You would think the end of time was here while watching all them people on Wall Street when the Dow Jones takes a plunge.

I'm so glad that I don't understand the stock market, because those are the awfullest looking people I ever seen when things ain't going right for them. They run around each other like cats and dogs when they are hemmed up. They are raising their hands and hollering like they are scared to death. That is why I say that they act like it's the end of time. I just imagine people will be raising their hands sure enough when that day comes.

One thing about it, we know it's coming and there are no signs to show us when, so we need to prepare now and be ready. The only signs the stock market shows is when the Arabs cut oil production or China's stocks falls.

I think however it works is dumb, because you ain't doing a thing but gambling. If trading is high you make money, but if they drop, you drop. You can lose in one day all you ever made on the stocks, like the other day when it was all over the news about the big plunge and everybody was scared to death.

I wouldn't go through all that misery for nothing. I had rather just take it day by day and spend my monthly income as it comes in, and when the world ends and that money all burns up, everybody is even again.

I believe if you work for a living or have retired and drawing a check and just using it wisely, you'll live longer than those gamblers. There must be more heart trouble among them, because of the anxiety and stress. I'll take less dollars and more years.

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I was watching the news of all the tornado destruction and the bus wreck etc., and couldn't help but think how blessed we are not to be in the shoes of the families that lost all the children in the school and the bus wreck that killed four young boys in high school. That must be awful to go through. I know it's easy to say we know what they're going through, but we don't.

Of course, we have accidents and deaths from all walks of life, but to lose many like that at one time has got to be different. We might find it hard to figure out Mother Nature sometimes, but we all know that God has no respect of person and we are subject to discomfort anywhere we live. It will appear to us sometimes that the best are leaving the world first, but it's not meant to be that way. We will never know why it works out that way.

I would be the last to questions God's way of doing. He did not send his son to destroy, he sent him to save the world from repentance. If we die without asking for forgiveness and repentance, it's our fault, not his. Anyway, let's pray dearly for all those people that are left to grieve over their loved ones.

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My ole' buddy Steve has always got interesting questions, and I do by best to answer to the best of my knowledge.

Today he asked me at what point of life do you begin not noticing the little drip hanging on the end of your nose. Well, I'm almost 80, and I still notice that first drip, but I have been embarrassed a few times when it would be real cold weather and lose a drip or two before catching it, but in normal weather etc. you are not apt to be guilty of this until you're real old and feeble.

This don't include the younger people that drip because of an allergy. In times of allergy, it's not unusual to have a drip drop to the ground before you can grab your handkerchief. I myself have done this a few times for years, but this ain't like the ones that leave it hanging like that fellow Steve saw.

He asked me to go by him and take notice, but I didn't feel like it. This is something you don't go looking for. I've got a daughter that is real plain when she sees something like that. She will look right at him or her and real loud say "My God."

There are other ugly things that happen even to the cleanest of us like getting in a big way talking and all at once slobber, you will automatically try to slirp it back, but it's done been noticed. That is so embarrassing, but there are so many that do it, no need to be ashamed but you are. I think that false teeth causes this.

I wish this would happen to some of them news people on television. I get so aggravated at the fast talkers like some of them are. I don't understand why they do that knowing that one word is trying to beat the other one out, and we have to try to make out what they are saying.

If it's something real important coming on, I turn on my recorder so to listen at until I get it straight. I know you all know what I'm talking about. The only thing to wean people like that is have their dentures pop out of their mouth when they get to talking fast.

Of course, this won't affect the ones that don't have dentures. I think this happens no doubt, but the thing is they tape the program before they air it and we don't get to see the bloopers.

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I was just sitting here thinking about some people can go into business and just stay and stay and you know it's bound to get boring, but even though we feel for them we still don't want them to ever quit.

I'm thinking of people like Garry Henson that has been in the florist business as long as I remember, and I think with the help of the Lord he'll be there for many years to come if time lasts. It would be interesting just knowing what ever gave him the idea and his opinion of why he's been so successful.

Of course, he had a good start just being born here in Ages, and I would say that it is simply because he had and still has his heart into it.

Garry is a strong believer in the church his mother went too in Ages, and his heart has always been in that church, and Garry is a very generous person when it comes to helping those in need.

If I were a reporter, I would like to get a story about him and his business and I'm sure it would be interesting.

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Green Calvin Long and Sandra are the finest of people that I have known many years and actually I'm a distant cousin to Sandra, and I'm very saddened about the passing of Green this week.

I think about how great he looked at our Ages Brookside reunion back in September and to think how he could be taken that quick. They have always been very close-knitted, and it's going to be real hard on Sandra, and she will certainly need everyone's prayers, and I'm sure she'll get them.