astonishing and marveling

Saturday question—Are you pro-active or reactive? James Patterson said—When I was 26, I wrote my first mystery, ‘The Thomas Berryman Number,’ and it was turned down by, I don’t know, 31 publishers. Then it won an Edgar for Best First Novel. Go figure. Astonishing and marveling!

"Be fearlessly authentic" Do you ever talk to yourself? ItchieBitchie, who doesn’t seem to lie tooooo much, says—About 50% of the folks admit they do and the other 50% probably do but won’t admit it publicly.  Hey, it’s not crazy to talk to yourself, in fact it is probably very healthy.  It is good toooo evaluate yourself, coach yourself, encourage yourself, convince yourself, etc. I read in the paper soooo it must be right that many experts think it’s a sign of intelligence toooo talk toooo yourself. I read that Albert Einstein talked to himself; he would repeat his sentences toooo himself softly. This talking toooo yourself is astonishing and marveling toooo me.  Do it, it might make you a better person.  It surely won’t hurt anything! Some of you probably won’t understand what you are saying; it ain’t nuttin new; that’s what others have been saying about you for years! haha

MyNeighborDownTheStreet says--The past is a place of reference and not a place of residence.  Think through that folks. I am astonished and marvel how many folks ask me—do you have home-town friends or family that you know in your park?  When I say no, then they say—soooo why did you buy in that park then (i.e. soooo that tells me that it must be important toooo many folks)? Well, through some years being down here in the Valley and having the opportunity, mainly because of Dan who gave me the opportunity toooo play picklbeball in this park about 6 years ago, I got toooo make a few friends and made a number of acquaintances. I just liked it here (i.e. people treated me nice). Does that make any sense toooo you? I realize that some folks are more comfortable in being in a nomadic, migrating tribe and being around the same folks all the time and talking about the same old stuff (i.e. maybe a form of security).  Each their own I guess.  I find it very refreshing toooo be around different folks somewhat and talking about different stuff sometimes (i.e. not just about Butler County stuff).  BUT I talk toooo my long-time friends from back home and from all over a lot and also my family.  Many of you call me, text and email which I like, no question (i.e. I like that security tooooo).  Thanksamillion.  You folks are good folks with good hearts, my kind of folks. Oh, I wanted to go for an hour walk around the park the other day; I walked 15 minutes and talked 45; you almost have toooo be rude to get a good walk in!!!

one of my favorite hikes

I am astonished and I marvel about this statement that CoachB says—The most worthwhile path is often not the easiest. CrazyMarvin says—Yabut I like easy; it works good for me!  I was having happy hour with a friend, and they brought up this scripture that is very astonishing and I marveled at it.  I’m going to try to memorize it (i.e. it’s not easy for me but I like it soooo well).  Maybe you might as well and use it consistently for all folks but especially your family and friends.  The scripture story is from 1 Samuel 25:2 through 25:42 but the verse I like is 1 Samuel 25:6 which says— David sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal (i.e. who was a potential enemy): “Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own.” I think if I pray that silently for all folks it will be a blessing to them and also to me (i.e. might even make me a better person maybe).  It surely can’t hurt anything I bet! I especially like it as it has all the focus on others and not on me. ItchieBitchie, who is the craziest person in the world, says--Now that can’t be an American cultural prayer; it’s not all about me. I actually do not hate anyone (i.e. not at this time anyway but that could easily change) but do have some folks that frustrate me; yes I do.  I’m going to try to say this prayer for everyone silently.  If I say that prayer to the folks who frustrate me, how can I be frustrated with them? I don’t think I can. And why wouldn’t I want the best for everyone? What do you think? I really can understand why some folks would not say that prayer for folks they hate but I don’t hate anyone now anyway. Do you hate anyone?

My mentor would tell me that Thanksgiving was his favorite Holiday; it is simple and yet soooo much fun. I agreed with him (i.e. Christmas can get way out of hand). ANYWAY, Zig Ziglar used to say, "Your attitude determines your altitude," and an attitude of gratitude determines your joy. Gratitude and thanksgiving go hand in hand. Billy Graham said this—"Taking the ‘servant’ attitude of thankfulness in all of life’s circumstances will help you react as old Matthew Henry did when he was mugged. He wrote in his diary, ‘Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.’ I wonder if I could be that thankful. Could you?” Saturday question—What is your attitude about being thankful?

SusieQ, whose nickname is TheBarrellCactus, told me the other day that she had a bad day.  Oh really, tell me about it. When she got done telling me about it, I think she thought maybe that it wasn’t as bad as she thought.  ANYWAY, we all have had bad days, or we think we do.  Now look back and think about all the bad days you had and guess what, you got through them all and you are okay.  You can’t even remember most of your bad days. Soooo maybe they weren’t as bad as you thought. Soooo SeniorAverageJoe was getting his annual physical and told his doctor that it seems that recently he has been thinking of the hereafter more than he used toooooo.  His doctor gave him this puzzling look with concern and was sorta kinda forcing a response from him.  It’s like I go into a room and wonder what am I here after!

MyCouz, who is as good as gold, invited me over to his place for lunch down here in the Valley (i.e. he treated me like a king).  We had the most fun time; laughing our butts off, mostly at ourselves. Both of our wives passed on which generated much conversation of common interest.  ANYWAY, our Mothers, Anna and Berdina, who were sisters and very good friends, came from a very large family as probably many of your older parents did.  I asked him why the families were soooo large back then.  Well, there was no electricity, soooo folks went to bed early.  And many folks couldn’t hear very well back then.  Sooooo Simon would cuddle up to Henrietta and say to her, you want to go to sleep or what?  And she said—what!

Got an email from an old buddy from Danube, MN High (i.e. class of 63), TheOldZenker who seems to have a good handle on life, lost two hs friends who where his very good friends, one from heart disease and the other from COVID.  A friend told me what her boss use to say in these circumstances—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (i.e. I was told that this expression is an old Eastern Catholic expression) or another of his favorites was, Well, I’ll be go to hell! (i.e. I don’t really know anything about this expression but have heard it—Huck Finn used it).  Soooo we better not get toooooo cocky about thinking we know our future on this earth! It might be astonishing and marveling or even shocking!

What is your economic recovery plan?  Surely not more kids sooo you can get more government free money, is it?  When back on the farm a mile and a fourth south of Roseland, I remember how the calves used to beller when we weaned them of their mommy’s sweet milk; they just plain didn’t like to give up that free easy milk.  Same with taking all the free money away from folks. It will be hard; they will beller.  Maybe if they beller loud enough and long enough, and stomp their feet hard enough, they will continue to get it. You think soooo? Many large families might come back again. And the saying is—The rich can pay for it; yabut who is the rich?

Missperfect, who can set up the show alright, says--Strong relationships are developed by talking about important stuff; not trivial stuff like fashions and sport scores. It probably isn’t who has the biggest purse who wins! There are some huge massive purses let me tell you.  I observed that in the airport while waiting. Man did I do something smart, I prepaid my parking at Sky Harbor when traveling for Thanksgiving.  I got there and the lots were full.  I had a bar code on my phone which I used and got in and had a spot.  Slick as a whistle. When I left, I used it again and it was done. Pretty amazing actually. We demand everything to be friendly or we will go somewhere else.  But you can still do the parking the old way, oh ya! At least for now! BUT if I need one bolt or one clamp, I go down the street to Ace hardware here in Mesa where I can still get it (i.e. in the big box stores I need to buy 10 of them—sorta kinda like Costco but folks sure do like Costco)! Yes they do. Their marketing scheme seems to be very successful. BUT I read in the paper soooo it must be right that Best Buy is losing money and one of the biggest reasons is “organized shop lifting crime.” Best Buy’s CEO, Corie Barry, told analysis—This is a real issue that hurts and scares real people. It appears that some of the major cities are just letting it happen (i.e. turn their heads). I bet Amazon loves that! I went to Walgreens and had some pictures printed for my frig off of my iPhone: there were no cords to connect.  The gal gave me one to use; she said we need to put them in a drawer or folks will just steal us blind! Astonishing! Most of you would never consider stealing cords at Walgreens (i.e. other things maybe, but not stealing cords--haha). Saturday question--Why do some folks steal and others don't? There must be a reason I would guess; either its their genetics or their environment!

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

erv

MyFriendJean said—It always seems impossible until it’s done.