More Random Thoughts of an Old (Weird) Geezer

Chapter 10

My Ancestors had Guts

And big balls too, for that matter. I think about a young Juriaen Westvael hitching a ride on a creaky ship from Europe to the America’s in the early 1640’s, about others giving up their homes and families to come to the New World, about the hardships and sacrifices in this country’s early years, about the back-breaking work, the sorrows, tears and yes, sometimes the bloodshed of those who came to settle this great land. I think about their painfully slow trips westward and the efforts that went into building their homes, friendships and communities. We need to occasionally think about those who came before us and through whose efforts and perseverance we exist today. To all of them, I say “Thank you!” I hope they can hear me.

I Wonder What They Are Thinking & Feeling

Those whose lives are so very much different from mine. Those who live in wretched conditions in the big cities. Those who live to party in every way you could possibly imagine. Those who survive only through force and intimidation. Those who have chosen a life of crime and deceit. Those who live and try to survive in the impoverished conditions of the poorer – or war-torn countries. Those who struggle daily to secure the bare necessities of life. I wonder – and I thank God for permitting me to be who I am and living in the conditions in which I find myself. I am so very fortunate.

Happiness

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. – Abraham Lincoln

Smiles

I probably smile at least as much, if not more, than most people. Some of the reason may be because I have a tendency to see the humor in a lot of the usual hum-drum, day-to-day activities of us average folks. The rest of it is because I just like to smile. It makes me feel good. And honestly, I get a huge kick out of smiling at others – especially people I don’t know – and seeing them smile back. I feel that maybe I’ve helped make their day just a touch better. And that’s a very good thing. My motto? Smile – it makes people wonder just what the hell you’ve been up to!

Bad News

They say bad news travels fast. Yeah, especially if it gets a big-assed push from the radio, TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines and your local gloom-and-doom personal next-door purveyor of sad tidings. Yes, I do understand that we humans are basically weird. We seem to thrive on the “Oh My God How Terrible” emotions. And we’re quick to pass this juicy emotional stimulus along to anyone who will listen. Maybe this desire to hear – and spread – bad news is connected in some way to our innate will to survive. The sooner we hear about Igor the Fearful’s raids on the village just down the road, the more likely we are to be able to either take protective measures or run like hell. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really need to hear about Igor, or be bombarded with the minute details of the latest plane crash, earthquake or buffalo stampede. Bad news can drag us down especially if we are the type of person who actually feels (internalizes) the negative emotion attached to these kinds of events. I prefer to not listen or watch this stuff. I prefer to focus on the positives of life. So that’s what I do.

Zapped Again

Our central Nebraska farm where I grew up had a windmill located about 30 yards or so from the house. (For you city slickers, a windmill is a wind powered device used to pump water up out of the ground to then be routed to wherever it is needed.) It had an unintentional dual purpose. In addition to pumping water, it also acted as a lightning magnet. You could about bet that two or three times a year, the old metal framework of the windmill would get nailed by a bolt of high-voltage electricity from a passing thunderstorm. Seemingly all at once, I would hear the boom of the expanding air and the sizzle of the electric arc, I would see the bright flash and a moment later I’d smell the ozone of the newly agitated air. I would always jump at the sudden noise and bright light, but I was never really scared. It was pretty neat actually. I knew some people who would hide under the bed during a thunderstorm. Not me. I just stayed the hell away from the windmill.

Scared Kids

Sometimes we parents forget that children are extremely impressionable. I was never afraid during thunderstorms because my parents took the time to teach me to respect them, but not to fear them. There are other parents though who probably through a lack of awareness, managed to really frighten their children. Like telling the youngsters about the monster in the closet or under the bed or in the dresser drawers. Kids believe this stuff, at least for a while. But sometimes this misinformation will stick with a person far into their adult years. I know an individual in her late forties who will not – absolutely not – go to sleep with a closet door or dresser drawer even slightly open. That’s too bad. It shouldn’t have happened…

My Main Parental Threat

Occasionally when one of my children was misbehaving, in my most serious tone I would tell them “You’d better straighten up or I’ll put your head between your ears!” It actually worked for a few years. Yeah, I know. I’m a bad parent.

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