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Yogisms

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Hey Kids,

I learned today that Yogi Berra has passed away.

I’m not going to pretend that I was a Yogifile or that I’ve always admired him. And just for the record, I hate the Yankees.

But the quotes attributed to him have for a long time made me laugh. I’ve quoted a few of them several times. One for sure on this blog at least once.

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”fork_in_the_road

This says to me to not diddle-daddle and waste time thinking about it, just make a decision and do it.

“No one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.”

Choose your own path, not the popular one with the crowd right now.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else.”

Set your goals, don’t drift through life; it doesn’t lead to where you want to go.

“The future ain’t what it used to be.”

No. I think it’s a whole lot better.

Thanks Yogi. We’ll miss your wit.

Day 212

Something Worth Remembering

mikemjensen History, Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Life's Truths, Quote Tags: , , , 2 Comments

Hey Kids,

I’m not sure if there are people who wish to live forever.

I don’t mean in the Spiritual, Heaven-dwelling living forever. I mean by not dying. At least not for a long time. I know that no one really wishes to die young but with the average lifespan for men at 72 and 76 for women; are most people OK with that?

I’m not obsessed with death and I don’t really worry about when it’ll come. I hope not for a while and I hope it surprises me when it does. I agree with the late Olympian Bob Richards who wished to be shot at an old age by a jealous husband.

But when death comes, I hope to be remembered for at least a little while. I hope a few people are sad to see me go, or maybe know there will be a few who will miss me on the holidays. More importantly, I hope I did something worth remembering which is more important than being remembered.

I’m amazed by some people and the legacy they leave behind. The fact that their names and feats are remembered for years, centuries, and millenniums after they are gone; is remarkable. It’s never for the person just being a good person, but for what they accomplished and for what they did for humanity- sometimes good, sometimes bad.

But only one person I know of lived a life so respected that even his arm, when lost in battle, got its own grave marker. General Stonewall Jackson. He may have fought a losing war for a lost cause, but he did it with a style that’s still remembered today. He held his ground and inspired those around him to do the same.34a01bc8b5c09fa2a6dac87526d037bc

Over 150 years later, I tip my hat.

 

Day 176

Chaulk One Up for the French

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Hey Kids,

Surlendemain.

It’s the French word for the day after tomorrow.

When I was in France, I had a picture on my wall of Garfield the cat that read, “Never put off till tomorrow, that which you can put off till the day after”. In French of course. It’s from this picture I learned the French word. Later I learned this was a translated variation of a quote from Mark Twain, which in turn was a spin on a quote by Benjamin Franklin (Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today), which appears to be stolen from Philip Standhope, a British Statesman and Earl.13 - 1CAAGXQAX

Procrastination is a word I have known for a very long time. I don’t need a quote or a French/English dictionary to understand it. I tell myself I do well under pressure and that is why I like to let things go to the wire. But then again, I don’t concern myself too much with the wire either.

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” Douglas Adams, English writer.

I didn’t need that quote, but I like and agree with it.

Today, I did something different.

I threw some ribs and potatoes in the Dutch oven and let them cook all evening long. The smell in the house is fantastic!

They are not part of a late dinner, as one might suspect. But instead they are for lunch tomorrow. I am cooking proactively. Today anyway.

I’ll start my diet Surlendemain.

Day 175

Dad’s Can Do Almost Anything

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super-dad-shirtHey Kids!

I know that dreams are just dreams, but I know that they are also windows into your true thoughts and feelings. And sometimes a truth that you need to hear. I had such a dream last night, right as the morning dawned. I sprang out of bed so I wouldn’t forget it. Nor lose the feeling I had at the moment.

Parent Alienation is a real thing. It’s hurtful, hateful and permanently damaging. Are there times children are better off by being kept from their mom and/or dad? Sure. There are exceptions to any rule. But under normal circumstances, no. Mom’s can’t be dad’s and dad’s can’t be mom’s. Each can compensate for the other but not entirely. Same-sex marriages? I have no comment because I don’t know. I’m not, and have not been, in one. But I’m sure there’s other dimensions that are different from traditional marriages with kids. Not really the area of expertise for me.

But a Parent denying the love, support, and involvement of another parent is inexcusable. Completely. And it can be done in more than one way. Sometimes obviously. Sometimes subtly.

A parent can be near helpless. When visitations are denied. Calls aren’t returned. Messages ignored. Doors not opened. Holidays forsaken. Entire family relations severed. Thank you’s withheld. Courts uninterested. And all contact becomes restricted, controlled and rare through the custodial parent. The answers are few.

The boy in the dream asked, “What can you do?”. The father, who at long last is allowed to answer, responded. “I’m a dad, I can do almost anything.”

In that thought I have hope. I believe that. I truly do. All roads may not be open. But all are not closed.

Be a dad. Do almost anything.

I can do that. I’m a dad.

*Drops mic. Leaves stage.*