“Late” seems to be the theme today. I was up late last night working on home projects. I slept in late this morning. I was barely on time for my drawing class. After walking the dogs, working in the yard and fixing supper, I am now, late in the evening, finally sitting down to write my Tuesday blog.
I had a little trouble coming up with a theme. I’ve been publishing a blog for seven years now. Since I most often write about myself and my own experiences, I feel like raw material is getting rather scarce. I’m afraid I’m getting repetitive. Looking for inspiration, I went through a couple books of writing prompts; nothing piqued my interest.
When I was about to give up hope, I remembered: my “birthday list!” Each year, for my birthday, I have published a list, corresponding to my age: favorite people and life-changing books have been the theme of past birthday lists. Of course my birthday this year is long past; I was in Chicago then, having a glorious time with my youngest daughter and her family. That’s okay, I can do the list now. Late. Because that’s how my day is going.
66 Random Things That I Know
- The sky is most beautiful, here on Beaver Island, in the fall of the year.
- The water in Lake Michigan is warmest in the fall. That probably holds true for other bodies of water, too.
- In places where there are evergreens among the deciduous trees, fall colors are most breathtaking.
- Water, too, provides a good backdrop for the changing autumn colors.
- Winter apples need a frost to bring out their juicy sweetness.
- If you count the seconds between the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning, that is how many miles away the storm is.
- Sleep is better when it’s raining.
- A jet stream is a weather pattern. Until I was forty years old, I thought a jet stream was a contrail. A contrail is the white trail that a jet leaves in the sky.
- Cheap wine is better appreciated if you can’t see the label.
- Better vodka is worth the extra cost.
- A good haircut can be life-altering.
- Sisters and brothers who grew up in the same household are more alike than even they know, no matter what their current differences.
- It takes about thirty days to form a good habit or to get rid of a bad habit.
- Either can be turned around in one moment of weakness.
- I think lateness is a way of revolting from life experiences that are not ideal.
- I believe procrastination is a side-effect of perfectionism.
- And perhaps what looks like laziness is actually the inability to act because of a lack of direction (or too many directions to pursue).
- Dogs are comforted by familiar voices.
- Pigs are some of the smartest animals.
- Chickens respond to novelty.
- You can move a chicken at night, without them knowing. Just drape a cloth over them to keep out the light, pick them up and carry them to their new location.
- Having the right tools for a project makes a big difference.
- Bicycling is easier on the knees than running.
- Cheaters never win.
- Honesty is the best policy.
- Summer always goes too fast.
- Humidity makes hot weather feel hotter, and cold weather more bitter.
- Most savory dishes can be improved with something from the onion family, or by lemon.
- Butter is now healthier than margarine.
- When it was new, margarine was sold as a block of white fat. The purchaser had to stir in the little packet of yellow colorant to make it look like butter.
- Friends that I know only through their writing are still true friends. Sometimes I know more about their lives and inner feelings than people I see every day. Likewise, I often reveal more in my writing than I ever would in “real life.”
- Letter writing is a great way to communicate.
- Everybody, deep down, wants to be accepted, appreciated and loved.
- Morning glories and moon flowers are more likely to sprout if the seeds are nicked before they are planted.
- Dogs have the right attitude toward life.
- We are all born with a sixth sense. It can be recognized and nurtured or denied and buried. In either case, awareness and practice will always improve intuitive ability.
- Anyone can learn to draw. If they want to.
- People that are good readers and enjoy reading, have a richer life than those who don’t.
- A book doesn’t have to be high literature to be good. It only has to speak to the reader at the time.
- That said, there is a lot of lousy writing out there.
- That holds true in the art world, too. If you like a piece, good. Enjoy it.
- Good teachers change lives.
- Continuing to learn, through life, is the best way to feel truly alive.
- Music communicates with us through our beating heart.
- Games are good for the mind.
- Plants have feelings.
- All life is precious (though I still set mouse traps this time of year).
- Daughters are more fun than sons (says this mother of two girls).
- Grandchildren are a blessing.
- Grocery shopping when hungry is never a good idea.
- A good experience, in a restaurant, is expected. Often food and service needs to be over-the-top before it is recognized.
- Inadequate service or a bad meal in a restaurant will be noticed right away, and never forgotten.
- A word of encouragement or praise goes a long way.
- Coming from a boss, it’s great incentive.
- Coming from a co-worker, it builds camaraderie.
- A compliment from a stranger is easier to believe than the same from an acquaintance.
- We are all, generally, too stingy with our feelings.
- Everyone deserves to hear something nice.
- A day can seem interminably long, when doing something unpleasant.
- Hours speed by when doing something enjoyable
- On that same theme, children seem to remain at two years old much longer than any other age…
- Until they reach their teen years, which drag on for a lifetime.
- But all in all, children grow up way too quickly.
- The longer you live, the more loss you have to bear.
- It’s always worth it.
- Life goes on, like it or not. May as well find the silver lining.
