To Smile is to...

Today, I`m thinking about smiles.

I love smiles.

Smiles make you feel good.

They cross all language barriers.

And ages.

One of the first milestones we watch for in a newborn baby is that first smile.

 A smile from someone in nasty traffic is a sure-fire way to put the sun back in the sky and help you relax.

A smile is wonderful news.

A smile is friendship.

A smile is love.

But smiles are weird.

Really.

Can you think of any other species that shows its teeth (Or gums. Remember the baby…) as a sign of friendliness and/or encouragement?

Okay, I’ve seen a few dogs, cats and horses and even a couple of bears use their teeth in an ‘affectionate’ gesture of correction toward their young.

Well I assumed it was affectionate.

But seriously, who figured out that smiling was a sure fire way to say, “Hello! I’m so happy to know you! I hope you have a great day!”

It must have started somewhere.

At some point in time, someone said to themselves: I’m going to show my teeth to those people as a sign that I really like them.

See what I mean?

P.S. I did have a dog that smiled. Muffy. (She of the long, shaggy hair and the wiggly bum and the heart of sweet, sweet marshmallow.) She really smiled. But one day, when she was in the yard and I wasn’t, she smiled at the letter carrier, who then called her supervisor to report a vicious dog.

Yep. Smiles are weird.

Death by Toddler

Oh, she only looks innocent...

The soft cascade of warm water and sweet-smelling soap caresses the aged body, following every curve.

And/or bulge.

Problems and irritations disappear down the drain with the water as total relaxation is, finally, achieved.

The warm water continues.

A state of near-bliss is achieved.
Ahhh . . .

Cue: Sharp strings played in a tight Eee! Eee! Eee! Eee!

The shower curtain is pulled back abruptly.

The shower-er spins about with a startled gasp.

A shadowy figure sticks its head into the cubicle.

“Hey! Gramma! What’cha doing?!”

And ‘Gramma’ collapses and dies of a heart attack.

Okay, it doesn’t quite have the punch of the original Psycho. But the death is just as real.

And permanent.

Death by Toddler!

Coming soon to a shower near you.

Rated: ‘T’ for Toddler. There is no stronger rating…

P.S. Grandma is looking into locks for her bathroom door. It has suddenly come under the heading: Essential.

17 17's

 With all the turmoil, I’m worried today. So how will I handle it? I will tell jokes…

You know, I think working in a mirror factory is totally something I can see myself doing.

(I love this one!) I tried really, really hard to catch some fog the other day. Mist.

Someone stole my Microsoft Office the other day and they are gonna pay. You have my Word.

A Roman Legionnaire walks into a bar and hold up two fingers and says, “Five beers, please.”

(Something I just read…) According to statistics, someone in London gets stabbed every 52 seconds. Poor beggar.

I had an event last week. I broke my finger. On the other hand, I am okay!

Here’s something: You know, you are not completely useless. You can always serve as a bad example.

How many Germans does it take to screw in lightbulbs? One. They’re efficient and not very funny.

Women call me ugly until they find out how much money I make. Then I’m ugly and poor.

My grandfather has the heart of a lion. He also has a lifetime ban at the zoo.

Some horrible person went and stole my mood ring. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Parallel lines have so much in common. It is a real shame they will never, ever meet.

You don’t need a parachute to go skydiving. You only need a parachute to go skydiving twice.

Yesterday, my wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.

This just in: I threw a boomerang a few years ago. Now I live in constant fear.

Just say NO to drugs! Well, if I’m talking to my drugs, I’ve probably already said yes.

I told my wife that she was drawing her eyebrows too high. You know, she looked surprised.

Word Counters is a fun word challenge. 

This month's number? 17!

Assigned by me! 

Ready for more?

See what my fellow Word Counters have wrought!

BakingIn A Tornado                    

Messymimi’sMeanderings           

My Hero

 

At six, the first that I recall,

Was in a book for children, small,

A bear who loved his friends and life,

Caused no pain or hurt or strife!

 

At eight, I moved to Nancy Drew,

And Hardy Boys, to name a few,

And Trixie Beldon, Ames girls, wow!

Were certainly the cat’s meow!

 

From there my heroes came and went,

But mostly had a ‘horsey’ bent,

Alex and Black, and Flicka, Ken,

Sham and Agba, read again.

 

Then others picked by happenstance

Until I found Gothic romance.

Filled with love and hate. Desire,

They set my teenaged heart on fire!

 

I read the classics, heroes there

Who managed on a hope. And prayer,

Each time I read with heart agape,

Of daring deeds and tight escapes.

 

I read a lot and wrote a bit,

Had many heroes I admit,

But none were greater, none more fair,

Than that first, stuffed and ‘small-brained’ bear.

 

‘Tis sixty years since last I stood,

With Pooh in ‘Hundred Acre Wood’,

I know this day’s for him, the bear

Who gave such gentle, reasoned care,

 

Two things of many that he said,

They’re part of me, stuck in my head,

If you don’t mind, ‘cause you’re my friend,

Instead of hugs, these words I’ll send:

 

“If there’s…a day…we can’t be together,

Keep me in your heart and I’ll stay there forever!”

“If you live to…a hundred, I want that, less one day,

So I’m never without you whenever I play!”

Cause Mondays do get knocked a lot,

With poetry, we all besought

To try to make the week begin

With gentle thoughts,

Perhaps a grin?

So Jenny, Charlotte, Mimi, me

Have crafted poems for you to see.

And now you’ve read what we have wrought…

Did we help?

Or did we not?

Next week, in poems from near and far,

We'll talk about our favourite car!

Thinking of joining us for Poetry Monday?

We'd love to welcome you!

Topics for the next few weeks...

Spunky Old Broads (February 1)

Craziest Vacation Memory (February 8)

From Your Pet's Point of View (February 15)

Favourite Word that Starts With D (February 22)