There are some days when......

   There are some days when, after just a few short minutes, you know that it might be better to go back to bed and start over. No, however, this is not going to be your typical..."you know you are having a bad day when".....posting.

   After discovering that  I forgot to buy coffee on my last trip to the grocery store or forgot to press the 'wash' button on the dish washer before going to bed, I began to wonder what other surprises the day had in store for me. (There were a few old tea bags in the cupboard, but tea just doesn't have the same morning 'kick' as coffee does for me, but...sometimes you make do with what you have.)

   After a brief visual scan of the yard, I finally found the morning newspaper sitting in a puddle of water at the end of the driveway, only this time the delivery person had not put the neatly folded newspaper in a plastic wrapper and the paper was too wet to even think about spreading out to dry. Not the worse thing in the world. I can always catch the news on television.

   Speaking of television, it appears the cable service in not working this morning, so.... no TV, internet or telephone service. Is this some foreign 'rogue' country at work again and is that a mullet haircut he has ?  There is always my cell phone, which, by the way. I forgot to plug into the charger last night. But then there are some days when it might not be a bad thing to be isolated from the rest of the world for an hour or two.

   No news, no phone, no connection to the outside world! A bowl of cereal would be great. Plenty of cereal, but why is the milk a funny color and have a strange odor? Guess I had better add milk to the list along with the coffee I need to buy tomorrow.

   Sticking with breakfast cereal for a moment. I usually put my cereal in the bowl and then add the milk and it blends together quite well. Pour the milk in the bowl first and then add the cereal and it just seems to float on top. Wonder what scientific principle that is? Probably worth a national study....”Why does the cereal float on a bowl of milk?”

   It's raining pretty hard at the moment and I can't get the dog to go outside and besides, my raincoat is in the trunk of the car, which is parked, not in the garage, but in the driveway. I thought I would be smart and, knowing it was going to rain, leave the car outside and let the rain wash off some of the dirt and sand. Did I mention the temperature was 29 degrees and the car was now encased in ice? Well, at least it's nice and shiny.

   My plan was to spend a bit of time on the road today, trying to track down some of the people I hoped would participate in one of the national research studies I am working on, but with slick and icy roads, I think I'll wait until the weather clears and the ice melts. Who wants to have someone knocking on their door on a cold and rainy day? Who wants to have someone knocking on the door 'from the government' on any day? So, this might be a good time to finish up on a couple of projects around the house.

   No clean paint brushes, not enough paint and the sandpaper is pretty well worn smooth. Time to shift to plan B. Clean out the pellet stove. Plug in the vacuum, flip the switch and the room instantly fills with a cloud of black pellet dust. Even the dog runs to another room. Well, at least now I really have something to do! Where are those little blue colored dust collector thingies?

   By mid morning, I had decided that it had not been one of my most productive days, except to clean the living room, and although there had been no major or catastrophic events to slow me down, like a flat tire or the car running out of gas on the interstate or a tree falling through the roof or those other  "you know you're having a bad day events", sometimes there are just some days when it makes sense to roll over, go back to sleep for a few minutes and start over. Maybe by the time I get up the  internet and cable service will be back up and running.

   P.S. For those who thought I might post my annual list of New Year's resolutions, which by the way I very rarely ever keep, that may or may not be for a future edition. However, making sure there is a enough coffee in the house, that the milk in the refrigerator is well under the 'sell by' date and that I park the car in the garage when there is an ice storm might be a pretty good start to some simple, common, everyday resolutions. One more. Clean the paint brushes each time  after using.

                                                     Happy New Year

Of course there's a reason to celebrate............

   Christmas is just around the corner and a new year less than two weeks away now. This alone should and could be cause for celebration. But today, December 21, is a special day too. For those not sure, it is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

   Each day I watch the weather forecast, primarily to see if I will need a raincoat or thermal underwear or maybe both. But there is one statistic that always draws my attention however....the hours of daylight and the amount of the decrease of sunlight each day since June. As of today, it's eight hours and forty seven minutes of daylight with a decrease of six hours and fifty one minutes of sun light from June. That is when the sun is actually shining. The sun is something we have not seen for many days now, making the dark and gloomy days seem to blend seamlessly into the night.

   The shortest day of the year, or the winter solstice as it is astronomically known. marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, while those south of the Equator enjoy basking in the sunshine and playing beach volleyball with warm sunny days and  starlit nights. Now all of this shortness and 'longness' has a scientific explanation, the tipping of the earth's axis and orbits around the sun. But that explanation is for another day.

   Winter solstice should not be confused with the first day of winter. The solstice is actually just a moment in time, like many things in life , sometime around 11:00 AM I think. And the first day of winter this year? Let's try the snowstorm of November 3!

   The winter solstice has a long history of importance. In addition to being a time of seasonal change, it was often seen as a time of warning and a reminder to communities of the coming months of possible starvation. In many of the colder locations the months of January to April were known as the 'famine' months.

   On a more positive note, many early cultures recognized the winter solstice as a time for celebration, of rebirth, of festivals and for holiday gatherings. It was also a time when much of the wine, prepared and bottled in late summer was now ready for drinking. Let's party.

   The time from mid to late November to early April is a time of early sunsets and late sunrises. Recently is seems there have been very few sunrises due to the stormy weather plaguing the Northeast. Being the hearty stock we are, we know this, too, will pass and that the sun will eventually shine again. And if not, perhaps we can contact our local legislators to submit legislation about increasing the amount of sunshine each day. Maybe the Governor could help too.

   For those really curious, the shortest day of the year does not always fall on December 21, the result of the earth's trip around the sun and other factors, but that gets too complicated for me to explain here. I'll stick with December 21.

   But now the countdown begins. With each new day it starts with only a few seconds, but soon minutes will be added to the amount of daylight. And, as if on cue, the seed catalogs will begin to arrive in the mail and Kohl's and Target will begin their swimsuit and beachwear advertisements.

   As the sun moves higher into the sky and the once lengthy shadows cast from the low winter sun begin to shrink, it will be time to start up the lawn mower, sweep the leftover sand and salt from the driveway, clean up the yard after the dog and take the car to the car wash.

   For sure, Christmas and New Years are great times to celebrate with family and friends. But let's not forget to celebrate, not the shortest day of the year, but what will soon follow, even if it's only one or two minutes each day. 

Sixty eight..........

   Sixty eight could be the year I graduated from college or the number of foul shots I missed before I made the first one in a very limited high school basketball career. It could be the number of fish I have caught (and threw back) or the year of my favorite car (Mustang). But with Christmas just a few days away, this will be my sixty eighth Christmas celebration. I don't remember too many Christmas holidays as a very young child, but as I grow older the holiday seems to take on  new meaning each year.

   Sixty eight years sounds and feels like a long time. (My knees and joints often remind me of that.) A great deal has happened in the world since 1946. There have been numerous wars, a host of famous and infamous world leaders, new and wonderful scientific discoveries, catastrophic weather and political events, all whose impacts and outcomes still not fully known or understood.

   Millions of children have been born and taken their places in the world, but millions also have died because of disease or lack of food, deaths, the result of a world that often turns a blind eye on those who are different or who others in the world may fear.

   In the last sixty eight years paper and pencils have been replaced with computers and Ipads and spell check. Telephones, once tightly fastened to walls and desktops, now slip neatly inside a pocket or purse and travel with us no matter where we go, keeping us in constant communication with the rest of the world. Who  in 1946, would have ever believed that a television show, perhaps the “I Love Lucy” reruns would be viewed on a telephone that fits in your pocket?

   Over the years family Christmas celebrations have evolved also. I grew older, went off to college, got married and with my wife,  started our own family raising three wonderful daughters. Once only parents, our parents were now grandparents and Christmas took on different meanings for them too.

   Within that sixty eight years our children grew up, went off to school, married and started families of their own. Once parents, we were now the grandparents too.

   In sixty eight years there have been a lot of Christmas trees cut down and decorated, thousands of cookies baked, eaten and given to neighbors and friends and more than a few turkeys and hams cooked for Christmas dinners. I personally like the 'left overs'.

   There have been hundreds of presents bought, wrapped and returned because they were either too big, too small or the wrong color.

   In sixty eight years I wonder how many times “Silent Night” has been sung or the birth of Jesus reenacted at the local churches. But while the world has changed dramatically over the years, the story of Jesus, which dates back long, long before 1946, remains consistent.

   This year will be my sixty eighth Christmas and I look forward to it and many more. I know that as each day passes the world becomes a different place, some parts good, other parts, I'm not so sure. But within a few days it will be Christmas Eve and despite all that's happening around the world, both the good and the bad, it is still a special time for many, including one sixty eight year old living in Maine.

   And to those around the globe who attempt to disrupt and destroy, perhaps out of fear or ignorance, on the eve of December 24^th, I encourage you to put down your guns and, for just a few minutes, be silent. Listen to the silence. Perhaps when the sun comes up the next morning, you will have a new understanding of  what “peace” can bring.

PS......To those who may be reading this, I am well aware that some of your beliefs and ideas may be different than mine. But I do believe that this diversity adds richness to life and that our hopes for the future, regardless of what you believe, are similar. Working together we can all make the world a better place.
                                                Holiday wishes to all!

Sometimes it's nice to get away, but........

   Sometimes it's nice to get away, do a bit of traveling and see other parts of the country and how others live. When that opportunity arises for me, however, it often serves more as a reality check.

   Last week I spent a few days on the West Coast. That's what the natives call it. They don't call it California. It wasn't a pleasure trip, though, so I didn't have a lot of time to see the local sights, although there were a few "local sights" moving around in LAX.

   I have been to Los Angeles before, so I was somewhat familiar with the area and where I was headed. The City of Angels? Let me think about that for a moment. I am not sure I saw too many angels.

   The trip West can often be a bear and this trip was to be one of those times. I am not sure how long the flight time normally is, especially with all the time changes and stuff, but when the airplane pilot says its going to be a bit of a bumpy ride in spots and a bit longer in time than usual, that should be a hint.

   For me, when heading west, sometimes it seems you  get there before you leave and even when you are warned the trip may take a bit longer, often that still happens and this trip was no exception. It was a long time on the plane. But the good news......even with the added flight time,  I still arrived at a reasonable hour in the late afternoon. The bad news..... they ran out of food on the plane at row 21. I was in row 29 and there were still at least 5 more  rows  behind me. Several passengers behind me were not happy, especially since they had paid for lunch in advance. Oh well! Good time to start dieting before the holiday food rush.

   The trip from the airport to the hotel can be an adventure in itself  and I have a lot a respect for those who drive the shuttles hour after hour, day after day. The traffic in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is frightening. When we stopped it took several minutes for the lady next to me to unwrap her fingers from the seat back in front of her where she had gripped so tightly. Those were not 'angels' driving cars. Six lane highways and high rates of speed  is a far cry from the 'one traffic light' town where I live, where our local police officer  sits in the parking lot of the local grocery store, attempting to catch speeders doing 5 mph over the speed limit down Somerset Ave.

   This was a working trip, so there was not time to get out and sight see, especially as someone my age attempts to adjust to the time changes. The clock on the night stand said its only 3:30 AM, but my internal clock kept telling me its 6:30. Should I get up and go exercise in the fitness center? Are you crazy? Why would I do that? I don't even work out at the local fitness center at home! OK. Maybe I can roll over and go back to sleep for a few minutes. And that's what it was, a few minutes! The new time on the clock was now 4:10 AM.

   The hotel was only a few brief steps from the Staple Center, the home of the Lakers, the Kings, and who knows who else. The enthusiasm for sports teams and entertainment in the area is displayed everywhere.

   And food? I will bet within a stones throw of the hotel, and not including the hotel restaurants, there were 20-25 restaurants, all shape, all sizes, and cuisines.

   After three days of hard work and jammed packed training, it was time to return home.

   The nice thing about coming home from anywhere west of Maine are the tail winds. The travel time not only seems much shorter but it usually is. See what a stiff breeze from behind will do?    
   But as with life in general and a strong breeze at your back, there are always trade offs. Sixty to seventy degree temperatures would give way to twenty to thirty degrees and chances are, upon arrival, it would be dark and much later, and I was just beginning to get used to the time change. And about the snow on my car in the parking lot due to the mid-week storm? I thought the airport staff might at least have cleaned off the windshield! Silly me.

   It's been a couple of days now and I am still trying to catch up on lost sleep, jet lag, and doing the laundry. It is nice to get away every once and awhile and see how the rest of the world lives, beyond the pine trees.  
   But traveling and seeing other places also serves to remind me of the choices I  made to live where I live, far away from the large cities and metropolitan areas, away from speeding traffic and crowded highways, and the long lines of people waiting to get into the movie theaters,  to live in town with only one traffic light and a police officer who sits mostly unnoticed behind the trees in the parking lot of the local shopping area, drinking a cup of coffee, eyes peeled to catch the next speeding vehicle on Somerset Avenue.  It is nice to get away every once and a while, but it's really nice to get back home too.  

  ( Christmas at the Staples Center (Is it the tree or Christmas that is sponsored by Coke?)

                                              

Decking the halls and other festive “stuff”........

   I was going to write about the month of December, the last month of the year and share a bit of research, like... it is the first full month of the meteorological winter in the northern hemisphere and the month of December always begins on the same day of the week as September and ends on the same day of the week as April. Fascinating!

   Actually what I did find somewhat interesting was that December is Latin for the word 'decem', meaning ten and during the days of the Roman calendar, there were only ten months in a year, the first month being March and the last month being December. And those long winter days following December until March were not part of any month. Makes sense to me.

   But as I continued to research the history and events of December, I kept looking at the Christmas decorations piled up in the den and decided it was time to get to work and turn the house into a holiday wonderland....or something close to it.

   Over the years we have collected a variety of decorations and ornaments, many symbolic of family fun times and memories. A number of the ornaments on the tree each year were made by our children and grandchildren, or were purchased on different trips and vacations as mementos, cheaper than a tee shirt.

   There are still some decorations that were purchased many year ago at the local Ames Department Store. Any one remember Ames's?

   Glass, plastic, cloth or some other strange composite materials, when finished, the tree is a kaleidoscope of lights and color and represents a trip through our family history.

   And just for the record, until a few years ago we would always get a freshly cut tree from the local tree farm. Four years ago we decided to purchase an artificial tree. It was a difficult break from tradition, but it has turned out to be a lot easier and cleaner and we don't have to worry about picking out that perfect tree any more or be continually vacuuming up the needles off the floor. The artificial tree looks really nice. And about the fresh pine smell, those new plug in air fresheners make it smell almost real.

   Over the years we have managed to collect many different makes, models and sizes of Santas. Some are quite old, yes antique, and each year there seems to be at least one or two new ones added to the ever increasing collection.

   My wife has made a number of Santas, modeling them from pictures on Christmas cards and holiday post cards and coupled with the others, the store bought and the ones we have received as gifts, I would estimate there to be about 150 different styles, shapes and sizes. With artificial greens and trees, the house takes on the look of a Santa's village and workshop. Now if I can just find an elf or two to help.

   Christmas is also known as the 'holiday of lights' and both inside and out the house lights up each night with a rainbow of colors. In recent years I have been wrapping the trunks of the trees in the yard with stings of colored light. That's the back yard. That's for the benefit of the wild life that passes through our yard.

   The front yard is a bit more subdued with white candle lights in each window and, for the first time this year, a wreath on the front door that lights up. What will they think of next.

   About four hours into the holiday decorating and I have barely opened half of the Tupperware containers. Over the years I have found it safer to stash the Christmas decorations in the plastic containers. First, it keeps the squirrels and mice from eating and destroying them. Second, if I keep the containers in one central location, like my garage storage area, and write the contents on the outside of the container, it provides for a bit more organization, both putting them out for display and packing them up at the end of the season. What did we do before plastic?

   It's about two thirds done now and it's time to take a break. The fire is going in the pellet stove, the late afternoon light has given way to darkness and the eggnog is ready for a bit of reinforcement. I wonder who ever discovered that eggnog and brandy go really well together?

   But finally, with the last Santa Claus in place, the final reindeer attached to one of the many sleighs, and the few remaining little pine trees grouped together, made to look like the Northwoods of Maine, it's time to flip the switch. With the last sip of eggnog and the flip of the switch, our once 'common place' living area is instantly transformed into  a bright and colorful array of 'things' Christmas, past and present. It took some extra time this year, perhaps because of the eggnog, but this year may be the best year yet, although I probably say that every year.
    So, it's one more glass of eggnog and time to relax in front of the fire. But first, what do I do with all these empty Tupperware containers?

                                     

  Who said all Santas have to wear red!

The Myth of Self.......

   Myth: any imaginary person or thing spoken as though existing. (Webster's New World Dictionary)

   Like many others, each day I usually glance at myself in a mirror, generally right after getting up each morning. On a short term basis I look pretty much the same day after day. Maybe I need a shave or to get a trim at the barber shop, but for the most part the image I see is  much the same face, the same person I saw the day before.

   On a longer term basis, however, my appearance has changed quite drastically and perhaps my self image as well. Gray hair, what is left of it, wrinkles and skin that has aged over time due to exposure to the sun, wind, rain and to life in general has transformed a once younger looking me into someone who looks like my father or maybe even ...my grandfather. Who is that person staring back at me in the mirror?

   We all have an image of how we see our self, or want to see our self, but the reality may be that if this is truly who we believe we are, how we see our self reflected back to us in the mirror, is it only a myth, a myth based solely on appearance or is it deception? Does it really reflect the person  we are?

   I am scheduled to meet someone at the airport as we will be traveling together to a meeting. When asked what I look like, to help locate me in the airport, I described myself as tall, dark and handsome. But the face staring back at me in the morning mirror is far from that image. I chuckled... and passed the comment off as wishful thinking and a smart-xxx remark. But I can always dream.

   We all have a picture of 'self' in our mind, the person we think we are. We force and reinforce that self image and perception by how we act, how we dress, perhaps by the job we have or the car we drive. We project that image by where we live or would like to live. Perhaps it is the type or style of house we live in, the furniture we sit on or the size of the outdoor barbecue grill we have when we entertain guests.

   I graduated from high school in 1964, making this year the 50^th class reunion. As with previous reunions, I did not attend. In the past, it was difficult to go because of work and family obligations. It is a long way to New Jersey. You know all the excuses as well as I do. This year though, now being retired, would have provided me with the time and opportunity, but I opted to stay home. If I didn't go to previous reunions, why go now?

   Being from a crowded northern Jersey community, the class was rather large, well into the 600-675 student range if I remember correctly. With a class that large it was difficult to know everyone. We all, or at least most of us, had our circle of friends back then. And then came graduation , college and stepping out into real life. The high school days quickly became a distant memory, except for the day Jerry Nardelly's sports car burst into flames in the student parking lot. Forgot to put out that cigarette didn't you Jerry 

   Back in high school, I was pretty active in school activities and saw myself as popular with my friends. But was that popularity all a 'myth of self?' Was I pretending to be someone I really was not?

   Several who organized the reunion have been posting pictures in a “reunion album”. Most attending the reunion looked ….......looked exactly like the reflection staring back at me in the mirror, people in their late 60's, gray hair, no hair, wrinkles, glasses and dressed to make themselves look much younger. Looking at the pictures I didn't recognize any one. Would they have recognized me? Perhaps that was the reason I didn't attend!

   I think there are two parts of knowing who you are, of knowing 'self'. First, there is the image that you have of yourself, the one you see in the mirror every day. But  there is the other part, that being how others, those you interact with each day, see you.

   In your mind you may see yourself as kind, gentle, patient, understanding, helpful, expressing concern for others, when in reality your behavior and daily activities express a much different message.

   For example. you may think of yourself as being an advocate for the poor, the homeless, those who struggle in life, when in reality what you do is not really for those you think you are helping, but only as a means to reinforce your own 'self.' Golly! I am a really wonderful person.

   To get a true and more accurate picture of who you are, of 'self', perhaps you have to look beyond the mirror. Yes, the shirt and tie may look great together, but all that really says is  you can match colors well. Will a nice shirt and tie have any effect on how you interact with the people around you? It says very little about 'character.'

   Perhaps we are not really who we think we are. In our own mind are we just a 'myth?'

An American dream.........

   As I take a few minutes to write this week's post  I am about ready to return home from a trip to the 'heart' of the American Revolution..... Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown in Virginia. I know Boston factors into the mix too, but for me there is something very special about this area. Where else can you walk and talk with George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and other great American patriots to get a real sense of what was taking place in the late 1700's. The area and activities in Williamsburg are filled with history and if you are really quiet, you can almost hear some of the original discussions and debates.
   Walking up and down Duke of Gloucester Street, it is easy for one, or at least me, to be transported back in time. People dressed in original garb race back and forth between the shops and homes. They almost seem real. Life in early America must have been very difficult for many who ventured into the new world. But with the dreams and hopes of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for future generations, the reward for living through difficult times far out-weighed the risks.( In one of the final edits, Thomas Jefferson replaced the word 'property' with 'happiness'.)
   I especially like to listen to those who assume the roles of many of this country's 'founding fathers' as they discuss the times and events leading up to and following  the fight for independence. Those who assume these character roles have studied and done their homework as they get to know each person. I can only assume it has changed their lives as well and given a deeper understanding of who these patriots were and what they believed.
    But as you listen to them speak and if you close your eyes and open your mind, you might have a difficult time separating the issues and concerns in 1773 from those in 2014. Regardless of who you listen to or what they believed, the concern and message was the same. They wanted  to create a "government, granted by the people and for the people......."a government  that allowed for open debate and discussion.
   It is true that in those early years there were many living in the new world who were not represented, nor would they be for many years, the Africans, women, non-land owners to mention a few. But those who helped build this new country knew they were not creating a nation for themselves. Most would not live long enough to see the successes and failures of this 'grand democracy'. They knew they were building a nation and a government for the future, one that would be able to grow and adjust as the times and needs of society changed. They knew that kings or queens, dictators or tyrants would not serve the future well. History had proven that. No one would ever be free when being ruled by a dictator or tyrant and even today one only needs to look around the world  to understand their foresight and wisdom.
   These times were not easy for anyone. But as you listen to those who assume the characters and the roles and, if they are to be believed, you cannot overlook the fact that these great men and leaders all had times of personal struggle as they searched within themselves to do what was best for the people of this new nation.
  The car is packed and it's time to head back home. This is my fourth or fifth trip to the Williamsburg area and there is always something new to see and learn. We'll be back in the Spring to see more, to learn more.
   Regardless of where you visit in the Historic Triangle, or how many times you visit, there are always reminders of where we, as a nation, have been and maybe where we should be headed.
   As we dined with some friends on the final evening at what may become one of our favorite restaurants. we noticed  the walls were covered with famous quotes and pictures.  As I took my seat and looked at the wall across from me I could not help but notice this quote and wondered if this could be the new American Dream? 

                                   "Resolve to be tender with the young,
                                    compassionate with the old.
                                    sympathetic with the striving
                                    and tolerant of the weak and the strong.
                                    Sometime in life we will have been all of these."
                                                                                 Anonymous


  

I am really going to miss all those signs..........

   I am really going to miss those campaign signs along the side of the road now that the election is over. They added such color to the scenery and lots of distraction to my driving.... all for expressing the true spirit of democracy in  local towns and cities. In reality, the signs represent the new democratic process, the election process where money can and can not influence  voting. I have no idea how much each candidate in our state spent in this year's election, nor do I really want to know.The figure would be scary.  I  expect the amounts would be staggering. I can only imagine how some of those dollars might have been used toward  some worthy local cause or  a local food pantry.

   I am really going to miss the daily phone calls, especially the ones around dinner time. Do these people ever eat? Have you tried to ask a question or ask to be placed on a 'do not call list.' The voice on the other end just keeps talking. Oh! Wait! Those are automated calls. There is really no one on the other end of the line, it's just a recording. I especially like the ones where the recording is obviously done by someone 'from away.' Can't the candidates at least find a person with a bit of a New England accent instead of someone from Alabama or Georgia, or from over seas, a person who knows where Maine is on the map?
   Just as aside, the night before the election two calls came to the house, all recorded in French. Now I know my last name can have a French twist, but.... come on folks. French! 

   I am really going to miss going to my mailbox to collect the piles of print advertising  deposited each day. Toward the end of the campaign it seemed as though I was getting two or three pieces of the same material from the same candidate on the same day. They must have had some leftovers. Now the only pieces of mail in my mailbox are the monthly bills and the Christmas catalogs, lots of them. Ah...transitions!

   I am going to miss people banging on my door, again usually around meal time, asking me to vote for the candidate they represent. I  never did see an actual candidate. If they really want my support, it might help if they didn't come around at lunch or dinner time. If they really want my support, they could pick up the extra rake and help me rake the leaves for a few minutes or help to shovel the snow from the early winter storm.

   What I will miss the most, however, are the endless number of ads on television and in the newspapers. If there is that much commercial time available, perhaps the television producers could see to add a few extra minutes to the actual show. It would be great to have a few extra minutes of "The Blacklist" or "How To Get Away With Murder" instead of the candidates berating each other in what was suppose to be their negative-free campaigning. But, silly me. (Speaking of how to get away with murder....)

   One does not need to be an expert in political affairs to know this may go down as one of the most expensive campaign seasons ever in Maine. One does not need to be an expert to know that the real winners in this election or any recent election for that matter are the advertising agencies, the printers and media specialists and the consultants hired by the candidates for their political party. Whether a candidate wins or loses, they still get paid and depending upon their success, a win  might insure future work for the next election.

   While both political parties and  candidates, along with a few independents, talk of improving the economy and job creation, it seems the biggest job creator is the American political system itself, with its skyrocketing cost and what now seems like an endless campaign cycle. Already, with election day only a few days behind us, many are already getting ready for 2016.
   Can we just get through the holiday advertising season first!!!!!
   

There must be an 'app' for that.....

  I rounded the corner of the bread aisle at my favorite local food store. Two ladies, and I will assume they were mothers, were talking.

   “My son has been called to the office three times this week for misbehavior in class. I don't know what's going on. This year he has been terrible.”

   The other mom listened with interest and then responded. “ My son was suspended from school last week for two days. He was accused of swearing at the teacher. When I asked him about it, all he said was that she deserved it. I don't know what to do.”

   The first mom continued to express her frustration. “I just don't know what's happening. He has always been a good student and very well behaved. I guess I need some help. Maybe there's a app for that!”

   I quickly turned my head to see the two mothers, cell phones in hand, trying to find an 'app' about .........adolescent boys and their bad behavior? Look it up under “it's the father's fault”. I quickly put two loaves of bread in my shopping cart and moved on. Was there really an 'app' for that?

   I have several home repair and upgrade projects going on  right now that require some fresh paint. At the paint store, I found the color I wanted, but before the sales person mixed the paint to get 'just the right color' he asked me if it was new wood I would be painting and if so, had I primed it or would I be needing paint that already had the primer as part of the mixture. He must have picked up on the expression on my face.

   “Which method is better?” I asked.

   “I'm not really sure,” was his response. He was young. “Let me look it up. There must be an 'app' for that.” Within minutes we had the answer.

   I currently have this crazy little job for a few weeks that requires some driving and with the price of gasoline fluctuating all over the place, I try to find the best buy at the best price. Yes, there is an 'app' for that. The question is ….do I drive 7 miles out of my way to save a penny or two, wasting gas on the extra miles just to save a few cents at the pump? There must be an 'app' for that too!

   As I look back, to the days before cell phone and computers, I wonder how we made any decisions at all. Don't get me wrong. I like having the ability to seek out any and almost all information by typing in a word or phrase, finding an app or just asking Siri. She must be really smart. But I do sometimes miss the challenge of researching a topic on my own.

   Siri....who should I vote for in the election on Tuesday? And her response? “I don't know who is running. You may want to check out the ads on your local cable TV channel.”

   Several weeks ago there was a box of books that were going up for auction. It was an 'almost' complete set of an encyclopedia. I think it was missing volume “M”. Am I the only one who remembers World Book or Britannica? How about the Book of Knowledge?

   I actually remember purchasing my first set of encyclopedias. The color of the cover was blue with gold letters down the spine, spelling out WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. For and extra amount of money, one could also purchase a book shelf, designed to proudly display all the knowledge that was known at the time of publication. Now I just take my cell phone out of my pocket and put it down on the dining room table. My little phone has everything I need to know.

   I recently went into a local sandwich shop to pick up a bite to eat. It was a Tuesday. The place was full of high school kids. Back in my days in school we were not allowed to leave the building  during the day. I think the administration thought we might get into trouble. Little did they know.

   There was not one kid sitting at a table or standing in line who was not playing a game or texting on a cell phone. I wish I could get my fingers to move as fast as some of the kids were able to do. One of the boys shouted to another across the table about a new game he had just found and within only seconds almost everyone stopped what they were doing to search for the new game. I wonder if they attack their homework each night with the same speed and enthusiasm. There has got to be an app for that....how do get your homework done and not really do it!

   I asked one of the kids what his favorite app was. iFunny was his response. At any time of the day the app sends a random funny picture and you vote whether you like it or not.

   Silly me, but I had to ask the question. What happens if you are in class at the time? His response was that if the picture is funny he laughs very quietly but if it's a good one he shows the teacher. The teacher has the app on her phone too. My how times have changed.

   I don't have many apps on my phone. I can barely use it to make phone calls and it is only been recently that I have started to text. (And I don't really need to know how to spell thank goodness!) But I will admit there have been times while waiting for a doctor's appointment that having Angry Birds has helped to pass the time. My goal is still to get out of the beginner's level. There must be an app for that too!

A beginner's guide to bidding at an auction......

   As many of you may know, and for those who do not, we have a small antique business where we buy, sell and sometimes trade. They might be old things, not so old things, or maybe even new. The intent is, of course, to make a bit of money. If we relied on our antiques to buy our food or put gas in the car, we would need to step into an entirely new category where buying and selling becomes a full time job. At this point in life that is too big a step, so we maintain a somewhat 'hobby status' which allows us to buy and sell things we like just for the 'fun of it' and of course, it's not a bad thing  to make a little profit too.

   Most of the items we purchase, we buy at auctions and the truth of the matter is that.... auctions and watching people at the auction is down right fun and entertaining. No yard sale shopping here. Boring! At the auction, things can get 'down and dirty' with each person having their own style on 'how and when to bid' or when to stick up their hand or card. The fun can be matching your style with the others in the room. And if you get it right, you can pick up some pretty good deals.

   For those just starting out I thought I might give a few pointers and suggestions based upon my vast amount of worldly experience, well maybe not that vast and maybe not that worldly!.

   Suggestion one. Get to the auction early and preview. Now you probably are thinking that I am talking about the items to be sold. Wrong. I am talking about previewing the others in the room. Watch their actions and behavior, their moves. Do they carry a pad and pencil. Are they watching you watching them? It is important and helpful to be able to spot the serious dealers in the crowd. Often those bidders will set the tone of the auction and the prices. When they buy food at the snack bar, do they pay with a $20?

   Number two. Seating or standing location are key to auction success. Where one stands or sits separates the players from the sight-seers. There are many theories about location. Depending upon the auction, I often like to sit near the front, near the auctioneer. That way he or she has a clear line of sight to me when I bid. If it is a new auction, I may hang out in near the back for a while. That way I can see who is bidding on what, who my competition might be and what the items of their interests are. And often, it is just easier to get to the snack bar. Some auctions have great food. Would you rather go to an auction that has freshly made donuts or ones dumped out of a cardboard box?

   Number three. There is a flow to an auction, usually dictated by the pace of the auctioneer. It is important, depending upon the type and style of bidder you are, to pick up on the speed, pace and verbal rhythm of the auctioneer quickly. There are some who move very slowly, trying to squeeze out every dollar for each item. Those auctions can go on for what seems like days. Others move right along and before you know it, the item is sold and you never even got the chance to  bid, And if the auctioneer is really fast, before long you are left sitting alone, eating your freshly cooked donuts, while everyone else has packed up their trucks and vans and are on their way home.

   Number four. Some auctioneers will give you a clue when they are about to 'sell' the item. “Going, once, going twice......sold' is a common refrain. But there are others who use a simple shout of “sold.” No warning. For 'sniper' bidders like myself, it is important to learn the style of the auctioneer so you can get that last bid. Practicing in front of a mirror may help.

   Number five. Whether you are the successful bidder on an item or not, never, never show emotion. Save your expressions of joy or sorrow (tears) when you get back in the car and are out of the parking lot. Emotions are a dead giveaway and could be used against you by the 'well seasoned' auction-goer and experienced bidder. As they say...”never let them see you cry!”

   Number six. Avoid direct eye contact with those bidding against you. It will ensure, even guarantee, that you will end up paying more than you had intended. And if you do make eye contact by mistake, just close your eyes and turn your head in the opposite direction.

   A key to successful purchasing at an auction is timing. There are several theories about when to jump in on the bidding, when to back off and when to snipe.

   (For those not familiar with the term, 'snipe bidding' is trying to sneak in at the very last possible milli-second, not allowing time for the others to bid.)

   Depending upon how important the item is to you, you may opt to not be the first bidder. It's called "psyching out" the opponent. That way you can determine who else in the room has interest in the same item. There are times I want to be the first bidder, especially if people are not paying attention. At least by being the first bidder, others may think they know that I am interested in bidding, or maybe I am just a decoy for the auctioneer to get the bidding started.

   The most difficult decision at the auction is to know when to get out. My suggestion is to set your upper limit on what you are willing to pay.... and then know that you will probably spend more, not that this has ever happened to me.

   It is easy to get sucked into the emotion and the fun of the auction, but when the auction is finally over and you've loaded up your truck with some great buys, what you really may have done is to make new friends, have a great deal of fun and maybe even take any leftover donuts home.
    Oh! One more. Number seven. Don't forget your checkbook! Happy bidding and see you at the auction!

Perfect…. Just Perfect

   As I sat down to prepare to write this week,  I again fought the urge to write about politics and the upcoming election or the weather. One would definitely have to admit  the weather the past several days in early October has been more summer-like than Fall and would make a great topic. I could write about leaves,  especially since most have now fallen from the trees into my yard. But I'll pass on both topics again this week 

   Each week, as I think about the subject matter for the  column, my hope is to make the selection of the topic 'perfect',  perfect for all the readers. The 'perfect column'!  But before I began to write what I might consider the 'perfect column', I needed to do a bit of homework, because the word ‘perfect’ is used  so frequently now I wanted to make sure I get it right.

     According to Webster’s New World Dictionary  the word perfect means ‘a state of excellence’ or ‘faultlessness’. Completely correct! One only needs to listen to the conversations going on around us to hear the word used with constant regularity.  The perfect dress, the perfect car or maybe the perfect restaurant. Does that mean that everything is 'faultless'? How often do we hear about the  perfect storm? Too much snow...or not enough snow?

      We have all hoped, at one time or another, for the perfect date. Every bride and groom dreams of the perfect wedding. We search endlessly for the fast food restaurant chain that will serve us the perfect hamburger. For me it was always White Castle.

     The coach who wants his team to win the championship game encourages his players to play the perfect game or how about the conductor of the orchestra directing the musician with the wave of the baton, encouraging them to play the perfect concerto.

     Sales people are taught to use the word ‘perfect’ as many times as possible. If I remember from my training, I think it was five times in five minutes “That suit is perfect for you. It matches your eyes.” 
   "I don’t want a suit to match my eyes. I want a suit to  fit properly! “Oh. This tie is a perfect match too.” Is it a perfect match to the suit, my eyes or my credit card?

     Car sales people always have the perfect car for you. How do they know what's perfect?  “This new minivan would be perfect for you,the sales person says,  sizing up the young woman to be a soccer mom. Actually,  she had her eye on the little red convertible. OK. So she is a   'hot' soccer mom.

    We all want are children to grow up to be perfect. Do perfect parents ensure perfect children or is it the other way around? 
    Maybe you have heard someone say, “She is the perfect candidate to run for office in the upcoming election.” What makes her perfect? Maybe she knows the right people or has lots of money!  (Sorry. I was going to stay away from politics.)

    We have all heard of the perfect fool or the perfect stranger. How about the perfect novel or movie. We search for the perfect gift for that special (perfect) friend. Chocolate  works for me!

    Recently I overheard two friends talking. One was planning a party for her sister and her new boy friend. She wanted to make sure that everything was……you guessed it,  perfect! With that kind of expectation there are bound to be problems.

     I think I have figured out this word ‘perfect,’ however. For something to be perfect, it must be measured against a standard of some kind. That standard can be real or it can be imaginary, like a picture in your mind.

     I knew a coach who taught his player to swing a baseball bat with their eyes closed. "Picture in your mind the baseball racing toward home plate and just as it crosses the plate, swing the bat, sending the ball over the outfield fence." Basketball coaches often do the same for practicing foul shots. It's amazing, but I have never missed an imaginary foul shot in my life!   :)

   So for my readers and friends, I bring this  ‘perfect column’ to a conclusion and I hope you all have the perfect week.

Things that go bump in the night and other scary moments...................

   I made a conscious decision not to write about the upcoming elections, although this year there could be a great deal to write about, at least  in Maine. I considered some thoughts about the holidays, maybe Halloween, but that might be for another time.

  The other night, as the rain quietly descended upon Pittsfield and the surrounding area, I was startled out of a deep sleep with a loud 'bump'. I know there are children's stories about things that go 'bump in the night', designed to generate nightmares in childhood dreams. Could it be something hiding under the bed? 
   It is funny how darkness often causes us to be somewhat more fearful, probably because it is difficult for most of us to see in the dark. But think about lying awake in bed and imaging all those creatures crawling on the ceiling, the walls and the floor,,, and now crawling all over my arms and legs. And those two little eyes staring at me from the corner of the room? I hope they belong to the dog.

   Not too often, I will wake up in the middle of the night either because the dog jumped on the bed, some squirrel raced across the roof or a tree branch brushed against the house because of the wind. At that time, in a semi-sleep state, the mind races. What just happened? But as I lay quietly trying to get back to sleep, I begin to count sheep or try to solve all the problems that didn't get solved the day before, or anticipate the events of tomorrow and before long, if I'm lucky, I drop off back to sleep. 
   Then in what seems to be only a few short minutes the alarm announces  the beginning of another day. Waking, I have little recollection of what I thought about in those sleepless moments. Had I solved the problems of the world? If I did, why didn't I write them down for future reference.

   I don't necessarily believe in spirits or things that move about us from the past, although there have been times when it felt that I was not alone the room. Just look at poor Bob Marley in the 'Christmas Carol.' Those spirits certainly did keep him busy for a while. But the lessons he learned. Wow! And Christmas is right around the corner. Maybe there is hope for me!

     The mind works in mysterious ways and whether you call it a 'bump in the night' or an 'ah-ha' moment (a daylight version of a bump in the night), there is a time we come to an 'awareness' of something we have struggled to remember or in some cases, have tried to forget. How often, at the most unsuspecting moment, have we remembered where we put something or have finally remembered someone's name, perhaps at three o'clock in the morning

   Now I am sure there is someone out there reading this blog and saying....”yep, he's lost it this time, again! Too many bumps in the night for him, perhaps from falling out of bed. But with so much going on in the world, there are bound to be things that get tucked away in one of those little crevices in the brain and when you least expect it, out they pop, like the name of your first real date ( other than taking you cousin to the prom) or where you put the extra set of car keys. In many cases, the things we suddenly remember are not that important, but still it is interesting to see how the mind works.

   Those sleepless moments in the middle of the night can be very frustrating though. Why now, keeping me awake, as I fight to get back to sleep. I do need get my beauty sleep!
   But just to make sure, let me check under the bed just one more time.

Do- Si- Do.........

   Definition: Do-Si-Do (sometimes spelled dosado) A dance step where two dancers, face to face, advance and pass right shoulder to right shoulder and without turning, each dancer moves to the right, passing the other back to back, then move backwards, passing each other with the left shoulders and returning to the starting position.

   It was a beautiful mid-September Saturday evening. Some friends had opened their recently restored barn for an evening of square dancing. Square dancing? Family and friends had been invited to spend a bit of time together and while there were some people in the crowd who were acquainted with each other at some level, for  most, it was a group of strangers, just spending some time together.
   Ages in the group ranged from some school age kids all the way up to those my age and beyond, people who actually remembered what square dancing really was, probably from gym class in school. No 'rap' music here, although I suppose if you allowed your mind to wander, the dance caller might be considered a rapper......Ever hear a 'rapper' with a thick New England accent?

   The evening began with a pot luck supper. As is often the case, there was enough food to feed a group twice the size, maybe even half the population of Maine. The mixture of smells and tastes was enough to please anyone's  palate. My favorite..... the fresh vegetable dishes. After all, it is harvest time and what better way to share the harvest than with friends at an old fashioned Saturday night get together.

   Tucked away in the corner were several tables piled high with desserts and other sweets. But the desserts would wait until later. It was now time to dance.

   Within a few minutes after eating, the floor was cleared, the square dance caller set up his equipment and we were ready to go. 
   In the beginning it reminded me of the first junior high school dance. Everyone stuck close to the wall, not wanting to be the first on to the dance floor. But most of us were adults and no need to be coy at this age. And with a bit of encouragement from the 'caller' the center of the barn was filled with giggly, chatty groups ready for the challenge.

    Now I use the word 'challenge' because for most of us in the room, unless they were currently members of a local square dance group, and there are some in the area, for the most of us, the last time we square danced was probably in physical education in high school. But the square dance caller was very patient and after a review of some of the key moves and terms, it was almost like riding a bicycle, except most of us moved across the floor a lot slower than we did in high school. Age does have a way of slowing one down a bit.

   Let's see......circle to the left, then back to the right, face your partner and so-si-do, allemande left and promenade right, get back home and do it again! It brought back memories of yesterday. It was the only time the boys and girls gym classes ever met together each year. Hold her hand! Are you kidding me.

   Even the younger ones in attendance this night managed to put aside their cell phone for a few minutes and join in the fun. I can only imagine the text messages that followed to their friends. “You'll never guess what I just did.” Better yet...”You'll never guess what my parents just did!”

   As the evening progressed and the dancing continued, the conversations and laughing got louder and people seemed to have a really good time. Remember, this was a group of people that, for the most part, did not know each other before this evening and while they might pass each other unknowingly in the aisles of the local grocery store, that would  have been the extent of any social interaction. But tonight was different.

    The evening turned out to be a huge success. Good food, good dancing, new friends, and the cell phones were set aside for a few minutes. Kind of sounds like the “old days,” no cell phones in the old days, when people would get together on a Saturday night at the local grange, a school gym or at someone's barn, kick out the cows and horses for a few hours and have some good 'down home' fun. It's what happened in small towns and communities across the country many years ago. It's how friends and neighbors got to know each other just a little bit better with a do-si-do and an allemande left.

   Unfortunately those days are probably long gone. But for those of us with a bit a gray hair and some distant memories of the Saturday night social, this particular night brought back some memories of a simpler life.
   And those other distant memories of square dancing in gym class? Holding hands with that special girl from period three gym class didn't turn out too bad either!!   :)  

The real sight was much better than the picture, the rich deep blue sky behind the brightly colored leaves. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Creatures of habit, or just a creature.....

   The early morning sun streamed into the bedroom. It was time to get up. I glanced at the clock. OMG! I had overslept. Before my day even got started I was now running about thirty minutes behind schedule. What schedule? I'm retired. Panic, fear and a sense 'what to do next' gripped my body. How could I have overslept. I always get up at the same time each day. I have for years, with maybe one or two exceptions. It's funny how a slight change in schedule or routine can effect the rest of the day, maybe even life. For sure, we are 'creatures of habit.'

   Take, for example, the car keys. I always turn off the car engine, remove the keys from the ignition and drop them into the ash tray.(Now everyone knows where they can find my car keys, even the crooks.) It is a habit  I have done for years. It just makes it easier to know where they are if someone needs to use the car, especially if one  is in a hurry, although, admittedly, I probably would not do this in a big city.

   But on this particular day I put the keys in my suit jacket pocket, came inside and, who knows why, I hung up my jacket in the closet.    First, rarely is that the first thing I do upon entering the house. Eventually my jacket does make its way to the  closet, but usually not the first thing upon arriving home. That's what the chair just inside the door is for.

    Second, I had no memory of putting the keys in my packet. You guessed it. When it came time to go to the store, do you think I could remember what I had done with the keys? OK Lucky. What did you do with the car keys? I know you want to go to the park.

   After a somewhat frantic search I remembered I 'may have' put them in my jacket pocket and sure enough, there they were, along with a few receipts from the hardware store and a handful of dog treats. Most of my pockets now have bits and pieces of dog biscuits these days.

   For me, everything has its place, especially my tools. It was a lesson I learned many years ago from an eccentric boss I worked for, actually he was a fanatic. 

   (Just an aside, he would  wear a dress shirt only once. Yes, once. The workshop was litter with boxes of new, unopened dress shirts, blue ones, white ones, stripes and solids. After it was worn it got tossed in the garbage. Too bad we were not the same size.)

    But his message about tools? If you put the tool back where you found it, you'll know where to look for it the next time you needed it. Makes sense. It took a while to learn. I was a scatter-brained college kid at the time,  but it was a practice (habit) I continue, even to this day...well almost all the time.

   One might think that with all the tools I have accumulated over the years I would have no trouble finding a Phillips head screwdriver when I needed it or a pair of needle nose pliers.  

   “Lucky, did you borrow those pliers again. How many times have I told you to put them back after you use them. “

   "What's that? You didn't use them? OK! It must have been the neighbor then. Sorry."

   It amazes me how accustomed we become to our routines and how often we don't even realize it. I usually put  my right sock on first, then my left. If I do it the other way, left first, it just doesn't feel right and I end up taking them off and starting over. And I always put my pants on after I have my socks on. That way I won't wrinkle the bottom of my pant legs. Sounds logical anyhow!

   By now you are probably saying to yourself....."My goodness... he has slipped off the deep end.” There are many who may agree that happened years ago. But I challenge you to take a look at some of the unique things you do.

   In the kitchen, at breakfast time, the first thing I do after turning on the television to catch the early morning news,  is  make the coffee. If the paper boy (person) arrives or the dog needs to go out or I get distracted by something being reported on the morning news, it changes my entire routine and I end up having to wait an extra five minutes for my morning jolt of 'wake up'... my slightly pumpkin flavored  coffee. It's got to be pumpkin this time of year.

   On this particular morning I was distracted by a story on the  news about one of our local politicians and something he may have said or done. Can't these guys wait until after I have had my morning coffee before doing something stupid?

   Humans are not the only ones on the planet who are creatures of habit. Lucky has his favorite toy for certain times of the day, knows exactly when it is 5:00 PM,  dinner time  and.... what's this turning around and around in a circle before lying down on his bed. If I did that before going to bed, I'd probably end up sleeping in the car, after finding the car keys.

   Being a 'creature of habit', following certain routines each day, is probably not a bad things. It does put a bit of order into one's life and it may offer clues about how someone might act or react in routine and normal situations.

 So I was a few minutes late today. So what! It's not as if the world was expecting me at a certain place at a certain time. Well almost no one. Thank goodness for cell phones. A quick call to the person who cuts and styles my hair, telling her I was running a bit late and.... all is good. 

If you thought this past summer was great.....

   If you thought this past summer was great, just wait until this Fall. Sure, the warm sunny days, high humidity lasting for what often seemed like weeks, the almost daily afternoon showers were all part of this year's summer. But the warm temperatures and frequent showers keep the vegetables growing and the flowers blooming and this year produced a bumper crop of cucumbers, tomatoes and various herbs. I like growing herbs the most. They're easy.

   Of the four seasons of the year, five if you count “mud season,” I have always liked Fall the best. But I really enjoyed the past summer season  and I am not sure if this Fall can match the sunny blue skies, reasonable temperatures and until the last few weeks, the lack of mosquitoes. But if I had any doubts, what happened this week would eliminate any question or concerns about the upcoming season and provide a perspective I had not expected.

  I am back working again, on a part time basis for just a few weeks, until the snow flies. It is a job that brings me in contact with many different people, with many different life experiences. My job is to sit down with them for about forty five minutes to complete a survey. Wow. A survey. Confidentially prevents me from going into more detail about the type of survey, but...

   This past week I had the opportunity to call upon.... let's call him Bud. (That's not his real name.) I pulled into the driveway and Bud was out washing the dust and dirt off his car. He and his wife had just returned from a camping trip.

   I introduced myself, told him what I was doing, how he had been selected to be part of the survey and... he agreed to  spend the next forty five or so minutes with me. I admit that it brought a smile to my face. Not everyone is that agreeable or willing. After all, it is voluntary and it is a survey!

   The survey went well and as we began to wrap things up, he said to me....” It's a good thing you caught me now.”

  I must have looked a bit puzzled. He continued....” The doctors have told me I may have only six months to a year to live. I have a stage four cancer. If you were to come back next Spring I might not be here.”

   Bud is only fifty two years old and has been battling cancer for several years. Along with his wife and family he is traveling to Boston every three weeks for treatment, but the cancer has taken a turn, not responding to the treatment any more and is worsening.

   We continued to talk for a while and what was difficult for me to understand was how positive he remained, about life, about the treatment he was receiving and the people around him, including has doctors and nurses at the cancer center. Truthfully, I'm not sure how I would react to such news.

   He spoke of camping, and working in the garden, of washing his cars, of the smell of the smoke of a wood fire from the chimney next door and the upcoming holidays. And his favorite time of the year...Fall.

   In a somewhat clumsy way I asked him how he was able to remain so positive. His response...”Sure, I could curl up in a chair or never get out of bed each day and feel really sorry for myself. But what would that accomplish? There is too much to enjoy regardless of how long I live and I want to take advantage of every minute.”

   We shook hands, I wished him the best and I started my drive back home. This 'chance' meeting had given me a bit more to think about than I had expected.

   I decided to skip the highway ride back home and stuck to the back roads with less traffic. The trees that lined either side of the road were now changing color and the bright sun added to their beauty. But my mind continued to replay my conversation with Bud and I questioned if I would be able to remain as positive as he was if facing a similar situation. What had started out as simple work assignment this day had ended up to be a great deal more.. at least for me. This would be a 'meeting' I would not soon  forget.

   Yes, I like the Fall season. I like to bite into a freshly picked apple, or pick the few remaining vegetables in the garden before the first frost, smell the smoke of a freshly lit wood fire in the fire place. But now I can add one other memory to that list, Bud, and his positive attitude about life. “There's too much to enjoy regardless of how long you live and I want to take advantage of every minute.” 

Want to be heard? Speak up......

   As I continue to enter a new phase of  life along with many other 'baby boomers',  I must admit  the way I had pictured retirement and planned for it may  not be the way it will turn out. Naively, my view of retirement and the senior years was modeled somewhat after the retirement of my parents and grandparents and what we hear and see on television. But times have changed and so the definition of retirement.
   At some magical age, after  years of working a "regular" job",  you would stop going to the office or where ever you worked every day, get a check from Social Security or a state pension program and, supplemented with a bit of savings, live life comfortably. You could sleep late in the morning because you stayed up late to watch Jimmy Fallon, hang out at the local Tim Horton with all your 'buds', supervise the grandchildren as they splash around in the pool...(doesn't every grandparent have a pool) or catch up on reading all those books and magazines you never had time to read while you were working.
   I didn't anticipate the millions and millions of dollars still being spent daily defending the 'freedom' of people in countries half way around the world whose only view of the United States is what they are told by their political leaders or see on television, if they have a television at all. (Bet they have cell phones though!) Could some of those dollars be better spent at home, used in search for a cure for cancer or ALS or Alzheimer's?
   Now, I understand the concept of a 'global economy' and the importance of people working together to make the world a better place for everyone to live. But one only needs to watch the news or read the paper to discover that not every country or  world leader really cares about a cure for cancer or other potentially deadly disease.They just let the people join  radical groups and die. Senior years planning? If terrorist  around the world are decapitating anyone, American or not, is it a sign of a world spinning out of control?
   I had expected  when the 'boomers' started to retire there would be a transition of power and decision-making to a younger generation, a generation filled with enthusiasm and enlightenment, having learned from the mistakes of those who had come before them and understanding  the world would be a different place. They would know that in the not too distant future, they too  would be 'old' with dreams of a comfortable life in retirement. (Definition of old? Fifteen years older than your current age.  :))
   By the time I retired I figured there would be medical advancements that might cure cancer, new technology that would decrease our dependency on foreign oil and gas, or not need gasoline at all, and have clean air and water for a healthier life. The good news is that we are slowly making strides in those directions. The bad news is .....it's still politics as usual when it comes to change and priorities. We just can't seem to get out of our own way to insure success and move forward.
   I had not anticipated the arguing and bickering taking place within our own government among the political factions that now requires a need for a new level of credibility and honesty from elected officials. Power, in the wrong hands has always corrupted. But how many politicians in the past year or so have been accused of abuse of power and corruption and have  legally been charged? If it's more than one, it's one too many. Greed!
    And as today's  federal, state and local officials debate the financial shortcomings of their inability to live within their means or the perception of an ever increasing roll of government in our everyday life, why would someone not expect the public to respond with renewed activism and involvement, especially as the aging population gets larger and lives longer.
   We hold elections to select those we believe will represent us best, not who can raise the most money for his or her 'campaign war chest'. (Did you know they get to keep some of the money  they raise if they  don't spend it all?) Is this the funding of a new American democracy? (Oh.....I forgot. Election day just around the corner.)
   Instead of sitting at home and allowing things to get done to us, perhaps we need to make sure  those who represent us remember what it's like back in the home and what it will be like in the future. They need to hear from those who elected them and they need to listen to all the different perspectives and point of view.
   Think about it....fewer  babies are being born and the population continues to live longer and the average age of a typical person is increasing, like Maine.   Maybe it's time to  “speak up and be heard”. Perhaps this is the 'new politics' for those entering the “golden years.” We had the Million Man  March on Washington a number of years ago. What about a 'Golden Years Rally' in every city and state across the nation. Isn't it time to find out who's listening!!!!

When you are having fun.....

     I have said it myself on occasion, I have heard it said many times just in the past several weeks, especially from the kids as they return to school. “My how the time does fly!” Now we know that time does not fly. It moves at a sixty second per minute pace, but it just seems that when you are doing something that you enjoy, it seems to pass by at a very rapid 'clip.'

     As I often do, the notion of 'time flying' peaked my curiosity, so I thought I would do a bit of research to its origin. Much to my surprise there was not much information available about 'flying time' except in relation to the often endless minutes spent flying in an airplane. Near the top of the list of my search was the history of the expression about “go fly a kite.” Maybe there was a message there for me.

     What I did discover are the seeming endless comments about time, hundreds of them. So I thought I would pull out a few to share, along with the name of the person to whom they are credited.

   “Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.”    Lao Tzu

   What a great excuse. If you don't want to do something, just say that you don't have time!! I need to remember that. The boss tells you to do something....sorry I don't have the time right now!

   “One day spent with someone you love can change everything. Mitch Albom

   This may not be specifically about minutes or seconds, but it's a nice thought and sentiment about life.

   “How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”      Dr. Seuss

   This probably summarizes they way many of us feel and leave it to the good Dr Seuss to put it into words for us.

   “Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.”

Ray Cummings,

   Actually, I think this make a great deal of sense, don't you?

   And to credit one of our own from Maine......

   “Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not.”     Stephen King

   “Only time can heal your broken heart. Just as only time can heal broken arms or legs.”    Jim Henson

    Now this one has a bit of special meaning for me right now, not a broken heart or leg but a bit of knee surgery. Doc.....will this every heal? I missed the tryouts this year for tight end with the New England Patriots and the Boston Celtics have been calling  to see if I am ready to play point guard. (Like that would ever happen!)

   “A man who waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life'    Charles Darwin,

     I like this one. I wonder if it applies to going outside to cut the lawn? Maybe I should consider hiring someone to come cut the grass.Then again, maybe it's not a waste of time. It allows me to get to know my lawn mower better. 

   “Time spent with a cat is never wasted.” Colette

   Got to think about this one for a minute. Now if it had been a dog.......

   “Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead.” Hans Christian Andersen

   Hmm. An interesting way to look at it, don't you think?

   “Lost time is never found again” Benjamin Franklin

   Leave it to Uncle Ben  to state the obvious. He usually did.

   We all have, at some point, thought about time...  how quickly it sometimes passes or maybe, how slowly. But without a doubt, everyone has an opinion about time and if you don't, maybe it's time you did. 

   Perhaps William Penn sums it up best......“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

OK. Time to move on.  :)