The Difference is so simple...

The difference of
appreciated and taken for granted...
Is taken care of by just a
few words... actually two.
THANK YOU... said in earnest
and with heartfelt.

Some times when one is asked
to do something, from time
to time, and when the deed
is done.. and nothing is said..
you sort of feel used.

But when someone says those
two words, you feel so
good about helping out. That
if you had to put something
aside to do the task, it is
all good. Because the person really
did appreciate it.

It doesn't mean you expect
it.. well, most of the time. You don't
want a gift, or a big hoop
dee do... just the words said honestly.

When I was working, we would
get what we called rent-a-aide.
Some of them coming from as
far away as Spokane. They are
aides who come in to cover a
missing aide. Yes, they were paid
well by the agency that had
them. But still I was always so appreciative
that they came and filled
in.. I made sure I made it around to each of them
and thank them personally,
and tell them good job. It isn't easy to
walk into a strange place
and know where things are and do the job.


The difference is so simple.

18 servicemen or women..a day..commit suicide...

Read that title again...
18... servicemen/women...A DAY...commit suicide.
We aren't talking about
overseas. But right here on USA
soil. 18.... A... DAY... that is mind boggling.
Heart breaking.
Not just the reader of those
words...but for the families left
behind. Wives/husbands...
children... parents... grandparents.

Why is the question? Is the
VA doing enough? The quick answer
is no, after all we are
talking 18... 18 A DAY... I have
written before
about how we take our young
men and women, make them killing
machines, send them out to
do the killing... and then bring them home,
tell them live your life
normally for a couple months.. and then send them
back again.. and again.. and
again... 10 day debriefing or less doesn't
do it. We have to do more. We have to give these
troops more. We
OWE it to them.

It is a rare family or
friend that doesn't have some where in their
families.. someone who is
hurting.. and some of us, even know
of a family who had such a
lost in their family. We have a friend who
lost his grandson that way,3
years ago.. The heartache is daily.

We have a young man, in our
family, coming home this week from
Afghanistan, he was also in
Iraq just before that. I know he has been
twice at least. He is new in
our family, as of last December.
We are hoping that by having
a new family, children involved that
he will feel welcomed home. And
the chores of being a dad, and husband
will fill his heart and mind
and he can find joy in that.

I pray for him, and each and
every one of our troops as they get rotated,
and hopefully some day soon,
they can come home for good. Home in
person and mind. We OWE them that.
And may the government finally see that that
they too, OWE them the best mental health that
can be found for each of them.

Parenting a two way street..co piloting

I don't know which is harder,... being a step parent or the spouse
of a step parent. Neither is easy. And in the
beginning it can try your marriage.. And surviving thru it,
attitude is 95% of how to make it thru.

Once a young man who lost his wife, who had two great kids,
was talking to a friend of mine. He said his future wife was great.
She loved the kids as much as he did, if not more... AND THEN,
he said the words of doom... "But I am not ready to give up the
reins to her to discipline the kids." My friend and I looked at him
in disbelief. He just got done saying she might even love the kids
more than he did... My friend stepped up to the plate and said..
"Well, maybe you shouldn't be getting married, because being
parents is a two person job."

He had a shocked, almost hurt look on his face. But you could see
he thought about it. And then said, I will have to really think about this..
"I guess I have been in charge for so long, (7 and half years)
I forgot what it is like to share." My friend asked him if he was going
to continue doing all the housework with the kids only? He said no.
Are you going to pay all the bills, and not talk to your wife about them?
Again, no.. If there is a big decisions come up for the family... are you
going to decide them all? Again, no... So my friend added, well, then
why in the hell would you not share parenting with her?
Remember it is shared, not you "letting go".

Being on both sides in my life time, I can tell you..it isn't easy. And
some times the kids don't help it be easy. They know the natural
parent is an easy mark. But ours learned really fast.. the words of
doom for them.. "I will talk to your mom/dad about it, and let you
know". When they find out that the two parents are on the same
page, it is hard for them to put in a wedge. And that is up to both
of you parents... natural or step.

Thank you seems so small

THANK YOU...
Herbert Brownell
Everett Linekin
Harold Richardson
Edward Gors
Marvin Hughes
Arthur B. Worel
Dick Worel
Allen Worel
William Worel
Dean Thompson
David Hudlet
Gary Gors
Sandee Gors
John Lawson
Tim Haines
Doug Haines
Stan Worel
Andrew Jones

And for all of those who did not return... thank you seems so little
for you and for your families left behind.

Swimming Lessons

For the past couple weeks, the King has been teaching a young man

how to swim. This is our great grandson, Jesse.

It started out kind of tedious. It took a lot of trusting on Jesse's

part and a lot of patience for the King. "Water too cold, no I will

drown, and I can't do that." Finally, the King convinced him, he could.

Of course, showing him a 3 year old girl who was learning, helped the

King's argument. :-)

Now Jess, can float, swim 5 feet at a time, and he can be thrown

up in the air and swim underwater to the edge. This picture says it all.

He can dive under the water and pick up balls off the floor of the pool.

The King is really proud of Jess. Also it takes him back about 14 years

to another young man he taught how to swim. At the same age. Now

that young man, our grandson, is a young adult and swims in Hawaii.

He swims with the fishes... he snokles for his dinner, spearing fish.

Great memories.:-)

Lost in the 50's 2012...... part 2.. car show

the car show is on Saturday... and this is about 1% of them..on this page.

The streets are lined with all kinds of cars, all colors, and types. People looking

inside and out. Here is Charlie, the helicopter the local Vets are restoring.

This is one of the oldies... a classic Plymouth

One of our locals has his car in each year. Terry Iveson, a retired teacher, who

has one of the loves of his life here.... after his wife, of course.

Some of the paint jobs were really neat.

Then there are the hood ornaments were great.

Some of them were in the rough, instead of the shiny paint jobs.

Some had some really beautiful paint jobs.

Not always easy to get a good picture, when you have so many who are looking..and

after all that is what the day is for... looking, admiring...wishing...

This is just a small section of the people... there is actually a bare spot there, which

was unusual on anyone of the streets.

Even the midget cars were there

And powerful engines were all over the place.. big and loud... didn't disapoint.

This show is always a people pleaser, and we had beautiful weather to enjoy it in.

Another year but to bed, for the many many many people who bring this wonderful

time for all of us. So many behind the scenes... THANKS AGAIN...LOST IN THE 50 CREW!!

But what part of NO, didn't they understand?

May 22, 2012
But what part of NO, didn't they
understand?

Last week we had some very pushy sales
people..
They weren't satified with our no's
(some said yes)so
they sent some more the next night.
That is the straw that broke this
camel's back.

We have had sales people
before.. one here and another there.
About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guess
they got tired of cleaning
up dirt they spilt and no sales on the
product.

Even have the Omaha Steak
guy or someone like him, from time to time.
But he gave up too. Even
Schwan man has given up on our neighborhood.
We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Not
only they were pushy but condescending as
well. They were selling some
kind of cleaner that you could even put it in
your mouth. Even when the
neighbor who did buy one and came back to do
a imitation act of the
salesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.
Weird.

So that is the reason why
the sign.. I have to find some place that makes
signs and have a good one
made up (this one was in haste, incase they
came back.. Wonder if I sell
sign maker the rights to make one like it ...
will he give me a break on
it. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.
May 22, 2012
But what part of NO, didn't they
understand?

Last week we had some very pushy sales
people..
They weren't satified with our no's
(some said yes)so
they sent some more the next night.
That is the straw that broke this
camel's back.

We have had sales people
before.. one here and another there.
About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guess
they got tired of cleaning
up dirt they spilt and no sales on the
product.

Even have the Omaha Steak
guy or someone like him, from time to time.
But he gave up too. Even
Schwan man has given up on our neighborhood.
We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Not
only they were pushy but condescending as
well. They were selling some
kind of cleaner that you could even put it in
your mouth. Even when the
neighbor who did buy one and came back to do
a imitation act of the
salesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.
Weird.

So that is the reason why
the sign.. I have to find some place that makes
signs and have a good one
made up (this one was in haste, incase they
came back.. Wonder if I sell
sign maker the rights to make one like it ...
will he give me a break on
it. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.

Last week we had some very pushy sales
people..
They weren't satified with our no's
(some said yes)so
they sent some more the next night.
That is the straw that broke this
camel's back.

We have had sales people
before.. one here and another there.
About 2 or 3 months apart. Use to be vacuum salesmen. But guess
they got tired of cleaning
up dirt they spilt and no sales on the
product.

Even have the Omaha Steak
guy or someone like him, from time to time.
But he gave up too. Even
Schwan man has given up on our neighborhood.
We just aren't big buyers...

So why not these guys? Not
only they were pushy but condescending as
well. They were selling some
kind of cleaner that you could even put it in
your mouth. Even when the
neighbor who did buy one and came back to do
a imitation act of the
salesman, we couldn't find a brand name on it.
Weird.

So that is the reason why
the sign.. I have to find some place that makes
signs and have a good one
made up (this one was in haste, incase they
came back.. Wonder if I sell
sign maker the rights to make one like it ...
will he give me a break on
it. lol.. I never seen one worded like mine.

Lost in the 50's 2012...... part 1

This stars and stripes car was the hit of the parade in our area...on Division Street...

This one ... the green one, is our neighbors project for the past year... and we have seen it

develope over the year.

This is Charlie... the project of the local Vets

An old favorite of the crowd.. each year he comes back.. and you will hear.. back fire...where is

the back fire... and he never fails to live up to his reputation....

HELLO, is this AAA? looks like he is calling for help... but as much as this was

embarrassing.. luckily after he got off the road, he was able to rejoin

after a few repairs... and finished the parade.

This isn't even 10% of the cars that came down the road for the parade that pleases the

crowd each year... they say they have 400 to 600 cars each year...

Hard to blog in this weather...

It is hard to settle down, to think
about what to write.
As the sun calls each morning.. Even
the television has
been off more than it is on..

It is grab the paper, a cup of coffee
and the deck table calls.
Basking in the sun of the morning,
listening to the birds as they
call to each other.

When you never know what the weather is
going to change to
you have to make a day of it, as the
next could be rain and wind.

So I have been having trouble settling
down to a subject. Especially
with our local politics calming back
down until November.
Avisita as learn that dabbling into the
Northern Idaho politics is
a money losing deal. We have loyalty here, and get annoyed by
big money trying to tell us who we
should vote for. All the nasty
ads were a waste of money as well.

So maybe politics will take a note of
calmness for now, following
the warm weather. Time to stop and smell the roses. Watch the
birds,
and play in the dirt.

THESE HANDS

I as I was washing my hands last night, I noticed,
so many sores and scratches and just tired looking hands
that look so rough... It brought to my mind, Hank Snow's
song about hands. I
can't remember all of the words.. only
a few here and there... it went something like this.....
These hands are
calloused and old
If these hands filled
their task then what more could one ask
For these fingers
have worked to the bone
While these hands
brought me happiness
Now I'm tired and I'm
old and I ain't got much gold
Take a look at these
hard working hands
So true of my hands... they have served me well for these
72 years. And while I don't feel that
old, I look down at these
old hands batter and rough, and they
have brought me
happiness. As I have held my babies who
have grown to
adults, and grandchildren and even
great grandchildren.
They have held the elderly as I took
care of them over the
years of being an aide. And they have
let me hold on so
tightly as life has given me a roller
coaster ride.
Some times it makes me sad, as I
realize all that they have
been thru... these hard working hands.
And I have taken them
for granted up until recently, as I
feel how they don't grip as well,
as they use to. The jars are harder,
the zip bags are harder.
But as old and callous as they are,
they still work well...
Looking at these hard working hands...