Moms are special…

My Mom was special - I bet your Mom, too.  This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day.  In mind; in memory; or in person; let’s be sure to make it special for Mom.  They often lead us when we’re in over our head:

Among many other qualities, they are lifetime mentors and teachers.  Remember the life-long lessons you learned?  I do. 

What my Mother taught me: 

My Mother taught me logic;

“Because I said so, that's why.” 

My Mother taught me irony;

“Keep laughing and I'll give you something to cry about.” 

My Mother taught me about the science of osmosis:

“Shut your mouth and eat your supper!" 

Unknown Sage 

Mothers offer us encouragement in just the right way, also… even at risk of hurting our feelings: 

My mother always encouraged me to be myself.  “Unless you’re going to be boring on that day, in which case do us all a favor and be someone else.” 

Joan Rivers 

But more than anything else, Moms have a special and immeasurable reservoir of power, true?  My Mom did.  She was stricken with cancer when I was 6 years old.  In fact, I cannot remember a time when she was not ill.  The last 15 years of her life were spent undergoing continuous treatments: 

I watched my Mom’s great power, which she needed in order to deal with a new cancer treatment in the late 1960’s that was so unimaginably harsh – the administration of this treatment was solely based on the primitive science of trial and error.  The doctors’ routine consisted of observing how much of a dose could she tolerate without it killing her. 

It was an experimental treatment back then; offered only as a last resort for terminally ill cancer patients. This wasn’t a cure; just a radical option to extend one’s life a precious little more.  Because of her staying power she survived another two years before finally succumbing in 1974. My Mom’s power, and that of so many others like her, helped pave the way to the development of today’s commonly used, life-saving cancer treatment we all know as chemotherapy. 

How many special Moms have sacrificed trying to fight terrible diseases (and brutal treatments) so the rest of us can benefit from the exaggerated term, “modern medicine”? 

Mother’s Day - make it special for your Mom if she’s living; make it special for you through your memories of your Mom if she’s not. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

Day by day…

Happy Anniversary Debbie! 

Tomorrow marks 53 years.  That’s 19,345 days.  A significant amount of time to be with one’s significant other, true? 

In reality it’s actually more when I add in the days we were engaged and the days we dated, all the way back to before our high school prom in 1970:

Many of you are in a long-lasting relationship; many have been married longer than we.  A Mile High Salute to you!  Maybe our relationship thrived because I was a “Road Warrior” for several years?  A colleague of mine once said:           

The secret to a long marriage is a husband that travels. 

Lisa Kwiecien 

I like to write about my wife frequently.  Like any couple, we have our good days and our not-so-good days.  Like many couples, we’ve also had some of those relationship-testing; foundation-rattling; we’re-not-going-to-make-it; kind of days.  When those days occur we follow James P. Owen’s advice: 

When you’re riding through hell… keep riding. 

Any meaningful journey is like that, don’t you think?  Even one of America’s most famous sweethearts offered this guidance on life’s journey: 

Pain nourishes courage.  You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you. 

Mary Tyler Moore 

Throughout our relationship we’ve had more than our share of wonderful things happen; all driven by love.  In fact, 53 years ago this month the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 was “Love Train” by the O’Jays.  According to Wikipedia: 

The word 'train' comes from the Old French trahiner, from the Latin trahere meaning pull, or draw. 

My wife has pulled us along on that love train for 53 years!  I’ve tried to pay attention to the little things that make a difference day by day; lighten her load a bit; smooth the tracks.  Rob Gilbert made a list: 

How to have a Winning Day: 

You have to listen more than you talk…

You have to smile more than you frown…

You have to be fascinated more than you're frustrated…

You have to believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself.

You have to work more than you whine.

You have to do more than you don't.

I have also paid attention to my boundaries: 

Men ordering custom colors must first bring in a note from their wife. 

Guiry Paint Store 

It’s OK; she writes the notes; I run the errands; we make a great team.  And on those occasional occasions where disagreement looms, we heed Harlan Miller’s advice: 

Often the difference between a successful marriage and a mediocre one consists of leaving three or four things a day unsaid.

19,345 days and still rolling strong.  No matter our future course; no matter the challenges we face; the trials that will test us; not even the weather we may encounter; our love train will continue – pulled along by my high school sweetheart.  Even if an icy wind blows hard in our face, Etheridge Knight’s words will continue to guide us: 

Love is a rock against the wind. 

Happy 53^rd  Anniversary Dear!  You’re my rock and I love you. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

Luv rules…

Every year Valentine’s Day give us an opportunity to do something special for that special person.  Yes, we should treat our loved one special throughout the year, but you know, life can get in the way.  However this coming Saturday unfolds, it’s OK because: 

Love rules without rules. 

Italian Proverb 

And there’s plenty of time before Saturday to display your love for your love:

Who says men are oblivious? 

OK –  I can’t take credit for creating this awesome display of love for my love.  That was someone else’s awesome display on the outskirts of Kewanee in western Illinois farming country. 

Of course, we hope our women display their love for the men in their lives even when we don’t recognize the signs: 

You know “That Look” women get when they want sex?  Me neither. 

Steve Martin 

Saturday may be a special day in my marriage, but our relationship over the years has taken constant care (and patience).  Thankfully, my wife has patience: 

Patience strengthens the spirit,

   sweetens the temper,

      stifles anger,

    extinguishes envy,

  subdues pride,

bridles the tongue,

   restrains the hand,

      and tramples upon temptation. 

George Horne 

My wife and I will do something quiet this Valentine’s Day.  We enjoy our quiet time together - always have.  Our conversations will span many topics; children, friends, happy memories.  Of course, we will also synchronize our calendars, debate upcoming projects and review our finances.  Yuck! 

At the end of it all we will be reminded: 

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. 

Mignon McLaughlin 

May you enjoy Valentine’s Day with someone special in your life.  And if you’re with someone but you’re not sure if he or she is “the one”, don’t worry – trust your gut feeling: 

Love is not finding someone you can live with; it’s finding someone you cannot live without. 

Rafael Ortiz 

Love rules without rules on Valentine’s Day – and every day. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

Giving thanks…

Thanksgiving remind us of our blessings, yes?  Before I go any further permit me to say, “Thank you”! 

Thank you for reading me.  Thank you for commenting on my little ditties.  Thank you for respecting my viewpoints.  Thank you for buying my book.  Thank you for encouraging me to continue. 

I can’t count all that I am thankful for; nor all of the times I have wanted to thank someone for their kindness.  But I am thankful for sure.  Thankfully, smart people have put counting in perspective: 

Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted. 

Albert Einstein 

I’m thankful for living in Denver – most of the time anyway: 

Welcome to Denver: 

The morning rush hour is from 5:00 to 10:00 AM. The evening rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.  Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday.

Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere.  Denver has its own version.  The car or truck with the loudest muffler goes next at a 4-way stop.  The truck with the biggest tires goes after that.  Blue-haired, green-haired, or cranberry-haired ladies driving anything have the right of way all of the time.

North and South only vaguely resemble the real direction of certain streets.  University and Colorado are two boulevards that run parallel.  Geometry evidently not working at altitude, these streets intersect south of C470.

Highway 285 runs North, South, East and West and every direction in between; it can be found in every section of the Denver area making navigation very interesting.  You can turn west onto southbound 285; you can turn north onto westbound C470; and you can drive southeast on the Northwest Parkway.  This is why Denver uses the additional driving directions of “out”, “up”, “in”, “down”, and sometimes “over”.

Construction barrels are permanent, and are simply moved around in the middle of the night to make the next day’s drive more challenging.  When you see an orange cone, you must stop and then move ahead slowly until there are no more cones.  There need not be construction, just cones.

If someone has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been accidentally activated.

If it’s 70 degrees, Thanksgiving is probably next week; if it’s snowing, it’s probably the weekend after Memorial Day.

If you stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended or cussed-out.  A red light means four more cars can go through.  Not three; not five.  Four.  Never honk at anyone.  Ever.  Seriously.  Never yield at a “Yield” sign.  The yield sign is like an appendix; it once had a purpose but nobody can remember what it was.

Just because a street on the east side of town has the same name as a street on the west side of town doesn’t mean they’re connected. 

Unknown Sage 

Thankfully we can celebrate with family, friends, food, and fun and a little football during the Thanksgiving holiday.  Permit me to share my favorite quote: 

Thank you Lord.  I may never have a lot; but I have always had enough. 

May He bless you, too. 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.