The Sounds of Life

Sharp sounds of life pierce my ears

Mask the soothing melodies hovering near

Like hate overpowering love

Hate is dark and harsh

Love is bright and comforting

Loud voices of hate dwarf the whispers of love

Both powerful but love nourishes

Love’s the easy choice

Everyone agrees

Why then is hate so popular?

Look inside to find the answer

It’s up to us to choose

Women and Paint

     We all have hobbies to fill our free time hours. It's a way of relaxing while providing a sense of accomplishment. Some people play music, some do word working, some paint. I like to write. My wife, Mimi and many of the women in our family like to paint but not on canvas. Walls, sometimes cabinets but it’s mainly walls that are their go to medium.

     Our house always has freshly painted walls in one room or another especially around the holiday season. I'm told this is a way to "freshen things up" and it makes my wife happy so that's good. The usual design consultants if needed are Mimi's sister, Ann or my sister, Rose. I am frequently asked about a color choice but in reality I'm not sure what's wrong with the original color on the wall so I'm not the best person to give that advice.

     We buy high quality paint but I believe the reason for that is it's easier to paint with, not for durability because it's never on the walls that long. Mimi always seems to be on the hunt for a new paint color. It's like she has a 5-year paint plan. She seems thrilled when we are at Home Depot and she anxiously searches the cart full of "opps" paint to find paint for a yet unidentified project.

     I frequently ask "What are you painting with the "oops" paint."

     Her response is usually "I don't know yet."

     "Then why do you need it."

     "I like the color."

     I think her "Field of Dreams" motto is "Find a paint and the project will come." I certainly don't understand her fascination with painting but I'm sure she is just as confused with some of my hobbies. It's all good, we've only been married 41 years so I can't be expected to understand everything.

     Recently, Mimi asked me "Do you think the paint is too dark?"

     My answer was "Does it make a difference, since you will change it in 6 months anyway."

     Don’t take this post as negative. It’s just an observation. I guess if it were up to me the wall colors wouldn’t change until the drywall started showing through the paint. Many of more stories are fueled by Mimi’s activities so I guess you could say she is my inspiration.

20 Seconds

     "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally, twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." This is a quote from the movie "We Bought a Zoo." Benjamin Mee

     This is a very powerful saying with a simple message. In the movie, it's advice from a father to his son about meeting a girl. To me it means even more. It's a message on how to approach life. Twenty seconds of courage or compassion can make a difference. It's not a long time but it can change your life in and another's in ways you wouldn't expect.

     Time is more valuable than money because it is limited. We cherish our time and it's not easy to give it away in big chunks. But twenty seconds to help a stranger load groceries in the car, greet someone with a smile, offer your place in line or have a friendly chat with a stranger, seems easy. However, many people are unwilling to approach a stranger because of fear of rejection, embarrassment or harm. So for those people it takes courage to leave their comfort zone until it becomes natural.

     The holiday season brings out the best in some people but it is also a difficult time for others. Giving money is a great way to help others but giving time is appreciated just as much. So, I guess there's only one question left. Can you spare twenty seconds to brighten someone's day? "Just Saying...."