The Prelude...

Just a quick story...

Shaun, our son (who I never worried about getting off the way) was in his 3rd year at college and doing great. Unfortunately J's hand-me down Honda Accord, which he was driving, finally died.

I took him to pick out a brand new shiny Honda Civic through a friend working at the Honda dealership...it was our gift to Shaun.

While walking the lot, we happened to pass a sleek, pretty little 3 year old, pearlescent white Prelude which he wide-eyed...and happened to be the same cost as the new Civic.

Good father which I am, I pointed out the virtues of owning the responsible, economic and brand new Civic...

And of course he listened to me...

...So when we were done with the deal, I watched as he excitedly drove that sporty Prelude home, him the happiest guy in the world, hugely appreciative...and me the hero for the day!

He babied that car for the next 10 years, all through college and his early career, and then received joy renewed when he handed the keys to another 18 year old who looked at him with that same wide-eyed grin on his face! 

I'm a predictable "Function Over Form" pragmatic, but on this memorable day, I was in the moment watching the light in my boy's eyes...and twenty years later I got the payback...

With Shaun then in his 40's, we sat man to man and yet father to son...with him reflecting back on his life, when he told me how he never believed I would actually buy that Prelude...

It remained a memorable highlight for him and he once again shared his sincere appreciation.

And as I think about it now while sitting on Windy Hill, it's still an insightful and prescient lesson that I learned from my son...

Though it was the same money...how it was spent created a changed life, and dramatically different long-term memories!

Let the adventure continue...

6 Years In...

We retired over 6 years ago...but it feels more like 6 weeks!

Somebody on the tractor forum, (my only social media vice!) mentioned retiring tomorrow...and asked were there any pointers from us "old" retired folk...

It started me thinking, which can be dangerous! 

So based on my View From Windy Hill, a few brief words of retirement advice to my 6 years ago self...

1. Keep moving and stay active.

2. Make a Big Goal list - and a daily ToDo list.

> The daily ToDo will keep you focused and there's a major dopamine rush from checking off the daily stuff being accomplished. 

> But don't let the daily ToDo's prevent doing the Big Goal list!

> It sounds crazy, but we still take vacations from retirement for travel and adventures.  It gives us something special to look forward to!

OBX, Blue Moon Beach in Florida, Intercourse (PA!), hiking The Great Smoky Mountains, Arden's Ranch, and of course hanging with Caleb, mixed in with some fishing, auctioning and seeing the Carolina Jumpers.

3. As much as you love your wife, you're now around her 24 hours a day.  It's going to be toughest on her, cause you're mostly clueless...

> So you'll need to work double-hard on the relationship...don't let the romance die before you do...

4. Every day is a gift from God, in retirement, you can learn to fully enjoy each one.

> From Windy Hill, we've a mile long view to a major state road across the lake.  Still after six years of retirement, I'm generally up at 5am working on that first pot of coffee, just sitting alone in the quiet dark, watching folks driving that road on their commute to work...

...And thanking my Father in Heaven that's it's no longer us...

5. One of my favorite sayings has become "...All we have is time..."

> We worked hard and saved for nearly 50 years, and we have been wonderfully blessed.

And for those 50 years, TIME was always the enemy - there was always too little and never any to waste!

> But now we set the priorities, now we set the schedules, now we determine the deadlines!

> The little stuff doesn't matter any longer! Now we happily keep our peace and sanity whether sitting in a waiting room for a Dr. appointment, waiting in a checkout line...or sitting on the porch watching the deer graze or the cats (who adopted us) lazily bask in the sunshine.

> The passing of time no longer controls us.

Freedom truly is priceless!

And after all, time doesn't matter...we're going to live forever...whether it's here or in heaven...

Let the adventure continue...

RMIB

Something from the other day reminded me...

There's an old 1926, yet still published book..."The Richest Man In Babylon"...by George Clauson. It's listed on Amazon as a classic and #1 best seller on personal finance.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-Original-Classics/dp/1954839499[/URL]

The 30 second story summation:

Pay yourself first before you pay others...

The process:

1. Willingly offer a spiritual donation of your first 10% to help others...

2. Next pay yourself 10% (to save and invest)...

3. Only then, proceed with living expenses from the 80% left over...

An important variable is start saving and investing your 10% when young to maximize compound interest, but it's never too late to start.

Hoooo Hummmm, you might think - we already know all that!!!

 

Was it luck?

Was it coincidence?

Was it a blessing from God?

The RMIB book found me in 1982, which was forever ago...

And for whatever reason, it just made sense at the time.  Though in honesty, I expected to see Unicorns and dragons before I expected to see retirement - it was just tooooo far into the future to believe.

But yet, I still believed saving and investing might make a difference.

So though poor, broke, and needing shoes for a 5 year old, we started following its advice, paycheck after paycheck, month after month.  Increases from annual raises and performance bonuses went fully into savings and long-term investment, so over time - - - by choice - - - we were saving and investing well beyond the initial 10% rate - through retirement 37 years later.

it's been a life changer.  The key words are..."by choice"...it was a conscious, point-in-time decision, followed by long-term commitment.

Only the Bible has had more positive impact than the RMIB for us and our marriage.

DO read both, they're life changing.  One's about the Savior, the other's about the saver.

But the RMIB is just a made up story, and too simple you might say.  And saving 10% sounds boring...is this the best you have to offer?

Well, actually a life focused only on the pursuit of money is meaningless and soul killing.

What transforms living into a real adventure is a life submitted to God.  Then it's just a simple act of making the wisest informed decisions you can which are aligned with scripture...and trusting God for everything.  It's not a "name it and claim it" - "genie in a bottle" belief.

It's a foundational trust in a heavenly Father, who the Bible says, has a steadfast love for His children...and keep on saving that 10%!!!

At least that's my View From Windy Hill, and I'm sticking with it!

Let the adventure continue...

Past the Edge

May of '24 while on vacation with the kids, our 14 yr old, great swimmer, granddaughter got caught in a rip current while we were vacationing down on the FL panhandle.

So I went in after her...

I was both a Red Cross and Boy Scout trained Life Guard in my teens - but that was 50 years ago.

The May event is still too close and too raw to go into detail, but together, we both made it out.

She swam like a fish, but was starting to give up, "...Pops, I can't make it..." and I too was at my end.  It was only a deep commitment and love for her that kept me going. 

"...You've got this Arden, we're close...You can do it..."

Then and still now, I believe if either one of us were fighting it alone, it would have had a different ending.

And Thankfully, Arden was back in the water again later on!

We thoroughly investigated rip currents after the fact, and I can spot them quite accurately now, so we're more aware and better prepared!

And the guidance to swim sideways or perpendicular to the shore to get out of a rip current has gone from head knowledge to being an ingrained natural instinct now.

I've not spoken with Arden to query her thoughts and recollections about it...it might just be an old beach memory growing dim at this point.

But for me...it has generated a fair number of nightmares.  Thankfully, they're becoming less frequent now. 

I had another at 4:43am this morning - and I can't go back to sleep after them.  Which triggered writing this post.

And it might appear a bit melodramatic to write this way about an event from nearly a year ago.

But for me, if you've ever been there, you know the feeling...

It is the only time in my life where I knew I had crossed the edge - into an area where life looks very closely upon death.

Let the adventure continue... 

Something I'm Not Telling My Wife...

Judy and I both deeply committed to "no drama and no secrets" when we got married.  It's worked out pretty well for the last 49 years...

And being her Superman, I also convinced her that Kryptonite is the only thing that can hurt me...I think she might still believe that!

But recently, there might be something which I have not mentioned to her...

I saw a training video a while back on operating big equipment and the instructor talked about always maintaining three points of contact, two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot as you climb in or out of equipment.

I've always been very active and reasonably agile, so it sounded like a pretty silly rule at the time.  And I'm still fairly active - for a 67 year old...

Although now, that safety guideline is starting to make more sense to me as I work around Windy Hill climbing ladders, climbing trees, cutting wood, climbing on equipment, jumping off trailers, you know, the normal stuff we all do.

After age 65, they started asking a new set of  geriatric questions at every Dr. visit.  They now include:

"...Have you fallen recently?   -> No..."

"...Are you afraid of falling?    -> No..."

And I'm truly not afraid of falling...

But I AM afraid about how long it might now take to heal if I did fall and something broke!  And even more so, the increased risk of that event triggering a downward health spiral, which we've witnessed firsthand with parents...

And so, I've started consciously using the 3 points of contact rule while working around Windy Hill. And I've not told Judy this, but...

I think I might be starting to slow down just a bit also...

...So maybe I'm keeping two secrets from her...

Let the adventure continue...

"...Don't Let The Old Man In..."

I've a new favorite song!

Toby Keith's "Don't Let The Old Man In".

There's actually two different videos of it on YouTube worth watching.  I think you'll like both.  This second is with Clint Eastwood.

Give them a listen, they're short...I'll wait! 

" ...Ask yourself how old would you be, if you didn't know the day you were born..."

What a perfect, thought provoking line!

Which begs the question: What is it that makes us "feel" like we're getting old?

 

Is it physical?

It's a given that our bodies age...even young Caleb at 2 months is sadly growing old.  It starts at the moment of birth.  The stop watch has started.

Our bodies start getting physically older the moment we're conceived, even though we might still be young and growing, we are still nearer to our end than the day we were born, or even since yesterday.

But we generally don't think about it that way, or feel it, nor even say we are getting old at the age of 2, or 8, or 10 - and for many even at 50.

And there are also many happy centenarians who don't say they "feel" old, even though their physical capabilities are nothing compared to an active 10 year old.

Or some might say they're "feeling" old because of their physical aches and pains".  But yet there are children with physical aches and continuing pain afflicting their bodies...and you seldom hear them say "I'm getting old".  So it's not necessarily an aging body, or even body pains that actually makes one old. 

So if not physical, then what does make us feel old?

Is it mental?

It's commonly said our actions follow our thoughts.  Just stop now and think of an idea...anything...

And oh, while you're starting to think about it, you are also a bit thirsty...

And right now is a great time for a glass of cold ice water, a nice coffee, or perhaps some sparkling water.  I'll wait while you go get it...

See, it's the thought!  Just mention getting thirsty, and our bodies go into action. And how about the whole yawn thing.  Start that at a get-together and everybody starts yawning!

This typical "thought -> action" cycle is one way that something appears to be real in our minds, or can make us "feel" the way we do.

   > They said this (an action)

   > I think they actually meant that (a thought)

   > Therefore I am going to act this way (an action)

It's often how Think -> Act works... 

So perhaps thinking that we are getting old might be triggered by something someone else said?  Maybe about our age, our physical movement, our looks, or more likely because we are simply "acting" old! 

It might even be like the songs says, because we over focus on our birth date?

When I go for a medical appointment, it's always "...Can you please confirm your name and birth date..."   And that birth date I share seems like soooo long ago, which no one ever said (but I'm positive they all think it)!!!

So it's likely feelings of getting old are actually being generated by what we - ourselves - think.  And as a result, our actions are based on how we think an old person should act...so in circular logic, we act that way just to prove to ourselves that we are getting old, so we then feel even older!

For many old guys, I think they actually like to act old and curmudgeonly as a rite of passage.  "After 70 years of living, I have a right to act this way...so get off my lawn!"

I looked up common nicknames for grumpy old men, which included "Grumpy Gus", "Old Curmudgeon", "Crabby", "Sourpuss", "Grouchy" and I think my favorite "Mr. Grumbles" because it still shows a little respect!

So act curmudgeonly and you'll be known as Mr. Grumbles, or perhaps Ms. Crabby.

But WE can do better! 

We must do better.  Our lives and personal happiness depend upon it!

Consider our actions?

I've read convincing arguments that the reverse of thought -> action can also be true.

Our actions can actually influence our feelings and in turn, our thoughts.

So Actions -> Feelings -> Thoughts...

Act happy, and you'll increase your feeling of happiness, and happy thoughts follow.

Accomplish a task and you'll feel successful, and as a result, think of yourself as being a success.

My understanding is one step of the widely accepted Cognitive Behavior Therapy is asking the client to articulate how a confident person, or one unafraid, or one in control might act in a certain situation.  And once they identify the desirable actions, to then go out and attempt acting that way.

Over time, their actions contribute to modifying their feelings, and that helps create more positive and normal thoughts about themselves. 

A part of AA is getting people to act as if they are sober, with their actions eventually modifying their feelings and then thoughts about themselves.

So maybe we need to stop thinking of our birth date, our frailty, and our pains...and adjust the focus of our thoughts and actions up and outside of ourselves.

And we can control our actions!

Simply by acting more gracious, kind and outgoing - others desire to be around us more...

Laugh a bit more, relax, loosen up, act like you enjoy life, and being alive - and you actually start enjoying life more...

Stop and actually ponder God's gift of nature around us - and you'll begin to see more and more of the loving hand of God surrounding you...

Actively look for the little things in life to be thankful for - and life becomes meaningful with more to live for...

And last, try - just try - to live one day without complaining...this may be the hardest of all! 

(And once successful - - try to achieve two days in a row!)

Perhaps, with a few changed actions we can actually start to be more full of life, experience more fun, more joy and happiness, and be way more enjoyable to be around, and we'll begin to feel younger again as a result...

And when you start to act and think that way, results begin to build upon results - and that's how lives are changed.

Sure, we're all going to die, but maybe we can live a little bit more while we're still alive...just act younger to start feeling younger.

And in the meantime, go listen to the song again...it will help you to start changing your actions - and perhaps your life!!!

Let the adventure continue...

The Ol' Bear

Someone once said "...Never speak ill of the dead..."

As children, we grew up in my grandparent's house. My Grandfather, born in 1900 was of the generation who lived through some of the worst periods in modern history.

His Dad died when he was young. So at 13, my Grandfather took over running the farm, becoming the sole provider, surviving through the Spanish Flu, WWI, the Stock Market crash, the Depression and then WWII...he experienced it all.

When we moved in, I was but 4, he was 60. He seemed terribly old at the time, but actually in years, he wasn't.  In fact, I'm now 68, so it would have been 8 years ago for me if our roles and lives were reversed.

He liked to call himself "...The Ol' Bear..." and it was appropriate.

My Grandfather was ever the authoritarian, with a 3 inch wide, 36 inch long leather razor strop hung on the kitchen wall to prove it. The type friendly old barber's used to sharpen straight razors, and mean old grandfathers used to sharpen mischievous children...

And I was full of the mischief!  I won't go into details - though there are some.  And I still today consider it child abuse.  A strop applied to the but-tox is painful, applied to the legs - it becomes memorable...

Some will never admit to hearing voices in their head.  But for me, even though he passed long ago, back when I was 16...his is the voice that has stayed in my head over the last 60 plus years...speaking, judging and correcting - though never invited, and never welcomed.

And I hated him for it...

Hate is such a strong emotional word.  An emotion I never thought existed within me.  But sometimes we have doors we just don't open, and dark corners we look away from.

Though memories and dark corners can sometimes be changed under the light of introspection...and with God's help...

But now, I have finally found peace with my memories of him. But only since retirement. Only since taking the time to reflect back over the details of the many adventures of life, the highs, the lows, the silly and the serious.

For so long, I saw only his meanness, which seemed constant...and the beatings - thankfully few, but so very memorable.

Though now in retrospect, as only one example, it was he and that strop which introduced me to the pain of lying, generating a life long commitment to never, ever lie again.

That single item has been foundational to my career, instilling a deep trust - somehow perceived by others - that I will never lie...no matter the consequences.

He instilled a work ethic, and a moral code with clear rights and wrongs, and a desire to better myself.

Hatred for him propelled me to prove I could be successful and drove me to never be satisfied.

But - I am satisfied now...

My soul is finally at peace...

At this point, if we were to ever meet again, perhaps I might even say "Thank you" for helping to shape who I am today.

Though perfect virtue is still a long way off, I'm better for having known him and even though beaten - my spirit was never defeated...

And the Ol' Bear...

Now that I've found peace, he seldom comes to visit anymore...

Let the adventure continue...

My Daily Desire

To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face;

To greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains;

To approach my work with a clear mind;

To hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the Ultimate Purpose toward which I am working;

To meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart;

To approach the night with the weariness that ever woos sleep and the joy that comes from work well done - 

This is how I desire to waste wisely my days. 

                                                 - Thomas Dekker

Let the adventure continue... 

Brother Gary...

This is for family - and anyone else who has ever lost a loved one...

Memorial Day weekend - 2023.  We just left Arden after a fun week on Blue Mountain Beach up in the panhandle of Florida.  Now we're down on the West Coast at Punta Gorda, looking forward to seeing Judy's brother Warren.  And our Sister-In-Law Bernie, who was married to Judy's other brother, Gary.

And though brother Gary is no longer here...memories of him still live on.

It's said, people leave a part of themselves behind when they engage with others...

And what's left behind might be as simple as a happy memory, or perhaps as impactful as a changed life...

It's some magical combination of the relationship we share, the depth of the shared conversation, and the personalities and unique interests of each involved.

And change.  Abraham Lincoln is attributed with saying "change is a constant".

Our lives and relationships are in constant change, a continuous dynamic evolution. 

None of us are the same individuals we were 20 years ago, nor even 20 days ago.

And those two thoughts bring us back to our Brother Gary...he changed alot over his lifetime, and he left a part of himself behind with us.  His stories are a part of us and memories of him still live on in each of us. 

There are many "Young Gary Growing Up" stories. It was a large family with six rough and tumble brothers, and the 7th, a most beautiful and perfect Princess, and there was always something memorable happening.

The "growing up with Gary" stories are from the far past and it was a much younger Gary then.

Those early stories are best left to be told by those who were there.  They are their stories to tell...to reminisce upon...and to laugh about.

And it is the retelling of those old stories that keep the memory of Gary alive.

From speaking with Colin, Gary was a brother he looked up to, one he had much in common with and many shared interests.

 

To Warren he became a close friend and the best-est happy hour partner one could hope for.  (How I wish I could have heard some of those discussions!)

To me, Gary was a Brother-In-Law.  We first met over 50 years ago, he in his late 20's and I was 17, dating that Princess, my future wife, the best looking and smartest of the litter!

He was still young, still filled with the hopes and dreams of youth...and still yet trying to find his path in life, as we all were.

Just returning home as a hero - fresh from Vegas, he flashed silver dollars and had exciting stories to tell! 

He was a paint and body guy, specializing in vinyl tops, a hot trend in the 70's, so with his skill in high demand, he was flush.

He mentioned also painting high dollar cars and "putting gold flake" in the paint...

To this poor 17 year old, since it was Vegas, I just knew it was the real stuff, Gold with a capital G.  It just so happened, the last time we had dinner with Gary I finally had to ask!  Laughing, he said it was just plain old gold flake...it only took 50 years to be confirmed!

I could tell of hitchhiking home from work at 18, and getting picked up by Gary and his running buddy.  He then proceeded to burn rubber - fishtailing seemingly forever - while reaching Mach 10 in his '71 Ford Mach 1.  All the while I was rolling around under the fast back - - - since he had removed the back seat!

I could tell of the 5 pound bass he caught, besting me on my "home lake", or going out for wings while helping them move from Navarre, all stories for another day.

And that brings us next to our Sister-In-Law Bernie...

To Bernie he was - inseparable.

One couldn't say "Gary" without saying "Bernie"...kind of like trying to say Bonnie without saying Clyde...

You just automatically have to say both names together as one..."GaryandBernie"...because they were always...so together...in everything!

I recently watched their wedding video again. September 30th, 1989 - the start of their 30 plus years of marriage.

The wedding and reception was beautiful, (a statement justified since Gary and I both had hair back then!)

But what I never caught until watching it most recently was a bit of the servant's heart in Gary.

During the reception Gary and Bernie went around and visited every table, personally greeting each person attending.

Then after dinner, Gary followed up once again, revisiting each table to serve desert to each of their guests...

A simple act which most may have missed, but it highlighted his thoughtfulness and caring...

And my thoughts shift forward...to the last several years, and Gary's impact on many in the family.

One life changing event of great enjoyment is how Gary and Bernie (once again, G&B!) introduced the family to the Outer Banks!  It has become one of our favorite places in this beautiful world.

Our kids still speak of those times at the beach with awesome memories of family fun, laid back togetherness, the sun, sand and sea. 

And even now, just finishing a fun week at the beach with Arden, Gary's influence has been passed to yet another generation that loves the beach!

And of course, it was Gary who introduced us all to joy of kite flying...

As much as Gary loved to fly his kites...even more...

He loved to get his kites into the hands of the kids...

So here's to you Brother... 

You left a legacy...and a part of you still lives on in us...

And we all miss you... 

Let the adventure continue...

Pushed or Pulled...

There is an important difference between being pushed to do something versus the pull generated by a desire to engage in something worthy.

While push and pull are both motive forces, their respective powers are far from the same.

It's OK to be pushed, if on a swing, a sled, or a slide...

But nobody likes to be pushed - or to be forced - to do something! 

And likely all have felt that type of "push" in the past - of being forced to execute a task - whether it's a looming deadline, an unmotivated promise to a partner, or unexpected demands from a child or client...

Being pushed to do something often triggers a reaction to push back.  It's a natural response, as if being at the edge of a cliff and the natural reaction to lean back away from the edge.  It's pushing back to prevent going over the edge, just like pushing back against doing something you feel forced into doing. 

Being pushed, or forced to do, is often an energy drain. 

How much better it is to be pulled!

To be pulled is to be drawn forward.  To be engaged in a task with pull creates energy. 

It's the motivating power generated by the pursuit of a worthy goal.

To be pulled is to see and respond to the vision of a better future. 

A task with pull generates an internal energy, with sustaining power to see it through to the end.

Or it may be as simple as an internal commitment or desire to not let something fail.

Pull is associated with strong objectives, such as to build, to expand influence, to face and slay fears, to grow in wisdom...to accomplish.

To be pulled is to be forward looking.  By it's very nature, it creates a "leaning into", and generates a positive energy from the realization that we are pursuing something of importance.

Pull to do, is created when one truly believes that actions taken today will make tomorrow even better.

Looking back over the past, the greatest and most memorable achievements have been pulls.

A strong pull has been the desire to continually improve the lives of my loved ones.  Not just to provide and protect...but also to seek new adventures and new life experiences to share. 

And even now, in this new chapter of life, though retired, there remains a tug, a yearning...a strong pull forward.

It's an energy generated from still having dreams and hopes for the future.

We are bullish on the future, pulled forward by firm conviction that the best is yet to come...

Let the adventure continue...

The Best Years of Life...

The best years of life?

Perhaps 6 to 16... 

It's the period between finding your belly button and becoming  - - > Master of the Universe!

From learning to walk in the hallways...to learning how to race on the streets! 

From discovering a Red Crayola...to learning that Red means STOP!!!  OK, so maybe not everyone learns to stop when they see RED by age 16! 

And looking for all things Red (or perhaps Orange!) might be one of the most important accomplishments achieved over a lifetime...

But even more interesting - think back to the four short years specifically from 8 to 12.

Stop for a moment and truly think back to your own childhood...

      the house you lived in at 8 years old...

      the friends you had at 10... 

      the games you played... 

      the discoveries you had made by 11...

      and at 12, perhaps the last year of innocence...

What comes first to mind for you?

Are they good memories or painful to recall? 

Mine are happy.  Every day was an adventure.

A hand-me-down bike, a skateboard made from plywood and an old metal roller skate, playing with Matchbox Cars by the hours, and paper airplanes - 10¢ balsa gliders from Foster's, and skipping rope (the hard kind with people twirling the rope at both ends) and forever playing catch back and forth with a baseball or football...

And of course, sandlot baseball at the cemetery, out in the back, where there was nobody buried...or so we believed...

With our own "Ground Rule Double" so if you hit a fly ball past the infield, 2nd base was as far as you could go because everyone on the field was in the weeds searching for the ball!

Can't forget sledding on Dutton's hill...which was waaaay steeper back then!!!

Hours and hours of "to-back-go" and "olly-olly-in-free" playing Hide and Go Seek.  And getting to play past "dark-thirty" was always the best!

It was climb, run and discover - with no thought of past regrets and never a worry about the future.

At 8, I didn't realize how fleeting and precious time would become...and how life back then was the sweetest and most magical.

It was life lived in the present...fully aware...living moment to moment...from one adventure to the next.

But sometime during the 12th year of my life, I tried to convince the world I was a teenager.

It think it was then...at 12...

...the point at which childhood slipped quietly away.

I didn't see it go...we never shook hands, nor said proper good-byes...in fact, I'm sure at the time, I wished it would leave...

Like most, I simply turned away from the wonders of childhood, and shifted from being fully alive in the present to worrying about the past and about the future to come.

But now at 65...

I am thankful I have no real regrets from the past.  I've always attempted to give life my best and to live with virtue, honor and integrity.  I think that's all that can be asked of anyone.

Though perhaps I still think a bit too much about the future...

It's hard to ignore the uncertainty of life, the rapid passing of time, and of a certain death coming too soon.

The book of Ecclesiastes comes to mind - with life like the withering of grass and vanishing as a vapor...

My thoughts can grow very dark when I consider how fleeting the 65 years have been - and how short the time left...

Though it's not the dieing part which is concerning.  I have no fear of death, it's something I prepared for back at 14.

In fact like Paul, I'm very much ready for it - to die is gain...but still...

Please God, not just yet...

I still have Judy to protect...

I made a promise to her, till death do we part...I've given my life to protect and provide for her...please let me live just one day longer than her...

And I know that I can't control the next moment...

But, I AM in control of my thoughts right now.

So while still here - for perhaps another day...another week...another 30 years - 

I will endeavor to live my life as I did at the age of 8 - quickly forgiving mistakes, and no worrying about the future...

And live each day with focus - 

      to experience the day - just one day at a time...

      to be present between each sunrise and sunset...

      to be light...

      to laugh...

      to find the next great adventure...

      to look for the many wonders of God around me...

      to experience joy from just being alive in the moment...

      and most of all - to be Thankful...

And maybe...just perhaps...the best years of life are still yet to come!!!

Let the adventure continue...

 

Who I Am...

An introspective view from Windy Hill:

This is my DNA - this is who I am...

Love is a decision - which you make every day...

Don't agree to a deadline you can't achieve - and never ever miss a deadline... 

Focus...

Do it now!

Surround yourself with smart people - learn from them...

Watch others, learn from their actions, identify what is working - then do it faster or improve upon it...

I can't control anybody else - but I CAN control myself, my effort, my actions...

Everyone is smarter than me - but nobody will outwork me!

Have integrity - never ever lie...

Never break a promise...

Read "How to Win Friends..." once a month for a year, then at least once every year after - develop an agreeable, "easy to get along with" personality. 

Do it now!

I am NOT the center of the universe...

Never complain, never whine...

Change it, else accept it - but never stop moving forward...

Life is 90% wanting to and 10% knowing how - just get on with it!

Waiting for all the answers is destructive procrastination - keep moving forward, adjust your actions based on results... 

Do it now!

There are NO menial jobs...

There are NO menial people - everyone is important...

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me...

Say "Thank You" often - and truly mean it...

Do it now!

Never Quit...

I promised 46 years ago to take care of Her, to protect Her, to provide for Her...to love Her - never ever break a promise...

Let the adventure continue... 

Recent Jordan Peterson Quote...

 

Monday Reflections

"A wise person is someone who finds what they lost in childhood and regains it. You return voluntarily to the state of childhood well awake and then determined to participate through truth in the manifestation of a proper being." (Jordan Peterson)  As I've stated before...someplace between 8 and 10 is the perfect age...it's the most free and adventurous you've ever been in your life... Freedom, wonder, excitement from just being alive - and every day is a new adventure! I'm doing my best to return there...and to take my closest friends with me!!! Let the adventure continue...

The Mist...

There's something ethereal with the mist

Rise and stretch, fade and twist

Shape and size in constant shift

Alive and moving, my spirits lift

The creation of God...and yet another gift

Let the adventure continue... 

Trailer Trash...

It's early May on Windy Hill...and just for the record, we've not always been "Trailer Trash".

Yes, it may be accurate to say we live in an 8' x 30' trailer - but it started life as a swanky "RV" and it does have 3 slide outs!

OK, yes it does have an ugly, sea foam green  skirt around it...but it still has the wheels on underneath - it could RV again!

And Yes, it may be true that one of us likes to decorate with blue plastic tarps...

But it's mainly for when we're having parties!

And it may be true that we had a refrigerator in the front yard...

But it was only for a few days - until we could get it moved...now it's working in the shed!

OK, OK, so we have a vehicle under a tarp in the hedge row...

But it's a Dune Buggy, so it's not your common "Chevy in the hedge row"...and it's not like it's up on cinder blocks!

And OK, Yes, we have been known to hold extended day-long Corn Hole competitions...but we don't have matching team shirts with our names on the front and "Johnsonville Brauts" embroidered on the back.

But hmmm...that WAS before Judy got her embroidery machine...so MAYBE we could???

Nah, we'll just add our names to the front of our matching orange and neon green shirts.

And Yes, we do feed the local stray feral cats, but at least not on the porch.

Course there's not really room for the cat food bowl on the pallet we use for a porch, but still, we have standards...

OK...so maybe we are just a wee little bit Trailer Trash...

But we won't always be!

The house plans are done...the red lines complete...the structural engineers are finished...the blueprints are stamped...

And the race has officially started.

The Builder is on board, a well respected local, known for building tight well-built homes, and he only lives half a mile away.

And we attended our first Nelson Township monthly Board meeting -  with all 8 people in attendance.  Although it was just me and one other local busy body who were not part of the Town Board or Committee members!

But we endured the entire meeting...and we now have our officially approved - - - Land Use Permit - - - and received a formal "Welcome to the Community" from the Town Supervisor!

It only cost $25 dollars to be a respected member of Nelson Township (but we'll always be "flat-landers" to them!)

The local Building Inspector has a copy of the stamped plans, along with our formal request for a Build Permit, so another check for $3000 (Dad was never paid that kind of money when he was the Building Code Enforcement Officer!)

So three more items on the 'Must Do' list are complete - only 9,997 more to go...

Unfortunately, these may have been the easiest tasks in the house building process!

Remember the post about what you can learn by going through hell?

Well, we're getting a full education as we go through Construction Cost Quote hell with Joe Biden's inflation running rampant...

Life sure was easier when we were happy with just being Trailer Trash!

Let the adventure continue...