One is silver and the other gold

I have been posting about friends recently. No particular reason that I can point to really. It’s just that friends have been on my mind a lot recently. Is it a natural progression because I am now ankle deep in my seventies? I assume that has something to do with it, but there’s more.

People who live relatively normal lives because they are born with bodies that match their gender identity are fortunate. They generally don’t know the feeling of rejection by the people in their lives due to something beyond their control. Before you go off on a rant about having control over the issue, bear this in mind; we all have control over our actions but control over emotions is a different matter. Emotions have a life of their own, and those are what cause the most grief in the life of anyone who is born with a body that doesn’t match their emotional set.

When I finally came face to face with that unorthodox set of emotions, I also came face to face with friends, and family too, who couldn’t see beyond the appearance to the spirit behind the screen. I soon found myself faced with a sorting process. Sorting out the relationships, both new and old became a painful exercise.

I have old friends that I’ve known, literally all my life. Jeanie and I were born in the same hospital room in the Texas Panhandle in 1944. Roger I’ve known since I was 4 years old. Vince and Connie since I was 9. Denny and Candy since high school. These friends are people who have stuck with me through all the chaos of redefining my person.

Family on the other hand is an entirely different story. A sad story but true. The closer the relationship, it seems, the more difficult the process of coming to grips with who I have revealed myself to be. The 2 oldest children haven’t spoken to me since the publication of Dear Mom and Dad; each for their own reasons; misguided as I deem those reasons to be. One first cousin is understanding and accepting the other 2 have pretty much disapproved. My only brother and only sister have more or less, followed the lead of the 2 disapproving cousins. Again, each for their own reasons. So, what am I left with?

Friends! At the close of my last blog I quoted a little ditty that we used to sing at camp. “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver the other gold.” If I could convert all the silver and gold I have in friendships to hard currency I could retire and live comfortably for the rest of my life. The older I get the more precious that currency becomes, and it is never more evident than when I lose one of those gold coins like I did earlier this week.

I spoke of Daryll in a Facebook entry earlier this week. Tuesday morning, last week I awoke and reached for my phone, still pretty much in a stupor, to check the time. I inadvertently dialed his number. When I realized what I’d done I immediately canceled the call. Within a minute he called me back.
We hadn’t spoken in months. I hadn’t bugged him because I assumed he was getting on with life and building his fabricating business. Over the course of our 10-year friendship, Daryll had bailed me out of trouble, mostly vehicle trouble any number of times, always coming to my rescue with a tow or a battery or tires. He even set up an online parts business for me to run at one point.

We talked for the better part of a half hour and through the conversation I learned that his health wasn’t the best; that the Arizona heat was beginning to wear him down. He talked about closing up shop here and moving to Boise Idaho next year. But, I didn’t realize how bad his condition was until first thing in the morning, the day before yesterday, when once again my phone rang and it was his name on the caller id. But it wasn’t him. It was his wife.

“Georgia, it’s Vonda. Daryll passed away on Sunday. I need your help.”

It was like a bugler blowing reveille 6 inches from my ear. Death or the reality of impending death never comes gently to any door. That is a hard reality for anyone, especially for me to face. Up to the time Marilyn died, I had never, not one single time, lost anyone close to me. Daryll was not what I would classify as close, though we shared things that few understand. But he was a solid 24 carat gold friend and his death has shaken me to the core.

His death has brought home to me the very fragile nature of life and how easily it can be shattered. It’s only been a few weeks since a member of our church family suddenly and unexplainably lost her 12-year-old son. He just became ill and died one day.

These circumstances always remind us of that fact, but how often do we awake each morning and treat everyone in our sphere with the tenderness that we would if we knew that would be the last time we would ever be together? From my own experience, I would surmise that the answer to that question would be … never. But it should be “every time” shouldn’t it?

Who is sitting next to you right this minute, on the phone with you, right this minute, that you have given the slightest thought to the possibility that it might be the very last time? Would you be saying, thinking, feeling what you are at this moment if you knew it was the last moment?

At this point in history, the radio and television ads for precious metals and the importance possessing them are as numerous as the ads for beer, maybe more numerous. So how about the next time you see or hear one of those ads, why don’t you give some thought to the silver and gold people in your life and what you need to do to make sure they know that they are safe in your heart? And, never take their presence for granted.

136 thoughts on “One is silver and the other gold

  1. What i don’t understood is in reality how you are not actually a lot
    more neatly-appreciated than you might be now. You’re very intelligent.
    You know therefore considerably in relation to this
    matter, made me in my opinion imagine it from so many varied angles.
    Its like men and women aren’t involved unless it is something to
    accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding.
    At all times maintain it up!

  2. Hi there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with?
    I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a
    difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m
    looking for something unique.
    P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    • The blog host is wp-engine. I found them through WordPress as a an approved provider. My blog was originally designed by my publisher but had so many problems that they closed it down 12/31. The real key was the people who rescued my blog and all the entries for the last 4 years and then merged my blog with my website under my website URL. That company is Pixeljar.com. Amazing people.

  3. I have been surfing on-line greater than three hours today,
    yet I never discovered any fascinating article like yours.
    It’s lovely worth sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet
    will probably be a lot more useful than ever before.

  4. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it,
    you happen to be a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will
    eventually come back later in life. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great
    job, have a nice day!

    • The blog host is wp-engine. I found them through WordPress as a an approved provider. My blog was originally designed by my publisher but had so many problems that they closed it down 12/31. The real key was the people who rescued my blog and all the entries for the last 4 years and then merged my blog with my website under my website URL. That company is Pixeljar.com. Amazing people.

  5. I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles
    or blog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website.
    Studying this info So i’m satisfied to exhibit
    that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I found out
    exactly what I needed. I most for sure will make certain to do not overlook this site
    and give it a look regularly.

  6. Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!

    Very useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info much.

    I was looking for this certain information for a very long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  7. Howdy! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
    Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward
    to all your posts! Carry on the great work!

    • I don’t know of any way to remove from that function, however that you should be able to go into your e-mail program and block that address.

    • Thank you for your kind words. I’m very happy to know that someone is being helped by my posts. You ask, “How can I find out more?” Since I cover a variety of subjects in my blog I need to know exactly which post you are referring to. Let me know that and I will try to answer your question more precisely.

  8. I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up!
    I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road.

    All the best

  9. We’re a group of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme
    in our community. Your site offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire group will likely be grateful to
    you.

  10. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and
    would like to know where u got this from. thank you

    • This blog was originally designed by my publisher 5 years ago but Jan. 1, ’17 they shut it down. I eventually settled on wp-engine for my new blog host but the old blog had sooo many flaws in that their system was unable to complete the migration by the shut down date of 1/1/17 and they told me I would have to /find a web designer to re-design it and that I the entirety of my content was lost. I looked through the list of wp-engine recommended partners and most of them wanted way more money than I could afford except for one … http://www.pixeljar.com. They were amazing. David Margowsky not only salvage all of the “lost” files and previous 4 years of posts he was able to combine my website and my blog in one. I would highly recommend him and Pixel Jar any day.

    • The original website was designed by my publisher but had bucu problems so after 5 years they shut it down. My current site was set up by Pixel Jar and they were able to salvage every line and word from the previous posts and site. They then combined my former web site with my blog and that is what you see now. The current host is wp-engine.com.

  11. I need to to thank you for this great read!! I certainly loved every little bit of it.
    I have got you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…

  12. My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog.
    He was once totally right. This post truly made my day.
    You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!
    Thank you!

  13. My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog.
    He was once entirely right. This post actually made
    my day. You can not consider simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!

    • Apologies for the delay in responding. I get so many replies sometimes I miss seeing some. Yes of course, please share.

  14. Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this website.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness
    and appearance. I must say you have done a superb job with this.
    In addition, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox. Outstanding
    Blog!

  15. Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
    using? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but
    I’m having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.

    The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most
    blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

    • The site was originally designed by my former publisher but the blog site had a lot of flaws in it. My new provider wp-engine referred me to PixelJar who combined my web site and blog into one with the original look of the blog.

  16. I am curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing?
    I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest website and I would like to find
    something more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?

    • I am so totally ignorant of terminology but will try to answer your question based on my limited understanding. The original site was developed by my publisher but was so totally flawed that they finally gave up and shut it down after four and half years. I found wp-engine on a list of sites recommended by WordPress. But they had a terrible time trying to migrate my existing blog and all previous posts. The finally told me to find a company to re-build the site completely. I contacted several but settled on http://www.pixeljar.com because of price. It was a fortunate choice because they did what wp-engine could not. The salvage my entire blog and also merged my regular website together. I highly recommend them.

    • I am so totally ignorant of terminology but will try to answer your question based on my limited understanding. The original site was developed by my publisher but was so totally flawed that they finally gave up and shut it down after four and half years. I found wp-engine on a list of sites recommended by WordPress. But they had a terrible time trying to migrate my existing blog and all previous posts. The finally told me to find a company to re-build the site completely. I contacted several but settled on http://www.pixeljar.com because of price. It was a fortunate choice because they did what wp-engine could not. The salvage my entire blog and also merged my regular website together. I highly recommend them.

  17. Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are
    just too excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the
    way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you
    still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you.
    This is actually a wonderful website.

  18. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of.

    I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while
    people think about worries that they just do not know
    about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well
    as defined out the whole thing without having side effect ,
    people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
    Thanks

  19. naturally like your web-site but you have to take a look at the
    spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to
    inform the truth nevertheless I will surely come back
    again.

    • Thank you for the input however, Spelling problems? Not likely since the drafts are prepared in Word 2016. Punctuation? Not surprising. I was never very good at that.

  20. Hi I am so thrilled I found your blog page, I really found you by error, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else,
    Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a
    marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment
    but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    a great deal more, Please do keep up the awesome work.

  21. Hiya! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to
    make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when browsing from my
    iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this problem.
    If you have any recommendations, please share. Appreciate it!

  22. I leave a response when I appreciate a article on a blog or I
    have something to valuable to contribute to the discussion. It’s a result of the passion communicated in the post I browsed.
    And after this article One is silver and the other gold – Georgia Lee McGowenGeorgia Lee McGowen. I was excited enough to write a thought 😛
    I do have a couple of questions for you if you don’t mind.
    Could it be simply me or does it give the impression like some of the remarks appear
    like they are written by brain dead folks? 😛 And, if you are writing at additional sites,
    I would like to keep up with anything fresh you have to post.
    Would you make a list all of your shared pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

    • Thank you for your interest although I wouldn’t consider any of the responses that I approve to be from “brain dead” people. As long as a comment is not obscene or extremely derogatory I will generally approve. Believe me when I say that I do get some rather nasty comments from time to time. Everything I post here gets re-posted automatically to my Facebook page, Georgia Lee McGowen and to my Twitter page under the same name. My memoir “Dear Mom and Dad, You Don’t Know Me, But …” originally published and still available through iUniverse Publishing is soon to be re-released by TopLink Publishing and will be followed with in a year by the companion story of the journey of my faith.

  23. Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your site
    on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the info
    you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, fantastic
    blog!

  24. Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites?
    I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss
    and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would enjoy your work.
    If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.

    • Hi, Thank you for your interest in my writing and blog. To answer your questions … My book, “Dear Mom and Dad, You Don’t Know Me, But …” is available as an e[book, currently through iUniverse Publishing but soon to be re-released by TopLink Publishing. Other than my book and my blog I not published elsewhere although my blog entries are simultaneously published each time on Facebook and Twitter. I would love to visit with you about contributing to your blog. georgialeemcgowen@cox.net

    • Thank you for your compliment. By “theme” I assume you mean the graphics in the header. That is actually a portion of the cover of my memoir, “Dear Mom and Dad, You Don’t Know Me, But …” The cover idea came from a group of suggestions from my publisher as a result of an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my parents from camp when I was 8 years old.

  25. That is very fascinating, You are a very skilled blogger.

    I have joined your feed and stay up for in search of extra of your
    excellent post. Additionally, I have shared your web site in my social networks

  26. I drop a comment when I especially enjoy a article on a website or I have something to
    add to the discussion. It’s a result of the sincerness communicated in the article I browsed.
    And on this article One is silver and the other gold – Georgia Lee McGowenGeorgia
    Lee McGowen. I was actually moved enough to leave a
    thought 😉 I do have a couple of questions for you
    if you don’t mind. Could it be only me or do some of the comments appear as if they are written by brain dead folks?

    😛 And, if you are posting on additional online sites, I would like to keep up with you.

    Would you list the complete urls of your communal pages like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?

  27. Wonderful blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any discussion boards
    that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get
    feedback from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest.
    If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Appreciate it!

  28. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it
    or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead
    of that, this is magnificent blog. A great read.
    I’ll definitely be back.

  29. Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little
    bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

  30. Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing
    through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
    Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  31. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is required to get setup?

    I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?

    I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any recommendations or advice
    would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it

    • My Publisher set mine up originally but then shut their service down a year ago. My search for a new host through WordPress led me to a list of WordPress approved Hosts and developers. I found one who could salvage my existing site and merge it with my separate website. Most of the developers I saw wanted $5,000 + to build one from scratch.

  32. Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily
    basis. It will always be interesting to read articles from
    other writers and practice a little something from their
    websites.

  33. Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?

    you made blogging look easy. The overall look
    of your site is fantastic, let alone the content!

    • I’ve been at this for over 5 years. My blog was originally set up by my previous publisher but they discontinued support a year ago. I ended up with WP-Engine for my provider but they couldn’t migrate the site from the previous site so luckily I stumbled on Pixel Jar.com and they were able to salvage the entire site intact and then merged it with my prior web site, also set up by the publisher.

  34. First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d
    like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to
    writing. I have had difficulty clearing my mind
    in getting my ideas out. I truly do take
    pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes
    are generally lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints?
    Cheers!

    • Sitting down to write is the hardest part. It always seems that there is something else that I should be doing. However, that being said, I generally start with a simple end point; in other words what is the end conclusion I wish to impart. Kind of like going on a trip. It’s useless to look at a map until you have some idea of where you want to end up. After that, you just have to find the simplest, easiest way to get there with as few detours as possible. My ideas tend come out of the blue when I am doing something totally unrelated to writing. For me the biggest problem is stopping whatever it is that I’m doing when the thought strikes and writing down the key points that I have in my head. I learned long ago that if I don’t jot down the idea right then, I will forget it. I will remember that I had a great idea, but for the life of me I can’t remember what that great idea was.

  35. Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored to tears at work
    so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break.
    I really like the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I
    get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..

    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, very good blog!

  36. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
    I do not know who you are but certainly you are going
    to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *