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Psalm 90:10, "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong.... |
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Three Score and Ten the Introduction, Well here we go, After 50 years I am going to take another attempt at writing. The first time was the Palmer writers correspondence school in 1969. The writing will be not a book that will be written with the idea of being published, But will be a writing of thoughts unencumbered by possible publishing and monetary gain. This writing will be a hybrid of Journal and Reminisce. It is important to me that the writings are my true thoughts at the time, not influenced by any factor. The writing will try to explain how a 70 year old white, male USA citizen now relates to today's world. Is every oldest generation lost in their own world, that they aged into? What do I see, and feel as I age farther. I know I am not normal as in what this world today would consider normal. But I hope I am in the ball park writing the thoughts of a 70 year old. I hope for you to learn to know who I am, As I search for Who I am at 70+ This work will carry on until I am no longer able to think or write. This will be done on a nearly daily writing interwoven with a life's reminiscing. This writing has been in the planning for 10 plus years. and I have now made it to this starting point. This writing is dedicated to My Wife The Kitten, My family, My grand children, Lukas, Levi, Luis, Lydia and Sonora Pearl. I thank you God that you have allowed me to have your Three Score and Ten Time. |
| I will now fill you in on yesterdays fish trip. I went close by about 50 minutes away, a smaller shallow like. It was full of people, being a Sunday. There was good ice and the snow was not a problem. It was cloudy and cold but not terrible. What was terrible was the fishing. I didn't get skunked but brought home only two small fish. The rest were mostly potato chips, meaning potato chip size. I will not return there this winter. But tomorrow is another trip to a different lake and hopefully better results. What was the worse is I hurt my eyes. Like a novice I ran off with out a hat with a brim. The brightness on the snow was hard for me too look at. Then straining to see the fish locator light did not help. Then when I left it was fog and freezing fog which made a glare which made driving difficult. So today I am wearing flip over light protection on my glasses. Lesson learned, I hope. But us old dogs do not always learn the fastest. But anyway On To, PROMPT January 3rd If you had a portal that would instantly transport you to one specific place on Earth whenever you wanted, where would you want to go? You can use the portal as often as you want, but it will only transport you to the one location you choose and then back again to where you came from. This is a easy prompt for me. Zurich Switzerland is the answer. I have some family there I can visit. And I will be able to rent a car and drive to Vienna Austria, Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Munich, I would also travel to and in the Prattigau Valley my heritage home where family yet remains. I have hopes of making one more trip there one day. If you are chasing to find happiness, You will never catch it, Happiness needs to be found in the NOW Moment. |
| Well I did it, I took down the 2020 calendar from the library door. it always feels like the final close down to the past year. Next it will be the old year paper work and taxes. I closed up the curtains on the Christmas room. That will now rest until July if I can remember to light up for the 4th. Did a few clean up details, and had to deal with snow. I listened to some older music, Does Phil Harris ring a bell with any of you. I have a habit of when I sort sheet music I listen to some of the music I am sorting. It is easy to do on the internet. What has happened to the music of today? Tomorrow I am hope to do some Ice Fishing down here. It looks like it will be a decent day. I did not bring the shelter down here from up north at this time, only a open sled. But that looks like it will work tomorrow. Going out and ice fishing gives me a lift at this time of year. I will let you know how it all works out. I wanted to write on the prompt from January one, "What’s something GOOD that happened in 2020?" I had to stop and give this good thought since last evening. It is normally easier for me to find a silver lining in things, 2020 is tough. I think the question is dealing with the bigger picture for the year. Not me or my families personal year, which was satisfactory, No real downers. One silver lining I see was people may have rediscovered home life and it's rewards. The finding of pleasure, satisfaction in a good job done well at your home. Maybe I hope more houses became homes with the owners own personalities. I hope and suspect that many people became closer to God. That he indeed walks with them. That God walking with them is the difference between Hope and Despair in a rough year. I think at least some people have come to realize that our news media and social media set our cultural social agenda, and what and how it is discussed. It is in there perceived interest to make a news narrative, not just report the news. Their show of what they want and the length they will go to achieve it should have been apparent to many. That new awareness is a good thing going into 2021. I saw more interest in outdoor endeavors, Spending time with God's nature, More exercise. more healthy activities. I hope there was a renewed serious awareness of health issues. If there can be silver linings for the year 2020 I can have positive optimism for the year 2021, and I do. |
| It's December 31, New Years Eve and I sit here with the wife. We got cleaned up to end the year with no place to go. I finished my Do List for the last time this year. I and We made out our major goals list for 2021. It is not near as long as last year, and I wanted it that way. I am getting to the point I just do not want to deal with things any more then I have to. I only want to take in the world around me, Smell the Roses, Count the stars, Walk in the rain, Watch the garden grow, Smell a fresh plowed field and roll in the soil. I love God's creation, this earth and all of it's workings. It is a miracle. I am still a Little Boy and still the farmer I always wanted to be. I want to hug and kiss the wife, Pet the Little dog and have the Big cat on my lap. Go fishing with the Grandsons and give the Granddaughters a hard time. I pray this year I will be able to do those things. That I will not get bogged down into every day details. My review of 2020, I am always troubled writing this review. It is like watching a close friend pass away. It is like writing an obituary. As troubling as the old year was I will miss 2020. It will never come my way again. It is gone forever. For us 2020 was productive, We got a lot accomplished because our options were limited. We could not travel as we would have. We could stay focused. The garden was very satisfactory. We did most items on the yearly Goals List. I did more fishing and caught some fish. We stayed healthy. Our family stayed healthy and I think financially secure. God blessed us once again this year and I am Thankful. But I do feel very guilty, So many have lost so much this year of 2020. I hate the thought of people losing a livelihood for them and there family. And I am of the persuasion that government can not fix everything. Only God with our help can fix our cultural difficulties. So this evening I pray that those who have lost so much can soon recover from this virus onslaught. That they and there families can once again be self sustaining. I am sorry this has happened to you. I pray that 2021 will be the beginning of your recovery. I pray for God's Blessings for everyone in 2021. |
| What do you know it is not late evening and I am writing this Blog. I have been absent from writing for a few days now. I do not know where the days go too. It seems we are always going to bed. How can that be? Today we are digging out of our 6+ inches of snow. It is a combination job Snow blower and shovel. First off this morning I need to shovel a spot and access for the Little Dog. He has work to do outside and wants a grass covered area. he has little legs of about 6 inches and he doesn't get around in deep snow. That done I started the sidewalk, I am glad I do not have a corner lot just a over size frontage on the highway with a lot of vehicle and foot traffic. At one time I had a massive amount of sidewalk and parking lot to remove snow from. Luck that was 25 years ago. We still have a lot of area to remove show from. So now I need to go slow, when I get tired I quit for awhile. So now I quit and can write the blog. That last couple of days I have been working on Old Vintage Sheet music, Repairing, Sleeving and Boarding. Yesterday it was Patriotic and World War 1 music. They sure did some Great Propaganda Art Work. Some will need to go, I can not keep it all. But I do not know where yet. Yes, We are ticking down to years end. I normally write out a review of the current year and goals for the coming year. But I have one day remaining. A lot can happen in one day. Writing tomorrow will be a priority. But for today now It is back to the shovel for me. I hope you are done shoveling and you are resting. Have a Blessed Day |
| It's the day after Christmas and all is well. Christmas day was different this year. The wife did not do a meal. We had no family visit. She did a desert and a Vegetable and we went the youngest daughters house about 1.75 hours drive away. It was good they made Duck and dressing. It was my wife and I and my daughter and Son in Law. We took the little Biscuit along. The two dogs got along good, No problem, But we did have two begging dogs. After dinner she connected to the Zoom thingy, and gifts were opened with my other daughters and Grandkids over Zoom. It was nice. but I am nervous about a live internet camera on in the house. I won't have it in our home. I want to keep our home private, No prying eyes, No Big Brother. We left just in time to get on the freeway before dark. I do not like to drive at night with close two way traffic. As for next year Christmas we will wait and see, But I can see us going to one of the daughters again. Our house is Just now too small for 16-18 people. The grandkids are getting to be adult size. The more important is the wife next year will be 69 and she is little and a bit frail. Doing a big meal for all is hard on her. but as I always Say "We Shall See". Today we rested some, No busyness. I did sort out some Sheet Music. I may have not mention before but Saturday is our Sabbath. We do try to make the day different then the rest of the week. We try to honor God and his creation on that day. We try to rest, But rest is hard for me, not being busy. So I am sure we are not the best Sabbath keepers, but we do not forget The Sabbath either. I hope you have a Blessed evening and New Week. |
| I have had a exciting two days. I have been working on and cleaning a lot of Fishing Reels. I found one very desirable reel in the lot, a early 1950's Zebco with the old name on it. Now the struggle begins, Do I add it to the collection or put it up for sale? I do plan to fish with it at least once. The other exciting thing I have been doing is sorting out sheet. I have been acquiring Old Music sheet music for at least twenty five years. It has grown too six computer paper boxes full. Being packed away it is hard to know what I have accumulated. It is time to check it out. I like the cover art work, Early movie promotion song sheets and the songs that bring back a lot of memories. I will need to decide what I want to hang on too and what to let go of. I am trying to again some space. The other thing I am trying to do is stay busy and not get down at this time this season. The days are going fast. We will be having dinner with my daughter and her husband on Christmas day. They are in a West Milwaukee suburb, about 1.75 hours away. I will drive home about 4:00. I no longer like to drive at night. So I will try to be on the Freeway by dark. It sure has been a strange Christmas, We have gone no place, No normalness. We sent the kids checks to buy the grandkids something from us. We will not see the grandkids this Christmas, A first. It sure is windy here right now, and the temperatures are going to drop like a rock tonight. It sure should be making ice. Maybe next week I can get Ice Fishing down here. For me catching some fish does wonders for the winter mood. My friends, I wish you and your families A Blessed and Merry Christmas and may we all have a 2021 going in the Right Direction. |
| It is December 21 and it is dark outside, It is dark a lot on this day, The first day of winter and the longest day of dark during the year. I always have the feeling that during the darkest months of winter we need to rest and become ready for spring and the productive season. I know that is how it works for me if I want it to or not. I sleep longer and slow down. I also gain a few pounds. When it is dark I get tired. At this time of dark days I also need to fight getting down with depression, especially at this time and this year. The bright side to this is we are on the bottom and we will be climbing out of this darkness hole until June 20. On the 18th we started lighting our Christmas Room. I hung a few more old ornaments I picked up during the year. I will do more tomorrow. It is bright and colorful and lifts me somewhat. I wish you were here to see it. Know one will be coming to visit us this Christmas. My wife and I like to have a couple or family for dinner. I like to visit one, on one with a person or couple. A large crowd can be a stressful thing for us. If some one can tell be how to post an image on this blog, is it possible? I will post some images of the Christmas Room. it would be nice to know someone has visited and was shown the room. Have a Blessed First day of Winter |
| I awoke last night ponder What Is normal? With all of the changes the world has seen in the last 70 years and the continual speed up of recent change, How do I know what is normal? Is there a Normal World? Has there ever been a Normal World? Is Normal World different for everyone? What I have come to reason out is that what we come to think of as normal is put in our thinking at an early age, maybe 10-12 years. Old enough to recognize and come to conclusions of the world around us, but young enough to not yet be locked into thoughts. You are still somewhat flexible in the development of your thought. As we age our thought becomes more rigid. And as a result what we think of as normal becomes rigid and set. It become as benchmark for what we see as normal. The world today is a long way from my benchmark of what is normal. Without going into my up bring at this time that affected my view of normal, I will state some of the normal I staked out at an early age. Faith and Trust in a Christian God, Two parent families, Self responsibility, Self reliance, A man's word was as good as gold, Promises were kept, Pride and satisfaction in a job well done, A real days work for a days pay, Respect for authority, National Patriotism, Politeness, Logic and Common Sense, Respect for Parents and all Elders. Thinking about it I am sure there is more normal in my subconscious mind. But the point is it is my normal. It is also generally the normal of my generation. I have driven a stake into my benchmark normal. It will not budge. I will not try to budge it. I will not accept todays younger generational normal. I am happy with my life long normal and consider everything else abnormal. I will remain Old School stuck on real honest values. I pray that their are many of my time that will remain holding on to their Normal. So I had better answer the questions stated prior based on my reasoning. How do I know what is normal? Normal is a individual factor within your mind picked up at an early age. Is there a Normal World? NO because normal is a moving cultural factor. Has there ever been a Normal World? No It has always been changing. Is Normal World different for everyone? Yes based on our early years environment. Are you living for the future or the past? It is now late in this day and I can try to give my thoughts on this question. I am an old soul and the past ways color my present world. I try to hold the PAST close as it teaches us something if we keep a connection. The teachings and experiences of past individuals can provide us wisdom if we desire it. The past is a collection of past individual "Now Moments". There are times when I am home sick for the past. But today, Now at this "Now Moment", I am Thankful to see the present "NOW Moment" how ever fleeting it may be. I will try to use my knowledge of the past to influence this "Now Moment". As for the future, at my age that is a questionable prospect. The future How long, Under What Conditions may it be? I find myself pulling in my horns now. How can I justify a major purchase, How do I justify a risky move. Stability is the only road now. I will fight to keep the walls from farther closing in on me and the wife. I will work to keep as many of our options open as long as possible. Can the past help with the future, Maybe, Maybe not. The one thing I see in the future is uncertainty and that is troubling for me. Here in this "Now Moment" the future is scary. I will want to stick with the comfort of the past and the present "Now Moment". But I know I have some future and it will arrive and already has. I Pray with God's help I will be able to handle the future with dignity and grace. If you are chasing to find happiness, You will never catch it, Happiness needs to be found in the NOW Moment. |
| The week here is running together. Our biggest exciting event will be going to Madison tomorrow and grocery shopping and picking up at the auction house. I did make a sale over night so there will be a trip to the Post Office today. The little dog is at rest on my lap as I one finger type this entry. I really do not understand why the Little Dog has to be such a bed hog, He just stretches out all over. My actual work activity today will sorting and marking fishing tackle for the Flea Markets I hope to do this spring, and Summer. I just reasonably purchased four tackle boxes of stuff, so I sort and mark. Some for the Flea market, Some for me, Some for the round file. I am also in the process of listing Little Golden Books for the 40's and 50's on my selling site. The Positive for to day is I am here and it is not snowing. For mid December the temperature is moderate, Not bad. It is nice and cozy in the office library where I will spend most of the day. I hope you are having a rewarding and satisfying day. |
| It is starting too, and looking like winter. I just can not wait to go play in the snow, NOT. But as winter normally is for me I get depressed and the days run together. I am thinking that doing this writing and communicating with others will help. I think I know some what House arrest feels like. We do not go any where, Shopping a couple times a month, a walk to the post office, a visit to the drug store once a month. That is about it. We say Hello to the neighbors when it is snow shoveling time. Until things change, church is of the attendance list also, I can not wear a mask over my nose for two hours. And surely it is not healthy to do so. But we do have our Little Dog and Big Cat. The wife and I are company together, I can talk to the kids and grandkids on the phone. And I have your company as I write. And so I think we are still being blessed in this time of trouble. We are still doing better then many as I read. The wife is off now walking to the Post Office to mail Christmas Cards. We as others I am sure mail cards to people we should see and write to during the year, But do not. We have been sending Christmas Cards to Switzerland for some years now. It is one of my lives most important accomplishments, Find the family is Switzerland. We have been their a half dozen times in near the last twenty five years. The first visit was like a awakening, I was able to more understand who I am and why. I am the third generation born here in the USA, but remain very Swiss. But three generations, that is a blink in time. I still have a hope of returning one more time. This last time will not be easy. The familie is in far eastern central Switzerland, Canton Graubunden. I am very proud of my swiss heritage. I hope you are coping well with this winter reality. Have a Blessed Day. |
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