Good Morning & Happy New Year!!!
It's a cool 35 degrees this morning and it's cloudy but the rain has stopped. Temperatures will reach a high 44 later this afternoon with sunset at 5:31 p.m. This is part two of News from Texas. I bring you good news from second quarter with reflections and quotes:
APRIL 2020
Bartender, make it a double is what people were requesting when restaurants and bars were locked down due to the pandemic and carry-out was an option.
It wasn't long ago it was nearly impossible to purchase alcohol in Flower Mound and in many establishments hard liquor still isn't possible. When restaurants were given permission to have a liquor license, customers (regardless of age) had to hand over their driver's license to the server before customers could get a drink. You can only imagine what a joy it was when local officials allowed Beer & Wine available to go! Now people didn't have to worry about drinking and driving or going nuts without a drink while they were trying to cope with the news during the early months of the pandemic.
Thoughts to Ponder: Once the pandemic is over, can it ever go back to the way things were or will consumers expect and demand alcohol, like beer and wine to be delivered to residents of Flower Mound?
"Here's to alcohol; the cause of, and answer to, all of life's problems." ---Matt Groening
Bartender - MAKE IT A DOUBLE!
"Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity." ---Sammy Davis, Jr.
MAY 2020
Little Sadie Keller's parents were in disbelief when they realized their beautiful little girl had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in February 2015. For two excruciating years Sadie "underwent an array of tests, treatment, and trips to Children's Medical Center in Dallas," reported the Cross Timers Gazette, our local newspaper.
As most parents and teachers know, kids don't take bad news laying down - they need to stay busy. Their brains are on overtime. During 6th grade Sadie began on-line learning which allowed her more time to write a book called "Better Angels," to help other children fight childhood cancer. Because of her commitment and determination, her hard work and lobbying did not go unnoticed. Soon, she was rewarded when Congress passed the STAR Act (Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research) in 2018 and "her witnessing President Trump signing in person."
Sadie's goal is to create hope for children everywhere "providing funding to create chemotherapies that don't have so many lasting side effects." This tiny little petite girl did not believe in boundaries and traveled to Botswana, Africa to kids in hospitals to give them hope. Her book is available through Facebook, facebook.com/sadiekellerfoundation or may be in your local bookstores. But that's not all, she continues to push hard to stop the pain for parents and children and does a lot of distribution of toys and visits many in other hospitals. Her journey started when she was only seven years old and she's still fighting the fight like a good angel because she knows, as long as there is a battle, she will continue to fight.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER: Even kids without cancer are aware that when one childhood friend has cancer they all feel the effects of pain and sorrow. My own son had a best friend when they were in first grade had cancer. Cancer knocks on anyone's door. All children, even playmates are like angels.They want each other to soar, and play like other kids.---Patricia Feager
"Children are like little angels - there's no way you can't love them." ---Gisele Bundden
May 2020
Pandemic Puppies Need Love Too. Building is fun, especially when it's your dream but when something like a pandemic stops you cold in your tracks, you just have find (or create) your own path to bring things to fruition. That's exactly what happened to the volunteers of Texas Humane Tomorrow. Waiting for cooler wet weather to end and with high anticipation to get their new building open to help puppies and kittens, everything came to a screeching halt when COVID-19 came our way.
Puppies and Kitties get excited too, especially when getting out of shelters as far away as Minnesota to North Texas Foster Care. Like little children, fur babies can't wait to be in the arms of humans who can pet and love them and take them home. Patiently (or as patient as a puppy could be) they waited while the Glen & Shirley Hulcher Family Community figured out a plan. As what happened in many cities, shelters closed their doors out of safety and lock downs.
Animals are a living, breathing creature and people who volunteer do not believe in animal cruelty. Creative brain work had to take place and they acted quickly. Now animals are handled safer than ever before, gentler too and the best part is, they don't need to spend hours scheduling Board Meetings to make plans and schedule. Booster vaccines are given in people's garages. There are cat and dog teams who handle animals in the most humane way possible. Volunteers wear masks, keep their distance, and everything is sanitized. They even began house calls and pets are being placed in new and loving homes. People in and around Flower Mound are surviving this crisis and even better, puppies and kitties are too!
THOUGHTS TO PONDER: Puppies are soft and cuddly. They are a part of many children's lives and teach humans how to handle responsibilities. Although they don't come into the world wearing a shining armor they protect people and alert their owners when there is danger. Kittens are also soft and make great companions. Independence is a great teacher. Some days a dog is a kids best friend; other times there's nothing more welcoming than a kitties soft purr with its long fluffy tail. ---Patricia Feager
Animal Lovers - When it comes to pet adoptions, be like Debe Maxwell, CRS - MAKE IT A DOUBLE!
"Hold puppies, kittens, and babies anytime you get the chance." ---H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Once again, Happy New Year everyone. Perhaps this will be the year of miracles. ---Patricia Feager
