adventure

I think I have heard “the MI chemists/scientists” who are part of the family, say—"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.”  I think we have reactions to all manner of different stimuli.  Folks, I believe that different stimuli are very important to one’s personal health and growth.  My opinion.  When we were at the Dead Sea, it stunk.  Why? It’s the Dead Sea where there is not a flow of new water out (i.e. the end of the Jordon River). The water evaporates and the minerals remain.  Yuck!

TheI-80Guy, who is not a standard issue, says—Don’t wait tooooo long!  When I was a kid and attended Roseland Elementary, we were allowed to go a ditch that was maybe 200 yards from our building and go ice skating during our long recess in the winter afternoons.  A friend and I decided to be adventurous and play Lewis and Clark soooo we went on an adventure down the ditch some distance; we headed west.  Of course, time got away from us and our teacher got all worried.  We eventually got back but it was not pretty.  Well, I’m on another adventure.  I’m heading West.  I have really no destination and this time no teacher to worry about me.  Let's see what happens (i.e. what stimuli I can find).  Alexander Graham Bell said—When one door closes, another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones that open for us.

This pic is of a business in Butler County.  It is on Pete and Shorty’s.  A trip is going from one point to another and sometimes on paths less traveled.  It is traveling for sure.  I think trips are fun.  I like traveling.  Yes, some trips in life aren’t always fun (e.g. some parts of the trip of life might not be as much fun as others). Even some vacation trips end up in disaster in many different ways or because of different reasons.  I’m concerned that some American folks are going to end up being paranoid folks sitting in their houses just rotting away.  It appears that for some it is easy to worry worry worry and do nothing (i.e. my opinion is that is not good for us).  Figure it out folks. SmartPantsLena, who can come on like a box of nails at times, says—I think some folks are starting to figure it out (i.e. dust is collecting). CadillacJack, who can talk about stuff I don’t understand, says—We must never assume that which is incapable of proof. Only time and science will tell, and the new poll shows that the public is indeed skeptical.  I have had three things that spurred me on this last week.  None of them were real big but all affected my attuite in a very positive way. They were stimuli that got me in the mood to take a trip.  Soooo I am.  I think I have been very fortunate. There is no medicine like hope, no incentive soooo great, no tonic sooo powerful, as the expectation of something better tomorrow. I pray that you might experience stuff like this.  SusieQ, who is inked from hand to elbow, says—I’m not like you erv, I like to dwell on the negative and then get around negative folks and talk about more negative stuff (i.e. the worser the better). WackoHerman, who lives deep in Butler County where there isn’t even one traffic light, says—We aren’t all going to die tomorrow no matter what others say or what you think.  BUT we are all going to die sometime, for sure. The clock is ticking folks.  I suggest all of us throw those chips away and get our butts of the couch and do something.  There will always be something to worry about. I read in the Book, soooo it must be right—However many years a person may live let them enjoy them all.

There is an old proverb that says—Lack of knowledge is darker than the night!  CoachB says—Get some knowledge! Get around folks who have knowledge, wisdom, and success.  Get enlightened!  MyDaddyChester said to me many times—erv, the best way to learn is to ask questions. My Mom, Anna, always served food when folks came to visit.  It seems like food seems to add to happiness and fun.  Sooooo lets eat!!!

My first stop heading west, except for a stop at a rest stop, was at Warren and Fran’s in Omaha (i.e. they are full of life).  Warren calls himself “the other Warren from Omaha.”  These are very delightful folks (i.e. 87 and 85) who are full of knowledge, wisdom and success.  Warren is my first cousin removed, Daddy, Chester’s first cousin, who I got to know while wintering in AZ.  I had the opportunity to have dinner with them and spend the night.  An incredible experience. They are the salt of the earth type of folks.  Warren’s say on knowledge and wisdom is—Knowledge is the directional information you have to gather to make a decision and wisdom is making the right decision based on that information.  Good knowledge is useless unless you act on it. Fran’s statement was—Knowing when to keep my mouth shut when I know I am going to lose an argument.

Nuttin new really! We all heard it many times before! But if we want to maximize our adventure of life, a hospital newsletter suggested these ideas to live well.  A look on the bright side, the importance of a positive outlook they titled it.  Stay connected with friends and family; maintain your normal routine; keep your living space neat and tidy; limit the news you read or listen tooooo; focus on what brings happiness each day; spend time in nature; exercise. They are a public company soooooo they can’t talk about a real important one—Spend time each day working on our spiritual part of our life (i.e. pray and read or something to uplift us—very important—my opinion).

My next stop was in Burwell, NE, population about a thousand, where I had the opportunity to take Stan and Oliva out for lunch at the Sandstone (i.e. a great local restaurant). Stan and Oliva are retired ranchers in the sandhills of NE.  Their ranch is about an hour up’erin’emsandhills (i.e. where my neighbor Dena was raised)—really at the end of the sand road in the middle of nowhere). After lunch Stan took me for about a 3-hour tour of their ranch and the sandhill cattle country.  I had such a good time.  I asked a thousand questions besides all the information Stan told me.  I grew up with cattle as we feed about 50 head of feeder cattle a year a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, MN.  They came from the West but I don’t know if they came from the sandhills of NE but they could of.  I always liked cattle and the ranch life always intrigued me. It was always my idea to do this and I got the opportunity.  Oliva gave me this knowledge and wisdom—James 1:5 If any person lack wisdom let them ask of God who givith to all people liberally.

My next stop was at the historical Arrow Hotel in Broken Bow, NE.  Isn’t that a good name for a town in the middle of the Sandhills a.k.a. NE-Cowboy/RanchCountry.  I was eating a steak (i.e. this is beef country folks) on the outside patio overlooking the street.  It smelt like cattle.  A local came and talked to me.  I said something about the smell of cattle.  He told me that the Adam Feedlot is 3 miles south of here and they feed 100,000 head of cattle (i.e. that is a lot of beef). The Burwell Rodeo Queen said—erv, it requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious. The local suggested I go out there and see it after my meal.  Soooo I did.  I used the mentality of myfriend who acts like he owns the place.  No one objected and I drove through all of the lot.  I had a plan though, if someone suggested I shouldn’t be there, I was going to use the mentality of anotherfreind who says, act dumb (i.e. and he says I don’t even have to act) and then plead for mercy.

TheCalfRopingChamp of Broken Arrow, who has more moves than a bucking bronco, says—Anyone who does not know how to make the most of their luck has no right to complain if it passes them by.

Then I had the opportunity to have dinner with John, Rachel, Willa and Edith.  Rachel is my niece. They live in Greely, CO.  Family is always fun.  I really enjoyed listening about their lives and issues (i.e. we all have issues).  They are very real folks with good heats; my like of folks. Rachel's statement about knowledge and wisdom was--Always check the source, always!  Rach has a masters in library science sooooo that statement was no surprise.  

Life is an adventure.  Many times our expectations don’t play out like we expect.  I went into this trip with no expectations.  Now that is exciting, for sure.  I think we are a lot better off if we don’t expect certain things.  Our daughter, Heather, told me before we had Arlene’s memorial service to have no expectations, Dad.  If you do, you will be disappointed, for sure. A few people will disappoint you and many people will really surprise you.  She was right on the money.  This last week I went to the golf course and had a burger for lunch (i.e. I never do this).  As I was eating, I had two guys who I know but am not around very much, came to me when they were done eating and expressed their symphony to me and were concerned about how I was doing.  I would not have expected this from these guys.  It was touching. Then, also, I had a person and a couple who we have been around for many many years who have never mentioned Arlene’s death to me in any way.  They probably have their reasons; I just don’t know what they are.  BUT I think I do and that is even worse on my part.  Saturday question--Sooooo if they have death in their family, should I reciprocate the same way?  Will I be big enough to give them grace, mercy, kindness, and love. Do they deserve it based on this experience? What is your expectation of me? There sure is a lot written about being humble.  I guess that being humble is knowledge and wisdom.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. On my trip I had a conversation with a gal (i.e. who is in the middle of cattle and oil country) who said that Christians should be kind to each other but she was rather shaky if this is always true (i.e. she did not have a good experience—it appeared that this gal got stabbed in the heart and is very sad about this experience—she is still bleeding). ItchieBitchie, who has been there and done that, says—Sometimes it appears that some Christians lose their gate of their Christ like persona because of a temporary glitch due to money, power, greed, or whatever.  Sometimes they get it back.  Sometimes some folks are long time very religious church goers/members but aren’t Christians (i.e. are as phony as an Iowa cowboy). WorldClassLarry (i.e. who has a brain of Solomon) says—Life is more than the next spam sandwich!  Such is life.

 My last stop on my adventure is being with family in CO.  I asked the young guns what they think about knowledge and wisdom—Erin, who will be 13 in a couple of days said—Knowledge is knowing and learning and wisdom is years of knowing and knowledge. Jimmer, who is 8, said—Knowledge is your brain.  Grandpa, I don’t know what wisdom is.  Don’t feel bad Jimmer, many folks way older than you don’t either. FOR SURE! We went to Target and I gave them each $20 and they could buy anything they wanted.  Now this is emotional buying for sure!  And why not! BUT I tried to teach them to make sure they bought something they really liked otherwise it was a waste of money (i.e. value for your dollar).  Even though Jimmer claims to not understand wisdom, he said to me in the Target parking lot, Grandpa, no one will steal your car as they don’t steal cars and besides, it is toooo old!

There is an old saying that goes like this—The higher you go the safer you are and the more fun you have.  Is that knowledge and wisdom?  I don’t know for sure but surely an interesting stimulus that for sure might affect us.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going! We’re burning daylight!