7th Day Surprise: Innie? Outie?

YIN OR YANG?

In theory our entry into March

yields positive or negative end results.

Ready or not... here it comes!

ME TUBE

Remote control
Oh the things you'll see. On Youtube that is.

Lately I'm addicted to an odd assortment of

videos. Given I'm over politics I had to find

something to absorb my time. Mostly I have

been viewing old BBC documentaries that

cause Frank's eyes to glaze over. However

for many reasons I love learning. And thus

can't resist a roaring recap of Chippendale's

life. Along with the return of a collection

of paintings to Houghton Hall post chilling

for over two centuries in the Hermitage. A

bit boring to most but completely engaging

for an artistic type such as myself. 

Viewer discretion advised
Search and find a video about the good, bad,

and ugly. Along with all things fascinating,

charming, and illuminating. There are more

"how to" videos than any honey do list can

ever encompass. But one must be careful

who they "follow". As some may lead lead

them in the wrong direction. Like Kacha - 

the Russian chalk paint queen who destroys

vintage furniture. Slavering fine wood with

vile pastels, floral decals, sparkles, faux gold

leaf, and who knows what else. Be warned.

Viewing said desecration is like driving past

an auto wreck. You just have to look...

Who, what, where, and when
I'm not the only one. Frank is addicted to travel

vloggers. Who take him to places he's not been.

And may never get to see for himself. One of

our favorites are a gay couple who frequently

post via "The Way We Saw It". They hit the

hot (as in vacation) spots. Yet tread lightly as

some video tour guides can grow a tad tedious.

Especially when their homemade videos try to

earn their keep. Fortunately there are plenty

of other places to travel via Youtube. Hence

when you've had enough you simply change

channels. And search to your heart's delight!

So why not go ahead and tune in to tune out!

HOME SCHOOLING

Back to basics 
It appears that our viral crisis may finally be

on a downward trend. Mostly driven by the

availability of vaccines. While not as of yet

there is hope is on the horizon. Promising

a return to "normal" life. Whatever that was.

Yet I can't help but consider some aspects of

our self-isolation as being positive. Both of

my daughters have been stuck at home with

their offspring for over a year. Parenting both

toddlers or a teenager on a 365/24/7 basis has

been challenging. However I'm proud of all

involved. Because through it all they've risen

to the challenge. And are the better for it.

School chums
Home schooling - let alone virtual learning is

not easy. Just ask my teenage grand daughter

in Michigan. From the start few actually knew

what they were doing. Hence technological,

social, and other issues plagued the process.

At times her Mom "E" had to fight the fight.

Diving in to help solve the problems. As in

algebra. Both learning along the way. About

each other that is. And growing closer day by

day. So while being out of the social world at

school has been hard - staying close to home

with Mom has a gift from God. Forcing them

to work together to conquer their challenges.

Breakfast of champions
My grandsons in Chicago don't know what

they're missing. This year would have been

"H's" first in school. Instead his parents kept

him home. Transforming their dining room

into "school". Said re-focus benefitting both

their five and three year old boys. And in the

process bringing out the hidden educator in

my creative daughter. A growth experience

for the entire family. Everyday she integrates

whatever they are studying into all aspects

of life. Right how it is gardening. Hence even

breakfast blossoms! Creating memories that

both boys will never forget. 

Home sweet home
Back here in Montana it's been much the same.

While both Frank and I have much to learn our

school days are long gone. Even so being stuck

at home for a year has taught us much. Mostly

that we're more than self-sufficient. Perfectly

happy living as hermits. Growing closer as each

day passes. To the point that when we're apart -

even for an hour or so - we miss each other.

The fact is that during this Covid 19 crisis our

lives have improved for the better. Teaching us

that the people we live with on a daily basis are

all that truly matters. And that even in the worst

to times - together we truly are STRONGER! 

THE OLDER THE BETTER

Now and then

The other day a friend and I were chatting

about her job. Totally frustrated by a variety

of factors beyond her control. Along with how

different the modern workplace is versus the

days of our youth. Back then everyone seemed

to have a work ethic. Or at least in hindsight.

However upon closer reflection former peers

were anything but peerless. Like Peggy that

gal who "humphed" through her day. Doing

anything to avoid work.  Hence even then the

good and bad worked amongst us. Therefore

even if we've forgotten - our past inevitably

proves to have been imperfect. 

Back at you

The difference between then and now is that

now we're old enough to know better. With

wisdom ranging far beyond industry savvy.

All of we mature folks have graduated with

advanced degrees from the school of hard

knocks. We possess ample experience in the

art of dealing with the inept, deceitful, just

crazy. Hence as we age our only challenge

is that perception is reality. In that the older

we get the more they assume we're out of it.

When in reality we're a perfect blend of then,

now, and next. Ready and able to leverage

history in order to achieve future success. 

Over and out

Youngsters foolishly lack patience. Wanting

immediate gratification rather than waiting

for the right time and place. Whereas old

folks have no patience for fools. Having

been there done that we've no time to waste.

As in playing the game. Instead we'd rather

focus on the job at hand. Which sadly is the

last thing wayward co-workers want to do.

In the end most of we oldsters come to the

same conclusion we reached with our kids

long ago. If they won't listen to reason - it's

best to walk away. And maybe it's time you

did just that. Let them learn the hard way.

Again, and again, and again

Tis a puzzlement

Try as I might - there are many things in my

head. Issues, challenges, and regrets I can't

resolve. Hence everyday I work through the

same things in different ways. Trying to put

the pieces together. Obviously said struggle

is an evolutionary process. Therefore while

I wish I could make it all go away - it never

ends. Providing further fodder to my theory

that some things are just meant to be. Yet

that doesn't end my quest for answers. Nor

writing blogs about the same things day after

day - month after month - year after year. So

do you think that I'll ever reach a conclusion?

Love and war

Most of us are repeat offenders. Thankfully

my dear readers are patient enough to read

my same thoughts again and again. Hence

life goes on. And in hindsight this blogger

gets older and wiser in the process. Which

leads me to my next conclusion. There are

certain mysteries in life that are meant to

never be understood. Some good others bad.

Not a day goes by that I don't marvel at the

love Frank and I share. For whatever reason

we're connected in a deep and natural way.

Honestly, theres no explaining why such a

love. Yet there it is. So why question it?

Getting there is half the fun

Few of us struggle with positive influences.

Instead we embrace them for what they are.

Yet few of us feel the same way about life's

challenges. Most blaming themselves for

things far beyond our control. The truth is

that some folks won't like us no matter how

we try. Try as we might - most of us tend to

make the same mistakes. Mostly due to a

natural Pavlovian tendency we can't control.

Thus why fight the inevitable? Maybe we

should celebrate our weaknesses. And be

done with them. Then again theres a chance

that someday we'll figure things out. Hmm...