Huggin' and Chalkin'
By Clancy Hayes & Kermit Goell 1946

I gotta gal that's mighty sweet,
With big blue eyes and tiny feet.
Her name is Rosabelle Magee,
And she tips the scale at three-o-three,
Oh!
Gee but ain't it grand to have a girl so big and fat
That when you go to hug 'er
You don't know where you're at, you
Have to take a piece of chalk in your hand
And hug a way and chalk a mark to see where you began.
One day -
I was a huggin' and a chalkin'
And a chalkin' and a huggin' away
When I met another fella with some chalk in his hand
Comin' around the other way 'round the mountain,
Comin' around the other way.

Nobody ever said I'm weak,
My bones don't ache and my joints don't creak.
But I grow absolutely limp,
Ev'ry time I kiss my baby blimp,
Oh!
Gee but ain't it grand to have a girl so big and fat
That when you go to hug 'er
You don't know where you're at, you
Have to take a piece of chalk in your hand
And hug a way and chalk a mark to see where you began.
One day -
I had a yen for someone leaner,
She was meaner than a mink in a pen.
So I left her, now I'm happy as a fella could be
Huggin' and chalkin' once again 'round my Rosie,
Huggin' and chalkin' once again.

Oh!
Gee but ain't it grand to have a girl so big and fat
That when you go to hug 'er
You don't know where you're at, you
Have to take a piece of chalk in your hand
And hug a way and chalk a mark to see where you began.
One day -
I was a huggin' and a chalkin'
And a beggin' her to be my bride
When I met another fella with some chalk in his hand
Comin' around the other side 'round the mountain,
Comin' around the other side.

March 30, 2004

Wake-Up Call

Read: Revelation 3:1-6

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, . . . for I have not found your works perfect before God. —Revelation 3:2

Bible In One Year: Judges 9-10; Luke 5:17-39

On February 26, 1993, a powerful bomb exploded in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand. It sparked an aggressive investigation with many arrests. But few law enforcement authorities recognized it as part of an international terrorist plot. When the Trade Center towers were destroyed by terrorists in 2001, police commissioner Raymond Kelly looked back on the first attack and said, "It should have been a wake-up call for America."

The Lord told the church at Sardis that although they had a reputation for being spiritually alive, they were dead. He told them to wake up: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" (Revelation 3:2-3).

The call to every believer is to be vigilant toward the Lord rather than lax and indifferent. If the fire has gone out in our hearts, He pleads with us to stir the embers into flame again.

Ask yourself: Has there been a wake-up call in my life recently that I've missed? Is God trying to tell me something? Will I answer His wake-up call today? —David McCasland

Lord, grant to us a holy zeal
That burns within our heart;
A zeal like Yours for truth and right
From which we'll not depart. —D. De Haan

To keep your heart from growing cold, stay on fire for God.

Jen, forgive me for rushing this:

Norman Rockwell - Doctor & Doll

DOCTORS

Every night I lie awake
And every day I lie abed
And hear the doctors, Pain and Death,
Conferring at my head.

They speak in scientific tones,
Professional and low --
One argues for a speedy cure,
The other, sure and slow.

To one so humble as myself
It should be matter for some pride
To have such noted fellows here,
Conferring at my side.

-- Anon.

"Playing Doctor", 1992

Paperwork
by Daniella

A white lined paper,
holes and date on the top,
vital signs and temperature, blood pressure
Is my name there?
Do you know who I am?
Am I more to you than a diagnosis,
a number, a list of medications?
Can you look at me, think of me, as
A person? A human being?
More than a file three inches thick?
Who am I to you?
What am I to you?
Do you remember me tonight,
After you have hung your white coat
and signed out on your time sheet?
Do you ever think of me when you are home,
when my parents are pacing the hall,
when my breathing is labored and
my temperature is rising?
Your pager sounds at 3 a.m.
Does it ever occur to you that
It might be me?
But then again,
Who am I to you?

"Heel! Heel!" 'Physician heel thyself'

The Doctors Visit

I went along to see my doctor just the other day.
I said to the receptionist I'd like to see him right away.
Now, I suppose I should be grateful to get on the surgery list.
First I have a consultation with the receptionist.

She's there to guard the doctor, like a sentry at the door.
She paces behind the counter, to keep her doctor from the poor.
"Is it trouble with your piles?" she calls out with a snarl.
"Or maybe feeling poorly, suffering from low morale?"

I said, "I just want to see my doctor," with a small embarrassed laugh.
She replied, "if you only want to see him, I'll get you a photograph."
I finally got an appointment, it was for ten days hence.
Suppose to everyone bar the patient the long wait must make sense.

If it is an emergency I could notify them by letter.
If it isn't quite that bad, then I've got ten days to get better.
I know they can't do anything for the common cold or flu.
But what if one of me legs fell off, then what would I do?

Still I could sit here in the waiting room, in case of cancellation.
Hearing about David's measles, or Miss Jones' constipation.
Mr Brown sat on the other side, moaning with his gout.
I'm beginning to feel better, well, you do when you get out.

In the corner some runny noses going in to see the doctor soon.
It really would be better if they tried to sniff in tune.
One lad will need the doctor, of that I am quite certain.
The dragon behind the counter saw him wipe his nose upon her curtain.

So I waited for three hours, till a cleaner said to me.
"I'd come back again tommorrow, love, they've all gone home for tea."
I replied, "I don't think bother, it was nothing dire.
I only came in to tell the doctor that his house had caught on fire."

-- Peter Jess