fools fools and fools

Alvis Presley sang a song that he made popular called "When fools rush in."  Some of you might think that what I write is just foolish writing.  And it could be.

I admit that I'm a fool.  Yes I am.  No question.  I hope for the most part, I'm just a simple fool.  King Solomon said--There are three types of fools. A simple fool, or peti, is a person who makes mistakes, but quickly rightens them. The hardened fool, kesil and ewil, makes mistakes, but never learns from them and will not listen to others. The third level of fool mentioned in Proverbs is the mocking fool or letz. The mocking fool mocks the things of God. This word means "scoffer" or "scorner." Of course if you don't believe in King Solomon's wisdom, but instead you listen to what Hillary or Donald have to say, this doesn't mean much to you.  Especially if you think when you die, you are going to die just like a pig. But even if you think that way, isn't it important to be a good person? ItchieBitchie says--The real fool is a fool who doesn't know they are a fool!  

I had an experience recently that made me think about who I am. Joesixpack says--erv, you could have fooled me!  My Daddy, Chester, would tell me--erv, it's a lot easier to learn from others' mistakes than your own.  I really think some folks in a certain group setting might be very prideful.  It made me think how prideful I am. Some of these folks seemed to think and act like they were better than me doing a certain activity (i.e. some are better than me, some are about the same as me and some aren't as good as me).  That is not what gave me wisdom.  What gave me wisdom is some of their attitudes of superiority (i.e. nose up in the air). ItchieBitchie says--Big egos can cause a derailment! Sooooo it made me assess myself as to how I act around folks? My Daddy, Chester, also said to me a lot--erv, if you are good, you don't have to tell anyone! MissPerfect says--A big ego is a killer but I love it; I like to flaunt my stuff!  LuckieEddie says--There is a 1,000% change that there is a 0% chance that MissPerfect will stop being a flaunter (i.e. unless she gains 100 pounds).  Such is life.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it--Delilah played Samson for a fool—repeatedly—with tragic consequences.

Here is an erudite quotation a friend sent me  (i.e. I never knew what erudite meant before) but this friend is smart soooo now I do. "If we got one-tenth of what was promised to us in these State of the Union speeches, there wouldn't be any inducement to go to heaven." ~Will Rogers~ Bubby Watson said some things about the Phoenix Open that weren't soooooo popular with the locals.  The folks got on him for it.  He said--I turned the jeers into cheers Friday when I gave them free socks; nothing like giving freebees to sooth the masses; you give them free stuff and they like you!  Sorta kinda like buying votes with promising freebee--promise them what they want seems to work as a vote getter; it works for some. Such is life.  AverageJoe says--It has always been that way and always will (i.e. and why wouldn't folks vote for someone who promises stuff that you don't have--and it's free--Da!--that is not rocket science folks).  Such is life.

WorldClassLarry says--Folks, don't be a fool.  I asked one of our little support group of 4, what we can do to take  care of ourselves.  They all agreed to stay active and do things you enjoy to get your mind off the tough stuff (i.e. take a mini respite).  Don't become a recluse.  But they said--It is not always easy. I don't hike much anymore as most hikes take tooooo long. But, I couldn't turn down an invite to hike with JoeTheHike before he left to go back home to MN to see his grand kids participate in athletics.  We did the Massacre Grounds Hike which is 6 miles of easy/moderate hiking (i.e. one of my favorites).  We had a hoot.  But I was a fool for not paying more attention (i.e. tooooo cocky maybe) and I slipped on the loose rocks on the way down and payed the consequences (i.e. not wise--just plain foolish).  Such is life.

I saw a saying on the back of a car recently--The wise old owl says, Whom?  Why do we think an owl is wise?  Is it because of their big eyes? Or maybe 'causse of their stoic look? Or maybe 'cause we are mesmerized by thinking they have an inner light soooo they can see at night? Soooo, "whom" means "who." And an owl makes the sound "whoo whoo."  Soooo what do you think the saying on the car meant? I'm not wise enough to figure it out. Such is life.

ItchieBitchie says--Certain events in life cause us to land the plane on the runway now (i.e. sorta kinda an emergency landing)!  Arlene was reminded recently when my sisters and husbands were here for dinner that she is very limited.  After they left the first evening, she cried and expressed to me that she can't do anything; useless; she said she just wants to die and go to heaven. She said--Jesus doesn't like me and is just punishing me every day.  She very seldom gets this way but this type of occasion usually triggers this feeling. That is quite some push back folks!  Real and personal!

I shared this with some friends and family.  I received this wisdom from a pickleball friend (i.e. there is more to pickleball that winning). She was not fooling around with her wisdom. Here is her wisdom--Yes, very hard......You probably know all of this, but in case you don't: Reassure Arlene of your love and that you will never leave her. She is scared.....scared that when you leave the house, you will get hit by a car on your bicycle and never come back....scared that you will find someone else and leave her....scared that she will get worse and be a big burden to you....scared that she will never know her grandchildren....scared that she will not be able to feed herself or take care of daily needs. You are her only anchor in the world, maybe more than Jesus, because she can see and touch you. Very hard and huge responsibility for you, but God will not give you more than you can handle. You are strong and courageous. Praying for you, I shared her wisdom with a support group--they were amazed by her wisdom.  I relaid this to her--her response--Not so amazing, but common sense and experience.  

Maybe this is just foolish thinking on my part but...What seems to make Arlene upset is when she compares herself to others.  Comparing can cause problems folks.  Joesixpack says--Yabut it seems like we all do it; many folks like to compete and that is comparing.  Arlene is very comfortable by herself or with me (i.e. no anxiety). Huh, interesting. 

Last Sunday one of my church friends, TheCanuckFromThurderBay, told me that a mutual acquaintance took his wife (i.e. who is pretty much confined to a wheel chair) out for some activity. His wife is in constant pain but very seldom complains. This outing, my opinion, was a pretty nice gesture of humankindness. They went to a casino.  His wife took along $40 and came home with $750.  That will relieve some pain maybe but not as much as her friend caring about her (i.e. my opinion). I read in the paper soooo it must be right--If you really want to hurt someone, don't pay any attention to them, snub them!

My niece and her husband gave me this tee shirt.  I was not aware until her mother, my sister, told me that the back was angel wings.  You could have fooled me! I thought it was the school's mascot like a bat or something. ANYWAY I was wearing it one morning running when a biker came from behind and said--like your shirt!  I guess she knew what it was or she liked bats! I wonder how it affected her. Sooooo a message from Oostburg, WI to someone in Mesa, AZ. Soooo what is the message of angel wings? I'm not wise enough to know. Hey, I'm just a little old farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN.  

I realize that I'm a pretty small part of the world, very small part. Yet a very important part.  That gives me peace, comfort, confidence and purpose.  I'm unique as is everyone.  I'm not more special than anyone but God created me specially for my purpose.  I like that.  This is my opinion; you might not agree with me.  That statement might be harder to understand if you don't believe in God.  Even soooo, if you don't believe in God, you are all special and different.  I think we need to have self-awareness.  Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals. It is not to be confused with consciousness in the sense of qualia. Pretty deep for you?  Ok, then go to the coffee shop and gossip; that will work!

This isn't sooooo deep.  You will for sure understand this.  One of our little grand daughters begged her parents for $4.  She needed it she said but wouldn't tell them what for.  Finally she told them that she bought a box of Girl Scout cookies from a friend at school but didn't have any money to pay for them.  And to top it off, she ate the whole box in a day and barfed!  Now that is an early lesson in money management!  My mentor would tell me--erv, many folks spend money they don't have on stuff they don't need.* Hey, I'm not saying Erin was a fool 'cause, I admit, those Girl Scout cookies are "oh soooo good!" I might have done the same thing! But then again, I already have admitted that I am a fool!

TheOtherWarrenFromOmaha says--One of your comments brought back some memories of growing up in Sibley Ia ( Home of the mighty Generals).  When in High School, I was a member of the boys quartet, and loved it.   A song we sang went something like this:  " The more you study, the more you know, the more you know the more you forget, the more you forget, the less you know "---- so why study ????    2nd verse: " The less you study, the less you know, the less you know, the less you forget, the less you forget, the MORE you know,  so why Study ????   Great logic.    I think it was called "sophomoric Philosophy".  Do any of you remember that song? Or is that a foolish question?!

I lead an expedition of hikers (i.e. some could of been werewolves) on a full moon hike this week up 'er in 'em Superstition Mts. Some of you might think--foolish! Let me tell you it wasn't easy to get a group together.  Some had sciatic nerve problems, some had knee problems, some were scared of the rattlesnakes, some had to go to bingo, some had social obligations, some got the flu, some had a bad ankle, some had to get up early the next morning for a pickleball tournament etc.  But what a hoot we had! I really enjoyed it. Oh ya!

I went for a run the other morning in our 55+ community.  There was a super senior lady standing on a three foot step ladder sawing on a branch.  I asked her if I could help her--no no, I will get it; I'm stubborn and persistent. I said--That aught to do it!  She laughed.  I talked to a super senior friend back home recently by phone--She told me--erv, when you get old, you got to be tough.  Such is life.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

*The rest of what my mentor said is--to impress folks you don't like!