Affirmation!

    Aren't affirmations nice?  Sometime after Joanne's death, but several years ago, Stan and Janet, acquaintances from church, invited me to dinner. They live only a few blocks from the OFH in a condominium. Seeing them at church they'd ask about the OFH because they often drive by it.. Now, that I'm resident in it for a spell they came over for lunch and a tour.

   They are younger than I, isn't everyone?, and they are beginning to think about relocating to an OFH. With this place in their neighborhood they were very interested. After lunch we visited my apartment and I toured them around the building. At numerous points in the tour Stan said, "this is better than what we've seen in other facilities we've visited."  It felt very affirming.

   It was a reminder of how fortunate I am to be here. Four years ago when I began thinking about relocating I visited a lovely facility. A family member learning that place had a ten year waiting list wondered if that was helpful time frame for me. The tour guide of that facility told me about this place which was newly  built.  When we visited the apartment I now occupy was one of only two left available. Without further ado I took it, and I'm glad, and am grateful. Tomorrow it will be three years since I came here to live, at least for the winters. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

Well now isn't this scenic? It's the barracks at Camp Hansen, Okinawa where Ed and I lived.  If you take this picture to Starbucks with a ten dollar bill you can get a cup of coffee!

Too Emotional!

      Neither of you perhaps think that I'm too emotional. That's not an accusation I've often faced. True confession is that with "my" sport teams I can be too emotional. Years ago, think Fran Tarkenton days, I was a rabid Vikings fan. Of course this was long before technology allowed fans to replay games. It finally dawned on me that I was seriously over-invested. So, I quit football, cold turkey.

     There are still two teams I "own" and in which I get quite invested. They are both women's basketball teams. One is the Lynx, Minnesota's team in the WNBA. They are on break until May. The other is the University Of Minnesota Women's Basketball team.  Due to my over-investment, and emotional involvement, typically I stream the replays. That allows me to watch with less emotion. It also has the advantage of allowing  instant replays at my pleasure plus the ability to speed through time outs, free throw shootings, etc. The replay takes about half the time as watching live.

  So how is Minnesota doing? They were 9-0, in pre-season games, but, against lesser opponents. Now in league play in the Big Ten they are 4-1. They lost to NB and have beaten Penn State, WI, and today, IL. It will be fun to replay today's game when it's posted.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS Yes, Michelene I'm fine, just inert! 😀

   A riverboat going up the Mississippi River, viewed from our restaurant in East Moline, IL.

Another day...

    This is another day without an original thought. Like the old adage "better to keep quiet and let people thin you are foolish than speak up and prove it."  So I'll post a random picture and report that I'm alive and well.

Takk for alt,

Al

The steps to the Acropolis, Athens, Greece, 2023, we were not alone! 

No Comment, then

 

Reader?

    Out of the blue in the last few days four gift books have arrived. They all look very interesting. It almost seems that some perceive me as a reader.😀 Okay, I'll accept that. It's gratifying to be the recipient of such largess.

    There's a memory from my childhood that sticks fondly in my mind. Life growing up on the farm had a predictable daily rhythm.  Typically the day began at 6:00, perhaps why I've arisen at that time for the last 50? years, and ended at 10:00. While Mother started the cookstove and got breakfast ready the guys milked the cows, fed the calves, etc. The end of the day had it's rhythm, too. Supper was at 6:00 and afterward, while Mom and Sister did the dishes the guys did the milking again.

   Now for the point to which I'm leading. After the supper and barn chores were done, what did Mom and Dad do? Most often they were seated in rocking chairs, on opposite sides of the dining room table, reading. The reading habits I've acquired had a positive childhood model. When I was guest in childhood playmate's homes I was struck by the absence of reading material. My parents gave me many gifts and this habit is a fine one for which I'm grateful to them. 

   One more thought about reading. My secondary education was quite weak. A reading habit acquired early in life helped to compensate for what was lacking in school.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

                          Joanne and I with my parents on my college graduation day.

Quiet Time

    This is one of those days without an original thought. Just living the easy life in the OFH. Need to post something so you both know that all's well. Perhaps a random picture will suffice.

Takk for alt,

Al

In the shop of the instrument maker on the island of Crete. He's made all the instruments hanging on the wall. 2023

Winner, Pulitzer Prize

   Indeed the book was the winner of the Pulitzer but it's a while ago. Published in 2008, now I finally read it. Olive Kitteridge is a character that shows up in Elizabeth Strout's novels, and it's the title of the Pulitzer winner. The book consists of thirteen short stories in all of which Olive appears. In some stories she's a major player, in others a minor character. 

  Olive is a curmudgeon. In Enneagram parlance she's an "unredeemed eight". Blunt, crochety often wise and sometimes she's blindingly un-self aware. All of the stories are poignant and the book cover accurately states it "...offers profound insights into the human condition--its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires." Having read several of Strout's books, all of which I've appreciated, it was good to add this to the list. Recommended for readers interested in human dynamics...

Takk for alt,

Al

PS. OFH party report: It was a smaller crowd than last year at the New Year's party. There were 4 interesting persons with me at my table, all of whom I knew. There was also the opportunity to meet others whom I didn't know. Two hours was my limit, full people bladder, and that was the perfect time to exit as parlor games were about to begin. I'm not allowed to play parlor games.😀  

                              On the Island of Santorini, 2023.