I am color blind, are you? TRULY?

 Prejudice - A preconceived opinion that is not based on reason, fact or actual experience.

Prejudice is not just a color thing. Prejudice comes in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and beliefs. It could be about a new kid in your class, a neighbor, a political party, a co-worker, an employee at your local grocery store. It could be about anyone. Prejudice rips at the moral thread of humanity. Countries have been torn apart, gone to war and totally killed millions because others are prejudice toward the other group of people. This is going on now in Ukraine, and has for hundreds of years. And in the rest of the world. Putin believes Ukraine belongs to Russia and plans to take it over no matter the cost of innocent lives.Only a few think Putin is right, including our former president. This causes me to think, what has our world come to?

Prejudice was around in Egypt when the Pharaohs enslaved the Hebrews to build pyramids. It happened when the Spanish enslaved the Peruvians natives. It happened when thousands of Africans were rounded up and brought to the United States, and other countries to be slaves and perform hard labor they did not want to do. I can go on about other like events, but my question is, ARE YOU PREJUDICE?

As I raised my kids, I used to ask myself, what would I do if one of my kids come home with a boyfriend or girlfriend that was a different color than us.I never, NEVER wanted to deny them of true love or friendship because of the kid's skin color, or religion, or ethnic background. As they got older, I saw they did not care, so why should I? As someone said, "Color is just skin deep, but prejudice goes all the way through." Both kids come home with VERY good friends that were black, oriental, hispanic and indian. I now call them our adopted kids because they spent A LOT of time at our home, eating with us, staying the night and celebrating holidays (theirs and ours) with us.

I often tell this story, so bear with me. As a young child while visiting my grandparents in Alabama, my cousin and I would go to the local 5 and 10 cent store (if you remember those, you are as old as me) to buy bean shooters. One day, while walking back to my grandparents house, we were about to pass an elderly black man. The black man literally stepped off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic so the two white boys had the entire sidewalk. We were always taught to respect our elders so we waved to him to get back on the sidewalk and he frantically waved to us to stay on the sidewalk. I did not understand until later in life that black people in the South, at that time, were in fear of being punished for disrespecting white 'PRIVILEGED' people, if not killed. We thanked the gentleman as he passed, him still dodging the cars.

While on the fire department, I heard several older hispanic firefighters tell stories about the prejudice that was shown in the earlier days. Arizona was settled by Mexicans, white settlers were the intruders if anything. Come on!

Several of you now have family members that don't look like you. Did you ever hesitate when you were told a person of a different color or race was going to enter into your family? I guess I did a little but soon fell in love with them and welcomed them with open arms, and maybe defended them against any harsh resistance from others. I now believe I am totally color blind and also believe there is one race, the human race, as we are all brothers and sisters on this small plant.

One last comment. I really appreciate the kind words I have received about my blog and my writing. I never considered myself as a good writer, but thanks anyway. In fact I am a horrible speller. I will continue to improve as I go. I promise, but keep the comments coming. Take care and stay safe.

It IS your right ... don't abuse it.

 Over the past few years, I have written this blog to share with others the places we have visited, things we have done, people we have visited, shown the good times along with the bad. People that REALLY know me, know I am a patriot for this country. Not that I sanction or condone revolt, but yet, speak my opinion/s without doing it hurtfully. Some people can't not do that. I don't like to write this one, but it needs to be said.

Let me give you an example. Facebook (and later social media platforms) were started by a few college kids to share others photos and info just within the college they attended. It evolved into the a 'what I ate for my meal photos', political lie telling, quiz show of questions, and finally a free speech abuse platform for anyone who has a gripe and an avenue about anything they want to blow off steam about.

Free speech is our first amendment granted to us as citizens of this United States of America. I for one, truly believe it is an essential amendment for our freedom. We cast our opinions during elections, ball games, around the family dinner table, on a box in a public gathering, or anywhere we can speak. There are many countries where you would go to prison and never be seen again for that brave move. I know, because we have been in those countries, and have been cautioned about speaking our minds, or wearing clothing with our flag or has USA on it.

I believe in free speech, BUT, I believe the culture of free speech is under attack. It comes in the actions of certain people wanting the limit voting rights, those who stretch, bend, or twist the truth into out and out lies so their followers will believe it. Both sides of the red and blue do this, not just one. Of course they want to make other believe their propaganda, but we are smarter than that. I have said MANY times, "CHECK THE FACTS BEFORE YOU BELIEVE ANYTHING".Someone said, "It is easier to lie than to tell the truth". I think it is easier to tell the truth than to twist the truth into a lie. Lying is called 'misinformation', and we hear a lot of that these days. People will feed you anything you are willing to consume because you don't like something. before you consume, check to see if it really the truth or the twisted truth. CHECK THE FACTS!

I was not born yesterday, and I know sometimes when you speak your opinion, someone will be offended or hurt by it. Then they get angry and lass out with hurtfulness, and it sometimes get personal. We can all be passionate about a topic without offending and hurt the other person. Much rather, we should attempt to debut our differences in a calm manner without losing our composure. It is not easy, I know, but unless we want to revert back to caveman style, and beat them over the head with a club until they agree, the debut will go nowhere. Then the walls of defense will grow higher.

One reporter said, "The election was won through social media." He was probably right, but, the twisted truth comes in many forms. You just have to be smarter than that author and see through the rhetoric and seek out the REAL truth.

We are SO lucky to be citizens of the USA and have so much freedom to do and say what we want. But, you hurt that freedom when you take that freedom and twist it to your liking and hurt others.

I invite your debat as comments on this blog. I have thick skin. Take care and stay safe.

A little of this, a little of that, and maybe Love.

It is Super Bowl Sunday, and the end of the season I love SO much. For this year anyway. Only 7 months and it starts again. Y-I-I-P-P Y-E-E-P-P! Ok, I like football, but not that much. I like a good game and not blow-outs. I don't really have a favorite team, even tho I do root for  the Cardinals or maybe the underdog that day. But today, I am rooting for the Bengals, because I am originally from Ohio, Cincinnati actually. Well, I grew up there anyway.

Now when I say I LOVE football, it does not mean love like I love Nancy or my grandkids ... or cars. Ok, forget the cars thing. I enjoy cars, is that better?

Love is used to express a strong feeling that we share with many types of creatures. It is a day away for the biggest LOVE DAY of the year, Valentine's Day. The one and only day people celebrate their love to someone special in their life. It is said love has three stages. Lust, obsession, and long longevity. Some say the long longevity is no longer the norm. I don't know if I agree with that conclusion or not. I know many couples that dismiss that theory. This coming April, Nancy and I will be married 45 years. Not saying we haven't had our ups and downs, but what couple wasn't? Nancy never wants candy, or cut flowers, potted plants are fine.

Love is a odd thing to describe. I really don't think any scholar can ever translate what love really is. I have heard love described as a feeling of joy and rapid pulse when you see a certain person. A tingle in your chest when you touch them, or go into a dream world when you talk to them.

I remember as a small child in elementary school, we were requested to bring Valentine cards to school and pass them out to our classmates. Some kids went the extra mile and included candy hearts in the card to someone extra special. 'Sweets for the sweet' was a saying I heard a lot. I just liked eating the candy and tossed most of the cards. Well, unless she was special.

True love to me is more an obsession and wanting to be with a person all the time. But as I get older, a break once in a while is good too. Nancy goes into her sewing room and I go into the shop/garage. I guess that is our individual sanctuaries. 

I also think love is about acceptance. Accept the things that would usually drive you nuts, but now you know that is just who they are, so accept it. Give and take is another big part of true love. She want to do this and you want to do that. Someone has to give in, and you take turns doing that.

Now when it comes to traveling or sports, Nancy and I totally agree. At least that works in our home. I hope it does in yours too. Love is a hard topic to explain, and I am NO expert.  You just have to deal with it in your way.

Lastly, I want to thanks those of you who like my blog and leave comments. I appreciate that. It is nice to get some feedback. That way I know I am not wasting my time type stuff people could care less about. Take care and stay safe.

GO BENGALS!

What a week

 Did you ever have one of those weeks when it seemed everything went wrong, or was fighting you? Yep, this last week. I know you all have had weeks like that too. It test your mental strength to stay cool and calm when you really want to scream at the top of your lungs, "Why me?" And in reality, it happens to all of us.

Let me give you some scenarios. You just stopped to get a steamy hot cup of coffee at your local java hut, and this jerk cut you off, the the coffee spills all over the dash and in your lap. OUCH! Now you have to go home and change ... and go to work late. OR, you are walking through the woods and trip over a tree root, tearing your pants and get a nice bruise on your forehead. But that's life, right? But why do they have to come in multiples?

I believe we take many things for granted, like people will yield the right of way, or turning the faucet on and you get water, or WHY DOES THINGS BREAK ON FRIDAY EVENINGS AND NO ONE WORKS ON WEEKENDS? Yes, that was my week.

It started like this. last Friday eve, I popped a cold cup of coffee into our 1 year old microwave to heat it up. The door would not latch and it would not start. Of course it is now out of warranty, so I called our appliance repairman. "Sorry, I will be out of town until Tuesday." So Tuesday he came and fixed it.

The next morning I got an early morning call from our oldest granddaughter crying and saying she had been in an auto accident (not hurt) on her way to work. Get dressed and head down there to calm her down and check out the car. Of course it'll be totaled.

Then, Nancy tells me, "Our water pressure is dropped and the water is dribbling out." I go look at the well equipment and can't find anything outstanding wrong, so I called a repairman. "Our call-out charge doubles on the weekend." He says. Great! But, we need water. He does come out and fixes things, but, that means I could not go to the funeral of our son-n-law's father. That really hurt me.

But considering all those things that went wrong, a very bright thing DID happen. It seems like a mating pair of Giant Horned Owls want to live in our backyard 35' Eucalyptus tree. It makes us so happy to wake up to WHO-WHO-WHO calling their mate.

We are blessed to have so much wildlife living around us. So I guess it wasn't such a bad week after all. Maybe a little frustrating at times. I believe we, and maybe you, take so many things for granted because it seems normal to have them. As one quote, so appropriately states, "Things go wrong so you appreciate them when they're right."

I am a very blessed person and will appreciate my microwave from here on out. Take care and stay safe.