Thirty-four years ago today, Katy and I were married. It sounds so much longer than it actually feels. I can’t imagine my life without having married her. I was in love when we got married and yet I am more in love today than I ever knew I could be.
When Katy and I were married there were no video cameras, no digital cameras, and no personal computers. There were film pictures and we have an album with them in it. I put a portable cassette tape recorder on the floor while we said our vows so we have a somewhat audible recording of the ceremony.
Where has the time gone? There have been so many changes in our lives and those changes aren’t just the result of changes in the world. We have experienced a myriad of personal change on our own and together. We have grown individually and together. We are still the people we were when we were married. Well, sort of. We are each someone else too. In the midst of that change we have encouraged and supported each other.
We have faced challenges together. A couple of those challenges have been very difficult. We still laugh together and so much enjoy each other’s company. I truly rejoice being in her presence. I still love the sound of her voice. We are still friends and we are still lovers. We each support the other in our individual endeavors and we enjoy doing things together. I still tell her I love her every day and work to show it.
During 2011 there has been marked health problems with two of our extended family members. It has been difficult and it is going to get a lot more difficult in the months to come. It has given us both pause to look at our own mortality, feel our blessings, and to celebrate what is good in our lives.
Thirty-four years ago today we stood in front of our God, our families, and our friends, and made our wedding vows. We both said “I do.” Today, December 23, 2011, I "still do".
It is the weekend and it is a holiday weekend. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally.
PS I still think Katy is pretty darn hot too.
P
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Feeling My Blessings--80 Things I'm Thankful For
I wrote this two years ago. I still feel the same way.
Today is Thanksgiving. This is a list of things for which I am thankful. I believe it is important to "count my blessings" but it is more important to "feel my blessings". These items are intentionally not prioritized. They are in random order and range from simple to serious. Some of these items are at the core of me. Some of them are things I am regularly aware of but are still relatively simple. A couple may make you chuckle. Some are things I just thought of while writing. There are some pictures included also. I didn't have a particular number in mind when I started out. I decided to write until I was ready to be finished.
I have posted some pictures but need to get ready to leave for Thanksgiving dinner. I will post more pictures in the next few days. (I did it a couple days later.)
I am extremely grateful for all the many blessings in my life. Here are just a few of the many things for which I am very, very, thankful.
1. Clean drinking water--I just turn on the tap and there it is. Its safe and plentiful.
2. The rule of law--We are all protected by laws, a system of law enforcement, and a judicial system that is amazing.
3. Central heating--I program the thermostat and the heat comes on. In 1970 my girlfriend, Candy, and I spent a night on the ground lost in the woods. Had it rained we likely would have died of hypothermia. I sure appreciate that the heat works in our home. I would add that I am also thankful for Candy.
4. A comfortable bed--Its warm, safe, and suitalby firm for our middle age backs.
5. The sound of rain--I like hearing this when I'm falling asleep in my comfortable bed.
6. The World’s Greatest Wife--Katy is the best. Simply the best. Next month we will have been married 32 years. We are friends, lovers, and soulmates. Marrying her was the smartest thing I ever did.
7. Inspiring people and their stories--I enjoy reading and hearing about what other people have done to overcome adversity. I like the stories of famous people and even more so I like the stories of "not so famous" people.
8. Parents who loved me--Frank and Teresa Pankiewicz loved all five of their kids. It is such a gift too easily taken for granted.
9. My Mom who persevered when my Dad died when we were all young--My parents were married in the 40's. They were happily married; they loved and respected each other. They communicated well and problem solved well. My Dad died very suddenly on February 22, 1967. My mother was devastated. She went back to school, got a job and kept the family together. She is my Hero. She will always be my Hero.
10. Our servicemen and women--Are we as a country always right? We're not. Do we use our force and our might correctly all the time? Probably not. And yet, in so many ways we are the protectors of freedom in the world. Regardless of whether I, or anyone for that matter, agrees with where or when our servicemen and women are fighting at any point in time or history, they are nevertheless risking life and limb. I appreciate that. These are some pictures of the Veteran's Memorial we built on the campus in cooperation with Marysville Rotary. The picture in the snow storm is still my favorite.
11. Being an American--Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government there is. Except for all the others that have been tried." We have our problems here but we are still incredible in so many ways. I'm grateful and proud to be an American.
12. That I enjoy writing and even have some of my articles published--I am the Fly Fishing Editor for North American Carp Angler magazine and have a column each issue. It pleases me to write the column and it pleases me that people enjoy reading it.
13. Fishing--Fishing is in my blood. My earliest memory that I can place in time is of myself fishing with my Dad. It still gives me great enjoyment. I enjoy planning, preparing, traveling, stalking, casting, catching, photograhing and releasing. I still love to fish.
14. Fishing gear--I dig the gear. Its like a bunch of toys for a middle age kid.
15. My Alumni--I had the privilege of being a teacher for 36 years. I loved thousands of kids.
16. And them keeping in touch--Over and over it puts a smile on my face to continue to hear from my Alumni. Email, Facebook messages, letters, phone calls, text messages, meals together, its all such a source of joy to me.
17. Good teachers I had as a student--I am thankful for the good teachers I had through the years. In particular I appreciate the ones who cared and went the extra mile.
18. Good teachers I worked with at the high school--I knew and worked with many high quality, caring teachers and I hold them in very high regard.
19. Good administrators I knew--I appreciated the leadership of most of the principals at the high school.
20. Facebook--What a pleasant surprise this has been. I have connected with Alumni who live literally all over the earth as well as people from other parts of my past.
21. My new career--I have been a real estate agent since 1971. Now that I have left the classroom I am working real estate full time and I have embraced my new life. I have really enjoyed helping people get their homes sold and helping them find new homes. I like the many new aspects of the work and the schedule. I also like the new challenges. Building my webpage, HomeProResults.com, and starting a real estate blog has also been enjoyable. Call me when you are ready to buy or sell a home; I'll take care of you.
22. My hopes and dreams--I am thankful that I have have lots of hopes and dreams. I'm thankful that a lot of my dreams have come true and I believe that I will continue to be thankful as more come true.
23. My creative energy--I am thankful that I still have lots of energy to risk, to try new things, and to look at things differently.
24. Good health--Someone said, "Your health is your wealth." I don't know who said it but I am so thankful for my own good health, Katy's good health, and the good health of my kids.
25. Modern medicine--In part we all have that good health because of some aspect of modern medicine. My father--in--law was a family practice doctor for 42 years. He had been a doctor in the Army in World War II treating burn victims. He died in 1988. I remember him telling me, and getting choked up when he did, what it was like to be able to perscribe Penicillin for the first time. He talked about how mothers would bring their kids in with ear aches. He said that it was something they could die from. Perscribing Penicillin would beat the infection and the kids would live. He said very emotionally, "You can't imagine what a miracle that was."
26. Good books--I just finished "Outliers" and am currently reading a murder mystery set in the times of the Roman Empire. Before that I finished the lengthy, expansive, epic novels "Winds of War" and "War and Rememberance". I am thankful that I can read and that books are easily accessible.
27. Friends--I have been incredibly blessed through the years with many good friends. All of us experience through the years people coming in and out of our lives. I am thankful for those friends as well as the ones who have been friends for decades.
28. Warm sunny days--I am thankful for this simple pleasure. Shorts, t-shirts, Tevas--ahhhhh...
29. Barbecued dinners--I don't want to eat barbecued food every night but when the weather is nice I sure enjoy it.
30. My memory--Well, its good, and I am thankful for that. Partly its the way I was built and partly its something I work at.
31. Recorded music--I would much rather listen to music than have the TV on. I enjoy so many different kinds of music.
32. “Unbiased News” media--Okay, I won't go so far as to say that the news media in our country is all unibased. It just isn't. What we do have is the opportunity to see and hear "opposingly biased" news media and I am thankful for that.
33. My memories--I remember that I wrote "my memory" just a bit ago but this isn't the same thing. My good memory remembers the good and the bad. I am grateful for all of it.
34. Cell phones--I am thankful for this modern convenience.
35. Our kids--I can't imagine my life without our kids, Joe, Mike, and Annie. Through it all I love each of you more than life itself.
36. Do I count my new daughter-in-law as one of my kids? Yup, I do. I love you too Kelly.
37. Being persistent--I am persistent about things and I'm thankful for that.
38. Being persistent--I am persistent about things and I'm thankful for that.
39. Being persistent--Well, maybe I'm stubborn, I don't know, but I'm thankful that I'm persistent even though sometimes I maybe should have just let something go.
40. Oh, and a good sense of humor too--I am thankful that I can laugh at myself, my foibles and mistakes, and at the world. It helps me to get through things, enjoy the day, and find the positive in situations.
41. Sex--with my wife of course.
42. Goretex raingear--Modern gear is so dang nice. Goretex jackets and waders, fleece, and frameless packs to name a few are a pleasure to use.
43. The “Y”--I like working out at the "Y" and I am thankful there is one just ten minutes from our home. I also like that there are people there of so many different ages who have different body sizes and fitness levels all doing something to work towards being healthy.
44. Roses--I babied my rose gardens for 20+ years. They are a lot of work but when a bud was blooming it was like listening to music.
45. My extended family on my Mom’s side--My grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my cousins have shared something quite unusual. We have remained close for the 65 years that the first cousin was born. I am immensely thankful for this.
46. That I am usually able to fall asleep quickly--I don't always sleep all the way through the night but I almost always fall asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow. I am thankful.
47. Naps--I can take a twenty minute nap almost anywhere. Its an art I guess but a good nap sure feels good.
48. That I woke up this morning and everything works and nothing hurts--I try to be thankful for that every day.
49. Email--It sure makes communicating easy.
50. That I enjoy the little things--I am thankful that I can take genuine pleasure in small things.
51. Fall colors--This year was particularly striking.
52. Christmas music--Yes! I like all kinds of music but sure enjoy my Christmas music for the next month. I tried listening to Christmas music in July one year but it sounded completely out of place.
53. The challenges in my life--I am grateful for the good times and the bad. Its much easier to say that when I'm not immersed in a period of dark days or just plain lost, but I still am grateful for all the challenges.
54. That I don’t just adapt to change sometimes I make it happen--I am grateful for the changes I have experienced and I thankful that I have actively worked to make change in my life and in the world around me.
55. My fat cat--His name is Rudy. He spends a fair amount of his day sleeping. I appreciate the art of napping but he sleeps more than he is awake. He does a few other things besides sleep. I guess he's doing what cats are supposed to do.
56. My new neighbors--Katy and I moved in August 2008. We sold the home we raised our kids in where we had lived for 25 years. We had a new home built and we love it. We are both thankful that we have good neighbors.
57. Bread--Through the years I made a lot of noise about liking chocolate. I do of course but would never consider chocolate comfort food. Bread is comfort food. Even with a diminished appetite of a middle age guy, I can still eat a lot of bread. I especially like all the artisan breads they have today.
58. Italian Food--Pasta, Ravioli, plus lots of other specialty dishes sure are good.
59. That I am willing to try things that don't look easy or haven't been done before--I like like this about myself and I don't like this about myself. When I'm planning or getting ready to try something challenging, I like it. When things come together and work well I really like this about myself. When something doesn't work the way I want it to or hoped it would, I DO NOT like this about myself! Still, I am thankful I am willing to risk and I'm thankful to all the people who have helped me with so many different kinds of risks through the decades.
60. My faith in God--Its strong. It centers me. It grounds me. Its important.
61. The Internet--How on earth did we find things out before the Internet?! How did we communicate? What an amazing invention.
62. The places that I have hiked and fished. Rivers, lakes, saltwater, the mountains, so many beautiful places--I love to fish and am thankful for all the times I have been able to go. In the pursuit of fish I have seen some beautiful places. Being in, on, and around water, always pleases me.
63. My truck and all the highways and roads that let me travel all over chasing fish--I am thankful that my truck and our country's extensive system of roads makes travel easy.
64. Perscription glasses--I would be unable to drive or do a heck of a lot of other things without perscription glasses. Man am I thankful for my glasses.
65. Perscription sunglasses--These are especially nice when I am fishing on a bright, hot, July day in eastern Washington.
66. The bamboo plant and the shamrock on my office desk--They help keep my attitude right.
67. Caller ID--Its nice.
68. Caller Block--We couldn't transport our old landline with us from Mukilteo to Bothell without paying an additional charge. We chose to get a new number instead. The people who had the number before us apparently owe somebody some money. We were getting three or four calls a week from varous collection agencies looking for these people. Even when I would call them back and suggest that they look at their caller ID or look up our name and number online to see that we were new people, they would continue to call and ask for Melissa. Finally we got a phone that blocks their numbers selectively. Its a simple thing but we like it.
69. Computers--Just like the Internet, how on earth did we function without them. I am thankful for computers and all that can do.
70. That I'm a pretty dang fast typist--My back and my rear end get sore sitting at the computer so I'm thankful that I can type quickly.
71. Wildflowers--Someone said, "When the earth smiles, it smiles in flowers". I love it when the earth smiles.
72. Referrals--I have so much appreciated the people who have referred new real estate customers and clients to me. Thank you.
73. Extension cords and surge protectors--They help make our Christmas village light up and they protect various electronic devices in our home.
74. Soft toilet paper--The older I get the more I appreciate it.
75. Prayer--I pray every day. Several times a day actually. I do it formally and informally. At least once a day, we pray outloud together. I believe strongly in the value and importance of prayer. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to pray.
76. Scenery--Fishing has brought me to some beautiful places and so has hiking. I am thankful for the vastly different places just here in Washington. We have the ocean, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and desert. I am very thankful to have grown up in Washington and to have lived here all my life.
77. Blogging--I am thankful for the opportunity to write and for the people who read what I write. My fishing blog is Mr. P.'s Blog.
78. Chocolate--Yum, yum, yum. What else is there to say?...
79. Forgiveness--I am thankful for the times I have offered forgiveness and for the times I have been forgiven.
80. Diversity--There is so much diversity in my neighborhood and in our country. We have our problems in this country and I don't want us to ignore them. We are still truly the beacon of hope on this planet. I appreciate the diversity and again, am awful darn thankful to live here.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourselves whole physically and emotionally.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Feel your blessings.
Today is Thanksgiving. This is a list of things for which I am thankful. I believe it is important to "count my blessings" but it is more important to "feel my blessings". These items are intentionally not prioritized. They are in random order and range from simple to serious. Some of these items are at the core of me. Some of them are things I am regularly aware of but are still relatively simple. A couple may make you chuckle. Some are things I just thought of while writing. There are some pictures included also. I didn't have a particular number in mind when I started out. I decided to write until I was ready to be finished.
I have posted some pictures but need to get ready to leave for Thanksgiving dinner. I will post more pictures in the next few days. (I did it a couple days later.)
I am extremely grateful for all the many blessings in my life. Here are just a few of the many things for which I am very, very, thankful.
1. Clean drinking water--I just turn on the tap and there it is. Its safe and plentiful.
2. The rule of law--We are all protected by laws, a system of law enforcement, and a judicial system that is amazing.
3. Central heating--I program the thermostat and the heat comes on. In 1970 my girlfriend, Candy, and I spent a night on the ground lost in the woods. Had it rained we likely would have died of hypothermia. I sure appreciate that the heat works in our home. I would add that I am also thankful for Candy.
4. A comfortable bed--Its warm, safe, and suitalby firm for our middle age backs.
5. The sound of rain--I like hearing this when I'm falling asleep in my comfortable bed.
6. The World’s Greatest Wife--Katy is the best. Simply the best. Next month we will have been married 32 years. We are friends, lovers, and soulmates. Marrying her was the smartest thing I ever did.
7. Inspiring people and their stories--I enjoy reading and hearing about what other people have done to overcome adversity. I like the stories of famous people and even more so I like the stories of "not so famous" people.
8. Parents who loved me--Frank and Teresa Pankiewicz loved all five of their kids. It is such a gift too easily taken for granted.
9. My Mom who persevered when my Dad died when we were all young--My parents were married in the 40's. They were happily married; they loved and respected each other. They communicated well and problem solved well. My Dad died very suddenly on February 22, 1967. My mother was devastated. She went back to school, got a job and kept the family together. She is my Hero. She will always be my Hero.
10. Our servicemen and women--Are we as a country always right? We're not. Do we use our force and our might correctly all the time? Probably not. And yet, in so many ways we are the protectors of freedom in the world. Regardless of whether I, or anyone for that matter, agrees with where or when our servicemen and women are fighting at any point in time or history, they are nevertheless risking life and limb. I appreciate that. These are some pictures of the Veteran's Memorial we built on the campus in cooperation with Marysville Rotary. The picture in the snow storm is still my favorite.
11. Being an American--Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government there is. Except for all the others that have been tried." We have our problems here but we are still incredible in so many ways. I'm grateful and proud to be an American.
12. That I enjoy writing and even have some of my articles published--I am the Fly Fishing Editor for North American Carp Angler magazine and have a column each issue. It pleases me to write the column and it pleases me that people enjoy reading it.
13. Fishing--Fishing is in my blood. My earliest memory that I can place in time is of myself fishing with my Dad. It still gives me great enjoyment. I enjoy planning, preparing, traveling, stalking, casting, catching, photograhing and releasing. I still love to fish.
14. Fishing gear--I dig the gear. Its like a bunch of toys for a middle age kid.
15. My Alumni--I had the privilege of being a teacher for 36 years. I loved thousands of kids.
16. And them keeping in touch--Over and over it puts a smile on my face to continue to hear from my Alumni. Email, Facebook messages, letters, phone calls, text messages, meals together, its all such a source of joy to me.
17. Good teachers I had as a student--I am thankful for the good teachers I had through the years. In particular I appreciate the ones who cared and went the extra mile.
18. Good teachers I worked with at the high school--I knew and worked with many high quality, caring teachers and I hold them in very high regard.
19. Good administrators I knew--I appreciated the leadership of most of the principals at the high school.
20. Facebook--What a pleasant surprise this has been. I have connected with Alumni who live literally all over the earth as well as people from other parts of my past.
21. My new career--I have been a real estate agent since 1971. Now that I have left the classroom I am working real estate full time and I have embraced my new life. I have really enjoyed helping people get their homes sold and helping them find new homes. I like the many new aspects of the work and the schedule. I also like the new challenges. Building my webpage, HomeProResults.com, and starting a real estate blog has also been enjoyable. Call me when you are ready to buy or sell a home; I'll take care of you.
22. My hopes and dreams--I am thankful that I have have lots of hopes and dreams. I'm thankful that a lot of my dreams have come true and I believe that I will continue to be thankful as more come true.
23. My creative energy--I am thankful that I still have lots of energy to risk, to try new things, and to look at things differently.
24. Good health--Someone said, "Your health is your wealth." I don't know who said it but I am so thankful for my own good health, Katy's good health, and the good health of my kids.
25. Modern medicine--In part we all have that good health because of some aspect of modern medicine. My father--in--law was a family practice doctor for 42 years. He had been a doctor in the Army in World War II treating burn victims. He died in 1988. I remember him telling me, and getting choked up when he did, what it was like to be able to perscribe Penicillin for the first time. He talked about how mothers would bring their kids in with ear aches. He said that it was something they could die from. Perscribing Penicillin would beat the infection and the kids would live. He said very emotionally, "You can't imagine what a miracle that was."
26. Good books--I just finished "Outliers" and am currently reading a murder mystery set in the times of the Roman Empire. Before that I finished the lengthy, expansive, epic novels "Winds of War" and "War and Rememberance". I am thankful that I can read and that books are easily accessible.
27. Friends--I have been incredibly blessed through the years with many good friends. All of us experience through the years people coming in and out of our lives. I am thankful for those friends as well as the ones who have been friends for decades.
28. Warm sunny days--I am thankful for this simple pleasure. Shorts, t-shirts, Tevas--ahhhhh...
29. Barbecued dinners--I don't want to eat barbecued food every night but when the weather is nice I sure enjoy it.
30. My memory--Well, its good, and I am thankful for that. Partly its the way I was built and partly its something I work at.
31. Recorded music--I would much rather listen to music than have the TV on. I enjoy so many different kinds of music.
32. “Unbiased News” media--Okay, I won't go so far as to say that the news media in our country is all unibased. It just isn't. What we do have is the opportunity to see and hear "opposingly biased" news media and I am thankful for that.
33. My memories--I remember that I wrote "my memory" just a bit ago but this isn't the same thing. My good memory remembers the good and the bad. I am grateful for all of it.
34. Cell phones--I am thankful for this modern convenience.
35. Our kids--I can't imagine my life without our kids, Joe, Mike, and Annie. Through it all I love each of you more than life itself.
36. Do I count my new daughter-in-law as one of my kids? Yup, I do. I love you too Kelly.
37. Being persistent--I am persistent about things and I'm thankful for that.
38. Being persistent--I am persistent about things and I'm thankful for that.
39. Being persistent--Well, maybe I'm stubborn, I don't know, but I'm thankful that I'm persistent even though sometimes I maybe should have just let something go.
40. Oh, and a good sense of humor too--I am thankful that I can laugh at myself, my foibles and mistakes, and at the world. It helps me to get through things, enjoy the day, and find the positive in situations.
41. Sex--with my wife of course.
42. Goretex raingear--Modern gear is so dang nice. Goretex jackets and waders, fleece, and frameless packs to name a few are a pleasure to use.
43. The “Y”--I like working out at the "Y" and I am thankful there is one just ten minutes from our home. I also like that there are people there of so many different ages who have different body sizes and fitness levels all doing something to work towards being healthy.
44. Roses--I babied my rose gardens for 20+ years. They are a lot of work but when a bud was blooming it was like listening to music.
45. My extended family on my Mom’s side--My grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my cousins have shared something quite unusual. We have remained close for the 65 years that the first cousin was born. I am immensely thankful for this.
46. That I am usually able to fall asleep quickly--I don't always sleep all the way through the night but I almost always fall asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow. I am thankful.
47. Naps--I can take a twenty minute nap almost anywhere. Its an art I guess but a good nap sure feels good.
48. That I woke up this morning and everything works and nothing hurts--I try to be thankful for that every day.
49. Email--It sure makes communicating easy.
50. That I enjoy the little things--I am thankful that I can take genuine pleasure in small things.
51. Fall colors--This year was particularly striking.
52. Christmas music--Yes! I like all kinds of music but sure enjoy my Christmas music for the next month. I tried listening to Christmas music in July one year but it sounded completely out of place.
53. The challenges in my life--I am grateful for the good times and the bad. Its much easier to say that when I'm not immersed in a period of dark days or just plain lost, but I still am grateful for all the challenges.
54. That I don’t just adapt to change sometimes I make it happen--I am grateful for the changes I have experienced and I thankful that I have actively worked to make change in my life and in the world around me.
55. My fat cat--His name is Rudy. He spends a fair amount of his day sleeping. I appreciate the art of napping but he sleeps more than he is awake. He does a few other things besides sleep. I guess he's doing what cats are supposed to do.
56. My new neighbors--Katy and I moved in August 2008. We sold the home we raised our kids in where we had lived for 25 years. We had a new home built and we love it. We are both thankful that we have good neighbors.
57. Bread--Through the years I made a lot of noise about liking chocolate. I do of course but would never consider chocolate comfort food. Bread is comfort food. Even with a diminished appetite of a middle age guy, I can still eat a lot of bread. I especially like all the artisan breads they have today.
58. Italian Food--Pasta, Ravioli, plus lots of other specialty dishes sure are good.
59. That I am willing to try things that don't look easy or haven't been done before--I like like this about myself and I don't like this about myself. When I'm planning or getting ready to try something challenging, I like it. When things come together and work well I really like this about myself. When something doesn't work the way I want it to or hoped it would, I DO NOT like this about myself! Still, I am thankful I am willing to risk and I'm thankful to all the people who have helped me with so many different kinds of risks through the decades.
60. My faith in God--Its strong. It centers me. It grounds me. Its important.
61. The Internet--How on earth did we find things out before the Internet?! How did we communicate? What an amazing invention.
62. The places that I have hiked and fished. Rivers, lakes, saltwater, the mountains, so many beautiful places--I love to fish and am thankful for all the times I have been able to go. In the pursuit of fish I have seen some beautiful places. Being in, on, and around water, always pleases me.
63. My truck and all the highways and roads that let me travel all over chasing fish--I am thankful that my truck and our country's extensive system of roads makes travel easy.
64. Perscription glasses--I would be unable to drive or do a heck of a lot of other things without perscription glasses. Man am I thankful for my glasses.
65. Perscription sunglasses--These are especially nice when I am fishing on a bright, hot, July day in eastern Washington.
66. The bamboo plant and the shamrock on my office desk--They help keep my attitude right.
67. Caller ID--Its nice.
68. Caller Block--We couldn't transport our old landline with us from Mukilteo to Bothell without paying an additional charge. We chose to get a new number instead. The people who had the number before us apparently owe somebody some money. We were getting three or four calls a week from varous collection agencies looking for these people. Even when I would call them back and suggest that they look at their caller ID or look up our name and number online to see that we were new people, they would continue to call and ask for Melissa. Finally we got a phone that blocks their numbers selectively. Its a simple thing but we like it.
69. Computers--Just like the Internet, how on earth did we function without them. I am thankful for computers and all that can do.
70. That I'm a pretty dang fast typist--My back and my rear end get sore sitting at the computer so I'm thankful that I can type quickly.
71. Wildflowers--Someone said, "When the earth smiles, it smiles in flowers". I love it when the earth smiles.
72. Referrals--I have so much appreciated the people who have referred new real estate customers and clients to me. Thank you.
73. Extension cords and surge protectors--They help make our Christmas village light up and they protect various electronic devices in our home.
74. Soft toilet paper--The older I get the more I appreciate it.
75. Prayer--I pray every day. Several times a day actually. I do it formally and informally. At least once a day, we pray outloud together. I believe strongly in the value and importance of prayer. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to pray.
76. Scenery--Fishing has brought me to some beautiful places and so has hiking. I am thankful for the vastly different places just here in Washington. We have the ocean, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and desert. I am very thankful to have grown up in Washington and to have lived here all my life.
77. Blogging--I am thankful for the opportunity to write and for the people who read what I write. My fishing blog is Mr. P.'s Blog.
78. Chocolate--Yum, yum, yum. What else is there to say?...
79. Forgiveness--I am thankful for the times I have offered forgiveness and for the times I have been forgiven.
80. Diversity--There is so much diversity in my neighborhood and in our country. We have our problems in this country and I don't want us to ignore them. We are still truly the beacon of hope on this planet. I appreciate the diversity and again, am awful darn thankful to live here.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourselves whole physically and emotionally.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Feel your blessings.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thanking the Alumni
Today, Friday, November 18, would have been the MPHS DECA Leadership Retreat. For last 21 years of my teaching career my students and I would have spent several weeks getting ready. Kids would have been choosing and refining the agenda, getting all the props and supplies ready for the various activities, packing the tubs for each puzzle group, creating checklists and more checklists, getting 120 carwash jars ready, fretting about what to bring for their special thing, struggling with whether or not they really wanted to go, and wondering what the heck this is all about. I would tell new students how we came to be doing this and talk about how it evolved. I would tell them simply that when we finished the first one, in answer to a query from his classmates about what we did at the Retreat, Ben James said in class the next day, “We laughed and we cried,” and then he went back to sculpting a clay hand coming out of his table. Through 21 years, in so many ways that continued to be true; we laughed and we cried.
The Retreat had both large group and small group activities. The small groups were called Puzzle Groups. Briefly, the agenda included ice breakers and team building activities, along with preparing and delivering a skit. Meals and (modest) sleeping arrangements were provided. After dinner was “A Few Words” and then after that was the Boundary Breaking. The Boundary Breaking was scheduled for 3 ½ hours. By the time we got to that point it worked; it worked remarkably well, quite remarkably actually. For one of the Saturday activities, the Car Wash, kids wrote positive notes to the people in their Puzzle Groups and put them in an envelope or a jar.
It is astounding to me how many kids told me through the years that they still had their Car Wash notes. Even parents would tell me their kids had them. I get Facebook messages from alumni who have read their Car Wash notes from years, even decades ago. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. When I left the high school I took my yearbooks, my pictures, my plaques and awards, and my Car Wash jars. I too still have all of my Car Wash jars.
For the weeks before the Retreat I would have been writing, editing, and practicing my talk for Friday evening. It would have been at least 30 minutes long, probably more likely 45 minutes; a few of them were an hour. I would have it virtually memorized. I would have been extremely nervous. Sleep would have evaded me for two or three weeks before and the week after. Hours and hours would have gone into both student preparation and my preparation.
Our first Retreat was in 1988; it evolved and grew quickly. The Retreat became in short order one of my favorite activities and experiences of the year. It was powerful. It made a difference. At times, it seemed magic. This morning, three years away from the Retreat, it is starting to sound funny to me to say that it seemed magic. How could it have been? It was. I have so many incredible memories of this “weekend in the woods.” Over time there was so much buy in. It was, in some ways, a simple activity; it was in many ways, quite complex and high risk. Even now it moves me to think about it and remember.
After 36 years in the classroom I left Marysville-Pilchuck with a deep, profound, and enduring sense of gratitude for the privilege of having been a teacher.
I like my new career as a real estate agent; I was ready for change and I have embraced that change. I like taking good care of people when they buy or sell a home. I like the new schedule and the new challenges. I like working on the weekends and fishing during the week. I like the money. I like writing my blogs.
I like my new life a lot.
I am listing a home today. I won’t be traveling to Camp Killoqua. Not today.
I don't want to live in the past. I remember the past. I live in the present. I want to be a part of building my own future. I can say I miss the Retreat because I do. I believe I will continue to miss it for some years to come. I can say I love my new life as a real estate broker because I do. I believe I will love it for some years to come.
Were I still in the classroom I would have been sleeping fitfully for the last two weeks and down right poorly last night. I would have been up by 4:30 and practiced the "few words" for tonight one last time. At this moment it is 7:35 AM; I would be leaving in minutes to meet with the Alumni.
Two and half years away from the teaching, three years away from the last Retreat, many of my feelings and perceptions are the same about my 36 years in the classroom, some have changed, and I suppose some will continue to change. That is the nature of time and memory.
This past week and particularly this morning I find myself remembering the Alumni who helped at the Retreat. Approximately 255 Alumni helped through the years. Some of those 255 were the same Alum who came more than once. When we got together for breakfast on Friday morning, we had introductions, some visiting, and then I would go over the agenda for this year. The "Frogs", experienced Alumni, would give some counsel to the "Tadpoles", new Alumni. (Terms coined by Hilari Johnson Flanigan when she was a Tadpole).
I worked hard to thank the Alumni before the Retreat, during breakfast, during the Retreat, and during debriefing.
Something that is still very clear to me three years away is how deeply I appreciated the help of the Alumni. Logistically and organizationally we couldn't have done it without the Alumni. Emotionally, I couldn't have done it without the Alumni. Period.
This morning I am smiling with gratitude remembering the Alumni who helped at the Retreat. In my heart, I can see your faces, I can hear your voices.
Somehow, I'm not sure I thanked the Alumni enough. Thank you Alumni. Thank you.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourselves whole physically and emotionally.
P
The Retreat had both large group and small group activities. The small groups were called Puzzle Groups. Briefly, the agenda included ice breakers and team building activities, along with preparing and delivering a skit. Meals and (modest) sleeping arrangements were provided. After dinner was “A Few Words” and then after that was the Boundary Breaking. The Boundary Breaking was scheduled for 3 ½ hours. By the time we got to that point it worked; it worked remarkably well, quite remarkably actually. For one of the Saturday activities, the Car Wash, kids wrote positive notes to the people in their Puzzle Groups and put them in an envelope or a jar.
It is astounding to me how many kids told me through the years that they still had their Car Wash notes. Even parents would tell me their kids had them. I get Facebook messages from alumni who have read their Car Wash notes from years, even decades ago. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. When I left the high school I took my yearbooks, my pictures, my plaques and awards, and my Car Wash jars. I too still have all of my Car Wash jars.
For the weeks before the Retreat I would have been writing, editing, and practicing my talk for Friday evening. It would have been at least 30 minutes long, probably more likely 45 minutes; a few of them were an hour. I would have it virtually memorized. I would have been extremely nervous. Sleep would have evaded me for two or three weeks before and the week after. Hours and hours would have gone into both student preparation and my preparation.
Our first Retreat was in 1988; it evolved and grew quickly. The Retreat became in short order one of my favorite activities and experiences of the year. It was powerful. It made a difference. At times, it seemed magic. This morning, three years away from the Retreat, it is starting to sound funny to me to say that it seemed magic. How could it have been? It was. I have so many incredible memories of this “weekend in the woods.” Over time there was so much buy in. It was, in some ways, a simple activity; it was in many ways, quite complex and high risk. Even now it moves me to think about it and remember.
After 36 years in the classroom I left Marysville-Pilchuck with a deep, profound, and enduring sense of gratitude for the privilege of having been a teacher.
I like my new career as a real estate agent; I was ready for change and I have embraced that change. I like taking good care of people when they buy or sell a home. I like the new schedule and the new challenges. I like working on the weekends and fishing during the week. I like the money. I like writing my blogs.
I like my new life a lot.
I am listing a home today. I won’t be traveling to Camp Killoqua. Not today.
I don't want to live in the past. I remember the past. I live in the present. I want to be a part of building my own future. I can say I miss the Retreat because I do. I believe I will continue to miss it for some years to come. I can say I love my new life as a real estate broker because I do. I believe I will love it for some years to come.
Were I still in the classroom I would have been sleeping fitfully for the last two weeks and down right poorly last night. I would have been up by 4:30 and practiced the "few words" for tonight one last time. At this moment it is 7:35 AM; I would be leaving in minutes to meet with the Alumni.
Two and half years away from the teaching, three years away from the last Retreat, many of my feelings and perceptions are the same about my 36 years in the classroom, some have changed, and I suppose some will continue to change. That is the nature of time and memory.
This past week and particularly this morning I find myself remembering the Alumni who helped at the Retreat. Approximately 255 Alumni helped through the years. Some of those 255 were the same Alum who came more than once. When we got together for breakfast on Friday morning, we had introductions, some visiting, and then I would go over the agenda for this year. The "Frogs", experienced Alumni, would give some counsel to the "Tadpoles", new Alumni. (Terms coined by Hilari Johnson Flanigan when she was a Tadpole).
I worked hard to thank the Alumni before the Retreat, during breakfast, during the Retreat, and during debriefing.
Something that is still very clear to me three years away is how deeply I appreciated the help of the Alumni. Logistically and organizationally we couldn't have done it without the Alumni. Emotionally, I couldn't have done it without the Alumni. Period.
This morning I am smiling with gratitude remembering the Alumni who helped at the Retreat. In my heart, I can see your faces, I can hear your voices.
Somehow, I'm not sure I thanked the Alumni enough. Thank you Alumni. Thank you.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourselves whole physically and emotionally.
P
Friday, October 21, 2011
Questions of Control: Part III--Sorting
I would like to think that if I clean my crap filter I should be able to pretty well manage my thinking and thereby have pretty good control in my life. Nice. I know it's true. I still get pretty darn confused sometimes.
Life reminds me over and over that even with a good attitude I have to work very hard at sorting out what I can control and what I cannot control.
My hip hurts. I can't control that. I'm 61. I can't control that. If I live to be 75 or 80, I'm most of the way there. I can't control that. Other people don't always do what I want them to do. I can't control that. My hearing isn't what it once was. I can't control that. Some nights I don't sleep well. I can't control that. The world is crazy. I can't control that. I mean really crazy. I really can't control that. Fish don't always take my fly. I can't control that. I don't always get my way. I can't control that. People drive carelessly. I can't control that.
Oh swell... I keep my crap filter clean and I still have to work at sorting what I can control from what I can't. Dang it; that's just not easy sometimes.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Life reminds me over and over that even with a good attitude I have to work very hard at sorting out what I can control and what I cannot control.
My hip hurts. I can't control that. I'm 61. I can't control that. If I live to be 75 or 80, I'm most of the way there. I can't control that. Other people don't always do what I want them to do. I can't control that. My hearing isn't what it once was. I can't control that. Some nights I don't sleep well. I can't control that. The world is crazy. I can't control that. I mean really crazy. I really can't control that. Fish don't always take my fly. I can't control that. I don't always get my way. I can't control that. People drive carelessly. I can't control that.
Oh swell... I keep my crap filter clean and I still have to work at sorting what I can control from what I can't. Dang it; that's just not easy sometimes.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, October 7, 2011
Questions of Control--Part II The Crap Filter
There is a saying, “Don’t believe everything you think.” Here is the thing though; we all believe everything we think. If we think something long enough and frequently enough then we believe it. It works the same for all of us. Is that really so bad? I guess not as long as what we think isn’t a bunch of crap. I personally need a crap filter fairly often, most days in fact.
With persistence what we think becomes our reality. We not only act on that reality we make it happen; we create it.
Maybe the saying should be, “Believe everything you think; you already do anyway. Just clean your crap filter regularly.” Since we already believe everything we think anyway the challenge isn’t to stop believing what we think the challenge is to take control of the crap filter. The challenge for control in my life isn’t about controlling other people or controlling what happens to me, the challenge is to manage what I think.
It is the weekend. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
With persistence what we think becomes our reality. We not only act on that reality we make it happen; we create it.
Maybe the saying should be, “Believe everything you think; you already do anyway. Just clean your crap filter regularly.” Since we already believe everything we think anyway the challenge isn’t to stop believing what we think the challenge is to take control of the crap filter. The challenge for control in my life isn’t about controlling other people or controlling what happens to me, the challenge is to manage what I think.
It is the weekend. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, September 30, 2011
Hair, Trout, and Love
Gary and I arrived in the Methow Valley Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of fishing Moccasin Lake. (A private lake) We had reservations at the Mt. Gardner Inn. Alison, one of the proprietors checked us in. Right away were pleased with setting and the room. Our initial impressions turned out to be true. It was excellent.
After dropping off some gear at our room we fished a local, public lake the first evening. We both caught a few fish in the 12-14 inch range. It was pleasant. The highlight of the evening was two other anglers who showed up shortly after we did. They took an aluminum boat off the top of a pickup truck. George had clearly done this before. His wife, Nancy, mostly watched. George mentioned that she just had knee surgery. After some doing, George got Nancy situated on a swivel seat in the stern of the boat. George sat in the middle and rowed. They laughed and kidded each other like good natured 20 year olds. They had gray hair. The hair that wasn't gray was white. The banter between them made both Gary and I smile and chuckle several times. At one point Nancy fell off of the seat onto the bottom of the boat. George was very solicitous. Not hurt, Nancy just laughed and laughed. Clearly they were old and had been married a long time but they still acted like 20 year olds.
After about 30 minutes Nancy got a fish on; she was not able to bring it to the net and voiced her disappointment. In another hour she really started whooping. I was a ways down the lake now so I thought she fell out of her seat again but as it turned out she had a 16 inch fish on and she got it to the net. She didn't sound 20 years old any longer; she sounded 12. So did George. They were like a couple of kids thrilled with catching a trout and thrilled with being alive. Nancy would catch another 16 inch fish a short time later.
Back at shore I visited with George. I said how much I appreciated that they were both having such a good time. George said that these were the first fish Nancy had ever caught. I asked if she had just started fishing with him and he said yes. To myself I wondered why she hadn't fished with him so many years ago. I asked how old he was and he said that he was 75 and Nancy was 70. If both Katy and I are alive, when I am 75 she and I will have been married 48 years.
I was right about the gray hair and right about them being old. I wasn't exactly right about something else. I asked how long they had been married and he said that they had only known each other for a year and a half and were just recently married. Even when I catch a lot of fish, sometimes the best part of fishing isn't the fishing. The best part of that evening was seeing young love and young hearts with people that had white hair. Inspiring. Yes, it was inspiring. "The heart that loves is always young."
It is the weekend. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
After dropping off some gear at our room we fished a local, public lake the first evening. We both caught a few fish in the 12-14 inch range. It was pleasant. The highlight of the evening was two other anglers who showed up shortly after we did. They took an aluminum boat off the top of a pickup truck. George had clearly done this before. His wife, Nancy, mostly watched. George mentioned that she just had knee surgery. After some doing, George got Nancy situated on a swivel seat in the stern of the boat. George sat in the middle and rowed. They laughed and kidded each other like good natured 20 year olds. They had gray hair. The hair that wasn't gray was white. The banter between them made both Gary and I smile and chuckle several times. At one point Nancy fell off of the seat onto the bottom of the boat. George was very solicitous. Not hurt, Nancy just laughed and laughed. Clearly they were old and had been married a long time but they still acted like 20 year olds.
After about 30 minutes Nancy got a fish on; she was not able to bring it to the net and voiced her disappointment. In another hour she really started whooping. I was a ways down the lake now so I thought she fell out of her seat again but as it turned out she had a 16 inch fish on and she got it to the net. She didn't sound 20 years old any longer; she sounded 12. So did George. They were like a couple of kids thrilled with catching a trout and thrilled with being alive. Nancy would catch another 16 inch fish a short time later.
Back at shore I visited with George. I said how much I appreciated that they were both having such a good time. George said that these were the first fish Nancy had ever caught. I asked if she had just started fishing with him and he said yes. To myself I wondered why she hadn't fished with him so many years ago. I asked how old he was and he said that he was 75 and Nancy was 70. If both Katy and I are alive, when I am 75 she and I will have been married 48 years.
I was right about the gray hair and right about them being old. I wasn't exactly right about something else. I asked how long they had been married and he said that they had only known each other for a year and a half and were just recently married. Even when I catch a lot of fish, sometimes the best part of fishing isn't the fishing. The best part of that evening was seeing young love and young hearts with people that had white hair. Inspiring. Yes, it was inspiring. "The heart that loves is always young."
It is the weekend. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, September 23, 2011
Questions of Control
Don't you wonder sometimes, "how you got to be the way you are"? I sure do. I think I know "how I got to be the way I am" and then I seem to lose track in various degrees. Then I think I know again. Do you wonder sometimes how much control you had over how you got to be the way you are? Do you wonder sometimes if you have any control over the way you are today? Regardless of how you got to be the way you are it seems like a fundamental question common to all people, "How do I get to be the way I want to be?"
There are so many random things in life over which we all have no control. Added to that is that each of us takes our turn making some mistakes and poor choices. Put those things together and it might seem we all have very little control in our lives.
Control of what would be a good question. Control of how things turn out? Control of what happens to me? Control of how other people act? Control of how other people feel? Control of how I am treated? Control of how I treat others? Control of my emotions? Control of my health? Control of my environment? Control of my happiness? That's a lot to try and control; I can't do it all and really shouldn't try to.
Is "control" the right word? Maybe "manage" is a better word. Or possibly "effect" is a better word.
How did you get to be the way you are? How do you get to be the way you want to be? Those are good questions.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
There are so many random things in life over which we all have no control. Added to that is that each of us takes our turn making some mistakes and poor choices. Put those things together and it might seem we all have very little control in our lives.
Control of what would be a good question. Control of how things turn out? Control of what happens to me? Control of how other people act? Control of how other people feel? Control of how I am treated? Control of how I treat others? Control of my emotions? Control of my health? Control of my environment? Control of my happiness? That's a lot to try and control; I can't do it all and really shouldn't try to.
Is "control" the right word? Maybe "manage" is a better word. Or possibly "effect" is a better word.
How did you get to be the way you are? How do you get to be the way you want to be? Those are good questions.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, September 16, 2011
Cowboy Church and Indian Church
The fly and a small amount of line are visible in the water near the boat. The line comes up off the water, it straightens out behind me. The first haul helps load the rod for the forward cast, the second haul awakens the road. Aroused by the third haul the rod calls for more line; coils disappear from the floor of the boat. The line shoots forward to the full limit of my ability and settles on the still surface. The weighted fly and clear line begin to sink in search of willing Salmon.
A count of ten is followed by a long series of quick strips until the fly is near the boat again; the process is repeated. I love the smooth rhythm of casting. The sound of the line blends with the warnings of the gulls to not get much closer. Moving around the circle my next cast is made 45 degrees to the right.
On the way to this saltwater beach I pass the Indian Shaker Church; I have driven by many times. What time does Indian Shaker Church start? Do they take up a collection? What kind of prayers do they say? Do they have a choir? Is it an active, rousing service? Possibly quiet and contemplative? Would I be welcome there? What do they call their God? Do they love Jesus? Does Jesus love them?
During the summers sometimes I pass the Cowboy Church on my way to other fishing destinations.
Who goes to Cowboy Church? What do they do there? Is it impolite to take off your hat at Cowboy Church? Could I go to Cowboy Church? Would they welcome me? Do they sing country songs at Cowboy Church? What do they believe? Who started Cowboy Church? Does it start at 8:00 or does it cost $8.00 to get in? Or both? Do they love Jesus? Does Jesus love them?
Does Jesus love one church better than another? Does your Jesus or the God love only you and people like you? Would your Jesus love me? I would like your Jesus or your God a lot if I knew he or she loves people who aren't like you and who aren't like me.
The sun is warm, the wind is down; it is a beautiful, satisfying day. Undistracted by having to net fish, or play fish, my mind wanders.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
A count of ten is followed by a long series of quick strips until the fly is near the boat again; the process is repeated. I love the smooth rhythm of casting. The sound of the line blends with the warnings of the gulls to not get much closer. Moving around the circle my next cast is made 45 degrees to the right.
On the way to this saltwater beach I pass the Indian Shaker Church; I have driven by many times. What time does Indian Shaker Church start? Do they take up a collection? What kind of prayers do they say? Do they have a choir? Is it an active, rousing service? Possibly quiet and contemplative? Would I be welcome there? What do they call their God? Do they love Jesus? Does Jesus love them?
During the summers sometimes I pass the Cowboy Church on my way to other fishing destinations.
Who goes to Cowboy Church? What do they do there? Is it impolite to take off your hat at Cowboy Church? Could I go to Cowboy Church? Would they welcome me? Do they sing country songs at Cowboy Church? What do they believe? Who started Cowboy Church? Does it start at 8:00 or does it cost $8.00 to get in? Or both? Do they love Jesus? Does Jesus love them?
Does Jesus love one church better than another? Does your Jesus or the God love only you and people like you? Would your Jesus love me? I would like your Jesus or your God a lot if I knew he or she loves people who aren't like you and who aren't like me.
The sun is warm, the wind is down; it is a beautiful, satisfying day. Undistracted by having to net fish, or play fish, my mind wanders.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, September 9, 2011
Proud to be an American: Part V
Three blogs just ended up being more than I could keep up with. Spring and summer saw me putting a good deal of time into my fishing blog; ergo "A Few Words" took a rest. I am going to try and write A Few Words each Friday again now.
I am remembering. Yes, I am remembering, as I know we all are.
On September 11, 2001 I remember Mr. Dykgraaf, who was also someone who got to school early, coming over to my room about 6:20 and saying, "Turn on your television, something has happened..."
The horror of it all was more than any of us could really comprehend. I remember that. I remember thinking, and saying to my classes, how we would all remember where we were the day that the attack happened and that ALL of our lives would change forever in ways we could not anticipate.
I still can't process it all and can't begin to imagine what it is like to be a relative of a victim.
The night of the 11th I slept only a few hours; I woke up thinking I needed to go to New York to help pick up rubble. I had no place there. None at all.
From September 12, until the morning of September 21, my students and I planned a "Proud to Be An American Assembly". I know many of the staff were skeptical, very skeptical; they openly said it.
We had community members speak, we had student speakers, we had some "angels" sing a chant, and we lit candles and formed a star that filled most of the gym floor. We asked people to spread light in the face of darkness. It sounds so simple to say now and yet there were virtually no dry eyes in the gym.
We decided to form the American Flag on the football field after the assembly. Every student and staff member participated. We divided 60 yards of the field into over 300 grids. Each classroom was assigned to some grids and asked to wear red, white, or blue. We were not able to practice so we had no idea if it would work. Incredibly, so incredibly, it worked.
From September 12, through September 20, there were kids in the room working on the program from 6:30 AM until 5:30 PM every day. Sometimes earlier and sometimes later. It was such an impressive effort. So much heart. So much commitment. So much risk. So very much risk...
Our country is not perfect. I have come back to Winston Churchill's words so many times, "Democracy is the worst form of government--except for all the others that have been tried from time to time..."
I most certainly want to honor the victims of the terrorist attack and I want to honor and respect their survivors.
Ten years later I want to thank all the amazing kids who made our Proud to Be An American Assembly work on September 21, 2001. You went to every classroom in the school and sold participation. I am still in awe. I knew you could do it but in a certain way I don't know how you did it. How on earth did you do it? I am still in awe.
My most poignant memory is of Mr. Daverso coming in the classroom after the assembly. There were 63 kids in the room Major Daverso had been an Army Air Cavalry officer in Vietnam. Many people had come in to the room to say thanks during third period; Mr. Daverso was the last one. He stepped in the door and said tentatively and uncomfortably, "Mr. P., I want to thank you and your students for what you did. I was one of your biggest detractors. I said it wouldn't work and no one would take it seriously...
I did a tour of duty in Vietman. A tour or two...Yes I did. Mr. P., you know me, I am a cynical man."
I answered uncomfortably, "Yes you are."
He fidgeted and stepped back and forth from foot to foot and said, "If just one time someone had done something like this for me when I came back from Vietnam I wouldn't be the way I am today."
I answered, "Major Daverso, I am a civilian. If I give you a salute will you accept it sir?"
He answered, "Yes."
We exchanged salutes and he left the room.
That exchange in front of 63 kids was in so many ways not really my doing. It was the result of a herculean effort by my students.
I remember the 9/11 attacks and always will. I remember and am still very aware of terror. I remember the response of my school. I remember the risk and the trust that kids showed. I remember not sleeping for two weeks. I remember brainstorming, planning, discussing, talking, worrying, and hoping. I remember being so damn proud to be an American!
Ten years later. It is a time to remember and show honor and respect to the victims and their survivors. Through it all I am still proud to be an American.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, May 6, 2011
Timshel
Timshel.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, April 22, 2011
Smiling: Part III
"Why are you smiling?"
"I'm smiling because I'm happy.
It is easy to understand when someone says, "I'm smiling because I'm happy." When we see someone smile it seems obvious that person is happy. Most everyone smiles, at least a little, when they are happy.
Try this. "Why are you happy?"
"I'm happy because I'm smiling."
Smiling when we are happy is just a response or almost a reflex.
Choosing to smile, just plain choosing to smile, actually can help us be happy.
Again, Sage was right. Everyone is watching. When I choose to simply make my face smile and when it isn't just a reflex or a response I take an active role in deciding to be happy.
"Why are you happy?"
"I'm happy because I'm smiling."
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
"I'm smiling because I'm happy.
It is easy to understand when someone says, "I'm smiling because I'm happy." When we see someone smile it seems obvious that person is happy. Most everyone smiles, at least a little, when they are happy.
Try this. "Why are you happy?"
"I'm happy because I'm smiling."
Smiling when we are happy is just a response or almost a reflex.
Choosing to smile, just plain choosing to smile, actually can help us be happy.
Again, Sage was right. Everyone is watching. When I choose to simply make my face smile and when it isn't just a reflex or a response I take an active role in deciding to be happy.
"Why are you happy?"
"I'm happy because I'm smiling."
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, April 15, 2011
Smiling: Part II
Sage's note that said, "Smile Jim, everyone is watching" is true in another way. I am part of everyone and I notice when I smile. Smiling makes me feel better. In some ways I think I might notice more than other people notice.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, April 8, 2011
Smiling: Part I
Back in the 2004-2005 school year one of My Geniuses tacked a small note on the door jamb of my office. It said, “Smile Jim, everyone is watching.” She placed that note there after talking to me about wanting to see me smile more. I told her that I felt I smile a lot and that maybe I needed to scream more. (I don’t scream now and I didn’t then.) She told me that the class needed to see me smile right away when they came in the door. Again, I told her that I felt I did that. I reminded her that there was nowhere else on the campus where kids did the greeting (pounding on the tables and singing) and that counted as a huge smile.
I was going to take that note down after a few days and just drop it in the recycling. It was at eye level so every time I walked out of my office I saw it. I ended up reading it several times a day for years. I didn’t take it down until my last day at the high school. It was a good reminder for me that right or wrong other people’s perceptions aren’t always consistent with my perceptions. More importantly it served as a daily reminder that it is important to make the effort to smile because indeed everyone is watching. Thanks Sage Lynn; I'm still working on it.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
I was going to take that note down after a few days and just drop it in the recycling. It was at eye level so every time I walked out of my office I saw it. I ended up reading it several times a day for years. I didn’t take it down until my last day at the high school. It was a good reminder for me that right or wrong other people’s perceptions aren’t always consistent with my perceptions. More importantly it served as a daily reminder that it is important to make the effort to smile because indeed everyone is watching. Thanks Sage Lynn; I'm still working on it.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, March 11, 2011
Jumping into the Garbage Can
I woke up last Friday with a bad case of vertigo. I was so dizzy I couldn't walk without holding on to something. Gagging from the nausea I just sat still and looked straight ahead. Katy stayed home to take me to the doctor. When the clinic opened I called to make an appointment with our family doctor. He had broken his ankle the week before and had to have surgery to have it pinned back together. We went to the walk in clinic instead.
I assumed that Mark, our doctor, had broken his ankle skiing. Hmmm... Okay, Mark likes to ski but still I wondered if maybe he had injured himself doing something else. Having fished together a couple times I have gotten to know Mark outside of the doctor/patient relationship and I guess that made me wonder.
Because of the vertigo and my age (good grief, do that they have to say that?...) the doctor in the walk-in clinic had me get an ultra sound of my main arteries to see if I had the beginnings of a stroke. Swell... I'm thankful for modern medicine; I just don't want modern medicne finding bad things. I have to go for a follow up appointment with Mark, my doctor, on Monday to go over the test results. (The ultra sound technician said my results were "squeaky clean".)
In the process of making the appointment to see Mark next week I asked the nurse how he had injured his ankle. "Was he skiing," I said, "Or was he doing something crazy like cleaning the gutters and walking around on a slippery roof?"
"Better than that," she said, "He was doing some clean up in his yard and had a garbage can filled with weeds and trimmings. He was pressing it down with his hands to make more room but it wasn't going down so he climbed up on his ladder and jumped into the garbage can to really press things down."
Since she was laughing when she told me I felt it was okay for me to laugh too. I still think its funny. His ankle will heal and I imagine his pride will too. Then again, I'm not sure about his pride needing to heal. I just have to go the the appointment on Monday not to confirm the good results of the ultra-sound or to get my perscription renewed but I have to hear Mark tell me about what happened. This man is highly educated, very successful, and he is 58 years old. And he climbed up to the top of his ladder to jump in his garbage can to press down weeds and clippings. When he landed he must have broken his ankle immediately. Did he climb out on his own? Was he stuck in the garbage can and did he have to call his wife Lori? Did he tip the garbage can over to get out? These and other important questions will be part of my appointment on Monday. His pride may not actually need to heal; knowing him he just may be proud of jumping off a ladder into a garbage can. After hearing all about Mark's ankle I hope during my appointment there is time to talk about my test results.
Laugh at yourself. That's good advice. Just don't climb to the top of your ladder to jump in your garbage can so that you can laugh at yourself. Be careful; that's good advice too. But still laugh at yourself.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
I assumed that Mark, our doctor, had broken his ankle skiing. Hmmm... Okay, Mark likes to ski but still I wondered if maybe he had injured himself doing something else. Having fished together a couple times I have gotten to know Mark outside of the doctor/patient relationship and I guess that made me wonder.
Because of the vertigo and my age (good grief, do that they have to say that?...) the doctor in the walk-in clinic had me get an ultra sound of my main arteries to see if I had the beginnings of a stroke. Swell... I'm thankful for modern medicine; I just don't want modern medicne finding bad things. I have to go for a follow up appointment with Mark, my doctor, on Monday to go over the test results. (The ultra sound technician said my results were "squeaky clean".)
In the process of making the appointment to see Mark next week I asked the nurse how he had injured his ankle. "Was he skiing," I said, "Or was he doing something crazy like cleaning the gutters and walking around on a slippery roof?"
"Better than that," she said, "He was doing some clean up in his yard and had a garbage can filled with weeds and trimmings. He was pressing it down with his hands to make more room but it wasn't going down so he climbed up on his ladder and jumped into the garbage can to really press things down."
Since she was laughing when she told me I felt it was okay for me to laugh too. I still think its funny. His ankle will heal and I imagine his pride will too. Then again, I'm not sure about his pride needing to heal. I just have to go the the appointment on Monday not to confirm the good results of the ultra-sound or to get my perscription renewed but I have to hear Mark tell me about what happened. This man is highly educated, very successful, and he is 58 years old. And he climbed up to the top of his ladder to jump in his garbage can to press down weeds and clippings. When he landed he must have broken his ankle immediately. Did he climb out on his own? Was he stuck in the garbage can and did he have to call his wife Lori? Did he tip the garbage can over to get out? These and other important questions will be part of my appointment on Monday. His pride may not actually need to heal; knowing him he just may be proud of jumping off a ladder into a garbage can. After hearing all about Mark's ankle I hope during my appointment there is time to talk about my test results.
Laugh at yourself. That's good advice. Just don't climb to the top of your ladder to jump in your garbage can so that you can laugh at yourself. Be careful; that's good advice too. But still laugh at yourself.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Proud to be an American: Part IV
This week Frank Woodruff Buckles died. Frank was born on February 1, 1901 making him 110 years old when he died. He was the last surviving American to have fought in World War I. He was also one of the oldest military veterans in the world. Is that possible? Someone who fought in World War I was still alive last Sunday.
He had to lie about his age when he enlisted. The first few places he went he told the recruiter that he was 18 but since he looked his age which was 16, they sent him away. Finally he went into one recruiter and told him he was 21 and they took him. He served from 1917-1920 in both England and France.
During World War II Frank spent 3 1/2 years as a Japanese POW.
In the seventies and even the eighties when we did Veteran's Day Assemblies at the high school we would have veterans stand and be recognized. Even then it seemed incredible to me that World War I Veterans were still alive. In time there were no more who came.
At this time I have almost finised reading "A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present" by Howard Zinn. I don't know what else to say except that this book is staggering. Before and after World War I there were way more strikes and riots in our country than I ever realized. It makes the sacrifices that people made in the past even more impressive.
I am free, I live under the rule of law, I reap the rewards of my work, and I have almost complete freedom of expression. Thank you Frank Buckles and all those who went before you.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Enjoy your weekend.
P
He had to lie about his age when he enlisted. The first few places he went he told the recruiter that he was 18 but since he looked his age which was 16, they sent him away. Finally he went into one recruiter and told him he was 21 and they took him. He served from 1917-1920 in both England and France.
During World War II Frank spent 3 1/2 years as a Japanese POW.
In the seventies and even the eighties when we did Veteran's Day Assemblies at the high school we would have veterans stand and be recognized. Even then it seemed incredible to me that World War I Veterans were still alive. In time there were no more who came.
At this time I have almost finised reading "A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present" by Howard Zinn. I don't know what else to say except that this book is staggering. Before and after World War I there were way more strikes and riots in our country than I ever realized. It makes the sacrifices that people made in the past even more impressive.
I am free, I live under the rule of law, I reap the rewards of my work, and I have almost complete freedom of expression. Thank you Frank Buckles and all those who went before you.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, February 18, 2011
Gratitude Attitude: Part I
Life has a way of intruding on itself. At 12:40 AM last Friday morning Katy's sister, Judy, called to say she needed to be taken to the emergency room. Katy took her in and they performed emergency surgery. Judy had a ruptured colon. She has had colitis for some time so her colon was basically useless and consequently all of it was removed. In the process of removing her colon they found cancer. It was on her colon and had migrated to one of her ovaries which was also removed. She was in septic shock. They could not, and still haven't, closed the incision. There was some quesiton as to whether she would live through the weekend. She did and has made good progress. They told her Monday evening that she has cancer and told her Wednesday that it is somewhere between stage 2 and stage 3. The oconlogist is going to meet with her this evening to give her a more complete picture. Katy stayed at the hospital until after 5:00 PM on Friday. She has been spending a good deal of time there. Additionally Judy lives in a third floor apartment in which she can no longer stay. The family is in the process of finding her a ground floor apartment and getting her set up with with a rehab facility for a couple weeks after she is discharged from the hospital.
Judy is hopeful that the cancer is treatable. She will be wearing an ileostomy bag for the rest of her life. The bag is attached to a hole in her abdomen where it collects intestinal waste. Like I said, life has a way of intruding on itself.
Okay then, here is some gratitude attitude for you...I am grateful that my colon is not ruptured. I am grateful that I don't have cancer. I am grateful that I don't wear an ileosotmy bag.
Hmm... Let's see here... Well obviously we are all grateful that we don't have ruptured colons. There is little value in saying that or even thinking it for that matter. I woke up this morning. I am breathing. I can hear. I can see. I can speak. These things are all miracles. I just stepped away from the computer and walked around the bottom level of our home to remind myself what a pleasure it is to be able to that simple thing--move around on my own. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude isn't just about being glad that for things I don't have. A meaningful gratitude is about being thankful for the simplest things that we all take for granted so easily. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude is when I make a conscious and practiced choose to be grateful. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude is about realizing that in so many ways blessings abound.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Judy is hopeful that the cancer is treatable. She will be wearing an ileostomy bag for the rest of her life. The bag is attached to a hole in her abdomen where it collects intestinal waste. Like I said, life has a way of intruding on itself.
Okay then, here is some gratitude attitude for you...I am grateful that my colon is not ruptured. I am grateful that I don't have cancer. I am grateful that I don't wear an ileosotmy bag.
Hmm... Let's see here... Well obviously we are all grateful that we don't have ruptured colons. There is little value in saying that or even thinking it for that matter. I woke up this morning. I am breathing. I can hear. I can see. I can speak. These things are all miracles. I just stepped away from the computer and walked around the bottom level of our home to remind myself what a pleasure it is to be able to that simple thing--move around on my own. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude isn't just about being glad that for things I don't have. A meaningful gratitude is about being thankful for the simplest things that we all take for granted so easily. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude is when I make a conscious and practiced choose to be grateful. A meaningful Gratitude Attitude is about realizing that in so many ways blessings abound.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, February 11, 2011
Get a Grip!!
About 9 or 10 days ago I ordered some fly tying materials and tools from Cabelas. The order totaled $153 and some cents. I had a $20 coupon so that was motivating me to act. One of the items I ordered was a bodkin. If you click on the link you will see that it cost a whopping $2.99. I do have a bad case of gear lust so when the box came I opened it with the delight of a child. That's not LIKE a child, that's WITH the delight of a child.
But oh look, the little plastic bag with the $2.99 bodkin was empty. I thought about throwing the bag in the garbage and forgetting about it. I called Cabelas and told them I was missing my incredibly important new bodkin but said I didn't want them to waste postage on sending me just one item. I suggested they put it in my electronic cart and ship it to me the next time I ordered something. The gal who I was talking to in customer service told me she needed to transfer me to customer service. "What?..." I was on hold with customer service for a few minutes and then I got a recorded message that said customer service was closed. I thought, "heck it's a $3 item; throw the little envelope in the garbage and be done with it."
I let it sit on my desk for a few days and called back after I ate lunch one day. Someone answered and put me on hold. After holding the call went dead. I called again and I repeated the same story about opening the box and finding the envelope for the bodkin empty. I suggested that they put it my electronic cart and just send it to me the next time I ordered something. This person in customer service told me that she needed to transfer me to customer service. I held for 15 minutes and really had to ask myself, "What the HELL are you doing?" When a nice lady finally came on the line I told her that I should have thrown the empty envelope away and got on with my life. Instead, I was into this for 30 minutes of wasted time and no darn bodkin. The last customer service rep I talked to couldn't find a bodkin in their system at first so she couldn't send me one.
A small part of me thinks its the "principle of the thing" and they should send me the $3 bodkin. Okay, it IS the principle of the thing. Let's see here... Where else in Snohomish County, in Washington State, in the USA, or in the world are there concerns about the "principle of the thing." In Cairo there are millions of people concerned about the principle of the thing right now.
A bodkin? A THREE DOLLAR, stupid fly tying tool?!! GET A GRIP!!! Was I really even a little bit annoyed about that? Sadly I was. I should have thrown the empty envelope in the garbage, not given it another thought, smiled, and thanked God for all of my blessings.
Get a grip! It is the principle of the thing after all and that is that I need to not just count my blessings but feel them!
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
Oh, and feel your blessings too.
P
But oh look, the little plastic bag with the $2.99 bodkin was empty. I thought about throwing the bag in the garbage and forgetting about it. I called Cabelas and told them I was missing my incredibly important new bodkin but said I didn't want them to waste postage on sending me just one item. I suggested they put it in my electronic cart and ship it to me the next time I ordered something. The gal who I was talking to in customer service told me she needed to transfer me to customer service. "What?..." I was on hold with customer service for a few minutes and then I got a recorded message that said customer service was closed. I thought, "heck it's a $3 item; throw the little envelope in the garbage and be done with it."
I let it sit on my desk for a few days and called back after I ate lunch one day. Someone answered and put me on hold. After holding the call went dead. I called again and I repeated the same story about opening the box and finding the envelope for the bodkin empty. I suggested that they put it my electronic cart and just send it to me the next time I ordered something. This person in customer service told me that she needed to transfer me to customer service. I held for 15 minutes and really had to ask myself, "What the HELL are you doing?" When a nice lady finally came on the line I told her that I should have thrown the empty envelope away and got on with my life. Instead, I was into this for 30 minutes of wasted time and no darn bodkin. The last customer service rep I talked to couldn't find a bodkin in their system at first so she couldn't send me one.
A small part of me thinks its the "principle of the thing" and they should send me the $3 bodkin. Okay, it IS the principle of the thing. Let's see here... Where else in Snohomish County, in Washington State, in the USA, or in the world are there concerns about the "principle of the thing." In Cairo there are millions of people concerned about the principle of the thing right now.
A bodkin? A THREE DOLLAR, stupid fly tying tool?!! GET A GRIP!!! Was I really even a little bit annoyed about that? Sadly I was. I should have thrown the empty envelope in the garbage, not given it another thought, smiled, and thanked God for all of my blessings.
Get a grip! It is the principle of the thing after all and that is that I need to not just count my blessings but feel them!
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
Oh, and feel your blessings too.
P
Friday, February 4, 2011
Proud to be an American: Part III
Two Sundays ago I was holding an open house for a listing of mine in Redmond. The home is just minutes from Microsoft. There were people looking at the home virtually the entire time I was there. Much of the time there was more than one person or more than one group of people. Most of the visitors spoke English as a second language. Throughout the day I heard at least five different foreign languages; it may have been six. At about 3:00 there were three families in the home. One was from Russia, one was from India, and one was from France. They spoke to each other in their native languages. I was the only one in the home who couldn't understand a single word that was being said. It was fascinating and kind of amazing.
How many other places on the planet could this happen? Yes, we have experienced a serious recession. Even now where else is there the economic opportunity for people like there is here? What other country welcomes people of such varied backgrounds? Where else on the earth is there such diversity on so many levels? There could easily be a few countries that have the opportunity, tolerance, and the freedom that we do but not very darn many if any at all.
I am far from perfect as an individual; I have plenty of room for improvement. My country isn't perfect; it has plenty of room for improvement. I stood in that home, listened to families talking in three languages, smiled, and felt grateful to be an American.
How many other places on the planet could this happen? Yes, we have experienced a serious recession. Even now where else is there the economic opportunity for people like there is here? What other country welcomes people of such varied backgrounds? Where else on the earth is there such diversity on so many levels? There could easily be a few countries that have the opportunity, tolerance, and the freedom that we do but not very darn many if any at all.
I am far from perfect as an individual; I have plenty of room for improvement. My country isn't perfect; it has plenty of room for improvement. I stood in that home, listened to families talking in three languages, smiled, and felt grateful to be an American.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Listening Part III: A Man Named Volunteer
Working out at the “Y” sometimes I see a man wiping down the exercise bikes and the elliptical trainers. His pants are hiked up and his t-shirt is always tucked in. His t-shirt says “volunteer” on the back. He looks like a special ed person. He looks like someone who would have attended our Life Skills Christmas party back in the day. Working slowly and carefully he wipes down virtually square inch of the machine he is attending to. In the past several weeks I have seen him 7 or 8 times. I make a point of saying hi to him when I walk by. He looks at me blankly but doesn’t answer. When I am on a machine near him I can hear him either making quiet noises sometimes or possibly saying something to himself. I’m not sure what he is doing. It just sounds like the occasional odd noise to me. He has a name tag on the front of his shirt. It wasn’t until the third or fourth time I had seen him that I could see the nametag. It says, “Volunteer”.
This past Tuesday I walked by him on my way to a different machine. As I was approaching I thought to myself that I think he makes funny noises; I wonder if when I say hi to him he thinks to himself, “That guy makes funny noises." I said hi to him as I walked by. He looked at me and said, “BraaNoo, BraaaNoo, BbbbrraaaNoo.” I was surprised to have him answer me. I asked him to repeat what he was saying. He said it several times and I realized he was saying “Brand new.” I answered, “You are making the machines look brand new?” He said, “LieBraaNoo, LieBraaNoo.” I said, “Like brand new?” He nodded. I told him he did good work and thanked him. Since I had not heard him talk before I wasn’t even sure he could talk.
Sometimes people are listening and you just don’t realize it. I realized he was listening after all and that I just had to say hi several times before he answered. I am going to ask him his name the next time I see him.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
This past Tuesday I walked by him on my way to a different machine. As I was approaching I thought to myself that I think he makes funny noises; I wonder if when I say hi to him he thinks to himself, “That guy makes funny noises." I said hi to him as I walked by. He looked at me and said, “BraaNoo, BraaaNoo, BbbbrraaaNoo.” I was surprised to have him answer me. I asked him to repeat what he was saying. He said it several times and I realized he was saying “Brand new.” I answered, “You are making the machines look brand new?” He said, “LieBraaNoo, LieBraaNoo.” I said, “Like brand new?” He nodded. I told him he did good work and thanked him. Since I had not heard him talk before I wasn’t even sure he could talk.
Sometimes people are listening and you just don’t realize it. I realized he was listening after all and that I just had to say hi several times before he answered. I am going to ask him his name the next time I see him.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your car carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
Friday, January 7, 2011
Listening: Part II
I learned a lot about listening by listening. In 1991, I remember a student, LAJ, coming in after school to talk to me. She had said she was upset and needed to kind of unload. I listened to her talk for 45 minutes; she was crying much of the time. At this point I don’t remember much of what she said; come on, it’s been 20 years. What I do remember is that a couple times I started to open my mouth to give advice. I thought better of it and just kept my advice to myself. I continued to acknowledge that I was listening and that I understood what she was saying. After 45 minutes she paused, took a deep breath, and stopped crying just like that. She smiled and said thanks for listening. She picked up her things, thanked me again, told me it really helped, and headed for home. I thought to myself that I didn't "do" anything to help. Maybe my mouth doesn't have to move much for me to be "doing" something to help. The lesson I learned or relearned that day was that I helped Laura more by listening than I would have by giving advice. Advice works the best when it is requested. I am full of good advice after all but sometimes my good advice accomplishes the most when I just keep it to myself and be a good, supportive, loving listener.
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
It is the weekend. Please be good. Drive your cars carefully. Ride with people who drive carefully. Treat yourself with respect. Spend time with people who treat you with respect. Treat other people with respect. Talk nice to yourself; you deserve it. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you. Keep yourself whole physically and emotionally. Enjoy your weekend.
P
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