Thanks.

Thanks. To each of you who take the time to read my stuff. It is the highest compliment you can bestow upon a writer, in my case Rambler. It does not go unappreciated here.

Thanks? For what, or better, whom are you thankful? And now we get to, what I hope, this Ramble turns out to actually be about.

In this country, even with all its problems and differences, we have so much, that we may get lost. Lost in what we are genuinely grateful for. So what really matters?

People: Our fellow brothers and sisters. Some are bad, very bad. I am not naive. But there are those who make our lives full, those who make our lives worth the effort, those who make us better! Have you taken the time to think about them, to feel, deeply feel, the gratitude and love you have for them. If you have, wonderful!

Have you told them?

Think for a moment, please, about how your life could have been different if they had not been a part. What would you have missed, that they brought to you?

 How much less, might you have become?

The heading on this blog says it is not intended to be 'preachy'. I am about to crowd that boundary. Hey it's my blog. What do you want for nothing, your money back?

I am a stumbling bumbling excuse for a Christian. I will spare details. But it makes the most sense to me. It answers my questions, the best.

You see, The Good Book says that "..Love never fails." We might, but Pure Love does not. It also says: "...now we have faith, hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love."

One day, the things we have had faith in, the things we have hoped for, will be reality. No longer will faith and hope be needed. But Love, Pure Love will last forever.

Our time here is short.

So say thanks! Thanks for making me better than I would have been on my own. Let those that you love, know. Take a few well chosen words, and tell them. Put it in a note, make a call, remove any doubt.

Love is the only lasting thing we can give.

This Ramble is dedicated to the Love of my life, my beautiful wife.

I would never have amounted to much, without you.

Thanks!

Love in the Fast Lane

“You’re gorgeous.”
Not a typical greeting at a fast food drive through lane.

She was a moderately attractive young woman in her 20’s. Had I heard her correctly? Then, there it was again: “You ARE gorgeous!” Having recently turned 60 this was quite a shock. I hadn’t heard those specific words in nearly …..Well ever.

I was flattered, confused but flattered. Time seemed to stand still, all of this occurring in seconds, but seeming like minutes.
I leaned forward, ever so slightly, to provide her a better view.
Her eye contact was a little vague but I was the one, right there in front of her. It was as if I could feel warm, moist breath on my neck, a hand pressing down upon my knee….she could use some Listerine.

“What’s his name?” the young maiden inquired.  My name? yes, uh, His name? Who’s’ name? Then my dog poked his nose into my peripheral view.  “UH, Buddy, His name is Buddy.”  I stammered.

“Well he is absolutely gorgeous!”

How easily and quickly we forget that we have grown old. Old physically and yet remain young in spirit.

‘There’s no fool like an old fool’ I often repeat.

But there are also those reminders; when we glance in a mirror, attempt to bend down for the smallest task and then of course, for me, a short trip down ‘Love in the Fast Lane.’

"Self-discipline bridges the abyss that would keep us from our dreams.    ~ m j.

"Don't let the idea of the perfect, get in the way of the good."
                                                                                                  ~ Fay Barnett

2 Bucks

2 American dollars. Doesn't buy what it used too, does it?
Used to get a burger, fries and a drink for that. Do you remember when it was the norm to pull up to the pump and get a dollars worth of regular. Hey the guy would even wash your windows and check the tires for that, one American dollar.
Times and values have changed since I was a kid. Yep, a buck don't get you much these days, or does it?

Sunny and much warmer here in the mid west, this last weekend. It was a great time to get out of the house and do something. So I did. I went to a 'Sports Show.' A huge and varied inventory was there for us to peruse and, they hoped, purchase. They weren't disappointed. As I made my way from one display to another, I came upon a guy that would sharpen your knife. I have never been gifted at this process up to and exceeding the point of not being able to sharpen anything that would cut tomato soup. So this was a perfect stop for me.

I pulled out my much less than lethal blade and handed it to the man seated behind his bench. By the inch was how it was priced, and I quickly ciphered that my job would run $3.00. While watching him at work I noticed that he was seated and was wearing one of those little oxygen tubes. His appearance was a bit disheveled and he was not a picture of health, yet here he was, doing what he could, to earn a living.

With the job soon finished he handed my perfectly sharpened possession, to me.
"That will be 3 dollars." he said. My third grade teacher was correct, I would use math class one day.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a five, handed it to him and told him "Thanks so much." turning to walk away.
"Don't you want your change?"
"No, that's for you."

"God bless you." he replied.
As I walked away I heard him telling the guy behind me that I had tipped him 2 dollars on a 3 dollar job. "Imagine, a guy doing that!" he said.

'Imagine that.' I thought the same thing. Imagine having someone ask the Almighty to bless you, for two American dollars. I'd say that's about the best value going, and all for 2 bucks.