boo woo -- ra ra hooray

This “It’s Saturday” might be called “It’s Saturday from the bleachers!”  If you are winning you hear a lot of ra ra horrays and if you are losing you hear a lot of boo woos (i.e. especially from the bleacher section, cheap seats)!  As our family says—It’s a lot more fun to win than to lose!  Now ain’t that the truth!

A golf buddy told me that he never was much good at reading.  In fact, he said—I can read a couple of pages and after the first paragraph, I can’t remember what I read.  Sooooo my golf buddy, I will make sure I write my good stuff in the first paragraph for you, but the problem is, I don’t know what the good stuff is and what the bad stuff is!  In fact, I don’t really know if any of this “It’s Saturday” is good stuff.  Such is life.

CoachB says—What kind of folks are you traveling through life with?  Are they lions, tigers, donkeys and asses or just good ol’ honest, nice folks with good hearts?  Our lives will be affected by who is in our boats.  For sure. I have been very fortunate in my life to be around many good folks (i.e. many of them are you guys).  I say thanksamillion for being acquittances and friends.  Many good folks have just faded away from my life for many reasons (e.g. time, death, circumstances).  They have influenced me and are really always part of me but just not around anymore.  Hopefully you have been around some good folks as well.  Hopefully, we all have.  I say to all you good folks—ra ra hooray!

While eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it, this is what Jim Langley wrote (i.e. anyone can be a Jim)—"You know the ‘Pause’ button you have on your TV, or the video you are watching on your computer or smartphone? Sometimes life presses the ‘pause’ button, whether we like it or not. Often we don’t. But I have learned when that happens, it creates a unique opportunity to step back and assess where I have been, where I am at the present, and where I am going – or at least, where  I think I think I’m going. Throughout the Book of Psalms, the word ‘Selah’ often appears. This Hebrew word seems to be used as a musical mark used by the musician/lyricist, causing readers or singers to stop and reflect on what was previously presented. This musical mark is also found three times in the book of Habakkuk, which speaks of God’s greatness since the earliest days of humankind. The prophet challenges us to dwell on the goodness of the God of the universe and learn to trust Him implicitly.” When I reflect, I have some boo woos and some ra ra hoorys!  How about you?

British statesman Winston Churchill who observed, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” I have failed more than I have succeed for sure.  I haven’t kept count but am quite sure that is the case, but it is hard to measure.  How about you.  It seems like failure has a different impact than success.  Or is that my imagination. TheGuyNorthOfTown, who usually is sitting on his high horse, says-- “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”  LuckieEddie, who gives good vibes, says—I have been lucky to have soooo much success.  I don’t deserve it.  BUT when I fail, I have a tendency to not want to try again.  Failure hurts toooo bad.  I don’t like the feeling.  Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going!

GoofyGoof says--Have you ever been fooled by folks.  Of course you have! We all have. When we get to know folks at different levels, we find out different things about folks.  Maybe some things that are really good about folks and some we’re maybe not soooo much impressed about a.k.a. the hard truth. I would guess that is pretty normal.  Getting to know folks is interesting for probably all of us (i.e. for some folks more than others for sure—some folks really don’t want to get to know folks very well or share themselves; very surface relationships).  Well, folks just amaze me!  Some things we learn about others are “boo woos and other things are ra ra hoorays!” Saturday question—Do you share yourself or not?

I recently got a text from a friend.  He found a note while cleaning out his garage that I sent him 29 years ago (i.e. he must about keep anything).  It was a great memory.  ANYWAY, it triggered my thinking about another friendship.  I developed a friendship with a guy who ended up being my mentor. Our friendship took years to develop but did become very special.  One day he told me some personal stuff and then said—I have never told anyone this before (i.e. spilled his guts); you are the only one who knows this.  I must have been the right person at the right time. It seemed he felt good telling me that stuff. I have never told anyone what that stuff was and never will. That toooo is a great memory.

I recently enjoyed an evening with some friends. We shared our lives’ histories some as we don’t know each other real well (i.e. developing stronger friendships). One friend was telling us about a sign on the Fraternal Order of Oddfellows building with a saying on it.  They do a meal and is served by ladies in their 80s but now have to have some help from younger family members (i.e. the old gray mares ain’t what they use to be). He was amazed that these older ladies are inspiring others to serve others. Oh, the saying is—Aspire to Inspire before you Expire. They might be saying—Throw those chips away and get your butts of the couch and do something.  Maybe! Some folks just amaze me!  For sure! Such is life.

I recently was totally surprised by getting a phone call from our grandson, Jimmer.  He is now 9 years old.  He is rather shy and timid and never liked to talk on the phone or with folks in general.  He talked to me for maybe 15 minutes in a tone of voice that was just amazing (i.e. very articulate and informative and poised).  I have no idea what happened all of a sudden (i.e. must have gotten a cocklebur under his saddle).  People do change now don’t they.  It’s just amazing; amazing how and when! I don’t understand many things, and this is one. We soooo many times hear about changes for the bad but don’t hear or talk soooo much about changes for the good.  Maybe folks like to talk about bad things more than good things (i.e. the news is usually about bad stuff—exaggerated bad stuff).  What do you think?  That is what I thought. You ever hear folks say about others—Well, good for them?  Soooo do they mean it as they are happy for them or do they say it with a sarcastically meaning that they are not happy that good has happened to them because they are jealous. Think about that next time you hear folks say that about someone else. MissPerfect says—erv, don’t ask that question; I am jealous a lot of other folks and say that often. Such is life.

At breakfast recently with a friend, he quoted his late father who was also a friend of mine—“Sometimes it is good to be like a duck and let things run off your back.”  SUGGESTION!  We at some point will once again have family get-to-gathers (i.e. I’m, for one am ready for them).  My suggestion is that we don’t talk politics but just enjoy our families.  I, me, myself, don’t enjoy being around folks who say vicious derogatory remarks about any folks including governmental leaders (e.g. … the president by name is a jack ass, a complete fool, a real dumb s..t, an idot, etc.).  Maybe when folks express themselves in those words they are a big turn off toooooo many.  Many folks don’t really care to be around them. Folks like that maybe kill the whole fun joyful atmosphere of being around family and friends (i.e. many don’t think it’s impressive).  Folks who say things like that probably have already started into the Limited Edition Family Pack! Each one of us are responsible in making family get-to-gathers a ra ra horray or a boo hoo!  Soooo if you are a person who expresses yourself that way, may I suggest, that when you are about ready to say something like that, you change your thinking and say something nice about someone instead. It’s just a suggestion. It’s your decision. But remember, decisions have consequences! Such is life.

I had a friend ask me at breakfast recently if my Daddy, Chester, swore. I said I don’t remember him ever swearing or taking the Lord’s name in vain—that is what I thought as I have never heard you do either (i.e. but he’s not around me all the time either).  I don’t think our kids do either (i.e. of course I’m not around them all the time either).   Sooooo what does that tell me?  ItchieBitchie says—We defiantly are influenced by our past environment and current environment. In the famous Christmas movie, The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark asked his father, how he got through all the past Christmases at a time in the movie that everything was going a mess—His father said—With a lot of help from Jack Daniels son.  That is funny but isn’t funny.  Just maybe, another thing that is pasted on from one generation to another.

Well Santa, control your reindeer will ya, especially the one with the red nose! Soooo the other day I went to get the mail at the mail box which is across the street.  TedMyNeighbor was out letting one of his dogs pee in his front yard.  He’s a big Iowa Hawkeye fan and I follow them as well.  He says—How about those Hawks; they are getting really good; the offensive line is really getting good and the defense is much better (i.e. they won a couple of games against poorer teams)—I’m not tooooo cocky about their success; they play that soft pass defense just like always that drives me crazy—yabut they are getting way better—I’m not very cocky about them—maybe erv, you just aren’t very cocky—I don’t know about that. We laughed! I think there was some boo woo and ra ra hooray in that conversation. What a hoot!

‘is the season to give.  Sooooo how are you doing your giving this year?  You got plans?  Anything different this year? I have thought about my giving already. I will continue to do our “long-time standing family Christmas Eve giving tradition.”  It is soooo much fun and now such a good memory.  BUT I am adding something new this year.  I am going to put some thought into giving thanks to folks who I want to say thank-you to.  Don’t know exactly how or when I will do this, but I am going to do this.  I think that is a great gift. What do you think? How about joining me! What is really neat is anyone can do it.  We can be very imaginative in doing it.  Soooo folks, throw those chips away and get your butts off the couch and let’s think about doing it.  And remember, this is not about self-glorifying us but it’s about being a true gift to someone else (i.e. telling folks who the “thanks expression” is from is okay but doing it in a way that it doesn’t sound that we are trying to make ourselves sound like we are great can be tricky). BUT remember, a true gift has no strings attached.  ItchieBitchie, who always makes me happy, says—And for God sakes, be humble!

Stop mocking me towel

Got this email from a friend--erv, how well are you handling covid19? Here in Mn  we have been locked down again. It’s sorta tuff because you really can’t go anywhere. A bunch of us guys have gotten together for coffee every morning for 25 years. Now we can’t. But, at least none of us have covid 19! Every day I try call some other poor bum who may not have any one else to communicate with. I suppose it’s okay that I can’t go anywhere because I can’t see well enough to drive very far anyway.    Good luck

Have you every been redeemed?  GeorgeTheCrook says—I don’t even know what redeemed means.  In Christian theology, redemption refers to the deliverance of Christians from sin (i.e. something that human power is helpless). Being redeemed is a pretty good gift, I think.  Can we redeem others from a past action or thought we have of them?  I assume we can. Have you ever done that?  Would you ever consider doing that? I wonder how that would make a person feel if they redeemed someone else?  I wonder how it would make the other person feel if we did it to them and told them that.  It might blow their socks off!  MissPerfect says—I think I would have a hard time accepting that gift, I would feel like I don’t deserve it. 

For sure a ra ra hooray!  A big time holler! A big shout out to you! No question! This is hard to express as it’s not something I have ever heard talked about before.  It could be a first.  I want many of you to know how much your gifts to Arlene’s memorial fund means to our family and to many families who will and have benefited from them.  As we said, your memorial gifts would be split between Catholic Charities and Lutheran Family Service. These gifts will be used for their ministries.  Your gifts will be soooo appreciated by soooo many folks while honoring Arlene.  It just warms my heart and hopefully yours. Our family was just crazingly amazed of your generosity in remembering Arlene (i.e. blew our socks off).  In return, those gifts are now blowing the socks off others.  Tidbit—The reason why we selected both of these organizations was that both of our children were adopted through these organizations.  I’m emotional here, I have tears running down my cheeks—sorry! Maybe you might understand these emotions and maybe not. I understand.

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

erv

MyFriendJean said--It isn't necessary to blow out the other person's light to let your own shine.