If you can...
July 13, 2002
 Dear Professor Yamaguchi,
Thank you for your message. Actually, I receive many many more jokes and anecdotes of the nature I've just sent you a few days ago, and they are usually more explicit, but I have been rather embarrassed to pass them along to you until now.
They are actually quite funny, but, I fear, maybe not "proper" as a reference for your graduates in understanding the English language or furthering their language skills. I'm not sure. So, of course, whenever you feel anything that I've sent you to be inappropriate or indecent, I will leave it up to you whether you would like to share them with others or not. Thank you for your great understanding and openness though!
Here is something more inspirational--like the donkey story. Best wishes!! Always,
Janet
If you can start the day without caffeine,
if you can get through the day without energy pills,
if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,...................
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you (blame you) when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,................
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
if you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him/her,
if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,.....................
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
if you can conquer tension without medical help,
if you can relax without liquor,
if you can sleep without the aid of drugs,.....................
If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,................
*Then, my friend, you are ALMOST as good as your dog!!
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