December 14, 2019

off the hook

You may treat me like you treat JoeSmith when he calls you about your extended warranty on your car!  I understand.  I know even less than JoeSmith.  In fact, all of you know a lot more than I do; no question about it.  But if you think you need more scoop, call your brother-in-law or is it your sister-in-law; one of them seems to know everything; and its free advice.  I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN who caught a break at good ol’ Northwestern College when I met my sweet, little Arlene.  I think it was because of the prayers of my Mom, Anna.  I do.  I realize that some of you won’t believe that either. Soooo get your cup of coffee and have a few more laughs at me.

The phlebotomists for the Red Cross told me that she is real close to getting her BA in Public Health—what do you do with that major—I want to work for the government in some office; but I’m going on to get my MA in management; I’m an organizer and I’m a bossy person soooooo I think they all fit together (i.e. she made me lol).  Soooo I went tooooo the canteen and a junior at University of Northern IA (i.e. the site was at the Health and Wellness Center on campus) came and talked to me.  She is majoring in Real Estate; she wants to be a real estate salesperson.  She had 26 credits from high school.  Wow! She told me that her parents are divorced, in fact, she comes from a large family and all her family (i.e. grandparents and all her uncle and aunts are all divorced).  How come.  She didn’t know but her parents got married at 18 and her dad is very stubborn.  She said—My family dynamics creates an interesting Christmas.

I woke up at 5 and decided I was not going to play pickleball the other morning.  I just didn’t feel like it sooooo I went back to sleep. Got up at 6, made my coffee and watched it get light out.  I felt way different this morning.  Why? I have no idea.  Crazy!  Some things that have been irritating me didn’t irritate me this morning. Why? I have no idea.  I just sat there and enjoyed the moment.  Crazy! I left some folks off the hook (i.e. in my mind) that I question.  It really made me feel good.  Way good!  Crazy!  They probably don’t even care what I think but it bothered me; but not anymore.  My mind is clean.  Crazy! I just gave myself a great gift.  Why?  I have no idea! Well, maybe I do.  I wonder if it’s a culmination of many years of learning by experience and thinking and reading and praying.  But I’m not sure.  It can’t be proven.  Maybe I just don’t care anymore!  Could be! Or it could be the vegetable soup I ate last night from the Soup Lady!  Now that makes more sense.  I bet she put something in it that I don’t know about; like love and a prayer.  She doesn’t make a lot of noise a.k.a. preach, but does things let me tell ya!  CrazyMarvin says—Talk is sooooo cheap and folks spend soooo much time just talking but…others just get it done! Such is life!

Let grandma off the hook!  I heard a grandma who is very senor say the other day—I wish our kids would make our Christmas dinner or at least make most of it.  I’m old and tired of doing it all.  Soooo kids, maybe it’s time for the “changing of the guard.”  You probably should bring more that the cut-up carrots.  You’re fifty years old sooooo you’re about old enough.  50yearoldBetz says—I can’t do that; I don’t know how to cook or bake; we eat at the bar and grill most of the time.  Flipthepancake—We have a friend who really likes to cook and bake.  She says—Just put some flour, lots of butter, a few eggs, some cream and lots of sugar together and everything tastes good.  If it doesn’t, just add some more sugar; it’s Christmas.

You might not understand this especially if you are over 60; you might not get it!  Ouchy ouchy!  I went to our grandkids’ piano recital last Saturday.  It was really fun; I had such a good time. Why you ask?  Well, of course it’s our grandkids but it was done with class and it was only 35 minutes long (i.e. our culture thinks waiting is a waste of time). And the folks who I was with. In our culture today, if it’s tooooo long, folks just don’t care for it.  Those in attendance were mainly parents in 20-40s (i.e. use to fast moving stuff) and a few grandparents who were in their 50s (i.e. I think I was the oldest person there).  Maybe many folks over 65 won’t understand this!  I was talking at lunch with Jessica, our daughter-in-law, who is in digital marketing.  She told me that if a person clicks on something on a web site and if it doesn’t’ react in 2 seconds, they will close the web site and go to another.  2 seconds folks!  That is why Amazon etc. are successful (i.e. very customer friendly). Can you tell by the pic if it is Charlie or Rookie who is done playing (i.e. off the hook) and which one still has to play (i.e. on the hook).  I think that is soooooo funny (i.e. pressure to perform seems to affect us at all ages). 

Don’t call me!  This Christmas contact some folks who you care about who need some back patting for whatever reason.  It’s a time of giving love especially toooo folks who are struggling for some reason.  A text or email is ok, better yet a note, a call is even better and even better yet, a visit.  When you do, don’t talk about yourself as how great you are or how great your family is, or how much food you have, or how much fun you are having, or your presents, or how pretty your house is etc. (i.e. that’s like rubbing salt in an open wound).  Use your heart and brain!  If you are going to do that, don’t contact them (i.e. you are just self-glorifying yourself—they don’t want to hear that).  Booooo!  And for gosh (i.e. meaning God) sakes, don’t be cheeeesey!  Ok, I am going to let you off the hook.  Many churches and groups and individuals don’t practice this or even preach this, sooooo there.  Some seem to like rituals, traditions and political stuff much better.  MissPerfect says—The church I go toooo encourages good stuff like this.  I hope all churches encourage this stuff. Ok, now don’t contact me, I’m ok.  Sorta kinda!!!!  BUT caregivers are always happy to hear from folks.  We appreciate it much. All caregivers need support.  Our little Alzheimer’s support group has only 2 living folks left; 6 have died.  That is how Alzheimer’s works.

My mentor would say to me—erv, the folks who dislike you or disagree with you, you need toooo treat them with kindness (i.e. special kindness).  Don’t overreact to them because they disagree with you.  If you want to overreact, overreact with more kindness.  I thought of my mentor’s philosophy recently.  A person and I disagreed.  He wanted to argue; I wouldn’t. I left him off the hook but he didn’t want that; he wanted to argue; I didn’t. I might have frustrated him by not letting him argue with me.  Such is life.

Letting folks off the hook is a lot harder for many than throwing some mud at them.  Are you a good mud thrower?  Surely for those of you who go to church, don’t throw any mud, do ya? CousinDeeDee says—I can’t wait for coffee and cookies after the church service sooooo I can throw some mud; I’m good but not near as good as the gals in our little holy huddle; they are champion mud throwers.  SusieQ says—Maybe we should have mud throwing competition between churches.  Now that would be interesting. It would be much like at the IA State Fair where they have a cow pie throwing contest.  Maybe it might make the Olympics; ok, just a denominational Olympics.  It could be called—Sling Some Mud at Christmas! Winner takes all!

I really had to laugh at myself the other day. I had the opportunity to really sling some good dirt about two different folks in the same conversation.  I mean this was really good dirt; dirt like from the middle of the massive huge corm field of Butler County (i.e. 95 CSR dirt for those of you who know what that means).  I decided not to sling it.  Afterwords, I was soooo proud of myself for not slinging it.  But now I have a pride issue!  Man-O-Man, if it isn’t one thing it’s another.  I can’t win for loosing! I can’t get off the hook!

LuckieEddie says--Yank some of the groans of “I want” out of our prayers, and shove in some “shouts of praise and thankfullness!” WorldClassLarry says—Little kids are the ones who want want and want things for Christmas; some folks never outgrow that mentality.  My favorite Christmas song is the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah (i.e. and it’s about 250 years old).  It is soooo uplifting and full of praise (i.e. not asking and wanting).  I suggest you goggle the lyrics and then listen to the song sung.  Oh by the way, hallelujah means God be praised.  I realize that you all know that but Joesixpack probably doesn’t; it’s probably not real popular in bars but I might be surprised (i.e. I don’t know what is in folks’ hearts). 

Here is a possible idea to get folks off the hook—NeverStopLearningWesley says--Never stop investigating. Never be satisfied that we know enough to just get by. Ever question we answer leads onto another question. This has been the greatest survival trick of our species. I think he is saying—always learn; always learn. I really enjoy being around folks who have a huge massive desire to learn.  I got some communication on Thanksgiving from a gal I meet hiking in NV.  I am reading one of her books.  ANYWAY, I like what she said in her email-- I think we both know we have much to be thankful for - including the opportunity to look around and question. I think she hit the nail right on the head (i.e. for most folks anyway—the ones who are open minded—black and white folks maybe not sooooo much).

Research has shown that, in America, people in the bottom twenty percent of income brackets give a higher percentage of their income to charity than those who are in the highest twenty percent of income brackets. The wealthier may give larger amounts of money, but the lower earners give a higher percentage. WildWillie says--Giving is fun and good anytime but many think Christmas or the end of year is a special time (i.e. save money on taxes—is that a true gift or a money management tool).  I read in the paper soooo it must be right, asking if we are givers or a takers.  My opinion is that givers are much more fun to be around than takers (i.e. their paradigms are different).  What do you think?  That is what I thought. I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--“The essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.”--R. C. Sproul  AverageJoe says—I think a great way of showing gratitude is giving.

Dr.J said—"Learning to express our gratitude to God isn’t just something nice to do. Studies have shown grateful people tend to enjoy healthier, happier lives. That shouldn’t surprise us. The Bible said this thousands of years ago.” I will let you off the hook if you don’t like to hear that.  Here it is—I have heard on the street that humans are greedy, self-glorifying, egotistical, cocky, and just plain full of sin.  Soooo if you have those qualities, you are just human (i.e. that can be your defense—I have no idea if it will work. I really doubt it; I don’t think the odds are very good). 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Stop worring about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.

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