I am a lucky man ... and blessed.

 If you would, just realize how lucky you have been in your life. I was lucky enough to be born in a great country. I was lucky enough to have good parents and family members who helped shape me. Maybe sometimes I disappointed them in a couple of things I did, but otherwise, I think I did OK.

I hear people say, "This country is going to the dogs." Well folks, you are wrong. If you have traveled to other countries like we have, you would soon learn how good we have it here in the United States. No, it's not perfect, or exactly like YOU want it, but it is really good compared to countries like China, Russia and a few others. We have our problems and radicals like other countries. It's not the country you visualize in your perfect memories of the 'old days'. It is a country of freedom and liberty, even tho it has been stained by a few.

I was blessed to have parents that loved me (sometimes too much) and gave me my initial strong principals to grow into. My mother was a very strong and loving mother who work her tail off to give a good life. It may not have been a glorious life, but  better than some kid had.

I was blessed to found a wife who stood behind me and supported me through all the crazy stuff I did and sometime fell on my face doing. But she was always there for me. Our children were also a blessing. And then came the grandkids, seven in total. Each of them is such joy and fun.

I was also so lucky to fall into jobs that felt SO right. Not many people can say they enjoy going to work everyday, but I did, and I do even today. Out of work with a wife and two small kids to care for, I applied for the Fire Department in 1976 and was lucky enough to be hired in March of 1977. After 25+ years I retired, and started two businesses that I loved, furniture making and now, building custom cars. None of the three were easy jobs but satisfying and rewarding. I believe my parents instilled a sense of working hard to get to your ultimate success. I finally understand that now at age 74. Our children realized it and now we're trying  to teach the grandkids that.

Sure we have had our rough times and losses. The biggest is when our oldest son past. As we get older, loss is part of life and so is change. You have to deal with those, may not like them, but they do come. You must be strong and with support, you get through it.

For me, songs bring back old memories, both good and bad. I will hear a certain song and there is a flashback of something that happened in my past. A face, an event, a love and/or a loss. I also get that from smells. OK, call me weird but it happens to a lot of people. We hold on to memories and reminisce about them all the time. It's like looking through a photo album of old pictures. You smile, cry, laugh or frown. They bring back those memories. I have my favorite pictures on my computer as a screensaver so I see them often.

Life has been good to me. I thank God daily for my life and his love. I hope your life has been good to you too. Take solace in your life, remember the good times, mourn the bad times, and stay strong through it all. Rejoice in being American, or at least living in this great country. Take proud in your family and friends and love them unconditionally. Remember the past, but live in the now, and embrace the future. Change what you can and except things you can not change, BUT, never give up trying to make it better.

Take care.

Opinions - Yeah, touchy topics

 This post will probably rub some people the wrong way. I am sorry but this needs to be said. I will never say I am ALWAYS right, but I do try very hard to do and say the right things to ALL people. But we all have our own opinions, and that is your God given right. But do you have to constantly tell everyone?  There's an old saying, "Everyone has an opinion, they are like butts."

Hot topics:

The election. Yeah, it's over and Trump lost... get over it. Campaign for him the next time, if he runs. It was NOT stolen, it's been proven many times over, at our expense. Recounts do cost.

Immigration, OK, we are the richest country in the world and people want what we have. But if you/your children were starving, wouldn't you do what whatever is necessary to get to a better life? Oh, and by the way, there are no trash cans for immigrating families to drop their trash on their way. I don't like the looks either. Hundreds of people die trying to get to a better life. It may not be illegal but neither is carrying an automatic assault weapon. How many of the people who invaded the Capital Building have those?

Abortion, will you adopt the baby the mother does not want? Or, will you pay for that baby to grow up in foster care with your taxes dollars? Yes, there should be better options, but are you going to be the one who says what the mother can do? IT IS HER BODY NOT YOURS. If funding is cut for abortions, the mothers will find another way and maybe die doing it. How about the thousands of kids ripped away from their parents when they cross the borders illegally? Is that right?

Police de-funding, who will come when you are assaulted? Who will be there when someone broad sides you in a traffic incident? Who will be there when you spouse beats up on you? Not all police officers are good guys, but I believe most are. This country is already understaffed in police departments across the nation. We have rules and laws in this country and the police enforce them. Those laws and rules are for the good of everyone, whether you agree or not. They too can be changes if enough of people tell their lawmakers, not just bitch about it on Facebook, Twitter or whatever. Be pro-active, but do your homework first.

Politicians are corrupt, yes, some are. So vote them out and get someone better. If you are a citizen, you have the right to vote and that is a powerful tool and benefit you have. Use it! And campaign it by telling other to use their voting right.

Democracy is not perfect, but it is better than the alternative. It never was and never will be. If you're not happy, live in China or Russia and see how you like it there. I've been there and it's not nice.

Instead of complaining and bitching, give us a valid solution, and quit harping over broken eggs and defeated battles. Do your research, check the real facts, not gossip or internet trash/talk. Do the homework and bring it to the table for discussion. I am here to hear your side/opinion. Debate and discussion is healthy. Take care, be positive and smile.

Do you know your place?

 I do not profess to have any psychiatry clinical knowledge (if those are real terms), I just know my feelings and have watched others deal with events in their lives like myself. And I SURELY do not advocate my views are correct for everyone else, except for me.

I have never been a prejudice person, in fact, I call myself "color blind", and except everyone as an equal no matter what color, sex, national origin, religion or sexual belief. We were ALL placed on this earth equally and should be treated as such. I really try to treat others with respect and friendship. Sometimes that does not always happen, but I try. Hey, I am human too.

Recently, there was an interview featuring the British Prince Harry and his wife Megan. I found it interesting when they said they were expected to know their place within the royal family. Then it struck me, 'know your place'? That has been a common phrase used for centuries. 

In the South, when I was growing up (in the 50s), the "blacks", were to 'know their place'. In the early days of the growing Western United States, the Orientals were to 'know their place'. In the corporate world, as a new person, you are to 'know your place". Native Americans were suppose to 'know their place'. So my question is... "Where is my place, where is YOUR place, and who will tell me/you when I am there?" 

Harry and Megan were suppose to be the way 'Royals" are suppose to act and present themselves quietly, OR, the Tabloids would rip them apart. And they did, so Harry and Megan (with Archie) left Britain for the States, but the stories followed them.

Finding your place (in life) may not be that easy. I sort of stumbled into my place. Some find it in motherhood, others find it in business, or art, or exercise classes or cars, or being a crusader for a cause. Everyone has a place, you just have to look for it, or sometimes it finds you. "Your place" is a point in your life where you are comfortable, physically and mentally at ease, and best of all, happy. Some people are in a place where they are expected to act and talk in a certain way, such as politicians, clergy, and anyone in the public eye.

President Carter said he was never very comfortable being president, but totally enjoys working for Habitat for Humanity. It shows, in his 90s and still going strong. He found his place. Some people thrive on the power of the position and being in a place they do not represent themselves as the public would like. That place was NOT theirs.

Finding your place is not that easy, but NEVER let anyone tell you to 'know your place'. You are the only one who knows when you arrive. Then you can say, "I am home."

Let me know if you found your PLACE and how you found it, and where it is. Maybe I'll stop by.

It's been a LONG time

 It has been a long time, actually one year since Covid hit the USA and the World. It wasn't really thought of, "Oh, I won't get it", until the governments really started cracking down on us with restrictions, and the media announced the lives lost and cases daily, we finally realized it was dangerous. Even tho some people still think it is a hoax and refuse to wear masks. 

Life as we know it now turned into a life through glass. Zoom meetings on you phone, tablet or computer, concerts via Zoom, take-out called in by phone and picked up around Plexiglas, and viewing dying friends and relatives through glass. Wearing a masks became a familiar as sunglasses. 

When this is all over, the things that stick in my mind I will remember forever is the lines at food banks, closed signs on businesses, trying to schedule a Covid vaccination and what a boon this all has been to Amazon sales.

Since our travel has been restricted this last year, Nancy has been hiking a lot more and I spend tons of hours in my shop working on customers cars and trucks. Of course we are around our immediate family a lot and we have gotten our first shot and schedule to get our second on the 17th. Otherwise, nothing much, except ...

Like many other people during these times, construction and remodels are booming. Contractors are so busy, they can hardly keep up. So for the last few months, we too remodeled. This was our kitchen before.

Nice but dated, like 20+ years old. So, we said, 'What the hell' and changed the look a little to the bold side. This is the kitchen now.

New appliances, quart-site counter tops, new sinks and faucets, new hardware, and the cabinets were painted and distressed/antiqued. What can I say, Nancy loves color. 

Tell us what sticks in you mind during the past year and how did you coup and/or what did you do during these tough times. We'd love to hear your stories. Just comment. Take care and stay safe.