The PHP Independence meeting took place today. Although the past week has been quite stressful and tense inside the castle, I'm hoping today's meeting would result to a better understanding and respect for each other. I hope the spirit of Independence Day will work its magic.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Grimm Brothers. Hans Christian Andersen. Nursery Rhymes. What do they all have in common? Their stories and rhymes have been passed on to children for generations around the world. But really, sometimes you have to wonder if their works are really fit for children?

The original version of the Grimm Brothers' Cinderella, for example, is nothing like how Disney told it. In the end, Cinderella's stepsisters either lost their toes or got their eyes and face pecked by Cinderella's animal friends. The original story of The Little Mermaid would probably depress the most cheerful of children. And as for those nursery rhymes. Jack and Jill is actually violent. So is Humpty Dumpty. And then there's this song:

Nobody loves me,
Everybody hates me, I'm gonna eat some worms.
Big worms, small worms, itsy bitsy teensy worms.
First one's greasy, slides down easy,
Second one sticks to the tongue.
Third one's rusted, fourth one's busted,
Fifth one tries to run.
So cut off its head and suck all the juice,
and throw the skin away.
You'll never guess how many many worms
I eat three times a day.

Uhhhhhhhh.....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yesterday, Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, was laid to rest with State honors. Whatever kind of leader or man he really was, his reign in office was admirable, in that he led his nation at a time when much of the world was in turmoil. It wasn't an easy time, but he managed to get his country through it.

It's fascinating to discover he was once a Hollywood star. If all the actors and actresses turned politicians in this country were even half the leader he was, I think we might have some hope.

Listening to the eulogies delivered by prominent politicians and people who have worked with the late President, one would get an idea of what kind of man he was, how he ran his office, his beliefs, his convictions. Amidst all the anecdotes that all these people had to say about Ronald Reagan, I found one truly fascinating. It was about how much he truly cared and loved his wife. Of her, he once said, "There goes the one person who could make me lonely just by leaving the room."

I found this fascinating... because that is exactly how I feel about you.

~*~*~*~*~*~



.:chronicled by senator skywalker at 9:28:00 AM:.
.: | :.

...