, I'm happy you're here. Why said the old man, what is here for me anymore? look at what you have done to our Jewish family, traditions gone, dress gone, values gone, food gone. Have you forgot? The son looked sad, walked to the people in his home and asked everyone to leave. As they trailed out, he returned to his father and said, I'm sorry dad and I woke up as I was walking away in my dream.

Why We Date Who We Do !

       Some years ago a man told me if I sat in the middle of the room with all men, a handful would pick me out and they would never treat me as I deserve. I asked why. This guy who is a  minister of sorts and counselor, didn't charge people so he didn't have an ulterior motive. His answer was simple. He said because they can read you and know how you feel about yourself without even speaking.
      He asked me about marriage and did I pick out husbands or boyfriends. It was true, I never picked them out, they chose me, hence I am now single and for a very long time.
     So who are you dating and how are you treated? Are you so low on the totem pole that you think, well I've had so many partners this is who I deserve. BULL!!! What about the one you are seeing now? Is he or she someone who has also had many partners? Maybe you shouldn't wear white, but it doesn't mean you deserve to be treated like an old trash can. You're human and life goes by as fast as you snap your fingers.
     Man or woman if you continually get a person who treats you like last weeks news, run, run fast.
     Men will say, oh she's nothing but a whore, so what does that make him? They will also say she's a great girl yet treat her like crap, so what's wrong with him and why do you take it? It's still a double-standard game.
     It works the other way too. Some women get the nicest guy in the world, marry them and a few years later treat him like a septic system. He's good for his paycheck, but not much else and suddenly the nice she she loved has become a weak mouse of a man because he won't argue with her and stand his ground. Then the kids even disrespect him and that too works both ways, so figure it all out before you get married, before you get engaged and definitely before you ring kids into the world who are trying to figure out what kind of people they model after..I accept donations to Doozybags through paypal for my wonderful advice :) Really. Hey life gets shorter by the second at my age.
    Maggieshelpcenter
    

Children's Values, THINGS or PEOPLE

        If you are about to become  a new parent, please teach your children about the value in people not things. I don't want to preach here, yet I guess I am. When it comes to gifts children get, and clothes they wear, their values are all inside out and upside down.
        It's never too late. It really isn't and may be hard to take away that gaming hand held device you bought "because all the kids have them" which doesn't make sense and you want a child who is a carbon copy or do you? Start now. A day a week, then two then three and finally it's one day a week they get to use them.
       Yes, it's rough if you work or are a single parent who comes home dog-tired and you don't want to do anything with your child as far as entertainment, so here are a few helps:
     Have cards or game night. Start early, make sandwiches for supper, egg salad, tune, or pb&j on that night. You can even invite another neighbor child over and you can rest.
     Have a library night or day, mid-week and Saturday. Saturdays the library usually has something going on, like reading dogs and I know age makes a difference.
    Look into knitting for all ages and if you can't afford it, look into meet-up groups in your neighborhood. Just go to yahoo or google, search  meet-up groups.
    Church: many have mid week bible studies and teen groups that don't seem and aren't bible thumping as many might think.
     Start walking the high school track, or biking on a trail. Biking doesn't have to be expensive. Check out TOMY brands. An ad should be listed and shown. All positive suggestions. Outdoors and exercise go hand in hand with fun and freedom.
    Buy a camera-let him or her learn early on appreciating what's around them and let them enter contests.

    Teach your kids to help neighbors and at recycling places, food banks
become a hospital junior volunteer.
     Get in touch with a close friend and ask for help and suggestions.
Most of all get them a hobby, painting, carpentry, knitting, guitar, writing (which is free) and let them read a good book. Good luck, I know it isn't easy.
     Food, easy tip ideas: Make a crock pot of stew, two night meals and later a crick of chicken breasts. You can make on tottilla wraps shredded chicken with lettuce and tomato, or rice, chicken and beans with leftovers.
    Buy a kids health cook book and use it in a way to arrange short cuts in your own way.