Love Conquers All

The Great Escape

The crack of thunder rattled the barn windows. Crazy Legs & Black Beast stared into each other's enormous blue eyes.  The black of their noses lightly grazed one another.

"Neigh!"

"Neigh!"

"Neigh!"

On the count of three neighs, both of the  great beauties dashed out the red and white barn door, and into the High Plains ,Georgia, night. They left the screaming pigs,  meowing barn cats, and howling pooches behind them. 

Only two obstacles stood in their way. The first challenge would be finding their way through the chest high grass. The other hurdle would be the treacherously slippery grass in this torrential rainstorm.  

This daring move to outsmart their viciously cruel owner, Jim Handy, had never been attempted before, by any of the animals in mean Old Jim Handy’s barn.

Run For The Hills

A mile of rolling hills, and rain-soaked grass had passed, as natural as the moon passes over the sun, every night. Crazy Legs unknowingly continued to plow ahead without his soulmate. His legs thundered through the tall grass without ever losing momentum. He was going faster than the time he won the High Plains Georgia Grand Stakes Race. 

In the meantime, Black Beast was standing on the hill, and letting the rain trounce her beautiful silky fur coat.

Fear took over Crazy Legs. He couldn't see his lover, in the rain.  He hoped she would catch up soon. He didn't know the dangerous truth.

"Run, Black Beauty!  Run!"

Crazy Legs realized he had to wait for his darling.  He found cover under a maple tree at the bottom of a hill. He beighed three times with all of his power. 

"Black Beauty, Baby. Black Beauty!"

"Where are you?"

Crazy Legs began to cry.

"I have been looking forward to this day since the first day of Seventh Horse Grade. "

Still bo sign of his one and only true love. 

Crazy Legs cried even louder, and harder. 

The Power Of Love

Finally,  Crazy Legs circled back. He knew his Soul Mate's problem. 

For fifteen horse years, before every rain storm, Black Beast had heard their viscous owner, mean old Jim Handy tell his wife Cindy Handy,  ,

"It's gonna rain cats and dogs. And, you know I only fear one thing in this world. This fear is that all the cats and dogs in this world that I have tortured will fall from the sky in one prolific rain storm.  Then, they will attack me for all the times I tied their tails together. We must get inside. "

This constant declaration by mean old Jim Handy had instilled an obscure fear in the beautiful horse.  She feared for many years now that  on the night of her wedding to Crazy Legs that she was going to be killed by a dog or a cat falling from a rainy sky, since she knew they planned to be married on a rainy night. 

Crazy Legs finally found her, standing still as an ice cube would stand in the Siberian Forrest.

"Black Beauty! It's not really going to rain Cats and Dogs!"

"How do you know it won't rain Cats and Dogs, Crazy Legs?"

"Love always overpowers fear. And, my love for you will certainly overpower your fear of death on our special nigbt."

Crazy Legs had been telling Black Beauty now for five horse years that this night would come They would escape the wrath of mean old Jim Handy on a rainy night, and take one another's hoof in horse marriage, by no later than June 27th, at 11:59 p.m.

Was it good fortune, or destiny? Black Beauty snapped out of her funk. She began to run up and down the rolling hills again. This time, she trotted stride for stride with Crazy Legs.

Eventually, she led the way.  She was guiding them  to their favorite maple tree. It was the same place that they hoof swore back in Seventh Horse Grade that they would marry by this night. . 

As the run continued,  silence like two old pals watching TV together on a Friday night ensued They scurried ten more slippery miles to their favorite tree. When they arrived at the tree, Crazy Legs' best man, Stallion Eyes was waiting with a horse tux for Crazy Legs, just like he promised him five years ago. Black Beauty's best horse woman , Purple Beauty, was waiting for her with a horse dress. 

After they each got dressed, they realized that they were missing the most important horse. . His name was, Reverend Ed. Ed was.the horse in charge of marrying horses in High Plains, Georgia.

Black Beauty nearly collapsed with sadness when she didn’t see him. If Reverend Ed did not show up within the next five minutes,  they were never going to be able to get married by June 27th, 1969, and she did not want to start a life together with someone whose first promise was not fulfilled. 

Crazy Legs rubbed his ear against the side of Black Beauty's face. 

"It will be OK. There is nothing to fear, while my love is here. "

"Are you sure Crazy Legs? "

"Why of course! Love conquers all!"

They heard a voice. The voice was coming from a talking tree. This chatter from a tree stunned Crazy Legs and Black Beauty.  They had heard their human masters talk. They had also heard dogs in the barn talk,  cats talk, and outside pigs talk, but never a tree talking.  They had only ever heard a tree singing before.  

"Hey Horses, come here. Don't worry. "

The group walked slowly towards the tree. 

"Reverend Ed couldn't make it tonight due to the rainy weather.  But, he told me that you guys were coming. And, I am a tree Reverend that can also marry animals. So, let's get on with it since I know you have a 12 o'clock deadline to meet. "

Love Conquers All

Just as the rain stopped, Mr. Reverend Tree pronounced Crazy Legs and Black Beast Horse Bride and Horse Groom. The pronouncement came at exactly 11:59 on their last day of Twelth Horse Grade

As he watched their beautiful Horse Kiss, Mr. Reverend Tree declared to all the trees in the Forrest that love does conquer all. 

Black Beauty pulled her lips away for a moment. 

"Crazy Legs. You were right. Your love for me  conquers all. "

3 TTT's (Things to think about)

1. Inspiration- I got the idea for the story after I read a classic novel originally published in Victorian Times called , Black Beauty. The author Anna Sewell wrote the book to introduce the idea of treating horses with kindness and empathy.  Even though,  she died shortly after publication, the book has served as an important tool in the promotion of animal right for more than a century 

2.  Fear of Raining Cats & Dogs - A British poet in 1738 named Jonathan Swift wrote a satire where one of the main characters, an upper-classmen has an irrational fear of r

3. Love- Love conquers all is one of the most cliche expressions available in the English language. Do you truly believe love conquers all? If you do believe so, can love possibly conquer  one of the most existential threats we face right now regarding a power hungry Vladimir Putin? What is Putin afraid of?

Gone But Not Forgotten

To Read or To Listen?

👉Do you prefer to read the story or watch it? You're in luck:)

👉You can watch it HERE, or read below👇

"Hey Dad, will you stop at the King Burger Ranch when you head into town later today?"

"Maybe."

"You will be home to watch the baseball game tonight, right?"

"I might, I might not."

That was the last time I ever talked to my dad.

He had been telling us for the last six months that he was running out of money. I used to tell him that if I could get a million dollars, that I would give it all to him.

From what Mom says, it’s really hard when you're a dad and you don't have enough money to take care of your family.

Mom said she used to tell him to go to the doctor to tell someone that he was feeling sad. But he used to tell her that he ain't ever gonna see no Funny Farm Doctor.

The Funny Farm Doctor sounds more fun than my doctor. He just hits my knee with a hammer when I go see him, and asks me if that hurts.

It would be dumb not to tell a doctor the truth. Of course hitting me on the knee with a hammer hurts.

A week went by, slower than it does in the summer and it rained every stinkin' day. Mom spent most of the mornings and nights with our dog, Lucky, looking out of the window for Dad to come back. I began wondering if I was going to have to take Mom to the Funny Farm Doctor.

Dad never came back. The good news was his funeral wasn't as bad as I expected. Most of the people just told stories about all the times that Dad made them laugh.

Dad's bestest friend even wrote a funny poem. I didn't understand much of it, but  everyone laughed when the man said, "Oh Richard." And he said, ‘Oh Richard’ nearly forty  times before I stopped counting.

After the priest said some prayers, Mom told a story about the first time she met Dad. They were playing a game of tag out in the fields, or something. That's when the story got all mushy, and Dad gave Mom a big yucky kiss.

One of Dad's lady friends at the funeral came up with a cooky idea. She said, ”How about we all head out to Richard's field, and play a game of tag?”

It turned out her idea wasn't cooky after all. It was the greatest thing ever. All the grownups and kids in Sayersville ran and ran, and ran some more, tagging everyone they could. Oh man, I got tagged 472 times - then I stopped counting again.

When it got dark we all used a knife to carve our names into the oak tree with a message that said, "Gone But Not Forgotten, Richard. "

I had the coolest dad ever, even if he did run away, just because he ran out of his money.

    The End

🤟................................🤟

3 TTT's (Things To Think on)

1. ) The original Inspiration for this story came from a third grade girl named Anna that I taught this last year. She was one of the most interesting students I ever taught in Taiwan.  Some days, she could hold an English conversation with me almost as if English was her first language. Other days, she could barely answer,  "How are you?" On one particular day I asked her what would you do if I gave you a million dollars.  In one of the nicest.things I ever heard someone say, she said, "I would give it all to my dad because he always tells us he is running out of his money. "

2. ) Do you know how many children worldwide are in foster care? An organization called Kidsave  estimated that 8 million kids worldwide currently have basically been abandoned?

3.) If you want to help Kidsave to work towards achieving their mission of ending childhood suffering,  you can donate HERE 

Laugh Cry Think

Scary Sand Crabs

“The crab!"

"The crab!"

"Oh my God! The crab is coming to get us, MOM!"

"Oh Billy, you are so silly. That crab is smaller than your smallest little toe."

Billy grabbed his mom's hand.

"Billy, 3-2-1 GET BACK IN THE POOL!"

But Billy yelled in shock when he saw another crab.

"The crab!"

"The CRAB!"

"The CRAB is coming to get us, MOM!"

"Oh Billy, you're so silly!"

Then, Billy laughed so hard that his mom fell into the globety-guckety-muckety wet mess of sand with Billy. 

"Hey Silly Billy. Put your little toesie woesies in the sand too."

Mom waited…

"BILLY. BILLY."

She traced her fingers over his little chest.

"The CRAB. The CRAB. It's coming for…"

"For what Mom? Tell ME!"

Mom's fingers backed up, down away from Billy's neck, and towards his little belt.

Underwear-Stealing Crabs

"The CRAB! It's coming for your ..."

Mom put her hands on her cheeks.

"It's coming for your UNDERWEAR!"

Little Billy jumped out of the sand, and the sand on his shirt flew into the  eye of a Flying Crab.

Mom ran at Little Billy's heels.

"Run faster Billy. Now, it's coming for my underwear too."

Little Billy looked up at the sky.

"Look MOM. It's a Josco."

MOM saw nothing.

"What is it, Little Billy?"

"It's Josco The Underwear Stealing Flying Crab.”

Billy hid behind Mom.

Mom felt her heartbeat for the first time since Little Billy’s dad went off to Heaven.

Angels Appear In Strange Places 

“Look up, Mom.” 

She saw it too.

She held Billy’s hand and they watched as the angel wrote a message in the clouds. 

“If you laugh, if you cry, and if you think, then it’s a good day.”

Today was a good day for Little Billy and his mom.

Further thoughts

1. Original Inspiration- I got the idea for this story from a speech I watched when I was a kid. It was done by an American basketball coach named Jim Valvano during the '93 ESPY Awards. (WATCH VIDEO). At the time of the speech,  he was terminally ill with cancer. One of the most memorable parts of the speech was when he talked about if you want to live a great life that you should do three things every day. Those three things are that you should laugh, cry, and think.

2 Cancer Research Needs Our Support - Jim Valvano died only a few days after he made that speech. The theme of his message that night was that cancer research needs our support.  During his talk,  he announced the creation of a cancer research  foundation naned after him. It was called the Jimmy V Foundation. It has raised 290 million dollars to suport the fight against cancer. You can READ MORE about this tremendous organization. 

3. )One Cancer You Probably Never Heard Of -Has cancer effected someone you love? Wanna do something about it? My father was recently diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of  a terminal Cancer,  called AL Amyloidosis. There are only 4500 diagnosed cases each year which means donations for a cure are often overlooked.  If you would like to know more about how to donate, GO HERE

One more thing...

Do you like to be read to?  Who doesn't,  right?  For an audio reading of the same story, GO HERE 

I'll Fly Away

The Unlucky Seven

Seven of us will breathe our last breath today.

Seven of us will eat our last ice cream today.

Seven of us will drink our last soda today.

Seven of us will hug our moms and dads for the very last time today, before going  to sleep tonight.

There goes the idea my first-grade teacher told us, that the number seven is a lucky number in America.

Bills & Tests- Are They Important ?

Some of you, kids and adults, might not feel so great today. The kids may be worrying about tests at school, and parents may be worrying about paying bills. This is mostly what my mom and dad do, worry about bills. And my brother and sister just worry about stupid tests.

I’m here to tell you that I would give anything to have the same opportunities all of you have right now. To keep breathing, continue playing, because, let’s face it, if we’re not playing, then there really is no reason to breathe.

Help Me Doctor Tommy

My situation is different though, and last night I begged Doctor Tommy to make it different. I said, “How about you and me play a game of Paper, Scissor, Stone. If I win the game, you make sure that I am able to get up and play games tomorrow, draw in my notebook, play with my Lego. Anything, just regular old kid stuff. You’re the doctor, you make sure that I get to do all of this if I win.

Dr. Tommy gave me a big hug, and said, “I would gladly give up the opportunity to play games, even breathe, if that meant you got to keep going. To be honest kid, you deserve it more than I do. But, sometimes, this world is not fair. My skills, knowledge and tools have done all they can. And, tonight, I’m sorry but this will be the last time you go to sleep.”

It was harsh but honest, so I returned Dr. Tommy’s big hug, and told him that I appreciated how much he did to keep me breathing, but if it was time for my games to end, then it was time for my games to end.

My Secret Weapon

It’s really not all bad. There’s no need to shed tears for me, unless you are wiping away tears of happiness. You see, through all this stuff which has been really difficult, I’ve had my own secret weapon. I call it my SBP (Super Brain Power.)

During our third grade Show and Tell Day, one of the kids in our class, Bobby Johnson, brought his father into our class. We called him Mr. Johnson. He lost his legs in an accident. A motorcycle ran them over, or something like that.

Mr. Johnson was cool. He became really good at riding his bike after the accident, so good that he won a Para Olympic Gold medal.

When Mr. Johnson came to our Show and Tell, he taught us how to use our SBP (Super Brain Power). First, we all had to close our eyes. Not all of us did it of course. Then he played soft music, and my buddy Tommy started laughing.

However, after that it was amazing. He talked about pretending we were in whatever place we wanted to be. Soon, nobody was making weird laughing noises anymore, or doing other strange  kids’ stuff. I could feel the smiles in the room, even though our eyes were closed.

After we opened our eyes and turned off the strange music, we talked about what it was like to “SBP it up,” as Mr. Johnson called it. Most of the other kids in class pretended to be doing things like fighting a lion, or winning a Super Bowl. 

All  I Ever Wanted To Do Is Fly

It was easy for me to decide what to do. Ever since I went to the beach for the first time when I was three years old, and a seagull flew away with my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I wanted to fly. So, I pretended I was a  bird, and became free.

So, this SBP training helped me a couple years later when the doctors told me I had cancer. Every time I went to the hospital and Dr. Tommy gave me the shots that hurt so bad, I  SBP’d myself into the land where I could fly away up into the clouds. It was always so calm and peaceful there.

When Dr. Tommy comes into my room tonight, he is going to hold my hand tight and tell me, “It’s time to fly away.”

I am looking forward to it!

My Dad May Have Died On September 11th, But His Legacy Must Live On

September 11, 2001, started out like  a regular old boring school day, here in New York. It was about as exciting as walking home from school with my kid brother.  

I was rocking the same Don Mattingly jersey that I wore every Monday morning. If you don't know who Don Mattingly is, he was only like the greatest first basrman EVER for the New York Yankees.

I wore his jersey for a good reason  About a year ago,  Laura Slayton told me she thought Mattingly was the coolest New York Yankee player of all-time. I didn't really care what Laura Slayton thought or anything dumb like that,  But, she was friends with Emily Landis, and well, Emily was like super hot and super cool. My friend Steve Rogers heard that Emily  Landis was so cool that she even liked to sneak into the R rated movies with some high school girls.

The Day First Period Actually Wasn't Boring

First period was ALWAYS the boringest out of all our boring-ass boring periods and was seeming no different on September 11, 2001. 

After we stood up and said the stupid Pledge Of Allegiance,  our social studies teacher,  Mr. Italy, started class with a ramble about how the The Constitution of the United State is supposedly so important.  I was  kind of pretending to take notes, and just trying not to get caught checking out Emily Landis when the principal, Mr. Dent, called Mr. Italy out to the hallway. Mr. Italy wagged his finger at us and told us all to sit down and shut up while he walked outside.  Otherwise,  we would all get a detention or something stupid like thst.

You don't have to be a fortune teller to figure out what we did when Mr. Italy and Mr. Dent walked out into the hall. Of course, we all started messing around when they walked away.  I sent a note to Emily Landis asking her if she wanted to go to see an R rated movie this weekend, and a couple of other boys sent notes to different girls. I gotta say i sent the note to the hottest girl in 8th grade.

The Only Time Mr. Italy Didn’t Holler At Us

Then, Mr. Italy came back in the room, with a different look than he usually had when he came back into the classroom and we were all messing around.He didn't even scream at the boys that were talking.

He didn't even say anything, as he walked over to the TV.  

We all stopped talking as he turned the TV on. We knew this wasn't like when he used to turn the TV on for a reward after we passed some dumb test.

That's when we saw it....

The World Trade Center was on fire. 

The news channels sure were good at scaring kids on this day. First, they kept showing the planes crashing over and over again. Then , they showed something worse. We watched people jumping out of burning buildings.  That was creepier because buildings are just buildings,  but seeing people jump to their death was wicked for a room full of 13 year old kids.

I Knew I Would Never See My Dad Again

I think I can say this stuff was especially terrible for me. I could only think about my dad.

When the bell rang,  I was frozen to my chair. I guess they had to get school nurse in the room, to help me snap out of it. 

The reason for all this crazy stuff by me was my dad was a volunteer firefighter, and I knew he was nuts enough to head right for those burning buildings. 

Also, you see, my dad wasn't just a normal dad who just like paid the bills, and occasionally yelled at his kids. He was an awesome dad. He went to all my baseball games. He always listened to me talk about girls at school, boring teachers, and all the other boring stuff that annoying kids talk about.. He was like another one of the guys. But, I still couldn't pull one over on him, or anything like that. 

Apparently,  my gut was right. He left his day job that morning, as a teacher. Rushed to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge, since he heard that was on fire. He was there with all his fire crap on . He ran all the way to the other end of the bridge, which was 5km`s.  I guess he saved three people in his way to help put out the fire. But, the smoke eventually caught up with him, and I guess he basically just coughed to death. Mom and I knew that he would eventually die for someone else.

Different Place, Same Troubles

After that happened, mom couldn't take being anywhere near New York anymore . So, she threw all of our stuff in dad's old truck, and moved us up to Alaska. It's cool being up here.  But,  it doesn't really bring Dad back or anything. 

 I feel like we just put all of our problems in the trunk of Mom`s car,  and drove them all the way to Alaska.  I cry like twice a week. Especially in the summer. This is when I really misd playing catch with Dad. I guess she cries like twice a minute. 

But, the good news is that I was out messing around, late last night back by Smith Road. And, my new  girlfriend Caroline and I found a bridge, that is exactly five kilometers long.

So, we are going to see if the local fire department can lend us some of their junk, and we are going to get all the kids at our school to have a 5km race next year, while each of us lugs around all that fireman stuff.

Even if I can't play catch with him again for a while, at least me and a bunch of kids can pretend like we might be as brave as him.

I hope he can see us, from wherever he is.

Further Thoughts 

The inspiration for this story came from the podcast,  20 for 20. The 20 for 20 podcast is a podcast that tells 20 stories of miraculous heroism during the tragic events of September 11th. During episode number on, they honor a man named Stephen Siller who ran through a closed tunnel with 60 pounds of  gear on his back in an unsuccessful attempt to save the lives of others. 

I also highly suggest you check out more info about the man who founded the 20 for 20 podcast,  Niels Jorgensen . Mr. Jorgensen has selflessly dedicated a great portion of his life to raising awareness for the survivors of 9/11 that the United States government failed to provide adequate health insurance for.

Do you think you could have been as brave as people like Stephen Siller and Niels Jorgensen if you were faced with such tremendous adversities?  My opinion is that the hero  inside all of us can be released if we are truly tested. 

Flying Sharks

July 20th, 1969

Mr. & Mrs. Astronaut Get Locked Out

"Honey, why did you give the keys to Howard Pug?"

"My dearest Astronaut husband... Howard Pug, he was snorting louder than pigs in front of a bacon cleaver early this morning.  So, you know that cute trick your ugly mom taught him to do where he uses his fat and ugly top lip to grab his inhaler ? "

"Yes, Dear."

"Well, I told him to go and get his inhaler.  Never in 50 million Pug years, which I believe is translated to 500 god zillion years in dog years since pugs die so early, .. Never did I think that he would lock us out. Especially since he knew I was planning on taking him for ice cream later on today. "

Mr. & Mrs. Astronaut didn't know thar the pugs in the neigborhood were already working on a plan. Apparently, the pugs in the neighborhood had gotten together a few years ago to plan The great Lockout Your Parents and  Brother Day. And, today was the  event in the town of Greenville, North Carolina. Even if your human parents were taking you for ice cream. 

3 BIscuit Limit 

The pugs had good reason for their Pug rebellion.This was because the mayor of Greenville put a 3 dog biscuit per day on all Greenville pugs . What made Howard The Pug furious about this mandate, was the idea came from his own brother, Jimmy The Flying Shark. Jimmy The Flying Shark was angry that Howard the Pug's human mom and dad hadn't been spending much time Flying with him, and instead they were spending most of their time walking his new baby brother. 

Howard The Pug's Dad was really mad that his own dog had locked him out of his own house. 

"What a terrible day this has been Honey. First, my boss,  President Oscar, cancels my first ever trip to the moon, and now THIS!"

The Flying  Shark Did Not Let His Mom and Dad Cry

That's when Jimmy The Flying Shark found a way to get back at his brother. 

"Hey Mom, Dad. All those nights when you have been walking Howard Pug,  I have been practicing how to fly higher,  than all the sharks in the area. "

"You think you could fly us to the moon, Jimmy The Flying Shark?"

"Well, you have always told me that if I do not try, it will make you cry. So, let's try, try, try!"

Mom and Dad both cried a little bit each. Mom chimed in.

"Dad is the only one with a proper astronaut suit in the house right now .But, I believe we all must try."

As Howard The Pug watched from the counter, eating biscuits faster than a pig would want to run on slaughter day, he watched his family take off on the shoulders of his hated brother, for a trip to the moon. 

In the beginning,  Howard The Pug was so happy to be eating all the biscuits he could. He rolled around on every couch. But, he soon began to miss his family. 

Just as he cried for them to come back, Jimmy The Flying Shark turned around to his mom and dad.

"Mom. I tried. And, we made it."

They put the Greenville, North Carolina flag down on the moon. Ordered some moon ice cream to celebrate,  and made the return trip,  because Howard the Pug was not going to walk himself after  all.