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Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was.Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this
world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, LOVE.


The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and
where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have
been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His
his tail has long been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.


Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick,
yellowing scabs.Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"


All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come
in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on
him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around
feet in forgiveness.


If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.One day Ugly shared
his love with the neighbor's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his
screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an
end.


Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran
down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him
struggling.It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly,in so much pain,
suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear.


I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I
could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection,
perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen.Never once did
he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting
in me to relieve his pain.


Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred,
deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly
taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will
always be thankful.


He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and
deeply. To give my all to those I cared for.Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful but for me, I will
always try to be "UGLY."!!

Author Unknown..

painting by:Jim Warren

New Beginnings

It's only the beginning now
...a pathway yet unknown
At times the sound of other steps
...sometimes we walk alone

The best beginnings of our lives
May sometimes end in sorrow
But even on our darkest days
The sun will shine tomorrow.

So we must do our very best
Whatever life may bring
And look beyond the winter chill
To smell the breath of spring.

Into each life will always come
A time to start anew
A new beginning for each heart
As fresh as morning dew.

Although the cares of life are great
And hands are bowed so low
The storms of life will leave behind
The wonder of a rainbow.

The years will never take away
Our chance to start anew
It's only the beginning now
So dreams can still come true.

Author Unknown..

painting by:Jim Warren

Dirt Roads

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.

There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along.

There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.

And there were no drive by shootings.

Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks.

Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode
on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than
anybody.

At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely
lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.

At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income,
from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new
friend... at the end of a Dirt Road.

BY: Paul Harvey

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