Chanting Growers Group

[SoCal Hippy]

I agree PTD

I agree PTD

THe propaganda war won. I agree that now we must face a difficult time ahead. More fertile ground for others to look inward for answers. We are here to help those seeking absolute happiness as we have found the key to this eternal desire thru the practice of Budhism and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Bonno Soku Bodai

Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment: A principle which teaches that one can attain Buddhahood by transforming illusions and earthly desires into enlightened wisdom rather than extinguishing them. According to the Hinayana teaching, since illusions and earthly desires generally work to obscure the Buddha nature and hinder Buddhist practice, one must eliminate them all in order to attain enlightenment. In the light of the Lotus Sutra, however, earthly desires and enlightenment are not different in their fundamental essence. It follows that enlightenment is not the eradication of desire but a state which the entity of life can experience by transforming innate desires.
The Fugen Sutra, which concludes the Lotus Sutra, states: "Even without extinguishing their earthly desires or denying the five desires, they can purify all of their senses and eradicate all of their misdeeds." The Juryo (sixteenth) chapter of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra reveals the truth that Buddhahood possesses all nine worlds (Japanese, bukkai soku kukai). Even after achieving enlightenment, the Buddha still retains all nine worlds of the common mortal. On the basis of the world of Buddhahood, they work to create joy rather than suffering without changing their essential nature. Nichiren Daishonin's "Ongi Kuden" (Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings) states, "All in all, the ultimate of the Juryo chapter does not lie in subjugating delusions one by one in order to attain enlightenment. You should realize that its significance is to gain enlightenment as you are, remaining as the entity of a common mortal." He taught the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon or object of worship as the specific practice for manifesting Buddhahood and thereby transforming earthly desires into enlightenment. The "Ongi Kuden" also says, "Now Nichiren and others who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo"burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom before their eyes."
Source: Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts

 

[Guest]

Nice to See Everyone!

Nice to See Everyone!

Hey Gang!
Well I don't quite know what to say to you Thomas! I know you are sick! And I have to say I am alot surprised. I truly believed Kerry would win. But I think this shows you how seriously people today are lost and in a quandry when the biggest issue that was voted on was moral issues. That one really shocked me! I thought the war would be number one and for that it would be over. But that is what we are suppose to be about as So Cal just put it as above.
And Thank you Gordy for turning off the no smoking sign!

And IC what a fabulous upgrade. I almost didn't know how to find you guys at the end of the day!

Good to see ya NattyNattyGurl! I hope we are all almost finished being moved, displaced or on the road!
I have missed all of you quite frankly. Southern Girl

 

[BushyOldGrower]

Who was the Prince of peace? Jesus was and if you have never read the whole story I suggest you read the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ. In this complete gospel of his life the years spent learning in the hindu temples led to his teaching of non-violence and of turning the other cheek. He preached non materialism because I see him as a Buddhist or Hindu who returned to his Jewish people to teach them a truer way of life. Of course they crucified him for it and he made his point by forgiving them.

I have meditated since age 14 when I read a simple book on meditation. This led to a wonderful out of body experience at age 15 much like I believe Luther experienced. You see we received enlightenment for no reason and no good works. He told the Catholics that and they called him a heretic so he formed the Lutheran Church. Ever since there has been this schism. Perhaps some people return to earth for a purpose after they reach a higher level of existance.

Once a person has had this experience they see the world differently. God doesn't talk to you but this state is the most joyous and best feeling I have ever had. I felt super and I knew many things no one had told me. There is a place you can go where it is like you just stepped into a lightning bolt that goes on and on. Bathed in the super bright light you feel the force of life and realize the truth of both physical and spiritual evolution. You know then that you will never die and that there is nothing to fear. Life changes and my point isnt to self aggrandize here.

I rarely share my experience but I believe teens may be able to have this happen if not prevented by counter learning. Some teach that there is no experience to be had and the truth is that most aren't granted this gift at a young age without works and training. But it happens. Everyone will know exactly what I am talking about eventually even if it is just after you die. You won't really die of course.

I say you should try and reach this level of experience. The temple of love feels like energy pure as platinum and there is no high that can compare to this experience. Have you been experienced? I think there are many levels of this and I am just a beginneer who has much more to learn. BOG

Thanks for allowing my thoughts in this profound place...

 

[ezozo]

HI Bog Jesus was decently one of the Enlightenment humans on the history of humanity he born Jewish and die Jewish (In Isreal).
when you say this :

Of course they crucified him for it and he made his point by forgiving them

you lie to the truth the Roman's crucified him and in the Jewish tradition you will not find death penalty you can count the "death penalty" by Jewish in one hand in the ~5600 years from the start of the Judaism.

I AM NOT saying that the Jew's behave good in contrary they where foolish like many of them today .

yes Jesus was "teaching of non-violence and of turning the other cheek" but you can see that the most of the Christian didn't learn that look how many they killed on the name of Jesus .

I believe that we all need to seek for peace love and maybe enlightenment the way the religion and the place don't need to make any difference.

In my next prayer I will prayer for this for all of you guys

peace
zozo

 

[GordyP]

(quoted from The Art of Happiness, from the Dalai Lama)

"There are now five billion human beings now walking the earth and in a certain way I feel we need five billion different religions, because there is such a large variey of dispositions. I believe each individual should embark upon a spiritual path that is best suited to his or her mental disposition, natural inclination, temperament, and cultural background.

"People need and appreciate diversity in their food because there are so many different tastes. In the same way, religions are meant to nourish the human spirit. So some people may find Judaism, the Christian tradition, or the Islamic tradition to be most effective for them. Therefore, we would do well to respect and appreciate the value of all the different major world religious traditions. All of these religions can make an effective contribution for the benefit of humanity. They are all designed to make the individual a happier person, and the world a better place. So it is essential we develop closer bonds among the various religions, through this we can make a common effort for the benefit of humanity. There are so many things that divide humanity, so many problems in the world. Religion should be a remedy to help reduce the conflict and suffering in the world, not another source of conflict.

"We oftern hear people say all human beings are equal. By this we mean everyone has the obious desire of happiness. Everybody has the right to be a happy person. And everyone has the right to overcome suffering. So if someone is deriving happiness or benefit from a particular religious tradition, it becomes important to respect the rights of others; thus we must learn to respect all these major religious traditions. That is clear."

Come to learn the power of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as well, and learn to respect the inner truths it will reveal to you.

Keep Em Green and Growin' Everybody,

GordyP

 

[Guest]

Who Turned the Lights Out?

Who Turned the Lights Out?

Hey!
Anybody out there? Where did everybody go? Silence from all, and a little frightening not seeing PTD here since last Tuesday.

Thank YOu for responding Bog. I was hoping that was who you referred to as Prince of Peace. I have studied all that you speak of regarding the lost days of Jesus. And my roommate in Florida was very involved with Temple of Love. I guess all that I can say to you, is as much of it as I could relate to and enjoyed so much in learning about as I do all religions and philosophies, nothing has compared to the experiences I have encountered from chanting NamMyoHoRengeKyo. Life has pulled me away from it in a sense this past two months, but it has also been a time where I have been very aware of its presence. And this thread has given me encouragement when I have needed it to get through the day.

Understanding your mind set a bit more, all I can do is try it for a month. You will then know more of how much you want to learn about it. This is not one of blind faith....it is of actual proof. Best to you, Southern Girl

 

[stonegirl]

Sorry, sorry, sorry! (This is from Thomas)

Sorry, sorry, sorry! (This is from Thomas)

Just jumped in on stonegirl's comp at her office.

I haven't been trying to be absent. But with four babies either running, or beginning to walk with the ability to crawl as fast as a walk, my hands are full except for nap time when I am busy doing grown-up things. Additionally, stonegirl and I are embarking on the launch of a new business that is requiring the initial set-up work, and to top it off, the other main reason I am back here now is that I have friends in from Chicago. We have been entertaining them through the weekend, but they are leaving tomorrow.

I am anxious to get into a deeper response to what BOG has been saying. First off, brother, I have never in my lifetime considered myself a teacher. Never, ever. I have not ever considered what I have come to experience and become aware of as something proprietary, that I might bestow. I have always felt myself the recipient of a gift so great that I could not possibly deserve it's bestowal upon me. I have no choice but to share it. All I am trying to do is share. The Teaching, has already been done. Now it is time for those with the fortune to know it, to share and dissiminate it.

I have had several metaphysical experiences while chanting. I can assure you that the state that you experienced in your awakening, is available for you to experience regularly, if you desire to focus and make the cause to commit yourself to achieve it. GordyP had it happen on a sunny day in the woods not long ago. It scared him. It is the common mortal version of the combination of hoshaku kempon and kyochi myogo. It is the process whereby you acieve a fusion of mind and universe and realization occurs as a natural consequence.

And I agree that the older we become, the more difficult to get past the bullshit of 'life experience' induced delusion, it becomes. We think we know, what we do not know. This phenomena is the biggest hurdle to the establishment of freedom from delusion. The fact that we live forever, does not diminish the challnge and reward of trying to achieve the causes in our lifetimes that lead to good fortune in those that will follow this one. Just as we have no memory of the past now, we won't then. All we ever have to do to see where we are karmically, is look at ourselves at this moment. There lies the answer to everything. Always. This moment is the key.

In my opinion,

T (and Jesus was a cool dude)

 

[Guest]

Happy to Hear from you!

Happy to Hear from you!


Happy to see you PTD and Stonegirl! Glad to know all is normal and well for you. A 28 and 20 year old is bad enough at this point in life. Can't imagine...
It's a strange time for all of us I'm sure. Just continues....and we have to continue to stay close to that which gives us the courage to continue and Never give up no matter what! Love, SG

 

[GordyP]

S.G. Avatar

S.G. Avatar

Hope Tinkerbell never sees your new Smurfette calling card. It'll really piss her off to come in second place as an avatar contestant! Nice new look, Southern Girl.

GordyP

 

[Guest]

I''m Sure That Tinkerbell is Pissed!

I''m Sure That Tinkerbell is Pissed!

Yes! As I was exploring our new IC site, I came across the avatars! And much to my surprise, it was certainly a Man's World in there. Being inferior to the computer, have no idea how to download pictures, I had to settle for Miss Smurfette!
Having the ability to make the best out of things, I thought that maybe she could be a Nurse Smurfette and so therefore I could use her. But I'm sure that one of my thread buddies here will assist me in fixing the dilemma I now find myself in. Southern Girl

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hey guys, can you get your head around this?

Hey guys, can you get your head around this?

BOG and GordyP (and you too nattynattygurrl), this is the point I am trying to make to you. By your own actions, this is you / you are this.

Bodhisattva (Skt; Jpn 'bosatsu): One who aspires to enlightenment, or Buddhahood. 'Bodhi' means enlightenment, and 'sattva', a living being. In Hinayana Buddhism, the term is used almost exclusively to indicate Shakyamuni Buddha in his previous lifetimes. The 'Jataka', or "birth stories" (which recount his past existences), often refer to him as "the bodhisattva." After the rise of Mahayana, 'bodhisattva' came to mean anyone who aspires to enlightenment and carries out altruistic practice. Mahayana practitioners used it to refer to themselves, thus expressing the conviction that they would one day attain Buddhahood. In contrast with the Hinayana ideal embodied by the voice-hearers and cause-awakened ones who direct their efforts solely toward personal salvation, Mahayana sets forth the ideal of the bodhisattva who seeks enlightenment both for self and others, even postponing one's entry into nirvana in order to lead others to that goal. The predominant characteristic of a bodhisattva is therefore compassion.

According to the Mahayana tradition, upon embarking on their practice of the six 'paramitas', bodhisattvas make four universal vows: (1) to save innumerable living beings, (2) to eradicate countless earthly desires, (3) to master innumerable Buddhist teachings, and (4) to attain the supreme enlightenment. The six 'paramitas' are (1) almsgiving, (2) keeping the precepts, (3) forbearance, (4) assiduousness, (5) meditation, and (6) the obtaining of wisdom. Some sutras divide bodhisattva practice into fifty-two stages, ranging from initial resolution to the attainment of enlightenment. Bodhisattva practice was generally thought to require successive lifetimes spanning many 'kalpas' to complete. From the standpoint of the Lotus Sutra, which recognizes that one can attain Buddhahood in one's present form, the bodhisattva practice can be completed in a single lifetime.

In Japan, the title bodhisattva was occasionally given to eminent priests by the imperial court, or by the followers as an epithet of respect. It also was applied to deities. When Buddhism was introduced to Japan, deities of the Japanese pantheon were regarded as afflicted with an assortment of flaws, delusions, and vices. Later, their status was raised when they were identified with bodhisattvas due to the syncretism of Buddhism and Shintoism. Great Bodhisattva Hachiman is an example of this.

In terms of the concepts of the Ten Worlds, the world of bodhisattva constitutes the ninth of the Ten Worlds, describing a state characterized by compassion in which one seeks enlightenment both for oneself and others. In this state, one finds satisfaction in devoting oneself to relieving the suffering of others and leading them to happiness, even if it costs one one's life.

(from the 'Dictionary of Buddhism)

In my opinion, the key to what has been said above, is that someone that cares for the well-being of others as much as themselves, is representative of the highest ideal and life-state one can achieve as a common mortal seeking enlightenment. But you see, you are not just seeking enlightenment; you are doing so by learning about and practicing the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. This makes you not just a boddhisattva, but qualifies you as being a Bodhisattva of the Earth. A bodhisattva of the Earth is something quite unique and specific. I will define that next.

Thomas

 

[Guest]

Got My Head in It!

Got My Head in It!

Liked it, Understand it, And am with ya on this one! And really liked that last paragraph at the end, "This is what it means to me"! Very nice touch! Cuz you are one of us and it is nice to hear how you interpret that for yourself.
It is a cold and dreary day here! Missing Florida for more than one reason today. I think this is a coffee and Daimoku Day! Love to you all, SG

 

[SoCal Hippy]

emerging from the earth

emerging from the earth

Hi everyone, all bodhsattvas! I got my head into it too. Been awhile since Ive posted here. I think the last time was when SG chewed me out for my attitude. Thanks SG! I needed that as my 'common mortal' life condition in the lower 4 worlds was where I was at and you nailed it Ouch!

I can see you have alot of PTD in ya in that you can readily see that which is wrong and won't hesitate to say something and I respect that. (even tho it hurts at 1st)
But going to the gohonzon and chanting daimoku about it always wins. Hope all is well with eveyone here checking out the Chanting Growers Forum. I haven't grown any plants (yet); just growing in happiness and faith. Be good!

Treasure Tower: The tower of Taho Buddha which emerges from below the earth in the Hoto (eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. According to the sutra, it measures 250 yojana wide and 500 yojana high, and is adorned with the seven kinds of gems: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, giant clam shell, coral, pearl and carnelian. Seated inside the tower is Taho Buddha. T'ien-t'ai gives two reasons for the appearance of the Treasure Tower: to verify the truth of the teaching of replacing the three vehicles with the one vehicle (Japanese, kaisan ken'ichi) expounded in the first half of the Lotus Sutra, and to pave the way for the teaching of Shakyamuni's original enlightenment in gohyaku-jintengo (Japanese, kuon jitsujo) revealed in the second half of the sutra.
Concerning the question as to what the Treasure Tower symbolizes, Nichiren Daishonin stated that it is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, or the life of those who manifest their inherent Buddhahood by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. The "Abutsu-bo Gosho" (On the Treasure Tower) states, "In the Latter Day of the Law, there is no Treasure Tower other than the figures of the men and women who embrace the Lotus Sutra. It follows, therefore, that those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, irrespective of social status, are themselves the Treasure Tower and likewise they themselves are Taho Buddha. There is no Treasure Tower other than Myoho-renge-kyo. The daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is the Treasure Tower, that is to say, the Treasure Tower is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."
Source: Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts

 

[PassTheDoobie]

If you chant the daimoku, you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth

If you chant the daimoku, you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth

Bodhisattvas of the Earth (Jpn jiyu-no-bosatsu): An innumerable host of bodhisattvas who emerge from beneath the earth and to whom Shakyamuni Buddha entrusts the propagation of the Mystic Law, or the essence of the Lotus Sutra, in the Latter Day of the Law. They are described in the "emerging of the Earth" (fifteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the first chapter of the sutra's essential teaching (latter fourteen chapters). In this chapter, countless bodhisattvas from other worlds ask for permission to propagate the sutra in the 'saha' world after the Buddha's death, but Shakyamuni refuses, saying that bodhisattvas who will carry out that task already exist in the 'saha' world. At this point the earth trembles and splits open, and from within it emerges a host of bodhisattvas equal in number to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers, each with his own retinue of followers. Their bodies are golden and they possess the thirty-two features that characterize a Buddha. They are led by four bodhisattvas--Superior Practices, Boundless Practices, Pure Practices, Firmly Established Practices--and Superior Practices is the leader of them all. In the "Supernatural Powers" (twenty-first) chapter, Shakyamuni transfers the essence of the Lotus Sutra to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, entrusting them with the mission of propagating it after his death, specifically, in the Latter Day of the Law.

As the person who first revealed the Mystic Law, or Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which he described as the essence of the Lotus Sutra, and began its propagation in the Latter Day, Nichiren (1222-1282) identified himself with Bodhisattva Superior Practices, the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. He also regarded his followers who embrace and propagate the teaching of the Mystic Law as the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. In this connection, Nichiren writes in his work 'The True Aspect of All Phenomena': "There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the daimoku. At first only Nichiren chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, but then two, three, and a hundred followed, chanting and teaching others. Propagation will unfold this way in the future as well. Does this not signify 'emerging from the earth'?"

(from the 'Dictionary of Buddhism')

And so, what this is about, as I have experienced it in my life, is a relationship I feel to the core of my being with Nichiren Daishonin as my Master from the infinite past (kuon-ganjo). I am a disciple of Bodhisattva Superior Practices, the transient identity of the True Buddha of Kuon Ganjo, whose life essence fused with the universal law of cause and effect, Myoho-renge-kyo, the essence of reality itself. All things are contained within this Law, and this Law contains all things. My Master is my mentor. I have vowed to fight tirelessly to advance the cause of kosen-rufu, the pacification of the land through the propagation of the Law. The commitment I make brings much resistence to my ability to achieve it as the gampon-no-mumyo of my karmic past tries to obstruct my advance, and the devil of the sixth heaven saps my spirit and attacks my determination. Only through my asociation with others can I achieve my vow. Only through the association with others can I achieve my enlightenment. In my experince, it's not just that way for me.

It's that way for everybody.

 

[Guest]

My Sweet Buddha Buddy! SoCal Hippy

My Sweet Buddha Buddy! SoCal Hippy

So Cal! It truly saddens me to think that I might have hurt you or your feelings with what I said. It certainly was not my intention. And I had to laugh because I thought I was talking a little in circles as to not to be too direct. And yes, if PTD and I got into a face to face argument with passion, we'd cut each other up with the tongue I'm afraid, but being little sister and big brother picking on ya from time to time, you learn to take care of yourself.

However, what I said to you I said out of my own personal experience of being so far in the forest that I can't see the trees. Sometimes we chant so hard and so long for something that we forget exactly why we were doing it. How frustrating it is to try and overcome something and noone jars or questions the thought pattern we are in and you just get stuck there. So when I read what you wrote, I instantly felt that feeling and that was the motivation for me saying what I did to you. Sometimes showing compassion comes out into different ways. I would hope that you would do the same for me.

PTD: I'm liking what you are writing big brother. And I really like the additions at the end of your own personal thoughts on what you write. I think that part is clear that that is how you see it and that is important to me. I respect how you feel and how you interpret things only because I know how much responsibility you take in making sure that it is correct.

NattyNattyGurl: Thank you sweet thang! I'm am doing fine. Don't know exactly what it is that I'm doing, but it is the journey and not the destination. I am as happy to see you. Hope you are doing well.

Gordy P: Where are you buddy? Why hasn't the group heard of your conquests? Love & Light to all, Southern Girl

 

[stonegirl]

PTD is sad......

PTD is sad......

Hello everyone, I am here everyday trying to keep it up with you sometimes, and since PTD is here he spent a lot of time work infront of the computer, and he just spent an hour writting something and ready to post it.....I accidently delete it, so I think I should apologize to PTD and you all, he is going to wrote it again I am sure, look forward to it and I will be watch ing you all, Be good

 

[GordyP]

Apologize to PTDoobie . . . Nahhhh!

Apologize to PTDoobie . . . Nahhhh!

I certainly hope PTD thanked you for providing him the additional wisdom of re-typing the message to better commit it to his heart and the suffering he endured during the re-typing process. I hope the nature of Buddha was revealed to you rather than the nature of a bear after he knew of the deleted posting.

..if you got this

..instead of this

..just give him some of this

I'm holding on to my good news, S.G., until I'm positive it's not going to be snuffed out in the eleventh hour like a few other opportunities I've had over the past few years. Won't be long now, though. By Monday evening I hope to have some improved career changes to share with y'all. The big difference with this opportunity is that it came out of nowhere about the time I began chanting, and I've been staying focused on it and chanting for it since then.

Today's message:

I am he as you are he
as you are me
and we are all together!

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Don't be sad SG, be Happy!

Don't be sad SG, be Happy!

No need to be sad SG as you posted. what you said is what I needed at that moment and I thank you. That is one reason I love this life philosophy in that you are right, commpassion shows in different ways; those things we need at the crucial moment appears and we are protected. It never fails as long as we are in rythmn with the Law of the Universe - Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. That is why we chant and the proof is shown time and time again. ACTUAL proof.

Gordy, sending you some D's to make the right thing happen in your life and looking forward to hearing about your victory. Keep chanting! All of us here it appears are facing significant changes in our lifes. Just like PTD said earlier: "Only through the association with others can I achieve my enlightenment." I thank all of you and feel so fortunate to be associated with you.

Too bad PTD about getting your latest hour-long work deleted. May I suggest that if you have something of such great importance such as that you can open MS Word, type it up, edit it and then cut/paste here at ICMag. Save ya alot of trouble and frustration and also keep you on good terms with Stonegirl.
Great to hear from you Stonegirl, my goal sometime next year is to bring C and I to visit Asia and see your wonderful family. I've always loved kids and look forward to seeing your little ones who I am sure are like getting bigger and bigger all the time. So I better hurry up, right???

Take care all.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"emerges a host of bodhisattvas equal in number to the sands of sixty thousand Ganges Rivers, each with his own retinue of followers. Their bodies are golden and they possess the thirty-two features that characterize a Buddha."

 

[Guest]

My Buddha Buddies!

My Buddha Buddies!

Thanks SoCal! Just making sure that everyone knows that I NEVER say anything to hurt. But I know that sometimes my too honest straight forward personality can be hurtful and it hurts me when I do that. Because I do not say things to be mean. And it is hard to continually go through things and you think you are done with it and then you wake up standing in the same pile of shit trying to approach it in the same way.
I have found myself in the last week being bomb-barded with issues of people that are close to me that I am so done with and have been for quite some time. My mother, my brother, my oldest son and another here in my life. I KNOW what I was doing in Florida and understand part of why I was thrown back here. We cannot chant and aspire to be bodisattvas of the earth,having to grow in the process and not HAVE to face that which keeps us from going forward.
If you all remember, I had just started chanting on July 7, after a 5 years sebatical. I effortlessly got ahold of PTD, which I had not been able to do tha whole time, then joined this thread and began conversing with all of you. On Aug 17, I found out my home here had been abandoned and trashed, On Aug. 20, I found out that a close friends child had been diagnosed with leukemia, My fathers health declining, and then Sept 16, Ivan came. Then back to Texas, in my same home, same job and same shit. I'm very heavy with all of it and know that all plays together. So, yes SoCal, I think there is a reason we are all here together....
Which I guess was the purpose of what PTD just wrote and summized in his one or two sentences....
GordyP....you learn fast! I had to laugh at what you wrote about Tommy having to type twice. And good point! Remember it when it comes back to you. You just won't believe how many times you might have to do something for the very same reason. You could have written that to me right now too. Maybe in someway we are all having points driven home for us. All I know is that this one is painful this time. I'm just chanting to not fall back and lose the calm. Maybe it was the calm to prepare me for the storms. And they are coming. I feel them. Been here done this but not at this level.
So Glad you are here! Southern Girl

And a special hello to Stone Girl. Always think of you. SG