Rise and fall. A lesson of how history....... repeats itself?

   About this time each year I attempt to clear out some of my books, packing up older ones  and putting  new titles in their place. This usually happens every year and because I do this each year, for me, history does repeat itself.
   I have a number of history books and as I cull through the collection, often I will get distracted by titles or topics.
   One of the courses I took in college was entitled the "Rise of Western Civilization”, not really an exciting course, especially  because it was taught on  Saturday mornings. But I came across the text  was used in class, a thick, heavy book....lots of words.
   Much of the history of western civilization has deep roots in  Roman history. As I paged through the text,  I was attracted to the section that discussed the reasons for the rise of the Roman Empire and the suggested reasons for its decline, as offered by famous historians.
   Many will claim  the Roman Empire never really fell, only that it adapted to a changing world.  But few who study history will deny the numerous attempts of other nations and cultures to overthrow  the 'glory days' of Rome.  Perhaps it was not the attacks by others who caused the 'fall,',  but  the Roman people themselves. Not being around in 476 A.D. makes it difficult to personally observe the reasons, but as I reviewed the explanations in the text, there were some strikingly sharp and frightening similarities to today's society.
   The introduction of lead pipes to the water system, replacing the old aqueduct system had a severe  negative impact upon the health and welfare in the Empire.  Even today, lead is still a poison with impact upon the safety and welfare of  society. What scientific discoveries today, for the good of  mankind, will have the potential to kill us in the future? Some claim the push toward the use of nuclear energy may be the next great health disaster. Or will it be  wind turbines?
   Civil wars and internal conflicts sapped the strength of the Empire. Although it has been 150 years since our Civil War, perhaps the U.S. attempt to keep peace around the world has sapped our strength to improve our quality of life.
   Abandonment of old beliefs, religious and/or political, led to confusion and unrest. The moral strength of the Empire became compromised and questioned. While beliefs and ideals  change over time as society changes, an orderly transition in imperative in an effort to avoid chaos.
   At its peak of world power, Rome encouraged the practice of birth control, leading to a decline in its population.  Birth control was also seen as a tool to reduce sexually transmitted diseases, spreading out of control, the result of a society that had lost its moral and religious compass.
   Political misdirection and politics played a major role in the 'fall of Rome'. Failure to have a workable constitution and with a government controlled in large part by a small, rich aristocracy and with 'liberal thinking' rulers, created a tremendous drain on the financial and political resources of the  once rich and wealthy Empire. And under the weight of a vast and expanded bureaucracy, the government found itself unable govern effectively .
   Easy living and a population that became lazy destroyed the belief that hard work and commitment would lead to a strong and effective society. It was the world's first real confrontation with the negative impact of 'too much welfare' in a society.
   The flow of gold and other riches away from the Empire to pay for luxury items, items with no real personal value, was one of the final 'nails in the economic coffin', preventing the Empire from ever regaining its world economic leadership.
   Now, I am not saying that history ever repeats itself, but there are some lessons that could be learned here. I realize that it is not 476 A.D. and the world has changed. My question is...how much have we really changed? (Perhaps I should have stayed awake in class more, even though it was  Saturday morning, I could answer that question.)

Have you ever noticed....

   There are a number of things going on in the world that we probably never notice or just take them for granted as the way we live our lives today. This is not a judgment, only an observation. But it does and maybe should cause a renewed awareness in certain human behaviors, although I believe many of the larger companies have already done their studies and are well aware of 'how' people behave and live and do things to supports these behaviors.

   Have you ever noticed the number of people who light up a cigarette within just a few seconds of exiting a store, especially a grocery store. They barely get outside and already have taken a couple of “good deep drags” often followed by a cough or two ('good' is not used in a positive context here). And after loading the groceries into the car, they drop the half smoked cigarette on the ground. Some will stamp it out while others just let it burn. What an expensive waste of money, but I am sure the cigarette companies don't mind and I am also convinced the person who drops the cigarette has never smoked in the car  before!?!?

   Similarly, there are many who will “light up” just before going into the store, take a puff or two and dispose of the cigarette in one of those oddly shaped plastic “butt holders” often place near the entrance. Have you noticed the color of the plastic disposal containers? They are usually either gray or a 'pinkish' color. No message here, just an observation on my part.

   Moving on, there is no question in my mind the cell phone has changed the world, changed human behavior and will continue to do so as the technology continues to grow and expand. ( I am waiting for the day the cell phone will be able to do a 'full body transport' from one location to another. Don't laugh! )

   As I took the dog out this morning, shortly before 7:00AM, three cars passed, each with the driver talking on their cell phone. What ever happened to the concept of “hands free”? All managed to wave as they passed by. “Good morning all!” Let's see,,,one hand holding the phone, one hand waving to me and …..who's got the wheel?

   I will admit that my cell phone etiquette could use a 'make-over', but to watch others can be almost comical, especially the teenagers.

   In a recent trip to a clothing store I noticed a young girl was sending a friend pictures of the jeans she was purchasing. The jeans, 5 pairs of them, were all lined up in a row. I am assuming it was a friend. Come to think of it, it may have been her mother although, I doubt it! The person on the other end of the connection must have given approval as the girl raced off to pay the cashier and check out.

   There is a warning about..”casting the first stone” and I admit that I have not always demonstrated to best cell phone behavior, When was the last time you were in sitting in a restaurant with others close by. I am referring to a real restaurant, not the fast food type. There are so many different and unique ring tones and email and text alerts that it can often get pretty noisy. But, I'll admit it. I have check my phone on occasion, but I had good reason. Let's see! What excuse can I use this time?

   I do like having the ability to take a quick picture with the phone though, and I am learning that I can take the picture and send it to my computer at home. Beats taking the film out of the camera and waiting for days to get the pictures back only to discover they are all fuzzy or out of focus.

   By the way, unless you are someone famous, please don't ask me to be in a 'selfie'. I don't do 'selfies'!, although I might consider one with the Boston Red Sox.

   Have you noticed the people who walk by the candy display in the store, tear open a package of candy, take several pieces and put the bag back on the shelf. I am not talking about children here, I am referring to the number of adults, popping one or two into the mouth and then a couple more in a pocket or purse. If I were the store owner, I might consider moving the candy display closer to the door and checkout,

   It's late in the evening, just after dusk. Small towns in Maine tend to have just one or two traffic lights, if any at all.. As you approach the light, it changes from green, to yellow and red. You quickly look around. No other cars in the area. Do I stop or... if it's safe... should I keep going?
   No one but me will ever notice.      :)

                           

                                                

Beneath the melting snow....

   Revealed beneath the melting snow from this year's long, cold winter are the joys and sometimes the 'wrath' of Mother Nature. We are well into the month of April and while other regions of the country have experienced the warmth of the sun and the blossoms of the early springtime flowers, this has been a long winter for us. It has only been the past few days that it has actually felt like springtime has finally arrived with temps getting into the high 40's and low 50's. But finally, even in the dark and quiet of the night, one can hear the water from the melting snow on the roof trickle to the ground and perhaps by the end of the week, the snow on the roof will be completely gone.

   As the snow melts, small patches of grass dot the yard. But in the back yard, protected from the sun by some very tall trees, the snow is still well over a foot deep. The good news is that as it continues to melt, it will help to fill the backyard 'frog ponds' . Here's hoping the frogs, buried deep in their muddy winter homes, survived the winter's cold and ice.

   Along with the spots of green scattered about are spots of brown. But, I'll pass on that discussion and just go get a shovel and start to clean them up.

   Beneath the bird feeders is a hefty collection of bird seed and already the squirrels and chipmunks have done a pretty good job of cleaning up after themselves. They are not afraid to warn Lucky to 'stay away' if he is out in the yard and while he attempts to chase them up the closest tree, they continue to chatter back at him.

   And speaking of Lucky, he has rediscovered several of his missing toys, buried deeply in the snow, left outside just before our first major winter storm.

   I have come to the conclusion that Mother Nature has her own method of pruning and clearing the dead branches from the trees. It's called 'the wind” and we certainly had our share of wind this year. The result was more drops of limbs and branches than I can remember in many years. And there were also a few trees that fell too, fortunately in the direction away from the house. Once the snow is completely gone, it's going to take a bit of time cleaning up this year

   Walking across portions of the remaining snow that still covers the ground, the layers of ice under the snow crack and break. There appears to have been a 2-3 inch layer of ice coating the ground before the heavy snows hit, and the sooner it melts, the better it will be for any surviving grass.

   It is interesting to follow the little tunnels beneath the ice and snow. I assume they are the result of the “under snow” network set up by the the various critters seeking out food and safe haven. There is a rather large tunnel opening just below the bird feeder in front of the living room window and often a chipmunk will peek out of the opening before venturing farther toward the food supply making sure the big black dog is not within sight.

   Along the edge of the house, next to the foundation where the sun has melted the snow and warmed the ground, some of the early spring flowers are beginning to break the muddy surface and before long should be in bloom.

   The streets and driveway are coated in sand and reports are that local towns and cities used more sand and salt this year than in recent years. It was a bad year for ice and it will be interesting to see the damage that may have occurred to the plants and shrubs.

   One of the ways I keep track of the snow level is by checking in on my 'rock people”' the sentinels stationed around the yard. It has only been this past week most have popped their heads above the snow and it won't be long before they all will be basking in spring and summer sun.
    But for now, we'll just let Mother Nature stick to her own time table and her way of bringing things back to life... from beneath the melting snow. 

                            One of the several sentinels emerging from the snow!

* Several days have passed since I wrote this earlier in the week. With 60 degree weather, it is amazing how much snow has melted and with the exception of  just a couple of sections of the yard, we are pretty much snow free, the first time since December. May Spring really is here.!!!

Andy Griffith meets Dr. Phil...

   After the morning news shows, daytime television leaves a great deal to be desired. But then, most people are working and the audience during the day is probably much like me, retired or currently out of work or..... skipping work to watch the Red Sox. After all, earlier this week was the opening day of the 2014 baseball season

   Often after a brief post-lunch nap, I  awake to the theme song from The Andy Griffith Show. The first time this occurred, I thought I might have been dreaming, but that was not the case. The Andy Griffith Show appears to be part of the mid-afternoon ( retiree) TV lineup.

   Now to remember the Andy Griffith Show you have to be of a certain age, have lived and survived the 60's, remember when the only colors on the television screen were black, white and different shades of gray, (no, not the book!) and if you didn't have an antenna fastened to the chimney of your house you had something called 'rabbit ears, sitting atop the television set and if the reception was really poor even after moving them around a bit, you might wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the antenna tips.

   I rediscovered the Andy Griffith reruns from the 1960's several months ago and I must admit, it brought back some memories, not only about the show, but also the decade. At the time I was finishing high school and getting ready to go off to college and 'too cool' to watch the show. I thought it “pretty lame,” a small town police chief, a bumbling deputy  named Barney, an aunt named Bea and young kid named Opie. (I have since run across many  Opie's out there in the world.)

   I  learned after spending a bit of time watching several of the reruns, there may have been  subtle messages about life, more than just the down home flavor of growing up in Mayberry. Andy was able to guide and direct the characters of the show through many of life's simple but important lessons, lessons often overlooked today.

   In a recent episode rerun, Barney becomes upset and jealous when a local farmer from the outskirts of town attempts to woo his longtime girlfriend, Thelma Lou, away in order to propose marriage to her. As a hardworking farmer, he needed a wife to cook, clean and keep the house neat. . Enraged as Barney was able to get in his squeaky high pitched voice, he challenges the farmer to a fight. But Andy and Aunt Bea eventually intervene and bring peace and understanding to both. The farmer learns a few of life's lessons about about dating and finding a wife and Barney learns the importance of love and relationships.

   Fast forward to 2014. Barney and the farmer are working out their differences on the Dr. Phil Show.
    I am not a big fan of Dr. Phil and I am glad there are other, more family friendly shows, available at the same time. I find him often arrogant and obnoxious, rude and coming across as a know-it-all. For the sake of what the television networks consider a good television show, I often wonder just how real some the issues are that people are willing to discuss on national TV and... are the topics really appropriate for television or a public airing, especially when the kids are still awake.

   While Andy and Aunt Bea worked to teach Barney and the farmer lessons in dating, I suspect Dr. Phil would have taken a far more aggressive approach, having them square off on stage, look back into their family background and cry or get angry, study their failed relationships with parents and who knows what else.

   It is hard to determine if the outcome would have been the same with both sitting there on the stage, cameras running. But as I continue to watch some of the reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, I have concluded that there may have been more to the show than I originally thought. Even in the 1960's, many of the problems the folks of Mayberry faced were not that much different than today and perhaps the show was just a bit ahead of its time. And Andy's style? It seemed to work just fine back then. I know  it was only television entertainment back then, but so is Dr. Phil!
   I'm  not saying that Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) was the Dr, Phil of the 60's in Mayberry, but it might be fun to see them go head to head on national TV today, each with their own unique style.  

Bet you don't know what Tuesday is.....

   Just in case you forget, Tuesday is April 1, often referred to as April Fool's Day. The beginning of April is a sure sign that winter is now behind us and Spring is just around the corner, although you could not tell that by looking at my yard, still with 2 feet of snow.

   Early references to April Fool's Day date back to to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in 1392 and over the years it has evolved into a day of kidding and practical jokes and even Mother Nature has gotten into the act in the past with early Spring snow storms. I sure hope not this year though.

   But more important, April is filled with monthly, weekly and daily observances as people transition fromthe cold of winter into the warmth and sounds of Spring.

   Not wanting to be left out of any of the upcoming excitement, I decided it was time to fill in my calendar and get ready …...to celebrate.

   April is known as 'Adopt A Greyhound Month'. I have always wanted to own one but I am not sure the town will allow me to park a 45 ft. bus in my driveway. I know it will definitely not fit in the garage. There is barely enough room for my cars, let alone a Greyhound .

   Once the snow clears and the ice melts from the ponds in the backyard, the frogs will return, so how appropriate is it that April in 'National Frog Month'. I can't wait for their return, and neither can the neighborhood cats.

   April is also known as 'Distracted Driving Awareness Month'. I am assuming that either...you are to be on the lookout for distracted drivers around you or 'you need to stay off your cell phone'!

   For some of the nuts out there, April is 'National Pecan Month'. While I like pecans, I prefer cashews. I wonder which month is dedicated as National Cashew Month. I'll probably skip the pecan celebration. Things are nutty enough this time of the year.

   There are some serious observances in April too. There is 'Couple Appreciation Month', National Autism Awareness Month', and Keep America Beautiful Month.'

   Along with month long observances, there are some that  last only a week. After the winter we have had, the week of April 24-30, designated as 'National Scoop the Poop Week, comes just in time'. This is one that will get my attention.

   With the arrival of warmer weather, the week of April 20-26 is 'National Bedbug Week', I have this picture of bedbugs lining up along Main Street, holding signs and cheering as their comrades parade by to their next unsuspecting victim. And what better way to create a bit of fear in kids going off to camp later this summer.... tell them not to let the bedbugs bite!

   The week of April 20-26 is 'Sky Awareness Week'. If you have never noticed the sky    before, this might be the week to do it. And as for Chicken Little, the sky has never fallen. The only things that fall from the sky are the occasional shooting stars and old space satellites dropping out of orbit.

   While you are appreciating the sky, you might want to participate in 'The National Pie Championships' near the end of the same week and finish off the contest with a tattoo on April 29^th.

   With all the activities going on, I don't have much extra time during the month. But there are a couple of things I might be able to squeeze in. April 4^th is 'National Walk to Work Day' and if I worked, I'd walk.

    The 7^th is 'International Beaver Day' and that's all I'll say about that. The 8^th is “Draw a Bird Day'. Is that the same as “flipping the bird”? Perhaps after those two comments, I might think about April 11^th,..... “ A National Day of Silence'.

   April 19^th is a special day. First it is 'Husband Appreciation Day' and also 'National Hanging Out Day', but I am sure there is no relationship between the two.

   The 3d Monday in April is the Boston Marathon, a day that will be respectfully remembered for years to come because of the horrific bombing last year that changed lives and a country forever.

   Hair Stylist Appreciation Day is April 25 and although I don't require a trip to the stylist much any more, I will stop in just to say “hi”.

   The last day of the month holds a very special place in my heart. It is 'Bugs Bunny Day' and who didn't grow up loving Bugs Bunny cartoons on those ancient black and white televisions just before dinner each evening.

   April 30^th is also 'National Honesty Day' and I am not lying when I say... these lists are a bit crazy. But the upside is it does give some people something to look forward to, even if it's nothing more than putting a smile on your face.

Oh, by the way...April is 'National Humor Month'. LOL

I c b w, but....

   'I could be wrong', but I think there is a revolution coming. Truth is, it may already be here. It won't be fought with guns or missiles, but instead it will be a war on words, or maybe more accurately, the lack of words. With texting, tweeting and instant messaging all the rage, there appears to be a new language on the horizon.

   With my new cell phone and grandchildren becoming teenagers, texting is slowly making its way into my world too and while it is fun to be in what could be considered regular contact with them if I were so inclined, they do need to study, when we do text back and forth, sometimes it is difficult to understand the messages they send me, widening the generation gap even more.There seems to be this entirely new way of expressing oneself and while once an English teacher, dedicated to proper spelling and good grammar, I have had to force myself to overlook the 'spelling' in order to understand what many now call the “new shorthand.” Over the years, we have always had our share of acronyms, but the computer age seems to have given birth to a whole new language.

   I think my first real exposure to this new language came when confronted with...OMG. But over time, I became comfortable enough to use OMG myself. But that was only the beginning. Just when I think I understand, there is an entirely new list of “NetLingo” for sharing and chatting. @TEOTD, I not sure I will ever catch up and be current. (at the end of the day.) 
   With some degree of seriousness, I am somewhat worried about the future and what we will be teaching the kids in school. For some, spelling and reading were always a challenge and I don't see their importance becoming less important, even with all the shortcuts. But, 404 what the curriculum will look like in 10 years. (404...'I haven't a clue'. Now how you get that at of 404, I don't know!)
      I am well aware there will be those who will A2D with me when it comes to the importance of learning to spell correctly and I will ACK they have a right to their own opinions, but 4COL, this could really get confusing over time. (Translation....I am well aware there will be those who will 'agree to disagree' with me when it comes to the importance of learning to spell correctly and I will 'acknowledge' they have a right to their own opinions, but 'for crying out loud', this could get confusing over time.)

   Each day new acronyms are added to the list and a quick search of the Internet reveals list after list. Some are quite simple to understand while others pose more of a challenge. For example: 2moro and 2nite are simple to understand. 1Daful is a bit more challenging and means 'wonderful'. If you are from away you may be considered a 4NR, a foreigner.

   Interested in a bit of Shakespeare? 2B-not2B. That is the ?. It really is possible to share a bit of Shakespeare and culture in a text message without much typing.Teachers...beware however! That tweeting sound in your classroom may not be the robins of springtime.

   I decided that in order to stay in the game, so to speak, I would study up on some of the more popular terms. IMHO, this was going to be a challenge. ('In my humble opinion') There was just TMI to absorb at one time. I guess I could always use flashcards. But here is a list of some of the more popular text terms: L8R, BRB. ILY, RBTL, BCNU, 9, and maybe the one most familiar to all, LOL  MHOTY if you know what any of these mean. You are more 'with it' than I am. ('My hats off to you')

   @TEOTD it's still OK to pick up the phone, dial a number to say “hello” and hear a teenage voice on the other end of the connection. ('at the end of the day') And about those spelling lists the teachers hand out on Monday for the test on Friday? Keep studying! You never know when the you might actually need to hand write a 'thank you' note to someone. Sometimes it's what we do 'in real life” (IRL)

   After reading this, I am sure you will think I am an ACORN. That's one you'll have to look up on your own! LOL.

STUDY GUIDE: L8R-later, BRB- be right back, ILY- I love you, RBTL- read between the lines, BCNU- be seeing you, 9- parent alert, LOL- laughing out loud 

Not a bucket list, but.....

  The doctor says to the patient.."I have some bad news and I have some really bad news    for you."
  The patient replies.."Give me the bad news first."
  "You have twenty fours hours to live!" says the doctor.
  "And the really bad  news?" asks the patient.
   "I tried to call you yesterday!"

    Several  years ago there was a movie titled “The Bucket List”. The message in the film was simple. It was to answer the question ......”What are the things you would like to do before you die?” The underlying question may really have been...”What are those things you did not do, for what ever reason, early on in your life?”

   Careers, family, lack of money or just plain fear are only a few of the reasons we fail to follow through on some of our wildest dreams and wishes. Then....all of a sudden you reach the age when you get up one morning, look in the mirror, only to see a face you might not recognize and you ask the question.. “What have I done with my life?”

   I am realistic enough to know that unless you start your 'bucket list' at a young age, the likelihood of a story book or 'happily ever after'  ending to life may not  happen. But sometimes it is never too late, regardless of how old you are.

   As each day passes  I think  about some of the things I might like  to do before I die and I started my own bucket list of sorts. It's not a big bucket. Let's call it the 'bright blue plastic sand pail list', you know, the kind of pail you might take to the beach as a child.

   To begin, I need a pencil and a piece of paper. Point to remember here! You should write things down, a shopping list of sorts. Its called accountability, especially if you decide to stick the list on the door of the refrigerator door for everyone to see. For me, I use a list because my memory isn't as good as it use to be.
   I have always wanted to learn to fly but realized that I didn't have the arm strength to get myself off the ground. Maybe a good substitute would be to learn to swim. I think I can float! With proper instruction, it's probably safer and a great way to exercise and control weight gain. And those little black 'speedo' bathing suits.......well !!!!

   I'll admit it. I am a 'Gleek'. I like music and  like to sing. Being 'tone challenged' can be a real handicap, however. A music teacher once suggested I learn to lip sync. " No one will ever know. Even the professionals do it." So I crank up the volume and sing a chorus of “Sweet Caroline” during the 7th inning stretch. Not bad for a beginner and the backup group is great too.

   I have dreamed about traveling to far off places. Now, living in Maine can have it's advantages for this one. Just down the highway is Norway. A quick turn gets you to 'South' Paris. Go north and you can travel to Calais. There is Lisbon and Peru, China and Naples. Who knew there were all these great place within a day's travel of home. And let's not forget about Mars (Hill)!

   Could I become a professional dancer? I did like to dance at one time. After several casual lessons, the instructor suggested I sit back and watch “So You Think You Can Dance”  on television... and dream. It might be the closest I would get to the dance floor. Over the years I think I have I  lost all my rhythm..and I was once a drummer in the band...

   You can see by my list that I am not looking to jump out of airplanes, unless it is safely on the ground  or climb the highest mountain in the world. I can barely hike up to the top of the local ski slope.  

   I have thought about writing a novel though, or play in an orchestra again and I think those may still be possible. But I can't waste too much more time thinking about it, because I don't know how much time I have left. 

    The lesson is simple. As you live life each day, every once and a while it's OK to step out of the box and do something a bit out of the character for yourself. Take the risk. Don't put it off until tomorrow. Time is getting short and life can present some unexpected events. Do you really want to go through life saying..."I wish I had done that." when you really could have! 
(Sorry for the bad joke. :)