In the Carolinas, summer means “Going To The Beach,” but in New Jersey, the idiom is “Down The Shore” (pronounced as one word, “downashoor”). So when our grandson was invited to compete in the 2019 US Sailing Youth Championship, we had the perfect opportunity for a few days down the shore on Long Beach Island.
Lifestyle
Becoming That Guy
I want to be that guy. You know him. He always takes time to listen, never jumps in. When you’re with him, you feel important. You matter with that guy. Some are born that way, others need time. The saddest are those who never become that guy; even when they try. I wasn’t born that guy. I’ve been given plenty of time. So if I want to join, I’ll need to get to changin’ – and here’s where I’ll start.
When The Blind Help The Sighted Cross a Finish Line
We’ve all seen two runners matching stride for stride in the park or on a greenway. They run with a paired choreography. But what if one in the pair doesn’t have the confidence and freedom needed to run alone? That’s where my new friends at Para≈Guide enter our story. “Sight by side” is more than a tag line for them, it’s the perfect description of what this group does everyday.
Loving People … Using Things
I smiled as I opened the email from Joshua and Ryan, the title had offered an instant memory jolt: “Love People. Use Things. The Opposite Never Works.” This took me back to the late ’80s when our son was in high school. I had just gotten a new car, a Plymouth Caravelle. It was relatively plain except for one important accessory. It boasted the latest in cutting edge technology. A phone …
Live Longer! Start Blogging!
They say, You can’t teach old dogs new tricks, but I think new skills are important for “oldsters.” For some of us, the new trick can be learning to appreciate music, or to play a new instrument. For others, it’s learning a second language, or tutoring younger students. Some explore volunteering and exercising to stay active and busy. The new trick list is long because any new cognitive activity will work magic. It can take us from just “Oldsters” to “Super-Oldsters.” Me? I blog.
How’d it work out … 2016?
I already had enough stuff, so I put my retail therapy on hold for a year. I wanted more time for intentional choices. It was actually easier than I thought it would be. I didn’t buy a single piece of clothing all year! For 2017, I vow to only buy when necessary, focusing on keeping what I have in good repair, and then replacing things when it’s time …
Yes, they’ll be almost like new
There are things I count on as always being there. Close to the top of my shortlist are my work boots. They’re comfortable and do their job without any fuss. They are always there for me, like old friends. My boots don’t get used everyday and sometimes I assume they will be just as ready to go as they were the last time I wore them. I don’t think of them as being tired or wearing out. That’s why it was such a surprise when the sole came off …
Growing Up on 98 Acres in Charlotte
I wasn’t expecting to see a young barefooted boy, carrying a black pond net and white plastic bucket, suddenly appear during my morning visit to the park .. Every child in our city should have access to nature. Thanks to the many parks scattered everywhere in our county, there are many opportunities for almost everyone to find adventures outdoors …
Massage – More Than Relaxing
Can a massage be more than just relaxing – can it be an investment in sustained good health? Massage therapy improved my body’s ability to recuperate during that period of intense training. I don’t train as hard as I once did, but I continue to see Sara Vavra for massage sessions. Like Robin Sharma suggests, it’s an investment in my health and makes me feel better both while I am having it, and for days, sometimes weeks, afterwards.
Pickup Trucks and Responsibilities
Years ago, I made the choice to own a pickup truck. Of course I knew friends would want to borrow it, for moving to a new home, taking stuff to Goodwill, or bringing home their huge Christmas tree, but that didn’t stop me. My truck is a simple F-150 4×4 regular cab, short bed with a manual transmission. There is no carpet, and only crank windows with large wing vents for a great breeze on a summer day. The one luxury is an old cassette deck. The truck is twenty years old, simple and mine …