The Man in the Glass

This proud rooster came from the attic of Father-in-Law's garage. This green-eyed chanticleer can't stand up on his own......he has holes in the back so he can be hung on a wall, but I like him better up here on the shelf. When we redid the kitchen two years ago, we allowed for this open area on top of the cupboards. Its fun to be able to display interesting items up there!

Yesterday morning I snapped that "Howdy" photo of myself reflected in the old window (to the right). A few hours later, I was sorting through a box of books from Father-in-Law's house, when a piece of paper fell out from between two books. It was this poem "The Man in the Glass". On the back were tape marks, as if it once was attached to something......a mirror, perhaps. This poem, which was unfamiliar to me, was written in 1934 by Dale Wimbrow. Read more info about the author here. (Thanks, Sherry, for teaching me how to do links!) ("Pelf" is actually a word......look it up in the dictionary.)

The Man in the Glass

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When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,

And the world makes you king for a day;

Just go to a mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

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For it isn't your father, mother , or wife

Whose judgment upon you must pass;

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

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You may be like the fellow that chiseled a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy;

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

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He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you right to the end;

And you've passed your most dangerous test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

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You can fool the world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass;

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

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Maybe this poem was given to Father-in-Law when he was a young man. The words can be altered to fit a woman, too. I think there's alot of truth in it......you need to be true to yourself, and be yourself, no matter what. You also need to attend to taking care of yourself first, so you be of service to others in your world. So you can do what a favorite song of mine says, "Give A Little Bit".

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I spent many years fretting inside because I wasn't out making money in a career like most of the women I knew. Many times I endured that question: "What do you do?" Most often it was asked by people with no farm background. One time, I was being introduced to one of my children's friends, and she pointedly asked me, "What do you do all day long??" Yes, she was a town person, and her mother had always worked at a job outside the home, so she couldn't comprehend a mother who didn't have a job.

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I've been much happier the past few years when I've finally admitted to myself that I really, really love being at home. When I finally learned to open my eyes to the amazing things and events in the world all around me, wherever I might be......that has been life-changing! (I really like that song, "Little Wonders", by Rob Thomas, too.) There are so many interesting and fascinating little wonders going on all the time! Notice them!!

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Oh, I hate it when the paragraphs and spacing stop working right. Does anyone know why that happens??!