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New Year’s Resolution Time
“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” Goran Persson
Wow! It won’t be long and 2016 will be in the past and we will be entering into a New Year. It seems the older I get, the faster the years slip by. Every new year brings new highs and lows. Happiness and regret.
The year 2016 seemed to be a bad year for musicians. Glen Frey, David Bowie, Prince, Leon Russell, Merle Haggard, George Michael, Sharon Jones, Joey Feek, to name a few. ISIS made the news numerous times as it carried out terrorist attacks throughout the world. Britain leaves the European Union. WikiLeaks was busy. Election like no other and last but not least, the Cubs win the World Series.
As the year comes to a close and everyone reflects back on 2016 the urge to make a new year’s resolution will come to life within us. Lose weight. Stop procrastinating. The list goes on.
In 2016 we saw a country divided in areas of politics, health issues, gay rights, presidential candidates and even division within the political parties themselves. I hope 2017 will be the “Year of Healing”. My New Year’s resolution is going to be to love everyone, share the love and and not to be a cause of the division within this country.
Thanks for reading. Share the love, be kind to one another and God Bless you one and all.
Prostate Trouble?
“The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren’t in a very good mood.” – Lou Holtz
I know, I know. Disgusting subject. For those of you who don’t suffer from it………..Thank your lucky stars.
Unfortunately I am one who is cursed with this aggravating and frustrating problem. Basically the way it works is you will typically be busy doing something and your brain will tell you that you need to go “tinkle”. As you start your trek toward the bathroom your prostrate will send a message to the brain saying that you didn’t start soon enough. Then you see the porcelain throne coming into sight and your journey and moment of relief is near. That is usually the point at which time you find out that your prostate wasn’t lieing to your brain and you come to the realization that you are about 20 steps shy of your goal. The dribbling begins followed by a slam dunk and you think to yourself, maybe I better invest in some Depends.
I devised a plan where I tell the people around me that I have a slight “tinkle” problem where I might holler out ” turn your head” meaning that I am having a “tinkle attack” and I would greatly appreciate their cooperation and please turn away so I don’t offend anyone. Now I have found that this works quite well when you are with a small group of friends maybe out camping or fishing. However, I am here to tell ya that it DOES NOT work well in Walmart. No siree. People act like you are tinkling on the produce or something. So be careful if you are in Walmart and PLEASE try not to tinkle on any ones Jammie’s.
Well that pretty much sums it up. Please understand I am not making fun of people who suffer from this problem. I can tell you it is quite frustrating. Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope it made you chuckle a little. Have a great day, share the love and God Bless you.
The Call of the River
Bourbeuse River
Big River
Yak on the Bourbeuse
“The river is constantly turning and bending and you never know where it is going to go and where you’ll wind up. Following the bend in the river and staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don’t let anyone deter you from that.” – Eartha Kitt
As a youngster my family spent a lot of time on the river. We would set trot lines, limb lines and tight line fish. My grandparents on both sides spent a lot of time fishing with us. It was quite the family outing. All we ever used for shelter was a tent. We were the kings of roughing it. Lots of good times and memories.
I managed to stumble into adulthood and traded the waters of the river for the waters of the lake. Bought the big bass boat and began tournament fishing. It was a fast paced form of fishing and after some years the river begin to call me again. I resisted at first then finally began to explore the local rivers and their beauty once again.
At first I just went with friends who had boats or found places to fish from the banks of the river. Then I was introduced to the versatility of the kayak. It was certainly a game changer. The kayak introduced me to a simple way to explore the river that I had never imagined. I now had a way to explore every bend and turn of the river.
My dream is to float the Big River and the Bourbeuse from the beginning to the end. One can learn a lot about themselves while enjoying the solitude and serenity of the river. I use that time to recharge my spirit and cleanse my soul. It is quite fitting that I use the bends and turns of the river to ease the bends and turns in my life. While indulging in the peace and tranquility of the river it is easy for one to focus on their path in life.
Remember to be kind to one another and to share the love. God Bless and thanks for reading.
“You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows and a dreamer’s just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what’s behind you and never knowing what’s in store……” Garth Brooks- The River
Oh What A Night On The River
Before I get to the good stuff I guess I should tell you a little bit about me. I love to fish. I am addicted to it. I like to get on the river around four in the afternoon and stay out all night. It is so peaceful on the river at night. Usually anyway.
I launched the yak on the Big River at Washington State Park. It started just like any other trip. I work my way upstream so I can float back down. I set out some limb lines then I fish until dark at which time I bait the lines. Once the lines are all baited I tight line fish. I usually back the yak into a gravel bar and fish out of the yak. That is what I did this particular night.
I was all backed into a gravel bar. Now this stretch of the river has had some meth cooking activity in the past. It is about one a.m. and I hear a rustling in the woods behind me. I really didn’t think anything about it. Then about 10 minutes later it happens again and it sounds like a moose on steroids raking its gigantic rack through the trees. Talk about getting rid of the new underwear smell! A certain part of my anatomy slammed shut. Well ladies and gentleman I am here to tell ya that I launched that yak and it looked like it had a 150 horse Johnson on the back of it. I think I even got it up on plane. I never looked back to see what it was. I thought it was better that way.
After “Big Foot” (or whatever) chased me off the gravel bar I settled on another gravel bar down stream. I calmed down and started fishing for cat again. I had my rod and reel just laying against my tackle box. Then it happened. I had nodded off around 2:30 a.m. when something decided it wanted a closer look at my rod and reel because all of a sudden it took off out the boat. A million things that it could have hung on and it hung on nothing. Nothing at all I tells ya!
Now what does one do? I knew the water was very clear and was only about 4 feet deep so I started searching for my rod and reel, I was going from one side to the other when my light shined on my rod and reel. It is just stationary floating in the river. The current was so swift that it brought the rod and reel to the top. I manage to maneuver the yak into a position for me to grab the end of the rod. I am stretched to the max. My fingers are so close and I am going to grab it and then………….it takes off upstream. What? Am I really chasing my rod and reel up river. Is this a dream? Guilty of chasing the rod and reel and no it wasn’t a dream.
After some time goes by I manage to grab the pole and pulled back at which point whatever was on the end of the line just kept on trucking. It didn’t stop, or hesitate. Must have been “Charlie the Tuna.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you enjoyed it. Share the love, be kind to each other and God Bless you one and all.
What you lose in the fire, you will find in the ashes.
Past, Present or Future?
“Life is divided into three terms- that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.” William Wordsworth
I came upon this quote today and it has stuck with me all day. “Let us learn from the past……” Wow. I gave\it deep thought and it hit me. From the present I learned that the past was quite remarkable.
My trip down memory lane took me back to a time that was quite different than the present. We didn’t have a colored TV. Our telephone was on a party line. You could go to the butcher shop and get cracklings for free. Saw mills gave away their sawdust. You got popcorn balls on Halloween and you didn’t have to worry about finding razor blades in your candy. We would fill a glass jar with lightning bugs and watch them light up the darkness of our rooms at night. In high school Don Mraz and I were country when country wasn’t cool. David Tripp, Glenn Land and I were always competing against each other in art contests. David went on to become an extraordinary artist and teacher. We didn’t have the internet. Really. We had to look things up in books. McDonalds was a treat, not an every day deal. We went camping on the weekends AND slept in a tent. The list goes on. Sorry if I bored you.
I look at the present and compare it to the past and I tell myself, modern day inventions have made a lot of things easier however, those same things that made life easier also made it more complicated. They say not to dwell in the past. I think there is an exception to that. If it makes you happy then by all means indulge. Go back there and feel like a youngster again. Remember how great the simple life really was. How you had to use your imagination to figure out the missing colors of the black and white TV. Smell the aroma of an apple pie your grandma placed in the window to cool.
When I think of the future I become sad thinking about how much my grandsons and their generation are going to miss out on. I doubt that they will ever get a chance to milk a cow. Taste fresh churned butter. Experience the slow paced laid back days like we enjoyed in the 60s. Personally I think they are going to have a rough row to hoe. I pray for them and this nation.
I hope I didn’t bore y’all to bad with my ramblings. Your mission, should you decide to accept it is to go out and make young folks laugh by telling them about some of the silly things you did growing up. Explain to them what it is like to live the simple life. Tell them about how you recited the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.
Thanks for reading. Go hug somebody that doesn’t want to be hugged. Call your mom, dad or child and tell them you love them. Spread the love and God Bless you one and all.
I live to fish. I fish to calm my soul and rejuvenate my spirit.
Love, Faith and Imagination
Everything worthwhile in life requires love, faith and imagination. All three are mysterious and difficult to put into words. – Henry David Thoreau
The times that we are living in at the moment are turbulent and fast paced. The news is filled with violence and murder. Children are killing children. Scam artists are ripping off the elderly. Respect for human life has been left behind. Humanity seems to be spiraling toward a deep abyss. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions. Things are truly a mess.
Imagine, if you would, a world without hate, a place where everyone respected one another and valued a life. A world where a man’s word meant something. Now stretch your imagination to the max-drum roll please- an honest politician. An unbiased media. Congressional leaders who actually cared about Americans.
We sure can’t have faith in our government. They have given us no reason to have one iota of faith in their leadership. It is going to take a miracle for me to restore the faith inside me that I once had for our congressional leaders. The only place I can put my faith right now is God.
Love conquers all.
If there is one thing we need in our lives and nation at the moment, it is love. Fill your hearts with love and it will destroy any hate within you. Encourage one another to believe and to have faith. Share the love. Take responsibility for your actions and believe in each other. Thanks for reading. God Bless you one and all.
Come On November 8!
“The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet.” Mark Twain in Eruption
I don’t know about the rest of you but I am sooooooooo ready for the elections to be behind us. I am tired of all the political ads that repeat themselves day in and day out. The flood of lies and empty promises. The say anything to get your vote rhetoric. The division of friends and family members because of who each other support. The contest of who can tell the biggest lie.
The candidates are giving the late night comedians a lot of “joke material”. Facebook is covered with humorous political views. One that comes to mind is a picture of Bill Clinton and a heading on it that says “I chose other women over Hillary and you should too.” One late night host even rustled Trump’s hair and , drum roll…………it is real!
Ok before someone blows a gasket, I know the elections are important and that this President will have to make some Supreme Court appointments. I know emotions are running high between Americans who support Clinton or Trump. Personally I wouldn’t PP on either one of them if they were on fire. One of them is going to win and it may not be the one you want. However, life goes on. Don’t let politics come between you, your family members and friends. When these elections are over we are going to need friends and family close.
“I am quite sure that often, very often, in manners concerning religion and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s.” Mark Twain in Eruption
Featured
Slow down and …………………..
Life is made up of special moments which make it worth living.
There are many cherished moments that are missed due to the stress and fast pace of daily living.
We must slow down and remember how precious it is to be alive and to love. Lessons Learned in Life
Simple Things In Life
“They criticize me for harping on the 0bvious; if all folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.” Calvin Coolidge
I began my journey of life in 1954. I was blessed with living in the 60s when life was much simpler and life was enjoyed at a much slower pace. A time when eating at a “fast food” restaurant was considered a treat and “drive ins” were still popular. We actually played outside and enjoyed each others company. We took family vacations, at the supper table we talked about our day and behaved as a family unit. We grew our own food and canned meat and vegetables for the winter months. We went fishing, picked blackberries, polk salad and hunted mushrooms. We rode in the back of a pick up truck, played in the creek, caught lightning bugs, and said “yes ma’am/sir”, “no ma’am/sir” and respected those around us.
Money was tight but life was good. I look at today’s world and wonder where it all went. Everyone is in a hurry, fast food is the norm and technology,(I agree some advances are good) has seemed to steal time and interaction from the American family. Instant gratification is in demand, even though that I didn’t think politicians could become more corrupt. they have, pollution is running rampant, and everyone is too busy to stop and smell the roses. Today’s children don’t know what it is to lose, abortion numbers are unbelievable, racism seems to becoming unmanageable, our government steals our social security money and hate has seemed to replace love.
In closing I would like to thank all who read my rant. I fear the direction this country is heading. We need to inject the simple things back into our lives again. We need to rely less on the government and start helping each other more. Churches need to step up to the pump and start using some of those tithes to help the needy and homeless in their communities. We desperately need to stop fanning the flames of racism. Veterans desperately need our help and we need to start paying attention to them and their needs. We need to start becoming more self reliant. Plant gardens, can our own food and become our own person.
“The future is always beginning now.” Mark Strand
Your future is yours to make. It is your dreams and decisions that will paint your future. Make the best of it. Your choices can make it simple or hard, happy or sad and your actions will form the opinions of those around you. Keep life simple. Enjoy the small things in life and spread the love, “Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us, and the greatest is love.” Alan Jackson “Where Were You” (When the World Stopped Turning)
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