Apples, strawberries, freshly cut pineapple, Asian pears, and bananas.
Tag: dailyprompt
Flexibility
Being better about going with the flow, with changes in plans. I’ve always had trouble with that, though that wouldn’t be a small improvement. It’d be a major overhaul, maybe some sort of breakthrough.
A small improvement might be to make a conscious effort to refrain from always checking my iPad or phone. It’s become almost a reflex action.
One Emerges
Daily writing prompt
Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
It’s difficult to pick one person. I grew up in a village, of sorts. It was a general vibe, a milieu. We were always getting together with various members of the extended family– on both sides. So, one time it might be an uncle or aunt or a cousin, another time it might be a grandparent or family friend who stood out as interesting or memorable for some reason.
Maybe it’s the dynamic of growing up in a neighborhood with a lot of kids our own age or a bit older. This group would often gather at our house and play baseball, or more likely whiffleball, because our yard wasn’t that big. But my Dad would often be in the midst of us, and maybe he’s the one who had the most positive impact on my life. He was truly young at heart, even when he was 85 and slowed by an aging body that was starting to let him down.
I’ve mentioned Mr. McGregor, my high school Spanish teacher, in a couple of previous posts. I remember him as being the best teacher I had in all the years of grade school, but I don’t know exactly what, if anything, he instilled in me. For the purposes of this prompt, it’s my Dad who comes to mind, who modeled certain traits and tendencies which, for better or worse, I have come to embrace or embody.
Ideals
It has evolved over time, as might be expected, as one grows older and maybe wiser. When I was young, I thought my country could do no wrong, and its leaders– almost exclusively men– were all upstanding citizens. As my world grew bigger, I realized that women were equally capable of both brilliance and stupendous ignorance. Scales fell and my view of America changed. The lens through which I viewed things became more finely tuned, equipped to see more layers in sharper focus. The blissful ignorance of my Boy Scout days gave way to an eye-opening reality check, a growing awareness of a more diverse canvas and palette of colors– along with a certain skepticism– probably the logical progression of moving from the relative shelter of a stable home life and on to college, and exposure to different people and ideas.
I grew up in the 1960s. There was a lot happening back then, and it’s been a cascade ever since– of turmoil, issues and causes, advancements of all sorts– in understandings of human nature, in creature comforts and technology and expectations and senses of entitlement. One thing that hasn’t changed is the annoyingly dependable supply of megalomaniacs and others who, for some reason, think they can rule the world, who spit on freedom and treat it as some quaint notion embraced by all the underlings.
Freedom isn’t everything, but it’s what we crave. It’s not a license to do or say whatever we feel like doing or saying. It is, rather, provision for finding our own path in life, our own voice. The right to call out ignorance and evil, even as there may be consequences for such honesty. Freedom is tempered by commitment to others and to the community and framework given us, in our case, by a collection of forward-thinking founders who risked the gallows or some other unpleasant end in order to lay the groundwork for a place where everyone– at least on paper– was entitled to certain inalienable rights.
They were also smart enough to realize that humans will be humans, and that the long arc of evolution moves slowly enough for many generations to be dealing with just enough misguided, self-involved lunatics to keep us on our toes.
Not even close
There are so many to choose from, but I’ll have to say the current U.S. President, hands down.
Still Purposeful
My career plan is to enjoy retirement, hopefully being useful in the process. The untethered nature of it is what I like most, though at some point it becomes apparent that one can’t sit around all day reveling in the joy of not needing to be anywhere or answering to anyone. Besides, the “not answering to anyone” part isn’t real, anyway.
Having said that little piece, I’m not ruling out a return to some sort of part-time work. Just haven’t found the right thing yet.
All That Jazz
The local high school’s production of Chicago. Not as polished as a big-time production, but well done, just the same.
Paltry, really
Very little, at the moment. I vote, I support certain businesses as a consumer, attend an occasional community activity like a school play, maybe an event that involves food trucks or some sort of meal. Other than that, sad to say, not an awful lot.
For a day
A barista, or a guide on Mt. Everest.
Much ado …
When it comes to reviews of big-ticket items one might be in the market for, there’s no reason not to look online or poll friends and family and get some input. Personally speaking, brand names emerge as important for items like footwear (Hoka, Brooks, Asics, Rockport), and electronics (Apple, LG, Sony, Bose). Vehicle-wise, I’d only ever consider a Toyota, maybe a Honda or Mazda.
On rare occasons, I’ll order something from L.L. Bean or RailRiders as a treat. But most clothing items I have are what look decent and are on sale at Boscov’s, a regional department store boasting a wide selection of brands and styles.
When it comes to food, I prefer Utz ripple chips, 8 O’clock whole bean Italian espresso, Cliff Oatmeal and Raisin energy bars, either Dunkin’ or Starbucks cold brew with a shot, Bob’s Oatmeal, Bush beans, Dietz and Watson or Boar’s Head deli meats, Troeg’s Perpetual IPA, etc.
In the wood shop, I look for Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, and Dewalt tools, though I’d take a Saw Stop table saw if someone gave it to me. And there’s a whole other level of manufacturers that are beyond reach, cost wise.
Wow, I feel like a walking advertisement, talking breathlessly and subjectively about brand loyalty as if it’s something important. This is a revealing exercise– for a few minutes, we become advocates for and experts on consuming.
3 Cents' 