Extra Large!

Ok…I’m getting a little older…and I guess you could say I’m getting a little rounder, but when did I get to be “Extra Large”? That’s the size shirts I have to buy these days. Now, I’ll admit I’m not the svelte, lean, dashing stud I was a few years ago. OK…quite a few years ago, but “Extra Large”?! Is there anyone out there making clothes in regular old sizes for anyone over the age of twenty something? Don’t they know the world is not entirely populated by under shaved, underweight young squirts with spiked up hair who fit comfortably in cute little foreign cars slightly bigger that my sneakers? Everywhere I look I’m seeing “Skinny Jeans”, “Athletic Fit”, “Slim Cut”…I’m not seeing “Older Guy Chunky” or “A Little More Room In The Butt Cut” or shirts with those new and improved “Go Ahead and Breath” buttons. And if I’m “Extra Large”, what size do the guys that I consider to be “Extra Large” have to buy… “Double X X Tent and Awning”? May I suggest a couple of new sizes that would not be an insult to my maturity? How about “Grandpa Cut”? I could live with that. Or “Distinguished Fit”? That’s got a nice ring to it. “Extra Large”…I don’t think so.

Today

Today, someone who will make a difference in this world will be born. Today, someone who made a difference in this world will die. Today, a child will take a first step…say a first word. Today, a marriage will end. Today, someone will fall in love. Today, someone will pull a trigger. Today, thank God, someone won’t. Someone will finally laugh and someone will finally cry. A heart will break, a heart will heal. Someone will think today is incredibly boring. Someone will think today is the best day of their life. Someone will decide that this is the day. Someone can’t wait for this day to be over. Today, someone will try something for the first time. Today, someone will do something for the last time. Today it will begin. Today it will end. Today, someone will get a chance. Today, someone will waste a chance. Have a nice day…today.

Shake It Off

Let’s shake off the winter wearies like we would a tattered old coat. Let’s welcome back the sunshine from its long winter’s nap and open the windows to let in the tick, tick, tick of a springtime sprinkler and the sound of a ballgame drifting across the backyards from a radio on someone’s deck. It’s time to lower our shoulders from the tensions of the silver shivers and raise our eyes from the frozen sidewalks to watch a sweet breeze blow clouds around a bright blue sky. Let’s get on with this season of unclenching and leave winter’s baggage behind. Let’s get on with doing a little spring cleaning of the heart and soul so that we’ll have room for some fresh thoughts and new ideas. Let’s shake off the winter wearies like a tattered old coat. The gift of another time around has been given to all of us. All the cold and dark has melted away. All roads are open to us now. This is the season to choose one...and see where it leads.

Shake It Off

Let’s shake off the winter wearies like we would a tattered old coat. Let’s welcome back the sunshine from its long winter’s nap and open the windows to let in the tick, tick, tick of a springtime sprinkler and the sound of a ballgame drifting across the backyards from a radio on someone’s deck. It’s time to lower our shoulders from the tensions of the silver shivers and raise our eyes from the frozen sidewalks to watch a sweet breeze blow clouds around a bright blue sky. Let’s get on with this season of unclenching and leave winter’s baggage behind. Let’s get on with doing a little spring cleaning of the heart and soul so that we’ll have room for some fresh thoughts and new ideas. Let’s shake off the winter wearies like a tattered old coat. The gift of another time around has been given to all of us. All the cold and dark has melted away. All roads are open to us now. This is the season to choose one...and see where it leads.

I Used To Ride Horses

I used to ride horses. I used to fly airplanes. I used to make music in the mountains. I used to do a lot of things I don’t do much anymore. And that’s OK. Time and distance…responsibility and age have opened other roads that I’ve chosen to take. Do I miss the things I used to do? Sure. Am I happy I followed those other roads? Absolutely. I used to be a young man with a young man’s dreams…and energy. I used to take in the pleasure, take in the adventure and take in the excitement. My yesterdays were full of taking. Little did I know at the time, the taking was filling my life up for the giving I can do today. Giving back whatever wisdom I have taken in. Sharing lessons learned and experience gained. Providing answers for a question or two. Maybe opening other roads for today’s young folks. Once I was a sail moving fast and free…now I hope I’ve become an anchor…strong and steady. I used to ride horses. I used to fly airplanes. I used to make music in the mountains. Other roads led me to other places. These days the music I make is with my grandkids…in the den. They dance…and how sweet the sound still is.

The Promise

I saw them today. Just barely there, but I saw them. They’re kind of like a promise aren’t they? Those tender, new green shoots poking their heads up through the frozen February ground. They're the promise that it’ll be over soon. This grey, shivering shroud of winter will soon be lifting. Giving way to bluer skies and the feel of warm sunshine on bare skin. Soon the earth will be green again and those dirty, grey mounds of snow ice will be just a melted memory. The promise of Spring. The promise of renewal. A world coming to life again after a cold Winter’s coma. They are a promise aren’t they? Those tender, new green shoots struggling up through the frozen February ground. They are a promise...or maybe they’re just really stupid plants that are about to freeze their buds off.

Miscellaneous

Excuse me while I kind of run all over the place for a minute. Not sure what this means, but the very same week I saw the garden store nursery sign that said...”Get your grave blanket now”...I found out I could win a free cremation just by filling out a form for more information. Is someone not telling me something here? Watching the evening news the other night it struck me that every ad was for something to fix something that is starting to fall apart on us baby boomers. If your erectile is dysfunctioning, your dentures don’t fit quite right, your catheter is getting a little irritating, there’s less M in your BM and/or your stair climbing talent is fading, just watch the evening news. Fix you right up! Did you know that drowsiness is a side effect of a very well known sleeping aid? Says so right in the advertisement. With all the talk about not texting while driving, I’m really beginning to see the effects. I see people every day now going down the road texting and not driving at all. My mother told me about a woman in her senior living facility that was having a tough time with this whole daylight savings time thing. Mom was reminding her to put her clock ahead one hour that night. The woman gave a big sigh and told Mom how hard it was for her to stay up until two in the morning to do that. Mom smiled and said, “You can set your clock ahead when you go to bed at your usual time Sweetie.” The woman patted my Mom’s hand knowingly and said, “Oh no Dear, I don’t think it works like that”.