" Paradise on Earth is found in the pages of a good book,the arms of a woman or on the back of a horse."
Jesse Wilkenson, grandfather of Ernie Morris

I saw this quotation and was intrigued with it. What an incredibly simple way of looking at life...and fulfilling. It didn't take much to make him content, to keep him happy. I got curious. Who was Jesse Wilkenson? How did his quote make it through time? I researched and found out a little about him. He was born in 1882 on a ranch in a small California settlement, now known as Santa Maria. His family were some of the first settlers in this area. Jesse was the second of 10 children and at age 12, became a cowboy. He broke horses and herded cattle. In 1908, Jesse married a woman named Nora who was the first non Indian child born in San Luis Obispo County. Jesse and Nora had 4 children, two girls and two boys. Jesse learned the art of rawhide braiding as a boy. Some of his peices are in private collections and museums across the country. Jesse's grandson, Ernest Morris asked Jesse to teach him the art of rawhide braiding. Jesse told Ernie that he would on one condition, " that he would never cheat the people". Jesse died in 1965. His wife Nora and grandson Ernie were by his bed. I have to believe that a well saddled horse and an open campfire were waiting for him. That he found Paradise once again.

Robin was 19 and beautiful. Black hair and flashing eyes. Like so many other women, she made a very bad choice in a man. WE didn't know for months that he was hitting her. Again, like so many women, she hid that from us too. She was like a sister to my son. Her mom is one of my best friends and our kids grew up together. She finally told my son that her boyfriend was abusing her. My son ( who is 6'5)confronted him and "urged" him not to touch her again in anger. We talked Robin into going to stay with her grandparents in Georgia. Just getting far away from him. By this time, she was starting to realize her worth and agreed to go. Robin was packing her clothes 10 years ago today, when he kicked down the door. They fought horribly and there were bullet holes in the ceiling. I can still imagine her trying to grab the gun away from him. Finally, one bullet found it's mark. He blew the back of her head off. Then he left. Only a woman that has lost a child can understand that pain. That pain that makes you double up and fall to your knees. That pain that makes you wonder EVERY day of your life what she would look like now. Would she have children? Would she walk like you do? My son went looking for the boyfriend and that scared me even more. I was almost hysterical. I was mourning Robin and terrified that my son would find him and kill him. The boyfriend turned himself in. He has been in prison for 10 years and due to come up for parole again this October. Once again, like we have two other times, we will go to the Parole hearing. We will show these people pictures of Robin. We will tell them how much that we loved her. We will pray that they keep that monster behind bars. I will spend hours on the phone today with my friend. We will cry together, but mostly, we will remember Robin. She was someone that would have made a differance in the world. She was someone that is missed and she was someone that is still very much loved.

Hi friends, I am too tired to even try to think of something to say today. I had one that was sick all night so I am going to try and sneak a nap. HAPPY SUNDAY and love to all..

I thought that this post might make us reach back in our memories and our hearts. There are many reasons that a book can touch us. The most wonderful feeling is to be reading a page and think, " I have felt just like that". Maybe you found your book when you were a kid, going through a crisis or moving on with your life? I found my book when I was 50. My favorite book is LOSING JULIA by Jonathan Hull. It takes place in the first world war and goes on through the lifetimes of Patrick and Julia. It is a story of love, war and tragedy. I read this book several years ago and fell in love with it. I was a member of a poetry website and had listed it as my favorite book. A couple of years later, I opened my email and there was a letter with the subject line saying" Losing Julia?" I was curious and opened it. It was from a soldier in Iraq. The letter went on to say that it was HIS favorite book as well and he wanted to corespond with people who loved the book . Well,, I don't write to men that I haven't met, but it had a Military return address and for some reason that made me feel safe. I wrote him back and we continued writing. He was in a miserable marriage. I know that many men say that but this time IT was true. As the weeks passed, his wife called me ( I guess she somehow got into his email and found my phone number).She told me that she didn't love him and hoped that he was killed over there. That took away any guilt that I had about writing him. We must have written three or four times a day. He finally came home and I was terrified. I was scared to death of meeting him. He lives in Virginia and I'm in Alabama but he drove down. The odds were against us. He was 37 and I was 50. I have NO doubt that for a while he loved me. really loved me. He was the other half of my soul and I haven't gotten over him yet. He drove down sometimes twice a month and twice I picked him up at the Atlanta Airport and we went to the mountains. He had more baggage than any man that I had ever known but I loved him anyway. After about two years, I knew that it wouldn't work ( age, distance, his kids) and I ended it. He left me with something that he doesn't even see and it will always be his loss. That is why LOSING JULIA is my favorite book. Because of it, I know that at least once in my life, I loved. I Have kept all his letters, maybe to prove to myself when I'm an old woman, that I had love. I had passion and I had heartbreak. I will probably miss him very day of my life and I compare other men to him. I loved him. I love him still. What's your favorite book and why?

A man threw his wife four stories off their balcony because he couldn't afford her medical care. Yes, folks, it's a true story. The body of Criste Reimer 47, was found on the ground outside their apartment building in an upscale part of town. Criste Reimer had been ill for several years. Her weight had fallen to 75 pounds and she was partly blind. She had no health insurance and her bills were $ 700- $800 dollars a week. Stanley Reimer 51, was charged with SECOND degree murder and is jailed under a $250,000 bond. Reimer's statement said that he was desperate because he couldn't pay the bills for his wife's neurological problems and uternine cancer. When police entered the apartment, he said " she didn't jump". He walked her to the balcony, kissed her, and threw her over. What a tragedy and for several reasons. He could have filed bankruptcy. He could have just left. This story also says a lot about health care in this country. I don't know why he wasn't charged with first degree murder, unless it was because the police considered her " damaged goods". I also feel kind of sorry for him. Taking care of a chronically ill person will wear you out. It will make you crazy but people do it all the time without killing the person. The article said that he kissed her before he threw her over. He must have loved her. Maybe he also wanted to end her suffering? Maybe they discussed it and agreed on it?
I think that in a country as rich as America, NO ONE should have to do something like that. Everyone should have insurance. It's a sad, sad story and no one wins.