Nellie Miles Paul, my Incomparable First Wife’s grandmother, about whom I have written in the past, was, without question, the finest poet our fair town ever had. Without question.

Her prodigious pen produced so much verse that it took two volumes to contain her works. And that didn’t include the poems she wrote just about and for her family. Her first-born grandchild, Paul Credle, is responsible for preserving her poetry in these wonderful books. (Which can be acquired on Amazon.)

Sally and her cousin, Nell, have been sifting through all of the things their grandmother had written, as well as collected, through the years. She seemed to write things on whatever she might have in hand, or could find, and then at some point would place this in boxes. The quantity of her writing and collecting over the years is utterly astounding.

While all of her poetry was original, that which she recorded on the assortment of scraps of paper and the like appears to be quotes and thoughts from other sources.

Let me share with you just a little — only a fraction — of the sum total of that which she recorded and kept.

Here’s just a sample:

When people complain of life it’s almost always when they have asked impossible things from it.

Man argues woman may not be trusted too far; woman feels man cannot be trusted too near.

The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a silent listener.

A piece of golden advice to brides is, don’t be too unselfish.

When you get to heaven you will find many people there whom you did not expect to see — and many will be surprised to see you, too!

One of the most common mistakes is thinking your worries are over when your children get married.

No matter how much a woman loves her children, there are times when she feels like opening the door and saying “shoo!”

Love conquers all things except poverty and the toothache.

The darkest night that ever fell on earth never put out the stars.

Purrs are better than slurs.

That’s enough for now.

Have yourself a pleasant weekend.

You hear?