Barometer Soup For The Parrot Head Soul

[PHAW Webmistress]

Could someone pass the tissues please?

[Grams]

Great thread to read on Easter Sunday... Someone please pass me a tissue...

[East Texas Parrothead]

I love this thread too. Great idea, and thanks for getting it started. I have to admit to being a little "misty" right now too.

Hey, buddy. Not to hijack the thread, but what about that race yesterday? In the snow? 18 degrees? Yipes. Tuft was amazing and I was so proud of McCarty ... now ... back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[RinglingRingling]

I also have this one. For you old-timers, just skip right on through. I know you've heard it before, but TR asked us to post our BN-related stories. Here's one of mine.

My father was killed in Korea. He was a Sabre Jet fighter pilot. I was 18 months old. He is buried at the Punchbowl (National Cemetery of the Pacific) in Honolulu.

My mother remarried and built a new life for us. My stepfather was a great man, but I had a lot of unfinished business with my mother and the way she refused to talk about my father.

One Veterans' Day, I got a phone call. I believe it was 2003, but I can't be sure. I just know it was Veterans' Day. I picked up the phone and heard sobbing on the other end. It took a while, but I finally figured out our own SchoolGirlHeart was on the other end. When she recovered a little bit, she said,

"Guess where I am?"

I said, "I don't have a clue."

She said, "I'm standing at your father's grave."

She was on duty in Waikiki and had taken time from her day off to go to the cemetery and find my father's burial site.

Needless to say, it was a random act of kindness that I'll never forget or will *ever* be able to repay.

There's more.

When she got home, SGH sent me several links to websites for Korean War vets ... and one of them had a photo of my father that I had never seen ...



I even found the flight surgeon who worked the crash that killed my father and 172 other men. We talked and corresponded. He lives in Arizona.

Through one of the websites, I obtained the flight surgeon's report on my father. It might sound gruesome, but reading the form really gave me a lot of closure.

I also found men who had served with my father. They called and emailed and told me that I came from "good stock."

I *made* my mother go to Hawaii at the end of January (after Veterans' Day in November of 2003) ... we had business to finish ... and guess who picked us up at the Waikiki airport? You got it. Our own SGH. We drove up to the cemetery, cracked open some Scotch, vodka and tequila and toasted the old man right there under a rainbow.

Oh, yeah. And we saw Jimmy at the Waikiki Shell that night and then at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center two nights later.

There's been a lot of healing in my heart since that phone call.

Gotta love BuffettNews for so many reasons.

God Bless our SGH...she's one in a million and I'm happy to be part of her world.

just as an aside.. that is a nice Canadian Billiard he has there.. gives him that rakehell fighter jock look.

[pbans]

I also have this one. For you old-timers, just skip right on through. I know you've heard it before, but TR asked us to post our BN-related stories. Here's one of mine.

My father was killed in Korea. He was a Sabre Jet fighter pilot. I was 18 months old. He is buried at the Punchbowl (National Cemetery of the Pacific) in Honolulu.

My mother remarried and built a new life for us. My stepfather was a great man, but I had a lot of unfinished business with my mother and the way she refused to talk about my father.

One Veterans' Day, I got a phone call. I believe it was 2003, but I can't be sure. I just know it was Veterans' Day. I picked up the phone and heard sobbing on the other end. It took a while, but I finally figured out our own SchoolGirlHeart was on the other end. When she recovered a little bit, she said,

"Guess where I am?"

I said, "I don't have a clue."

She said, "I'm standing at your father's grave."

She was on duty in Waikiki and had taken time from her day off to go to the cemetery and find my father's burial site.

Needless to say, it was a random act of kindness that I'll never forget or will *ever* be able to repay.

There's more.

When she got home, SGH sent me several links to websites for Korean War vets ... and one of them had a photo of my father that I had never seen ...



I even found the flight surgeon who worked the crash that killed my father and 172 other men. We talked and corresponded. He lives in Arizona.

Through one of the websites, I obtained the flight surgeon's report on my father. It might sound gruesome, but reading the form really gave me a lot of closure.

I also found men who had served with my father. They called and emailed and told me that I came from "good stock."

I *made* my mother go to Hawaii at the end of January (after Veterans' Day in November of 2003) ... we had business to finish ... and guess who picked us up at the Waikiki airport? You got it. Our own SGH. We drove up to the cemetery, cracked open some Scotch, vodka and tequila and toasted the old man right there under a rainbow.

Oh, yeah. And we saw Jimmy at the Waikiki Shell that night and then at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center two nights later.

There's been a lot of healing in my heart since that phone call.

Gotta love BuffettNews for so many reasons.

God Bless our SGH...she's one in a million and I'm happy to be part of her world.

just as an aside.. that is a nice Canadian Billiard he has there.. gives him that rakehell fighter jock look.

at first glance, I thought it was Tom Hanks......
what an incredible story.....I am so glad you were able to get things put together....amazing what a little love and luck will do!

[PackPhanGirl]

These stories could easily be compiled for a book! What a fantastic thread! Thanks TR, Great job!

[SchoolGirlHeart]

These stories could easily be compiled for a book! What a fantastic thread! Thanks TR, Great job!

I know just the editor...... Oh, ETPPPPP!!!

TR, this is *such* a wonderful thread! Thank you!!!

[tikitatas]

Thank you, Dan.

[East Texas Parrothead]

These stories could easily be compiled for a book! What a fantastic thread! Thanks TR, Great job!

I know just the editor...... Oh, ETPPPPP!!!

TR, this is *such* a wonderful thread! Thank you!!!

I think this is an EXCELLENT idea ... wonder if we could get Jimmy's blessings for the project ... we could give the profits to charity.

I do know a publisher who owes me a favor ...

Oh, don't ya just love it when a plan comes together?

[Tiki Bar]

Could someone pass the tissues please?

uh huh...

Happy Easter

The Empty Egg
By: Author Unknown

Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher. One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."

Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?

As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy. From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him.

"I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face burned red. She stammered, "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take your seat."

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically-all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arm. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too." Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine." Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, "My daddy helped me," he beamed.

Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty. Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty." He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."

Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up."

The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the schoolyard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.

Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket....... all of them empty.

[carolinagirl]

Great thread... and great NAME for the thread, too!!!

[Wino you know]

NIce stories, one and all.

WOW!

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I think this is an EXCELLENT idea ... wonder if we could get Jimmy's blessings for the project ... we could give the profits to charity.

I do know a publisher who owes me a favor ...

Oh, don't ya just love it when a plan comes together?

Bet he would, for charity...

[East Texas Parrothead]

NIce stories, one and all.

WOW!

(((Garry)))) I got so wrapped up in the SGH story ... I phorgot to mention how you, also, took time from your own trip to Hawaii to visit my dad's grave.

The kindness of my BN buddies is infinite.

[Wino you know]

(((Garry)))) I got so wrapped up in the SGH story ... I phorgot to mention how you, also, took time from your own trip to Hawaii to visit my dad's grave.

I was glad to do it.

[springparrot]

I have a story to add.

I had just lost my Daddy in March 2002, but we went to the Dallas show in April 2002....Larry bought the tickets while I was still staying with my Mother.
The show was incredible---what JB show isn't and I could finally forget my sorrows for awhile.
The next to last encore was Lovely Cruise.
Everyone around us was singing and enjoying the song, but I was standing there sobbing. I guess it finally hit me that Daddy was gone. I had cried before, but this was different.
When we got home, I posted about crying during the song and I was still a newbie---if you go to the set list, I had just hit 200 posts.
About the next person to post was Amy Lee. She explained she had requested Jimmy play Steamer for Pam, The Volcano Lady, who was dying. Jimmy couldn't play Steamer, but he played Lovely Cruise.
I wasn't the only one crying, Amy said she was too while she was playing because she knew it was being played for Pam and they were good friends. I think it was later that week, that Pam died, and Amy played at her funeral.

And I got my first PM from FreddyFishStick....I was such a newbie, I didn't know what a PM was. LOL
Freddy was telling me he had just lost his Dad and if I ever needed to talk, he was there for me.

Just when I needed people, total strangers were there for me.
Thank you, BuffettNews for helping me get through an awful time in my life.

[SMLCHNG]

This was difficult for me. I've tried to post this several times. But when I do I just cry, so typing isn't easy..

I'm the youngest of five children. We've had our ups and downs. Never perfect, but I loved my family unconditionally.

My oldest brother Dan was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2001. He was my closest sibling. We laughed and related to so many things with the same mindset.

Knowing he wouldn't have much time left, my father and I traveled from CO to IL to see him in late 2002. Knowing, but not admitting, that this would probably be our last time to see him alive. Zero Duval (my SON!! helped to keep me distracted on a night out in Chicago while this was going on.


On February 3rd, 2003, at 3:00 in the afternoon, I lost my brother. 3 was always a 'good' number for me. As my birthday is February 3rd.

I remember when I came back from my birthday lunch with a friend that day.... I used to post from work a lot then.... Jeep Girl asked me how my birthday was. I told her it was nice so far.. but I just got the call that my brother Dan had just died.

Fribble started an amazing thread for everyone to express their sympathy for me and my family. I printed it so I can keep it forever.

My parents didn't understand my BN family - until then. I showed them all of the posts from everyone. They were more than impressed and shocked.

And then Charlie (Albatross Flyer) organized a donation from BN'ers to the UofAZ cancer foundation and research center, and I never asked him to do so.

This website has given me friendship, love, support, laughter, and so much that words can not do it justice.


And it's given me Elrod. A wonderful man who I will marry in June 2007.

Thank you to everyone who have been there for me through all the ups and downs. Old and new friends. You are all amazing.

[Tequila Revenge]

I think this is an EXCELLENT idea ... wonder if we could get Jimmy's blessings for the project ... we could give the profits to charity.

I do know a publisher who owes me a favor ...

Oh, don't ya just love it when a plan comes together?

Bet he would, for charity...

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

First things first. Let's get some content

good to see GPHMTA

[SchoolGirlHeart]

we're gonna need LOTS more tissues......

(((((((Penny)))))))

(((((((Molly)))))))

[Tequila Revenge]

we're gonna need LOTS more tissues......

(((((((Penny)))))))

(((((((Molly)))))))

That's a good thing, because these stories are true, these stories are honest and these stories touch all of us very deeply where we live. What a huge blessing to have people open up and share from this level. THANK YOU!!