Category Archives: Uncategorized
Thursday July 21 2016 SEVERE STORMS
Thursday July 21 2016 SEVERE STORMS
Sorry readers, but there will be no blog tonight. It is partially written but computer is going in and out due to thunder and lightning storms. It is a doozy. Hopefully I will be able to post it in the morning. Here is an older poem for you. Tonight’s poem is already written but will refrain from sending it until the blog is completed as it is part of the blog.
I chose this one at random and it seems appropriate due to the ferocity of what wages around me this night.
AND MORNING COMES
By Kathleen Martens
November 18 2012
When night seems endless
Our spirit defenseless
Our sorrows overwhelm us
Our soul in fuss.
And our heart cries out
In muted shout
As unending hours
Deplete our power.
And darkness seems so thick
As if walled by brick
How to escape this lonesome space
As the hours run in place.
When the end seems near
Yet light does not appear
We remember who we are
Child of God who is never far.
And we cry out — “Lord come to me”
And from out distress He sets us free.
By our side sits His son
We open our eyes and morning comes.
Thank You God for protecting us this night during this noisy story. I can here the sirens.
Thank You God for Your protection.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU. MAY YOUR NIGHT BE SAFE.
NOT PROOFREAD OR COLORIZED
Thursday July 7 2016 SAD NEWS IN THE NEWS
Thursday July 7 2016 SAD NEWS IN THE NEWS
Regardless who dies, how they die, where they die, what color they are, or what age they are, it is always sorrowful for me to hear about their death. Dave is my bearer of sad news due to the fact that at present I have no minutes in which to watch or listen to news. He told me tonight that three back men were killed by white police officers in the past day or two. Whatever the circumstances, it grieves me. And of course there are discrepancies about the events leading up to the shootings. I can make no judgment calls due to the fact that I wasn’t there and do not know the circumstances.
Policemen live under high alert at all times. When they are in uniform their life is on the line. Any wrong or erroneous move by someone pulled over, or with whom the officer confronts, is a possible death sentence for the officer. I am not making excuses except to say that part of the responsibility of a safe outcome when a police officer confronts you is to be taught and remember how to respond. It makes no difference as to why you were pulled over, be it for questioning or for a traffic ticket, or even if running from a police officer who is in pursuit, it is imperative to know how to respond to verbal commands IMMEDIATELY. Make no quick moves, allow your hands to be seen at all times, be respectful, and always tell the policeman where your license is, and have permission to obtain it.
The reason I bring up the above information is because Dave said one of the men was reaching into a pocket *(remember this is 4th hand) when he was shot. Were his hand(s) visible at all times? This scenario was commented on by someone concerned about the killings of black men and said that only black men have to be instructed on how to be confronted, keeping hands visible, moving slowly, telling the police officer what you are doing, and obeying everything the officer says. The man went on to say that white people do not have to instruct their children in such a manner. I would beg to differ with that comment.
Before our children acquired their driver’s license we went over and over the protocol of what to do and not to do if they were ever pulled over by a police officer. We stressed to our son to turn the motor off, keep both hands on the steering wheel, visible at all times, look the police officer in the eye, answer all questions truthfully, and show respect. We also told him to let him the police officer know where he had to reach to obtain his driver’s license leaving the other hand visible on the wheel and not to make any quick or sudden moves, and by all means, DO NOT TRY TO EXIT THE CAR. We are white. We had the conversation with our children more than once.
And of course it happened. Our son was pulled over by a police officer. If I remember correctly it was on a Friday night and our son was out later than our town’s curfew for those under 18. Yes, curfews still exist, or at least they did 21 years ago when he started driving. It was between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. and we had given him permission to attend an event with a date and she lived in town. He was pulled over close to the railroad tracks. He reported to us that he did EXACTLY as we had instructed him. He was asked many questions which he answered succinctly and honestly. The officer shined his light in all the crevices and dark corners of the vehicle. The police officer must have been quite impressed with his behavior because he asked our son why he behaved the way he did. And, our son informed the officer that his parents had instructed him how to behave in the course of such an event. I guess the police officer realized that this kid had parental involvement and was on the right track. I don’t remember if our son was instructed to leave the vehicle or not, but he was allowed to go on his way and did not get a ticket for driving after curfew. WHEW!
What does our son do for a living? He has been a police officer for the past 17 years. He will be finishing up law school next year and perhaps will no longer be in uniform. With the volatility of the world and what he confronts daily, personally, I will be glad for him.
Parents even if your children have been driving awhile please pass this information along. Prepare your children in the event that they are pulled over by a police officer so that they will know how to handle themselves in such a situation. The least thing that could happen is that your child will not receive a ticket, the greatest thing to happen is that it just might save their life.
TEACH THEM
By Kathleen Martens
July 7, 2016
So much to learn when growing up,
So much to remember day by day.
Prepare your children how to behave
When circumstance don’t go their way.
Foreshadow your offspring for future events
That they will not be caught unaware.
Teach them behavior they need to know
So they understand the protocol when there.
Oh God, thank You for every day of protection over our son.
Thank You Lord for Your protection over his family.
Lord, protect our country’s police officers and give them wisdom in all situations.
Lord thank You that You care for all lives for we are all made in Your likeness.
And thank God that ALL LIVES MATTER!
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU
*4TH HAND ACCOUNT
The police officer’s account.
The first responder’s account.
The reporter’s account.
My husbands interpretation.
My explanation to you makes it 5th hand.
My comment is: We don’t really know the facts as they happened and perhaps it is best to not prematurely judge.
Thursday June 23, 2016 ON OUR WAY TO 44
Thursday June 23 2016 ON OUR WAY TO 44
Our 43rd anniversary lived in a blur. But at least it was a long blur. Up at 4:45 a.m. and all the signs were posted by 7:00 a.m. I’ll either never forget this anniversary or by the end of the garage sale I will have forgotten the entire past three days for my own self preservation. And if I succeed (in self preservation) tomorrow we will be on our way to number 44.
The grandsons were dropped off about 5:30 p.m. and we were still helping customers. We did a night out on the town which meant eating at Subway, then to MacDonald’s for about a one hour play time on MacDonald’s inside playground, topped off by a soft-serve cone. And the day is almost over. And I am so tired I can barely type. My sister just called as I finished writing the last sentence. She wanted to see if I was still alive. Barely.
My right shoulder is totally useless. I can barely type. So will cut this short.
TO ANOTHER IT IS NEW
By Kathleen Martens
June 23, 2016
I am so tired
I can barely think.
I need a soft bed
In which to sink.
Long and interesting
The day pressed forward,
And now to bed
I’m pressing toward.
And the dollars dribbled in,
I care not to count.
Or even to discover
The total amount.
I must save my energy
To last two more days,
And then I’ll discover
If it was worth the pay.
I received pennies
On the dollar.
But it’s not the lack of profit
That makes me holler.
The greatest joy
I do believe
Is knowing others will love
What they receive.
And better yet still
As I bid my goods adieu,
That though to me my treasure was old,
To another, it is now new.
Thank You God for one day down and only two more to go.
Thank You for Your protection throughout this day.
Lord, I give You thanks ahead of time for the healing you will bring to my shoulder.
Thank You Lord for jalapeño peppers.
Visions of Poetry 