Just a little more than usual
Besides the gifts of someone’s time and love and attention, it would have to be $5 million. Such a sum would probably take a few persistent concerns and headaches off the table.
I imagine that may sound shallow, but at this point in my life, an unexpected financial windfall seems more likely than me finding work I actually enjoy and for which I am well compensated.
Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minnesota, and the former Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which is now part of United Lutheran Seminary, a partnership and cooperative effort with the former LTS at Philadelphia, PA.
I occupy my time with things I enjoy doing, but don’t know as I’d consider it play. The grandkids are synonymous with playtime, though some of them are getting old enough to sit at a table and draw or assemble a Lego kit. Playtime is evolving, but there’s still plenty of hide and seek and piling on papa.
Finding something to do, keeping a smile on my face, being blindly and unreasonably optimistic just because. It’s hard to smile when it looks like the world is heading for the dumpster.
Some might hazard a diagnosis of depression, but I’m not sure that would be accurate. I feel like it’s more that it’s difficult to look around at the leadership in this country and elsewhere, at certain trends, at the condition of the planet– among other things– and not be concerned, or angry, or frustrated, or pessimistic.
Maybe my biggest challenge, as a new year begins, is summoning the courage to add my voice and my being to the resistance. Finally take the plunge.
The smell of a wood fire in winter, the smell of beef stew cooking on the stove, the smell of a Spring or Summer day, certain songs, visits to childhood haunts, looking at pictures taken years ago.
My marriage, our children and their children, my siblings, most of my in-laws, a couple of friends from my time as a pastor, and a couple of college buddies, who I’ve known now for over fifty years.
I guess it would depend on the sport. If it was football, maybe a mixture of royal blue and black– and I’d be sure to require that the actual team city/logo was visible and not a small patch that gets lost amidst all the advertising on the uniform.
If it was baseball, I’d probably go with white home uniforms and gray away ones, with a dark blue hat and red lettering.
Mascots are silly.
I have started to vote in local elections more often, and my party affiliation has been established for awhile now. There was a stretch when I valued the label of Independent and voted based on whatever candidate struck me as likeable and seemingly capable. But anymore and until convinced otherwise, I am a one-party voter, and it’s not the party of Donald Trump, if he even has an affiliation. He may just be a one-person party, all in for himself.
My worldview and political sensibilities shifted for good during my years as a Lutheran pastor.
Some sort of loft with good lighting and comfortable seating, or a small outbuilding in the woods or at the back of a property, again comfortably appointed with a wood or gas fireplace, good lighting, a couple of comfortable chairs, maybe a decent sound system. Not too Spartan– having electricity would be nice, along with being comfortable in a variety of weather conditions.
Of the cars we’ve had in our life, I’d have to say a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. It offered a nice view of the road, it was a roomy, solid 4000 pound vehicle, and I didn’t have to lower myself in to drive it.
In general, my favorite brand is Toyota. I drive a Camry now and would probably get another one, though in a perfect world, I’d probably hold out for a Tacoma extended cab.
