Stories by Arkie John......

Re: :usaflag:Shadow of Less

Cupajo — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:35:06 -0600

Hi AJ,

You've touched us where we live!!

You and I know there is only one answer to the "shadows" and that is to turn to "The Light"!

God's Blessings on you and your family Friend!

CJ

Arkie John, this is outstanding! :)N/T

Kelley (Texas) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:57:32 -0600

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Excellent Arkie... gives a true feeling for our mortalityN/T

Mikie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:32:25 -0600

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BTTN/T

Wayne in BC — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:47:56 -0600

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Wow! ...........

Wayne in BC — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:27:51 -0600

Nice AJ, well done my friend! :thumbup:

:usaflag:Shadow of Less

Arkie John — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:23:03 -0600

Shadow of Less

Living in shadow we cheat ourselves,
From life thats meant to be,
Long before the clock strikes twelve,
We die too soon, begrudgingly.

The honesty approach, best to fashion,
For our hearts to survive,
And if we love with unbridled passion,
We gain the closeness that we strive.

Looking at you from arms length now,
Gives me true perspective.
Heart and soul in unison, bow,
To our Maker, so receptive.

Tried and true, I reach for more,
Breathing you in at every breath.
Ever so deeply, my pulsating core,
Yearns for you and your caress.

So come to me, my love of life,
Live in shadow no more.
Come to me and shed the strife,
Walk on through the open door.

Where will we be this time next year,
In shadow of the trance?
To the floor we go, drawing each so near,
The elusive, but predestined dance.

We thank each one of you for your condolences. Y'all mean a lot to us. AJN/T

Arkie John — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:58:18 -0600

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Sorry to read this Arkie, the poem says is all..N/T

Ron J — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:12:01 -0600

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Arkie John, sorry to hear about the lost of your Brother..............

Kelley (Texas) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:43:43 -0600

While you and your family have suffered a great loss, you can find comfort in knowing that your Brother is now in a better place. A prayer has been said and you folks will be in my daily thoughts. Kelley (Texas) :)

I will give the family everyone's best at Thanksgiving Tomorrow

Arkie John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:17:03 -0600

Each of you have a blessed say, fer sur.

AJ

Sorry to hear that John. My condolences to all of youN/T

Royal — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:14:58 -0600

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Condolences to the family....N/T

ojm bc — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:02:40 -0600

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A heartfelt poem....and our sincere sympathy and best wishes to you all AJ.N/T

Wayne in BC — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:28:50 -0600

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Please pass my deepest sympathies on to your family.N/T

George-CT — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:29:36 -0600

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May your God always be with you and comfort you, AJ.N/T

bdahunter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:15:02 -0600

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So sorry to hear that Arkie...

Mikie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:27:17 -0600

Not much can be said... other than.. May God bless you and help you over this.

Say hello to Linda and Tom for us.

hope to have you back soon

calm seas, fair winds

Micheal

:usaflag:Pike County Clay

Arkie John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:46:22 -0600

Hey folks. I know it's been a while. Linda (Sunny), Tom (Lil' Brother) and myself buried our oldest brother today. After I got home, I sat down at the computer and this little diddy came spewing out...and I just wanted to share it with all my friends here on the forum. The well has been dry for some time now...and that's why I have not been posting. However the poetry is coming around. Guess I'm a Leonard Cohen junkie and wannabe lol.

Please share in my heart of hearts. <><

AJ

Pike County Clay

We rolled along the highway into the autumn sun
Seeking to be settled once the task was done,
To comfort the family at the end of the day,
We buried our oldest brother in the Pike County clay.

At seventy-five years, still too young to go,
Searching for the stories I was never to know
I wanted more time to seek and more time to pray
But all too soon I was standing there on Pike County clay.

Ive wondered of the other life he had
We sharing our daddy, but a different dad.
Countless insipid figures emerging from the haze,
I met them one by one today on Pike County Clay.

The preacher preached his sermon that no one seemed to hear
They all remembered my brother, the seller of the beer
Smiling at the attempt the preacher tried to say
"The friend to all who would live on Pike County clay."

The deed was done on that November afternoon
Friends leaving his grieving widow all too soon.
I prayed for Gods comfort to linger there and stay
As they lowered his weathered body into the Pike County clay.

Going back it was silent, thoughts running deep
Of a mans life of living, seemingly incomplete
I wondered of the day that I could truly say
I would return with my heart to the Pike County Clay

The widows love as gravity, and all love must fall
From the old schoolhouse bell and then the wailing wall
She summons up her grit and heart to answered prayers that day
To begin anew as friend to all on Pike County clay.

We buried my brother todayin Pike County clay.

Re: You can bet you will remember it and

Arkie John — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:22:11 -0600

You know, Royal, I try to live each day as if there were no tomorrow. Some days I do that okay. Others, I fail miserably. But you are correct. It' didn't cost me an arm and a leg to make the old saint feel that she had worth. How cool is it to really be on the giving end?????

I know about the weight issue. Since the divorce, I am 40 pounds lighter. I walk eight miles almost every night right now until I get to my goal of 180. I have about 12 pounds to go. Then, I cut back to an every-other-day-maintenance-routine thangy. I'll do whatever it takes to keep my weight between 175 and 185. It is surprising how it makes you feel to be 40 pounds lighter!!!

Thanks for your post, buddy.

aj

Mike, thank you for your post

Arkie John — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:44:27 -0600

I keep you two close to my heart. One day Linda and I will get up there. We just have to get her well before she can travel.

Take care,

AJ

You can bet you will remember it and

Royal — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:35:02 -0600

the feeling it gave you, at least as long as she will. People remember those kindnesses.

Every time I start thinking things are going badly I just look around. I gave a friend a ride home last week, I avoided him generally because he was the type that just never knew how to have a conversation, he just talked at you and never even listened to what you had to say. It was easier to just avoid him.

He had no drivers licence and needed a ride so I offered. As he got out of the truck and thanked me I told him I would wait until he entered his little rented home. He was about a hundred and 20 lbs over weight and as he walked off I wondered why the heck he had not walked home for the exercise. A heart attack waiting to happen.

Well two days later he was found in his yard, dead. Heart attack :( Bruce was a nice guy but I avoided him because of the way he made me feel. People are attracted to people by not what they do for them but how they make them feel.

You have a friend for life now, no matter if you ever see her again, you made her feel good and in turn you are now a better friend to yourself for the same reason. She was there for a reason...

Heartwarming... uplifting... a delight to read..

Mikie — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:21:46 -0500

And all the more so since it is not only a lesson and parable... it happened to you!! :thumbup:

say hello to Tom and Linda for me..

Fair winds

Micheal

Re: AJ i am so glad to see............

Arkie John — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:43:07 -0500

...and Wayne, you give me forum to share it. Thanks so much!

aj

AJ i am so glad to see............

Wayne in BC — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:42:16 -0500

your excellent story of life! You have a way of touching ones heart:thumbup:

:usaflag: I Met an Angel Today

Arkie John — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:44:42 -0500

I Met An Angel Today

It was 6:30 in the afternoon. I had just completed my shopping and was coming out of the store with a cart holding four bags of goods and a boquet of lillies. I parked the cart inside, as I noticed there weren't too many left for other patrons. After finally grabbing my bags all in my left hand and the lillies in my right, I turned toward the door to exit, only to see this frail, petite little old lady shuffleing ever so slowly toward the door.

My bags contained a gallon of mild and a halfpgallon CranGrape juice--and they were heavy. Not wanting to wait until my next birthday for the little lady to pass, I was easing past the silver-haired old saint, giving her plenty of room to spare. As I was almost out of there and gone for good, I heard her say with a gentle voice, "Oh! Are THOSE for ME???"

I stopped in my tracks, feeling a little guilty for not waiting for her to go first, like my daddy always taught me. Looking directly at her, my eyes beheld an eighties-something little lady with pale skin, fairly short hair and a big friendly smile. Her baby-blue eyes pierced my soul with a twinkle and let me know that she was a lonely, kind-hearted sort who loved lifewhat was left of it. Her smile was warm and genuine, her fading eyes wide...accepting my surprised look.

"Oh, dear, these things are just to make my house look more cozy. I don't mind so much being alone, but I don't want the house to shout out to a coming special visitor, 'Hey, an old bachelor lives here.' " I continued, "One DOES live there but I don't want it to be so painfully obvious." She laughed a life-giving laugh. I nodded my head 'goodbye' and was on my way to the truck when it happened.

My spirit was just hammered about 20 feet from the truck. I thought back to the encounter. My conscience screamed, "Don't you know she wishes she was twenty again and receiving flowers from beaus? Is she not thinking of the times her now-deceased husband gave her flowers...and the unlikely probability of her ever gettin more?" The hammering continued, "Just how long do you think it's been since anyone has expressed simple, sweet love to her?" My spirit now being at the complete mercy of my conscience, the final two blows came rapid fire: "You think YOU are alone. I ask; what would drive a complete stranger to engage you in direct conversation?"

Okay, okay! I knew what I wanted to do. I circled the parking lot two times looking for the little lady, but could not find her anywhere! She could not have been more than a hundred feet from the front of the store, as slow as she progressed. "I have failed the test," I thought. "Do unto others..." I had NOT because I was wrapped up in my own selfish thoughts. I felt defeated and ashamed at my displayed self-centeredness.

I made my third trip through the lot, scanning back and forth and then I locked on to this same little old ancient lady..the same one with the cart with the aluminum walking cane thingy inside. I was almost giddy that I had my second chance!

I parked the truck directly across from her. It became obvious that she and two others were probably from one of the assested-living centers around town. Their driver was in her forties, I estimated. She looked dutifully bored. I took the lillies with my right hand and exited the truck. I was still ten yards away when she spied me and the flowers. Her face flashed me another big smile. "Ma'am, would you do me the honor of accepting these?" I held them out to her and she looked up at me, her blue eyes brimming. "Oh dear one, you are so sweet. They ARE most beautiful, you know." "No, dear; YOU are most beautiful." She took my left hand with her pale cold-to-the-touch grip. "Bless you indeed, young man," she said. "I should have given these to you at the door. I have the ability to get more and I'd just love for them to brighten up your coming days. Remember dear, God Himself made them and is fully responsible for any blessings you might receive--including the joy from His creation this afternoon.

She just grinned now having both of her feeble little hands on my left hand. She just shook my hand with all she could muster, I think. With that, I stepped away from her and her friends. I had forgotten how special it is to give--moreso than to receive. Over the last several months, I have been selfish, being all-consumed in my divorce proceedings. I had completely lost sight and had only been taking-taking-taking and feeling all-too sorry for myself for all-too long.

There are so many lonely souls out there. For once--one of them will not be so lonely for a few days.

I really wanted purple flowers anyway. :) Blessings abound and life is good.
**************

Thanks for coming along, folk.

Arkie John

This is not really supposed to focus on me treating a little old lady special, although that DID happen. It's really about the power of giving. It really is a special blessing to be on the giving end. aj

I bet the butt chewing didn't compare to the thrill of the beach

Royal — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:28:34 -0500

The problem is, not all that many people look good naked! I am sorry but there are not that many Pam Andersons out there. I was on Bonaire and there was a guy my age wearing a THONG! That horrible impression will be burned on my mind for all the rest of my years. I suspect he thought he was sexy though :D

I saw a girl walking through town yesterday with one of those outfits that shows the bare belly, a belly button with a ring in it. That buffalo should have been wearing a Moomoo but she thought she was sexy. My god!!:surprised:

Thanks for an interesting story John!!

My neighbor just shot a 20lb Tom today

See? Told ya it was a good story!!! My how he has changed in his old age! :rofl: But he and Lil Brother are still my

Sunny — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:05:22 -0500

favorite fishin' buddies! :) ILY, Bro

Why, Mikie, I see, from your post, that you have your OWN way with words as well. :lol:

Arkie John — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:03:19 -0500

Yup, I related that story to Linda the other day and she said, "Have you written that story yet?" "No." "Well, you ought to."

So, I did. There was so much more to that mission but one has to be careful to rein in his desires sometimes. After all--this a STORY forum...not a BOOK forum. :lol:

aj

Arkie... you do have a way with words... :):

Mikie — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:52:46 -0500

Superb tale and funny to boot. I will bet writing that brough more than one smile to your face.. What with all those mammer...... er memories around you.

Fair winds

Mikie

Oh,someday, maybe. It's one I'm saving for whenever I think the well is going dry (again). :lol:N/T

Arkie John — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:49:59 -0500

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Re: Ron!! As Linda would say, "Go to your room." :lol:

Cupajo — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:33:13 -0500

So AJ,

Whwn do we get that story?:devil: