family dynamics

The opinions expressed in this “It’s Saturday” are those of ervie and don’t reflect those of the Roseland Rosebud 4-Club, Roseland Reformed Church, Roseland Saddle Club or the Roseland Elementary.  Make sure you take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.” It is no more complicated than that folks!  Such is life.

Agesilaus II, lived from circa 440 to 360 B.C., was one of the most brilliant soldiers of his era and was the King of Sparta from 399 until his death, said—“It is circumstance and proper timing that give an action its character and make it either good or bad.”  Oh, that circumstance and proper timing!  Who you marry really affects your family dynamics (i.e. my opinion).  A golf buddy/friend and I were talking about old girl friends the other day on the ninth hole.  He told me that he had a very serious girlfriend in college and asked a professional counselor/maybe pastor—how do I know if she is the right one for me.  He told him—If you don’t know, she is not the right one; if she is, you will just know.  He broke up with her.  He also told me that when he went to pick up his future wife on their family farm for the first date, she was carrying a bale of straw across the yard—he said—this gal is a worker; she has possibilities!  After they got married, they were working on a project on the farm and he asked her if she would go and get a tool out of the shed that they needed.  She started walking to get the tool when he said—if you would run, we could get a lot more done!  Ouchy ouchy!  He lost his help for the rest of the day.  But their marriage worked as they have been married for over 50 years. It appears if couples are not equally yoked, there is trouble in River City and that is why about 50% get divorced in America (i.e. bad family dynamics). Joe and Mary Crazy say—We get along way better when we aren’t around each other!  Ouchy ouchy!

These are the cousins and also my nieces.  Sitting in our family of 26 at Arlene’s memorial party, it seems like we get along well as a family.  At least we tolerate each other it seems. haha Yes, we are all different in many ways like most families, but we don’t have major differences and folks are nice to each other, sooo it seems.  I said to a niece--You think our family is normal—yes, I do—I don’t; I think we are abnormal—why you think that uncle erv?—I think most families don’t get along very well.  Many families have major issues that are very severe, sooo severe that they have huge massive problems.  Just look around.  That is except when they have a wedding picture and then they all look happy with each other.  A friend who is a professional photographer can make any family look good (i.e. money can do that)! Of course I don’t know what our family members say when they are not around each other and talk behind each other’s backs!  It could be a different story.  haha  Like I have told some of you, if you think that way about a family member and I think that way about the same family member, then others think that way toooo; we are not that extra specially smart! Maybe all families have a member or two who when they come into the room, they really make us happy and some who really make us happy when they leave the room. Could be. Could be.

MyBigSister, only in age, came up to me at the reception and plucked a long hair from behind my ear that I must of missed when cutting my hair in the morning and said—now that looks better!  When we went back to the house for our party for Arlene, I put on some shorts and a tee shirt.  A niece came up to me and said—You can sure tell you miss Arlene—why is that—your zipper is open!  Oh, those family dynamics!

It was John Calvin who said, “A happy life depends on a good conscience.”  If you don’t like yourself, you can’t seem to like others and if you don’t like others, you can’t have good family dynamics.  RickyRick says—"This is basic relationship advice that works beyond your relationship with God. You’ll improve any relationship in your life if you physically turn yourself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to you. Whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her. I’ve been married for more than 40 years. She loves it because she knows she has my undivided attention.” SusieQ  says--Give folks your attention by looking at them in the eyes.  It is a belittlement when you look somewhere else or even worse when you don’t pay any attention to them at all or by talking to someone else when they are talking to you (i.e. it’s like they are not important but you are all about yourself). Not good for family dynamics (i.e. it probably won’t be long and family won’t want to be around you—won’t pay any attention to you).  Ouchy ouchy! And of course, many families have a JoeTheSnort who continually sings the song really loud and often—How great I am, how great I am!  JoeBlow says this is how I handle those type of family members—I smile, wish them the best and get away from them as fast as I can!

Heather, our daughter, is to the left in the pic. I took all the stuff out of the hall closet that Arlene used to store much stuff.  Stuff she used through the years to decorate, entertain, and just collect.  It was a hodgepodge of eclectic stuff that Arlene accumulated for many years.  I put all the stuff on the ping pong table in the basement.  When Heather and Jessica came, I asked if they and the grandgirls wanted a memento of Arlene from the stuff.  I think they all took something.  Then they put the “cream of the junk” in one-fourth of the table and left the “junkiest of the junk” on the other three-fourth of the table to be thrown away.  I told Heather that I thought I would let my sisters and nieces look at it and see if they wanted a memento as well.  She said—Dad, it’s all junk, they won’t want any of that junk soooo don’t do that.  Well, after dinner at Arlene’s party, I did just that.  They jumped out of their chairs and were excited to go through the junk.  They laughed and talked and told stories for a long time and all came back up with stuff in their arms.  One of the nieces told Heather, you don’t know the Mellema family dynamics very well, we like to go through junk (i.e. of course Mellemas are Dutch).  Heather just laughed.

JoeSmudgeMutt says—Every family’s dynamics have some drama.  I had a plan with a time schedule for our family Saturday morning.  Family pictures at 9:15, a short family service at 9:30 and I wanted to be at church at 10.  I told them Friday night to be on time.  Adult kids do not like to treated like little kids and reminded to be on time but I did it anyway.  I told them that if someone is late, it creates a problem for all of us and then everyone gets pissie and it will ruin Mom’s day of celebration.  I took a chance in hurting the family dynamics by doing this.  Well, everyone was even early. 

Charlie, our 10-year-old granddaughter is very tender and emotional.  Her other grandmother, Missy, passed on this last fall soooo she is still very tender and emotional from that experience.  She told her mom, that she didn’t think she could take going to grandma Arlene’s funeral as it would be tooooo hard on her.  Jessica explained to her that it would not be as emotional as there was several months between her death and the service which would probably reduce the emotions and there will be a lot of music.  Also, there will no cemetery experience which was very traumatic for Charlie.  Her bother, Rookie age 7 was listening and said—What do you mean no graveyard; that is best part!

A friend who lives here in IA, told me that one of his brothers called and said they were coming to visit him and his wife.  They would arrive about in time for the evening meal.  My friend’s wife prepared a nice evening meal.  They didn’t show up at the time they said they would arrive.  They finally called—sorry but we will be late—where are you—we haven’t left Missouri yet!  It might appear that my friend’s brother might be so-called abnormal by some and might be so-called normal in some families (i.e. my opinion).  It appears that this can be hard on family dynamics. BUT maybe the family should check to see if there is something wrong with him physically or mentally before being tooooo judgmental about him.  Maybe!

In his book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer writes, “There can be no spiritual health without doctrinal knowledge; but it is equally true that there can be no spiritual health with it, if it is sought for the wrong purpose and valued by the wrong standard…. Our aim in studying the Godhead must be to know God better. Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God’s attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are."  This is soooo interesting to me—the balance between doctrinal knowledge and living God.  Friends who live in MS were here for Arlene’s memorial service.  I asked them if MS is conservative—it is, many folks are Southern Baptist, it’s the Bible Belt but most of our friends are Biblical conservative but socially liberal.  Now that is hard for me to understand.  How you can folks believe the Bible literally and then believe in abortion. That thinking makes for pretty interesting family dynamics for sure.  It seems to me like those folks are mugrumpers!  Maybe you can explain that to me.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—One of the major irritants of modern life is the requirement to deny what is obvious right in front of us.  Such is life. 

MissPerfect says--Church family dynamics is for sure interesting.  Probably all churches have “super Christians” that are the real deal.  And probably all churches have folks who think they are “super Christians” that are all puffed up and conceited (i.e. not the real deal).  Remember folks, we all put our underwear on the same.  We all get the same diseases and have the same problems and we all die at some time.  Who likes to be around folks that they think they are “super Christians” but are really just fakes?  Ouchy ouchy!  Those folks are hard on the dynamics of the church family. For sure. 

I asked if any of the family had any family expressions of our family dynamics. Here are a few.  We saw young parents 'parenting ' young kids and old kids 'parenting' old parents. 'Tweeners' were searching for their 'tribe'...bouncing between the adult tribe and the youth tribe. Many people are not comfortable with the statement 'Be still and know...'  They just need to talk... about anything....I think it's their way of coping with nerves or anxiety. There will always be people who 'need to be needed' and who 'need to over-share'...I think it's therapeutic for them. Everyone wants to be seen and acknowledged. The family dynamics we had at the house was so US!!  GOOD!!   STUFF!!! It was interesting that at one point, with a couple of exceptions, the extroverts seemed to be in the sunroom and the introverts were in the family room. Some of us don't like quiet, some of us don't like noise, but in the end, I think most of us like each other!  What a board topic!!  I’m going to focus on the extended family since we were all together.  We had a great time.  It seemed like we picked up right where we left off even though we’ve been apart for a time.  Why is that? Maybe it’s because many of us live in different states and don’t see each other that often. Maybe it’s because most of us have the same values. Maybe it’s because we have a shared family history with funny stories to tell. Maybe it’s because we know when to back off and let someone else’s opinion be okay. (Even if we don’t agree.) Maybe it’s because we had wonderful role models in our parents. Maybe it’s because family is too important to us to mess up. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Family dynamics have a lot to do with love and respect. Of course, this comes from the kid sister of the MAN who lived 1 ¼ mile south of Roseland.  Like he always says, you might not agree.  It’s only my opinion.

You all may listen to this but I’m going to preach to myself here.  I need it.  Dr. J says—"There are several key words in the biblical lexicon that are similar, but different. And their difference makes all the difference! Justice means getting what we deserve. Mercy means not getting what we deserve. And grace means getting what we don’t deserve. All have their importance, and each has its place in our life.” I, tooooo many times, do not have enough grace and mercy for the members of my family and my friends.  I just don’t.  I am toooo judgmental I think.  I need a kick in the butt. For sure.  I can get disappointed in folks and become judgmental.  I want folks to be like me.  They are not going to do that.  That is especially hard for me with my family.  I just don’t understand why they aren’t like my thinking.  Some of those ideas aren’t that important but some, I think, are.  I need to be more graceful and merciful.  It is hard.  Family dynamics can be hard for me at times.  For sure!  Like I think I’m always right! Da! God says He is in charge.  erv, you are not! 

I wanted the grandkids to go away from Arlene’s memorial service/celebration/party with a positive feeling.  I had a cake made and before they left last Sunday, each of the grandkids put a candle on the cake and we had a party for grandma.  The picture pretty much tells the story. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—It is never too late to become what we are capable of becoming.

focus

Disclaimer—I talk a whole lot more than what I do soooo be careful how you interpret what you read in this “It’s Saturday.”  Maybe I just focus on making pretty noise. Could be friends.  Soooo just relax and drink your coffee and focus on what you want and discard the rest. I think I focus much more on my troubles than I do on counting my joys.  Yes, I do.  I ask myself—erv, what kind of person are you anyway?  I read this recently that is pertinent to the timing in my life of this last week—"What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”--Helen Keller-- Focus on that folks! 

Napoleon Hill, who was a self-help author, wrote, “When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that our plans are not sound, rebuild those plans and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.” Maybe a couple of weeks ago, I was playing golf and riding with my golf buddy/friend.  We both are always complaining about our game (i.e. we are both good at it).  ANYWAY, in the middle of the round I started to play much better.  He noticed it and asked me—what’s going on?  I told him that I decided I was going to focus more.  For the last 9 years during Arlene’s fight with Alzheimer’s, my focus was on her and my golf game was limited, and I had no focus on it at all.  I pretty much have played better by focusing and paying attention and trying harder from that point on.  It is still hard to stay consistent in my focus.  It is much easier to focus when practicing than when actually playing (i.e. tend to revert back to old habits).  Soooo I think there is a parallel here, but you might think it is a paradox.  Either way, it seems like we need to focus more on what is important to us with our lives.  I think we all will be better folks, especially one of you.  You know who you are!!!! 

I read that there are many kinds of tears. Some come from chopping onions. Others come from a fit of laughter. A sad movie can turn on the water works. Even smoke from a campfire can make our eyes water. Even babies begin their lives with tears. But the tears I experienced recently were from my emotions which consisted of much joy and a little of sorrow.  We had Arlene Memorial Service last Saturday.  It was a celebration of her life and her faith.  It was very touching to me. It was very much who she was (i.e. no fakie stuff for sure).  Yes, we will miss her, but we are soooo joyous that she had such a good life and was a believer in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  What a happy scenario that is in that she will live forever in heaven. 

Almost all of my family were here except a couple of niece’s husbands and their children.  Chet, Jessica and family (i.e. our son and family) are the only family from Iowa.  All the rest had to come from MI, CO, MN, and OK. We had an incredible, unbelievable time.  After the service we had a reception and then the family came to my house for a party, then friends made us a big evening meal and we sat around and talked and told stories until past darkness.  It was a hoot! It was just a great day.  

The grandkids and nieces’ kids put a zillion miles on my golf cart.  It was hardly ever sitting still.  One grandkid, Erin, had a crash (i.e. no one got hurt and no damage to the cart—just tears).  We also had one grandkid, Jimmer, fall out (i.e. age 8).  The parents ran out of the house, but he got up—no tears.  A neighbor boy said to him—Dude, you gotta hang on!  He got on again and away they went.  The best “one liner” came from Gretchen, who is a daughter of a niece and her husband who is 7 (i.e. or as she said—almost 8).  I was serving desert which was a choice of two different kinds of delicious bars that friends made and ice cream.  I asked her which one she wanted.  She said—I will have all three!  I gave her all three; why not!

You friends and family have been soooo good to me and our family during this week of Arlene’s celebration of life memorial service in soooo many ways.  It’s touching.  Yes, it is.  Words cannot explain the feeling.  Many of you have been soooo good to Arlene and I during her Alzheimer’s.  Very kind and tender and loving.  I say “thanksamillion” to you folks.  You are truly good folks with good hearts. My kind of folks for sure.  There are a lot of good folks in the world and a few jerks.  That’s just the way it is and probably it has always been that way.  JoeBlow says—I hope I’m not the one folks considered a jerk. ItchieBitchie says—I really have to stay focused or I can become a jerk real fast.  Real fast!  SusieQ says--The old serpent, the devil is always trying to get into my mind, for sure!

A friend called me this week and kept apologizing that he forgot Arlene’s memorial service.  Finally I said to him—Hey, I understand and accept your apology. It’s ok, I tell you, don’t feel bad, it’s ok; I tell you, you can’t do anything bad enough to affect our friendship.  He said—erv, you can’t tell me how to feel!  

Focus on this will ya!  A friend told me that family friends were cleaning out their mother’s house after her death.  They wanted my friend to buy the house.  He gave them a very low offer as the house needed quite a bit of work.  He didn’t hear from them.  He thought he hurt their feelings by the low offer (i.e. that is the kind of guy he is).  After a while he heard back from them.  They wanted to counter offer; they lowered the price a $1,000 as they wanted him to have the house.  What!  That is what friends doooooo!!  Maybe friendship isn’t all about the money! Now that brings thunderous applause from me.    

Friends told me this story.  He was painting and needed more paint soooo went to get some.  He had his old paint clothes on which he said wasn’t pretty.  He got the paint, put it in the trunk and locked his keys in the trunk.  He had left a window open a little and asked the folks in the car next to him if they had a hanger—no.  He asked a few more folks with no success.  Soooo he went back in the store but they didn’t either.  Soooo he went back to the car when the car that was next to him pulled up.  They went to a cleaners and got him a hanger.  He told them that they were a blessing.  They didn’t get puffed up and just left.  My opinion is that when we really go out of our way to help someone, it’s even more rewarding to us and the folks we are helping; anyone can be nice when it takes no effort.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--"For friends and family of caregivers, be specific with what you can/want to give.  Blanket statements such as "let me know if you need help' isn't very useful."  Some of my family were just amazed about how our friends were soooo kind and loving to our family.  Just amazed.  You guys just did more than just pray, you really helped me  WOW! 

WorldClassLarry, who is always full of wisdom except sometimes, says--What we focus on we will become good at and also that is who we will become (i.e. no question about that).  Seriously, what are you and I focusing on the most.  CadillacJack, who likes attention, says—erv, why do you ask that; I don’t like to think about what I focus on.  I saw this on back of this truck on main street.  Is this a kind of tires, a kind of chewing tobacco, a kind of spark plugs, a kind of clothing line or a kind of lifestyle? What is this person focusing on.  I don’t get it.  Help me here. 

AuntJoanieHere, who is a feel good person, says--The gospel is not the only game in town. There are all kinds of religious ideas around. Some are ancient, others are relatively new, and most all of them are pretty good at absorbing other religious ideas (i.e. like the gospel) to manufacture a new hybrid faith. In Colossians 2:4, Paul referred to such things as “plausible arguments.” That’s a pretty positive characterization. He did not claim that competing spiritual ideas were all nutty and zany and just plain weird sounding. No, Paul admitted they were plausible, even reasonable. These ideas came from the lips of intelligent-looking folks. And that was why they were so dangerous! AverageJoe, who is very hard to impress, says—Just because an idea, words, opinions come from intelligent-looking folks does not make them correct.  Just because they come from a good salesperson does not mean they are right.  Or if they come from a pretty woman it doesn’t mean they are right or from a rich person, or a business person, or your wife or your husband, or anyone.  WorldClassLarry says—Don’t get sucked in, figure it out, stay focused, and try to figure out what is right. 

At our family dinner I ate with my niece, her husband and their two boys.  Chirs sells archery equipment to schools all over the country (i.e. it is becoming a very fast growing sport).  Both Chris and Jenn teach and support local archery clubs.  They were telling me that some folks get to a point of success and all of a sudden they can get the yips (i.e. can’t do it, sorta kinda just fall apart). For bow hunters or competitive archers, the yips are more commonly known as target panic. Techniques such as relaxation, visualization or positive thinking can help reduce anxiety, increase concentration a.k.a. focus which can ease the fear of the yips.  It’s more mental than anything.  Mental folks, mental.  Our lives can get to a point that we lose our focus and get target panic.  Mental mental mental folks (i.e. my opinion).  MissPerfect says—Our live is like a bow and arrow. When a bow is constantly strung tight, it loses its power. It has to be unstrung periodically. We need to force ourselves to set realistic goals and then hold ourselves accountable—and ask someone (i.e. coaches who know something) to check up on us in the process, my opinion.

As I told a friend who I met while starting my jog one morning—you will understand this but many won‘t or can’t.  I have had many joys this last week and here is a special joy.  Erin, my 12-year old granddaughter and I were doing some errands together Friday morning.  One was getting the gladiolus for my tribute to Arlene for the front of the church at her memorial service.  Erin could not understand why the church wasn’t locked. I told her that it is never locked (i.e. she could not understand that). Then she helped me arrange the gladiolus.  When we got done, we sat down on the front pew and I prayed with her.  When done, I asked her if she prays and she said—sometimes.  Now that is a joy I had for sure. I will never have that exact opportunity again.  NEVER!    

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

erv 

MyFreindJean says—If the wind will not serve, take to the oars. (Latin Proverb)

If any of you are interested in watching Arlene’s Memorial Service, here is the link  https://www.facebook.com/1419591174974681/posts/2634516406815479/?d=n

understatement

 I was reading the Bible the other night, and this was the in the footnote helping me understand a verse—In Scripture the fool is not one who cannot learn, but the one who refuses to learn.  That is an understatement, my opinion.   

A book about President Harry S. Truman described the moment President Franklin D. Roosevelt died and Truman ascended to the presidency. Roosevelt, despite numerous health concerns, never really included his vice president in discussions, leaving Truman out of the loop. The day he was sworn into office, Truman said, “I felt as though the moon and the stars and all the planets fell on me last night when I got the news.” With everything that was happening in the world at the time, even that may have been an understatement. Have you ever felt that way? 

WorldClassLarry, who can seem to be able to catch lightning in a jar, says--What we see determines what we do. What we see also tends to dictate how we feel. Soooo we need to be careful what you and I see (i.e. consciously and subconsciously).  I woke up at 3:10 the other night thinking of things I wanted to do.  Soooo I got up and made a list.  I seem to feel better when I have a list.  When I got done, I realized that I didn’t have that much to do and none of it was very important. Good gravy!  I went back to bed and slept well.  I think my mind just overreacted.  I said to myself—that was an understatement. 

I went to the golf course to jog about 8:30 recently.  I always enter the course by the fourth green.  There was a foursome of ladies on the green (i.e. usually there aren’t any golfers on the course and I never see any ladies on the course at that hour).  Soooo I said to them—Is there some ladies’ event going on today—ya, there is an over 50 ladies’ event today—are you sure you ladies are over 50—we sure are!  Then one lady said—I have blue jeans older than 50!  They made me smile.  Sooooo do any of you folks have cloths over 10 years old?  There is an old saying—If you have clothes that you haven’t worn in the last 2 years, you need to get rid of them.  SusieQ says—Not me, I have my fat clothes and my skinny clothes.  I rotate about every 2 years!  Soooooo I exited the course and jogged on the streets.  I met a gal who lives down the street who was walking.  They are retired farmers that use to farm north of town.  She told me that they completely remodeled the house they bought—we probably should have just built!  My husband said to me—You said you really liked the house soooo we bought it.  Sooooo what part of the house did you like! She toooo made me laugh.  I told her to tell her husband—A happy wife is a happy life!  It’s just money. She laughed! 

I wonder if we don’t expect the unexpected to happen.  It does!  Maybe we totally underestimate the unexpected.  RickyRick says this-- Jonah was on a ship full of people who didn’t believe in God. They were astounded that God stopped the storm when they threw Jonah overboard. And so, “The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord” (Jonah 1:16 GW). Because a person who believed in God suddenly went the right way instead of the wrong way, unbelievers believed.”  Now this is erv talking but I read it in the Big Book soooo it does have merit—God is God and His understanding I cannot fathom.  I really think that it is an understatement (i.e. my opinion). I’m a believer but I don’t want to be thrown overboard and be swallowed by a big fish.  Yikes!  Jonah and I can’t get by with anything.  I was riding in my friend’s paradise in his woods deep in Butler Co. the other day.  That night I get a pic of me  from him.  A guy can’t get by with anything. There is always someone seeing you!  Yikes! 

I really don’t think we believe in the unexpected enough.  Good happens folks.  Yes it does.  It happens from the strangest things and places.  Examples of this in disruptive technologies include the Internet, desktop publishing, CDs, DVDs, blogs, direct deposits, personal computers, steamships, telephones, and automobiles. Disruptive technologies are usually resisted at first and then accepted because of their benefits and efficiencies.   OneSmartPerson says--God allows disruptive moments in our life that we almost always question or resist because they are painful, unanticipated, misunderstood, and often not optional. Yet in hindsight, they are always embraced for the good of us.  You believe that? That is what I thought. Such is life. 

I have had some experiences that where really something this week.  Yes, they were.  I learned about one experience, actually because of the experience of a golf buddy that he shared with me that related to something that happened to me many years ago that was maybe a God sent.  I suspected it for many years but know I am sure it was just that (i.e. quite sure anyway).  It was something that might have appeared as a negative, but in reality, it is something very positive.  Now I am almost sure it is; pretty close anyway.  All because of a of a golf buddy telling me his experience.  Another experience will affect my life forever going forward (i.e. now that is pretty important, I think).  I don’t know exactly how but it will for sure, I think.  Now that is important I would say; a wow.  Another is in the making.  What happens will affect me as toooo what the direction of part of my future will be.  Exciting but that is direct I think.  It’s a teeter totter right now.  I’m okay with how it turns out (i.e. either way).  It’s out of my hands.  It is in the hands of another person and God. This is all good stuff.  I THINK!!!!!! At least it could be! 

Psychologists tell us that anticipation, which is the opposite of surprise, is an emotion with marvelous healing powers.  My opinion is that statement is an understatement.  I expect and anticipate good things to happen to me in my future (i.e. I expect many opportunities—now soooo I just can recognize them and have the guts to act on them).  How about you? 

Ernest Hemingway became one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, and he lived a life of adventure. He loved Spain, Paris, and his beautiful home in Key West, Florida. But his life ended tragically from despair and sadness. “Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know,” he said.  I read in the paper, sooo it must be right, that intelligence has very little significance in a person’s happiness.  Happiness is made by each one of us.  We decide if we are going to be happy or not.  You believe that?  That is what I thought.  Dr. J says--Shouts of joy and happiness are available to us now, but we can only find them in the teachings of Jesus Christ. A relationship with Him is the fountainhead of joy. You believe that?  That is what I thought.  I like Mr. Hemingway’s style of writing.  He wrote in what is referred to as an “iceberg theory or theory of omission.”  It is a writing technique coined by Hemingway when he had to focus his newspaper reports on immediate events, with very little context or interpretation. When he became a writer of short stories, he retained this minimalistic style, focusing on surface elements without explicitly discussing underlying themes. Hemingway believed the deeper meaning of a story should not be evident on the surface but should shine through implicitly. I think that is why reading is soooo interesting; we can make up our own picture or interpretation or meaning or opinion (i.e. unlike the news media who tries to tell folks what to believe and think a.k.a. manipulation—and folks fall for it—some seem to love it and can’t get enough of it).  And how folks fall for that media crap is an understatement (i.e. my opinion)!!!! 

I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--One of the underestimated keys to success is the ability to make a good impression on people we meet, especially those in positions of influence. And we all know the truth of the adage, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So, if you had the opportunity, what individual would you like to impress? Really! I think it’s very hard to impress almost anyone in this world we live in. I just be erv a.k.a. be real. I say that as I live in the small percentage of the world where we have almost everything we want and have freedom to do almost anything we want.  I don’t feel this way, but I have it soooo easy and live way fat!  I have no idea how many other folks live in the world that don’t (i.e. and I complain about my golf score while others have much more important things to be concerned about).  I try to impress my grandkids with gifts.  It’s impossible.  How can I impress them when they have everything there is, but I still try.  It seems that stuff isn’t the trick! I hope to impress them with the feeling that I care about them. All kids and adults like to have someone care about them—I think. Such is life. 

Do you ever do stuff or spend a lot of time on stuff that is mind-numbing (i.e. stuff that is useless—just killing time)?  I was thinking about our neighbor, Duke, when I was growing up a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.  Duke loved farming and milking cows.  I worked for him when I was 12 through high school (i.e. $.50 an hour—I must not every got better at my job as I never got a raise).  It was a job for me but to him it was his life (i.e. he loved it).  Now there was a huge massive difference between him and me.  Manure and cows were not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.  I think, my opinion, folks who can find a job, career, lifestyle, hobby that they really enjoy are much happier that folks who just twiddle their thumbs (i.e. mind-numbing stuff).  Different strokes for different folks, for sure.  Sitting on the couch eating chips and watching TV is mind-numbing (i.e. my opinion).  Sooooo throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch! ItchieBitchie, who can really talk your ear off, says-- You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you (i.e. and you don’t tell anyone about makes it makes it even better). My opinion is that it is very satisfying and is very important in our lives (i.e. quit thinking about ourselves all the time—me me me me thinking is a killer!). This might be an understatement.  

Do you have wizards in your life?  I surely do; many of them.  Most of them are you folks.  You guys know soooo much more than I and are much more talented than I.  I have your email addresses or mobile numbers and contact you guys often.  Why? You are wizards and can tell me how to do most anything or actually do it for me.  Because of that, you make my life much happier.  You are all wizards except for one of you.  And you know who you are. haha  “To mourn is to sympathize. Happiness is discovered when we sympathize with those around us who suffer.”  --  David Jeremiah  WorldClassLarry says—Now that is a good example of being a wizard!  

I had a long stretch of being around folks every day doing a lot of fun things (i.e. very social).  Sooooo I decided to take a day off (i.e. being around folks).  I called it a Sabbath.  Sooooo I had one social event on my calendar (i.e. a group thing in which I didn’t have to be there) which I decided not to do.  I really enjoyed all the activity I had with many of you, but I wanted to be alone for a day.  It’s like you guys who just want to read for a day, scoop beans for a day, mow lawn for a day, go to your cabin for a day, ride bike for a day, go fishing for a day, or go shopping by yourself for a day.  You get it?  I enjoyed my day very much.  I was happy before but even made myself happier.  Bingo!  Just a suggestion for you!  IckieVickie, who is very gritty, says—Don’t underestimate the power of being along and just thinking! 

MyNeighbeorDownTheStreet, let me tell you he can really can it, is an influential thinker about management says—Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folklore and superstition, and of cooperation for force.  Now I think that is an understatement.  I am going to try an experiment with this philosophy and see how it turns out. It will be fun to see what happens.  It is soooo encouraging to hear someone agreeing with your opinion.  Yes, it is.  The speaker in the church I attend, said that “It all comes down to money.”  Hey, I have been saying that forever-- It’s all about the money.  He said—From the world's perspective, it’s all about money. Now that is an understatement (i.e. from the world’s perspective), but not from a spiritual perspective).  SlimySlick says—erv, don’t challenge me that way!  Good gravy! Quit trying to get in my head; I love my money.  

Test this Hemingway's “iceberg style of writing”—It is impossible to be honest from a dishonest position. 

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

erv 

MyFriendJean says—Your IQ is not as important as your “I will.”

blurb

Disclaimer—As a friend told me— I keep the salt shaker handy when I read “It’s Saturday” - you never know when you might need a grain of salt!  Soooo there you go, she has figured me out.  She is one smart person and nice toooo, a real person with a good heart, my kind of person (i.e. she is from Wichert). All the girls from Wichert are that way)!  Her husband, Bill, is one lucky guy (i.e. he married right)! ANYWAY, sooooo take that salt thing into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.”  Remember folks, I’m just an average guy from Butler, Co, IA.  To prove that point, last Saturday Rookie, my 8-year old grandson, corrected me; he told me I pronounced picture wrong, I pronounce it like pitcher!

The word blurb came about when someone wrote something about a book and then it was printed in the back cover of the book.  I think about a blurb more of an advertisement or short write-up.  What do you think of about when the word blurb is used?

One of George Bernard Shaw burbs was—I never resist temptation because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.  WorldClassLarry says—George Bernard Shaw, you stay in your lane and I’ll stay in mine and we will get along just fine.

I read something in the paper recently (i.e. soooo it must be right) that seemed to have affected me.  I read a statement that said—Don’t let your history of your family color your life.  It was about the bad past history of families.  It appears that the past history of all our families can discolor the life we live.  I think I can see it in many folks (i.e. and sometimes we can’t even see it in our own life but we know it does), that bad history seems to affect many folks in soooo many ways.  LuckieEddie says--It is soooo hard to break the chain.  Flip the pancake—Good family history also affects our lives.  Think about that.  SusieQ, who can be a bit of a suckup at times, says--We are all affecting the next generation.  Such is life.  Soooo please give me a blurb of your family’s past history! MissPerfect says—erv, I don’t want to go there. 

If you would be asked to write a blurb about yourself would you be very accurate with your description of yourself or would you make yourself better than what you are by enhancing yourself or would you be a mugrumper (i.e. mug on one side of the fence and your rump on the other)?  A friend went to a friend’s funeral and when the pastor got done eulogizing her friend, she wondered if she was at the right funeral!  Yikes! Another friend and her husband had their burial plots at the local cemetery but when JackTheWomanizer was buried next to her plot they traded plots.  She didn’t want to lay by JackTheWomanizer for every.  She said—Everyone knows he was a big womanizer (i.e. his blurb) and folks all would talk about JackTheWomanizer for sure.  She couldn’t handle having JackTheWomanizer laying next to her even though his head stone would probably say he was such a great guy. 

This is more a burp than a blurb.  They sound someone alike but are completely different.  A pickleball buddy (i.e. about 70ish) was telling us that he enjoys being alone more than he ever has.  He said he use to enjoy cocktail parties but now won’t go to any of them—I get tired of people trying to impress each other and besides I heard all those stories about 50 times.  Soooo, is that aging or wisdom or both?  I heard a speaker say recently questioning if we are ambitiously trying to live a purposeful, useful quiet life or an ambitious nosy, banging life to become more important (i.e. like to be in the center ring of the circus)?  I know folks in both categories; yes I do.  Which ones do you think most folks enjoy being around the most?  Bingo! Folks, we all need to learn how to land the plane at some time! I listened to a speaker who talked about us being SteadyEddies.  That meaning, steady in our thinking and the way we act for a long time.  A person who hasn’t been tested (e.g. a FastEddie, a flash in the pan or is it a flash in the pants) has not been proven but a person who has been proven for years, well, that’s another story (i.e. they are probably the real deal—they wear a big cowboy hat and actually have cattle). 

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—“Psychologists have verified what Genesis taught us millennia ago: we were created for connection. Hardwired into our very DNA, our greatest need as human beings is to be known and loved. Tragically, this is matched by our greatest fear—to be known and rejected! Genesis emotional dichotomy mirrors the human condition we have struggled with since the garden. On the one hand, we yearn for love that offers wholehearted, unrequited fulfillment, yet simultaneously we tremble at the merest hint of rejection.”  JoeSixPack says—Now, that is a blurb about everyone, I think.  That might be a reason who it is soooooo hard for many to be humble.

If I follow the news and if I am around our local environment, I realize that it appears that some folks who are the opposite of humble seem to be get a lot of glory and succeed.  That can really hurt me (i.e. maybe more upset me) sometimes.  I just dislike to see evil wining and it seems like it does.  But does it really in the long run?  RickyRick says—"Wise people remain humble. Humility and teachability go together. Be humble or you’ll stumble. Humility begins by simply realizing you’re not God. Whenever you get stressed, repeat this to yourself: ‘God is God, and I’m not. God is God, and I’m not. God is God, and I’m not.’ That’s humility. People who aren’t humble think they’re God or have ultimate control. The Bible says, ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ When you’re successful, it’s much easier to fall hard than it is to maintain your success. We tend to get proud and forget about God, and success crumbles when we do that. If you’ve found yourself in that situation, the first step to take is absolutely critical. The Bible says, ‘Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you repent, I will come to you.’ Pride blinds us—and so does the spotlight. This is why people who’ve seen some success in life need to go home and change some diapers, mow their own lawns, and wash their own dishes. When you have some success, make sure you keep in touch with your roots so you don’t miss the warning signs of a fall.”  JoeBlow says. Yabut erv, it’s soooo easy to get cocky and arrogant!

SusieQ, who is more than just a pretty face, says--Much has been written about the benefits of strong relationships. People are healthier, live longer, and are generally happier if they have strong friendships. Strong relationships are beneficial for helping and encouraging each other. Recently I played golf with three guys that are long-time friends.  We try to do this a couple times each year.  After we got done, we had a beer together and teased each other and told stories about each other for another hour (i.e. we seem to really enjoy each others’ company.  They told me a story of one of their golf buddies that bought a hamburger at a convenience store and walked out without paying.  The sheriff department arrested him at the golf course.  His buddies teased him and called him the hamburgerizer!  For some of you that might sound cruel but that is just great friendship. That is their way of showing they like him.  They didn’t shy away from him.

I was at the Cedar Falls Bible Conference recently when the speaker, Joe Rigney, talked about suffering.  He said, we suffer when we can’t have what we want and we suffer when something is taken away from us.  He said that one of the very common ways folks act when suffering is to isolate themselves from others; just what they should not do.  And what do others do around folks who are suffering?  You are right, separate themselves from them.  Yikes.  And sometimes folks say the strangest things to folks who are suffering which makes the person suffering not want to see others again forever.  That just want them to go home, cry, sleep, eat, drink, etc.  and become more depressed.  Yikes!  JoeBlow says—When I was really suffering, I found out who my friends were.  I told some of Arlene’s friends when she was getting pretty bad a.k.a. ugly—You don’t have to come and see her if you don’t want; I understand.  They said—We are Arlene’s friends and we are going to see her to the end and they did.  Wow!  That was uplifting to me.  For sure!

I think that churches are very important in helping folks who are suffering (i.e. church is the people).  If they don’t, then there is a problem in the church (i.e. my opinion).  If they don’t put their actions or money where their mouths are, it’s not good.  CadillacJack says--It’s not good when my golf buddies are more caring than the church folks. AverageJoe says--Disneyland is known as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” They offer more than rides. They offer an experience. Everything that happens there is part of the plan to give you that experience of happiness. In a Forbes magazine article, communication specialist Carmine Gallo describes the process Disney uses in order to train their employees to be “Assertively Friendly.” They will go the extra step to extend themselves to you before you ask for help.  Such is life.

ItchieBitchie says—It’s just propaganda, that’s all it is for sure. The news media or for that matter any one can make a person look real bad or real good even when they aren’t real good or real bad.  It’s done all the time.  I guess they do that to make themselves or what they want to look better.  It might not even be close to what the truth is of the person they are talking about.  They use blurbs that are just marginal truth and maybe are just one little slice of a person’s life and leave out a million blurbs of the good or bad side of a person.  It’s done all the time.  And some suckers seem to believe it.  Why I ask. I really wonder if our past environment or current environment (i.e. both good or bad) affects who we are and what we are.  I wonder if we get programmed and we don’t even know it (e.g. if we are bitter about something). 

We seem to live in a “Headline society.”  The Iowa football program was investigated for maybe some bad stuff.  The independent research interviewed 200 ex-football players.  98% were positive and 2% or 4 players were negative if I have it correct.  What does the media write about?  You guessed it, the 4 players (i.e. and God only knows what their agendas are or if they are accurate).  Now that takes the cake.

AverageJoe, is smarter than the average dog, says—erv, you gotta have a platform to stand on or no one will listen to ya.  If you are the 4^th string senior linebacker who has never been in the game, you can talk all you want but no one will probably listen to you (i.e. even though you might be way smarter than the lippy star with an issue).  But if you are the star running back, folks might listen to ya.  Sooooo if you are JoeSwamp who lives in the Big Marsh deep in Butler Co and says something about grace, probably no one will listen to ya.  But if you are Martin Luther and say this, folks will probably listen to ya—This grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing.  It does not lie asleep in the soul.  Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced.  It is hidden but its works are evident.

A golf buddy/friend told me while I was riding in his cart recently that his granddad volunteered during WW I and fought in the trenches in France.  His father volunteered, when his wife was pregnant, during WW II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he, himself, was in the military.  He is very upset that a few of folks are trying to destroy seemingly everything they fought for.  He is really hurt.  And what does the media report—All about the few folks who are seemingly trying to destroy America.  I don’t get it.  I don’t.  The guyfromnorthoftown says—Well folks, mash those potatoes!!!!

Sooooo I’m curious, how many grans of salt did you need while reading this “It’s Saturday?”  That is what I thought.  You maybe had to refill the salt shaker!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Lead by example.

it's a mess

GeorgeTheCrook, who looks like a person who can’t wait, says--You can’t teach a person a lesson that they think they already know. It’s impossible.  Soooo why try? YaBut, if something happens in a person’s life that startles them into wondering maybe they don’t know the lessons (i.e. it scares the dickens out of ‘em), it’s a whole new ball game. It sure is.  Saturday question—Have you ever had the dickens scared out of you? Some folks think they have a corner on the market in knowing everything.  They don’t for sure.  They will learn that if they get the dickens scared out of them.  Oh ya!  Until then, they might think they know everything.

My Mom, Anna, who was extremely talented and hard working, could sew anything and everything.  She made cloths for my sisters and taught them to sew.  I made a blanket out of feed gunny sacks for my 4-H calf one time; that was the extent of my sewing.  I remember her having a pattern and pinning it to the material and then cutting out the parts and then sewing them together.  That always fascinated me.  It seemed to always work like putting a puzzle together.  I assume it is still done the same today.  Ya gotta have a pattern for most anything, I think.  Soooo where do you get your patterns for the things you do in your life?  Really! 

MaryMary, one positive, aggressive, sweet gal said—Ya gotta have a plan; the better your plan the better your life will be. And if you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.  Look around at your friends, neighbors, family members and acquaintance; they are different, all different.  You get to decide which pattern you are going to use.  Such is life.

A friend from the metro said to me--The squirrels make such a mess to my flower gardens and damage my flowers which I pay a lot of money for and plus I put a lot of work into making them look good.  Sooooo she catches them in a live trap and takes them across the river or otherwise they will just come back (i.e. she thinks).  She has caught 75 squirrels soooo far this year.  Wow! that’s a lot of squirrels let me tell ya! Let’s see, it’s about 6 miles round trip to across the river X 75 trips which is 450 miles at 25 miles per gallon which amounts to 18 gallons of gas at $2.30 a gallon which amounts to a gas cost of $41.30 plus the wear and tear of her car plus maybe 37.5 hours of her time.  She is one tenderhearted gal alright.  I was invited to friends for dinner and told them this squirrel story.  He said that raccoons have been damaging things around the farmyard and been making a mess soooo he started trapping them. He has trapped in his live trap 22 raccoons soooo far this year. They are pretty feisty when I find them in the trap but when I take them out of the trap behind the grove, they lay on their backs nice and calm; probably that .22 caliber shot to the head might of made a difference (i.e. they don’t come back for sure; it’s deep in rural Butler County folks). My friend from the metro told me that squirrels can’t remember where they hide their nuts.  They find them by digging and digging and find them by chance—I didn’t know that! The stuff I learn is just amazing; just amazing!

I seem to be attracted to and like to be around and in many cases be friends of many of you folks who are on fire (i.e. have a lot of gumption).  Being on fire meaning, you folks are always doing something in a positive way (i.e. you are always after it and getting it done).  I seem to have many friends who are just that way.  Why do I like this characteristic in folks? I really don’t know but I do.  There seems to be a pattern in my thinking. It appears that certain folks have successes (i.e. and sadly, failures) that are repeated over and over again and again. Look around, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Yes, there seems to be a pattern. 

I have a friend who I tell her she intrigues me.  I mean that, she intrigues me. She fascinates me.  I don’t completely understand her.  Why is she the way she is?  Is she really that real?  Is she always this happy? What’s her past and why does she think like she does?  Why does she act the way she does?   What’s her blueprint?  She stimulates my thinking for sure.  I see a gal walking her dog quite often on Gray Street which is behind my house.  I have known her for over 50 years.  I knew her parents, know her teen age years, her sibling, her first husband, her second husband and some about her life (i.e. good and bad). She is always friendly and kind to me.   I wonder almost every time I see her walking her dog what she is thinking.  I would really like to have a conversation with her and have her talk about her life to me. I think it would be very interesting. I don’t think it will happen.  BUT I just might ask her someday (i.e. give her an opportunity). I just might do that. And she might like to tell me about her life, maybe! Sometimes it feels good to say what we think.  I have a friend who told me recently—I love my wife a lot but I can get soooo mad at her sometimes.  Maybe it felt good for him to express that to me.  Yikes!

Have you ever been in a mess or am the mess (i.e. the mess is in the mirror)?  Yikes, it’s messy when that happens for sure.  JanMyFriend took notes of Pastor Dave’s message when in MN and she let me have them.  Here are parts of them.  Maybe you might find them helpful in your life.  They pertain to me for sure.  It appears that that the world and America is in a mess.  We don’t hear much or anything about maybe we should turn to God with our mess.  The media still thinks the government can fix everything.  Now that is messy to think about.  How can anyone win? 

It looks like a lose lose situation the direction we are heading (i.e. my opinion).  Some of the folks I talk to think that way anyway here in Butler County.  It is scarier than the virus (i.e. my opinion).  You folks that are really scared about the virus, you ain’t seen nuttin yet (i.e. my opinion)!  But there are folks that seem to want this mess (i.e. they want everything to burn) soooo they are probably happy. BUT what do I know, I’m just a little old farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. 

We were invited to friends’ family while in MN for a delicious dinner and great conversation.  They are a conservative God fearing, 40ish age family but they joined the National Rifle Association.  They bought guns and are learning to use them.  She is a sweet, petite gal.  I have a hard time seeing her with a gun or guns.  People are scared folks.  Soooo I asked my golf buddy Wednesday about this and he told me guns are in big demand and even hard to get.  Ammo is also hard to get; folks are getting a supply.  That doesn’t sound good.  Does it!  People are scared it appears. This sounds like a mess.  It could be another wild west shoot out! ItchieBitchie, delivers all news like it is good, says—Come on erv, that will never happen.  I live in a gated community; we will just lock the gate and call the police! 

I recently had a fun time. Four of us played pb and a friend brought along some of his home-made wines and we drank wine after pb.  Another friend brought along a spread of hors d’oeuvres (i.e. impressive and good).  Here is what is really funny—I brought a box of wheat thins in a plastic grocery bag (i.e. way out classed—what a hoot).  ANYWAY, what a great time we had.  The wine friend’s wife told us something interesting.  She told us that she and a friend are walking every street in Cedar Falls.  Wow!  What a fun adventure and goal.  That’s a lot of miles.  I think that is very stimulating in soooooo many ways.  These folks are good folks with good hearts, for sure. The outing was very stimulating, at least to me (i.e. maybe it was the wine haha).  Hey, I learned to put dryer static sheets in cars or equipment to keep mice out during the winter—the wine guy says it really works and makes your car smell good tooooo (i.e. or it was the wine talking). 

I was invited for dinner at friends and they told me that their daughter (i.e. 40ish with three children) wanted to lose some weight.  She walked 8 miles a day but lost no weight.  Then she started counting calories and now she can get into her jeans of three years ago.  Moral of the story—You can’t walk 8 miles and continue to eat the pigoutplatter and expect to lose weight.  I was coming home from the golf course in my golf cart recently and stopped to talk to some friends in the street.  She told me that she had hip replacement and went on a diet and lost 40 pounds and feels a lot better.  Her husband said—And because of her I lost 30 pounds and can breath a lot better.  Soooooo I guess it can be done.  There seems to be a pattern here!

Years ago in our community we had a guy who his buddies would get him going (i.e. get him all excited) by telling him all kinds of stuff. None of it was true but he did not know what was true or what was fable. It was a game. It seemed like his buddies enjoyed the game, but it was not good for this guy.  SusieQ, who seems to be on point a lot, says—I’m very vulnerable in believing things that aren’t true; I believe most anything and my life shows it. Another thing, it’s fun to see people who have peace when the storm is really fierce (i.e. there is something that these folks have that others don’t, it appears—they seem to know what is real and what isn’t, my opinion).  It is like weather; weather is a great bluffer.  It appears the same is true of our human society, things can look dark a.k.a. a mess, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed. Like my mentor use to say—When things are good, folks think they will always be good and when things are bad, folks think they will always be bad.  But it changes!  The unexpected can happen and usually does.

I learned some very interesting information about something that very few folks know, I mean very few.  I find it very interesting and would like to learn more about it (i.e. explore it).  BUT I don’t think I will.  It might open a can of worms that I wish I would not have opened.  Maybe it might be better to let the sleeping dog sleep.  It could create a mess.  Have you ever been in such a situation?  Have you ever found the true information and wish you didn’t know it or would not have got involved?  SlimySlick, who was athletic looking once but ate toooo many pastries, says—What you don’t know won’t hurt you.  Sooooo, many times we don’t get to the bottom of the truth for many reasons.  We just fake it or act dumb (e.g.  sometimes it appears that some family history is this way).  And time seems to let everyone forget it and life goes on happily ever after—externally it appears anyway).  Perhaps it’s for the best.  I don’t know!

I think some messes are good.  You might not.  Do you want to be told to do things and how to do them?  CrazyBarbie, who can lose track of what is important, thinks she is God and knows everything.  She doesn’t. I like freedoms (e.g. freedom to send your kids to school or do it on line).  Ya, it’s a mess but maybe that’s about as good as it gets.  There are always people unhappy about something and there are always folks complaining about something (i.e. particular when there is money involved and/or it’s political or it’s a power/ego issue).  I read in the paper, soooo it must be right, that some countries have kids going to school and without face masks.  JoeBlow, who can be a real problem, says--But what do they know, we are a lot smarter and besides, we have unions that have a lot of power and seem to know a lot.

TheRadicalBabe says—They were just spewing words! It was all scripted, like mechanical! I have had several folks tell me that they think (i.e. their opinions) that once the election is over, the virus thing will not be heard about much anymore (i.e. like a 100 mph fast ball—zoooom, it went right by me).  And the crowd went wild! What do you think?  That is what I thought.

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing you think you can not do.”  --  Eleanor Roosevelt

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

erv

MyFriendJean says-- It is easy to make a mess, if you’re not the one who has to clean it up.