A short nose and a sore ear.

My dad always had words of wisdom for us girls before leaving the house. One of the main ones(I will always remember, thanks Dad) was, "keep Your nose to the grindstone and your ear the the ground". I spent years heading out to he school bus and every time dad would ask what I had to remember. And I would repeat those words back. Almost every single day. I never really knew what that meant. Come to thin k about it, I I still might not. Haha. It wasn't u til today as I was driving myself to my Acupuncture appointment that My thoughts wandered to more words of wisdom from daddykins. I was crossing the train tracks and remembered how dad used to say "always make sure you stop and check for no trains. Even if the lights aren't flashing. CHECK. I had to smile. At the time I just brushed those, words of wisdom, as we are calling them, I just thought dad was uber paranoid. But I had never had my own kids to worry about. Until now. And I had never to worry about passing along wise information I had gathered along my way. Until now.

True grace face is a few Years away from totally being able to grasp anything as wise as keeping your nose to the grindstone, but that just means I have time to decode these worldly advice.

So I got wondering, where there any real meaning behind those words, keep your nose to the grind stone and ear to the ground. Was dear ol' dad trying to I still something in me or was he's just being a weird dad. I had begun to get used to that idea. But there really is so
E great substance to those words. Well maybe not great, but your still with me right?

To keep your nose to the grindstone back in the day literally referred to people sharpening knifes.. They'd keep there nose really close so as to be dong a good and thorough job. Keep your head down and work hard. Not bad right. If I could have some one at the end of the day I was a hard worker, well, that's something right?

As for the ear to the ground? Literally that was for cowboys back in the day(that term was used one too many times)they would keep there ears to the ground to listen to horse hooves, so hey would be aware when someone was coming. So, keep your ears open, listen and be prepared. If I can instill that in Gracie and if I have any of that in me, well, I'd sleep just little better tonight, knowing we are doing alright.
Do you think dad knew all this? Was he really trying teach us? Those words, though we have spent many days laughing over the ridiculousness of them, really stuck with me. For one reason or another. Dad, and mom for that matter, were always trying to raise good people nice people. Do your share and shush up about it. And be safe about it.

You know, come to think of it, "look before you cross the tracks" really had he same theme. Hmmm. Maybe dad did know what he was saying..