pure delight

Personal! I woke up at 2:48 and was wade awake and excited so I got up. I had PURE DELIGHT! I couldn’t believe how awesome this was; I was thinking about life! I had to sing for joy! Pure joy! I wrote down all the things recently that produced this feeling. I had quite a list. Many of you were part of that list. This feeling was better than any steak I ever ate let me tell ya!

Big Splashers! That list contained many people who are special people to me; people who affect/affected me currently and in the past (i.e. you know who you are—Real people). People who are very successful by my standards; successful and humble folks. I had no stuff on my list! Huh, interesting. Oh ya, no bitter folks on my list either (i.e. those folks see the world in a daze, my opinion—just don’t seem to understand, just don’t seem to get it--I always wonder why).

What! This story is a pure delight and a what! I went to give blood recently at the American Red Cross Center in Gilbert. When I left, the lady asked me if I wanted to have a seizure! I said what! no way I want to have a seizure! She said no, not a seizure. I want to know if you want a T-shirt! I bet they had a good laugh after I left!  I got an appointment at Costco to test my hearing. It all started with our children giving me a membership at Costco to have my hearing tested a couple years ago. Well, it looks like reality is here.

Have issues! All great folks have difficulties, all and I mean all but most good folks seem to manage their lives and figure it out (i.e. pretty much). All  of those great folks have challenges right now. Life is difficult soooo they’re not surprised but they still have Pure Delight! Amazing. They have strong character. How and why do they? Figure it out! And I like to be around these folks, they give me Pure Delight.

CoachB askes—"Who are we going through life with? Who is in our boat? Who is in our life that makes a big difference in how we act and where we are going to end up.” He also says--"If we dance with the devil long enough sooner or later he is going to step on our feet." Look around folks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Da!

Joethehike, anybody can be a Joe, says--If you want to look thinner hang around with heavy folks or if you want to look taller hang around with short folks. Or was it Steve or was it Bill who said that! For sure one of the three! Anyone can be a Steve or a Bill or a Joe! For sure! They all talk the same! They are all from the mining country of Northern MN!  

You you you! Ok,  my list that brought me pure joy was all about relationships. Again, not stuff! Billy Graham said—"There is nothing wrong with folks possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess folks” Relationships full of experiences, sharing, doing, loving, helping, caring, deep discussions, much laughing, etc. Things that are important and that is what builds solid meaningful relationships. They are Pure Delight. These relationships are from the past, long term, current, newer, very old, etc. Relationships of tremendous importance are soooo exciting (e.g. our son and our grandson were here last weekend—a great relationship). Pure delight!

Abraham Lincoln: "I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.

I’m in wonderland. Yes, I am. My wonderland is a place inside of my mind. It’s when I see everything around me as a wonder; I’m just amazed of all the miracles I see around me. I am just amazed and just wonder how all this can happen. It’s a pure delight. Dwight Eisenhower said—"To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed.”

Ok ok, I’m not always soooo smart, but do understand somethings some of the time even though maybe not enough (i.e. especially digesting maybe some other people's feelings and thoughts).  I understand that! I realize that this feeling of Pure Delight can’t and won’t last forever or even maybe not very long. It just can’t; it’s not possible. At least not at this level! This too shall pass! Part of me is a realist!

More pure delight. Sooo Costco wouldn’t test my hearing as I had too much wax in my ears. Sooo I went and had my ears cleaned at a clinic. The medical technician asked me about my cap (i.e. given to each of us by one of our deck buddies). I explained that 6 of us guys meet on my deck each week for an  hour and discuss Bible verses and life; this year the topic is encouragement. She went on to tell me that she belongs to a group at church called Beautiful Women that is also a very strong support group for her. She had a ring in her nose and quite a few tattoos, amazing (i.e. a very nice person)! I then went to one of my favorite breakfast places and had breakfast. When my waitress (i.e. a very normal looking middle-aged woman) came to bring me my check, she said, have a blessed weekend. She later came to refill my coffee cup, and I asked her if I could ask her a question. She said I could ask her any question that I wanted to. I said that you must be a believer by what you said and how you act. She said, yes I am but I was not always a Christian. 10 years ago, I was a drug addict and spent 60 days in jail and that is when I found Jesus; you would never guess that would you. Since then, I married a Christian man, and he has been a great influence on my life. Something he taught me that I did not like to hear at first was that my pecking order of my worship was wrong. He said that my worship order needed to be God first then our spouse, then my family, then others and then ourselves. I have changed, but it has been very difficult and I’m still working on it. These experiences were Pure delight!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Gems cannot be polished without friction.

challenge

Saturday question—Have you ever seen pigs fly? In life it is a challenge not to upset, hurt, offend, irritate, provoke, tread on someone’s toes, get under someone's skin, or touch a nerve of the past of someone. It’s almost impossible not toooo. I hope you take what I write in this “It’s Saturday” as a grain of salt!  Sooo proceed with caution. Some folks might not understand or believe some of this stuff until pigs fly! I have met some folks here in AZ that are a make and model that I have never seen before; they are “a new adventure for me! Their main form of transportation is a car but their secondary form is a flying dubus!

ItchieBitchie who still has a lot of tread on his tires, says--It’s a challenge to express ourselves and not hurt someone’s feelings. I asked AI to write a love letter. A friend had AI do their Christmas letter and he said it was perfect. It offended no one. The love letter was perfect; very generic and nothing possibly offensive. But it didn’t really have much of a personality. It was just like a Hallmark card (i.e. one card fits all). It is soooo hard not to get misunderstood in the world we live in. I just wonder sometimes if it’s not just best to not say anything. What do you think! JoeBlow whose windshield wiper blades are shot, says—I think in years to come we might have a chip inserted in our brain and we will all talk the same and no one will be offended. We will just be all generic and have no personality! But we won’t get misunderstood or hurt anyone’s’ feelings. Such will be life!

I’m not shocked! I think that we all have challenges in life; we all have challenges every day. It can’t be any different; we live in a complicated world and have a complicated life. It appears that folks handle challenges way differently (i.e. my opinion). Many of you handle challenges as opportunities. My hat goes off to you. I encourage you to keep it up. My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—"erv, we all have problems; it’s just that we just handle them differently!” And I wonder why that is! Da!

Figure it out! A friend told me about her friend whose life was a mess as a child; he had great challenges. Challenges continued in his adult life with him becoming a alcoholic. He made a complete turn around and is now a completely different person while overcoming several handicaps. Wow! I bet you wonder how in the world did he do that. Take a guess!

I’m human folks! While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it, I was reminded once again that one challenge I have is that I don’t give unconditional love. Ya, I think I know what it is but to live it is a totally different story. God says He unconditionally loves you and me. Unconditionally! That has to be a God thing ‘cause I can’t seem to do it. I admit it! But remember, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN.

Opportunity! I have created two challenges that I am going to work on to accomplish. One is a mental challenge and the other is a physical challenge (i.e. soooo far both are going pretty good). Both are exciting to me. You want to join me in this adventure? You pick your challenge(s) as I did!

I don’t know what fueled it! I went for a hike Saturday morning up ‘er in ‘em mountains as Jeanne was painting a wall in our tin hut. I met SusieQ on the trail who appeared to be a normal 70-year-old hiking woman with her sun hat, shorts, hiking boots and water bottle. She asked if I was from Yakima as I had my Yakima tee shirt on. We had a short conversation as she has a relative living in Yakima. She then went on to tell me that she is a mean woman. I told her that she sure doesn’t seem to be a mean woman--I am one mean old…! I’ve been in the Army for 20 years and men don’t mess with me; I knock them down and kick...--Really, are you really that mean—I sure am. I’m one mean…—are you married-–no I have never been married and I don’t want to ever be married, but I have four dogs! I think it would be a challenge for a man to be married to her.

Are you buying in! A friend named Jimmy asked me what yagottafinish means, like yagottafinish what? I told Jimmy that it was entirely up to you Jimmy, you decide! Saturday question—What direction are your feet and your thoughts going anyway? Bobby says—Hey erv, I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way! I have no idea when I will arrive!

Flip the pancake! I met another gal while hiking who was probably 60 years old wearing a Chicago marathon T-shirt. She stopped and wanted to talk so we did for a short time. I asked her if she ran in the Chicago marathon and she said she did. She asked if I did. I told her I did not, but I enjoyed riding my bike as the sun was rising on the trail along Lake Michigan having the early morning sun glistening off the Chicago skyline on the other side. She said that is a very fun place to exercise and she trained there for the marathon. She asked if I always hike alone and I told her no that my wife was home painting a wall sooo I was hiking alone this morning. I told her I actually wanted to hike alone today to be in nature and do some thinking, She said I am doing exactly the same and totally enjoying it too; I guess we have that in common; parts of Christmas can be challenging; I gotta go now as she showed me her nails. I have a nail appointment real soon. She seemed to be a sweet lady!

A tumultuous idea! I have a friend whose favorite line is when I ask him for his advice sometime is—I don’t know. If I push him a little, his response is sometimes—I really don’t know!  He never offends anyone!  hahaha

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—If you don’t watch out for yourself no one else will.

a good person

Saturday question--What are thoughts that we are just too scared of to think about? Thoughts we just strikethrough!

A game winner! Dr.J says—"You might think losing weight would be our top New Year’s resolution. But according to a 2024 YouGov survey, “saving more money” topped the list, followed by improving physical health, being happy, exercising more, eating healthier, and in sixth place, losing weight. The survey listed 23 top New Year’s resolutions, but one item wasn’t mentioned at all—exercising toward godliness.” It seems to me, godliness makes us better people; once we are good people, then everything else seems to fall into place. That’s my opinion. But remember, I'm just another bozo on the bus!

Soooo who is a good person, I ask? Here is what many folks think a good person is--A good person is generally defined by qualities like compassion, empathy, integrity, and kindness, consistently showing concern for others' well-being, acting with honesty and moral principle, and helping those in need, often selflessly and without expectation of reward, focusing on positive actions and growth. It's less about perfection and more about a continuous effort to be thoughtful, supportive, and to understand different perspectives.

I think I know a lot of good people. Many of you are really good people (i.e. but we all could be better people—hahaha!) I know a person in our park and have known him for a few years. I never cared much for him; he seemed arrogant, egotistical, unkind etc. But he has changed; I have no idea why. He is way opposite now; he treats me and others way different. I have no idea why. I would like to visit with him sometime.

Personal stuff! I have mentioned to some of you and I think I have even written about this. I have wished I would have been a more intelligent person (i.e. like having a higher IQ). My thinking was it would have given me more opportunities and maybe selfishly would have made me a more important person and even made me more money. Now that I’m 80, I no longer have that wish. In fact, I’m glad I’m not more intelligent. I see now that it isn’t always the cat’s meow to be super intelligent! In some cases it could be a curse. A high IQ doesn’t make a person a better or necessarily a good person! That is my opinion!

A friend is divorced and is here in AZ looking for a hubby. She told us her ex was not a good person (i.e. had a couple of major problems she said) and she wants a good person. MissPerfect says—My ex seemed to be such a good person when we got married but boy did he change; I had to tell him to take a hike! LuckieEddie says; My ex seemed such a nice person when we were married at age 20 I thought; I guess I wasn’t soooo lucky; I didn’t see the train wreck coming that was just over the hill!

I believe there are a lot of good people in this world, yes I do. Yes, there are some folks who really aren’t soooo good but many many are good and many many of those good folks are you folks! It is factual that the people we hang around with are going to really affect us, soooo we really need to pay attention to that (i.e. it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out). We hiked Spooky Mt on January 2. There were a lot of people hiking. There were families, tourists and local folks working out. We were in contact with some of them and felt that almost all of these folks were good folks. Huh, interesting. Saturday question--Were they the typical cross-section of Americana?

TheFolksDownTheStreet asked me, erv, how do we determine who a good person is. TheWizardOfMI indirectly told me this: I have to decide the type of person I want to be. Also, new goals don’t produce results but new lifestyles do. BUT I have decided that I need to not do stupid stuff; stupid stuff can ruin my life and hurt my chances of being a good person. When TheWizardOfMI speaks, I listen! Such is life.

SusieQ askes—Then how do we determine who is a good person? That got me thinking—maybe being a good person isn’t determined by a single moment or decision, but by the steady choices they make day after day (e.g. their past history). It’s about the habits they have formed, the way they respond to challenges, and the consistency of their actions even when nobody is watching. Setting intentions is important, but it’s their routines and behaviors, shaped by their values, that truly define them over time. BUT, the measuring stick of a good person might not be the same for all folks, my opinion (i.e. I might think a person is a good person and you might not or vice versa). Such is life. AverageJoe askes—What does the majority of folks think are the values of a good person?

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, Im Possible.

undertone

Have we ever been sore afraid (i.e. I really like that expression, “sore afraid)? I mean like the bogyman is going to get us. I wonder at times if that feeling is an underdone of our lives sometimes (i.e. there seems to be a lot of drama and trauma in everyone’s life). A neighbor told us a new word, actually an acronym, which is FOMO—fear of missing out (e.g. of being not being included)! Do we have that undertone or have we had it in our life?  Now that is like a bogyman is under our bed, maybe!

TheRealStuff! Things happen on this earth like illness, success, death, special events, pain, joy, aging, new birth, accidents, the unexpected call from a friend, a disappointment. Many times, we have no control over them, they just happen. Many times, these events can set the undertone of the day or our lives. Such is life.

When we are given a difficult task, there is a fine line between “Glad to do it!” and “Do I really have to?” Now that is a different undertone! But one thing can make a big difference: if the person giving the instruction says they will go with us. I think that is a great encouragement! It is a big difference than saying God bless you and then head on over to play tennis. Yes, tennis is still being played some in the 55+ communities! Oh ya!

Christmas cards are pretty private and maybe they don’t tell or show always the real or whole picture; some things are just too private to share in a Christmas card or letter. It’s like some things are sorta kinda incognito. We received one Christmas letter where our friends indicated that they lost many friends from death this year and mentioned them by name. At our age, that is going to happen; it’s reality but it’s usually not part of the undertone of most Christmas letters, but it is soooo real. Their letter seemed to be an undertone of balance of real life.

Maybe differences of feelings! We, as I said, went to see and listen to the Phoenix Orchestra and Choir perform during the Christmas time. Did you hear that, perform. I believe there is a big difference between a performance and using talent for a message. Usually, a performance produces applause, and participants bow etc. but not if they are using their talent for a message. I think there is a difference. It appears to me that sometimes there is an internal conflict for the participants. The undertone is different. And maybe the audience receives it different as well; they are split as how they see it and feel it! Could be! There might be two different undertones. I felt that! Like there was a conflict. 

We are all different, maybe! Different holiday get-to-gathers probably have different undertones. It can just be felt. It’s not said but is just experienced. Even probably different family get-to-gathers do as well for many different reasons; they might have had different feelings and undertones (e.g. when there is some tension of some kind or when the family is extremely happy because of a certain event that the family is celebrating). There can be some big differences. Maybe sometimes there are times when folks just don’t want to leave and sometimes when they wish they didn’t have to be there. Such is life.

Projections! Here is something that could make us sore afraid: what will the world look like 500 years from now, how about 100 years from now, or 20 years from now (i.e. my parents, Chester and Anna, thought the same). The world for sure will be different, probably way beyond our wildest thinking I would guess! I don’t think copilot even knows. Such is life.

I just finished John Grisham's newest book, The Widow. I enjoyed the book; I have read all of his books (i.e. I must like his writing I guess). ANYWAY, there seems to be maybe three undertones of the book: greed, don't assume anything (i.e. might mean don't get cocky), and innocent people are found guilty. All three of those can make us "sore afraid."

Oh, what a relief it is! Many of us have heard the universal antidote for “sore afraid” during Christmas. I believe it’s the correct encourager for the world. It takes all the “sore fear” away. That is my opinion. JoeWorld says--The antidote that is very popular for me is “more money!”

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Any kid will run an errand for you, if you ask at bedtime.