waiting

Novelist Robertson Davies says—"To ask an author...if his work is autobiographical is like asking a spider where he buys his thread. No author ever weaves words from someone else’s being. They are always his words, reflecting his soul.” Yikes, am I reflecting my soul even if I don’t know it in this “It’s Saturday? I didn’t know I was exposing my soul!

Take a break—like take a hike—wait a little while before deciding, like an hour, like a day or a week or a month; it ain’t going to make a difference. LuckieEddie, who is world class, says--But our culture tells us to make the decision now.  Waiting is hard.  But think about taking a break (i.e. take a hike). For most of us it’s not part of our DNA. It is certainly not embraced by society.  They would most likely label us as recluses or as displaying anti-social behavior.  Instead of pulling away, taking some time, getting some rest, society says charge on, full speed ahead. I have done it both ways; how about you?  Which way works best for you?  That is what I thought.

I was just waiting around picking my nose!  A friend who is a good pickleball player was my partner the other day in a game.  In one of the rallies, he must of hit 9 consecutive shots.  He said to me—It was good of you to just stay out of my way! I responded--I didn’t want to trip you!  He is a good guy with a good heart, my kind of guy.  What a hoot! Here is a fool proof tip for pickleballers—If you want to win more, get a better partner!

Some of my days are “na, not today” days. Sometimes I have a “today-day” and some days I have “not today-day" day. Sometimes I walk the razor edge and sometimes I walk the sidewalk.  How do I decide?  Sometimes I just don’t feel like it.  You ever feel like you don’t want to do it today. RalphWaldo Emerson says—"Be not the slave of your past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.” TomSmart says—YaBut, there are some days when everything works perfect and on others, not soooooo much.

My grandpa Nicklaus seemed old to me, and I think he was.  He had a huge massive garden and would each fall dig it all up using a 4-tine garden fork.  I always thought it sure took a lot of time and effort.  He didn’t seem to mind.  I’m starting to think he enjoyed doing it; it was a time of quietness and rest.  A cousin of mine told me that he remembers him coming to their farm as a kid (i.e. he remembered him as old toooo) with probably that same 4-tine garden fork and dug in the quack grass patches digging out the roots.  There was no spray back then and quack grass was hard to kill.  I guess it didn’t take any time away from his lake home, motorcycle, boat, seeing his 86 grandkids play soccer, watchin’ the NFL or his golf game.  haha

MyAllTimeFavoriteBill, who is in our Tuesday foursome and is 87 years old, says--I have been retired more years that I worked.  My worry is that I might live toooo long! He hit one of his very few bad shots and said to me--erv, I said a bad word and meant ever bit of it.  

In “Richard II,” William Shakespeare wrote, “O, call back yesterday, bid time return.”  Do you ever wish you could turn back time? I don’t know if I do, my parents, Chester and Anna, and all the folks before us had to work very hard and really didn’t have it that good.  Now it seems that all over the country folks can’t buy vacation houses fast enough and for crazy prices.  It seems everyone has a big screen TV, a new car and a cell phone. Most of Americans are obese; have a problem of eating toooo much. FastFreddie asks-- Where does it end in the amount that we want? “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”--Winston Churchill. Now there is a contrast for sure! Looks like a wait and see situation. One person says one thing and another person says another. 

I got the mail the other day and got this advertisement just like everyone else did.  There were two senor ladies also getting their mail (i.e. like about 75).  I asked them why many of the gals seem to put their hand on their hips when getting their pictures taken—they are posing—but why do they do it—they think it makes them look better—do you gals do it—yes, and if we don’t like it we ask for a retaken; we have standards; social media has brought this on—will you show me how you do it—sure.  I told them that I was impressed. What a hoot. We all had a good laugh.

There are “can’t-miss opportunities” and “opportunities that don’t have a prayer” it seems!  The story is told of a man who was caught stealing in a far-off kingdom.  As he was brought before the king, he was informed that the penalty for stealing is death.  Despite the stress of the inevitable, the man seemed relatively calm.  He knew what the king had a beloved prized horse that was treated like a member of the family.  And the thief planned on playing a hunch.  When the man was brought before the king to be judged and sent to his execution, the thief asked if he could say a few words.  The king agreed. “Your Majesty, I know you have a wonderful horse.  If you will give me one year to work with him, I will teach your horse to talk. If I am successful, you will spare my life.” The king thought over the man’s offer for a moment and the king agreed. On the way out of the king’s chamber, one of the man’s friends said “Are you crazy? You can’t teach the horse to talk! You’ll be dead in a year.” To which the temporarily reprieved man replied, “You may be right. But you know what? A lot can happen in a year. I may die of natural causes, the king may die, or…the horse may talk.”

Do we ever sit around waiting for the perfect time?  I do that sometimes.  I have excuses. They are good excuses, and they are legitimate excuses. Yes they are but no one really cares about my excuses, absolutely no one.  Sooo I have to be stronger than my excuses.  And that is hard. Sooooo enough is enough, I pruned my grapefruit tree in front of my place.  I gave it a skeleton pruning.  Pretty ugly, huh.  It will come back, hopefully better than it was before.  MyNeighborKarl use to say—erv, you can’t prune them harsh enough; they will come back; ya got to prune them sooo you can throw a cat through them.  The Bible says this about pruning—(Jesus) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

How do you pick the right time? MyNeighborKarl said—When the saw is sharp is the best time to prune!  Our neighbor growing up a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN went to the university and got a degree in agriculture.  He would not plant his corn until the soil temperature was a certain degree.  In MN that was almost the 4^th of July while others’ corn was up and growing.  My Daddy, Chester, could never understand him as his crop was always bad.  My Daddy, Chester, taught me that the timing in saving isn’t soooo critical but the attitude to save is very important (i.e. do it consistently and often).  A friend here in the park taught personal finances to high school kids.  The first lesson of each year was teaching the rule of 72 (i.e. divide 72 by the interest rate which will tell you how many years the money will double).  Kids were just amazed by that.  He had no idea if any of them saved. RudyJoke gives more financial advice--Never buy insurance from a Christian Insurance Company as they think everything is an act of God!

Sooo I was walking in the park the other morning and went past Doreeeen and Gordy’s place—I said to Gordy—what are you going to do today Gordy —not a damn thing—you got the life—ain’t that the way it is supposed to be?  Gordy is just waiting around until the Gonger gongs I guess (i.e. just killing time).

Eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it I read what Dr.J says—"Whistleblowers from social media companies are warning us that these sites use algorithms that ‘weaponize human nature,’ by promoting content that makes us angry or disgusted. That fires us up, and we spend more time obsessing over the posts. Our outrage spills over into politics, and we’re ready to “cancel” anyone with whom we disagree. Please be careful! Avoid the outrage and don’t give in to harsh words or angry outbursts. Proverbs 29:11 says, ‘Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.’ We should model humility and not retaliation. Outrage and outbursts seldom have a good outcome in any situation.”  I think Dr.J knows what he is talking about.  “Kindness makes a person attractive. If you want to win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.”—OneSmartPerson.

Wait a second buddy!  Just wait a second.  Are you facing the truth or are you not?  I always don’t like to face the truth, but the truth is what sets me free.  Sounds crazy?  Until I face the truth, I’m a hopeless case.  If I continue to live in the make belief, well, life will probably not change but if I face reality and face the truth, positive change can happen. Well, hello there! Anybody home! Well, strike up the band! Have you ever thought of yourself as a living advertisement (i.e. a walking, living billboard)?

Wait now, let me see! I read in the paper soooo it must be right that a guy from NY called 911 two days in a row as he got lost hiking up ‘er in ‘em Superstition Mountains. I guess he didn’t learn that you have to stay on the trail. Where have I been and where am I going? Have I been down this trail before? Is it a good or bad trail that I'm on? Have I been going uphill, or have I been going downhill? Have I been planting seeds or always thinking of the harvest (i.e. stuff for me)? Have I accomplished stuff during being on this trail?  Do I really want to accomplish anything?  Is my trial all about me or others or what?  And the trail will continue.  Soooo put on your hiking shoes and let’s get going! But stay on the trail for Pete's sake. Such is life.

Is it just crazy or is it just miraculous? Soooo one of my old buddies from years back, who now is 80 years old, called me up and invited me to play golf in our old-time group. He told me his wife died and he is remarried. I asked him how that went. He said I knew this lady for 25 years and I had a condo when a pipe broke so I asked her if I could stay one night. She said I could. I never moved out!

Around the first of April many of the snowbirds head back north (i.e. it's like the Robin migration). They say our park with be about to 30%.  I have no idea if the time in the south has changed them; maybe and maybe not.  Probably when they get home they will be the same and probably not much has changed there as well.  Just back to the regular life they are use toooooo.  BUT a change is stimulating to folks, my opinion. What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Did you know that it's Biblical to come to Phoenix for the winter?  Oh ya!.  Acts 27:12 says--Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.  

Don’t forget folks, sometimes if we wait and are patient, the miraculous happens in time like the horse may talk! 

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--Live a life of gratitude, giving thanks in all circumstances.