oops

AverageJoe says--The old saying goes something like this—Two things are for certain, taxes and death!  YaBut AverageJoe, we don’t know if our taxes are going to be higher or lower in 2018 and we don’t know if we will live or die in 2018.  Sooooo there is some uncertainty for us in 2018.

TheRoadRunner says—Peep peep, life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop once in a while, you might just miss it.  Oops, I think I just did. 

You might not want to read this paragraph; it might be depressing to you.  JoeBlow says—erv, sometimes it would be better if you would just bite off your tongue than to say what you say.  Well, JoeBlow, this might be one of those times.  I have been part of several care giving support groups for caregivers of folks who have Alzheimer’s. I have heard a lot of feelings, life stories, and emotions of caregivers (i.e. sad and tough realities).  I have also experienced many tears of caregivers. Also, I have seen much general stress and financial stress. Yes, I have. From listening and visiting with many caregivers, Alzheimer’s disease is maybe worse than death. Those of you who have no experience with someone who has or has had Alzheimer’s, you have no idea what I’m talking about (i.e. believe me). I do know that it’s a terrible disease. I hope you never have to understand it.  I want to share something that is very interesting.  Experts say the last things that disappear in a person with Alzheimer’s are rhythm and emotions.  Both of those Arlene still has.  She sang and acted in the Sound of Music in Orange City’s Tulip musical while at good old Northwestern College.  She was the oldest daughter Liesl.  She really enjoyed it.  She now can’t follow a movie line (i.e. even Hallmark movies) but she really enjoys watching The Sound of Music and watches it often.  She just plain enjoys it. It is a good movie and its just Arlene in many ways.  It just plain touches my heart.  The movie just makes her happy. 

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--God allows a crisis to get our attention, and then He uses the crisis to develop our character. One thing that signals we’re changing for the better is when we confess that we’re the problem. We stop blaming other people and admit, “I am the problem with my life.” Until we understand this, there can be no major change in our lives. This is the breakthrough God knows we need. You believe that?  That is what I thought! “The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.” ~Socrates~ 

I recently had the opportunity to do a talk about change for 2018.  Basically, I said that folks can’t change someone else; they have to have something greater than others or me to change them.  Oops!  Many times words like death, cancer, broke, divorce, accident, illness, etc. will change us.  If you like it or not, some of those things will affect us. Oops!  Those things will probably have a bigger affect/change to us than prosperity.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.  ItchieBitchie says—We worry about stuff that isn’t important but then something really important comes along and the stuff we worried about, we no longer worry about; they aren’t important anymore. SusieQ says--Some folks are more stiff-necked than others but sometimes certain events in our lives, loosen up our stiff necks a.k.a. stubbornness. Such is life.

Just a suggestions folks—Exercise, exercise and exercise all the time.  I totally believe that it is soooo important for our minds and bodies.  This is what was in the psychology textbook that a pickleball buddy wrote.  

I had to go for a run after making Lucy’s Depression Gravy for our Christmas dinner when Chet, Jessica and grand kids were here (i.e. it was depressing ha ha).  A friend’s mom’s name was Lucy and grew up in a home during the depression where they had very little (i.e. like most families did).  But they had a large garden where they grew a lot of potatoes and onions.  They also had a milk cow.  They ate what they had.  Here are the ingredients for Lucy’s Depression Gravy given by my friend a.k.a. Lucy’s son.  It is served cold over hot potatoes.  It was good (i.e. my opinion).  1 part vinegar to 3 parts whole milk, or half and half. Add sugar to taste to cut the vinegar taste. Onions, I like to use a mix of green and sweet onions. Add celery seed, and black pepper. 

WorldClassLarry says--Everyone has their struggles, no matter what the surface level looks like. People can have more empathy than you may think. Connecting with others who are going through similar struggles, either presently or in the past, can be helpful. Plus, a little accountability can be good. Ok folks, here is an OPPORTUNITY.  You folks who have experience with being a caregiver/had experience with someone who has/had Alzheimer’s, send me your thoughts, emotions, feelings and advice.  I want to hear from you; they will help me.  Don’t be a schmuck and not respond.  Be courageous and help me (i.e. expose yourself a little). Be gutty! 

I was sorta kinda part of a conversation although my friend was doing most of the talking with a gal who we both know (i.e. about 44).  My friend asked her how her parents were doing—don’t’ know; they are always unhappy with me and always bossing me around sooo I decided not to be around them.  Oops!  CadillacJack says-- When we’re willing to be imaginative and flexible, there’s always some way to turn a sour, disappointing experience into a better experience. Maybe even to an amazing experience. I forgot to give our kids and spouses their Christmas presents (i.e. cash). Oops!  I have no idea what they thought of me.  Yes, I did send them a check.  Hey, money is money at any time (i.e. it’s better than jelly of the month club). LuckieEddie says-- If you can fix a problem with money, it an’t no real problem.

MissPerfect says--I challenge you to take a look at your life and ask if you are getting everything you want out of it, because things can change quickly. GeorgeTheCrook says—Spend your life living; you aren’t going to live forever let me tell you.  Rocky, a basketball teammate at good old Northwestern College said this on his blog—"...My age shows only too well and I am now an older folk, slower with aches, pains, less strength and agility.  I don't know how long this phase of life will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...IT'S NOT OVER! A new adventure will begin!” Hey Rocky, you like to travel and have adventure; that trip and adventure is really going to be something.  You better hang onto your hat my friend! Friends wrote this in their Christmas letter—We are reminded of the text on our Christmas card this year:  We enjoy the gift of Faith.  It reminds us that the best is yet to come!  C.S. Lewis writes that we are on an earthly journey, enjoying some pleasant stops along the way but this is not our home.

ToughasnailsSledge says—Ya gotta have to pick it up if you fumble (i.e. clean up the mess and go forward). I watched some bowl games over the New Year’s weekend. As a person who likes sports and has less opportunity to get out of the house (i.e. being a caregiver), it is good entertainment for me. I did watch Iowa and Iowa State; I’m a fan of both of them (i.e. bigger IA than IA State).  "I never graduated from Iowa.  But I was only there for two terms - Truman's and Eisenhower's." –  Alex Karras / Iowa   ~   Iowa has lost its last 5 bowl game but won this year.   "If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education.”  -  Murray Warmath / Minnesota  ~  IA state did just that—Picked up the mess after their first unrecoverable fumble of the year late in the game which was a oops; they still won. 

That is the title of Dennis Clayson’s editorial in the paper last Sunday.  He said the following comments—Time is an interesting thing, if it is a thing at all.  Some have suggested time is nothing more than the mind’s consciousness of the flow of entropy...Except for the contribution we make to others, time will destroy us all…he said this is from Ecclesiastes—Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…Work for the benefit of others, and live joyfully with those you love, and do so with as much strength as your heart will allow.  Do you agree with Mr. Clayson?  That is what I thought.  Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says— Death has always been life’s greatest mystery. 

P.S. Today is a very good day; try missing one! Oops!