Thoughts from YOU! YOUR Comments Wrote Today's Post!

(please click on the picture and let it load. I think you'll enjoy the inspiration this wonderful artwork holds!!! Credit listed at the bottom of the post!)
I wanted to post a few comments that have come in to me recently. They are certainly worth sharing and have given us strength, courage, smiles and lots of love. Thank you for writing...and I will continue to post some of your thoughts and stories. Feel free to send them on to me! That way, we can ALL enjoy them! -Annie
***Elizabeth and Roger Cordes, Oriental, NC-Hey, Anne- I wanted to remind you of the bear story, so here it is: I don't know why, or maybe I do, but my first instinct when our very heavy bear in the front yard went missing, was to call Frieda, the publisher of the Pamlico News. It wasn't that I thought it was that newsworthy, it was that I knew if anybody could find anything out about the theft (of a 300 pound, four and half foot tall, unwieldy sculpture) of a bear, it would be Frieda. She came through for us: the paper ran a story on the missing bear, with a picture we provided. The same week, someone spotted the bear, now too "hot" a property for the mischief makers, in some high weeds on the side of the road. The word that it was found ended up going to Frieda and she provided the assist to return the bear home. Her call to us had us howling, "the bear is in custody."
To know Frieda, even just a little bit, is to recognize an indomitable spirit. She always rises to a challenge. (Music Night participants will attest.) Moreover, she meets the challenge with a winning strength that inspires those around her. Keep pushing, Frieda- we love you.
***Denny Potter, Atlanta, GA-"Miracles happen every day Don’t they? We just have to open our eyes to them." (great quote Denny! And you're exactly right!-ah)
***Mary Em, TALK Radio, Morehead City-I work at the talk station in Morehead City.. Frieda has become a big part of our Wedneday morning for such a long time. Ben & Ken told me to give her the weather report as she has us for so long every Wednesday, it's SUNNY AND 72... I am a sales person here and have been for 8 years.. I had the pleasure of meeting Frieda one time when I first started working here.. But I have been in touch with Karen at Paddle Pamilco and she gave me your Blog Link.. SO please Tell Frieda we miss her and we look forward to hearing her forcast real soon.. YOU can tell her she is 98% right all the time with the Weather she has beat SKIP Waters by a long shot. hahha.. Please pass on our thoughts and prayers.. Mary Em , Ben & Ken (Talk Radio- Frieda has the Wednesday slot to talk about what's happening in Pamlico County!) Jeff Aydelette currently fills the spot as Frieda recovers. -ah
*** Sandy N., Florence, NC-Your comments on stroke patients is so very true. Without hope and belief in miracles in medicine, we would have nothing. In the end, it is not the medication or post op medical care that gets us well, it is the hope and caring of those we love that turns the tide. The power of the mind and prayer are something I have seen many times in my career work miracles. We need to keep praying and hoping and caring, it is the best medicine.
***Shelia Sammons, Mocksville, NC- "I guess that "little Ole Ant, is moving that Rubber tree plant"!!!!!! Go Freida!!! and also this: A thought on a plaque given to me by "MY FREIDA", my friend Bonnie reads: A true friend is one who overlooks your broken down gate, and admires the flowers in your garden. That sounds like you and Freida.
***Beth Millman, Oriental, NC-Once again, thank you, thank you for the update. I could hear Frieda's wonderful laugh as I read. I have known Frieda since her family first moved to Oriental. (I even dated Gray for a little while!! LOL!) For some unknown reason, I have always called her Free Da Da. I can't even remember how that got started. But when I would say Hey Free da da, I would get that big wonderful laugh of hers. That is the Frieda that need my prayers. The strong wonderful Frieda will make a difference.
***Mandy Davis., Ranburne, AL- Anne,I have been reading your blog and keeping up with Frieda's progress. Although we have never met her, we have her in our prayers here in Alabama, too! What has impressed me so much is the incredible friendship you share with Frieda. I feel that Frieda is so blessed to have you as her friend! You demonstrate a true example of what friendship is about. What a blessing for Frieda that she has a friend who will seek the prayers of others.
We have you in our prayers also. God will send you comfort and understanding. He is faithful!! Thinking of you.
***"The Crew" at Cahoon's True Value- Way to go Frieda!! We are still praying for you. We all love you. your friends at Cahoon's True Value in Grantsboro. Alfred and Christine Cahoon, Gerald Nethercutt, Bea Walston, Barbara Price, Harry Baker.
***Phyllis and Ed Yodlowski, Oriental, NC-Please know that Frieda and her family (which includes you and your family) are in my prayers. I had no idea how far and wide her friendships extend. You would think with that size of network (think Verizon) praying, somehow things could turn around! We subscribed to the PN long before we moved here, and I corresponded with Frieda from time to time; sent her a letter to the Editor, or passed along a good joke (some of which she actually put in her column!). One of my favorite "For What it's Worth, Jr" columns was written after she had driven to Atlanta for a one day trip. We lived in Augusta, which was 100+ mi from ATL, and we used to say that if you wanted to sharpen your driving skills, go to ATL. Sounded like Frieda did!! I laughed until my sides hurt, reading Frieda's description of her harrowing drive through downtown ATL. Been there.... And her graduation column was fantastic. I'm glad she repeated it. Graduates need reality checks.
I knew about her love of golf, through her column, so I picked up a visor for her at the Masters golf tournament one year, and left it wrapped around the antenna of her Range Rover, when we were here checking our property after some storm or other.
I wish I had a friend like you. You are one special girlfriend! Kudos and prayers to you. (((NOTE about this email: I had to laugh right out loud...the trip to ATL was a trip Frieda and I took that we totally just blew the "one day" thing. We ended up doing her radio show from UNDER an overpass somewhere on the side of the interstate, then we landed for the night at South of the Border (yeah, with Pedro and all!), took crazy hat pictures and roamed around that place well after midnight going to the 24 hr. junk stores! I still have the bumper stickers to prove it...and the hats!!! -ah)))
***Jan-from the blog comments- Anne; thank you for the updates, It is most distressing news and I'm sure very very difficult for you to write. It helps those of us who care so deeply but do not want to intrude to feel connected. Thank you. My thoughts and prayers and positive energy .
(((For the record, NONE of you EVER intrude! YOU too are Frieda's FRIENDS. Each of you are just as vital part of her recovery as anything else! Don't EVER feel you're a bother. When you love someone who's as easy to love as Frieda, it needs to show!)))
***Kathie Barrow- from blog comments-Anne, Thank you for all your information on Freida. Yes, our prayers, as are many others, are with her....and you.
***Connie Harris, Raleigh, NC-Dear Anne, I’m just a long distance fan of Frieda’s even though I only met her once and am a former subscriber of the PM (I have friends in Oriental and went to sailing school there). I read Towndock and was so sorry to learn of her stroke and now this most recent setback.
Any of us should be so fortunate to have so many friends and especially the comfort of a best friend during hard times. My prayers and thoughts are with Frieda and her family and also with you and your family, too, Anne. Please tell Frieda that her Raleigh fan club is rooting for her.
I could tell in my one meeting with her that she was unique-- (at M&Ms), where she basically asked me what I was doing putting my dressing on my fork first, then stabbing my salad?? She’s one funny and confident lady. (one of my favorites! TYPICAL Frieda move, there!-ah)
***Raul and Pam Alvarez, New Bern, THE PET SHEPHERD owners and friends of Annie and Frieda's-
Hi Anne, Please be assured that we will continue to keep Frieda in our prayers and please pass along to her that we care about her and to please keep trying. We all pray for the Lord's hands and blessings to be upon her. It will mean a lot to us if you would please read Psalm 91 to her...We're sure it will mean so much to her to know our Lord and savior is listening. May the Lord watch over us. In all we do, may the glory be to God.

These are but a few of the HUNDREDS of emails and comments I have received since Frieda became ill. When I read EACH of these, I am both inspired and empowered. Each of you have given me SO much strength and the will to keep telling Frieda, "WE CAN DO THIS!" With your love and your belief in FRIEDA, we CAN do this! Going it alone is so much more difficult than to go down the difficult paths of life with plenty of help.
I cannot thank you all enough. I DO answer emails and am so grateful for each one that comes in. It's 2:30 am and time to wrap up blogging, email answering and THINKING for this day.
God bless each and every one of you. I will post more stories tomorrow. If you have stories...especially funny ones about Frieda, please send them to me! I would love for us all to share the many, many laughs that Frieda has given us! It will be such good energy for FRIEDA to lift her up in LAUGHTER along with our prayers!!!
You have all touched my heart profoundly.
-Annie
***TODAY'S ARTWORK PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARTHA MYERS of BOLIVIA, NC...Martha, you're simply WONDERFUL! and I love you.***

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