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!

the oldest trick in the book

And the serpent said to Eve, God really didn’t mean it that you can’t eat of the tree of truth and knowledge; God was just pulling your leg.  Sooo Eve and Adam ate.  And as it is said—The rest is history.  Now we have to work and buy fashionable clothes and fight and listen to political adds.  Now that is the oldest trick in the Book, no question.

Saturday question—Have you ever been had?  The old serpent is tricky alright.  It says things like—Only one time, it won’t hurt you—Buy it and it will make you happy—If you love me you will do it for me—You must have it or you are a failure—Everyone else is doing it and getting by with it—Spend even if you can’t afford it--etc.  And all of a sudden we have been had and now we need to suffer the consequences.  Such is life.

JoeBlow is who he is.  That is all that has to be said.  That seems to be a good description of him. Everyone knows what he is. It doesn’t need to be explained. He is who he is.  No more explanation needs to be given.  Not everyone has that distinction.  He does.  Is that good or bad.  SusieQ, who sorta kinda is a mama bear, says—That depends.  Ok, it depends is a good answer.  Pretty much everyone knows him as he is.  He is hard to explain.  No need to try, he is just who he is.  He is who he is.  He is hard to explain.  At least for me.  If I think that of him and you think that of him, than most everyone thinks that of him.  You and I ain’t that extra smart! 

The greatest conniver and deceiver is very good at making us think we are something that we are not (i.e. maybe the oldest trick in the book).  Yikes!  Satan can do that too us and he is very good at it.  And we fall for it.  We do.  Some more than others it seems.  This is what I read while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--RickyRick says--There is nothing more intimate than being fully known—all of your weirdness and weaknesses, what makes you laugh and cry, your fears, hopes, and dreams. No one will fully know you on earth, but God does. He’s the only one who sees through the layers of your personality to the core of your being. The God who calls you by name has hidden riches in your suffering and darkness. He can intervene in your darkness, and he will be close to you in that darkness. This should lead you to praise him. What we know about God leads us to worship.” I believe, my opinion, that there is no one on this earth who really knows you or I completely.  They might know bits about us but not really everything and surely not every thought we have.  I think that is impossible.  We are toooo complex (i.e. some more than others for sure).  Some even are two different folks at times, maybe, well, it seems that way anyway.  There is a clerk at a store that I do business in that some days she is really nice and the next day she seems to be a witch.  I have no idea what is going on in her head.  I don’t think I really want to know. 

UneducatedUnemployedJake with a huge massive credit card debt who drives a mortgaged, nosy, rusted out old pickup said to pretty, little, sweet Janie—If you marry me, I will give you everything you every want.  TheLadyDownTheStree said to pretty, little, sweet Jannie, you better ask your mother what she thinks of that! She has had some experience in that sort of thing!

A business professional/friend told me recently something about him that he said I would probably never guess about me.  I really like to shop at outlet malls.  I love it, especially the clearance racks in the back.  I know every mall from CO to MI and MN to KS.  I have been in them all.  I really enjoy it.  I will drive miles out of my way to do that.  I would have never guessed that.  He seems normal.  haha  I really like this guy.  The oldest trick in the book, give someone free or a give them a discount and they think they really got a bargain (i.e. Low Price).  The more you buy, the more you save of course.  Some folks can’t turn that down.  They love it. It appears Costco uses that philosophy.  It seems to work.  Buy large quantities at a discount and then folks throw half of it away (i.e. but they think they really got a good deal).  Folks love Costco. Probably a very good discount if folks can use it, but….  Back to my friend—It’s a hobby of his.  Others play pool, watch TV, watch football, drink beer or whiskey or buy shoes.  It is what it is folks.  Such is life.

Have you ever been taken advantage of? I have many times. By some, it is considered the oldest trick in the book. Sometimes I even know I’m being taken advantage of and I still let it happen.  Yes, you heard that right.  I don’t mind.  If it is for a good cause.  You might not understand that at all.  Some of those situations by certain folks are just ok.  They need something that I have (e.g. like money) soooo if they misuse it some or maybe even a lot, soooo be it.  But what really torques me off, is when folks take advantage of me who know better and are doing it for their self-glorification (i.e. folks who don’t need to do it).  They are being dishonest and basically jerks (i.e. you all know such folks probably).  As the old saying goes—Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.  I have no time for this type of person.  It is very hard for me to ever respect them again (e.g. folks who lie to me).  I actually can throw them under the bus.  AverageJoe says—That’s not very nice of you erv!

 I don’t know if it’s the oldest trick in the book but it’s a book thing for sure (i.e. at least it is my opinion).  That is the real purpose of books is to trap the mind into doing its own thinking.   Does your mind do it’s own thinking or do you let others do your thinking for you? Man-o-man erv, do you have to be soooo personal!  LuckieEddie, who knows the inside of everything, says—Really folks, many of you would be way better off if you would let others do your thinking for you and just tell you what to do and say.  Actually, anyone would be better for you to do your thinking than you!  Look at your past history!  Holy smokes!  Maybe one of you entrepreneurs could make a business out of this.  You could do the thinking for folks instead of them doing their own thinking.  Like hiring a thinker like you do in hiring a home decorator or a money manager.  Maybe even pick out a spouse for you. Or help you what to wear and surely help you what to say.  You could make folks millions!  If you would have jerks for clients, just match them up with other jerks (i.e. that wouldn’t be hard—and “bingo” everyone is happy). 

2 for $5. It’s the oldest trick in the book.  I’ll take 2 but I only need one but it gives you the impression if I buy 2 I will save money.  The reality is if you buy one, it is $2.50.  Sucker, it works every time.  Why do you think they do it?  It’s a subconscious mind event that we fall for.  It’s much like subliminal messages.  They work toooo.  It’s like being brainwashed and we don’t even know it.  We are soooo easy.  Just ask the advertising experts that do the political ads.  They said—It’s as easy as giving candy to a three-year old. Remember when we were kids our parents seemed to always say, don’t do this and don’t say that and don’t don’t don’t.  Chester and Anna at least sure seemed toooo. I was told that a grown adult told her dad (i.e. who is in his 80s) recently—Dad, don’t watch TV political ads.  They are not good for your health.  They just mess you up, it’s the oldest trick in the book, sucker. I haven’t had a TV provider for 5 and a half months.  That is right, I haven’t watched any TV for that time.  I haven’t really missed it but I have just got Dish.  Yep, I did—a real sucker.  I enjoy sports and think it’s a good form of entertainment since there are some sports on now and it gets dark earlier.  My kids say—com’on Dad, you can afford it.  If you enjoy sports, do it.  The clock is ticking.  Soooo I asked when they could install—we can’t do it until September 14 unless you want the early installation; it costs an extra $20.  September 12 is the first day of college football.  They know what they are doing.  I just laughed.  Sucker. It wasn’t worth $20 to me but I bet to many it was (i.e. it’s only $20).  You think soooo? It’s the oldest trick in the book! A friend gave me those little tomatoes.  Most everyone likes those little suckers!!!!

A friend gave me the book, Good Grief  by Ganger E Westberg to read.  It is a short and easy read.  It was very good.  I would recommend it to anyone who is going through any grief.  Most of it was just commonsense type of stuff with the grieving process.  I did read something that I really liked and have heard a version of it in a caregiving group addressed to caregivers in AZ.  It is—Let folks feel sorry for themselves but don’t take over their life. Let them do their daily tasks and go forward. Don’t baby them or mollycoddle them.  It is very good therapy to go forward.  We all can sit on the pity pot for a little while but not toooo long; we got to get going.  The world keeps going folks with or without you.  It’s an old trick to think it won’t.  ItchieBitiche says—Besides, who likes to be around folks who constantly feel sorry for themselves!!! You want cheese with your whine? This is more personal but the book did touch on it—I think my faith in Jesus is a huge massive advantage for me.  GeorgeTheCrook says—Com’on erv, that’s the oldest trick in the book! Yes, GeorgeTheCrook, yes, the oldest trick in the Book!

I had this pop up on my computer after windows updated.  I asked the wizard what it was.  He didn’t know but suggested I reboot (i.e. the oldest trick in the book).  It didn’t fix it but I checked my security settings on windows as I was suspect and I didn’t have “security boot checked” (i.e. prevents malicious software from loading when your device starts up). I did that and it seemed to take care of it.  Someone somewhere maybe was trying to corrupt my computer and try to make money off of me, sucker (i.e. the oldest trick in the book). 

Gaslighting.  I didn’t know what gaslighting was.  I had to goggle it.  It is interesting for sure.  I might have been gaslighted and didn’t even know it.  Could be.  I read that it’s a pretty old trick.  And it works quite well.  I get gas sometimes, but it said that isn’t what it’s about.  Gaslighting is sorta kinda like psychosomatics. That is another interesting thing I enjoy reading about.  Aren’t we easily affected and many times we don’t even know we are being manipulated?  MissPerfect says—That is why therapist and counselors are hired to help folks.  And they can really help folks I have been told. ItchieBitchie says—I have family members that I have tooooo constantly mentally massage to keep them on track; it ain’t easy as I have my own issues with the serpent a.k.a. the trickster. Such is life.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to see Chet and Jessica and Charlie and Rookie.  We were sitting on the deck talking (i.e. my favorite thing to do).  I brought some Casey’s donuts for Charlie and Rookie (i.e. one of their favorite things to do).  Sooooo I said to Rookie, you aren’t saying much as he was gobbling down his donnut.  He said—Gandpa, I can’t talk when I’m eating, my mouth is full of donut! More wisdom I learned from them—Charlie picked the clarinet to be her instrument.  This last week she got it and had her first lesson.  Jessica said she took it home and practiced every day after school for an hour to an hour and a half.  She played for me and played several songs.  She could play all the songs in the book.  I complimented her.  She said—Grandpa, I learned if I practice I get a lot better.  Chet said—We will see if that enthusiasm will continue.  But, if anyone has such an interest to a point that they don’t have to be told to practice, they usually get pretty good.  Think about that folks.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—A happy family is but an earlier Heaven.  George Bernard Shaw)

stars

MissPerfect says--Sometimes the stars all line up (i.e. as some folks call it) soooo clearly that any person can figure out what they should do BUT then it doesn’t seem to work that way.  CadillacJack, who can over-the-top exaggerate at times, says—I thought I had it all figured out BUT I didn’t.  Sooooo you might think you have this “It’s Saturday” all figured out BUT maybe you really don’t.  You have it all figured out based on your perspective (i.e. based on your current or past environment—we are all skewed if we like it or not).  I have no idea what is a normal person. The benchmark as to what a normal person is, is based on what we reference tooooo and compare?  I know for sure that some of you folks aren’t normal; you can’t be!!!  haha  But then again, Joe Blow says—erv, you’re all wet about most everything you think and write. You are soaking wet, dripping wet!  Take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.” But remember—It takes an abnormal person to know one! I still think that everyone is mentally ill to some degree, some just worse than others.  And the ones who are sure they are not, are probably the worst!  Such is life.

I don’t understand our culture.  I don’t.  Our culture glorifies sports figures who made a few baskets, spiked a few volleyballs or ran for a few touchdowns in high school and/or college but the last 30, 40, or 50 years haven’t contributed much to society, but many folks still think they are stars.  I don’t.  Many of them lived not such good lives and many folks still glorify them.  I don’t think they are my kind of stars.  I think one type of real stars are the caregivers that take care of many different types of folks.  I especially think of caregivers who take care of folks with Alzheimer’s as I’m most familiar of these stars.  Many have done this for years (i.e. 24/7).  It is an ugly job that is very hard on folks physically, mentally and financially.  I know many of you who are or have been such stars.  I can’t applaud you enough.  For those of you who will be such caregivers in your future, I wish you much courage, wisdom, strength and endurance.  For those of you who will never have to be a caregiver for a person with Alzheimer’s, you can thank your lucky stars!

What makes a person a star in our society?  We have movie stars, sex stars, sport stars, money making stars, music stars, we have dancing with the stars, media stars, etc.  How do folks get fame and fortune?  Aren’t those what our society consider stars?  Are you folks stars?  Do you know any stars? Do you want to become a star? Some folks who I might consider stars don’t want to be a star in any way.  I also know folks who want to be stars, it appears, but I doubt if they will make it, but they might (i.e. shine like a star). It seems like folks who become stars, somehow draw a lot of attention to themselves.  DuaneTheWorm, who really tries to be a star by self-glorifying himself, does this but I don’t know if he is a star yet.  He might be and I just don’t know it.  Could be. 

What can you and I do to create some miracles?  Are you crazy erv, you and I have no ability to create miracles.  Well, maybe we do.  Joesixpack says--I’m not sure about that.  SusieQ says--You are lunie erv, just plain lunie tunie.  God is the only identity that can do miracles.  SusieQ, I don’t know about that.  Maybe we can be the conduit in which miracles can flow.  erv, you are out of your gourd!  Do doctors perform miracles? Can we encourage a person in such a way that will change their life?  Can we influence people to modify their life in which they will find happiness? I have a friend who told me the other day, again, that I saved his life. I’m not certain I did but maybe I did.  I like this guy a lot.  I have had the opportunity to part of maybe saving four people’s physical lives that I’m aware of (i.e. and I really don’t know if they would have died without me—they think they would have but I don't know). I'm not any different than any of you guys. Just think about the lives you have saved. Well for sure I didn’t save this lady’s life.  I was getting a couple of things at the Dollar General and approached the check out at the same time as this maybe 85-year-old-woman using a three-prong cane.  I motioned for her to go ahead—no you go ahead—are you sure lady, I don’t want to make you mad—if I get mad you will know it as I go crazy when I get mad—please go ahead as I don’t want you to go crazy—I’m not mad, you go ahead.  I sorta kinda bowed and made homage to her (i.e. I think she was a real grinder).  I paid close attention to my Ps and Qs and got out of her way as fast as I could.  I was scared for my life! I thanked her for being soooo nice to me. She looked at me confused.

At a local golf course, many of the guys go bare back and some go bare foot.  They seem to really have a good time.  They also sell Busch Lite for a dollar a can (i.e. that seems to help).  ANYWAY, I said to one of those guys—I don’t think I would fit as I really don’t look that good bare back.  He said—After about 6 Busch Lites, no one really cares what you look like, everyone thinks they look good and are stars. I said to a friend the other day at the golf course.  I hear you can really drink the beer.  He said—One of your friends says this about me—my beer drinking is like pouring beer into a 5-gallon bucket!

I have a unique situation, yes I do.  I want to tell you about something that some of you are involved with as part of my life that makes you stars but I can’t.  I realize I should not write this, it is like a teaser and then not tell you; it ain’t nice.  BUT I am.  The reason I can’t tell you is it will offend some of you because it will compare you or your situation with mine and you will think I’m trying to make myself look better than you.  It’s not really about me but more about many good folks (i.e. many of you) but it probably won’t be taken that way.  Soooo I can’t write about it.  BUT, many of you are stars for doing it.  You can guess what it is.  In fact, I will not tell anyone except maybe our children. I lie as I told a friend. And that is a risk as they have spouses and I don’t want to offend them in any way.  BUT they are good people, soooo they might not get offended, but they might. 

I want to pat you on your back (i.e. some of you anyway). You are really stars and maybe you don’t even know it.  You are very kind and encouraging to all folks (i.e. go in the right direction).  There are folks like you and jerks in every profession, net worth levels, genders, churches, ages, etc.  RickyRick says—"Anything out of control in your life can harm other people and damage your close relationships. Uncontrolled anger, lust, addiction, spending, drinking, or ambition can create enormous problems. But the greatest destroyer of relationships is an uncontrolled tongue. Have you ever met a verbal arsonist? Their words are dangerous. They use words of discouragement, disappointment, accusation, criticism, sarcasm, condemnation, or attack—the list is endless. Gossip is especially destructive because it spreads like an airborne virus. Careless words have destroyed careers, friendships, and families. Instead of heading in a destructive direction, you can choose to use your words to build others up. Catch people doing something right and tell them about it. Affirm their character when they make difficult decisions. Lift them up with words of encouragement. Building others up with your words isn’t difficult, but in our world, it is uncommon. You reflect God’s glory in a dark world when you control your mouth and build others up.”  Now that is many of you folks and that is why you are stars (i.e. my opinion). You encourage folks. Keep it up my friends. You Aplington folks, that pic of the direction arrow, well, I took it last week.  I have lived In Aplington for 51 years and have never noticed it before.  Have you?  Maybe there are other direction arrows that I haven’t seen in my life.  I need to pay more attention. For sure.

A golf buddy/friend teaches me most interesting things.  He went to a dentist in FL and the dentist told him that he must grind his teeth as they are flat.  He didn’t think soooo but asked his wife.  She never heard him grind his teeth.  When he got back to IA and his local dentist, they told him that it’s a Midwest trait as there is much more grit and dirt in the air in the Midwest which grinds our teeth down.  The dentist knew that right away.  That is crazy!  This is what else I learned (i.e. all in just one round of golf)—The stock market is now measured somewhat different than the Dow Average.  It is measured by FAANG…Facebook, Amazon Apple, Netflix and Google. It’s a new world folks.  You better believe it.  Some of you folks think we just play golf, no way.  Ya, there are grinders that the score is their life, but not for all of us.  But this friend is in the star category for sure. BUT he could right now be sitting in his recliner with his feet up just laughing his butt off thinking that I believed those cock and bull stories he told me. Could be.

I have a friend who sent me a warm, tender encouraging note.  I have had many of these from many of you folks.  ANYWAY, she is a caregiver for her husband who has Alzheimer’s and has had it for many years.  She is a star for sure.  She signed the card—your friend on this journey of life (i.e. that was touching to me for sure).  Yes, we know what this is all about.  We have similar emotions, feelings, and reality.  No faking that folks. I understand her.  I had a conversation with a friend whom her husband also died of Alzheimer’s (i.e. she toooo is a star).  We were also in a support group together.  We have shared a lot through the years.  ANYWAY, I asked her how her friends are treating her.  It appears they are very supportive of her and she was positive about it.  She called me a close friend.  It appears when we share emotions, feelings and reality with folks, we become close friends.  JoeLayabout is not a close friend.  I wonder why!

Not all stars are showoffs and make a lot of noise.  MyFriendJean recently passed on.  She was a star to me.  Probably many folks didn’t know her but I got to know her quite well through all the years I stopped for my visit.  Here is an example of a person who was a star to me that very few folks would consider her a star probably.  She shared many good things and bad things.  We laughed a lot and cried some together.  She was really a good person with good values, good work ethic and a great love for her family and of God.  She collected many “MyFriendJean sayings” for me through the years.  She got them from books she read.  I must have literally hundreds of them.  I will miss her but will never forget her. 

Many folks work hard for money, stardom and power and some actually acquire them and accomplish their desire.  Some change and some stay the same.  We all know both kinds.  Many who acquire these things that they work soooo hard to get, screw up their lives.  Many get it but don’t know how to handle them.  We see it all the time.  It ain’t nuttin new!  Very few folks can handle success.  Just look around.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.  Sooooo do we really want a lot of money, stardom and power? ItchieBitchie, who eats a lot of lucky charms, says—I pray to my lucky stars that I’ll be lucky and get them; I’ll take my chances; I still want them! My neighbor down the street seems to have made the grade and he seems to be doing really really good. I want to be like him.

I golfed with two buddies/friends the other day.  Both retired John Deere employees.  One was an engineer.  I was changing oil in my old MTD snowblower that has a Tacumseh engine and there were two oil drain.  Soooo why I asked the retired engineer—This engine is used in multiple machines and different machines need an oil drain on a different side; it’s all to save money. It’s all about the money.  Now that makes sense.  The retired engineer (i.e. about 65) told me that years ago Deere had 17 different casings so the same oil pump would work in them.  He designed an adapter kid that would allow all the engines to use the same casing and the same oil pump at a cost of about $50 per machine.  It saved Deere $850,000 a year.  I kidded the star in that I bet he got a big bonus.  ANYWAY, we went to the first tee and there was a threesome.  They wanted us to hit first.  One of the threesome asked the retired engineer if that was his dad’s cart (i.e. he has a shiny new golf cart).  My friend looked at him in a confused look (i.e. the you dumb..,look)—no, it’s mine.  Besides, my father is 95 years old.  The guy says to him—Is he still alive?  I nor my friend have no idea if he was joking or serious.  I had a huge massive internal laugh at both of them.

Roger Dangerfield said—My luck is soooo bad that if I would buy a cemetery, folks would quit dying!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—A weed is but an unloved flower.

mitigate

I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—Political remarks are soooo remarkably artificial that it is embarrassing to realize how many people seem to buy into them. Everything is mass produced and manufactured (i.e. political BS).  If I were you, I would be careful in believing anything in this “It’s Saturday.”  I realize that many of you don’t believe anything unless you believe it’s right and know it.  

I went for an early Sunday morning jog on the golf course.  The long-haul trucker was walking his dogs again on the field road on the west line fence of the course.  He said he just got back from trucking for three weeks.  He said this and I quote—“I am opinionated and believe in one political party, but not everything they say, compared to the other party who I don’t believe anything they say as they never tell the truth.  When I'm on the road, I talk to some of those folks who believe in the other party but I don’t say much; everyone has their own opinion.  But I do think they are a bunch of dumb asses.” 

Several years ago, three of us guys had an interest in a certain person. We met with him at 6 a.m. for an hour for quite some time.  This person wanted to change and become better, sooooo he said.  After all our effort, he didn’t change one bit, we don’t think. Maybe he didn’t really want to change is my thought; just went through the process.  Maybe we weren’t very good prophets!  I still think if he would have listened to us, his life would have been better and the direction of his life would have been better.  Maybe for some reason he couldn’t change (i.e. he was soooo programmed by his past that it was impossible).  Could be. Maybe that is just my opinion, could be. Maybe we didn’t have a clue what we were talking about. Could be! BUT the other two guys are really smart sooooo I think not!  Soooooo what does that tell me?  I have no idea.  What do you think?  That is what I thought. AverageJoe says—Maybe folks really don’t want to change, they just say that.  Unless it can make them money!!!  Look around folks, it doesn’t take a prophet to figure that out.

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, the id is the personality component made up of unconscious psychic energy that works to satisfy basic urges, needs, and desires.   Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, is that everyone’s id is  irrational and has no regard for reality.  What it wants, it wants!  If a person’s id falls in love with some form of thinking, their id will never forget and will never forgo!  The id operates based on the pleasure principle, which demands immediate gratification of needs. Can we mitigate this massive ego Freud?  WildWillie, a limited release, says--That is why it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks—Some dogs are what they are and never change.  Such is life. 

DuaneTheWorm, who is all about himself, says--It seems that the path to success is often to assert our power over others. The words of Jesus, therefore, come as quite a surprise. The powerful, in fact, will not be the ones to come out on top. Instead, it will be the meek who will inherit the earth. Meekness, in this sense, is not the mistaken notion often ascribed to the word as referring to the timid, the weak, or the passive. Rather, meekness refers to a quiet strength that’s under control, similar to a bulldog on a leash. The meek person is strong enough to not impose their will upon others. It’s easy to despair when we see the deteriorating effects of power around us. Nations spend billions on military forces, and bullying is increasingly becoming an acceptable tactic. In such a time, Jesus presents us with an inversion of values: the first shall be last, it is better to give than to receive, and the truly strong are the meek. You believe that?  

Saturday question—How important is a strong, supportive family?  School has started.  I talked to a grandfather the other day and he was telling me that his grandson is worried about going to school.  He is going into seventh grade and his school has some kind of initiation.  He is scared (i.e. has anxiety).  The peer group pressure, I have been told, is severe for many girls.  Some are bullied in person and then it is magnified by social media.  This same grandfather told me that his daughter went through this and he told her to find friends like her and stick together.  She did.  Those girls would go to each other’s houses and just hang out and not succumb to the beer party mentality.  It worked out and they remained life-long friends.  I wish it would be that easy for all teenagers.  Sooooo where does this bad, mean attitude come from?  I think they learn it from their moms.  I do.  There are 80-year-old women that still act this way.  I hear about this same attitude in workplaces.  Why I ask?  Somehow and some way this attitude needs to be mitigated. BUT it seems like it doesn’t change (i.e. you don’t hear that in the news for sure). A parent told me that this stay home school is a lot easier socially for their daughter.  That is why some parents home school probably. BUT is it good for them in the long run?  It’s not reality (i.e. ya need to learn to deal with it).  I don’t know.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.  JoeWisdom says—Remember that as a teenager you are in the last stage of your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you! 

I was asked recently by a gal--How can He forgive me?  I have done some pretty bad stuff.  I want to change a.k.a. mitigagte my bad feelings and be happy.  How can He forgive me?  The answer—Because He is God.  This is pretty deep stuff but very accurate if you want to change your life.  WorldClassLarry says—It seems that most of us don’t really get serious about changing our life until we get very low.  Why is that (i.e. Karl use to ask me that)?  We seem to be smarter than that, but it seems like we don’t get it until we are beat up pretty bad.  Sooooo maybe we aren’t as smart as we think we are!  Such is life. 

The other morning, I dropped something and couldn’t find it.  I then looked at it from a different angle and it saw it right away.  Yes, a different angle!  JoeSmart, who can be nice as pie one minute and an alligator the next) says—Folks don’t change their angle very often; they get ingrained with their angle and then only see from their angle and then they get magnified to becoming more of what they are (i.e. they love their angle).  But not always.  A golf buddy told me that he married his high school sweetheart after their freshman year in college.  Upon graduation they went into the Peace Core.  Another golf buddy asked his if he was a hippy—no, my hair was as short as it is now but we were very liberal and had hippy friends.  Then we became conservative and our liberal friends couldn’t understand us and didn’t want anything to do with us. It appears to me that couples change and it’s because usually the alpha dog of the marriage dominates and they both end up that way.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.  GeorgeTheCrook, who is registered as an independent, says—In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly even happily wrong.  ItchieBitchie, who is very sweet when she gets her way, says—YaBut the liberals think they are right and the conservatives think they are right soooooo how do we decide who is right anyway? Holy smokes that is a problem.  History seems to show that the group with the most power wins.  I read—When I was a child, I spoke as a child I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  We all have started out young and inexperienced.  Some grow up and some don’t it seems. We are really a piece of work, now aren’t we? But for me, I seem to have mitigated some harshness of life once I have matured some.  The problem is I have a long way to go yet and I’m running out of years!  Such is life. 

I brought back some stuff that I borrowed from some friends for Arlene’s memorial service.  They were redecorating there house for fall as they were leaving for a while and wanted it done soooo when they got back it was done.  He was carrying things up stairs and hauling fall stuff downstairs per his wife’s suggestion or was it her demands.  He just did what he was told and sometimes it wasn’t even right.  To mitigate the tension, he did just what he was told and just didn’t say anything.  He did tell his wife—If you die before I do, whatever season’s decorations are up will stay that way until I die.  She said—I hope it isn’t the Christmas season. 

This is RickyRick’s opinion how to mitigate tension when not agreeing with folks.  Some of you might think cussing and swearing might work better especially if you speak loudly (i.e. the louder the better).  It seems like it is more popular.  Such is life.  ANYWAY, this is what RickyRick suggests--When you’re in conflict, the loving way to defuse the tension is to seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Try to figure out what the other person is thinking and saying before you start trying to convince them convince them of your side. You cannot hope to be understood until you are willing to do the same for others. We are often so busy trying to get people to see it our way that we don’t stop to listen to what they are saying. That’s why you need to say, “You go first.” And then, after they’ve shared, you say, “Now, let me see if I understand. You’re saying (repeat to them what you understood they were communicating to you). Did I get this right?” That gives them a chance to correct and not just be understood but also feel understood. Seeking to understand first also allows you to see the other person’s perspective even if you still think they are wacko! AverageJoe, who has more questions than answers) says—You know how hard it is to change someone if they are totally convinced they are right (i.e. and even harder when they are stubborn and not a bit open minded)?  It’s about as hard as getting dried up oatmeal out of my breakfast bowl! Money, it seems, is the only way you can convince them.  Money always talks and is understood universally.  It’s all about the money folks.  Don’t kid yourself. I’m going to try RickyRick’s methodology with someone who doesn’t believe in God.  It will be interesting, for sure! 

Sometimes ya gotta just take the bull by the horns and mitigate the situation.  I went for a bike ride last Saturday on my favorite trails in the Cedar Valley.  I rode about 18 miles.  When I got to the turning point which is along the Cedar River in down town Waterloo, I sometimes stop and sit and reflect as it is  one of my favorite places to do so.  Soooo I did.  There is a park bench on the cement walkway right on the river’s edge.  I was thinking I would lay down a little while.  The park bench is made out of grated metal with a plastic coating.  Works good but not really very comfortable.  It surely wasn’t comfortable to lay on.  I put my cap over my eyes as it was sunny and put my bare head on the grated metal.  It felt terribly bad and really hurt.  The next thing I knew, I woke up and had no idea where I was, what time it was, or what was going on.  I had deep indentations in the back of my head from the metal grate.  I had no idea how long I slept.  I knew my name soooo I knew I didn’t have brain damage! 

I had a friend, who has now passed on, who on two occasions when I called at random times would say to me—erv, you seem to call me when I’m at my lowest point and the most discouraged (i.e. he really fought some serious and tough medical conditions).  How do you know that to call and cheer me up.  Of course I didn’t know.  It was just happenstance, ya right!  ANYWAY, last Saturday night, I was sitting in the sun porch and thought I should call my friend, the ND Beet Farmer, who we became friends in AZ (i.e. I really like this guy and his wife).  I haven’t talked to him for some time.  I called and his wife answered.  He died that day.  Soooo maybe when you get my call, you should wonder!!!!!  He is one of folks who claimed I saved his life.  And maybe I did. 

An old insurance adjuster some 35 years ago told me this—When you are young and not liberal, you have no heart and when you get older and aren’t conservative, you have no brain.  You folks who know everything, or you think you do, will probably say—What does that old insurance adjuster know anyway, who is he anyway!  I know everything. Some might say—He isn’t as smart as me!  But I am very open minded! But don’t question me! I don’t like that at all! 

I hope I didn’t get your dander up with this "It's Saturday."  For many of you, your blood pressure is high enough! haha I don’t think I did. You might be one of those folks who knows everything (i.e. and because of that will never be the homecoming queen) and probably just think I am one of those “dumb asses.”  And that could be! Just remember folks, I do realize that there is no way I can win when getting in a pissing match with a skunk! I'm not saying you are a skunk. Oh no! You folks are not skunks except for one of you and you know who you are!

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

erv 

MyFriendJean says--Alone we can do little. Together we can do much. -- Helen Keller

family dynamics

The opinions expressed in this “It’s Saturday” are those of ervie and don’t reflect those of the Roseland Rosebud 4-Club, Roseland Reformed Church, Roseland Saddle Club or the Roseland Elementary.  Make sure you take that into consideration when reading this “It’s Saturday.” It is no more complicated than that folks!  Such is life.

Agesilaus II, lived from circa 440 to 360 B.C., was one of the most brilliant soldiers of his era and was the King of Sparta from 399 until his death, said—“It is circumstance and proper timing that give an action its character and make it either good or bad.”  Oh, that circumstance and proper timing!  Who you marry really affects your family dynamics (i.e. my opinion).  A golf buddy/friend and I were talking about old girl friends the other day on the ninth hole.  He told me that he had a very serious girlfriend in college and asked a professional counselor/maybe pastor—how do I know if she is the right one for me.  He told him—If you don’t know, she is not the right one; if she is, you will just know.  He broke up with her.  He also told me that when he went to pick up his future wife on their family farm for the first date, she was carrying a bale of straw across the yard—he said—this gal is a worker; she has possibilities!  After they got married, they were working on a project on the farm and he asked her if she would go and get a tool out of the shed that they needed.  She started walking to get the tool when he said—if you would run, we could get a lot more done!  Ouchy ouchy!  He lost his help for the rest of the day.  But their marriage worked as they have been married for over 50 years. It appears if couples are not equally yoked, there is trouble in River City and that is why about 50% get divorced in America (i.e. bad family dynamics). Joe and Mary Crazy say—We get along way better when we aren’t around each other!  Ouchy ouchy!

These are the cousins and also my nieces.  Sitting in our family of 26 at Arlene’s memorial party, it seems like we get along well as a family.  At least we tolerate each other it seems. haha Yes, we are all different in many ways like most families, but we don’t have major differences and folks are nice to each other, sooo it seems.  I said to a niece--You think our family is normal—yes, I do—I don’t; I think we are abnormal—why you think that uncle erv?—I think most families don’t get along very well.  Many families have major issues that are very severe, sooo severe that they have huge massive problems.  Just look around.  That is except when they have a wedding picture and then they all look happy with each other.  A friend who is a professional photographer can make any family look good (i.e. money can do that)! Of course I don’t know what our family members say when they are not around each other and talk behind each other’s backs!  It could be a different story.  haha  Like I have told some of you, if you think that way about a family member and I think that way about the same family member, then others think that way toooo; we are not that extra specially smart! Maybe all families have a member or two who when they come into the room, they really make us happy and some who really make us happy when they leave the room. Could be. Could be.

MyBigSister, only in age, came up to me at the reception and plucked a long hair from behind my ear that I must of missed when cutting my hair in the morning and said—now that looks better!  When we went back to the house for our party for Arlene, I put on some shorts and a tee shirt.  A niece came up to me and said—You can sure tell you miss Arlene—why is that—your zipper is open!  Oh, those family dynamics!

It was John Calvin who said, “A happy life depends on a good conscience.”  If you don’t like yourself, you can’t seem to like others and if you don’t like others, you can’t have good family dynamics.  RickyRick says—"This is basic relationship advice that works beyond your relationship with God. You’ll improve any relationship in your life if you physically turn yourself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to you. Whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her. I’ve been married for more than 40 years. She loves it because she knows she has my undivided attention.” SusieQ  says--Give folks your attention by looking at them in the eyes.  It is a belittlement when you look somewhere else or even worse when you don’t pay any attention to them at all or by talking to someone else when they are talking to you (i.e. it’s like they are not important but you are all about yourself). Not good for family dynamics (i.e. it probably won’t be long and family won’t want to be around you—won’t pay any attention to you).  Ouchy ouchy! And of course, many families have a JoeTheSnort who continually sings the song really loud and often—How great I am, how great I am!  JoeBlow says this is how I handle those type of family members—I smile, wish them the best and get away from them as fast as I can!

Heather, our daughter, is to the left in the pic. I took all the stuff out of the hall closet that Arlene used to store much stuff.  Stuff she used through the years to decorate, entertain, and just collect.  It was a hodgepodge of eclectic stuff that Arlene accumulated for many years.  I put all the stuff on the ping pong table in the basement.  When Heather and Jessica came, I asked if they and the grandgirls wanted a memento of Arlene from the stuff.  I think they all took something.  Then they put the “cream of the junk” in one-fourth of the table and left the “junkiest of the junk” on the other three-fourth of the table to be thrown away.  I told Heather that I thought I would let my sisters and nieces look at it and see if they wanted a memento as well.  She said—Dad, it’s all junk, they won’t want any of that junk soooo don’t do that.  Well, after dinner at Arlene’s party, I did just that.  They jumped out of their chairs and were excited to go through the junk.  They laughed and talked and told stories for a long time and all came back up with stuff in their arms.  One of the nieces told Heather, you don’t know the Mellema family dynamics very well, we like to go through junk (i.e. of course Mellemas are Dutch).  Heather just laughed.

JoeSmudgeMutt says—Every family’s dynamics have some drama.  I had a plan with a time schedule for our family Saturday morning.  Family pictures at 9:15, a short family service at 9:30 and I wanted to be at church at 10.  I told them Friday night to be on time.  Adult kids do not like to treated like little kids and reminded to be on time but I did it anyway.  I told them that if someone is late, it creates a problem for all of us and then everyone gets pissie and it will ruin Mom’s day of celebration.  I took a chance in hurting the family dynamics by doing this.  Well, everyone was even early. 

Charlie, our 10-year-old granddaughter is very tender and emotional.  Her other grandmother, Missy, passed on this last fall soooo she is still very tender and emotional from that experience.  She told her mom, that she didn’t think she could take going to grandma Arlene’s funeral as it would be tooooo hard on her.  Jessica explained to her that it would not be as emotional as there was several months between her death and the service which would probably reduce the emotions and there will be a lot of music.  Also, there will no cemetery experience which was very traumatic for Charlie.  Her bother, Rookie age 7 was listening and said—What do you mean no graveyard; that is best part!

A friend who lives here in IA, told me that one of his brothers called and said they were coming to visit him and his wife.  They would arrive about in time for the evening meal.  My friend’s wife prepared a nice evening meal.  They didn’t show up at the time they said they would arrive.  They finally called—sorry but we will be late—where are you—we haven’t left Missouri yet!  It might appear that my friend’s brother might be so-called abnormal by some and might be so-called normal in some families (i.e. my opinion).  It appears that this can be hard on family dynamics. BUT maybe the family should check to see if there is something wrong with him physically or mentally before being tooooo judgmental about him.  Maybe!

In his book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer writes, “There can be no spiritual health without doctrinal knowledge; but it is equally true that there can be no spiritual health with it, if it is sought for the wrong purpose and valued by the wrong standard…. Our aim in studying the Godhead must be to know God better. Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God’s attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are."  This is soooo interesting to me—the balance between doctrinal knowledge and living God.  Friends who live in MS were here for Arlene’s memorial service.  I asked them if MS is conservative—it is, many folks are Southern Baptist, it’s the Bible Belt but most of our friends are Biblical conservative but socially liberal.  Now that is hard for me to understand.  How you can folks believe the Bible literally and then believe in abortion. That thinking makes for pretty interesting family dynamics for sure.  It seems to me like those folks are mugrumpers!  Maybe you can explain that to me.  I read this in the paper soooo it must be right—One of the major irritants of modern life is the requirement to deny what is obvious right in front of us.  Such is life. 

MissPerfect says--Church family dynamics is for sure interesting.  Probably all churches have “super Christians” that are the real deal.  And probably all churches have folks who think they are “super Christians” that are all puffed up and conceited (i.e. not the real deal).  Remember folks, we all put our underwear on the same.  We all get the same diseases and have the same problems and we all die at some time.  Who likes to be around folks that they think they are “super Christians” but are really just fakes?  Ouchy ouchy!  Those folks are hard on the dynamics of the church family. For sure. 

I asked if any of the family had any family expressions of our family dynamics. Here are a few.  We saw young parents 'parenting ' young kids and old kids 'parenting' old parents. 'Tweeners' were searching for their 'tribe'...bouncing between the adult tribe and the youth tribe. Many people are not comfortable with the statement 'Be still and know...'  They just need to talk... about anything....I think it's their way of coping with nerves or anxiety. There will always be people who 'need to be needed' and who 'need to over-share'...I think it's therapeutic for them. Everyone wants to be seen and acknowledged. The family dynamics we had at the house was so US!!  GOOD!!   STUFF!!! It was interesting that at one point, with a couple of exceptions, the extroverts seemed to be in the sunroom and the introverts were in the family room. Some of us don't like quiet, some of us don't like noise, but in the end, I think most of us like each other!  What a board topic!!  I’m going to focus on the extended family since we were all together.  We had a great time.  It seemed like we picked up right where we left off even though we’ve been apart for a time.  Why is that? Maybe it’s because many of us live in different states and don’t see each other that often. Maybe it’s because most of us have the same values. Maybe it’s because we have a shared family history with funny stories to tell. Maybe it’s because we know when to back off and let someone else’s opinion be okay. (Even if we don’t agree.) Maybe it’s because we had wonderful role models in our parents. Maybe it’s because family is too important to us to mess up. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  Family dynamics have a lot to do with love and respect. Of course, this comes from the kid sister of the MAN who lived 1 ¼ mile south of Roseland.  Like he always says, you might not agree.  It’s only my opinion.

You all may listen to this but I’m going to preach to myself here.  I need it.  Dr. J says—"There are several key words in the biblical lexicon that are similar, but different. And their difference makes all the difference! Justice means getting what we deserve. Mercy means not getting what we deserve. And grace means getting what we don’t deserve. All have their importance, and each has its place in our life.” I, tooooo many times, do not have enough grace and mercy for the members of my family and my friends.  I just don’t.  I am toooo judgmental I think.  I need a kick in the butt. For sure.  I can get disappointed in folks and become judgmental.  I want folks to be like me.  They are not going to do that.  That is especially hard for me with my family.  I just don’t understand why they aren’t like my thinking.  Some of those ideas aren’t that important but some, I think, are.  I need to be more graceful and merciful.  It is hard.  Family dynamics can be hard for me at times.  For sure!  Like I think I’m always right! Da! God says He is in charge.  erv, you are not! 

I wanted the grandkids to go away from Arlene’s memorial service/celebration/party with a positive feeling.  I had a cake made and before they left last Sunday, each of the grandkids put a candle on the cake and we had a party for grandma.  The picture pretty much tells the story. 

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—It is never too late to become what we are capable of becoming.