Image from: http://amid-the-olive-trees.blogspot.com/2011/08/yin-yang-you.html

I am also very grateful for Melissa Kelly, Secondary Education Guide at ABOUT.COM, who sends me newsletters.

Here are some excerpts from Melissa Kelly’s recent newsletter to me about teacher pay, and other things:

ABOUT.COM: Secondary Education

Image from: http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=2012-year-of-the-water-dragon-wallpaper-in-photoshop

EXCERPTS FROM TEACHERPLANET.COM NEWSLETTER TO DOC MEEK:

Image from: http://www.psd-dude.com/tutorials/photoshop.aspx?t=2012-year-of-the-water-dragon-wallpaper-in-photoshop

EXCERPTS FROM TEACHERPLANET.COM NEWSLETTER TO DOC MEEK:

My brother sent this heart-warming and moving account.

• 
  
• On 31 December 2011, it was Dorothy Clark’s funeral. She is one of several women that Dorothy knew, at least as acquaintances, and had visited in hospital when they were ill, for example. She was 90-something, and had been a member of our ward at church for years and years. She had had a hip replacement not very many years ago, and the family thought then that she might not make it through. But she rallied, and learned to walk with it and everything. Recently, however, she had been quite ill (but mercifully, for only a relatively short time). During her illness, especially the last few weeks, she was completely at peace; and she had mentioned to family and friends that she was ready to go.

The funeral was a lovely service, and provided an especially poignant moment toward the end when Dorothy Clark’s Granddaughter sang a solo tribute, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” The purpose of this entry is to describe that moment as best I can. I was very moved by it, and so were many others in the congregation.

This Granddaughter, whom we scarcely know, is perhaps college age, or so. And she was accompanied at the piano by her Mother (the daughter-in-law of the deceased). This Granddaughter was clearly trained in voice, and started off confidently and bravely with a composure I could not have mustered in the circumstances, certainly not with that hymn, at any rate. She sang several verses with ease and grace, … even with charm and a very pretty smile. But when she came to the last verse, the text was a little too close to home, I think, and she began to lose her composure.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Now it so happens that sitting beside the organ console where she had been playing the prelude music and accompanying the congregational singing was this sister, perhaps middle-aged, and whom I only know because she is a very experienced and accomplished singer, and with many, many laudable performances to her credit in many venues. She was not a part of the solo tribute at all, just sitting there handy to the organ console where she would soon go to accompany the congregation in the closing hymn. The organ console is about three steps from where the soloist was singing..

The soloist got about three words into that final verse when it became clear that she was not going to be able to carry on, … at least not the way she would want to. The sister who had been providing the organ accompaniment for the service, stood up with her very best performance bearing, with a loving and supportive smile, and exuding firmness and strength that I could not have mustered, walked the two or three steps over to the soloist, locked her arm in hers, and began singing with her (without missing a beat or a note or a word) exactly as if they had rehearsed it as a duet a hundred times. She sang with her only the next phrase, whereupon the soloist regained some of her composure. And the other woman continued to sing, but much more quietly, so that it again became a solo performance. But she stayed there, arm-in-arm with that young soloist, flawlessly projecting the confidence and assurance that they now shared in some way, until the end of the piece.

She then comforted her with some words of encouragement, exchanged pleasantries with her, and the two of them sat down..It was just such a perfect, perfect gesture, rendered at exactly the perfect, perfect time and in the most perfect, perfect way, that there was not a single dry eye in the congregation, including mine. I would love to have the grace and skill and presence of mind to do something like that sometime. It was just so profoundly beautiful and loving that it made a measurable impact on the service. And others mentioned afterwards that it was just exactly the kind of thing that Dorothy Clark would have been able to do when she was alive and well. What a magnificent tribute..It is, methinks, a really good example of what true brotherhood and sisterhood is all about here in this mortal brier patch. This world would be a so much better place if there were more people who were willing and able to step up to the plate in such circumstances, and provide a helping hand just exactly as needed..I am filled with gratitude for that sister, for the soloist and for the privilege of being in the congregation to witness such a beautiful helping hand, filled with love and assurance and confidence and strength. .

Thank you, unknown support singer! Your example of “instant kindness” is inspiring to me!

Doc Meek, Mon, Jan 9, 2012, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

It began looking a lot like Boxing Day early Monday, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. (James Murray/CBC)

Image from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/26/boxing-day-sales.html

“Boxing Day” in Canada has nothing to do with the “fight game.” It refers to the day after Christmas Day, when hordes of shoppers go hunting for post-Christmas bargains, and to exchange Christmas gifts that need exchanging.

One lady said to me, “It’s like ‘hand-to-hand combat’ in some stores, so I just stay home on Boxing Day!”

For me? I curl up with a good book, like best-seller “Lost December” by Richard Paul Evans, or “Potevka’s Gifts” by Mike Ramsdell (author of best-seller “A Train to Potevka”).

Whether you go out to engage in “hand to hand combat” in some stores, or stay in to curl up with a good book, my best to you this Christmas Season.

Doc Meek, Mon, Dec 26, 2011, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA

I hear from Pat Wyman regularly and I am grateful:

Dear Doc,

The Best Educational Toys 2011

It’s getting to be the holiday time, and you are sure to want at least one educational toy for your child or a friend. Educational toys today are fun and teach kids amazing news things, while they inspire creativity and raise self-esteem at the same time.

So, HowToLearn.com is proud to announce their annual Best Educational Toys 2011 and we thank MrsPinkelmeyer.com for being this year’s sponsor.

Learn more with better toys.

Warmly,

Pat Wyman

Founder, HowToLearn.com
The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, Inc., 4535 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89102

………………………………………………………………………………..

Thank you, Pat Wyman and HowToLearn.com for great learning leadership!

Doc Meek, Sun, Dec 11, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

–

J. Collins Meek, Ph.D. (Doc Meek), Neurological Learning Facilitator

“What if you are smarter than you think?”

“What if you are more loving than you feel?”

“What if you can work harder than you know?”

http://www.docmeek.com

THE LEARNING CLINIC WORLDWIDE, INC.

CANADA: P.O. Box 3105, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2T1

TONGA: Mele Taumoepeau, P.O. Box 60, Nuku’alofa

USA: Dr Meek (801) 738-3763, South Jordan, UT 84095

For brain health, also ensure heart health (short video):

http://www.amiraclemolecule.com/themeekteam

More on heart health: http://www.themeekteam.info

Ph (801) 971-1812 (Jeannette); Fax [801] 282-6026

===========================================

	For Sale – $2,995,000, N603SC; 5503 TT; New interior was completed in 2006, The entertainment system Airshow Genesys with DVD/CD with one flat screens, Operated part 135/91.
	SP Aviation Inc Phone: (510)812-9927 or (510)783-3584 Fax: (510)783-3587	Details & Photo(s) Send A Message Add To Aircraft Of Interest Share On
Updated: 11/16/2011 12:40:00 AM

Image from: http://www.controller.com/list/list.aspx?ETID=1&setype=1&Manu=LEARJET

Dear Santa,

I know it’s a little early to be writing to you.

However, I thought it might be worth alerting you ahead of time on one of my smaller wishes.

See, I’m a simple man with simple tastes. I don’t much care what kind of car I drive, and I do not have any overweening ambitions to be rich or anything like that.

All I want for Christmas is a simple little Lear Jet, OK?

Are you able to accommodate a humble wish like that?

Sincerely,

Doc Meek

P.S. Maybe you could lend me a million dollars as a down payment on a Lear Jet if you feel my wish competes with other people’s requests for flying machines (like sleighs–with or without reindeer)?

P.S.S. I help kids overcome learning difficulties of all kinds. Does that count in terms of you listing me as a good boy?

I had serious learning problems at first when I tried to learn to fly. Trying to drive the aircraft in 3-D space (maybe infinite-D space?) was not easy compared to driving a car in 2-D on the ground, eh? No fear. I got it in time. That’s what I tell the kids: “No matter what you are facing, you will get it in time. Look what Santa learned to do. What if you’re smarter than you think?”

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Doc Meek, Sun, Nov 20, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

In many ways babies (and children)  teach us more than we teach them, eh? ~ Doc Meek



Glad parents of new baby Serena

………………………………………………….

Dear Mom and Dad of Serena,

Sunday, October 23, 1939. Today I was born, and I am so grateful for my mother, who suffered much and long to bring me into the world today.  ~ James Collins Meek III

Sunday, October 23, 2011. Today (my Natal Anniversary!) I am so grateful to be an active learning participant in Paul Scheele’s transformational learning workshop. I wish with all my heart that my wife Jeannette were able to be here with me! ~ Doc Meek

Image from: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Brilliance-Paul-R-Scheele/dp/0925480541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319365080&sr=1-1

Or access Paul Scheele’s latest book, Drop Into Genius, at:

http://dropintogenius.com/

Or watch Paul discuss his book, Drop Into Genius, on YouTube: