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 By Frank Duncan The talk below was presented at the 50th Reunion of Class of 1959 9-19-2009  Many of the clichés or quotations written here have not been given proper credit as I did not know to whom to give the proper credit. In some cases I have used the name of the person from whom I first received or heard the quote. When my 6 year old son came home from his first day of school, his Mother asked him, "What did you learn today", to which he responded, "not enough I reckon, I've got to go back tomorrow.In about the 3rd grade he came home and was excited to tell his mother something, when he finally got her attention, he said " Mom we learned how to make babies in school today." She did not know how to respond to that but was wondering what in the world are they teaching my son down there. He kept saying to her, "Don't you want to know how to make babies and finally she sat down and said, "Okay go ahead and tell me how they taught you how to make babies." He said, It's easy, you just drop the "y" and add "ies". We were on the way home from church one day and I ask Frank, " What did you learn in Sunday School today?" He spoke right up said, "We earned how God made Eve". I said, "Oh, and how did He do that?" Frank said, "He took the backbone out of Adam and made Eve." I learned a few years later that there was another rendition of God making Eve. God was walking in the garden in the cool of the evening one day when He saw Adam sitting on a rock looking depressed. God asked him if something was wrong? To which Adam told God, that he was lonely, that he had no one to do things with. God told him that He had been thinking that and it was not good for man to be alone so He was going to make him a help-mate that would be out of this world and that Adam would be very pleased. God told Adam that it would cost him something. Adam sat back down on the rock with his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. After a while Adam raised up and asked God, "What is it going to cost me?. God told him it would cost him an 'arm and a leg'. Adam with great emotion sat back down in the same position on the rock. Some time past when Adam stood back up and asked God, "What can I get for a rib". I've learned that in the end , "it's not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years." Abe Lincoln I've learned , "That for evil to triumph, good men need only to do nothing." Edmund Burke I've learned "that you should never argue with an idiot, that people have too much trouble telling which one is the idiot. Besides there are no winners in an argument.....just two loosers." J D Duncan my dad I've learned that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day." .....makes my day. I've learned that you will always miss 100% of the chances, you do not take. I've learned that sometimes there are no answers, only choices. I've learned that, " When you talk, you are repeating things you already know; when you listen, you often learn something". JD Duncan I've learned that it easier to make money than it is to spend it wisely. I've learned that being kind is more important than being right I've learned "That people will come in and out of your life, all of your life. You may not remember a thing they said but you will always remember the way they made you feel." J D Duncan I've learned, that most of us will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. I've learned, "That man stand on hillside long time with mouth open before roast duck fly in." Modern version of There "aint" no free lunch. I've learned that "FAST" is good but "ACCURACY" is everything. Wyatt Earpe I've learned that, "Happiness is a choice". Paul Menier, M.D. so are many other things such as anger, bitterness etc. I've learned that most people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be. I've learned that worrying is like shoveling smoke, either one accomplishes about the same thing. I've learned that it appears that the older we get, the faster we get old. I've learned, "That the path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked men". Sarah Duncan my Mom Ive learned that to ignore the facts does not change the facts. I've learned that opportunities are never lost; someone else will take those you missed or ignored. I've learned that the reason most people do not recognize opportunity, when it knocks is that it is dressed in overalls and looks like WORK. Thomas Edison I've learned that a man all wrapped up in himself, make a very small package. I've learned that when we harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. I've learned that one should keep his words soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. I've learned that you must know where you are going in life, or else you want know when you get there. I've learned that when I fail to plan, it is a sure plan to fail. I've learned that there is no sin in losing, the sin is in not trying. I've learned that while looking aroung for a helping hand, I finally found one, at the end of my arm. I've learned that a smille is an inexpensive way to improve your looks....your face value. I've learned that tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy. I've learned that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances, when it is requested and when there is a life-threatening situation. I've learned that advice is usually worth what it cost you. I've learned that the true test of humility is whether you can say grace before eating crow. I've learned that a habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them. I've learned that most of us are umpires at heart; we like calling balls and strikes on other people. I've learned that if you can laugh at your troubles; you will never cease to be amused. I've learned that the best way not to worry about your problems, is to help someone else solve theirs. That temper is what gets most of us into trouble, "Pride" is what keeps us there. I've learned that anger if often more harmful than the injury that caused it. I've learned that the trouble with most people that talk too much is that they say things that they haven't thought of yet. I've learned that experience is what you get when you were expecting something else. I've learned that procrastination is suicide on the installment plan. I've learned that you should never tell people your problems; 50% of them do not want to hear them and the other 50% are glad you have them I've learned that the more we habor pride in ourselves, the more we dislike it in other people. C S Lewis I've learned that the human spirit is very fragile and easily broken, but not impossible to repair. I've learned that the enegy and time to discover life's treasures is worth the effort. I've learned that grandchildren are the reward for not pinching your children's head off when you wanted to so many times. I've learned that the most important thing in my life, without question, are my children, who have brought me much joy, challenge and meaning to my life. Cheryl Ann, Franklin Lee, and Teresa Lynn. I've learned that my grandchildren keep me young and energetic, they are the epitome of unconditional love. They make me feel like I'm 9 feet tall and bullett proof. Daniel, Heather, Blake, Austin, Amber and Ami. I've learned that no one really care how much you know until they know how much you care. I've learned that making a living is not the same as making a life. I've learned that bravery and stupidity are close relatives, separated only by results. I've learned to never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate. John F. Kennedy I've learned that , "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein I've learned to , "seize the moment....or it's lost forever. Live in the present and not past. I've learned that happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy. I'v learned that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. I've learned that I still have much more to learn. |
