The legend of Shorty......

Good Evening all, and thank you for stopping by. Pull up a chair and relax while I fix you all a mint julep. ( :-D ) After that you can read this post and hopefully have a good chuckle at Shorty's expense. Believe me when I say that He won't mind, since He passed away many years ago.
This story takes place in rural Alabama in the late nineteen thirties or early nineteen forties. It was toward the end of the depression years, or maybe immediately after the depression. TVA ( Tennessee valley authority ) had been started by FDR as one of the measures to stop the depression and put people to work and was beginning to supply electricity to the rural areas where it hadn't been available before. Ok..The history lesson over let me get on to Shorty. Shorty was, at the time that this took place, past middle age. When TVA began to put poles in the ground and run wire on them to carry the electricity they started contacting people to offer electric service When Shorty was contacted he adamantly refused. He didn't like the idea of that kind of change and didn't trust anything the government had a part in. That was a common sentiment at the time nationwide. Anyway...Back to Shorty. After a while though, after visiting some neighbors that had tied into the electrical service and listening to his wife, He decided to try it out. After finding out how much it cost he again refused. Finally though, he came up with a brilliant idea. He'd watched the men as they handled the wire and had seen how they'd tied it all together. His idea was, if they could do it so could he. That was probably the worst idea he'd ever had. Shorty didn't want outlets, didn't see a need for them, so he ran the wire for overhead lights. After completing that task He ran a wire from his house all the way to the closest power pole. Yep, you guessed it. Up the pole Shorty shimmied till he came to the closest wire to which he attached one of his two wires. No problem so far. Down the pole he shimmied, back to the ground, whereupon he commenced to hook up the ground wire to the grounding rod. That, my friends, is where the fireworks began. What Shorty didn't know was that a transformer was required. He'd just hooked up his sixty watt lights to seven thousand volts. You read right. Seven thousand volts. A bit too much when one hundred and ten volts are what is required, huh? Shorty stood and watched all of the wire he'd just put in spark and fizzle till it burned completely into. He was fortunate in two ways though. First, he'd hooked up the ground last. If he'd hooked it up first he'd have been fried at the top of the pole. Second, the wire in his house burned up before catching his house on fire. Bless Shorty's heart. Shorty lived until the early nineteen sixties, having never gotten over his anger at the power company and having never had electricity in his house. From that point on he just didn't trust electricity. After his death though, his wife did have the house wired and properly tied in. She enjoyed having the convenience of electrical power till her death in the early nineteen seventies. Nineteen seventy one I believe it was. The moral of this story is......Well, I don't know what the moral of this story is so I'll let you pick out your own. ..........And so it went..........

My Hero......

Good Evening all....Once again I say thanks for taking the time to read this post. I'm very glad you're here. This will be a short post because it's about someone I've posted about already. Today is my Dad's birthday and if he were alive, He'd be eighty three years old. He was born in the year of our Lord nineteen twenty two. I went by his grave today and once again paid homage to a great man and a wonderful father. Since losing him to cancer in May nineteen eighty eight I've not lived a day without thinking of him and something he taught me. What does one say about someone that has had that much of a positive impact on so very many lives, and especially mine. Suffice it to say "I miss you Dad. Thank you for being you!" .......and so it went.......

Connecting the Frogs....I mean dots.

Good Evening. A short post here to provide an explanation for something. I was ask the connection between the title of the last post and the post itself. Here is that explanation. It is the opinion and belief of this writer that being a frog is the result of being a selfish, insensitive taker. Someone that takes and takes without giving back. Someone that is out for him/her self to the point of narcissism. That, my friends, is a frog. Turning from a frog to a prince/princess requires first of all the knowledge that a change is needed. Second of all the desire and will to work at making the changes required. Third of all it requires perseverance, or put another way, the will to stay at it till the task is finished. More later on the metamorphosis from reptile to kind and gentle human. .......And so it goes........

Learning how to not be a Frog.......

Good Evening. I'm pleased and happy that you've taken time from your busy life to drop in and catch up on the latest in this man's blog. I sincerely hope that when you finish reading you're life will have been made somehow better. Without further ado let us get to it.
I was thinking today about the learning process that I embarked on years ago as a child. Some of those things learned are numerous and are imperative to living life. They include things we rarely give thought to, such as potty training, tying shoes, table manners and the list goes on and on. This blog isn't about those things. Yes, we do take them for granted and yes, they are important. The things I'm speaking of though seem to be sorely lacking in the lives of many people of both genders. Things such as knowing how to Love as unconditionally as is humanly possible. Also things like how to be respectful to others and, yes, even ourselves. Another thing is trust. Wow! Let's dwell briefly on these things before we move on to another. Love, Respect and Trust. How we all desire those in our lives, both to give and to receive. They are an essential in any healthy relationship. That of parent to child, sibling to sibling, friend to friend and of course, spouse to spouse, and that list goes on and on almost to infinity. The lack of one or more of these are the reason for the end of every most marriages and/or relationship. You see, most if not all of us only focus on only half of the equation. (wow, now I'm sounding like a mathematician) We are each, of course, responsible for giving those things in the appropriate time and way, but our part is certainly not finished there. It is also up to us to make it possible, and yes, even easier for those around us to give the Love, Respect and Trust. If our live style makes it hard for others to be loving, respectful and trusting toward us then we're missing the mark and making it harder on those in our lives. So, the question we should ask ourselves is not only am I loving, respectful and trusting, but do I make it the easiest I can for those in my life to give me those things? Is it a hard work for them to give those things to me? Am I gracious in the giving and receiving of them? These are questions we can all ask ourselves regularly, and not only ourselves but those in our lives. O.K. An end of this post. I appriciate your patience in waiting for me to post this. I know some have been sitting for days in front of your computer screen waiting. Just a little joke. (very little) ......and so it goes........

I'm back...Well, what's left of me is.

Good Morning to everyone. Some of you may have been wondering just where I've been. Just in case that you have I'll tell you. My Mom has been in the hospital. She starting running an extremely high fever. Well...high for someone that's eighty one. After taking her to the hospital and getting her admitted, talking to the Doctor and hearing about the test results, finding out that she had a kidney infection as well as having a bad case of pneumonia, I began feeling...well...very ill. I called my neice to come stay with my Mom and I came home. To say I was sick is an understatement. Suffice it to say that I lost fifteen pounds in one very long and very horrible day. I'm much better now, only tired and run down. The greatest thing though, is I brought my Mom home from the hospital this morning. My main task now is keeping her indoors for a few days while the antibiotics finish their job. That, let me say quickly, will be a full time job for a man alone. You may be asking yourself about now why I'm telling you all of this. It's to say that I'm back and I survived a really tough several days. Look for another post in a couple of days. .......and so it went......

A tidbit of wisdom......Three.

Good Evening all. It's a bit past my bedtime so this will be shorter than usual. I appreciate you're coming to this blog and taking the time to read it. I hope this particular post causes thought.
This post is about something that is, I fear, dying as an ability. It's something that we absolutely must have to survive in today's world. It can make our relationships good, while at the same time it's absence can ruin the best and strongest of relationships. What, you ask, is so essential to life? What, you ask, is so missing in our culture? Ok, Ok, I'll tell you. It's the art (or is it a science) of listening. In my humble opinion it's absence causes more problems in relationships than any other single thing. If we all could listen as well as we could talk just think what a difference there would be in our lives, and yes, even in our world. I have in my meditating about this come to a couple of ideas about it. Reasons we (as a people) don't listen well? [one] We put too much time and effort into trying to convince ourselves and others that we have value, or put another way, trying to have a better self-esteem. That requires that we spend a lot of time talking about ourselves and what we know and feel. [two] We don't place enough value on what those around us say. We spend so much time comparing ourselves to others in so many ways that we, as a consequence, don't have the time to stop and listen to those in our lives. [three] Most of us never slow down long enough to really consider the extreme importance of listening. How many times has someone ask us "did you hear what I said"? The same question better put would be "did you listen to what I said"? We can, and usually do, hear things without really listening. So often our minds are full of other thoughts when we should be listening. How do we improve listening skills you ask? One way is to give the person you're communicating with your complete attention. Try to keep your mind on what they say and how they say it. Another way is to realize that those in our lives (well, most of them) really do have valid points of view, and we could learn a lot from them. Simply put, give value to those that are talking to us. I write this at the risk of over simplifying, but I believe that it is something that we need to address in ourselves. Ok, enough. I'm off to bed. ...........And so it goes.........

In search of a proper tribute.......

Good Evening and welcome to this blog once again. I'm honored and flattered that you would chose to come. Please make yourselves at home and feel free to comment whatever is on your heart and mind. This Evening I'm going to speak a bit about something that is very close to my heart. I have an Aunt that is ninety four years old. Her name is Dicie and she was born on January third in the year of our Lord Nineteen hundred and twelve. She has, of course, been a part of my life since I can remember. How do I say what I want to convey? I'm not sure but I'll give it my best effort. She is my Dad's older sister and the oldest still living. Up until a week ago she still lived alone in her own place. About a week ago she fell in her front yard while working in her flowers. Fortunately a neighbor a few yards away saw her fall and ran to give assistance. He of course called 911. They arrived quickly and took her to the emergency room about five miles away. After the tests and examination she was admitted to the hospital. Her doctor told us that her hip joint was so worn out that she'd never be able to walk again, at least very well. After she was treated for minor injuries and treated for pain she was released to a local nursing home which she will probably have to stay in. You may be asking yourself at this point why I'm posting so extensively about all of this. Let me expound. Aunt Dicie has been a large part of my life since my first memories of life. She married her deceased husband, Lee, while in her mid to late teens and they were together for almost sixty years, at which time he passed away. In my memories of her from earliest childhood my recall of her is that of kindness, gentleness and graciousness. I can never recall her speaking a cross word to anyone at anytime, though I'm sure she had her moments. She and Uncle Lee lived as newly weds through the depression of the nineteen thirties. With jobs and work so very hard to come by Uncle Lee would make a trip on foot every year from Walker County in central Alabama to Florida to help harvest the citrus crops. He did this for several years and was paid every day his wage. I seem to remember him telling me that they were paid about ten or twelve cents a day and were happy to have that. While there his diet consisted of water and crackers. After the harvest was completed He'd walk back to his home in Central Alabama. Aunt Dicie never learned to drive though she did attempt it back in the nineteen fifties. Many of the roads close to their house were still dirt and difficult to drive on so she became content to let Uncle Lee do the driving. I recall as a young child, whenever I was with Aunt Dicie she would slip me some sugar or fruit, etc. She loved children more than anyone I can remember She never did have any of her own, having tried for many years. To my knowledge she was never able to conceive and fertility doctors were years in the future. I wish I had time and space and ability to write everything I can remember about her and the extraordinary life she lived and the lives she impacted. In her later years, after the death of Uncle Lee, I was presented with the amazing good fortune of being able to live very close to her and was lucky enough to be able to watch out for her and take care of things she could no longer do. Up to year before last she still insisted on cutting her own lawn with her own push mower. She and I compromised by agreeing on a plan that would work. I'd cut her grass and she'd do the trim work. I didn't know for months that she was, at ninety two years old, going a couple of doors down to a lady that couldn't cut her grass and would cut it for her. She never did care for lawn tractors, so it really was a concession on her part to make that compromise. I was also privledged to be allowed to fix or repair whatever she had that needed it. Not wanting to be a 'nuisance' she had hired some work done and gotten ripped off. I had the honor for the last several years of her time at home to be able to not only fix things for her but to look out for her interests when she had anything done. So I ask, how do I give honor and tribute to such an extraordinary person. Whatever I say seems to me to fall so dreadfully short and inadequate. Even though she's lost her ability to walk her mind stays as sharp as it ever was, and for that I'm thankful. So, I'll simply say "thank you Aunt Dicie" for everything. Thank you for just being you. Thank you for the positive impact on, not only mine, but countless numbers of the lives you touched in ninety four years. The world would be a much better place if it had more "Aunt Dicies" in it. It's with a sad heart that I say, .......and so it went.......

That's the truth.....and I'm stickin' to it !!!!!

Good Evening everyone. Thank you for dropping by. I'm happy to have you read this, the latest post in the ongoing saga of what I call my blog. I'm assuming, of course, that you came to this blog site to actually read it. ( :-D ) Anyway, welcome! Any comments will be greatly appreciated, so fire at will. (wait, who is Will and why are we shooting at him?) Ok you groan! Enough of the levity, you cry. Alright, on to other things.
I have over the years learned a few things. One of those things is about 'Truth'. We in our society have come to believe, over the years and decades, that Truth is a relative thing. It certainly is not that. We've decided over the same time span that Truth is something that can vary. It certainly can't. We as a people treat Truth in whatever way makes us 'comfortable'. We create gameshows about it and we use it as a tool to accuire things. We use it, or a "version" of it to get what we want from life and to satisfy our desires from the world in which we live. I've come to realize over the years in this life that the truth is the one thing that will keep us sane. It's the rock that never moves or shifts on which we can confidently stand. Ok, enough of definations. One of the biggest problems that we all face is telling ourselves the truth. We all have a tendency to believe what isn't the truth, especially when it involves ourselves. We grow up believing that we lack in certain ways and that it effects our value. It doesn't not! We have a tendency to believe what other people say that involves us. We grow up believing that our nose is too big, or our hair is ugly, or our face isn't attractive enough. We grow up wanting to be like someone else. If only we were prettier or more handsome. If we could only run faster. If we could only be smarter or more popular. The TRUTH is that none of those things have anything whatsoever to do with our value. The TRUTH is that we are valuable and worth a lot simply because we are human beings and are created by a Loving God ! What we tell ourselves, or don't tell ourselves, as the case may be turns out to be what we believe. What we believe, in turn, is what we base our decisions and choices in life on. That would explain for example, why so many of us make such rotten choices about so very many things. That would also explain why so many see themselves as so without value and suicidal. The science of therapy is based on, at least in part, our efforts to find out what is the real truth and work at believing that not everything that we've heard and everything we've been taught is so necessarily true. So, you may ask, where do I look for the TRUTH, and how will I know when I've found it. On that I have this to say. To be continued. You'll have to come back and read some more to find out. I'll be posting more a bit later on this same subject. I believe it will be enlightening for most if not all. .......and so it goes.....

Thinking things through.........

Good Evening All. Thank you for stopping by to check out this, the latest post in this man's blog. It's been a rather long week. I've been busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger. (maybe that fits a little too well)
A quick story about something I witnessed years ago that I still think is, well, funny. When I was on one of the aircraft carriers I served on we had a guy that used most all of his spare time fishing. I suppose one could call that the ultimate deep sea fishing trip, huh? A lot of time the the depth of the water we were in was from one to two miles deep. Sometimes more. Back to the story though. This particular guy did his fishing from the flight deck. This meant that he was fishing one hundred feet above the water and at a speed of about twenty miles per hour. One day I decided to ask him the question I'd been wondering about. The question..."If you catch a fish that weighs four hundred pounds, which certainly could happen, how are you going to get the fish all the way to the point you're fishing from, which as I have already pointed out, was a hundred feet up. Also, I ask that if he did indeed get the fish to the flight deck, which was highly unlikely, what are you going to do with it? His reply was classic. He said, "well, I'll try to figure that out when the time comes that I've caught one". It occurred to me at the time that he'd probably not thought this through very well. I wonder from time to time if he's lived his whole life using that philosophy and if so how successful he's been in his endeavors. .......and so it went.........