Reflections from 2015.

I am Thankful.

In today's world, we often take for granted many things that we have as being "expected" or "routine" or "normal".  Lately, after visiting family, and friends over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting upon myself, my life, and my situation.

For all the flaws i have, both in my life and in my "world" I have come to the glaring conclusion that while nothing is perfect, I am very thankful.

I woke this morning, got dressed, drove to work. Had breakfast of my choosing, worked, had lunch of my choosing, and work some more.  Then tonight, as i end my work day, I will drive home, and complain about the traffic, to cook a meal, in my home, and with my wife and cat spend the remaining part of the day reading, watching television, and enjoying various other hobbies.  I am thankful.

I have more than many can ever dream of.  I have food on demand, climate control, the ability to wear different clothing of my choosing, the ability to go where i wish when i wish, for the most part, a home that i can call my own, regardless of how much i may owe the bank, and automobiles, again regardless of what I owe, that i can call my own. I have hobbies, and have had the drive and desire to educate myself, on my own, figuring out how to pay for things, to better my situation however i may.  Many do not have even half of what i have, material wise, drive, financially, or physically, and for that I am very thankful.

This world, even with its flaws, has been kind to me.  I Have my health, which is the very most important thing, next to having those that love me for who I am, no matter my flaws, looks, or idiocy.  These too, have made me realize, I am Thankful.

I may not have everything, but I surely have more than enough, and that is not including the materialistic things.  In life people are what matters.  Those who are in your life, that love you, for better or worse, are the ones who matter.  We often overlook that, in life's daily tasks, especially in the "first world"  where we're more geared for materialistic wants and desires.  I know the love of family, and that of children who light up every time they see you, even though you are not their parent, and that is nothing less than amazing.  I have the love of friends, some lifelong, some recent, and I pray that i can be a good friend to them, and they to me, and for those things, I am very Thankful.

I challenge each of you to look at your life. Take stock of the material and immaterial items, and realize how blessed you are.  You may not have a dime to your name, but I am willing to bet, you have something and more than not, someone to be thankful for.   We all are born doing one thing, dying.  You never know when, how, or why, but you will surely die one day.  reflect upon your life, your blessings, your trials, and your hopes and aspirations.  Do what you can to make them happen, but do it with a positive attitude, and a forgiving heart.  Know that the cloaked man awaits you, give more than you receive, and you will surely have a life that is one to be most thankful for.

I'm not quite sure why i've been so reflective upon my life lately, but it has been an interesting few weeks/months.  As hard as it is to do, for every negative thing you experience, know there is a lesson to be learned, and for that, a reason to be thankful.  For every positive thing, one must reflect upon those moments as well, and be thankful for them even more so, lest we take the good for granted.  In this holiday season, no matter your race, religion, political background, reflect upon yourself, and know you matter to someone, and have much to be thankful for, even if it is simply just waking up one more day. 

Not a clue...

 As I approach my 40th year on this planet I cannot help but to reflect upon my life and my own mortality. In doing so I acknowledge that I have no kids of my own to base this thought upon, however that will not keep me from making this observation :

My parents had absolutely no clue what to do in life at any given time.

This is in regards to both their own lives and in raising a child or multiple. It occurs to me that I, like they, have done the best with what they had that they could. That is to say They made the best decisions they could with the information and tools they had at the time and at their disposal. I'm quite sure they were just as terrified and worried about any and every life decision they made that say you and I are currently. Yes the circumstances that you and I have may be different but that does not mean that the general situation and conditions were not. It is an interesting thought to ponder life and compare loosely what they did to what I think I would have done at one situation or another. Life is funny that way I suppose.

I don't know where I was generally going with this but there it is. Make of it what you may. Especially those of you with kids. Imagine your parents making the decisions that you make about your kids except you were the child.

Odds and Ends

Things have been busy as always.  The new home is nice, and has really become "home".  I've been in classes again, this semester, and i'm almost done with this degree.  2 more classes and i have a second bachelors degree.  Experimental Psychology.  Fun stuff.

Back in February, my dad came down from DC.  I also bought a new vehicle.  I traded in my 96 dodge ram, and my 01 z28 camaro.  never thought i would have gotten rid of that car, but in the end it was the right thing to do.  In life, you cannot take it with you.  Keeping things because of emotional attachments is generally not a good thing to do, thus i have been trying to be better at that.  Things are just that things.  Anyways, i have gotten rid of 2 cars, for one, and now monthly i get rid of my money i earn as well in the form of a car payment.

Also on the subject of trying to not be materialistic, I've also been trading off other things, selling things, etc, that I said to myself i'd keep.  Its easy once you do it. but It isnt something that is pleasant at first if you think youll wanna keep things for one reason or another, like its my first this, or my first that...

This year, Emily, and I have decided to build and plant a Raised Garden.  I built with her help, a 8x4x16 inch deep raised garden out of kiln dried Cedar, that i stained and sealed. Then we wrapped the inside of the wood with plastic lining, and lined the base with anti weed fiberous cloth.   then we filled the box with 50cu ft of Miracle grow.  We planted 4 cucumber plants, 4 tomato plants, 4 bell pepper plants, 8 romaine lettuce, one bundle of red sweet onions, and 10 Cabbage.  so far its going swimingly, and is growing rapidly. so much so that i fear  that i may have need to expand the garden into another box, or some 5 gallon buckets.  

We also planted a bunch of Iris' and 2 8pm (midnight) lilly plants, as well as a whole mess of regular Day lillies that her aunt Carol gave us while we were in Missouri this easter.  It was a lot of good times in Missouri, but was sad too, as right before we visited, Smokey, emily's cat from childhood, had to be put to sleep. he was 19.

Easter was fun, but rough.  It was our first easter without her grandfather, and also the first without both dogs.  Especially on my mind was Loki, as it was the 1 year anniversary of his passing.  We are lucky though that so far we have our kitty.

Other things on the table are continuing to clean / organize the new home, and garage.  Among that is my old purple car. I need to start working towards getting it back on the road soon, and that means i need an ignition module, and a couple batteries minimally.  The Cavalier, while being a good running car, needs tires, and maybe raised up, so its not so low.. Emily does go back and forth about selling it.

I think for now thats about the most of the updates.  I'll continue to post when i can, and when i remember to.