joeccombs2nd

This past week I was invited back to one of my old elementary schools Moseley Elementary School in Palatka, Florida. It wasn’t for remedial class, I wasn’t in detention (this time), nor was I being summoned to the principal’s office. Ms. Faircloth’s second grade class invited me to read and talk with them. They are a very bright group of children. I read A Grandfather’s Legacy and then the class asked an assortment of questions about writing, publishing, the navy, and a whole host of other topics. I was very impressed and delighted to spend the afternoon with this class, and even the school librarian dropped by. (The schools security is very impressive as well.)

Thank you very much one and all, and I wish you much success in the future.

Very Respectfully,

Joe C Combs 2nd

Joe & Ms. Faircloth

A student asking for an autograph.

Class, teacher, and author.

Ms. Breton the school librarian.

Joe & Ms. Faircloth

I had a post already written for today, but I am going to use it latter. Today I want to give you something from George Carlin. (just follow the link)

Yes, he was a comedian, a great comedian at that. Also, I have already read this before. But, I saw it this weekend and reread it. I want you to read it and think about it. Do any of these apply to you? What can you do to change that. You know – you really should too.

https://www.facebook.com/joe.combs2/posts/1172911939404974?comment_id=1172918116071023

The Most Expensive Gift You Can Give.

You might think it is a little early for me to talk about gifts, but many stores were already decorating for Christmas before October was even here.

So, if you would like to give that special someone the most precious gift you can, here it is.

Give them you. No, I am not talking about proposing marriage (but you can do that if you want). I am talking about giving them your time – undivided, completely, and totally – with your mouth closed.

The next time someone talks to you, stop what you are doing and then turn towards them with your body and look at their face. Listen to their words, not so you can think of what you will say in response. Listen to them so you can hear them and understand them. Watch their facial expressions and how they communicate with their hands and their body. Do not respond, just listen. Try to understand what they are saying as if you WERE them.

Those seconds or minutes, that is the most precious gift. Your time, once it is gone, it is gone forever. Each second of your life is precious and can never be retrieved, so spend it wisely.

If you want to give someone the most expensive gift you can? Listen to them completely and totally, with no thought to what you will say, but with all your thoughts used to comprehend what they are saying.

That is the most precious gift you can give to anyone.

I am going to make this short. Nothing I can say will do justice to this cause.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I believe this is one cancer we are very close to curing. All of us have lost friends and family members or know people who have lost friends and family members to this disease. I also know survivors. This is a disease that will continue to touch us all until we defeat it.

So, please ~ do what you can to help us defeat breast cancer this month (and every month).

I had the best summer ever I went on a two week trip ALL with my dad! It might not seem that exciting to you, but my parents are divorced so when I found out I was going on a two week trip with my dad I basically screamed my head off! The only annoying part was my mom she packed a giant suitcase that you would have at the airport, a medium sized one, and one that was a little higher than a foot. And only like half maybe even less was filled up, I mean COME ON! Any ways the first week me and my dad went to Missouri to visit my dad’s brother. We were going to stay at his house I was soo excited. We went by car in my dad’s truck. Luckily I brought a DVD player so I wasn’t bored the whole trip. Before we arrived my dad told me they had a cat and when we arrived with the knowledge that I had I scurried off to find the cat, after we were greeted nicely at the door by my uncle’s mother-in-law. At the end my uncle’s daughter gave me a homemade scarf. It was pink, it was giant, it was thoughtful of her. In fact I thought it was so touching that it felt like I just found the fountain of youth! Well maybe not that happy, but you get the idea. Remember that was only the first week …

Elizabeth & Joe Combs in an Office of Naval Research (O.N.R.) submarine, April 2008.