President Kimball & My "Little Birdie" Friend

Dear "Little Birdie",

President Kimball pleaded with all of us to not "shoot the little birds" (Doctrine & Covenants Section 49, Verse 21).
Consequently, you have been spared by the trophy hunters, just so you could urge others to wish me a happy birthday yesterday.
Thank you.
Larry (A.K.A. "Pun'kin Haid")

NEWSFLASH (3 February 2007): The canary culprit confessed! Dorothy Keys is the "little birdie" who so selflessly and kindly asked others to wish me well on my birthday.

The Wisdom of Ruby Landis

The choices we make and the reasons for those choices have been uppermost on my mind of late.
Some make choices based on their friends and associates (love me, love my dog), while others try to make choices based on the principles they believe in and hold most dear.
All of us fall short of the mark in attempting to live up to our principles, but perhaps the Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sainys (LDS Church) says it best, and in Christ's own words: "The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh..." (D&C 1:19).
This reminds me of a situation many years ago, when someone of my LDS faith in Cumberland, Maryland was much offended by inadvertent and insensitive actions by another, so much so that he vowed never to return to the fellowship of the Saints.
In the midst of those hurt feelings and wounded egos, Ruby Landis, a lady of much faith and humility, remarked that she wouldn't allow anybody to stand between her and Christ's own Church, and that, even if the offending person stood to block her way at the front entrance of the (former) LDS Meetinghouse on Columbia Street, she just would run around to the back and climb in through the kitchen window.
Ruby was a lady of more than average girth and the kitchen window was not much larger than a transom, so the mental picture she painted for my mind was an amusing yet effective image of perseverance in following what you know is right.
Ruby is gone from our midst now, but I am so grateful for Ruby and others like her, and especially for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in teaching me to always do my best to stand up for what I know is right, regardless of the opinions of others and regardless of the consequences.
For more information about the principles and purpose of life, call 1-800-438-7557.

A Refreshing & Uplifting Surprise (When I Really Needed It)

Complying with a subpoena to testify regarding one of the inmates on my Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI- Hagerstown) caseload on his open prison escape charges in Washington County Circuit Court today, an refreshing and uplifting surprise was awaiting me.
When I walked into the "witness" area adjacent to the courtroom, there were several sequestered Correctional Officers already there.
They were at court to provide their individual testimony regarding this inmate's escape from work release at the Maryland Correctional Training Center (MCTC- Hagerstown) in 2003.
As soon as they saw me, one of the officers said, "There's Larry D. Kump - the Correctional Officers' friend!".
She then further amazed me by continuing on tell the other officers, a State Trooper, and a few other folks about all that she knew about my job justice efforts via the Maryland Classified Employees Association (MCEA) on their behalf, as well as on behalf of all other Maryland State Employees.
I was more than flabbergasted that anyone had known and remembered so much about me, especially since all of these folks were strangers to me... until today.
And, for once (but only briefly), I was at a loss for words, but nonetheless grateful for those sincere and kind words of encouragement and support.
Sometimes it's these little things and unexpected acts of kindness and support from others that give you so much extra strength to carry on and "not go gently into that good night" (Dylan Thomas).
Help often is providentially provided to us in the most wonderful ways.
By the way, the inmate received a 7.5 year additional sentence.