Easter 2022

 Yes, today is Easter Sunday, a holy day for many. The day we celebrate the risen Jesus Christ, and a second chance for humanity. A second chance to be better and sin free. That did not work so well on our part. Humans are just not perfect. We can tell that from the evening news showing videos and photos about Ukraine and the war they are trying to survive from Russian troops attack on the ground and from the sky. And their ruler Putin who thinks he is unstoppable in his attempt to push back NATO from getting close to Russia. A man who started his career in the KGB secret police during the Cold War, and rose to their president for more than 20 years. The Ukrainian people do not deserve to be killed like this, or at all, to show his power.

A few years ago, Nancy and I traveled to a few of the former 'Iron Curtain' countries, ate with them, slept in their homes, had deep conversations about the past from the Nazis to Russian occupations. They told us about the hardships and brutality. We visited one family still living in a poorly built communist constructed apartment building. I was breathless to hear some of the stories they told us about the Germans and the Russians. The government is now tearing those buildings down and replacing them with sturdy properly built modern apartments. Not unlike Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary, Ukraine must rebuild their beautiful country and give their dead a proper burial. 

As Nancy and I have traveled to all but one continent in the world, we have found, all people are the same, and want the same in their life. It is only when a power hungry dictator like Putin that peace becomes unbalanced.

I don't often talk about religion because I believe it is your choice, and a private matter in how one worships. Eventho everywhere we have gone, almost all people worship a holy entity in one form or another. In Russia, North Korea and China, there is hardly no religious activities. Not to mention buildings of worship. The governments restrict them firmly. We learned that no matter where we traveled, if the people worshiped a holy entity, they are peaceful and never want that disturbed. My biggest fear is that we, the USA, will be dragged into this conflict and more of our young soldiers will parish.

I would like people to travel more to other countries, immerse themselves in the cultures, and get to know those people. It truly opens your eyes to a true world, and not what we watch on TV and read in newspapers or on the internet. Of course there always people who refuses to listen and stay an 'ass'.

Hopefully next year Nancy and I will resume our travels to places we have not been. That's a lot. maybe Scotland, maybe to the Yucatan Peninsula. OR ... who knows. But for now, I ask you to pray for Ukraine. They need all the prayers they can get. Take care and stay safe, and HAPPY EASTER!

Next Sunday I will not be writing a blog, we will be in the Chiricahuas Mountain camping and hiking.

Spring is here

What is your favorite season of the year? I actually have two. One is Fall and the other is ... Yep, Spring. I really don't mine Winter, except for all the 'snowbirds' flooding the campgrounds and highways around Phoenix."Get out of the way you slowpoke from Iowa. This is the big city, not a farm town." I really don't say that type of stuff. Sometimes I believe they think they are driving their tractor to the feed store. 45 in a 65 MPH lane? REALLY?

Here in the Southwest, Spring started a few weeks ago, like toward first of March. Now we are into the 90s already, and soon the dreaded 100s will be here, and that will linger on until late October. So Spring and Fall are short lived. But I still love the desert, not the 100s. After a Spring rain, it is like the native plants sprout their colors in a joyful welcoming to Spring. But that doesn't last long. Only a few days and then heat drains them of strength and the flowers die.

Spring is the time of rebirth, a new beginning, rejuvenation and the start of baseball and the ending of basketball. Golf is starting, people get and start RVing, hiking, running and breathing the fresh air, after being cooped up indoors for months. Well, that is the opposite from the Southwest. We are indoors during the summer, or bobbing around in a pool, or get away to a cooler place. I will now stay in my newly air conditioned shop, if we are not getting away.

This Spring (and Summer), people are buying RVs and traveling to break out of the Covid bubble. With restrictions being relaxed, people are get out there to concerts, in-person church, in-person everything. Last year when we traded-in in our old camper and bought a new one, the salesman said they could not keep enough campers in stock for the demand. Demand like that hit many things like cars, car parts, appliances, construction materials, and just about everything. When Covid hit us all, factories had to meet government restrictions for distancing employees, or they were shut down. That created a lag in production, which meant shortages. Then as restrictions were relaxed, many workers stayed home or resigned to start over somewhere else, or start their own business. Which meant a shortage in the workforce. This old news now.

But Spring is here. Well, at least in the Southwest anyway. Parts of the country is still suffering with snow, hail, rain, and cold weather. Sorry folks. If you send us some of that rain, we will send you some sunshine.

Nancy and I are planning few trips. One the the Chiricahua Mountains is southeast  Arizona to camp and hike for a few days. In May, Nancy and 5 others are traveling to Connecticut to hike another section of the Appalachian trail. And in September, we and another couple are flying to Boston to start a driving tour of the New England states. We still don't have any international trips planned YET, but are thinking about the next big one. Who knows?

Wherever you are, Spring is here or coming. Make it a great one and a new beginning, plant some flowers, go for hikes, do a picnics, travel somewhere, and do interesting things. Enjoy Spring, birds singing, flowers blooming and allergies. Just kiddin'. Just enjoy.

Leave me your comments, be curious but not judgemental. Take care.

Amazing People

When you think of an 'amazing person', who do you think of?  A historic person like President Abraham Lincoln or General MacArthur, or a celebrity like Elvis Presley Or Denzel Washington? Or maybe one of your parents? Some amazing people start off, or seem to be amazing, and then they become disappointing. Think about the leaders the United States supported to take over a country (when it is in our benefit), and then they turned into a dictator and a ruthless tyrant. We as a country have done that too many times. To me, an amazing person would be a single struggling mother or father  trying to raise their children. That is a balancing act of love/compassion and making ends meet. I know that personally because, I was one of those children watching my mother struggle to make those ends meet, while doing all she could to give my a good life and home. And exhausting job.

Do you know or ever met an amazing person/s? I have met a few in my life. Some of them you'd recognize their names and faces. Some you'd never know because they are just like me, an everyday person. Being an amazing person does not necessarily mean you get the fame for being amazing, but probably the gratitude and admiration from those of us who are watching you. The little deeds they do, with no thanks or fanfare. Being a good neighbor or citizen or parent showing their children the right path in life. They ARE amazing to me.

You don't have to be be famous to be amazing. You just have to be a good person, take the initiative to do the right thing at the right time without being asked to do that right thing, AND, without wanting to be recognized as a hero. 

Doing the right thing can be interpreted differently by each person. The Insurrection of our nation's capital may have seemed like to right thing to do at the time to some people, but it wasn't. It was totally the WRONG THING to do! To get your opinion across is how you use your votes, not by rioting and violence. The event was amazing, the people, not so much.

But getting back to my point. We all know amazing people we have met, or maybe know today. Throughout my life, I have tried to take their inspiration and use it in my life, hoping to be a better person. It is like taking a small piece of that inspiration and combining it with other amazing people to make something great in you.

I see our lives as an empty vessel when we are born. As we age, we pick up a little of this, and a little of that to make us who we are and what we do in life. Much of your early years is formed from your parents, or the lack of. The rest of your life is formed from friends, education, wives or husbands, co-workers, and just people you meet, day in and day out. Today you are an almost full vessel, but with still more for more inspirations from others.

People inspire me and disappoint me, but that is life. Just remember there are many, MANY amazing people out there. Maybe you should take that inspiration and stick it in your pocket for use another day. Take care and stay safe.