Reed's Remember Real Values

Remember real values? You know the kind. You always looked to help others, thanked God for your blessings and were proud to be an American. Today, too many values have gone by the wayside. Too many are concerned about 'what's in it for me?'. Please, thank-you, yes ma'am and 'staying together for the sake of the kids' are gone.

What happened? Why are there so many children growing up without both parents in the same house? Why do so many want the government to provide them with a 'comfortable' living? What happened to safe communities where children could grow up without worrying about school shootings, the dangers of 'dusting' or getting pregnant at 13?

I guess I'm on my soap box. I hear far more talk about self-gratification and entertainment and doing what seems right to the individual rather than simply doing what is right. Please take the time to instill in every facet of your life ...

'doing what is right'!

Reed's Remember August

Remember how hot August can be? You know what I'm talking about. Days so hot that even with air conditioning you're still wet when you've dried off from a shower! The heat beats down and turns the road ahead a shimmering furnace. Summer heat is here and it's hot - day after day in the 90's with humidity that high.


I remember these days as a kid. It didn't matter if it was hot or not, you still went outside and played. It meant popsicles, sprinklers, going to the beach and (yech) weeding the garden (which it was REALLY hot doing that). We didn't have air conditioning growing up and the nights were just as hot. But, listening to the crickets and toads were a summer symphony that I still enjoy.

August meant finishing up on the last of the green beans and picking that first ear of fresh sweetcorn. Every summer my mom, both grandmothers, one of my grandfathers, brother and I would do corn. That meant picking wheelbarrows full of fresh corn and taking them up to the house. Then we'd all stand around and shuck ear after ear. All this yellow gold was carried down into our basement and my mom would put the ears into a steamy hot pot to let it slowly boil. My job was to take the hot ears and plunge them into ice water in the sink and let them cool. I'd pull them out and hand them to one of my grandmothers, they would cut the corn off the cob and stuff them into freezer containers. Mom's freezer would be full of summer goodies by now - raspberries, cherries, blue berries, green beans and now corn! We'd feast all winter on the bounties of summer.

So, this August remember your last days of fun before school started and how you survived the heat. Those days were hot, but a lot of fun. Maybe even try and see if that egg really will cook on the hood of your car!

© 2007 RRW

Reed's Remember Braces

Remember braces? Medal wires, head gear with rubber bands, retainers and pictures of what will happen if you don’t brush? You thought for sure that with all that hardware you would be able to tune into any local radio station and hear your favorite tunes. Just like Gilligan on Gilligan’s Isle (if you don’t know, just ask).

You suffered all through the name calling – brace face, tin can, wire mouth, can opener and railroad tracks. All of your school pictures during that time show a nice, broad, tight lipped smile. Every time you met someone of the opposite sex you were worried the remnants of your baloney sandwich were still stuck between the metal ties. So not only did they think you didn’t like them because you did not smile, but you were cursing at them since you mumbled “hiigh, mie numm es …”.

I always thought surely I would meet some cute girl AND she would have braces. Of course, I worried about getting our braces locked together and having to be rescued by the fire department. But, I worried for nothing. That girl and I never met, let alone get our braces caught.

Today they have all these neat things – clear braces, colored tie bands and you start out earlier. No fair. Braces are supposed to look like an Erector Set, not some cool new ToothPod. Oh well, just remember your smile sure looks a lot better – just remember to tell your face.

© 2007 RRW

Reed's Remember Real French Fries

Do you remember real French fries? I don’t mean the kind you get in most restaurants today. I mean the kind that you used to get – cooked with all that good, bad, and delicious fat filled oil. The fries were crisp, golden and had salt on them. Today they are usually brown (over done), have the taste of cardboard and little to no salt.

You say, ‘what about being health conscious and no transfat?’ I say, so what. In moderation who cares. You shouldn’t eat them everyday, then or now. But with that juicy bacon cheeseburger and large Coke, what else will do? Order the large fries now and then. Dip them in ketchup, cheese, chili, vinegar or whatever makes your mouth water.

We're so worried about what a little fat will do. That is what makes food taste so good. Just be smart and watch what you eat, park farther from the Wal-Mart entrance and go for a walk with your sweetie. You'll enjoy yourself more and those fries will be so much better.

So, let's not use healthy oils and go back to the good stuff. I don't want to remember great fries; I want to eat great fries!

© 2007 RRW

Reed's Remember 8 Tiny Reindeer

Do you remember 8 tiny reindeer? This is really a quiz. Give yourself an A+ if you realized there are 9 tiny reindeer! Ok, sing with me ... now you know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen but do you reccaaallllll the most famous reindeer of aallll - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ...

See, I knew you remembered. Be glad you didn't have to sit here and listen to me sing! It would be enough to make any reindeer fly. LOL

Here are some interesting reindeer facts compiled by students from a second grade class:

- A full grown reindeer can run between 12 and 15 miles an hour pulling a loaded sleigh. They can do this for many hours.
- Reindeer can carry up to 300 pounds. This is the same as they weigh.
- The fur of the reindeer turns a light color in the winter and a darker color in the summer (no wonder I've never seen them, they're camouflaged).
- Reindeer are about 3 1/2 feet tall. That is about as tall as a second grade student.

Here are some facts compiled by me about reindeer:

- They like a mixture of 1 C. of oatmeal, 1 C. of sugar, and 1/2 C. of glitter.
- They also like carrots, but never completely eat a whole one (usually they leave small pieces behind with teeth marks).
- Rudolph's nose can be seen in a Force 10 storm.
- Cupid is harnessed behind Vixen (how else would you do it?) and Blitzen is last in the team due to a flatulence problem (this way only Santa suffers and he's in and out of the sleigh anyway).

So this Christmas when you hear that famous song, remember these few interesting facts!
© 2006 RRW

Reed's Remember Full Service Gas Stations

Remember full service gas stations? You know the kind. As you drive in to the station you run over the black hose lying across the island area and the bell goes off - ding, ding. You don't have to worry about which side of the car the gas tank is on since it is in the back hidden behind the license plate.

No matter the weather - rain, freezing snow or bright sunshine the attendant greets you at your window and says, "Fill 'er up?" "Yes" you reply. It doesn't matter which kind since it's all leaded anyway and only those will really fast cars use 'Super.' He checks under your hood - oil, washer & brake fluid and the radiator. Your windows are washed. All this for no extra change, imagine that.

The pump is one of those with the white numbers that rotate and most likely you pay with a $20 and you get lots of change back! AND, yes folks - you usually received some kind of promotional item. I remember getting Apollo Mission coins, Detroit Lions glasses and even black Formica salad bowls (well, my parents actually got them as I watched from the back seat).

What do you remember getting from your gas station?

Reed's Remember Safe Schools

Remember when you or your kids could feel safe in school? What's going on!?!! Why in the world would anyone want to enter a school and kill innocent children? This Remember When is not one of my happy found memories. It is to mention the evil and sadness that has set across the nation.

In the last month, there has been four school shootings in rural Amercia! That's right, rural Amercia. Not down town big city. Six children and two adults died. The most recent one in Pennsylvania Amish country ended with five girls ranging in age from 6-13. It wrenches your inner being and brings tears to your heart. My own daughter is just eight years old. I can not fathom the pain and hurt the parents must be going through.

So, I ask you to go to God in prayer tonight. Pray for the families, pray for the man's wife who murdered those innocent girls, and pray for this nation. Get on your knees and ask that this evil stop and spare our children!