FW: The three errors the Japanese made at Pearl Harbor

 



Three Mistakes Japanese Made at Pearl Harbor
From a book: "Reflections on Pearl Harbor" by Admiral Chester Nimitz.

Sunday, December 7th, 1941 Admiral Chester Nimitz was attending a concert inWashington D.C. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him. When he answered the phone, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the phone. He told Admiral Nimitz that he (Nimitz) would now be the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Nimitz flew to Hawaii to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. He landed atPearl Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1941. There was such a spirit of despair, dejection and defeat you would have thought the Japanese had already won the war.

On Christmas Day, 1941 Adm. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters every where you looked. As the tour boat returned to dock, the young helmsman of the boat asked, "Well, Admiral, what do you think after seeing all this destruction?" Admiral Nimitz's reply shocked everyone within the sound of his voice. Admiral Nimitz said, "The Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could ever make - or God was taking care of America. Which do you think it was?"

 

Shocked and  surprised, the young helmsman asked, "What do mean by saying the Japanese made the three biggest mistakes an attack force ever made?" Nimitz explained. "Mistake number one: the Japanese attacked on Sunday morning. Nine out of every ten crewmen of those ships were ashore on leave. If those same ships had been lured to sea and been sunk we would have lost 38,000 men instead of 3,800.

"Mistake number two: when the Japanese saw all those battleships lined in a row, they got so carried away sinking those battleships, they never once bombed our dry docks opposite those ships. If they had destroyed our dry docks, we would have had to tow everyone of those ships to America to be repaired. As it is now, the ships are in shallow water and can be raised. One tug can pull them over to the dry docks, and we can have them repaired and at sea by the time we could have towed them to America. And I already have crews ashore anxious to man those ships.

"Mistake number three: every drop of fuel in the Pacific theater of war is in top of the ground storage tanks five miles away over that hill. One attack plane could have strafed those tanks and destroyed our fuel supply. That's why I say the Japanese made three of the biggest mistakes an attack force could make - or God was taking care of America." Anyway you look at it - Admiral Nimitz was able to see a silver lining in a situation and circumstance where everyone else saw only despair and defeat. President Roosevelt had chosen the right man for the right job.

We desperately needed a leader that could see silver linings in the midst of the clouds of dejection, despair and defeat. And we need one NOW! There is a reason that our national motto is IN GOD WE TRUST.

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FW: Fwd: Five sentences

 

 

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read. I think that No.5 is the best. 1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. 3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. 4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. 5. When half of the people get the idea that they  do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of  them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation. Can you think of a reason for not sharing this?  Neither could I......

 

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FW: The Green Thing

 

 

The Green Thing

 

 

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. 

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.  Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.  So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind.  We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.  Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. 

 

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. 

 

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. 

 

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.  We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

 

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. 

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. 

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.  And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

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FW: IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

 

 

 

 

 

IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME 

A few weeks ago a woman was killed in an auto 
accident. She was very well liked, so the office shut 
down for her funeral and it was on the news and so on.

On the day the workers came back to work, they found 
this poem in their e-mail that the deceased woman had 
sent on Friday before she left for home.   

 

If tomorrow starts without me, 
And I'm not there to see, 
If the sun should rise and find your eyes 
All filled with tears for me; 
I wish so much you wouldn't cry 
The way you did today, 
While thinking of the many things, 
We didn't get to say.   

I know how much you love me, 
As much as I love you, 
And each time that you think of me, 
I know you'll miss me too;   

But when tomorrow starts without me, 

Please try to understand, 
That an angel came and called my name, 
And took me by the hand,  

And said my place was ready, 
In heaven far above, 
And that I'd have to leave behind 
All those I dearly love.   

But as I turned to walk away, 
A tear fell from my eye, 
For all my life, I'd always thought, 
I didn't want to die.   

I had so much to live for, 
So much left yet to do, 
It seemed almost impossible, 
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, 
The good ones and the bad, 
I thought of all that we shared, 
And all the fun we had.   

If I could relive yesterday, 
Just even for a while, 
I'd say good-bye and hug you 
And maybe see you smile.   

But then I fully realized, 
That this could never be, 
For emptiness and memories, 
Would take the place of me.   

And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss some tomorrow, 
I thought of you, and when I did, 
My heart was filled with sorrow.   

But when I walked through heaven's gates, 
I felt so much at home. 
When God looked down and smiled at me, 
From His great golden throne, 

He said, "This is eternity, 
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past, 
But here life starts anew.   

I promise no tomorrow, 
But today will always last, 
And since each day is the same way, 
There's no longing for the past. " 

So when tomorrow starts without me, 
Don't think we're far apart, 
For every time you think of me, 
I'm right there, in your heart.  

Send this to all those you care about...

because you never know

what's going to happen tomorrow...

Show them how you care,

before it's too late...

May God watch over you and your family

now and always.

There is no right time to do the wrong thing....     

    There is no wrong time to tell someone you care.....

 

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FW: King Arthur and the Witch CM

 

 

 

King Arthur and the Witch: Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life. Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do? What Lancelot chose is below.   BUT....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below.   OKAY?     Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life. Now....what is the moral to this story? The moral is..... If you don't let a woman have her own way.... Things are going to get ugly

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FW: Daddy's poem..............................(JH)

  : Daddy's Poem

                Her hair was up in a pony tail, 

                her favorite dress tied with a bow.

                Today was Daddy's Day at school, 

                and she couldn't wait to go. 

                But her mommy tried to tell her, 

                that she probably should stay home 

                Why the kids might not understand, 

                if she went to school alone. 

                But she was not afraid; 

                she knew just what to say. 

                What to tell her classmates 

                of why he wasn't there today. 

                But still her mother worried, 

                for her to face this day alone. 

                And that was why once again, 

                she tried to keep her daughter home. 

                But the little girl went to school 

                eager to tell them all. 

                About a dad she never sees a dad 

                who never calls. 

                There were daddies along the wall in 

                back, for everyone to meet. 

                Children squirming impatiently, 

                anxious in their seats. 

                One by one the teacher called 

                a student from the class. 

                To introduce their daddy, 

                as seconds slowly passed. 

                At last the teacher called her name, 

                every child turned to stare. 

                Each of them was searching, 

                a man who wasn't there. 

                "Where's her daddy at?" 

                She heard a boy call out. 

                "She probably doesn't have one," 

                another student dared to shout. 

                And from somewhere near the back, 

                she heard a daddy say, 

                "Looks like another deadbeat dad, 

                too busy to waste his day." 

                The words did not offend her, 

                as she smiled up at her Mom. 

                And looked back at her teacher, who 

                told her to go on. 

                And with hands behind her back, 

                slowly she began to speak. 

                And out from the mouth of a child, 

                came words incredibly unique. 

                "My Daddy couldn't be here, 

                because he lives so far away. 

                But I know he wishes he could be, 

                since this is such a special day. 

                And though you cannot meet him, 

                I wanted you to know. 

                All about my daddy, 

                and how much he loves me so. 

                He loved to tell me stories 

                he taught me to ride my bike. 

                He surprised me with pink roses, 

                and taught me to fly a kite. 

                We used to share fudge sundaes, 

                and ice cream in a cone. 

                And though you cannot see him. 

                I'm not standing here alone. 

                "Cause my daddy's always with me, 

                even though we are apart 

                I know because he told me, 

                he'll forever be in my heart" 

                With that, her little hand reached up, 

                and lay across her chest. 

                Feeling her own heartbeat, 

                beneath her favorite dress. 

                And from somewhere there in the crowd 

                of dads, her mother stood in tears. 

                Proudly watching her daughter, 

                who was wise beyond her years. 

                For she stood up for the love 

                of a man not in her life. 

                Doing what was best for her, 

                doing what was a right. 

                And when she dropped her hand back 

                down, staring straight into the crowd. 

                She finished with a voice so soft, 

                but its message clear and loud. 

                "I love my daddy very much, 

                he's my shining star. 

                And if he could, he'd be here, 

                but heaven's just too far. 

                You see he is an American Soldier

                and died just this past year 

                When a roadside bomb hit his convoy 

                and taught Americans to fear. 

                But sometimes when I close my eyes, 

                it's like he never went away." 

                And then she closed her eyes, 

                and saw him there that day. 

                And to her mother's amazement, 

                she witnessed with surprise. 

                A room full of daddies and children, 

                all starting to close their eyes. 

                Who knows what they saw before them, 

                who knows what they felt inside. 

                Perhaps for merely a second, 

                they saw him at her side. 

                "I know you're with me Daddy," 

                to the silence she called out. 

                And what happened next made believers, 

                of those once filled with doubt. 

                Not one in that room could explain it, 

                for each of their eyes had been closed. 

                But there on the desk beside her, 

                was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. 

                And a child was blessed, if only for 

                a moment, by the love of her shining star. 

                And given the gift of believing, 

                that heaven is never too far. 

                They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. 

                Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. 

                If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends. 

                Take the time...to live and love. 

                Until eternity.. 

                God Bless 

                There must be many children in the same boat as this little girl, thanks to our servicemen and their families for the sacrifice they are making to keep our country Free. 

                The ULTIMATE sacrifice is being left behind. 

                Don't forget them.

=

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doughnuts

Good morning everyone.  And it is indeed a good morning.  Second day in a row that I haven’t had vertigo when I opened my eyes.  YAY and THANK YOU LORD!!  I know it will probably be back, but as least it’s gone for now.

 

As I was getting ready to come to work this morning, I heard a segment on the radio station that wakes me up about doughnuts.  I didn’t catch all of the conversation, but it was about making homemade doughnuts out of canned biscuits.  And boy, did that bring back some memories!   I remember my Mama making them and they were a real treat. I don’t know if we couldn’t buy “Krispy Kreme” or any other brand of doughnuts – you know it was back in the dark ages!!  I don’t know if it was because we didn’t live in a large town and I know they weren’t sold in the little stores in my community.  I just really don’t know why we didn’t buy store-bought doughnuts; we just didn’t.  Mama would take a can of biscuits, cut a hole in middle of each one and drop it in a sauce pan of very, very, very hot oil and it only took a few seconds for the doughnut to cook.  Then she would lay it on a paper towel for just a few seconds, then drop it into a bag with powdered sugar in it, shake it and….there was your fried, homemade doughnuts!  It would almost melt in your mouth and tasted a little like the funnel cakes you could get at the fair.

 

I remember, after the boys and I moved to Manns Harbor, they wanted some doughnuts one night.  White’s was already closed and back then, the stores in Manteo had already closed.  They didn’t stay open late like they do now and there were no Food Lion’s or Harris Teeter’s on the beach and even if there had been, there was no way I was going to drive to the beach for doughnuts.  So, I told them we could make some.  They looked at me like I had lost my mind because even then they already knew I wasn’t a great cook.  Mom make doughnuts?  No way…it wasn’t going to happen.  I took a can of biscuits out of the refrigerator, opened them and spread them out on wax paper.  I was trying to decide what to use to make the doughnut hole (I couldn’t remember what Mama used).  I looked through the utensil drawer and nothing in there would work.  Then…on the counter I saw my Tylenol bottle—one of the small ones—and it only had 2 pills left in it.  I took them out and washed the bottle.  I know the boys, at this point, thought I had lost my mind.  I took the Tylenol bottle and made a perfect little hole in the center of each biscuit with the small top of the bottle.  By this time, the oil was perfect and I dropped the first doughnuts in it.  It only takes a few seconds for the doughnuts to cook.  I laid them on a paper towel and cooked the rest.  I cooked 3 doughnuts at the time and I put the doughnut holes in with the last batch.  As soon as they were done, I dropped them in a small paper bag with powdered sugar in it and let the boys shake the bag until the doughnuts were covered.  I hardly ever got to eat a doughnut, unless the can of biscuits happened to have an odd number.  Then I would get the extra doughnut along with a few of the doughnut holes.  My boys thought this was the greatest treat ever!! We cooked them sometimes when they had friends over and “Mom’s canned biscuit doughnuts” were always a hit!

 

What simple pleasures!!  What great memories!!

 

Have a great day everyone.  Stay cool.

 

Brenda

boutlaw@carolinaregion.com