So far I have tried to stay away from many of the political thoughts I harbor. I think though that most of you who can read between the lines can sense that I have been a pretty solid Obama supporter. I want to do a post before the election on some of the reasons I have for this. Keep in mind that one of the reasons I have done these post is for the purpose of having some record of all of the medical events of late. There is no secret that the health concerns that we have now take on our greatest concerns. At the same time it is hard to ignore the rest of life and for me I have always maintained an interest in what is happening on the national scene.
So I have a few thoughts. Here they are. The first one is this. I think that if Romney were to win I could accept him as our President. I think he is a fine man. I think he is smart and I have thought that if he is elected I will be able to follow his leadership. I think he is deep down inside a liberal thinker who has had to alter his position to appeal to voters. If he is elected it is my hope that the country can unify behind his leadership and that we can put behind us the polarized nature we now have. It seems to me that since Obama was elected that the opposition has been on a non stop mission to make sure he is not reelected. As I view these events I often think that the nature of the opposition has the look of being quite unfair and one sided. I notice a few more grey hairs on the head of our president. I have noticed this also on presidents who have gone before him, so I am thinking it comes with the territory. I wonder sometimes if some of this has behind it some hints of dark racial history of which we are all victims in our country. Nobody ever dares say that, but let me put it out there. I would not state my feelings accurately if I did not put this out.
One thing that I have never questioned is that our existing president will win this election. A fine family, a scandal free support staff, fine skills with words, solid thinking skills, fine support in the global community, and a deep compassion for the average American on both the rich and the poor side. I am very surprised that people are saying this is going to be all that close. In my life I have not encountered a person who has done a better job in this position. I have never really understood the people who oppose him so passionately. It seems to me that some sort of deep seated hatred exist and I just do not get it. I opened this post with the statement that there are some things about Romney that I also like. But there are a lot of other things I like more about the person I will vote for in the morning.
Let me tell you a story. Many years ago my first job was at the Country Club of Lansing. The governors mansion was located on the border of that course. At that time George Romney was the governor and for exercise he would come over and play nine holes with 3 golf balls. I was about 14 years old. One time he had with him his son. I do not remember it all that well but now I wonder now if that son was Mitt. So if he does get elected at least I can can say I met the guy. By the way what a name. So we have the choice between a guy who's first name sounds like a baseball glove and a guy who's name sounds like a guy from a far away place. Only in America. Deep down I think this is what makes this a great place. God grant me the insight to accept and support the outcome in whatever path it may take. It is going to be interesting.
Stan the Man
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes
I was watching a little kids show the other day and the kids where doing some exercise to a neat little song. The song went "head and shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes da da da da da da, and so on. The teacher was getting the kids to exercise and methodically touch these parts of the body in doing so. I tried it. One thing I noticed was that touching the toes was getting to be a bit more of a challenge. I think for many of us that I am not alone in this. If I did reach the toes I was having a bit more problem getting back to the head than I can recall in past years. I am turning 61 in a week or so. Kind of hard to think about, but it is the truth. The birthday comes around election day. (Nov 3)
So I have reported many fine things about Deb and her battle. Today though I want to tell you a couple of things about her that has always kind of bugged me. Sometimes, when we are riding in the car she can get a little commanding in the car control department. She does not like it when I leave the windshield wipers on when it is done raining. She does not like it when I blame all the drivers around me for some rather dumb driving. Plus, she likes to play the radio. I like it when it is quite. I kind of soak in the things around me. I will say to her once in a while "I drive so much alone that when I have a hottie like you next to me in the car I prefer to revel in the thought of what people are thinking when they see me with such stunning beauty." To this she always trots out a two syllable term, the first of which is what you all know as a male cow.
You know, the other thing that bugs me is that when we are riding, and when I go in to one of my quite times, she will interrupt and say this. "Penny for your thoughts?". Now folks, I have always thought that how after 37 years she might think some of my thoughts were worth more than a penny. I look for a raise. Perhaps when I turn 61 I will hear "nickle for your thoughts". Not holding my breath, but something I have always hoped for.
I was sitting in church yesterday and the pastor had a good sermon. Someplace in the sermon he told about the scene in the garden when they were coming to arrest Jesus. I think it was Peter who got out his sword and hacked off the ear of one of the Romans. Jesus fixed it. I think I have been watching too much Law and Order. I started to wonder how you can hack off an ear without the sword doing some damage to something else. I picture this as a descending blow that would also hit the shoulder area. Then I thought some about what would have happened if the sword bearer got the whole head. As I thought I wondered a if Jesus could do heads. I wondered about if ears were in the game why not whole heads. And it was not very long that I started to wonder if it was the whole head, if it was possible for Jesus to get it on straight. (I think he can sometimes do good at this). Anyway that night I had a dream about this Roman with a real sore ear and a real sore head. I think this is why Deb has concentrated all these years to get me to turn off the windshield wipers sooner and wants to play the radio a little more. It is just so hard for me to listen to these stories and not wonder about them on the way home. I watched football that afternoon and with all of the violence I am kind of hoping that whole heads are in the realm. Kind of wonder also why I like football so much.
It is interesting to me as I reflect on this that I often think we might be wise to take these and other writings from these ancient times in a figurative way more than in a literal way. I wondered if in that sense those stories might have an even greater meaning. It seems to me when we might endeavor to think more about this we might reach a point of greater understanding. Not sure all the reasons, but this is why I was thinking about head and shoulders, knees, ears and toes. Hoping the amputation thereof has the same scope on the big scale.
For now I think it might be best to pay lots of attention to the windshield wipers and let Deb keep the radio on. Not sure all this is worth the nickle but if it gets you thinking it is worth the penny. You can bet it on it.
Stan the Man
So I have reported many fine things about Deb and her battle. Today though I want to tell you a couple of things about her that has always kind of bugged me. Sometimes, when we are riding in the car she can get a little commanding in the car control department. She does not like it when I leave the windshield wipers on when it is done raining. She does not like it when I blame all the drivers around me for some rather dumb driving. Plus, she likes to play the radio. I like it when it is quite. I kind of soak in the things around me. I will say to her once in a while "I drive so much alone that when I have a hottie like you next to me in the car I prefer to revel in the thought of what people are thinking when they see me with such stunning beauty." To this she always trots out a two syllable term, the first of which is what you all know as a male cow.
You know, the other thing that bugs me is that when we are riding, and when I go in to one of my quite times, she will interrupt and say this. "Penny for your thoughts?". Now folks, I have always thought that how after 37 years she might think some of my thoughts were worth more than a penny. I look for a raise. Perhaps when I turn 61 I will hear "nickle for your thoughts". Not holding my breath, but something I have always hoped for.
I was sitting in church yesterday and the pastor had a good sermon. Someplace in the sermon he told about the scene in the garden when they were coming to arrest Jesus. I think it was Peter who got out his sword and hacked off the ear of one of the Romans. Jesus fixed it. I think I have been watching too much Law and Order. I started to wonder how you can hack off an ear without the sword doing some damage to something else. I picture this as a descending blow that would also hit the shoulder area. Then I thought some about what would have happened if the sword bearer got the whole head. As I thought I wondered a if Jesus could do heads. I wondered about if ears were in the game why not whole heads. And it was not very long that I started to wonder if it was the whole head, if it was possible for Jesus to get it on straight. (I think he can sometimes do good at this). Anyway that night I had a dream about this Roman with a real sore ear and a real sore head. I think this is why Deb has concentrated all these years to get me to turn off the windshield wipers sooner and wants to play the radio a little more. It is just so hard for me to listen to these stories and not wonder about them on the way home. I watched football that afternoon and with all of the violence I am kind of hoping that whole heads are in the realm. Kind of wonder also why I like football so much.
It is interesting to me as I reflect on this that I often think we might be wise to take these and other writings from these ancient times in a figurative way more than in a literal way. I wondered if in that sense those stories might have an even greater meaning. It seems to me when we might endeavor to think more about this we might reach a point of greater understanding. Not sure all the reasons, but this is why I was thinking about head and shoulders, knees, ears and toes. Hoping the amputation thereof has the same scope on the big scale.
For now I think it might be best to pay lots of attention to the windshield wipers and let Deb keep the radio on. Not sure all this is worth the nickle but if it gets you thinking it is worth the penny. You can bet it on it.
Stan the Man
Monday, October 15, 2012
Rain Rain go Away
It has been raining here lately. If I am not mistaken I kind of sense that winter is nearby. Not sure I have met anybody that says I love these Michigan winters. I know people who are spring lovers, same for summer and fall, but never winter. Of recent I have been listening a little to the campaigns. About the only way I fit in is that I think I could maybe write some of those Saturday Night Live spoofs. So I think right now, how did I get the job I have instead of something like that. Not sure I will ever have the answer but I do find the campaigns for election range someplace between the comical and the hysterical Wish it could be something else but I am not a big enough player is the game to change this all that much. So it is It seems to me that recent days have been dominated somewhat by the rain. Oh yeh, the Tigers are winning, the campaigns are winding to election day, preachers are still preaching, teachers are still teaching, but with all of this we are headed to winter in our state that is not always so good. It is what it is.
Been attending a somewhat interesting class at the church lately about the topic of heaven. It has been little while since I have thought about this all that much but some of the comments from the people in the class have been making me think a little. On the topic of heaven, which is good to think about in the winter, I have some thoughts. I believe at one time people kind of had thoughts about floating around for lots of years on a cloud with a harp. As time has past I think many people want to think of this more. A few of people have found a way to make some money on the topic of heaven. They reach and publish conclusions that we go here and there for a thousand years of so and then after Jesus comes back for the second time we go someplace else. I suspect that the outcome will perhaps be someplace outside of what people are able to perceive. This given, I am prone to not think about it all that much. It will be what it will be. One of the class members commented that it would be a place without sin. I even thought about this. That night I woke up and thought "there is nothing like a little sinnin once in a while". With this thought I conclude this paragraph before I get myself in trouble.
Either way it is kind of an interesting topic. Are you the same as me? Do you open the paper and see the obit's and find more people around your age in these things? Oh well maybe this is just me. In any case it does bring some reason for thought. Have you ever had this thought? Some things seem like they just happened yesterday and when you think more it seems like eons ago. It seems like yesterday I was driving my bike to a little league game that I was going to play in. When I think again it seems like it happened in another century. (Hey, come to think of it, it did.) Enough of this. For now, I am just glad that some have figured our what is going to happen in heaven. I suspect that they like the element of surprise because I think that is what they will get.
I find amazing the idea of churches. Overall, I think they are good places. When you think of it though the pastors of these places have the task of explaining God. It seems to me that it is a truth that God resides in an arena that falls beyond the mind of most of us. The attempts to lay a mind on these issues have somewhat of a futile nature. I have spent more than a little time trying to figure out which God I want. Is it the one who deals the swift and mighty sword to the opposition.. Might I prefer the Ward Cleaver in the sky, who rewards His children when they are nice and reprimands them when they are naughty. Or might I prefer the something else. I gotta tell ya that I have not figured this out. When I do I will post it. You can be sure.
I think it might be right to say that as long as we hang around here we are not going to have all these answers. All I know for sure right now is that it has been raining a lot, the trees have some nice colors, the snow will be falling soon, and life around here is improving a little on the health front. A few adventures, but nothing we cannot handle. I guess that is about all I know right now. No definitive answers, plenty of questions, and the daily task of dealing as best I can with what faces me now.
Stan the Man
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Any Interesting Animal Stories?
I am not sure why I really wanted to post this. It really does not have that much humor and it does not have that much storm but I thought it might be interesting to post this. Perhaps if you have any interesting things that have happened to you in the animal department you could relay a response and I will kind of pile up the stories and someday use them in some sort of writing. (I will not use your name). You can tell that if I am writing about this that it is a good thing. Don't have all that much now on the health front and folks let me tell you that is a good thing.
I think of animals right now because I had something new this weekend. I was cleaning up a woodpile at our property up north. At the bottom of the pile was some rotten 4' by 8' piece of pressed wood. I lifted this up to finish the job and underneath was one of the healthier den of blue racer snakes that I had ever seen. One of these things was a really big guy. They took off in true blue racer form. I can first hand testify that they deserve their name. I was not aware that snakes in our state could get that big. I think these things eat mice and bugs so I did not feel a threat but I gotta tell you they did get my attention. Never been that much of a fan of snakes but as pretty proud of myself to not panic. They kept coming back to check if I had put the piece of wood back on the roof of their house but I thought it might be wise to not do that. Always kind of wondered about people that search out these things in the wild. Some of them even to be fascinated by all kind of these creatures but for me they belong in the Bible and pictures and that is where they can stay.
Another pretty good story is about a year or so ago when early in the morning I woke up Deb and there were 3 bears on our back porch looking for a meal of birdseed. A mother and 2 second year cubs. The mother was pretty good sized and the cubs looked like they had consumed a few cupcakes as well. They kind of hung around a while. I am not sure if these things eat humans but I must admit that I kind of think about it when I walk around that property. This mother bear was large enough that one of my objectives to not become a meal. I really do not think they like humans all that much but I have decided to not test the water on this one. I saw some bears again a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you that these things are fast when they go to a run. I think of a bear skin rug in front of the mantle and someone asking, why is that piece of grey hair kind of stuck to the inside of the skin? Not sure they are all that dangerous but my vote is for not taking chances.
Probably the most interesting story I have is about animals, is about squirrels. It is true that I find these creatures kind of interesting. We have a bunch of them in our neighborhood in Holland. Lots of oak trees and lot of squirrels. We had a lady in the area that had one of these lawns that was always in the local news for being nice. The lady of the house could not stand squirrels digging up the lawn
to bury nuts. She bought a trap. When the squirrels would enter the live trap she would try to give them swimming lessons but none of them ever learned how. As the count piled up she kind of filled up the burial grounds around the house and as the ground got harder with winter she started to put these things in a bag in the bottom of her deep freeze. The following spring she asked her husband to dump this bag in the middle of Lake Michigan on a fishing trip he was taking. Only one problem. With the waves, these things started to wash up on shore. People that walked in the spring started to notice. Soon the DNR was called and soon after various theories about about the squirrels on the beach started to appear in our local paper. All kinds of ideas started to surface. One of the locals even suggested that these things were swimming over from Wisconsin and not quite making it. I tried to picture this but was reasonably sure this with all the other theories was not on target. Never did say much about this but always had some confidence that I kind of knew the origin of those creatures. I think it is kind of a thing you do not say much about.
Of all the creatures. I find the humans to be one of the more interesting. I am watching the Olympics right now and I find a couple of things interesting. A couple of thoughts. I am not sure the Queen would get a gold metal in the smiling department. I also find it interesting about how many events there are. Team events, double back flip events. 100 meter double backstroke and then 103 meter double backstroke while holding on to your goggles. Anyway, I hope they have a lot of gold medals. I do find the gymnastics kind of interesting. It seems to me that some of the contestants fall in to the category of being "freaks of nature". As time has gone by I have lost some interest. Not sure why but it is true. I think that the next Olympics I want to enter something. Perhaps "oldest guy to pole fault over 6'. After I win I want to visit the White House.
Well, that is enough for now. Send me your more interesting animal stories. I promise not to use them unless I feel the need. Feel secure in that.
Stan the Man
I think of animals right now because I had something new this weekend. I was cleaning up a woodpile at our property up north. At the bottom of the pile was some rotten 4' by 8' piece of pressed wood. I lifted this up to finish the job and underneath was one of the healthier den of blue racer snakes that I had ever seen. One of these things was a really big guy. They took off in true blue racer form. I can first hand testify that they deserve their name. I was not aware that snakes in our state could get that big. I think these things eat mice and bugs so I did not feel a threat but I gotta tell you they did get my attention. Never been that much of a fan of snakes but as pretty proud of myself to not panic. They kept coming back to check if I had put the piece of wood back on the roof of their house but I thought it might be wise to not do that. Always kind of wondered about people that search out these things in the wild. Some of them even to be fascinated by all kind of these creatures but for me they belong in the Bible and pictures and that is where they can stay.
Another pretty good story is about a year or so ago when early in the morning I woke up Deb and there were 3 bears on our back porch looking for a meal of birdseed. A mother and 2 second year cubs. The mother was pretty good sized and the cubs looked like they had consumed a few cupcakes as well. They kind of hung around a while. I am not sure if these things eat humans but I must admit that I kind of think about it when I walk around that property. This mother bear was large enough that one of my objectives to not become a meal. I really do not think they like humans all that much but I have decided to not test the water on this one. I saw some bears again a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you that these things are fast when they go to a run. I think of a bear skin rug in front of the mantle and someone asking, why is that piece of grey hair kind of stuck to the inside of the skin? Not sure they are all that dangerous but my vote is for not taking chances.
Probably the most interesting story I have is about animals, is about squirrels. It is true that I find these creatures kind of interesting. We have a bunch of them in our neighborhood in Holland. Lots of oak trees and lot of squirrels. We had a lady in the area that had one of these lawns that was always in the local news for being nice. The lady of the house could not stand squirrels digging up the lawn
to bury nuts. She bought a trap. When the squirrels would enter the live trap she would try to give them swimming lessons but none of them ever learned how. As the count piled up she kind of filled up the burial grounds around the house and as the ground got harder with winter she started to put these things in a bag in the bottom of her deep freeze. The following spring she asked her husband to dump this bag in the middle of Lake Michigan on a fishing trip he was taking. Only one problem. With the waves, these things started to wash up on shore. People that walked in the spring started to notice. Soon the DNR was called and soon after various theories about about the squirrels on the beach started to appear in our local paper. All kinds of ideas started to surface. One of the locals even suggested that these things were swimming over from Wisconsin and not quite making it. I tried to picture this but was reasonably sure this with all the other theories was not on target. Never did say much about this but always had some confidence that I kind of knew the origin of those creatures. I think it is kind of a thing you do not say much about.
Of all the creatures. I find the humans to be one of the more interesting. I am watching the Olympics right now and I find a couple of things interesting. A couple of thoughts. I am not sure the Queen would get a gold metal in the smiling department. I also find it interesting about how many events there are. Team events, double back flip events. 100 meter double backstroke and then 103 meter double backstroke while holding on to your goggles. Anyway, I hope they have a lot of gold medals. I do find the gymnastics kind of interesting. It seems to me that some of the contestants fall in to the category of being "freaks of nature". As time has gone by I have lost some interest. Not sure why but it is true. I think that the next Olympics I want to enter something. Perhaps "oldest guy to pole fault over 6'. After I win I want to visit the White House.
Well, that is enough for now. Send me your more interesting animal stories. I promise not to use them unless I feel the need. Feel secure in that.
Stan the Man
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Reflections of a year gone and inspections of a life lived
It seems to me that it is about right to post a few reflections on the events of this past year. After all it has been just about a year since we received the diagnosis of Deb's cancer. I think it was August 1 of last year that she started to feel some discomfort in her midsection and it was not many days after that life changed so suddenly for both of us. I can clearly recall in one of the meetings with the doctors one of them saying that Deb had just joined a club to which no one wants to be a member. And I could not agree with that more. One of the requirements of the new club is that you live in a world that is very unpredictable. It is filled with appointments, bills, pain, and somehow lacks the element of thinking much about the future. It is remarkable to me how events and attitudes change so quickly. I think at first it was hard to think very much about any type of future that lasted more than a 3-4 months. As time has gone on though we encounter more people who survive this type of cancer. It seems as though a common denominator of this type of cancer is that you never reach the point of saying "the cancer is behind and solved" instead you seek different forms of treatment and go about the task of prolonging life in whatever form you can, enjoying life.
Deb has done a good job with this. We have taken some trips to business and pleasure destinations. We have been able to enjoy the wedding of Mieke and Aaron. We have enjoyed reconnecting with friends of the past that we had lost touch with to some degree. We have felt the love of many who have given many types of gifts, cards, visits, calls and writings that have had an impact that sometimes for us goes beyond description. Not to say at all that we do not yearn for something else in life. I think if we never hear the word cancer again it will be OK with both of us. When you read in the paper that someone has passed after a battle with cancer it takes on new meaning. And folks this has been a real strong battle and it has been fought with the weapons of courage and hope that Deb has always had in her arsenal. Along with the cancer she had to fight through a life threatening infection that resulted in a 35 day visit to the hospital and rehab facility. For those that were close to this it had at times an amazing aspect to it. And really things have been kind of tougher since that time. Increasing pain and medications that affect the system have been hard to deal with. The long and the short of it is that this has been about all you want in a medical experience. There are times when I become concerned that the reflections in these blogs do not tell the whole story. The fact is that this is difficult situation. Not feeling good most of the time has a impact that only those who have endured it can relate.
So much for reflections and on to inspections. Recently we had the privilege of having the parents of Rumy visit our home. I learned much from their visit. It was their first time on a airplane and their first exposure to our country. Rumy's father was better at English than I thought. He inspected carefully the life we live and it was interesting to me that he took hundreds if not thousands of pictures. It was amazing to me the things that caught his attention. He seemed to marvel at things that I had long taken for granted. The quality of our roads and cars, the abundance of our food, the size of our homes and buildings, the lack of trash on our roads, the nice way his family was greeted and respected by our people, the safety and lack of stealing and crime in our area, and so on and so on, He was a very resourceful person and and one point he said to me that life in his land just seemed harder than anything we experience. It was in his comments that I felt a pride in our country that I had not thought of much before. He said to me once that something seemed to be good about the way things are here. I think we all sometimes take our experience in life to be normal but he taught me that we live in a land that has some things that are really right. After they left I thought about this some more. Since that time my thanks for our system and our government have grown. He was a very smart person and in my exposure to him he taught me to appreciate more some of the things we have here. He was also the king barbecue man on the planet earth. I thought I held this title but I am now in second place. A fine gentleman and a fine family that taught me a lot about life.
Stan the Man.
Deb has done a good job with this. We have taken some trips to business and pleasure destinations. We have been able to enjoy the wedding of Mieke and Aaron. We have enjoyed reconnecting with friends of the past that we had lost touch with to some degree. We have felt the love of many who have given many types of gifts, cards, visits, calls and writings that have had an impact that sometimes for us goes beyond description. Not to say at all that we do not yearn for something else in life. I think if we never hear the word cancer again it will be OK with both of us. When you read in the paper that someone has passed after a battle with cancer it takes on new meaning. And folks this has been a real strong battle and it has been fought with the weapons of courage and hope that Deb has always had in her arsenal. Along with the cancer she had to fight through a life threatening infection that resulted in a 35 day visit to the hospital and rehab facility. For those that were close to this it had at times an amazing aspect to it. And really things have been kind of tougher since that time. Increasing pain and medications that affect the system have been hard to deal with. The long and the short of it is that this has been about all you want in a medical experience. There are times when I become concerned that the reflections in these blogs do not tell the whole story. The fact is that this is difficult situation. Not feeling good most of the time has a impact that only those who have endured it can relate.
So much for reflections and on to inspections. Recently we had the privilege of having the parents of Rumy visit our home. I learned much from their visit. It was their first time on a airplane and their first exposure to our country. Rumy's father was better at English than I thought. He inspected carefully the life we live and it was interesting to me that he took hundreds if not thousands of pictures. It was amazing to me the things that caught his attention. He seemed to marvel at things that I had long taken for granted. The quality of our roads and cars, the abundance of our food, the size of our homes and buildings, the lack of trash on our roads, the nice way his family was greeted and respected by our people, the safety and lack of stealing and crime in our area, and so on and so on, He was a very resourceful person and and one point he said to me that life in his land just seemed harder than anything we experience. It was in his comments that I felt a pride in our country that I had not thought of much before. He said to me once that something seemed to be good about the way things are here. I think we all sometimes take our experience in life to be normal but he taught me that we live in a land that has some things that are really right. After they left I thought about this some more. Since that time my thanks for our system and our government have grown. He was a very smart person and in my exposure to him he taught me to appreciate more some of the things we have here. He was also the king barbecue man on the planet earth. I thought I held this title but I am now in second place. A fine gentleman and a fine family that taught me a lot about life.
Stan the Man.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
One of my other Girl Friends
Sorry about the title. Deb and I kid a little about the subject of this post. I think I have been accused by her of conducting several small affairs in my life, but do not get all that worked up. I have always liked Emily Dickinson. For that matter I have a couple of other early American poets who for some reason have reached out over the years and touched me. Now you say how can this be. I mean all outside appearance would dictate the need for me to show the "man" side of life. I must confess however, that there is another side that has for many years delighted in the thought and artistry of people who know how to communicate ideas and thoughts. Of these people Emily Dickinson ranks at the top of my list. Allow me to post a few examples:
Upon the death of my grandfathers our family traveled back to Pella, Iowa to help the family make the arrangements for the funerals. Each of them passed quite suddenly when I was quite young. These being the first exposures I had encountered with the event of death, I was struck by the feelings in the homes as we first entered. I think for all of us we may remember similar events. For me the poem by Emily Dickinson best describes these feelings.
The Bustle in a House:
The bustle in a house
the morning after death
is the solemnest of industries
enacted upon earth-
The sweeping up the heart
and putting love away
We shall not want to see
Until eternity-
Some years later Deb and I faced the short life of our first two infant children (reflected in earlier postings.) Again the same poets words came to me. I recall going down the street from the hospital. I sat in a coffee shop and recalled these words.
My life closed twice before its close;
It remains to see
If immortality unveil
A third event to me
So huge so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
Some of you know we did have a third event. I now know why I took the time to think about these poems. They somehow brought to me some definition in my moments of sorrow. Nothing really helps all that much in those type of times but for me it helped a little to have some words that went with the feelings. (I did have to look these up to get them right as I did not have all that good of accuracy in what I remembered. Turns out I had a few of the lines mixed up but the thoughts have kind of stayed with me.)
On a lighter note, I now think of the political environment and the self proclamation of all of the candidates who now claim to be the solution to all of our problems. (Same Poet)
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
to tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
You see, Emily was a poet who wrote in a cryptic style. (to the point) She was somewhat of a recluse and used a few words to present what I feel are the striking moments of our human emotions. The words of people who have this talent go forward through the ages and they never really lose their relevance and their meaning. Abraham Lincoln could at times also lay claim to this talent as witnessed in some of his famous speeches and writings.
I have never been quite sure why some things have reached me through all these years. I can only say that certain moments in life have jumped off of the page for me. I have never had all that many girlfriends. In fact for me Deb has been the only one. I suppose that right now the events of life reach me in way that I find some solace in recalling a few writings that have touched me over the years. They are important to me even though I know that not everyone will be able to relate. Allow me to relay them at this time even though I know that for some some poems do not find way inside for everybody.
At the risk of boring you let me share a few more.
How Happy is the Little Stone
How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears; (exigencies = needs and requirements)
Whose coat is of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.
I have one or two more. For those of you that choose to keep the sabbath at home let me give you this.
Some keep the sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchid for a dome.
Some keep the the Sabbath in surplice, (white catholic garments worn by priest)
I just wear my wings;
And instead of tolling the bell for church,
Our little sexton sings,
God preaches -a noted clergyman-
And the sermon is never long;
And instead of getting to heaven at last,
I'm going all along!
I post this in the simple hope that the words of a person who was a true artist will somehow find you in a moment in which you can find some meaning. I must admit that recent times have brought me to the spot of needing to explore some of these thoughts. Let me close with this.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can stop one life from aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
It is with these thoughts I wish to correspond some feelings I have in these times. I think the world could learn something if they spent some time exploring some of these writings. They have for sure found me and had some meaning in a time that deserves the artistry of words that flow through the ages.
Until next time ........... Enjoy with me one of my other girlfriends.
Stan the Man
Upon the death of my grandfathers our family traveled back to Pella, Iowa to help the family make the arrangements for the funerals. Each of them passed quite suddenly when I was quite young. These being the first exposures I had encountered with the event of death, I was struck by the feelings in the homes as we first entered. I think for all of us we may remember similar events. For me the poem by Emily Dickinson best describes these feelings.
The Bustle in a House:
The bustle in a house
the morning after death
is the solemnest of industries
enacted upon earth-
The sweeping up the heart
and putting love away
We shall not want to see
Until eternity-
Some years later Deb and I faced the short life of our first two infant children (reflected in earlier postings.) Again the same poets words came to me. I recall going down the street from the hospital. I sat in a coffee shop and recalled these words.
My life closed twice before its close;
It remains to see
If immortality unveil
A third event to me
So huge so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
Some of you know we did have a third event. I now know why I took the time to think about these poems. They somehow brought to me some definition in my moments of sorrow. Nothing really helps all that much in those type of times but for me it helped a little to have some words that went with the feelings. (I did have to look these up to get them right as I did not have all that good of accuracy in what I remembered. Turns out I had a few of the lines mixed up but the thoughts have kind of stayed with me.)
On a lighter note, I now think of the political environment and the self proclamation of all of the candidates who now claim to be the solution to all of our problems. (Same Poet)
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd banish us you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
to tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
You see, Emily was a poet who wrote in a cryptic style. (to the point) She was somewhat of a recluse and used a few words to present what I feel are the striking moments of our human emotions. The words of people who have this talent go forward through the ages and they never really lose their relevance and their meaning. Abraham Lincoln could at times also lay claim to this talent as witnessed in some of his famous speeches and writings.
I have never been quite sure why some things have reached me through all these years. I can only say that certain moments in life have jumped off of the page for me. I have never had all that many girlfriends. In fact for me Deb has been the only one. I suppose that right now the events of life reach me in way that I find some solace in recalling a few writings that have touched me over the years. They are important to me even though I know that not everyone will be able to relate. Allow me to relay them at this time even though I know that for some some poems do not find way inside for everybody.
At the risk of boring you let me share a few more.
How Happy is the Little Stone
How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears; (exigencies = needs and requirements)
Whose coat is of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.
I have one or two more. For those of you that choose to keep the sabbath at home let me give you this.
Some keep the sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchid for a dome.
Some keep the the Sabbath in surplice, (white catholic garments worn by priest)
I just wear my wings;
And instead of tolling the bell for church,
Our little sexton sings,
God preaches -a noted clergyman-
And the sermon is never long;
And instead of getting to heaven at last,
I'm going all along!
I post this in the simple hope that the words of a person who was a true artist will somehow find you in a moment in which you can find some meaning. I must admit that recent times have brought me to the spot of needing to explore some of these thoughts. Let me close with this.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can stop one life from aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
It is with these thoughts I wish to correspond some feelings I have in these times. I think the world could learn something if they spent some time exploring some of these writings. They have for sure found me and had some meaning in a time that deserves the artistry of words that flow through the ages.
Until next time ........... Enjoy with me one of my other girlfriends.
Stan the Man
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Ranges and Changes
I feel like writing tonight. What is going to happen here is that some of you who read this are going to say "boy, I feel sorry for that Deb Hoksbergen she married a strange dude". Others are going to say "must be interesting to be hooked up with a guy who does not meet a very conventional profile". Still others might say "I am not sure why I am reading this stuff but a few of the things he has written have in some way either helped or entertained me". It is that third category of people to whom I am writing. Gotta tell ya I am not sure why but I feel a connection with some of the readers. It goes beyond words. Somehow that make me feel good, so let me get started.
Many years ago (before children) Deb and I had an interesting thing happen. We traveled to the State of Washington which is the home state of Deb's parents and family. It was for a reunion of many of her relatives. One of her uncles owns a large dairy farm. I cannot tell the story without first telling you that some years before, for reasons I cannot explain, I had taken it upon myself to memorize about 40 poems. Somehow for me these poems have struck a cord in my soul and to this day fragments of them have stayed with me. As we visited the farm I was struck with the fact that I was viewing a dimension of life that had not before been exposed to. Deb's cousin, who owned the farm, had a thriving business which was built around cows that had the ability to produce large quantities of milk. As I viewed the operation I was amazed that the cows had a tag on their ear. When they would enter the milking spot they would signal a machine that would drop the proper amount of feed into a holding tray. As the cow ate the feed she would be milked by a automated machine. In contrast to the things we hear about modern farmers this uncle had a feel for the the animals. Having never viewed anything like this before I was amazed by it and it brought to mind a poem I had memorized some year before. Let me give you a comment on cows.
Cows
Do nothing but browse
And drowse
And now and then moo
That's all they do
Yet even while grazing
They aren't lazing
Even while snacking
They aren't slacking
If not illustrious
They are inner industrious
Making milk with all their might
With every bite.
Cream too.
With every chew.
I'd like it fine
Could I combine
In such measure
Business with pleasure.
I was never sure why I remembered this poem but I thought of it on the day I visited this farm. I think they are still doing good. (That is the humans.) It was a splendid operation.
On that trip something else happened, One of Deb's other uncles owned a car business and invited us to a used car auction. What would happen here is that the used cars would come down a line at about the speed of a car wash. Various dealers would buy the cars and as I recall each used car would have about 15 second on the line to be purchased by about 40 or 50 dealers that were present. Deb's dad saw a nice blue station wagon come down the line and asked his brother to buy the thing if he could. He could use it in his business. As the car was coming down the line I started to wonder about the fact that we were in Washington and how did he think it was going to get back to Michigan. He told me that he thought that Deb and I would maybe have a good time if we drove it home. I remember him saying that if we had never made this trip it was something he thought we should do. The next thing I knew he had the thing bought for $4,500 and the next morning Deb and I traded in our round trip airline tickets (pre 9-11) for a trip in a station wagon across the country. Money was not hanging around on trees at this time and I do remember calculating the miles and the cash in the pocket and thinking we could maybe make it. We had enough to spare. This car had an eight track tape deck and it had a tape in that was stuck. It was a Johnny Cash tape and I hate country western music. But as the trip progressed and the road got longer Deb and I found ourselves memorizing the songs on this tape. To this day they are the only country western songs I know.
So we embarked on the journey. I recall the first night staying in a Cascade mountain cabin and waking up in a cloud. I recall the beauty of the drive and coming down out of the Cascades to a non-stop range of wheat fields that were being harvested by combines in rows similar to what you see on TV. I recall a stop at the Grand Cooley Dam which is perhaps the largest man made structure that I have seen to this day. I remember someplace along the line Deb saying "let's go down to Yellowstone". I think we were both maybe thinking of a park that fit into the "world of normal" but as we arrived we were overwhelmed by the fact that this thing is about 100 miles by 150 miles. We entered the park and a large elk was hanging around at the gate. The sign read "40 miles to Old Faithful'. We never did see Old Faithful due to the fact that we had one day to spend and elected to see some of the other things in the park. Might I just say that I encourage those who have not been there to do so. You will be a first hand witness to a creator who spares no price in creating a beauty that goes beyond description. Several other highlights from this trip but I will save them till a later post. Do let me say that we also enjoyed a trip through the Big Horn Mountains on the way home. The Big Horns are not talked about much but they were amazing to us. A 5000 ft. rising out of a flat land with a large plateau of many square miles at the top. It was my first time on an open range and the animals stood in the middle of the road as we drove by. At one point a large steer stood in the middle of the road. I stopped the car and yelled at the thing. He waved his large horns and meandered on his way but seemed somewhat bothered that I had yelled at him in his home. All in all it was a special trip.
So we had seen the ranges but how about the changes. Well, as we traveled we had this one tape and we must have heard about 50 times Johnny Cash singing "How High's the Water Mama". The song sings about the water rising to 2' than 3' and so on. I think we listened to it so many times on the 5 day trip that Deb and I have never really been able to get it out of our minds. Fact is that the water is getting a little deeper around here lately. I would say that events of late present a challenge for which we were not prepared.
I can recall very clearly the meeting when the surgeon came out and met with our family. I can even recall the positions that everyone sat in the room. I am here to tell you that if anyone was there that you would have left thinking that there was no way that survival would go beyond 3-4 months. I will never forget that Deb's dad met with me shortly after that meeting and told me that he did not think it would be possible for Deb to survive till the end of the year. From what I heard I thought the same. .
I had to go to work the next day and others helped Deb in the hospital. I have to tell you that I am not normally all that emotional but on my way to my work the next day I had to pull off of the exit on the way. I took the floor mat out of the back of my car and I went out about a hundred yards into a cornfield and sat down on the mat and wept and reflected on the events of the present and the potential of the future. I recall very clearly the doctor telling me that we had just entered a club of which nobody would ever want to be a member. It is in this respect that I want to talk about "changes". As time has gone by we have started to understand things in terms of thinking about the disease as chronic rather than terminal. A wise person told us that when you think about things we are all terminal. I think I have mentioned before that as time has past we are encountering more people who have survived for years. At the same time it is evident that the new normal involves a flood of medical "events" and a real change in our lives.
I want to mention one thing here. There have been several of my friends who understand that along with the troubles that Deb now faces this whole thing has not been real easy for me. I know a friend who owns a local car dealership and he has been consistent in inviting me to get out and do some golfing with he and friends. I think the world of "man-dum" sometimes assumes that emotions are left to women. I have a friend who invites me to some of the Hope basketball games. A local banker whose wife had cancer prepared me for some of the things that were to come. A number of neighbors and friends who have been very understanding and supportive as the whole thing has unfolded. I have a true appreciation for those I have encountered who have at least asked how I am dealing with the situation. I have found that others have encountered similar events and their concern and expressions have had high value to me.
In the previous post I told a little about the book I am reading. The book is by C.S. Lewis and it is called "The Great Divorce", It has nothing to do with divorce from a spouse. Instead it details a fictional bus tour exploring the worlds of heaven and hell. On the tour Lewis observes a group of people who can gain anything they want just by wishing for it. Then he asks the reader where they think these people reside. I am not going to tell you his conclusions in this post but if I may I ask you to think about that. The challenges of life are really large right now and the temptation is to wish for something else. At the same time the richness of life right now seems high and the value of every day feels like it has new value.
Deb taught a class today for people who were expecting new infants. After 8 hours of teaching I picked her up and the her feet were having trouble going in front of each other. She was tired. I read the evaluations from the class and it seemed to me that the people who took the class had been touched with lessons on having children and raising children that could only come from one of her experience and talent. She felt it was a real accomplishment to have been able to teach the class today. She was satisfied. Would it not be great if we in such measure could combine our business with pleasure?
Thanks for listening...........See you in a few days.
Stan the Man
Many years ago (before children) Deb and I had an interesting thing happen. We traveled to the State of Washington which is the home state of Deb's parents and family. It was for a reunion of many of her relatives. One of her uncles owns a large dairy farm. I cannot tell the story without first telling you that some years before, for reasons I cannot explain, I had taken it upon myself to memorize about 40 poems. Somehow for me these poems have struck a cord in my soul and to this day fragments of them have stayed with me. As we visited the farm I was struck with the fact that I was viewing a dimension of life that had not before been exposed to. Deb's cousin, who owned the farm, had a thriving business which was built around cows that had the ability to produce large quantities of milk. As I viewed the operation I was amazed that the cows had a tag on their ear. When they would enter the milking spot they would signal a machine that would drop the proper amount of feed into a holding tray. As the cow ate the feed she would be milked by a automated machine. In contrast to the things we hear about modern farmers this uncle had a feel for the the animals. Having never viewed anything like this before I was amazed by it and it brought to mind a poem I had memorized some year before. Let me give you a comment on cows.
Cows
Do nothing but browse
And drowse
And now and then moo
That's all they do
Yet even while grazing
They aren't lazing
Even while snacking
They aren't slacking
If not illustrious
They are inner industrious
Making milk with all their might
With every bite.
Cream too.
With every chew.
I'd like it fine
Could I combine
In such measure
Business with pleasure.
I was never sure why I remembered this poem but I thought of it on the day I visited this farm. I think they are still doing good. (That is the humans.) It was a splendid operation.
On that trip something else happened, One of Deb's other uncles owned a car business and invited us to a used car auction. What would happen here is that the used cars would come down a line at about the speed of a car wash. Various dealers would buy the cars and as I recall each used car would have about 15 second on the line to be purchased by about 40 or 50 dealers that were present. Deb's dad saw a nice blue station wagon come down the line and asked his brother to buy the thing if he could. He could use it in his business. As the car was coming down the line I started to wonder about the fact that we were in Washington and how did he think it was going to get back to Michigan. He told me that he thought that Deb and I would maybe have a good time if we drove it home. I remember him saying that if we had never made this trip it was something he thought we should do. The next thing I knew he had the thing bought for $4,500 and the next morning Deb and I traded in our round trip airline tickets (pre 9-11) for a trip in a station wagon across the country. Money was not hanging around on trees at this time and I do remember calculating the miles and the cash in the pocket and thinking we could maybe make it. We had enough to spare. This car had an eight track tape deck and it had a tape in that was stuck. It was a Johnny Cash tape and I hate country western music. But as the trip progressed and the road got longer Deb and I found ourselves memorizing the songs on this tape. To this day they are the only country western songs I know.
So we embarked on the journey. I recall the first night staying in a Cascade mountain cabin and waking up in a cloud. I recall the beauty of the drive and coming down out of the Cascades to a non-stop range of wheat fields that were being harvested by combines in rows similar to what you see on TV. I recall a stop at the Grand Cooley Dam which is perhaps the largest man made structure that I have seen to this day. I remember someplace along the line Deb saying "let's go down to Yellowstone". I think we were both maybe thinking of a park that fit into the "world of normal" but as we arrived we were overwhelmed by the fact that this thing is about 100 miles by 150 miles. We entered the park and a large elk was hanging around at the gate. The sign read "40 miles to Old Faithful'. We never did see Old Faithful due to the fact that we had one day to spend and elected to see some of the other things in the park. Might I just say that I encourage those who have not been there to do so. You will be a first hand witness to a creator who spares no price in creating a beauty that goes beyond description. Several other highlights from this trip but I will save them till a later post. Do let me say that we also enjoyed a trip through the Big Horn Mountains on the way home. The Big Horns are not talked about much but they were amazing to us. A 5000 ft. rising out of a flat land with a large plateau of many square miles at the top. It was my first time on an open range and the animals stood in the middle of the road as we drove by. At one point a large steer stood in the middle of the road. I stopped the car and yelled at the thing. He waved his large horns and meandered on his way but seemed somewhat bothered that I had yelled at him in his home. All in all it was a special trip.
So we had seen the ranges but how about the changes. Well, as we traveled we had this one tape and we must have heard about 50 times Johnny Cash singing "How High's the Water Mama". The song sings about the water rising to 2' than 3' and so on. I think we listened to it so many times on the 5 day trip that Deb and I have never really been able to get it out of our minds. Fact is that the water is getting a little deeper around here lately. I would say that events of late present a challenge for which we were not prepared.
I can recall very clearly the meeting when the surgeon came out and met with our family. I can even recall the positions that everyone sat in the room. I am here to tell you that if anyone was there that you would have left thinking that there was no way that survival would go beyond 3-4 months. I will never forget that Deb's dad met with me shortly after that meeting and told me that he did not think it would be possible for Deb to survive till the end of the year. From what I heard I thought the same. .
I had to go to work the next day and others helped Deb in the hospital. I have to tell you that I am not normally all that emotional but on my way to my work the next day I had to pull off of the exit on the way. I took the floor mat out of the back of my car and I went out about a hundred yards into a cornfield and sat down on the mat and wept and reflected on the events of the present and the potential of the future. I recall very clearly the doctor telling me that we had just entered a club of which nobody would ever want to be a member. It is in this respect that I want to talk about "changes". As time has gone by we have started to understand things in terms of thinking about the disease as chronic rather than terminal. A wise person told us that when you think about things we are all terminal. I think I have mentioned before that as time has past we are encountering more people who have survived for years. At the same time it is evident that the new normal involves a flood of medical "events" and a real change in our lives.
I want to mention one thing here. There have been several of my friends who understand that along with the troubles that Deb now faces this whole thing has not been real easy for me. I know a friend who owns a local car dealership and he has been consistent in inviting me to get out and do some golfing with he and friends. I think the world of "man-dum" sometimes assumes that emotions are left to women. I have a friend who invites me to some of the Hope basketball games. A local banker whose wife had cancer prepared me for some of the things that were to come. A number of neighbors and friends who have been very understanding and supportive as the whole thing has unfolded. I have a true appreciation for those I have encountered who have at least asked how I am dealing with the situation. I have found that others have encountered similar events and their concern and expressions have had high value to me.
In the previous post I told a little about the book I am reading. The book is by C.S. Lewis and it is called "The Great Divorce", It has nothing to do with divorce from a spouse. Instead it details a fictional bus tour exploring the worlds of heaven and hell. On the tour Lewis observes a group of people who can gain anything they want just by wishing for it. Then he asks the reader where they think these people reside. I am not going to tell you his conclusions in this post but if I may I ask you to think about that. The challenges of life are really large right now and the temptation is to wish for something else. At the same time the richness of life right now seems high and the value of every day feels like it has new value.
Deb taught a class today for people who were expecting new infants. After 8 hours of teaching I picked her up and the her feet were having trouble going in front of each other. She was tired. I read the evaluations from the class and it seemed to me that the people who took the class had been touched with lessons on having children and raising children that could only come from one of her experience and talent. She felt it was a real accomplishment to have been able to teach the class today. She was satisfied. Would it not be great if we in such measure could combine our business with pleasure?
Thanks for listening...........See you in a few days.
Stan the Man
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Starting up Again
OK, you're right, I just could not stand it. Somewhere inside is the need to do some writing. I am not sure what it is going to be about this time. Perhaps I could share some things about feelings related to all the the recent happenings with medical problems Deb faces right now. I am sure that will find its way in somewhere along the line. For now I would like to share some things that I have found interesting over the years. Deb will sometimes comment that I see things that others do not see and vice-versa. Please allow me to make comments on a few of those things. If you find them interesting enjoy the reading. If you don't, I suppose an option is to not read them. How is that for an astute observation?
Several years ago Deb and I visited a business in Naples, Florida. It was called "Best of Everything". The business did not have everything. It only sold jewelry and it had table after table of about every type of watch, bracelet, ring, necklace or anything else you could imagine to adorn either a man or a women. The store was crawling with people and the prices seemed amazingly low. It seemed like everything you would pick up you would think of someone who would look good wearing it. You would be taken back for a moment at the low price. They had people on raised platforms looking over the place to make sure stuff was not getting stolen. Many people would be at the counter buying multiple items. We even bought some things and later gave them as gifts. I think the idea was that the people who ran the store would travel outside of the country and buy handmade jewelry and bring it back here and sell it. Whatever country they bought this stuff in must have had a lot of silver because it seems like most of the things had some silver in them.
On the long drive home from Florida I started thinking a little about that store and that name. It was obvious to me that the stuff they sold was not really the best of everything. It was not even the best of anything. What it was was a group of people who had found a way to make a living by bringing in reasonably attractive items and selling them at a price that was affordable. They would display it in such a way that the atmosphere and the selection of the items kind of put you in the mood to buy something. Many of the the items were unique and the place was just plain fun and interesting.
More than the items in the store I have never been really able to get the name out of my head. What would things be like if we could really have the the "best of everything". Once in while I observe a marriage that fits into this category. We have an old guy in our church who is a very smart guy. Some years ago his wife started to show early signs of Alzheimer's disease and now she has digressed to the spot of needing full time care. She is not able to respond hardly at all. This gentleman has cared for her and brought her in a wheelchair to church every single week. He is now is his 90's. They both still live in their home and he has not shown one note of discouragement over the whole matter. I think he views the thing as part of what he signed up for many years ago when he and she were married. In that way I think maybe they have both have experienced the best of everything. Things are hard for them right now but as I reflect I might say that this marriage is one of the best I have witnessed. Just the best.
I wonder if you did have the best of everything what type of car you would drive. I always kind of wanted to crawl behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce. Always kind of pictured myself in one. I with a chauffeur cap and my wife and kids in the backseat. I nickel balanced on the hood. Once in a while my wife would send a queen like wave to people driving by admiring the car. But as time has past I seem to covet more a car that is paid for. For now I might say that if you are driving one of the paid for models you might be enjoying the best of everything. Except maybe for a paid for Rolls Royce.
We went out for our 37th anniversary on Feb 8. We went to "The Piper" here in Holland. Hard to beat that place in the food department. As I thought about the setting and consumed the food I thought for a moment about if it might be possible that at least around here I was living in a moment that might represent the best of everything. I checked that night on the percentage of people married that last to the 37 year point. A little better than I thought. About 30%. Percentages start to drop at around 40 years. I have always thought about the contrast when people get their picture in the paper from their wedding day to the 40 year anniversary. The pictures look better at 40 years than on the day they were married. Starts to decline a bit at 50 years and the theory goes out the window at 60 years. Anyway, The Piper has a nice setting on the lake and they serve the food just right. At the end the waitress came over and told us that one of our friends had arranged for us to have dessert on their tab. So we even had the chance to enjoy an extension of the night with a great choice of dessert. A fine night overall. Nice to live in a few moments that at least come close to the best.
I was thinking the other day about what happens if you are in the position of having all of the best of everything. My guess is that most times it does not change the outcome all that much. I think now of the recent death of Steve Jobs. I am reasonably certain that with his wealth and access to information he was able to research and afford the very best care available to humans as he dealt with his condition. Yet it is very true that the outcome for him did not result in continued life on this planet. Feeling helpless in the dealing with cancer makes me worry about this right now. Best plans, best brains, most money etc might all be traded for pushing a broom someplace as long as life could find a way to continue.
It seems to me that all of the political commercials right now do not fall in to the class of the best. In fact I fear they are somehow bringing out the worst. Seems to me that many of the people who strive to one day lead our country spend large amounts of money in the act of slandering the other and creating fear. Like little children in a fight they play for our votes by promising the best of everything. How could they ever deliver on those promises when their actions and adds play out to the worst fears in all of us. They use nothing more than trivial slams on each other. We have a local guy here who was in congress who played an add that not only had racial overtones but played the name of one of our senators and changed it from Stabenow to Spenditnow. Slandering a persons name is a strong form of disrespect and it is directed at a decent person. It comes from one who sometimes is invited speak in our local churches. He puts forth views that might lead one to think it is done in the name of Christianity. Time for him to get some of the "best of everything" going again. I think deep down he is a decent person who just got carried away on this one. I promise she will not do the same as they try to be elected.
I recently read a book written by C.S. Lewis. In it he has a dream and is on a bus going on a tour of heaven and hell. No conclusions in this book but some very thought provoking ideas and illustrations and characters. I think many of us who strive to reach a point where we experience the best of everything tend to have formulated thoughts about a life beyond this one that will achieve just that. But as I read further I started to think that actually ever experiencing the best of everything might be an illusive idea. But then again I wonder if we look around a little we might think that we are all living in a time and a country where the best of everything is something that has been achieved. I think many in the world might look at our homes, our cars, our food, our schools, our clothes and the rest, and say that we live in and arena that somehow represents the best of everything.
The next time you are near Naples visit the store. (Or look it up on line if you wish.) But for now think with me a moment about the times in your life that represent what for you were the moments where you felt that you were experiencing the best of everything. For all of us I speculate that those times are illusive. If we look around a little I still think we will all can experience those moments. I knew a happy person that once told me that his philosophy on life included an idea that he had adopted. He told me that what he did was "never complain and never explain". I wonder if we were able to do this we might all experience a little more of the best of everything. If you own a Rolls Royce please come over and give me a ride. For now I will just drive my paid for Ford and hope that you and I can experience more of the best of everything.
Stan the Man
Several years ago Deb and I visited a business in Naples, Florida. It was called "Best of Everything". The business did not have everything. It only sold jewelry and it had table after table of about every type of watch, bracelet, ring, necklace or anything else you could imagine to adorn either a man or a women. The store was crawling with people and the prices seemed amazingly low. It seemed like everything you would pick up you would think of someone who would look good wearing it. You would be taken back for a moment at the low price. They had people on raised platforms looking over the place to make sure stuff was not getting stolen. Many people would be at the counter buying multiple items. We even bought some things and later gave them as gifts. I think the idea was that the people who ran the store would travel outside of the country and buy handmade jewelry and bring it back here and sell it. Whatever country they bought this stuff in must have had a lot of silver because it seems like most of the things had some silver in them.
On the long drive home from Florida I started thinking a little about that store and that name. It was obvious to me that the stuff they sold was not really the best of everything. It was not even the best of anything. What it was was a group of people who had found a way to make a living by bringing in reasonably attractive items and selling them at a price that was affordable. They would display it in such a way that the atmosphere and the selection of the items kind of put you in the mood to buy something. Many of the the items were unique and the place was just plain fun and interesting.
More than the items in the store I have never been really able to get the name out of my head. What would things be like if we could really have the the "best of everything". Once in while I observe a marriage that fits into this category. We have an old guy in our church who is a very smart guy. Some years ago his wife started to show early signs of Alzheimer's disease and now she has digressed to the spot of needing full time care. She is not able to respond hardly at all. This gentleman has cared for her and brought her in a wheelchair to church every single week. He is now is his 90's. They both still live in their home and he has not shown one note of discouragement over the whole matter. I think he views the thing as part of what he signed up for many years ago when he and she were married. In that way I think maybe they have both have experienced the best of everything. Things are hard for them right now but as I reflect I might say that this marriage is one of the best I have witnessed. Just the best.
I wonder if you did have the best of everything what type of car you would drive. I always kind of wanted to crawl behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce. Always kind of pictured myself in one. I with a chauffeur cap and my wife and kids in the backseat. I nickel balanced on the hood. Once in a while my wife would send a queen like wave to people driving by admiring the car. But as time has past I seem to covet more a car that is paid for. For now I might say that if you are driving one of the paid for models you might be enjoying the best of everything. Except maybe for a paid for Rolls Royce.
We went out for our 37th anniversary on Feb 8. We went to "The Piper" here in Holland. Hard to beat that place in the food department. As I thought about the setting and consumed the food I thought for a moment about if it might be possible that at least around here I was living in a moment that might represent the best of everything. I checked that night on the percentage of people married that last to the 37 year point. A little better than I thought. About 30%. Percentages start to drop at around 40 years. I have always thought about the contrast when people get their picture in the paper from their wedding day to the 40 year anniversary. The pictures look better at 40 years than on the day they were married. Starts to decline a bit at 50 years and the theory goes out the window at 60 years. Anyway, The Piper has a nice setting on the lake and they serve the food just right. At the end the waitress came over and told us that one of our friends had arranged for us to have dessert on their tab. So we even had the chance to enjoy an extension of the night with a great choice of dessert. A fine night overall. Nice to live in a few moments that at least come close to the best.
I was thinking the other day about what happens if you are in the position of having all of the best of everything. My guess is that most times it does not change the outcome all that much. I think now of the recent death of Steve Jobs. I am reasonably certain that with his wealth and access to information he was able to research and afford the very best care available to humans as he dealt with his condition. Yet it is very true that the outcome for him did not result in continued life on this planet. Feeling helpless in the dealing with cancer makes me worry about this right now. Best plans, best brains, most money etc might all be traded for pushing a broom someplace as long as life could find a way to continue.
It seems to me that all of the political commercials right now do not fall in to the class of the best. In fact I fear they are somehow bringing out the worst. Seems to me that many of the people who strive to one day lead our country spend large amounts of money in the act of slandering the other and creating fear. Like little children in a fight they play for our votes by promising the best of everything. How could they ever deliver on those promises when their actions and adds play out to the worst fears in all of us. They use nothing more than trivial slams on each other. We have a local guy here who was in congress who played an add that not only had racial overtones but played the name of one of our senators and changed it from Stabenow to Spenditnow. Slandering a persons name is a strong form of disrespect and it is directed at a decent person. It comes from one who sometimes is invited speak in our local churches. He puts forth views that might lead one to think it is done in the name of Christianity. Time for him to get some of the "best of everything" going again. I think deep down he is a decent person who just got carried away on this one. I promise she will not do the same as they try to be elected.
I recently read a book written by C.S. Lewis. In it he has a dream and is on a bus going on a tour of heaven and hell. No conclusions in this book but some very thought provoking ideas and illustrations and characters. I think many of us who strive to reach a point where we experience the best of everything tend to have formulated thoughts about a life beyond this one that will achieve just that. But as I read further I started to think that actually ever experiencing the best of everything might be an illusive idea. But then again I wonder if we look around a little we might think that we are all living in a time and a country where the best of everything is something that has been achieved. I think many in the world might look at our homes, our cars, our food, our schools, our clothes and the rest, and say that we live in and arena that somehow represents the best of everything.
The next time you are near Naples visit the store. (Or look it up on line if you wish.) But for now think with me a moment about the times in your life that represent what for you were the moments where you felt that you were experiencing the best of everything. For all of us I speculate that those times are illusive. If we look around a little I still think we will all can experience those moments. I knew a happy person that once told me that his philosophy on life included an idea that he had adopted. He told me that what he did was "never complain and never explain". I wonder if we were able to do this we might all experience a little more of the best of everything. If you own a Rolls Royce please come over and give me a ride. For now I will just drive my paid for Ford and hope that you and I can experience more of the best of everything.
Stan the Man
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