Hello Bill, Your little poem was right on the money. As I approach "big 65", I am constantly amazed at how much I know and how little problem I have with telling it all to the world. It is a really great thing to be able to give everyone the benefit of my experiences in marriage (43 years),raising children (4),directing grandchildren (9) down the proper road to success in life and a whole host of other things that I feel the world needs to know to keep it on the straight and narrow. I always wonder whether people who have become successful without my counsel and sage advice had the benefit of another equally knowledgeable mentor or they managed to do it with pure,dumb luck! If anyone wishes to avail themselves of my vast treasure trove of knowledge,all they need to do is ask! Did I also mention that I was a windbag? Howard Cole in Charlotte,NC At 02:13 PM 4/29/00 -0400, William Staples wrote: > A Prayer > For Those Growing Old > >Lord, Thou knowest I am growing older. > >Please keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the need to >express myself on every subject. > >Release me from the craving to straighten out everyone's problems and >affairs. > >Keep me from reciting endless details. Give me wings to get to the point. > >Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are >increasing with the years and my love to speak of them grows sweeter as >time goes by. > >Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong. Make me >thoughtful but not nosey; helpful but not bossy. > >Considering my vast store of wisdom, knowledge and experience, it does seem >a pity not to use it all. But Thou knowest, Lord, that I would like to >have at least a few friends at the end of my journey. > > AMEN > > > >Bill Staples, WE (Worker Emeritus) > >Researching Family History of HOLMES (NY/CT), STAPLES(NY/NJ/CT), >ELMS(NY), BANKS(CT) , WYGANT(NY) > > >