As you wish...

Yet another assignment I'd given each of the children as a lesson when they would misbehave. It is plain to see who had the most lessons to learn.

"Wear a hat when feeding seagulls."
-Matt

"Sleep in your clothes so you'll be dressed in the morning."
- L

"Don't flush the john when someone in the shower."
- Matt

"Don't ever be too full for dessert."
- L

"When Roger is mad and asks you, 'Do I look stupid?' don't answer him."
- Mello

"Don't pick on Near when he's holding a baseball bat."
- Mello

"Never try to baptize a cat."
- B

"Never spit when on a roller coaster."
- L

"Never do pranks at a police station."
- Mello

"Beware of cafeteria food when it looks like it's moving."
- L

"Never tell anyone that you're not going to do what Watari told you to do."
- Mello

"Remember you're never too old to hold your father's hand."
- L

"Listen to your brain. It has lots of information."
- Near

"Stay away from prunes."
- L

"Never dare Matt to paint Watari's car."
- Mello

"Forget the cake, go for the icing."
- L

"When you want something expensive, ask Roger."
- Near

While upon my visit to The Wammy House with L, I took the time to rummage through some of the work I had the children do and I came across a particular assignment that every child is given.  I give them each the first part of the proverb and they finish it.  It didn't do anything except amuse Roger and myself. I cannot believe some of the things these children have said.

Better to be safe than....................punch Mello. - Matt

Strike while the.........................bug is close. - Beyond Birthday.

It's always darkest before..............daylight savings time. - L

Never underestimate the power of............termites. - Beyond Birthday.

You can lead a horse to water but ...........how? - Mello

Don't bite the hand that.......................looks dirty. - Matt

No news is.........................impossible. -Near

A miss is as good as a........................Mr. - Mello

You can't teach an old dog.....................math. -  Matt

If you lie down with dogs, you.......will stink in the morning. - L

Love all, trust........................me. - Mello

The pen is mightier than......................the toy soldier. - Near

An idle mind is......................the best way to relax. - L

Where there is smoke, there's..............pollution. - Matt

Happy is the bride who..................gets all the presents. - Mello

A penny saved is.........................not much. - Matt

Two is company, three's.....................The Musketeers. - Beyond Birthday

None are so blind as.....................Helen Keller. - After

Children should be seen and not..........spanked or grounded. - Mello

If at first you don't succeed............get new batteries. - Matt

You get out of something what you.......see pictured on the box. - Near

When the blind lead the blind.................get out of the way. - Matt

There is no fool like...........................Roger Ruvie - Near

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. Cry and......you have to blow
your nose. - L

1. There is no such thing as child proofing your house.

2. A four year olds voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded
restaurant.

3. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not
strong enough to rotate 42 pound boy wearing pound puppy
underwear and a Superman cape.

4. Baseballs make marks on ceilings.

5. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball
hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you here the toilet flush and the words "uh-oh" it is
already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Chlorox makes smoke, lots of it.

9. A six year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though
a 36 year old man says it can only be done in the movies.

10. If you use a waterbed as home plate while wearing baseball shoes,
it does not leak...it explodes.

11. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft.
house almost 4 inches deep.

12. Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4 year old.

13. Duplos will not.

14. Playdough and microwaves should never be used in the same
sentence.

15. Superglue is forever.

16. VCR's do not eject PB&J sandwiches, even though TV commercials
show they do.

17. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

18. Marbles in a gas tank make lots of noises when driving.

19. You probably do not want to know what that odor is.

20. Always look in the oven before you turn it on.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms
dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24. A good sense of humor will get you through most problems in life
(unfortunately, mostly in retrospect).

25. These apply even after the child reaches adulthood.

Mary enjoyed Dean Martin. Sadly, I had completely forgotten how much she admired the man and all of his talents until this morning when I heard Return to Me from the radio. I have not heard that song for at least fifteen years, and at least twenty-seven before that.

Before she became too ill, I would hear her sing it through our home, and even now, I sometimes can still hear her voice. It was angelic at best and the day she passed, she sang it until she fell into her last slumber.

How could I have forgotten something as beautiful and precious as that song?

Perhaps old age is taking it's toll on me.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 cup sour milk
• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 quart fresh strawberries
• 2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped