A big Horseshoe Thank You!

Welp, for some reason I thought I was gonna sneak by…

I am now officially at the half-century mark. That means 50 yrs old/young. Recently I’ve heard it described as “49 plus tax”! (Thank goodness we have a small tax base around here!)

Many, many thanks Folks! So many threads reached out to me. Loved it…that is definitely a special treat. And DAVE!…that big red banner had me grinnin’ all day! What a special treat! To everyone, a great-big-humungous-from-deep- down- within Thank You! (Isn’t it funny how no matter how passionate our feelings can be there is still no way for mere words to describe the wonders of them?) (We can keep trying though!)

Fifty years of living! Mercy me!

The half-century mark!

The age of knowledge that comes with prior experience that we can draw on for future use!
( It’s also 350 dog years!) Sha-zaaam!!

There was a time in my Life I seriously doubted I would make it this far! Perhaps we all think that?

I’m elated with all ya’lls offerings of good will and good cheer. It’s been a “DG Moment” and Hallmark ain’t got nothing over you folks!

Dave’s Garden originally started out as a place for one person to keep records and mementos of one garden and the growth therein. He didn’t know at the time it would blossom forth into a world-wide group of records and mementos that would record many peoples gardens and, most importantly (and this is a biggy!) the growth within and of ourselves! Fortunately growth doesn’t just happen in flower and veggie gardens, it happens everywhere, and the human race is definitely not exempt.

Here in the famous Dave’s Garden web site, we all get to grow. We are blessed in this garden. In this safe place we easily allow our limbs/arms to reach out to others, to offer or accept support. Our roots learn to lengthen and seek out (and accept) the nourishment that we all tend to give each other; our buds get to look forward to those who will patiently wait for us to unfold, and we know there is plenty of time to do so! What a garden, eh?

The birthday greetings and wishes you’ve offered me (and many others thru-out these DG years) really come home. That’s a great feeling, coming home. One of the best a person will ever experience.

Thanks. Bigtime Thanks!

I wish I knew the really proper feelings/words to say to do a proper thank you. You’ve touched me. Hope one day I can reciprocate, or learn how to give better Thanks.

I will offer this though. Previously I had no intentions of posting the following on DG but perhaps this is the most appropriate time and place to do so. In the following I hope the last paragraph or so will sum it all up. Thanks again. I’ve really enjoyed your words, feelings, and being a part of you.
Happy Birthday, Folks!

and now...from a 12/03 musing

While sittin’ w/my Daughter, reading books the other day in the back of the van, the rear door open towards the setting sun, we were both pleasantly engrossed in our books. As I turned a page I noticed out of the corner of my eye she was looking up at me. She was smiling that 9 year old smile. I smiled back and asked “what’s goin’ on?”

She asked, “What page are you on?”
I looked at my book and told her “page 64”.
She said, “I’m on page 168!” then smiled a bigger smile, like she had beaten me at a game.
Next I heard her ask “How many pages are in your book?”
I looked again and said, “154”.
“Mine has 268”, she said, as if she won again.

She went back to reading. I sat there and enjoyed the feelings I felt. I also thought of these words that I would one day write.

The above setting may only appear to be a simple meaningless exchange between two people. Perhaps it is one that shows no adventure, no excitement, and no cliff-hanging scenario that merges into a climactic scene. However, Folks, I know better!.

The above interchange is what some of the most wonderful things in Life are made of. It was an easy-going exchange. It was honest. It was rewarding. It was a natural and relaxed happening where both parties were equal, and both parties benefited. Neither person was in control, or being controlled. It created a positive memory for me. How important that is!

Sitting here now, wondering, (I wonder quite often, you know)…

…As we enjoy and encourage growth to our plants, our trees, our gardens, I hope it is just as important for us all to realize how much nurturing we give to and receive from our families and friends. There are many buds, flowers, and fragrances in our lives that are put before us, and they are not restricted to the botanical world.

A cliché is written “Stop and smell the roses”. I could disagree with that phrase but I’d much rather augment it.

Do we really need to come to a stop? Do we really need to come to a standstill to witness Life’s fragrances? ‘Stop’ seems like we might be forfeiting something, neglecting something. Bringing it to a halt. I’d much prefer that we simply ‘pause’.

Pausing seems to mean we have chosen to linger. Lingering is slowing down, witnessing, but yet not forgetting the other things around us. To linger is taking time to inhale, exhale, take in your surroundings and absorb the wonderful things around us. Absorb them, not just acknowledge them. (There is a difference you know.) Linger. Take a breather. Inhale. Exhale. Listen. Observe. Smile.

As we continue our journey in Life why not look over our shoulders, and also look in front of us? Most importantly, look beside us. It may just be that our true Garden is closer than we are aware of.”

Oh yeah, one last note. “What page are you on?”

© Horseshoe Griffin 2003

Luv ya'll! Take good care! And good nite!

Wow, Shoe, I'm on your page. That's beautiful and you're right. Glad I paused here in this thread before heading to bed in these wee hours today. :)

How true! Thanks for reminding us to "Pause". I found birthday number 50 to be a great one. Somehow, everything material became unimportant and everything nonmaterial became extremely important. It took me a whole 50 years to truly see that the best things in life are free. Lou

I'm only 36, but I don't mind getting older; with each year, I am more comfortable in my skin.

Belated Happy Birthday, Horseshoe!

Well said friend.

Thanks Shoe for all the reflections you give us....drawing us all back to the way things should be. Very eloquent, dear one!

"eyes"

Shoe, How wonderful. Your words makes us pause and think. Thank you.

Shoe, you certainly have a way with words. : )

Shoe - that was beautiful, really brought tears to my old eyes. Makes me think back on all the happy moments we have spent enjoying our children & G children. Sorry I missed your big day. You have such a kind, wonderful way of calling attention to the really important things in life. We love you and so glad to have met you. Hats off to Dave too for making so many friendships possible.

Glad I tuned in, Happy 50th, and thanks shoe.

:')

Shoe, every once in a while someone really special crosses our path. You are one of them. I've had the privilege of having many "someone specials" cross my path here on DG and I owe that big thanks to you.

I owe a real big Thanks to Dave for starting this and I am so thankful that Dave and Trish are Christian as well and have a lot of the same values as most of us here.

In today's world of trials and troubles, isn't is wonderful that we have such a great place with the best people to share our lives with.

I love my DG family very much. I share in your happiness and cry with you in times of trouble.

May you all share the same feelings and God Bless You as he has me. Happy Day, Kathy :)

Shoe, Your words are always music to my ears. Much apprecitated, makes me remember that each day is a blessing. We may not know it but each of us is always remembered and not forgotten in one way or another. Sometimes it takes a special person to wake us up and you are one of those people.
Hugs, and God Bless. Bobbie

I wasn't on the computer here at our daughter's yesterday. But here is a heart felt "Happy Birthday, HorseShoe". May GOd's richest blessing be upon you and your family. I pray only the best for you even if at the time it may not seem like the best or even good. I'm like Joyce Meyers, only by going thru the trials do we truely grow and learn.

By the way, I don't think of 50 as half way thru our lives. I know few people 100 years old.

Beautiful words O Barefoot Bearded One! Under that shaggy and casual exterior there is some serious thinkin goin on.

You're the man Shoe! I still think you're Jame Whitcomb Riley reincarnated! LOL

O Barefoot Bearded One? That's a keeper, Mary. :)

Shoe
What does a 50 year old kid like you do to celebrate
the half century mark?
Fifty was too many years ago for me to remember.
Some days I feel like the guy on the BowFlex commercial and
others I can barely roll out of the bed. Just wait!!!!
Bonne Chance Mon Ami
Bud

"Hope one day I can reciprocate, or learn to give better"

Shoe, I know for certain that you give all of us more than we can possibly ever give back, your wit, your wisdom and humor! Kathy is right, you truly are someone special. Thank YOU big guy!

Shoe flowers and

friendships share a common denominator

Both start from a tiny seed

If nurtured properly they blossom and grow stronger each day maturing into

A thing of beauty.

Weed 1993 for a retiring co worker
scribbled on the package of a going away present it hangs on his wall in a picture frame today.while the gift is probably gone its memory is not and memorys are what we have to strenghten us and remember old ties and good times.

Ernie, that is beautiful.

Did someone say Shoe Flower? Oh, my!
http://davesgarden.com/t/249782/

I think GW, that site has come back to haunt. That was just too much.

And now I'm finally at a loss for words.

Thanks friends. As Jackie Gleason would say, "You're the Greatest!"

So many kind words and feelings emanate from this site. I wish there was room for me to respond to each and every one of you in this post. My keyboard seems a bit wet right now, drops of moisture are falling from above it. (It needs a good cleaning anyway!) Many Thanks to all.

Quite a Family we have here, eh? Eh!?

Garden wife thank you for likeing it.

Something shoe said about the friends here made me think I should share it with him. Ernie

I just can't pass this without a shot.

Shoe move the puter to the right the moisture is coming from a leak in the roof we are on to ya big boy shinanigans.

Night 4.30 is on the way needs my beauty sleep to. Ernie

Happy Belated Birthday Shoe! I know these wishes are late, but I also know you will understand why they are. When your 60th birthday rolls around do you think you can have confetti fall from the sky instead of snow? :o) Again Happy Birthday from Adam and I and may you have many more.

I hear ya ernie! That dang leak, gonna have to fix it one day! (Mercy, just wait til all this snow and ice start melting!) Thanks for posting that poem. Pretty cool your ex co-worker saved the paper it was written on!

GW! I went back and read the whole thread you linked. I remember the surprise of THAT day well! ;>)

Carol, yes, confetti would be pretty nice, eh? I'm so sore today. My bones hurt, my muscles hurt, my hair even hurts. I feel "waffled"?...sort of like an accordion looks. (It's that sledding from yesterday. And if ONLY we hadn't of found those snowboards and decided to try them out!)

Horseshoe, sorry I'm late to wish you a happy 50th. Know you had a great time. My computer has been in an out of computer hosp. for past week. i think it is working okay now. Much Happiness to you. Donna