The World needs more Laughter

     Lately it seems more people are less tolerable with others, taking every opportunity to judge the actions of others even if a comment or remark was meant as a joke.  As an recent example the news reported that Dave and Busters tweeted the following "I hate Tacos, No Juan said Ever".  Social media blew up claiming racial prejudice.  Are you kidding me, it was a joke, what's wrong with our society, Wow, have we become a humorless world.

     Maybe if we just laughed a little more we wouldn't get so angry over comments that were meant to be humorous.  If you're laughing you're not rioting.  Did you ever see a terrorist laugh, not unless it was a minical laugh?  Twisted angry faces is what I see.

     Laughter has a calming effect whereas anger does the opposite.  Laughter is a healthier choice.  Not to say there isn't justification for anger at times but if it becomes the norm it is a problem.  The news is mainly filled with angry people because that's what sells.  Unfortunately, the news media promotes anger and fear with only an occasional sprinkling of feel good stories.  Putting angry people on the news just fuels a bad situation and promotes more anger.

     Let's not fall prey to the anger promoted by others, take time everyday to smile and laugh with friends and strangers.  Don't look for offense remarks, look for humor.  Make the choice to improve your life by looking for a reason to smile.  "Just Saying...."

Ferguson Residents Destroy their own Community

     Reactions to the decision by the Grand Jury were violent and irractional as some expected.   Rioters destroyed their own community without a thought for their neighbors.  Many local businesses were burned and looted which does nothing but hurt the community.  Many of these businesses are locally owned by people who have taken a risk to achieve their dream.  Despite your beliefs regarding the Grand Jury decision the actions of the rioters only shows anger and retaliation toward your neighbors.

     I'm not naive enough to think this post won't change anything but destroying your community will change things.  You need to think if destruction of property is a good change or not.  It seems fairly obvious to me but it's the choice of Ferguson residents not mine.  Only you can decide to keep Ferguson dreams alive.  "Just Saying..."

My Favorite Christmas Song, one you Must hear

     There are many beautiful and classic Christmas songs written by many different songwriters.  These memorable Christmas songs have many different versions sung by a variety of singers.  I love them all but most of the time the newer versions can never live up to the version by the original artist.

     The songs I speak of include White Christmas (Bing Crosby), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland - from Meet Me in St. Louis), just a little plug for STL, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, The Chipmunk Song (David Seville), Frosty the Snowman (Gene Autry), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry), etc.

     I enjoy listening to Christmas songs during the holiday season because they bring back fond memories.  These Christmas songs are all written to evoke memories of joy, happiness, togetherness, fun and some sad songs as well like Blue Christmas famously performed by Elvis Presley which happens to be one of my favorite Christmas songs and although Elvis has a great voice and popularized this song, the version I prefer is on the attached link.  Denny Brownlee recorded his version of Blue Christmas in Ocean City Maryland during a local’s only town Christmas party hosted by 98 Rock at that time sings this version. It was a parody during open mic session and had been released to play on the morning show (John Boy and Billy radio show).

     The original song by Elvis tugs at your heartstrings as he sings about a lost love, but the Denny Brownlee's version will make you laugh every time you thing about it.  I first heard this song many years ago while driving in my car and laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes.  This version is called Porky Pig's "Blue Christmas" and if you've never heard it you don't know what you’re missing.  You need to listen to the whole song because just keeps getting better, I especially like the middle section when Porky is talking to his lost love.  Listen to it now, it only takes 2 minutes, just 2 minutes to brighten your day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg7HvF3a_Iw

Names popping into your head

   Have you ever wondered why a name of an old friend, acquaintance or relative will suddenly pop in to your head?  There doesn't seem to be a logical reason but it happens to me all the time and I'm sure if it happens to me it happens to everyone else. Being retired, I'm not burdened with the daily thoughts of budgets, spreadsheets, deadlines, etc. so that could be a factor but it's not a new occurrence for me just maybe more frequent since retirement. Have you ever accidentally run into an old friend and they said, "I was just thinking about you"?  It's happened to you, don't deny it.

     It's likely that it means nothing but could it be that this person is also remembering you at that same moment in time.  I find that interesting, of course that still doesn't explain anything but maybe there is some impact you had to each other lives that results in this casual memory.  For me as I expect with most people the memories of others are mostly pleasant sometimes funny enough to make you smile while driving down the road.  Close friends and relatives are always in your thoughts and that is no surprise but thoughts of long lost friends or casual acquaintances make me wonder.

     I've read somewhere recently that as long as a person's name is spoken or remembered by someone they are still part of this world even if they have passed away many years ago.  I'm not sure exactly what that means but I like the idea that your spirit remains with others when your body is gone. "Just Saying...."

Remembering Christmas Past

     Christmas always brings back fond memories of the past at least for me.  That may not be true for everyone so I guess I'm lucky.  I grew up in a middle class blue-collar family, like most other families in our neighborhood.  I don't remember ever being deprived of anything but I also didn't have inflated dreams for expensive toys. The fact is I don't remember any truly expensive toys, gifts were board games, erector sets, maybe a holster and toy gun so I could pretend to fight the bad guy like John Wayne.  Most toys were simply a way of expanding our imagination allowing kids to create a world of their own maybe this was unintentional, I don't know for sure.  I would also get some new clothes but that was never as interesting as the toys when I was a young boy.  The most expensive present I received was a bike, which was a big ticket item in those days something I'm sure my parents saved to get it for me.

    The Christmas holidays were special and it really started with Thanksgiving so it felt like a special time that lasted a whole month. The presents were great but it was more than that.  It was the surprise of waking up, to find the presents under the tree, then celebrating with your family and extended family, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  The celebration was as important as the presents.  I must say again I was lucky because we weren't poor nor rich but I really think it was best that way.  I remember it being a time when you would play all day and fall into bed at night totally exhausted without any worries and sleep uninterrupted until morning ready to do it all over again.

     I wish these memories for everyone although I know it won't come true for all.  It's important that we all have fond memories of special times in our lives whether it's a holiday celebration, vacation or special friends in your life.  I wonder what would life be like if we did not have pleasant memories, depressing I expect.  The thing is sometimes memories of past times seem much more special than today's experiences but today's experiences will be tomorrow's memories so why not make them special.

     Your memories will be different from mine but I hope all your Holidays are special and bring you many pleasant memories to share with others. 

Take the Chip off your Shoulder

     It's become apparent that many people in today's society are walking around with a chip on their shoulder and generally what happens is someone knocks it off.   The evidence is right in front of you in the morning paper or on the Internet but I'm sure you have personally run in to it as you traverse through life, maybe in your car or at the local market.  It's simple if you live your life looking for trouble you will most likely find it.  Everybody runs into trouble now and then, but if you are always expecting trouble you will find more of it.  Don't make your life more difficult by adding more drama.


     So if that makes sense then what would happen if you tried living your life with a more open positive attitude, well my experience proves to me that better things happen to me if I have positive expectations.  Some naysayers will say that I am just part of the privileged class not part of an oppressed nationality or race, therefore I wouldn't understand.  Anyone can find reasons that make them feel like an underprivileged 2nd class citizen; I'm short, tall people have all the advantages, I'm not pretty enough too be successful, people misjudge me due to my skin color, my thinning hair makes me look to old, I'm uneducated, etc.  These are all excuses that people use to justify their economic status in life and cause us to have a chip on our shoulder.


     It is possible to control many aspects of your life by having the right attitude and making the right choices.  Don't worry about those things you can't control it will only frustrate you.  You can make a positive difference in your life by representing yourself in the best way possible or you can sabotage your life by acting out of control, it's your choice.   "Just Saying...."

Stuck on a plane in Baltimore for 14 hours

     I didn't mind business travel if it wasn't excessive sometimes it could be fun but there are times it was stressful.  Some years ago, after attending a 4-day business meeting at Pax River, Maryland we drove to Baltimore and stayed the night before getting our flight home the next morning.  We had booked an early morning flight on American Airlines.  It had snowed throughout the night and into the morning but Baltimore was accustomed to this weather so we didn't expect it to be a problem.

     I was traveling with four other teammates from Boeing (Bob, Greg, Tom & Jerry) and we all boarded the plane on time sitting in coach.  The snow continued to fall all morning so we assumed there would some delay but it was a non-stop flight, which normally took 2 1/2 hours so a slight delay wouldn't be a problem.  After the plane was fully boarded we pulled away from the gate when they announced that the plane needed to be de-iced so it would be 1/2 hour or so to get that done.  We continued to hear this announcement 3 or 4 more times so now we've been on the plane for about 2 hours and have only moved about 30 feet.  Passengers are now getting a little restless some moving around in the aisles including small kids but no one is being difficult or obnoxious.  To my best recollection the next announcement tells us the de-icing equipment is broken and being repaired so the plane pulls back up to the gate.

     We've now been on the plane 4 or 5 hours and a passenger ask about food but the flight attendants tell us there is no food on board because this is only a 2 1/2 hour flight.  A guy in the front of the airplane is flying to Vegas and he apparently started partying early so he is really mellow about the whole situation.  He immediately agrees with the passenger about the food request so the flight attendant announces that any passenger can leave the plane to eat but they would not be allowed to re-board which did not make the passengers happy since we were approaching 6 hours sitting on the plane without food.  I couldn't hear the conversation between the flight attendant and the Vegas guy but he convinced her to get off the plane and buy McDonald burgers for the passengers with money he gave her, that's right the Vegas guy bought burgers for the entire plane with his own money.  I couldn't believe it, American Airlines you should be ashamed.  We all applauded the Vegas guy for his generous gift.

     The flight attendant returns with the burgers but still some passengers decide to get off the plane anyway.  Hours are ticking away slowly and we again pull away from the gate to get de-iced but unsuccessfully.  Finally after about 9 1/2 hours the airline makes arrangements to have an independent de-icing company complete the de-icing procedure.  Immediately after the plane is de-iced we get in line for takeoff and finally flyway from Baltimore arriving in St. Louis 14 hours after we boarded the airplane that morning.  Wow, what a day!  American Airlines "Doing what they do best"......... Yea, Not so much.

Halloween - Now and Then

     Halloween has become a big deal, many people call it their favorite holiday.   Kids had always celebrated it but now it seems to have been adopted by parents and animals, as well.  My daughter, (Maureen) loves to decorate for Halloween plus dress for the costumed office parties, why not, it's fun.  Parents were always the driving force behind the costumes for kids but in the 50's/60's costumes were simple like a ghost, bum or cowboy or a something princess like for girls.  I can remember being a bum on a number of Halloweens.  I don't recall seeing too many elaborate costumes and home decorations were usually a lighted pumpkin, tombstone, skeleton or ghost.  The most elaborate costume I had was a scarecrow, which had a board running from one arm to the other so my arms stuck straight out.  I had my arms in my shirt holding the goody bag.  That costume really fooled people at first, wondering how I could hold my arms up so long.

     Today the costumes and home decorations are quite elaborate with inflatable monsters decorating the lawn.  Most houses are kept well lit so the little ones don't get scared.  When I grew up the houses all seemed dark with only the porch light lit.  It was Halloween, it's supposed to be scary.  I don't remember toddlers trick or treating, maybe there were a few parents that took them out, I just don't recall that, my mind was blurred by my goal to collect candy.  There was no "Trunk or Treat" like there is today so the only way to get candy was door to door.


     There would be parents (usually Dad's) out in the streets monitoring the smaller kids, really visiting with the other Dad's sometimes sipping on a refreshing beverage to keep them warm. We always made sure we had a couple of jokes to tell, even if they were lame, but kids don't seem to do that these days.  As you got older you went with your friends and didn't want parental supervision.  We would generally canvass the neighboring streets but if we heard of a good bounty out of our immediate neighborhood we would search it out.  I remember one house that gave out homemade candy apples which was a special treat but you had to get there early.  

     I would hear rumors now and then about a trick-or-treater that found a razor blade in the candy but I never heard if it was really true. I'm sure there were incidents of this, which is probably why programs like "Trunk or Treat" were started.  Halloween always seemed to bring the weirdo's out and I guess it always will.  Today most parents will take the little kids to only a few close neighbors so they can be sure the candy is safe.  Halloween is so popular now that everyone is on the lookout for the kids.

     Something else I've noticed is all the dogs wearing costumes, which I don't remember ever seeing.  I guess the popularity of Halloween has just expanded.  I'm not sure how the dogs feel about getting dressed up but I have to admit I get a kick out of it.

     I like Halloween and it's fun seeing the little kids dressed up but Christmas is still my favorite holiday.  Candy doesn't trump presents. "Just Saying...."

Best Buddies

     Our new neighbors (Michalka's) across the street had a son (Tony), he was a friendly kid and the same age as my son (Patrick).  Tony would come over to our house interested in getting Pat to come out and play, but for some reason Pat was not interested, he actually seemed a little afraid of Tony.  Who would have known that they would become the best of friends standing up as "Best Man" in each other's wedding?


     Tony was a persistent kid coming over frequently, always talking to me as I worked in the yard wanting to know why Pat wouldn't come outside.  The truth is I really didn't know, even kids have issues or fears like adults, maybe it was Tony's jet-black hair that Pat found disturbing.  Tony and I would talk whenever he came over to see Pat and I in turn would tell Pat that Tony was a nice kid asking "Why didn't he go out to play with him".  Pat gave no particular reason for his decision to stay inside.  After a number of weeks with Tony visiting, Pat started talking to Tony through the screen door in the kitchen then finally after he felt comfortable he went outside to play.  It seemed like no time before these two were the best of buddies almost inseparable.  Whatever reason Pat had for not wanting to play with Tony initially is beyond me but it didn't really matter anymore since they were now "buddies".  They have remained best friends since that day despite going to different colleges however the colleges were in the same city (Springfield, Mo).


     I believe it was the same summer that I became friends with John (Tony's Dad), it started in an unusual way.  We had a leak in the water line in the front yard and since it was on our side of the meter we, the homeowners were responsible for the repair, so I decided I would fix it.  Surprisingly, I found the leak fairly quickly after digging a 3 foot deep hole in the front yard.  The water line coming out of the meter to the house was a plastic line and it had a small pin hole in it which I cut out and repaired.  It wasn't but a few weeks after the repair when it started leaking again, so I dug up the yard once more to do a 2nd repair, as I was standing in the hole covered in mud, John came home from work and asked what I was doing.  Sometimes I have a quirky sense of humor and I thought it would be funny (at least in my mind) if I threw some muddy water at him despite not knowing him very well.  I picked up a shovel full of muddy water and hurled it at John, I wasn't trying to hit him but I did want to see him jump.  He quickly jumped out of the way while giving me a WTF look.  I laughed and told him I was fixing a leak in the water line for the 2nd time.  It didn't seem like John too was upset, maybe he also has a quirky sense of humor but later, John told me when he went in his house that day he told Cindy (his wife) that guy across the street was crazy.


     Some weeks later John had bought a mountain bike and was riding it around the court.  A few of us at work had talked about getting a mountain bike so seeing John riding one inspired me to go talk to him about his new purchase.  He was excited about the bike and we had a typical guy talk about mountain biking.  It couldn't have been more than a few weeks later that a few of us from work bought mountain bikes as well.  Pat and Tony had those 20 inch fat tire bikes (mini mountain bikes) single speed bikes so I ask John & Tony if they wanted to go on a trail ride with Pat & I and some guys from work.  This turned into a regular weekly outing and built a friendship that has lasted over 20 years.  We have spent many nights dining out or playing card with John and Cindy plus many fun vacations together.

     So what does it take to have a lasting friendship, well I'm not an expert but I will say persistence (Tony), acceptance (Pat), common interest and humor (quirky or otherwise).  So don't be surprised or angry if your neighbor throws a shovel full of muddy water at you, they could be testing your level of humor.   Who knows 20 years later you could be the best of friends.