SAYINGS OF THE SAGES - WOLFE

Ruth Patterson Wolfe, June 8, 1914 - October 29, 2008

Ruth Wolfe was a teacher, pioneer with her husband Elmo,
and organizer of many volunteer projects. She was awarded
with "Canada's Voluneer of the Year" and was presented with this
honour in Ottawa.
You can expect to read many of her sayings as well as her
poetry in my future blogs. Her credit line will appear each time
as we continue to be challenged with her writings.

As a lifetime member of Schubert Center she gave a reading
on Talent Night that encouraged others to spend more of
their retirement days doing volunteer work. Her presentation
closed with these words:
"SO WELCOME NEW FRIENDS, RECYCLE YOURSELVES,
Join Schubert Centre's happy fairies and elves!"

Excerpted from "Talk Time Treasures", Editor: Nettie Turner

FRIENDSHIP

Good friends shine like stars, Not always in view,
But you know who they are, Mind sees and reviews,
When special days come - Touch buds of recall,
They burst into bloom, Sending fragrance to all.

Hearts flash them to mind - Hearts feel it first,
In just nano seconds, Comes that joyous burst.
Old friends or new friends, We wrap them with love,
Your treasure of friendship, God's gift from above.

With love's power of thought, Mind sends them through space,
Your friend gets the message, Mind screens up your face,
The gift of your kindness, With joyous recall,
With the music of friendship, It's a virtual ball.

THE LIBRARY BOOK

I hope to be helpful - I'm a Library Book,
Teaching Science and Health,
Even learning to cook.
Delighted I was and happy to see,
That from those on his desk,
My mentor picked me.
For library status, which surely would mean,
That for thousands of readers I'd always be seen.
And for someone for whom the shekels aren't handy,
Can borrow and study - now isn't that dandy.

But someone who borrowed forgot where I was,
I was left in a corner with the dust and the fuzz.
I felt like one blind, unable to move.
Know what it's like to be stuck in a groove?
I'm buried alive, even tears could not come.
With no hands to help - like one deaf, blind and dumb.
Then someone bestirred after having a dream,
Of people and books that made a great team.

"Of writing them, reading them - Others helping to find,
As Libraries keep helping, Improving our minds.
So I searched and was found, and the lost one returned.
I'm taking it back - So others can learn.
And believe it or not - while looking around,
An heirloom, a ring, for my family I found".

December 5, 2008. This morning we awoke to a blanket
of white in Vernon, BC, extending to our northern areas. It
looked warm and cozy, but also contained a warning of winter
around the corner. I strolled down to Shubert Center to
attend the farewell Celebration of Life for Ruth Wolfe,
winner of Volunteer of the Year given her in Ottawa.

She left us a legacy of much wisdom. In future Blogs you
will learn more about her pioneer days and her volunteer work.
The Library was one of her favorite interests.

THE MUSCLE MAN

From inner waters sea of life, An eager being arose,
To work out patterns planned before, And walk the path he chose.
And so grew up a fine young man, Such pride and joy he brought.
And who could dream this child might, In evil webs be caught.

The happy years rolled pleasantly, Upon the waves of time,
And then a special tribute came, A chance to rise and shine
A star that might in time rise high, Into the Hall of Fame,
In sports to fascinate the crowd, And be a famous name.

Temptation shaped its beckoning form, Through drugs to waters deep,
Could he resist his friend's advice, And to his ideals keep?
False beauty of this dreamy pool, Urged on to further chance,
Then swirled him down its murky depths, In death defying dance.

The handsome muscle man was gone, A family's final blow,
A friend's advice had dragged him in, This final undertow.

TRAVEL TIPS

Of travel, there is much advice, That comes in books and papers,
But most of all, draw up a plan, For every little caper.
Some airline tickets, once I bought, To save on the commission,
I skipped the travel agent's fee, And that was an omission.

I laid them on the baggage desk, Claim check took, then waited,
I should have handed her just one, For two bags, not inflated.
Then rushed to get our boarding pass, "Two tickets, where's the other?"
We left it with the baggage girl, "Then you must buy another."

No names were on the tickets, As with an agency,
"You'll have to wait a year, no less, If finders used it, See?"
There's nothing like a ticket lost, To spoil a Christmas trip,
So watch each movement carefully, To keep from getting gypped.

'Twas great to spend the Christmas with, Our Texas family,
We thought our grandson wonderful, Forgot the tickets fee.
They took us to the center where, Astronauts explained,
About their work and further trips, That brought the country fame.

"We'll answer questions if you wish," The speaker told the crowd.
Guess whose hand first shot up? Our grandson's (7), Gramps was proud.
I wrote the airline several times, And asked about our claim.
One Year passed, they sent a cheque, Made out in my name.

FIXING THE EARTH

A lovely planet moved in space, Providing all a family base,
A home and friends to show our love, And blessings from our God above.
Serene in beauty everywhere, Requiring only cautious care.
Dwelling lightly on the land, As season's growth brings food to hand.

Towering mountains, mighty trees, Fragrant air with needed breeze.
In harmony might Earthlings dwell, In wisdom's learning to excel.
Yet some forces through the land, Demanded luxuries to expand.
Searching for excitement's need, Was this care replaced by greed?

As possessions cluttered up the place, Crowded homes asked more space,
From verdant hills we clear-cut trees, As Earth's dwellers too more ease.
Some never seemed to have enough, Planning wars for still more stuff.
For homes and cars and still more things, As the Earth its death knell rings.

She's choking with this trash and smog, That's turning streams to messy bogs.
Polluted air looked for a place, And for relief made holes in space,
That opened Earth's protective dome, Affecting crops and people's homes.
The food chain that supplies all life, As overcrowding led to strife.

Possessions - power, with angry deeds, Some chose instead of basic needs.
Rejecting harmony within, Instead of joy that might have been.
Some still choose to help each other, The Earth our mate - companion -
Mother.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

December rings the Christmas bells,
Time to think of gifts,
What could I find for a surprise
To give someone a lift.
It's said that Santa's helpers are,
The ones who make his toys,
Together making gifts up North,
For all good girls and boys.

But then they found those girls and boys,
Already had so much,
Last year's toys must be sent,
To landfills and turned to smutch.
And as their sleigh flew overhead,
Saw last year's toys just waste,
Prancer said, "Let's make some books,
With empty pages placed,
Their stories - even numbered page,
Odd numbers for our space.

Then we can tell each other what
We had done all year,
Kind words and deeds for others,
And things we had done to cheer.
And as ideas come to mind
Thoughts or pictures say,
Some elves are real people that
We see most every day.
They live in normal houses,
And walk on normal streets,
Look nornal every day - except,
Within a great heart beats.

These gifts will need no wrapping,
Or colored ribbons bright,
Their love moves softly, heart to heart,
With warmth that makes things right.
Kind deeds that only hearts can give,
The ones that are the best,
This lovely essence from the heart,
Brings love to friends and guests.