Just a quick note / observation

It occurred to me, when Joyce and I were playing our daily scrabble game, that we currently have our house set up as a stereotypical “rest home” for the older folks.  

We have a scrabble game going on - check

There is puzzle in the process of being pieced to together on the dining room table - check

A craft room - check

A reading room in the rustic room - check

A television viewing area - check

Trails to walk the outside - check

kayaks and canoes for the lake - check

Rocking chairs for the back patio - check

Birdwatching in the back yard - check

Flower gardens - check

A workshop in the basement - check

A computer room for those who are inclined in that direction - check

So, I guess we are all set for whenever “old people” show up and need to be entertained. 

And, of course, we will be in bed before midnight on New Year’s Eve. 

So, if you know of any old people who would like to take advantage of the environment, let us know.

We hope everyone can look forward to a very positive and peaceful 2018.

Funny How Things Work Out

In a perfect world everyone lives the perfect life. Reality suggests otherwise. 

A child wants to be loved, to have friends, and play without fear. 

A teenager wants to be accepted, to be independent, and perhaps sleep in without needing to think about weekend chores. 

A young adult looks to the future, finds a group of like minded friends, develops a more meaningful sense of self, and expresses her/his passion for their developing belief system.

At middle age, family, health, career and the future take up much of the consciousness of daily life.

And then there are the retirement years. Adults reflect on the past, try to maintain an active lifestyle, and perhaps work on checking things off their bucket list.

So, what is on your bucket list? Have you made a bucket list?

I know there are some things that have been on mine that I have been able to check off.

Continuing a wonderful relationship with my best friend         check

Retiring relatively early                         check

Living in a peaceful environment                 check

Being relatively debt free                 check

Going back to my youth and building a model train system in progress

I am not sure if Joyce has a written down bucket list. What I do know is that if she did she would have had a brand new shiny blue automobile on it. On the occasions that she and I have gone through the process of purchasing transportation, we have had to look first at the economics of the decision. And when one bases decisions on economics, not everything on the "want" list gets to be included. 

Well, Joyce finally got to mark her list, which had its origins when she was 5 or 6. The story goes that she would take the magazines that her family got and look for the cars that were in the middle fold out pages. She would cut them out and drive them around the house. I am guessing that even the paper cars showed signs of her lead foot, but that is a story for a different time. Anyway, her favorite color was royal blue. And Wednesday :

                                                  Own a new vehicle that is royal blue

                                                                     check

I know that there are many things she has crossed off in her mind in the past. I know that there will be many things in the future as well. But, when it brought a few tears of joy, I know this one was special.