Thanksgiving

For the second year in a row Chris and I are apart at Thanksgiving. Last year I was home alone while she was here in Mexico on a moms trip to see the kids. This year I am the one in Mexico as I needed to extend my stay to complete the dental work I am having done.
Together or apart, we have many reasons to be thankful.

We have a good life.
I never get tired of sitting on the deck and looking out over the country view. We have a nice, comfortable home and live in a moderate climate. While we may have difficulty deciding what we're going to have for dinner each night, we never stress about going hungry. We have books available on Kindle and a library that isn't too far away. 
Books, food, comfort, and each other -- what more does anyone really need?

I am proud of our kids.
They live in vastly different climates -- a tropical beach city and a rural mountain setting.
And each is happy where they are. 
We'll be going to see Hannah, Jason, and the pups in a month and have been visiting in Puerto Vallarta with Aaron and Jenny on this trip that ends tomorrow (Chris went home last Friday). 
They all seem to be enjoying life. 
What more could a parent want for their kids?

In all honesty, today won't be that much different from most days. 
To be sure -- there will be some different foods and gatherings of friends, but I feel thankful on a daily basis. Life is not Instagram perfect, but it is a good life. 
"Just another day in the life of John" is more than a stupid little saying. It is an attitude of gratitude and recognition of the good life that I get to live every single day. It is not extravagant nor is it extraordinary. It's just a simple, but good life.

I hope that you find many reasons to be thankful today. While today may be the US holiday to give thanks, it doesn't take a holiday to show gratitude and express grace to one another.

Be well, my friends!

John

Today is the Day

Today is the day I came here for -- to complete the dental implants I started earlier in the year. 
My dentist was on a nearly month long vacation in Japan so I scheduled the appointment for today, the 18th of November. But I really wanted to be here for the Day of the Dead celebration, so we came earlier for that. Getting to spend time with the kids and having some overlap with my nephew's time here has been a bonus.

Medical tourism is really becoming a growing industry for many countries that decide to meet the needs that the US healthcare system fails to meet at a reasonable price. For anyone needing dental implants and wanting to vacation in a tropical beach town -- I was able to pay for my two implants and two roundtrip airfares for less than the cost of the implants back home!
And I can recommend a fine dentista here in Puerto Vallarta!

Elective surgeries are also big on the medical tourism front. Many cosmetic surgeries, gender affirming healthcare procedures, and other things that are not covered by many insurance plans in the US are much more affordable here and in other countries that have learned to capitalize on our healthcare failures. 

I'm going to go out for coffee this morning and then a morning walk to begin the day. My dentist appointment isn't until this afternoon so I imagine another easy day in the life of John.

John

It's a good day for a wedding!

It is not often that I find myself struggling to sleep. Last night was one of those rare nights.
Today is wedding day for one of my nieces and I have been asked to officiate their ceremony. It has been a little while (5 years) since I have done this and I was just going over what the ceremony will be like in my head -- over and over. 

Things tied to ministry really seem to be a part of a past life and I feel a bit like a fish out of water. I am not without experience in the wedding officiating, but I am certainly out of practice and the minister mindset is a little foreign these days. I'm sure that the day will be a wonderful day.

I'm in the hotel's breakfast area and there are several parents and grandparents with young kids. It's fun watching the interactions. One group was a quick gathering of a few easy to grab items and head out the door with their softball gear for a late season game or weekend tournament.
And then there are the older folks, like myself, just having a cup of coffee and a bowl or oatmeal or something. 
I wonder what everyone else's plans are for the day and what has brought them to Kenosha WI.

We will get to see Aaron and Jenny today, as well as a few of my siblings and some of their kids. It should be a wonderful day!

I hope you have a wonderful day, as well.

John

Thursdays are for Thanksgiving!

Happy Thursday, my blog reading friends!
I am, admittedly, a little sore from yesterday's yard work. Some days the work is just a little more intense than on most days. Fortunately, I have the option to do little to nothing today -- balance, right?

Several months ago, I ran into a friend that was hosting an aunt and uncle that were visiting. When I asked later about how their visit went, the reply I got (after a long, thoughtful pause) was -- Sometimes family is hard.

Yeah.
Isn't that the truth!
Whether it is differing and divisive politics, divergent lifestyles, religious beliefs, personality clashes, unmet expectations, or something else -- conflicts within families can be difficult to manage. It seems to be far easier to walk away from friends or other relationships that cause stress than it is to leave behind the people that are connected to us through familial relationships.

My family and its extensions are a pretty diverse group and we are not without our conflicts, but (so far) we have managed to remain close and loving to each other. I often think that it is strange that such a large, close family seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
After spending the weekend with family, I have to admit that the introverted part of me is happy to be back to my quiet, rural, and somewhat isolated life, but it was so good to see everyone and feel the loving energy that exists in that large, diverse group of people.
I honestly don't understand families that have disowned members or have completely cut ties with each other.

So...
Today I want to express how thankful I am for my family and extended family.
At our recent reunion, each of my mom's kids was missing one of our kids and their SOs and kids -- 13 (I think) more that would be in this pic, plus a number of cousins and their families that were unable to attend.

That's quite a clan!

John
 

This Place

I tend to be comfortable wherever I am, but this place -- home -- is definitely a favorite place.
After being surrounded by family for the past weekend at our family reunion, home feels good.

Aside from the time at the reunion picnic, our immediate family of siblings and kids spent many hours around the outdoor fire pit or indoor breakfast area. The general conversations and memories were wonderful and often entertaining. There were several new members introduced to the family as our kids brought in their new-to-the-group significant others, and there was one kid (along with their SO and kids) missing from each family. 
I enjoyed meeting the new people and wonder what they might be thinking about the rest of the clan.

Although yesterday was a good day to catch up on some work around the house, I did absolutely nothing. I just enjoyed being home. I had an evening cigar and a small pour of bourbon while listening to the night sounds and reading a book on the deck -- simple and glorious at the same time.
Today I will have to get some work done, but even that will be a comforting kind of thing. 
It is a wonderful feeling to be at peace in the place where you spend most of your time.

I hope you have such a place -- even if it isn't your home, but a place where you can escape to when you need to re-establish your peaceful mindset.

Life is good here.

John

Front porch

It's a little bit different perspective this morning.
I'm on the front porch
Of my mom's cottage in Metamora.

It's early (6:30ish), but I'm up and a sweatshirt and a cup of coffee makes it comfortable.
I'll be here in Metamora for a few days while mom recuperates from a rough week of health issues. That getting old stuff ain't for sissies.

I don't expect that we will be doing too much other than recovering some strength over the next few days. Maybe dinner out this evening and a few errands either today or tomorrow. My sister will be here to take over early in the week and then we will (hopefully) be back to our guarded care from a distance. My brother has been here for the past two weeks and endured the heavy lifting of unexpected care. Other siblings were here to pitch in and help.
It's what we do.
I brought a couple of hostas from home to transplant here for Mom -- a few plants of a couple of different varieties. Hopefully they will root well and provide some pretty for her front yard.

With all of the trees around the cottages, the morning cacophony of birds is quite stunning. They are mostly house sparrows, but there are also vocal robins, occasional cardinals, and a few other varieties of feathered friends. It is so much more volume than at our rural, tree sparse, country home.

Have a grand weekend.
I am hopeful that June will bring summer when it arrives tomorrow.

John

Wednesday Wisdom -- Travel

It is good to be home.
There are so many simple things that just make being home wonderful:
  sleeping in your own bed
  sitting in a familiar chair
  drinking your morning coffee from one of your favorite mugs
  even using your own bathroom!

It was a short visit with Hannah, Jason, and the pups, but we had a good time. This was our first fall trip to the mountains and the brilliance of the yellow aspens against the dark green conifers is truly something to see.
It was unseasonably warm this past week -- upper 80s everyday, so it remained shorts and t-shirt weather. We walked through downtown CO Springs on Friday night and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Saturday we drove up to around 9500' and had a campfire dinner that was tasty and enjoyable. On Sunday afternoon we went to one of my favorite places -- Manitou Springs. It has a bit of the feel of Eureka Springs, AR. It's kind of artsy and hippie-ish with a little mountain man vibe thrown in for good measure.

Although mountain life wouldn't be my personal choice for everyday, I can certainly see the attraction. The wilderness has its own spirituality and way of connecting to the soul. If there was a Venn diagram of urban life, wilderness, and hippie life -- Colorado would be right in the center! I am happy to have someone there to visit and to have a reason to make regular trips to the mountains. This was really an ideal time of year to go.

But it is also good to be home.
Travel.
Go to some different places.
Appreciate the beauty of each place.
Return home better for having seen and experienced a little more of life.

John

This formation is called The Cathedral and was near where we had our campfire dinner. The second pic is from our dinner site. There was a cold stream that ran right next to where we set up our campfire.

Daily Appreciation

I'm sitting here on the deck this morning (again) and just appreciating that I have this great spot where I can begin each day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the view is peaceful and serene. From now until late September the hummingbirds will be at the feeder sipping their morning sugar as I sip my coffee.

I hope that I never grow tired of this or even come to a time when I take it for granted.
I think that I am learning to appreciate just getting to hang around each and every day. I am aware of the privilege that is mine -- this home, this place, this freedom to be retired, and the freedom that a decent retirement gives me to live comfortably.

I have a pretty spectacular family. Chris and I don't get to see our kids as often as we would like, but we love them and are so proud of the adults they have become. They have moved to a couple of beautiful places to live so we get a nice place to go when we do visit them -- mountains for one, beach for the other! 

And I love my birth family, too!
It seems to be an unfortunate circumstance that we are an abnormality in today's world. Maybe the fact that we all grew up and spread out has somehow helped us to stay close to one another. Or it could be that my siblings are just pretty incredible people -- each with their own loving and incredible families.
We chat often via text, and I talk to our mom almost daily. I do wish we got to see each other more often, but then again, maybe that's a part of the dynamic.

I hope you have an appreciation of life every day.
I'm going to enjoy this day.
I'll do a little work in the yard, smoke some burgers and brats on the grill, get started on a new book, maybe enjoy a decent cigar and a pour of tequila.
But first -- another cup of coffee and some quiet time.

John

A Friday Two-fer

It's another dreary day in the Ozarks. Apparently the local weather hasn't gotten the word that it is no longer April and the daily showers and thunderstorms are continuing into May.

In a little bit I will be venturing out for the third time in the past week to meet with someone for coffee, brunch or lunch. I'm becoming a regular social butterfly!
Plus I actually went to church on Sunday! So much people-ing! Add a tooth extraction and a haircut into the week and I have been out of the house pretty much every day.
What is going on?

I've been thinking about friendships and people interactions lately. I don't know that many people would share my own assessments of friendships and family relationships. I do realize that close family relationships seem to be more rare than they should be and many people just don't have loving relationships within their natural families. 

To me -- family is family, and friends are friends. 
Ours is a pretty tight family -- from parents to siblings, to spouses, kids, and cousins. It's kind of a birthright thing and so it is a limited kind of relationship.
I know that some people consider close community relationships to be "family," but I've always thought that being chosen to be a friend is its own kind of valued relationship. There are many chosen friendships that are much closer than familial relationships.
While I might not have any control over who my family is; I have complete control over who my friends are. So do you.
And friendships aren't always reciprocal. I might consider you to be my friend and you may not consider me to be your friend. We each get to make that choice for ourselves. You can't refuse to be my friend any more than I can demand to be yours.

However, we can be friendly (or friend-like) to everyone.
We can treat people with respect and dignity, and we can live in community with people that we don't always agree with. Sometimes that might mean avoiding each other's company. My own preference for being alone is rarely about avoiding certain people and more about just being more comfortable without other people being around.
It's weird that one can be around a lot of people and still feel alone (like at a ballgame or event) and that's a good thing for me, or one could be around a lot of people and feel lonely (like a party or a church gathering) and that's a pretty sad thing.
Being alone and being lonely are very different things.

I'm not certain what inspired this little rant today, but maybe you know someone that is lonely and can reach out to them today.
Or maybe you have a friend or family member that could use a word of encouragement or a reminder that they are loved.
Or maybe I just needed the reminder to be more friendly to people.

Have a grand weekend!

John 

Tuesday Travels

Good morning from somewhere in Kansas!

Actually, we overnighted in Salina on our way to Colorado Springs. It's around halfway of the nearly 12 hour drive.

Hannah is working today and will be off Wednesday and Thursday. We'll complete the drive today and have a couple of days to spend with her and her pups. It will be an early birthday visit for Hannah and a late birthday for Chris; pretty much right between the two.

I don't have plans to do anything special. If I make it to the little country store at Manitou Springs I may cave in and buy the old black powder 1858 Army Remington revolver. I used to have a Navy Colt that came as a kit that I put together. It was ruined in a misfire.

I really don't need the '58, but it is a pretty cool weapon and would be interesting to shoot. I do own a 50 caliber Hawkin black powder rifle that I haven't fired since moving to MO. A coworker at the tower took it out a shot it a few times back in the day. I could set up a shooting range on the back acreage to shoot both the rifle and a new pistol.

Hmmm...

We'll be heading towards the mountains today. It will be a good day for a drive. The Maverick is a good highway vehicle. It's comfortable and a smooth ride. I used music from my phone and we switched drivers about halfway. It was comfortable both riding as a passenger and driving.

Have a grand day.

John

One less excuse...

So I won an Instagram drawing from Core Essentials Physical Therapy and Wellness. It's a little home exercise/wellness kit. It includes an exercise ball, and bands, and body weight straps, plus a great drink tumbler.

I still have to inflate the ball.

If you are not following Core Essentials Physical Therapy and Wellness (CEPT Wellness on Facebook and Instagram, you should. I've provided the links to make them easy to find. 
CEPT Wellness provides regular info and videos to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and how to work through some common muscle aches and tightness. They also have a weekly podcast that addresses a complete picture of healthy life and well being with topics from mindfulness, relationships, exercise habits, proper hydration, and a host of other things.

Dr Jess is my niece (or niece in law, if that's a thing) and I really think she is doing a great job in her PT practice. Give her a follow, tell her John sent you, and be healthy.

John
 

Winter in the Ozarks

We didn't get the 10-12 inches of snow that many feared and so rushed to the stores for bread and milk. We did get a measurable amount of snow - around 6" here in Highlandville, MO. Today's high temp will be a few degrees above freezing and I imagine there will be a slight melt before everything refreezes when the temperature drops tonight. 

I'm retired and I don't need to go anywhere, but I should probably get out at some point today and shovel the walkway and the driveway just to feel like I've accomplished something. Of course "should probably" and "will probably" are different things and I may just admire the undisturbed snow in the driveway until I have to go somewhere (tomorrow evening) and disturb it. 
It looks like the daytime highs will be above freezing for the next few days, but by mid-week next week we won't top the freezing mark for several consecutive days. 

I had some good visits at the hospital yesterday as a part of the chaplain service at Mercy Aurora. One thing that is a constant from the patients there are the comments about the excellent care they receive from the nurses. They really do brag on the nurses and how well they care for the patients. 
I was able to sit and talk with several patients yesterday and came away feeling good about having been there. I also had the chance to sit and converse with our lead chaplain. He's an old friend and I really do enjoy the few opportunities that we have to sit and talk for a bit.
I'm glad that was all done before the grey skies and light rain turned to the snow that lasted throughout the night and left us covered with snow today. I am happy to stay home and not mess with the winter mess. In actuality, today isn't going to be much different than any other day in the life of this retired guy - except for maybe that snow shoveling thing.

And while we are ankle-deep in snow, my Aussie family is celebrating Australia Day in their summer heat. Maybe they'll want to trade. Happy Australia Day!

John

View out the back window

Beloved Bad-Ass

It's two days before her 85th birthday and I should probably wait to post it, but I'm writing it now because it is what I'm thinking about this morning, I do not know anyone that is loved by everyone like my mom is.

A couple of years ago, my daughter-in-law made the comment about my mom that she (Mom) is the nicest person she's ever known. Mom's response: I'm tired of everybody thinking I'm so nice. I want to be a bad-ass!
I bought her a necklace that says she's a bad-ass. Others have bought her t-shirts and socks proclaiming her as a bad-ass, and she embraces her title even if she is unable to pull off and embody the real character of a bad-ass. One of my highschool classmates and lifetime friends says she's the sweetest bad-ass to ever live.

Distant relatives stay in touch with her. Grandkids vie for her to come visit their distant homes or travel long distances to visit with her. Neighbors miss her dearly when she is visiting family, and even strangers seem drawn to invite her to travel or to care for her when she is out and about.
I talk to her just about every day and it is truly one of those things that just lifts my spirit. 

I think that anyone that knows her well would agree that her strong and persistant faith is what shapes and defines her character. Her love and compassion for others is born out of her deep love and relationship with God. To most of the world she is Leticia. To family she is usually Mom, Aunt Bebe, Tita Bebe, Grandma, Lola, or Great-grandma. 
My oldest brother once asked the question - Is there anyone as beloved as our mom?
The answer is - No, there isn't.

She may like to think of heself as a bad-ass and we may indulge her with gifts and humor her idea, but nobody would ever truly think she is in any way mean-spirited much less a bad-ass.
Although the 14th is her birthday, it will be sometime on the 13th that she reaches 85 years on planet Earth due to her birth in the Philippines and the International Dateline thing. 
The world is a better place for her presence in it.
If you know her, you are probably a better person just for having met her.

I'm lousy at sending birthday cards. The best you can hope for is a Facebook wish or a text message. 
This is my birthday card substitute for Mom.
...And it's early!

Happy birthday, Mom
I love you.

John

Friday Night

IYKYK
Otherwise, I'll post more later.

John

No More Black Fridays

It is a little hard to be critical of the hoards of shoppers that make Black Friday shopping a holiday tradition. Although I have never made it into a big deal, I have taken advantage of some of the sale items in the past. These days I am more than happy to avoid the stores, the crowds, and the whole big commercialization of the entire Christmas season.

It's a nice day here today. We'll take Freya out to a dog park. Aaron bought a new softball glove and is hoping to break it in with a session of catch with Jenny. And we hope to make an evening trip to the brewery of the guy that secured the shooter from the club shooting a few days ago, here in CO Springs.
Tomorrow begins the trip home to SWMO followed by the round trip to Metamora.
It's been a good week.

As much as we all enjoy each other's company, I'm sure that getting back to the normal, everyday routine will bring its comfort to everybody. Being in one's own space (or in Hannah's case-having your space back to yourself) does bring a peaceful feeling to the spirit and is much more stress free than sharing space with others, even others that you love. 

Whether you spend your weekend shopping, Christmas parading, or quietly by yourself or with a few friends, I wish you well. 
To those that shop, Happy deal hunting. I hope you find the bargains and endorphin rush from your adventure.
As for me, I'm thankful that Black Fridays are a thing of the past.

John

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my US readers!

These past few years of retirement have truly given me a perspective of gratitude. I realize that although I live a simple life, I am extremely privileged to do so. I have both the ability to stay home and peacefully enjoy the quiet of the deck with a cigar and a drink, and the ability to travel to visit my kids that are living in places they have chosen to live--Colorado Springs CO and Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
Additionally, Chris was able to travel to Nova Scotia this past summer to meet with some of our Canadien friends for a girls weekend.

We are spending this Thanksgiving in CO Springs. Our Mexico kids have flown up and my mom is with us, as well. While we are opting for a dinner of Filipino food instead of the usual turkey and dressing, we expect to have an enjoyable day and full bellies by its end.

Yesterday we rode to the summit of Pikes Peak via the cog railway. It was beautiful! One of the landmarks we could see on the distant horizon was Black Mesa, Oklahoma--200 miles away! 
We were so awestruck by the amazing vistas and a little limited on time due to the train schedule, that we failed to take the obligatory selfie at the summit! With such beauty all around, why ruin it by placing this mug in the foreground?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

Love your family.
Cherish your moments together.

Last night we were able to just sit around the table, enjoy a good meal (Asian noodles by Mom), play cards, visit, and plan our time together. It was pretty awesome.
I know it didn't look like much, but we are seldom all together so it really makes this dad feel good when we are together.

When times are difficult (and they sometimes are), we are there for one another. 
When times are joyous, we celebrate together.
I am thrilled that the kids get to live in places that make them happy.
I am not so happy that those places are far away from us. It has been a long time since I've watched the weekend fights with Aaron or gone out for an afternoon coffee with Hannah. 

I am going to enjoy these next few days!

Over the past few years, I have met more and more wonderful people that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. With that, I have met far too many that have been shunned by their families. I cannot understand this at all and my heart breaks for my friends that have been rejected by the people that are supposed to be there for them - especially the ones that are rejected for the sake of religion. I can't imagine the additional pain they feel at the holidays. I'm reminded of the warning Jesus gives in The Sermon on the Mount - You will be judged with the same measure that you use to judge others.
I want that to be a measure that is full of grace and love.

I saw this and shared it on Facebook a day or so ago. My FB memories from today shows I shared a very similar post three years ago.

Let's get the love part right, especially where family is concerned.

John

Badass and the Big Dog

My mom wants to be a badass.
Maybe if she had a big dog like Freya she could pull it off.
I think Freya is bigger!

John

Monday Morning

I'm spending this Monday morning getting ready to get on the road for home.  I have several thoughts from the weekend that I want to write about, but think I'll wait until I can sit on the deck and gather my thoughts into a coherent post.
I had an enjoyable dinner out with my cousins, spent an evening with a couple of old friends, took my mom to Mass at The Community of St. John, and prepared a good dinner for Mom on Sunday evening.
The weekend was pretty full and I'm sure the drive home will be a relaxing one and helpful in organizing my thoughts.

In addition to my weekend recap, we are now just a week away from the midterm elections and I am torn between avoiding political posts and speaking out on the issues at hand and the distractions that are being advertised and made into news. I am greatly dismayed at the level of willful ignorance and cognative dissonance surrounding the dismissal of the democratic process that is at risk. And I am concerned that the turnout among young voters (18-30) will be traditionally low, and I think those votes and voices are necessary.

Be well.
Happy Halloween
Happy Reformation Day
Go Vote in the US

John

Lazy Day

Okay, so they are all pretty much lazy days, but this one is lazier than most.
After spending 9+ hours in the car each of the last two days, this one is lazier. One might think that I'd be ready to move around and be more active (and I will, eventually), but for now I am content to just sip coffee and enjoy the quietness of the deck.

The two day travel was to celebrate my youngest brother's retirement from the Navy. I didn't make it to the actual retirement service on Friday, just to the family open house/party on Saturday. The whole weekend was quite the send-off and a testament to the type of leader, co-worker, and shipmate that Pat was throughout his career. Both Navy friends and personal friends traveled from coast to coast to be there to celebrate with him and his family.

It was a good weekend.

Now I'll need to do a few things today and in the coming few days. I definitely need to get back to establishing an exercise time. (It's not going to be in the morning for today!) I will be sure to do something today. It will be a good thing to move a bit after so much driving for the past two days. 

I hope you have a chance to be lazy today--even just for a short period of time.

John