Category: Uncategorized

A short lift…

Yesterday, I was working outside picking up apples that keep on falling and creating work for me.l, which is not always pleasing to me.

Apple’s are great from eating fresh whole, chopped or sliced and baked, or any even dried, but not so great when you are sorting the bad, kinda bad, or good from each other on the ground.

Tiring, I went in to make lunch and as I was moving back and forth in the kitchen, I felt a little tickle on the leg, and unconsciously brushed my leg and felt what I at first thought was a twig attached to pants.

I pulled it away, a bit irritated that a twig attached itself to me, but in nanoseconds while my memories, of things came to me, as I lifted it away. It was not a twig but something more alarming and unusual that had chosen to hitch a ride.

As I was pulling it up, my eyes were already moving towards the thing in my fingers. My brain was telling me the object was not quite right and although scratchy, was a bit too soft, and I flung it to the ground, in a natural reaction to something unknown, and may need to fear.

I looked down and it took a split second to realize this three inch thing was a preying mantis, on her back now and her legs were rapidly moving to upright herself.

Now I have a rule that insects or otherwise are not allowed in the house. And it took a split second of processing to rationalize I was not in danger.

Surely, this monster was not so big that it could bite my head off, or cause me great  harm. And I bent over and picked it up and felt the scrabbling with her legs, and the softness of her abdomen and started to carry her towards the door, cursing going in my head.

My wife was there and had gloves on because she was just coming in from picking up apples and offered to take it the rest of the way.

I gladly passed the beast off to her so she could carry it somewhere safe to do her own little thing, like eating other bugs, instead of me.

If they only knew…

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Well since the question was framed around most people. Most people don’t know that I am near 69, blue eyed, 6′ and 265 lbs.

I lift weights and exercise and look for the humorous side of things.

I write, photograph, and do art but this is mostly for a small group of people because I don’t for enjoyment and not a job.

I feel like I have a close relationship with God but do not impose my beliefs on others, although I will state an opinion because I want others to think rather than simply recite what they have been told.

Being told what to believe does not enlighten you. Seeking truth will.

With these things…

What principles define how you live?

I was brought up with and by the word of God as it was written by people before, often not even present when God’s son, Jesus was here.

I believed but asked questions when things did not quite align themselves, or seem straight forward, but I never forgot the main intent of the teachings to do what was right.

Lying, cheating, stealing, and killing was not the message we were told to do, but rather we were taught not to.

The most basic lesson was to “do unto others as we would have others do unto us.” A simple lesson, hard to learn because we are human, or rather should be. Our focus twisted into, “what about me,” rather than doing good to see it returned. We seek now to be receivers rather than the givers.

I found that kindness is not hard to show or give, and I know that I am not alone in this, and my heart fills when I see acts of kindness shown, or given.

A single kind word like, Hi, can mean so much to someone who feels alone, or lost

It costs me nothing to be kind, yet I have been rewarded a million times.

The little things we do…

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

I grew up with grandparents on both sides who were farmers, and as children we would help during harvest time. I imagine most of the time we were more in the way, than really a help. I did reach a stage when I was finally big enough to help around the age of eight, and my grandfather paid me ten dollars for my work. I was excited and felt grown up getting my first check.

My father and mother took me to a show store to buy my own shoes and I found a beautiful pair of gray suede Hush Puppies that marked $9.99, and it felt like it was meant to be.

I took them up to the cashier with my father by my side and they rang up the price, and suddenly the price was higher because of taxes, which I had little knowledge of.

Stunned, I immediately said I didn’t want them anymore because I didn’t have enough money. My father said it was okay, and he paid the taxes for me.

If only I could….

What skill would you like to learn?

If only, I could, I would make every instrument that I touch put out a beautiful tune, and my voice pleasant enough to cause the people around me to pause to take in my music and be moved to feel things that the music stimulated to surface fond memories.

I would watch as not only my body would move in time with my tune, and melody, as my voice sings lyrics that lift them up,  as their eyes look backwards and open up their hearts, and feel life again, and setting all their troubles aside to if even only for moments.

If only I could….

I’m plugging! Oh my!!?

How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

I have threatened to say, what the hell, many times but in our society today the electronic connection is no different than parking on main street, or hanging out at the local greasy spoon diner. People intend to connect in whatever manner they can and the greatest priority is to do it visually. We are drawn to things visually.

I began doing this with weekend movies and walking up and down aisles and necking with a girl in a semi dark corner, or the center of the theater so everyone knew we were or possibly a couple. We did this until we had cars, then it was on the main street so people could see us, or us seeing them. We connect to learn, and to be entertained differently than our parents did. Every generation finds it’s way and as technology increases, and I am not saying anything pro or con. Youth finds a way to express, explore, and learn.

To those who care

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

I want to be remembered for being a kind, generous, loving man.

My life has not been easy as is true for most people. We all face challenges as and that is what either makes us or breaks us.

I want my children to remember me for being a patient, good father, and those that have loved me will always love me, and share this love with others.

For my grandchildren I pray that they will be strong and remember me often, and see me in others and be reminded often.

Yesterday

What has come and passed is no longer of the greatest concern, as long as we have survived for today.

Tomorrow has not yet arrived so it makes no sense to worry about things that may become but rather focus on the moments you have and celebrate them.

Take a deep breath and put all the have not’s, did not’s away.

Feel the sun, or coolness depending where you are and listen to the sounds beyond those that seem near and sometimes fill our bodies with tension and dull our minds with a smorgasbord of noise.

Reach beyond and see the world around you and enjoy the gifts you have, and not those that were, or those that may be. It is in this minute that you live.

Take control and live this moment because it is the only true promise that you have.

Yesterday

It seems so far away, and only a memory. Tomorrow has not yet arrived but drawing closer by the hour, minute, and second. Time paying by so quickly.

Today—this moment is the only thing that is certain, and at times it does not feel all that certain. However, it is only how we live in the moments we have that prepare us for the outcomes we desire.

Do your best, and live each moment the best that you can.