A close friend, young man and someone whom I admire; recently married, now with a young son; a person with immense talents with mind and hands; a go to person in design, repairing, and building almost anything mechanical.
He texted me mid-week, "So, you think this is the beginning of the end or what?
I replied, "I don't know. I would not be surprised, though. We just keep doing what we are doing...."
I want to visit more, but for what I think are aging reasons, I am tired. Physically and mentally. And my answer will be the same as it always is. Some form of family first, wife first, son first, health first, preparing first, heads up always, stay vigilant and stay away from crowds.
I would add, live your daily life, get out and see and do. Spend weekends, doing, with your young family. My old age tells me that there have always been tough times in the lands. Folks have lived through much tougher times, had to work very hard, some have had to fight more than others, but none of them got out without having to interact with challenging/changing times.
These are challenging times and none of us get a pass. In that light, live, learn, love and be as ready as you want to or can be.
(I said some of the above to my son yesterday, he agreed;but inserted that the young and people in general are different today - a deciding factor to consider)
Seattle apartment, middle of June 1945. I am the little guy.
"1945 marked the end of World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat." From Google.
My grandparents and parents lived through troubled years. Grandmother often told stories (snippets) of living through those times. We always visited the farm on weekends as long as I can remember. There were always a few extra folks around her meal tables; one of, if not the, biggest paycheck for some of the young men who came to help grandpa work the farm on weekends. A young man can pack away a big meal without issue. No one ever left grandma's meal tables hungry. There were always leftovers and at the end of the day, those leftovers were available for snacks for young men going home from a day's work.
Mom often told me stories of "do you remember when you were very young, folks visiting us?" I said I did and she always replied that it was because they knew they could always get a meal at our hour home when they visited.
I never witnessed anything but good friendships interacting when anyone visited.
I have no memory of those days in Seattle with my parents. I do remember stories though of how they often told of moving out of Seattle as fast as they could to a small coastal town along the Washington Coast. A good place to build a home and raise a young son.
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Honest thoughts. Shared not for approval or disapproval. Just shared.
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Seems to be up-to-date with what is going on in the middle east. Yes, you can easily get caught up with the talking heads now; but headlines and stories can give a bird's eye view of recent events without wading through the foul muck of experts opinions.
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BOOKS
They are rectangular, usually of varying thickness. They contain paper pages on which are written stories and historical information. They can be used for entertainment and personal learning.
There is a bookstore here in town where spaces overflow with these things called books. Many are free for the asking and taking the time to do so.
Sitting down and opening a book is walking through a door never before opened. Within moments, a person can find themselves snuggling deeper in a chair and opening worlds of wonderment and awe. "Wonder is what sets us apart from other life forms..." Herbert W. Boyer
If you choose to start reading books today, you will be among the very few who do. Go ahead and wonder about this. Just ponder, wonder and consider.
"My son told me a wonderful story; true, an experience. Amongst a group of peers he did a simple act of difference.
His peers joked, pointed fun comments at him. He sat silent. And then it happened across the nation a week ago; lasted just a moment, but it did happen. But it did not happen to him. It did to all of his peers, but not him.....
The expressions on his peers' faces changed and they asked him how he knew. To which he replied "How could you not know?"
My son reads and is naturally inquisitive. He wonders. As his father, I have always seen those wheels turning. Watching his face, the wheels have always been turning.
I once bought him an electric R/C car. Out of the box, battery charged and he was driving full throttle down the road next to our house. Brakes applied, the car spun sideways and full throttle again as the car whizzed by my feet in the other direction.
An hour later this electric car was strung along a shop work bench in parts and pieces. Neatly laid out in order of removal. He told me he thought he could make it go faster if.......needs other parts.........bigger tires........suspension work......."
In full disclosure, I bought two electric cars. I never ever once beat him or out drove him. Never. Maybe I needed bigger tires? Youth has always been on his side.
Expect more about books in the weeks ahead.
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JIBBER JABBER
Weather cooler in east Texas. Long pants, heavy shirts and some talk of winter is coming. Evenings are wonderful for sitting on the porch and visiting.
Some lettuce and spinach sprouting but I am not sure that maybe I planted too late in the season. Regardless, I do talk nice to the new sprouts and offer encouragement.
Cat beds need tucking in and protecting from the coming cold. Both cats are found in the mornings now wrapped together as one for warmth.
Two new rose bushes need to get in the ground soon. Talking about it has not completed that chore.
House cleaning in the form of removing everything from shelves and putting most back neatly reveals more space and several garbage bag trips to the dumpster.
In a world seemingly in disarray, our cupboards are becoming photo worthy. The queen bee has a little more bounce in her step as her castle becomes more orderly.
Make good days and stay the course.
Thanks for the visit this week.
Flying missions there for a few months, we often talked of how beautiful this part of coastal Vietnam was and "would this not be the best place for resorts nestled along this coastline?"
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