35 years ago i was an angry young woman. all it took to set me off was a regular (sexist) person acting normal. somehow that got boiled out of me, and now i have this rising urge to want things i can’t have. that part is not new, but my attitude toward other people is that i cannot change them (“grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, courage to change the things i can, and wisdom to know the difference.”). something isn’t working out for me right now, and it is always a mystery why. so i will keep trying. there is a lot of good wisdom here.

As you move through the years, you’ll come to realize that you shouldn’t let anyone or anything steal your joy. When you get angry, you let someone or something steal your joy. When you stay angry, and that person doesn’t know or care about your feelings toward them, you are the only person hurt by that. Way too many people in this world spend way too much time worrying about how other people make them “feel”. Your perception is what makes you “feel” one way or another about a situation or person. Guard your joy as fiercely as you do your rocking chair, Edith Ann!

Yeah, Edith Ann: It’s no fun when others won’t play the mad game with ya…Mom said that for every minute I stayed angry, that was one minute I didn’t get to be happy…That made me angry..altho, I’m thinkin maybe she might have something there. And Sheila’s right, chocolate chip ice cream with sprinkles and hot fudge melts my mad away…btw…you can be angry at me, I still like you. you can join me and mugsy and the others who might need to go throw a big tantrum.. That sounds like huge fun.

COCO…I realize you can’t hear anymore,and neither can I,am am lucky to have hearing aides,but tonight,out to supper and behaving like you did…I’m sorry,but I’m afraid To invite you again.Mandy is twice your size and wants to be friends.Just because you are fluffy and little doesn’t give you special privilages.Bad,bad,I was so ashamed,Never again I’m afraid.

I say, go for it Edith Ann! Bang and pound, scream and holler, then go git a nice BIG ice cream sundae — home made vanilla ice cream (Have you ever made home made ice cream? Yummm!), git some nice warm, Mama made, chocolate fudge sauce, too, and spread it all around (don’t worry about missing the dish). Top that off with as much whipped cream as you can possibly pile on — and don’t worry about this mess either. Mom (we hope) will have to clean it up (ah, sweet revenge) — and don’t forget the slivered almonds and at least three marischino cherries if not more. Then, tell Lily that she and Whoopi should do a show together — and they HAVE to take you along to help you feel better. Hugz and all that stuff; afterall, tomorrow’s Sunday and you can go to church and say you’re sorry!

Edith Ann, my darling, we are all angry and we all have the same choices: let it explode all over other people, denying them and ourselves a lot of joy;, or control it. People who learn to control it get invited out more, and after a certain age - 6 - public displays of temper make people think you’re just a big whiny baby, and they don’t like to sit by you or play with you or marry you, and if they do marry you, they live to regret it because only adults should marry, and people who still have temper tantrums are not adults. While you’re still little, just think of a bad temper as the thing that makes everybody say “No!” whenever you ask for ice cream or carnivals or another piece of pie. Because, my dear, if you scream for it, you don’t deserve it.

I get mad, and then I get glad, and even though I get mad, I know that it will pass… if I hang onto the mad, I might miss something good going on in my life….

Mugsy - looking for Mugsy to say Happy Birthday

Edith Ann I have a feeling you are alot like my two year old greatgrandson. Everyone in the family has, at one time or another, purposely made him mad because he does it soooo well. Hands on hips, face puffed up, and a string of language, if understood, would make a sailor blush. He does not lower himself to childish temper tantrums. He gets mad, tells you what is what and stomps off - occasionally with a turn to add a few last words. He is a joy to behold. You would be best friends. No push over that little one!

Edith Ann: Are you really that angry or are you just one of those people like myself who expresses herself in the moment and then moves on. You shouldn’t save things up, should express it at the moment and then move on. I think you are that kind of girl!