This and that

This morning the sun is out and there is not a cloud in sight. It was a bit chilly, so I built a fire in the wood stove. I think sometimes that old stove is my best friend. It never argues, never complains, makes almost no demands of me, and always keeps me warm - although sometimes it is a bit high maintenance; every hour or so it wants to be fed. But I only need to clean out its litter box once a year, okay, maybe more than once a year but it is still a whole lot better than a cat.
It is an amazing thing (at least to me) a few winters back I was out of firewood and a big hemlock had blown down through my garage, across my yard and a good distance into my neighbor’s yard. When I cut it up, the diameter of the last two rounds were too large for my chain saw and its 20 inch bar, and that was cutting from both sides. I did finally get it cut through and it measured 42 inches across. It was a big tree, at least by my estimation. Are you still reading? Are you still there? I thought maybe those last few line may have put you to sleep.
All that next winter I burned that tree in my old wood stove. When spring finally came I emptied the stoves litter box of ash, can you believe it that whole tree fit into a single 5 gallon bucket. Pretty amazing - don't you think?
Yesterday, my friend, Abe and I went on a short hike up near Snoqualmie Pass. Abe has two yellow labs – you have met them before Max Aswell and Buster. Well of course they had to go along. I like his dogs okay but Abe insists they ride in the cab with us. He does have an extended cab but those dogs are still entirely to close. I know they are to close because upon exiting the truck the black sweat shirt I was wearing had dried dog slobber on my shoulder and left arm and although I couldn’t see it I am pretty sure my left ear was also covered in Buster slobber. Eight month old Buster felt it was necessary to lick my ear about every 10 to 15 miles along the way. Grrr…
I think Abe must actually be a better friend than that wood stove, for me to put up with that. The dog slobber is not a new experience for me - it is just something that is required if I want to be Abe's friend. The sweat shirt has already been washed so I guess a little dog slobber is a small price to pay for having a great friend.

Is there a lesson here? Of course there is: Always wash the slobbered up clothes before showering then no slobber will be tracked into the house.
We can talk about dog hair another time. Thanks for stopping by and reading to the end.

Super Bowl, Fishing and a Compliment

Can a person even be an American and skip the Superbowl? I don’t think so. I don’t follow professional sports much. In fact, I had to ask twice this week who was playing who and I already forgot who is playing the Saints.
Football does savor a soft spot in me though. It was 1965 maybe 66, I am not really sure. My oldest Brother RC was just back from Vietnam. The summer months sped by with him picking up my brother and me every Saturday morning in his new silver Mustang –sweet! The routine was always the same my younger brother, M, and I would dig the worms, make the sandwiches and take turns riding shotgun. The hour plus drive to Mt. Index, the left hand turn off Highway 2 brought us to the river, our river at least it felt that way. We fished all morning, maybe panned for a little gold, and after lunch, about 1:00 my brother RC would take a nap in the sun. M and I would meander up and down the river looking for periwinkles. The worms were long gone and fishing for 8 inch trout at age 12 was mighty important work. I don’t recall catching that many fish but I do remember RC letting me drive that new Mustang on those gravel roads. I remember him teaching me how to pan for gold, I remember getting knocked on my butt shooting his shotgun but most of all I remember he liked me. No, he never let me take the Mustang out of 1st gear – he wasn’t crazy.
Summer ended, school started and Saturday brought watching college football with RC. I don’t remember much else about that age but having a brother eight years older is about like having a god in the house. You see, anything he did, I wanted to be right there with him.
This brother had a soft spot in his heart for me; at least I still like thinking he did. He gave me my first job job as a helper building houses. The first compliment I can remember receiving came from him. I laugh now because his boss had told him he liked working with me because I had the good sense to hold a board. Usually it was just me and my brother siding houses in a large housing development. But, then one day we moved to an apartment complex and I was assigned to work with the boss. Six inch beveled siding, an entry way, and the boss held up a board. Without being told I held the other end. Pretty insignificant but he thought that I had good sense and told my brother who then told me. At fourteen with buck teeth, skinnier than a rail, pimples all over may face, and every subject at school a struggle especially if much reading was required…a simple compliment was something I laid in bed at night recalling with delight.
The lesson of a compliment is an important thing. I hope you will look for an opportunity this week to see the good in a young person, then tell him/her. It may be the first compliment they will remember receiving, your words have more power than you might think.

My Great Liberal Brother

It has been said that, I am so conservative I make Rush Limbaugh look like a communist. In contrast I have a brother who is so liberal one would think Ted Kennedy was actually a Republican when lined up next to my brother’s ideals.
Now, I will be the first to say that maybe the above statements are a bit of an exaggeration at least the part about how liberal my brother is because if truth be told using my brother as the liberal standard I am pretty sure Barbara Boxer might actually be head of the Republican Party. All that said, I take great comfort in this – I know without a doubt my liberal brother would die for me if it was necessary. Of course why wouldn’t he? He is a liberal.
Brother, I so appreciate the love, but now that the subject is out in the open, I guess you should know, if it became necessary for me to lay down my life for you? Hmmm…I think we got a problem. After all you’re a liberal and we all know my left side is my weak side.
With the contrast deeper than the great Grand Canyon between us; can you imagine what it might be like if we were stuck in the same house together for five days? Last spring it actually happened. I will let your imaginations enjoy a time of free wonderment about how those five days went.
Before getting to the crux of this writing I need to mention one more item on the subject. “Brother I am sorry you have lived your life so sadly wrong – it must really suck to be you. – Side note: having your own blog has its advantages – I love that it is so one sided (my side) such a great feeling of power. Ahh…. spoken like a true conservative.
Recently, I sent my Flaming Liberal brother one of those forwarded emails that we all get by the thousands – just to bug him. Of course I deleted all the forwarded data so it looked like my own – I know it is a bit shameful but I am not ashamed, we conservatives think nothing of maligning or defrauding our fellow man if it serves in strengthening our wealth and power – don’t believe me? Just ask a liberal he will tell you it’s true. I would post it here but it is simply dull, dry and boring compared to my brother’s brilliant response. His response was near genius…thankfully it came just short of labeling him as one of those smart people I so detest.
BTW - I have my brother’s permission to share his response. Arkansas Patti, Dianne, and Betty… this one is for you. May I suggest sipping a little champagne while you sit back and enjoy a rare liberal moment of brilliance. Let the good time liberal smiles begin.
I think that the reason I am Liberal rather than Conservative, is that Conservative ideas just don't work anymore in a society as complex, interdependent, and large as ours is.
Grover Norquist is a leading thinker in the conservative movement. (If you say so brother, I never heard of him. I would have been more impressed if it was George Will, Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh) He has been quoted as saying, "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." Norquist favors the elimination of numerous federal organizations including the Internal Revenue Service, the Food and Drug Administration, Education Department and the National Endowment for the Arts.
If we follow this line of reason what happens? Let me imagine your day today.

I expect that this morning when you awoke, you reached over and flicked a light switch, and the lights came on...........as you expected. This happened because in 1937, under Pres. Roosevelt, the Bonneville Power Administration was established. A Federal organization which has been mandated with providing consistent electricity generation and transmission in the NW since that time. After showering with water delivered to you by your local government, which manages water delivery and waste management. You then went downstairs and perhaps while eating breakfast turned on the TV and marveled at the destruction from the recent earthquake in Haiti. Estimates are that perhaps 500,000 died. It was magnitude 7.0 I wonder if you thought of the earthquake in Seattle in 1965, a magnitude 6.5 to 6.75. The total damage from that quake was $800, 000. Three people died from falling debris.
What was the difference? A little something called Universal Building Codes, which have been mandated by local governments in the US since 1906 and became national in scope under the Clinton Administration.
After breakfast you got in your car and drove to work on the Interstate Hwy System, maintained by Federal dollars. Along the way you may have stopped for gas. You didn't worry about the quality of the fuel you put in your car, because you realized it was checked by a government agency. Then you arrived at work. You worked all day and suffered no injuries, partially due to OSHA mandated work rules. Since today was payday, you were very thankful for your paycheck, from n organization financed by local, state, and federal tax dollars.
On the way home you may have swung by to say hi to Mom and Dad, who are living independently rather than depending on you and me, partially because of the Social Security Act of 1935, again implemented under Roosevelt. You probably asked about their health, and Mom probably told you about their recent Dr. visits, which were paid by Medicare, established under President Johnson in 1965.
After leaving their home you drove home. I wonder if you thought about how great it is, that one we both love, is doing well thanks to a long stint in drug rehab at a local agency, which receives funding from state and federal sources as well as private donations. While continuing your drive you probably turned on your radio and listened to Rush Limbaugh. I'm sure he came in loud and clear on your radio, thanks in no small part to the FCC which assigns radio frequencies and insures that transmissions are consistent. You may have called your daughter on your cell phone too. Again, made possible in part by regulation of the FCC. Did she tell you how much fun she is having at that State Funded University she is attending? I love it every time she posts on FB. I think she is in NYC this weekend. I am sure she had a safe flight, thanks to the FAA and the TSA.
Upon arriving home you made yourself dinner. The food you ate was safe and nutritious thanks to standards imposed by the Federal Gov't. I wonder if you thought about that night your house burned? And how there was an insurance company that paid for the reconstruction. Did you consider how remarkable that is? BTW, Insurance companies are regulated by insurance commissions in each state, to insure that coverage paid for, is available.
So after that long, productive day, in which your life was very good, thanks in no small part to liberal government programs you sat down and wrote a rant about how bad liberals are. Liberals who championed, fought for and continue work to protect all of the things you enjoy on a daily basis.
THAT is why I am a liberal.
Well he sur nuf shet mah mouth dint he? I’ll be stay’in away from that bob war fence from now on. Nur wut we’s gotta admit here is that that there brother of mine is purty gosh darn smert, who wulda thunk a liberal could be so smert. I din’t reckon there were anyones gud nuff to be aktlly smert in the hole bunch but this jest proves et if there’s one that’s not ignert in that there hole wud pile there could be hope for this great nation yit.

Update: And once again proving "What is beyond our control is within our influence" here is my brother's new blog Blue Ridge Wandering

Checking Out

The pile to scan was significant. For the life of me I could not understand what the checker’s problem was. Scan the sucker already! Come on lady just drag it over the glass. I wondered if she could work any slower. Maybe slow motion was a requirement to work at this superstore. Lady please, It doesn’t matter what kind of bag you use, just put it in a bag – please! Ugh! Where do they find these people? Cold molasses moved faster than this lady!
****
Hiking boots with no socks. Drab gray sweats pulled up to the knees. A dirty yellow sweat shirt hid curves that were long gone. Dirty hair incased a face containing a set of dull lifeless eyes. Between the checker and the customer I could not figure out which one was more irritating. They were a perfectly matched pair.
The customer’s tired eyes came up and hers met mine. A slight change – I almost missed it but there it was - pain. Curiosity swept aside my irritation. I began watching her and wondered what her story was. Maybe she was a single mom with a bunch a kids and now worn out, here she was doing her last task of the day getting some needed shopping done. Or, maybe she was homeless. Her attire fit that idea pretty well. She was having a difficult time. A simple decision of where to place each bag in the cart was a struggle. Finally, the checker finished the packing and her transaction was complete. With many unanswered questions my eyes followed her slow shuffle toward the door.
My attention switched back to the checker mesmerized now by her slow methodical pace. If the eyes are truly the window into the soul, this ladies eyes screamed with exhaustion.
My turn had finally come, no one had stacked up behind me and an announcement came over the intercom that the store would be closing soon. The checker in her late fifties began unhurriedly scanning my items. Looking at a face with no expression I asked, “Have you had a hard day?”
“Yes, it has been a long day, 10 hours today.”
“Ouch, have you been on your feet the whole time?”
“No, I get breaks. The problem isn’t here; it’s my 93 year old mother who lives with me. We cannot afford help so, I am her caregiver. I bathe her, fix her meals, all before this job. It is a heavy burden.” The checker’s accent was full and I am not sure of the order or what exactly followed or how the information came to be uttered but I gleaned her mother had been a great musician in her native country, maybe Sri Lanka.
“Do you play music also?”
A smile broke across her tired face and a sparkle brightened her eyes causing them to dance. “Oh yes, I play the piano and I sing. I love music.” More was said that I did not understand but energy had replaced the doldrums in the lady. She all at once seemed younger and if I wasn’t smiling on the outside, I for sure was smiling on the inside – what a transformation in both of us!
Gathering up my bags, “Thank you for helping me this evening, did you know your whole face sparkles with life when you talk about music?”
A smile and an embarrassed but grateful slight nod was my answer. She gave a simple low wave from her hip as I turned and left the store.
What a change of attitude – my irritation was gone. A short connection had been made. The interchange had been no more than a minute or two but it had more value to me than the contents in my bag. Driving home I wondered how many times I miss it in my rush or my irritation.
Could these short vignettes be times when Jesus shows up and hands me a gift? And maybe even says, “These are the ones I went to the cross for Grayquill, if you would love a bit more maybe I would show up a bit more often. And, who knows maybe more than a moment would pass between us - I know I would like that.”
Me to…!

Molly Hightower a Shining Light

Molly Hightower died in the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th. She has lived in Haiti for the last 7 months. She is a person I probably would never have heard of if this tragedy had not happened. Molly was quietly working in a very unglamorous job in an orphanage which housed many handicapped children. One of her principle duties was to teach these children to swim but from her blog she is seen doing physical therapy in a variety of other areas.
I was motivated to write about her for two reasons. I have a daughter who did a similar work several years ago and I can remember the fears I faced as a father the many months she was away. I can only try to imaging the pain Mr. and Mrs. Hightower are feeling this morning as I write this piece.
My primary reason for this writing is so Molly’s shinning light of a life might be seen by a few others and they might be encouraged by how, good, people can be in a world where hate seems to fill the news headlines.
Molly’s life of love stands in stark contrast to the hate filled lives of today’s Muslim extremist. The difference is more dramatic than the brightest day compared to the darkest night. This 22 year old girl has inspired me and I want to live better because of her story. I hope it will inspire you in the same way.
Molly has a blog called 525,600 Minutes. The title says a lot about Molly and how she lived life. The blog title came from a song that asks the question, what would you do if you only had a year to live (525,600 minutes). Molly did not get all those minutes but she knew what she was about and she knew what the main point was. May her life galvanize us to focus on the main point and live life with purpose.
May God bless and comfort the Hightower family in this very sad week and the weeks to come.
Here is a link to Molly’s blog. She tells her own story much better than I could.
http://mollyinhaiti.blogspot.com/

Why we write?

When we are in pain we write – I heard someone say this once and I found it interesting and believe it to be true. I think there are probably some who write for the love of writing. I have a tendency to be a bit jealous of those people, their words flow like a feather pushed along by a soft breeze skipping here and there smoothly, almost lyrical.
I started writing mostly out of boredom, wanting to improve my writing skills but I admit it was 'pain' that started the keys clicking. In an attempt to release this pain a book began to emerge and now lies hidden in a cob webbed corner of my computer. The quality of the writing was horrible but it served a purpose and maybe someday when I have retired and have learned to write and have gained some wisdom the story will be rewritten.
This Christmas I compiled many of my blog posts into a book for my kids. Later I joked with a friend that my first book was a smashing success, it sold out the first day, all seven copies. As I read through my old posts I could not help notice how some of the pieces flowed along smoothly while others were disjointed and it was as if they ran sideways down a crooked trail. The smoother pieces encouraged me and the crooked ones well let’s just say I am grateful that my fellow bloggers are gentle with me when these posts have been posted. Sorry!
The trouble with just writing and hoping that writing alone will improve a person’s skill is kind of like the person who boasted proudly, I have twenty years experience at my trade. The trouble was he was horrible at his trade. His problem…he really only had one year experience. He repeated the 1st year 19 times.
This is my 100th post and for my writing to improve my next 100 posts will not be repeats of the first 100. You can expect more risk, more failure, more openness, more success, and if I succeed I will touch your hearts and hear your laughter more often and at a greater depth.
So here I sit blogging along, with hope sitting on my shoulder encouraging me. I have learned my fellow blogger friends will tell me when the words have touched their funny bone or strummed the strings of their heart; one thing is for sure their comments always encourage me.
If you are reading this, thank you for coming this way, and for putting forth the effort to read to the end. I appreciate each and every one of you. If you care…you are helping me. Thanks!

The Foolish Atheist

This is my effort in converting all you Atheists out there into being true believers.

Living in modern day 2010 is simply the best! With all our amazing technological advances around us, possibly the greatest advance of all is Garbage Day!
Upon arriving home tonight my first task was to roll my stuffed garbage can out to the street; a simple task that took a mere few minutes. Tomorrow, while I am at work, magic will happen, I will arrive home in the evening and shazam the garbage can will be empty. It doesn’t get much better than that. Even though this magic happens every week and I should be use to it, I am not. I find it a wonder that rain or shine, snow or sleet, my garbage can is empty every Tuesday when I get home.
Yeah sure, if I stopped paying the bill the wonder would stop but the bill is paid and tomorrow will be an awesome day. Oh… there are those times I forget what day it is and the tub doesn’t make it to the street but that just gives me hope that somewhere some scientist has had the same problem and is diligently working in his lab solving the dilemma. Heck within the next fifty years technology will probably have advanced to the point where I won’t even have to remember garbage day. That will be like being in heaven and of course in fifty years that is exactly where I will be – now that has to make a believer smile even on his worst day.
Mr. Blunt Edges, there you go, that ought to make a believer out of you, or not. HAH! Go ahead be stubborn take your garbage out for eternity.