[BILLY D.]

i like the old saying "if i know'd grandkids were sooo much fun i'd a had them first".

kinda true in a way.

one thing always amazes me as i age, and boy am i aging.

i take a look around me and the state of the world and human nature in general and think "theres no way i would start a family under these conditions".

and then i ponder, gee, " i wonder if my grandparents thought the same thing. " about me.

thank god for the young folks. they keep the ball rolling.

reminds me of a story:

i was in a supermarket a few years ago right before christmas. heres a young mom with about a 2 1/2 or 3 year old. the kid is being a pita cause it's tired, hungry, and bored with life in general. moms all stressed out and about ready to have her pressure relief valve blow into the next zip code.

i'm in the aisle doing my thing, i'm an old guy with a white beard and the kid looks at me, and i smiled. i said a few words to mom as i passed by. i get over to the next aisle and the kid is really upset now, so i said a few more words to mom and i cupped my hand, bent down and whispered in the kids ear.

the kid quiets down and was a model of behavior after that. so i meet the mom in the next aisle, she looked totally relieived, and about 20 years younger, and she asked me what i said to the youngin'.

so i whispered in her ear, "santa claus is watching you." she got the most beautiful smile on her face and i thought she was gonna kiss me. and i ain't real purtty.

any way i guess the best answer to some of the most complex problems is a simple thought.

i had a lot of people help me through the years and i was glad to help someone else out.