Good Morning Gentle People -

I get lots of "forwards" and, as lots of you know, I've sometimes posted things from those forwarded messages here on the blog only to find out that it is totally false information. Now I go to any of the several web sites available to check on the validity before I post. I use urban legends.com, snopes.com, factorfiction.com, etc. and can usually verify this stuff quickly.

I had one of those in my e-mail this morning. The message was to send a poem written by a young cancer patient to as many people as possible and three cents would be donated to the American Cancer Society for each name you sent to. Not so. Here's what I found:

Snopes.com

The poem was rather nice, though, and worth reading since so many of us are living our lives on the fast track. Here it is:

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time to call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.

Here's something I've posted before that does work - it gives 20 grains of rice for every correct answer to help end world hunger through United Nations. Try it out - it's fun, addictive, and a real benefit. Click here: Free Rice