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Good Intentions
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Good Intentions |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States 
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Good Intentions By Larry Chadwick Where do you keep your good intentions? Until recently I kept mine all over the house. Even had some in the garage. Twelve years ago I was doing some custom furniture building out of my own shop. During that time I built and designed a small drop-lid desk that had a real feminine appeal. There were four drawers of equal size in the base with a lovely routed pattern outlined on each drawer and detailed in the top drawer. The upper part of the desk had an unusually shaped lid that had an antique ogee shaped into the edge. Inside there were three small drawers and pigeon holes that had a scalloped front edge matching the trim on the bottom front of the desk. I build a dozen of them and sold eleven. The one I intended to keep for myself I gave away to a friend in gratitude for all they had done for us. Years went by and I continued to accumulate my good intentions. Still they were scattered about the house but I persisted. Then on my journey to be at my dad’s side as he died I had opportunity to stay at my favorite aunt’s home. She shared her basement bedroom with us. It was a bright spot in an otherwise painful visit. There in my guest bedroom stood one of the drop lid desks that I had built years ago. I could hardly wait until the next morning to let her know how pleased I was that she was in possession of one of my pieces. She confirmed how nice it was but that she was intending to sell it. Without hesitation I committed to buy it. After burying my father I loaded up the camper on the pickup I had given him along with the drop-lid desk and headed home. It was a long interstate drive providing ample opportunity to reassess my life. I had just buried my father exactly ten weeks after burying my twenty-eight year old daughter. Both deaths were completely unexpected. Time went by and two years later we were able to buy our first home. Needless to say we have been working at “settling in”. After many years of apartment living it is a pleasant experience to find a place for each item that we own. Oddly enough it has also been unsettling. Which brings me back to my good intentions. In the drawers of my drop-lid desk I have gathered all the photographs that are not in albums. The upper portion of the desk serves exceptionally well for organizing all my good intentions. We have collected close to three hundred dollars worth of greeting cards. Tragically I have a small collection of cards that were purchased for my deceased grandmother. But I also found cards that my daughter and my dad will never see. Good intentions. I had no idea they could be so painful. We are putting a greater effort in to following through on our intentions. The fact that it does not cost as much for now is a strange benefit. So where do you keep your good intentions? November 1, 2004 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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| © Copyright 2004 Larry Chadwick - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
So where do you keep your good intentions? ~*~ You have to know how close to home this is. Where do I keep mine, now? In promises, kept.  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Karilea, Thank you dear friend. We mean so well... If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
*smiling at you for this one* ironic how life teaches us lessons long after we think we are too old to learn. Life has made you a wise man...and lucky for us...we learn from you.  Poetry is emotion put into measure. |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
JM, Words all the more meaningful to me with your credibility. And YOU dear lady do my heart much good. Hope all is well and that you are settled in. Peace, If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
Larry: After reading your insightful piece, I realize my good intentions are lying all over my office/sewing room. Unfinished sewing projects, unfinished books and magazines and correspondence. Also boxes of unsorted pictures, which I am slowly putting into albums. I am resolved to deal with it all! Wish me luck! Betty Lou Betty Lou Hebert |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Oh Larry, you do get down to business, don't you? Where do I keep my good intentions? Ouch! Lots of unfinished here!!! BUT...This week I began in the kitchen, making homemade meals for my family. (My husband used to insist on cooking because of my work schedule.) I can't believe that I actually have prepared delicious meals--I didn't think I could cook because he always did it. Taking my good intentions into the kitchen has been most rewarding to all.) Enjoyed this, as I do all your work. YOu really know how to probe the mind! miscellanea |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
When I read your opening question... my response was a bit facetious... for I've long said I'm responsible for much of the smooth trip if the road to hell is paved with good intentions. *S* But as I read... I realized that many of those intentions aren't that important... Who cares if a book lies gathering dust if I've played with my nephew? Or if I vacuum less for the chance to say hello more? I guess we've both learned some lessons painfully... and rearranged our priorities accordingly. *S* Excellent, thought-provoking work! *S* |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
I love this, mind if I save it?  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Betty Lou, I know the feeling! Good luck and thank you dear friend. Ah Cathy, Thank you sweet lady. And seems you started just in time for the holidays too!  Ruth, Yes mam that is exactly what we've learned. Hope we don't forget any time soon because I don't want to be taught again for a long time. Kaoru, Are you kidding? Thanks sweet mommy. And by the way, I have some daughter b'day cards unused... If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Bravo!! Excellent message in this write. A bunch of wisdom too. Enjoyed... JL She said: ”You look cute in the dark.” |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
JL, Thanks for searching out my writing. When I'm back online at home I'll look up your gems too. And I appreciate your kind words. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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merlynh Member
since 1999-09-26
Posts 411deer park, wa |
Fourteen months ago my wife died and I haven’t got rid of all her stuff yet; you know personal papers. In them I found notes I had wrote her. She often asked why I keep love letters she had wrote me after we first meet. I find that her cherished notes were also like the letters full of good intentions showing love. It’s the simple acts that are sincere we don’t realize are the most important intentions left behind. Though most of our intentions aren’t always understood; most certainly the sincere ones are the ones that count. The ones no one asked us to do, but simply an act of kindness. I only trust in God that he knows our intentions even though sometimes others do not. Trust that the misunderstood ones aren’t held against anyone, and that we learn from sincere intention to follow its course keeping in mind he knows our minds. |
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ESP Member Elite
since 2000-01-25
Posts 2556Floating gently on a cloud.... |
Good intentions...doesn't it feel good when they become more than just intentions? The timing of this is appropriate, I intend to go out and make the most of this day. Excuse me while I convert intention into action... Thanks for sharing this! Lizzie. "Time has told me not to ask for more, one day our ocean will find its shore" ~Nick Drake |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
merlynh, I am so sorry about your loss. That is grief I don't think I can compute. I pray you are indeed healing. I keep saying "grief without growth is pain without purpose". So I hope things a getting better. BTW, I was born near Deer Park - in Newport. Raised my kids in WW2 and still have tons of family up in your neck of the woods! Peace, hope and courage to you. Lizzie, Indeed you are sooo right. And thanks for the cheering words. Peace. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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