The Three Minute Grandparent

Snow, snow, snow. The view is of snow through my bedroom window. The bedroom is actually the computer room or 2nd bedroom. Now that takes the wonder out of “Snow”...right? The first view is actually of a chain link fence surrounding a yard of snow...then mountains in the distance. That really destroys the magic...or does it? We live in a magical world of snow and fences. Viewing snow always draws my eyes upward to the mountains then to the local powder on the ground, in the streets and around the houses. But then...I see the fences, those devices that hold my view to merely a back yard, a dog run, or even a confined yard surrounded by 8 foot wooden boards. How sad that we sink to a confined yard of snow and forget to look up at the mountains of snow surrounding us. The beauty of the frozen vapor resting on a Douglas fir or Ponderosa Pine is enough to take away my breath. Not to mention the cold which is enough to freeze noses and toeses. Looking up allows me to refill...

Getting to know you...getting to know all about you.  Life with children and grandchildren is more than a song, even if the song is from the wonderful 1951   Rodgers and Hammerstein   musical   The King and I .   Knowing someone requires time and commitment with lots of love thrown in.  Getting to know a child or grandchild can be challenging and fun... and is definitely worth it. Children and Grandchildren want to be known and loved, but how does one show love?  Perhaps an ice cream cone or a cup of lemonade would say "I love you" to a child.  A new shirt, dress, or pair of jeans might say "I am awfully fond of you" to another child.  Holding a child in your lap or a kind word might speak to another child.  Each child understands love in his or her own way. In a way, love is a language and each person, each child has his or her own language that is part of his life from the beginning of life until the end of life. ...

A good friend celebrated her 50th birthday with cake from Coldstone Creamery.  Happy birthday dear friend and wishing you many more. We had a choice between 2 cakes and I was good and had one slice. We actually had cake in our church fellowship time prior to this.  Rosauers supplied 2 large sheet cakes - Chocolate and Vanilla with strawberry icing.  Soooooo, I am caked out for a short time.  Talk with me tomorrow should you wish to invite us out for cake. Fifty years, now that's a long time.  Born in 1965, this friend saw the first man on the moon, born on the same day as Charlie Sheen, Brooke Shields, and Kevin James.  This friend has also seen the rise of Cell Phones to the point of Everyone having one.  Imagine taking your home phone with you...away from home!  That's amazing!  No more waiting to check messages when you get home from work, the store or church.  Also your phone is much more, it is your personal assistant, holding y...

My Mother was a Lady.  She knew how to carry herself in public and in private.  She made us proud both out of our home and while at home.  She never wore dirty or torn clothes, even when doing house cleaning or working in the yard.  She always dressed up for a shopping trip and encouraged her three offspring to do the same. What did my Mother teach me? She taught me to say yes ma'am/no ma'm and yes sir/no sir.  These were polite ways to respond to those older than I was.  Yes, I even used these polite words on people just a few years older than me.  We taught our children to use these words by using them on our children.  Politeness is caught as well as taught. She taught me to lift the seat before using the toilet, perhaps a bit humorous but nevertheless, an important life lesson.  By the way, my wife, Rhonda, taught me to lower the seat and lid when the job was done...another important life lesson! She taught me to hold the door for...

Growing older causes me to think...about the past and about the future.  My Valdosta High School classmates held a 65th birthday/Medicare class reunion this past weekend in my hometown.  I was unable to attend, but have enjoyed the pictures posted on Youtube.  We are all aging gracefully....is that the correct verbiage? I was actually in my hometown over a month ago for my Mother's funeral and probably walked by many of these friends.  I wonder if we walked right by each other with no recognition?  It has been a trip down memory lane just seeing each of these dear friends from the past. Thoughts and old friends running through my mind cause me to wonder about the future.  I find myself listening to old Peter, Paul, and Mary recordings, remembering a simpler time in high school and college.  Finding old friends and talking with them is becoming increasingly important as is being a good parent and grandparent to the next generation. I find myself b...

Changing car tags in Montana involves a rear and front tag. I guess someone in front of you should be able to look in the rear view mirror and see your tag number, hence the front tag.  Anyway, the tags are on the car.  Big deal, you say.  Yes, it is a big deal. This car was my Mother's car.  She recently moved on to Glory and I inherited her black Chrysler....so yes, it is a big deal. Her tag had a wheelchair on it and allowed her to park in specially designated handicapped spots. My tags have no such handicapped access. Her tags verified that she was alive, well, and driving.  My tags express that she no longer has a need to drive. Her tag was proof that the car belonged to her.  My tags say, this car now belongs to Ken. How I miss my Mother and wish she still had a tag to drive. Mother moved on to Glory over a month ago and the car moved to me.  The drive from Florida to Montana was a long one not only in Interstate miles but in emotional mi...