My initial giggle response was, “waking up”. I really don’t like getting up sometimes, especially early.

Yet, I know this is not true because I love life, and awaken to the challenges each day, as long as I have a cup of coffee.

The second response was concerning exercise. I love when I do it, but then do admit I do need to encourage myself to let some things go for a bit, and take this time for me.

I imagine, although it was not and has not been my intention, was to skip the things that were important to me, while focusing on the needs of others.

I love baking bread, or rather I did, once upon a time, this is the story I tell.

My mother was a magnificent bread maker as well, amongst her many talents she had.

I learned from her, although she did not teach me. I watched and learned and came to it in my own way.

Warm water, yeast, salt, flour and other secret things. Letting it rise into a fluffy cloud before the real work begins and mini-muscles flex and knead it into loafs, and rolls, when placed into pans and allowed to rise again before the oven takes over its duties to fill the air with aromas that start begin to fill your mind, and glands to become anxious for the moment they are done.

Butter, one with a sharp knife, and one to spread the butter, and possibly some jam. You check the time, and tap your toes, and check on the hot pads to make sure they are ready to protect my hands the moment the alarm, and window on the oven tell you they are done.

The bread never really had time to cool, and the moment it comes out of the oven the kitchen begins to fill with those who are anxious to be the first to get some, when it is still hot.

I bake less now, not for any particular reason other than those who once consumed it faster than I could make it are in their own homes now, but occasionally they come by when I am baking bread because I think they can smell it in the air, and decided it is time to visit.

I loved my interaction with others, although I was more introverted, quiet, but present. I enjoyed many subjects and paid attention when my mind was not diverted by girls, friends, associates, things going on somewhere else, and day dreaming. I was very good at seeing the whole world around me while day dreaming.

I was already reading college level by seventh grade, and had read many of the classics by that time, although I did save War and Peace for later in my life.

Breaks in class and walking to the next were great, and I said hi to many in the corridors, and many said hi to me.

Lunches, although I did not eat were good, and after school planning was wonderful.

I survived until I didn’t because I did not care for the religious dominant leadership that manifested itself in the school, without thought for the students as long as they were in control.

I left and yet went and studied and worked at a university for thirty-eight years. I studied many things, and found good in all, but my favorites was in Fine Arts, Creative Writing and both Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law.

I want more time to go back, just a little ways, like ten or twenty years to do the things that I put off until tomorrow because I thought I would have more time. It was so easy to do so, until I learned that the future is not exactly like we imagine. We are older—I am older and things do not work the same, and there are pains ever present from working longer and harder to prepare for this apparent future I had put off things to do.

Yesterday, had I been brighter, I would have enjoyed the things that I had put off until tomorrow.

Laugh and enjoy the little things and do not put them off because today is really the only day that we really have.

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.

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.

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, 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 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.