Great Plain Jane

ItchieBitchie says--When we are born we look like our genetics and when we die, we look like our decisions.

What do you see in the pic? What don’t you see in the pic? What do you like in this pic? What do you not like in this pic? My friend, DoyleTheClick, says he can make any family look any way they want to look in a pic for a price (it's all about the money)!  It’s modern technology; it’s not that hard; anybody can basically do it (i.e. make it a Facebook pic). BUT do you think this is a natural pic or is it doctored up? Is this how you think the average, common family looks? Each of us might think of a common family way different than other people think. I don’t know what an average common family is anymore in our culture, I don’t.

I was hiking in Cochise Canyon the other day and ran into a fellow hiker. (i.e. a common looking senior hiker; nuttin special about him until I got to know something about him). He was about my age, but an avid hiker. He asked me if I had seen any snakes. I said no – he said I‘m very afraid of snakes, especially rattlesnakes. He pulled open his hiking shirt and said, ‘And I’m a Marine.” He had a Marine T-shirt underneath his hiking shirt.  We had a very nice conversation, including that he became a orchardist in midlife after working in jobs in Seattle. He bought the family farm against his parents’ wishes as they said you cannot make any money farming here in the valley. They planted half of the 80 acres to apricots and the other half to cherries (i.e. it took 8 years before they picked the first cherries). He said I’ve been so blessed! I never had one crop failure and that is incredible, almost impossible for that to happen. I said to him, you sound very grateful--I am very thankful to God. I asked him if he was a believer? I absolutely am, completely. I’ve had a very good life, he said, and I’m very thankful for it. He just appeared to be just another common hiker!

My mentor would say to me—erv, we are all Common Joes and Great Plain Janes (i.e. at times we all just blend in with the wall); we all have warts, but other folks always can’t see them). Think about that! Did my mentor think of warts as actual warts or used warts as a metaphor?

There are common folks who are special and special folks who are common; common folks who are just common folks and special folks who are just special folks; there are common folks who think they are special but aren’t and special folks who think they are common but aren't. We made the acquaintance with a person who we don’t know if they are special but just act common or common but are just special. We think most likely they are a special person and they act special, but it is hard to know for sure. They are something else (i.e. they hit a lot of game-winning walk off homeruns let me tell ya)! Very impressive to us. They remind us of many of you folks; you know who you are! Saturday question—What kind of person do you like to be around? I was told by an impressive person--Remember one of the quickest ways to loose good friends is to talk about politics. Another impressive, special, common person who is a good friend, gave me this wisdom years ago--Dad, I would rather not discuss with you controversial subjects which we might disagree about; it's not worth it; I don't want to take any risk in hurting our relationship.

Can humans stay common when they are filthy rich or have unbelievable power, or have big time fame or are extremely intelligent or born in a certain family or extremely gifted, etc.? Is it possible? We hear of very rich folks that live somewhat common lives. (e.g. some of you seem to live a fairly common life considering). I would think it would be very hard to be common under some circumstances. Dr. J says--"When we’re filled with the Spirit of God, our life will be different. We will have a song in our heart, a spirit of thanksgiving in our personality, and a yearning to bless others." Soooo I guess anyone can have the Spirit of God no matter who we are.

AverageJoe said this--"Exceptional people are rare. When you find someone wonderful, invest in them. When you find a great employee, pay them well. When you find a great friend, prioritize the relationship. When you find a great spouse, out-love them each day. Relationships are probably the most important part of life. Take care of the great ones." I’m just another bozo on the bus, but I think relationships are very important, very!

When I was on my hike in the Canyon, I took this pic. I thought it was a great example or a mirror of life. The desert is dry and only a few plants can exist, and they are really not that bright green in color. But the plants on the canyon floor are very green and lush and plentiful. Why, we all know why, it’s where the Cowiche Creek runs with water that waters the plants. It’s common sense. Ok, if we are around “The Living Water” how will that make our lives look. Isn’t that common sense? I think soooo! Da! Great Plain Jane asks—Has our world lost its common sense? Does all what’s going on (i.e. the current picture) make any sense to us? Will we ever come to our senses? But John, anybody can be a John, says--But everyone has a different sense of what common sense is! Da!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriend Jean said—Strive not to be a success, but to be of value.