The Forest Is Our Home

Terrance was once a little boy who lived in a civilized world. But when a flash flood suddenly sweeps him downstream one day, his family believes he is gone forever. No one knows that ten-year-old Terrance has been rescued by Jim, an elderly gentleman who welcomes him into his home in the dense forest that lines the stream. Terrance is certain his father will find him eventually, but when he never arrives, Terrance is forced to adjust to a new life with a new family.

Twenty years later, when Terrance’s father receives news that his son might still be alive, he heads into the forest with his other son, Chris, where he eventually finds Terrance. After they happily reunite, they manage to convince a reluctant Terrance to leave the uncivilized world of the forest. With his wife, Anna, and their children, in tow, Terrance returns home to discover that nothing is the same. While wondering if he will ever adjust to the luxuries his new life holds. Terrance knows his wife longs to return to the peaceful, beautiful forest.

In this poignant tale filled with colorful folklore, a magical forest holds its power over a family as they attempt to find happiness within a civilized world.

My latest book – The Forest Is Our Home

This story is about a what-if moment I had when I visited the Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley of the Northern Range in Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. I made this visit to Asa Wright with the members of a youth group I belonged to. My what-if moment took place when we arrived at the center. The first thing I noticed, were the trees and the sweet singing of the birds. I love trees and birds, so the area was recipe for my imagination. Some of us decided to go bird watching without a guide. That was a big mistake because we got lost deep in the forest. We tried to find our way back, and we ended up on a cliff. The cliff was slippery, and one person started to slip at a terrific speed toward the edge. Everyone started screaming and shouting, horror-struck, hoping that he would stop—which, at the bare edge, he did. We formed a human chain and helped him back onto dry ground. Everyone was talking about what would have happened if he had fallen over the edge of the cliff.

I was thinking, what if people were living deep in this forest? Would they be happy to live in the heart of nature? And I decided to write a story.

 
 http://www.amazon.com/Forest-Our-Home-Valentine-Joseph/dp/1475944004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348917812&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Forest+Is+Our+Home

Journey – Don’t stop believing

Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world~ She took the midnight train goin' anywhere~ Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit~ He took the midnight train goin' anywhere~
A singer in a smokey room~ A smell of wine and cheap perfume~ For a smile they can share the night~ It goes on and on and on and on~
Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard~ Their shadows searching in the night~ Streetlights people, living just to find emotion~ Hiding, somewhere in the night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBEXSiFzOfU

“The Lottery Tickets”

One day while shopping with my daughter, I suddenly remembered some lottery tickets I had in my wallet. I told her that we should check them on the little scanning machine in the store. She was excited when I handed her the thickets. After she scanned the seventh ticket and the scanner said those tickets were not winners, she said, “Mom this is annoying … I don’t like the lottery ... Few people win anything … You do it.”

I said, “Okay.” The first ticket I put in the machine started ringing … winner. “I said, “Nice.” Then I continued and the rest of the tickets rang off one after the other … I got about fifty something dollars and then she said, “Mom I love the lottery. Can I please have that money?”… 

Rare Earth – I Just Want To Celebrate

I just want to celebrate another day of livin'~ I just want to celebrate another day of life~ I put my faith in the people~ But the people let me down~ So I turned the other way~ And I carry on, anyhow~ That's why I'm telling you~
I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah~ Another day of living, yeah ~ I just want to celebrate another day of life~

Had my hand on the dollar bill~ And the dollar bill blew away~ But the sun is shining down on me~ And it's here to stay~ That's why I'm telling you~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLwkT5vAzCE

“A Rainy”

Yes it is a dark rainy day in NY, but I am grateful that I woke up this morning~ My family woke up~ We stood in the kitchen eating breakfast, talking, laughing and just enjoying each other~ Now to work and school~ I say Amen and AMEN! To that…

 “An Elementary School Moment”

At this time of the day we used to be in class back from recess~ During recess a very nice lady –Miss Lyons used to be selling, home made munchies ~ pine sweetie, sugar cake, curry channa, phulowrie with chutney, fry channa, kurma, guave cheese, curry mango, stew mango, mango chow, tambran balls~ I can go on and on~ At this moment I’m having an elementary school moment~ I am eating guava cheese~ Tasting nice~ Real nice…

“Worry”

If you worry about it~

You cannot fix it~

Stop worrying~

Start fixing~

I’m going to have a good day~

Just say it and mean it~

Just say it and love it~

Just say it and enjoy it~

Just say it and believe it~

Just say it and…

Have A Nice Day!...

A Valentine Joseph

“You Are Not Alone”

Everybody have someone who don’t like them~

“Michael Jackson – Will You Be There”

Hold Me~ Like The River Jordan~ And I Will Then Say To Thee~ You Are My Friend~
Carry Me~ Like You Are My Brother~ Love Me Like A Mother~ Will You Be There?~
Weary~ Tell Me Will You Hold Me~ When Wrong, Will You Scold Me~ When Lost Will You Find Me?~
But They Told Me~ A Man Should Be Faithful~ And Walk When Not Able~ And Fight Till The End~ But I'm Only Human~
Everyone's Taking Control Of Me~ Seems That The World's got a role For Me~ I'm So Confused~ Will You Show To Me~ You'll Be There For Me~ And Care Enough To Bear Me~  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkr79F_B_LU

“Eat Crunchy Snacks”

I heard a doctor say, “Eat crunchy snacks.” I love crunchy so I went to the kitchen, took a pack of Lay's Garden Tomato & Basil Flavored Potato Chips, opened it, started eating it~ salivating over the taste of it~ Just loving  it~ My son walked near to me and I said, “I am eating the wrong thing, but it taste so good.”

“Then don’t eat it,” He said.

“Why?! I said putting a handful in my mouth.

“Mom! Give that to me!” He said, and he grabbed my pack of  … they are so good so I have to say the name again~ Lay's Garden Tomato & Basil Flavored Potato Chips~ Some fell out of the pack and onto the floor.

“Look what you did~  Oh, my Lay's Garden Tomato & Basil Flavored Potato Chips!”…

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.” ― Sidney Greenberg

“Some men see things as they are and say why – I dream things that never were and say why not.” ― George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

“Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare.” ― Japanese Proverb

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ― Will Rogers (1879-1935)

“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.” ― Will Rogers (1879-1935)

“The more one judges, the less one loves.” ― Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850)

“Women are always true, even in the midst of their greatest falsities, because they are always influenced by some natural feeling.” ― Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850)

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Wake Up Everybody

Wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed~ No more backward thinkin time for thinkin ahead~ The world has changed so very much~ From what it used to be~ There is so much hatred, war and poverty~ Wake up all the teachers time to teach a new way~ Maybe then they'll listen to what you have to say~ They're the ones who's coming up and the world is in their hands~ when you teach the children teach them the very best you can.~ The world won't get no better if we just let it be~ The world won't get no better we gotta change it yeah, just you and me…
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6B-UnRtPz8

“A Heart Attack”

Bacon fried in Crisco ~ dipped in Aunt Jemima pancake batter then fried in Crisco ~ Pour Aunt Jemima syrup on it~ Then eat with delight~ My daughter’s dream meal~

Her brother said, “You should start smoking a pack of cigarettes because it’s like you want to die early~ Heart attack~

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagorus was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you, you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs.― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting -- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

The wise man in a storm prays to God, not for safety from danger; but for deliverance from fear. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Nappy Roots – Good Day

You know today I just woke up and I said~ You know instead of waitin' on a good day~Waitin' around through up's and down's waitin~ On something to happen I just say~ We're gonna have~ We're gonna have~ We're gonna have a good day~ And all my homies gonna ride today~ And all these mommies look fly today~ And all we wanna do is get by today~ Heyyy,~ We're gonna have a good day~ And ain't nobody gotta cry today~ Cause ain't nobody gonna die today~ Save that drama for another day~ Heyyy we're gonna have a good day~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kuj-PGC8rE

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Buddha

The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit; and habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings. Buddha

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. Buddha

If this is a day that is filled with feelings of … pressure~ stress~ anxiety~ constant worry~ nervous tension~ misery~ Just total apprehension~ Remember somebody loves you~

Somebody Loves You Baby --- Patti LaBelle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT6S7LMLv-s

Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. ― Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)

A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool. ― Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873)

A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew. ― Herb Caen (1916-1997)

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. ― Henry Ford (1863-1947)

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. ― Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. ― Abraham Maslow 1908-1970

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. ― Nelson Mandela

Everything thrives in the tropics~ Including gossip … Affair In Trinidad (1952)

“There Is Person Out There”

This world is vast yet at times it seems so small to us~ When I meet people that I don’t know and they smile happily at me, I smile happily at them~ There are times when one would smile as though they know me and then I would start taxing my brain, “Oh my gosh, am I suppose to know who this person is? Oh Jesus … who is this? Remember … remember … oh gosh remember. Not for hell would I remember and then they would start talking~

One day a lady said that I helped her in Alaska … I explained to her that it wasn’t me … I have never been to Alaska. It hurt to see a bit of disappointment on her face as she went on detailing the happy moment she shared with this person~

A man said he met me while traveling to England with his elderly mother ... Midway into the flight she had a situation. I helped her and did not complain. I told him I have never been to England.

This one had me in a tizzy. A man smiled at me and said, “Hi.”

I said hi, but I did not smile.

He said, “You are Trinidadian … right?”

“Yes. I am.”

“You don’t remember me?”

“No. I don’t.”

“We met in Canada then in the Bahamas … 1979 and in 1982,”

A feeling of share panic crossed my heart, yet I calmly said, “We did, where in Canada and where in the Bahamas?”

“At Niagara Falls … In the Bahamas we both stayed at the same hotel on Paradise Island.”

I explained, to him that I was in Canada and in the Bahamas but I did not visit the ‘Falls’, nor did I stay in a hotel on Paradise Island.

He looked at me as though I was not being truthful, but then he said, “There is a person out there who has a great resemblance to you.” …

 “A Very Slow Day”

I spent a day in a room that was freezing~ The temperature felt as though it was below something or the other~ I believed management wanted to give us a taste of winter~ There were people in short sleeves, no sleeves, sandals and slippers~ I was wondering if they weren’t freezing~ I kept my fall jacket zipped up and I was still cold~ I did not complain, but was hoping and praying for the day to end~ It turned out to be a very slow day~

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” ― Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others. ― Marianne Williamson

March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path. ― Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ― Nelson Mandela

“The Worst Time”

What is the worst time to realize that you did not lock your front door?

It is the moment when you see the doorknob starts to turn…

 “What Will You Do”

You are alone in a room sitting doing something and your mind is locked on it~ Suddenly you hear footsteps coming down the corridor~ It sounds like someone you know so you turn around and look~ The lights are not turned on~ The corridor is dark and the footsteps are still coming~ You keep looking and then it stops at the end of the corridor~ A shadow floats up and disappeared into the wall at the end~

“What the … Jesus!” You exclaimed and you keep sitting and staring for a moment~

“What will you do next~ Hmm”…

Evil requires the sanction of the victim. ― Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others. ― Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power. ― Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

 The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity. ― Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. ― Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

I Hope You Dance~ Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder~ You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger~ May you never take one single breath for granted~ God forbid love ever leave you empty handed~ I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean~ Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens~ Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance~ And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance~ I hope you dance~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmBSGlXqC4Q&feature=fvwrel

My father would have been 99 years old today~ I miss the great moments, sitting on the porch and just talking about his youthful days~ To me he was the best father ever~

Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me. ― Audrey Hepburn, (1929-1993)

Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes - People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future. ― Audrey Hepburn, (1929-1993)

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is! ― Anne Frank, (1929-1945)

How true Daddy's words were when he said: all children must look after their own upbringing. Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. Anne Frank, (1929-1945)

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is. ― Albert Camus  (1913-1960)

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.   Albert Camus  (1913-1960)

“Stormy Tuesday”

The sky is dark~ The road is wet~ A gentle breeze is blowing the tree leaves~ It’s a stormy Tuesday~ The weatherman said that the wind is going to pick up speed~ heavy rain~ Lightning and thunder ~ As usual, I have to go to the soundproof spot in my home~ They said that Christ is coming in all his glory with thunder and lightening~ That is the only time I am going to get caught outside, in all that atmospheric electricity and that glorious sharp, loud crack of it…

Our achievements speak for themselves. What we have to keep track of are our failures, discouragements and doubts. We tend to forget the past difficulties, the many false starts, and the painful groping. ― Ethel Barrymore (1879-1959)

When we are sure that we are on the right road there is no need to plan our journey too far ahead. No need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears as to the obstacles that may bar our progress. We cannot take more than one step at a time. ― Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924)

I will listen to anyone's convictions, but pray keep your doubts to yourself. ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

"I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves." - Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951)

"If a man does his best, what else is there?" ― General George S. Patton (1885-1945)

 “Another Beautiful Sunny”

I woke up this morning to another beautiful, sunny morning~ It is Rosh Hashanah –The Jewish New Year~ All public school children are home today and tomorrow~ Wednesday is back on track~ I hope this school year is going to be an Interesting~ Knowledgeable, Safe, and Successful year for all students…

“A Sunny Sunday”

The sun is shining~ The atmosphere is just right~ Not hot~ Not cold~ I went out for a moment~ I did know what I was going to be faced with~ I think that I am just really lucky to always be around, to hear old folks talking~

“What do you plan to do this week, since your grand children are visiting?” A asked.

“I plan to take them on a hike,” said B.

“A hike? Girl, you know you can’t do much walking, but where are you planning to go hiking?”

“Girl, I want to walk up the stairs to the bedrooms~ I what to see what’s going on up there~ Since my children had a bedroom constructed downstairs, I haven’t been upstairs.”

“Sounds like a good hike~ be careful and have fun.”…