A renowned construction engineer once penned an insightful observation about foundations in a book, though the precise quote and author’s name momentarily elude me. While I’m confident the full details could be discovered through online research, I appreciate your understanding of my imprecise recollection.

What he wrote was: The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.

Life often leads us astray, diverting our attention from what truly matters and entangling us in trivial pursuits that ultimately derail our most significant goals and aspirations.

The strength of any structure, whether physical or metaphorical, lies in its foundation. Just as architects meticulously design the base of towering skyscrapers, we must carefully lay the groundwork for our personal and professional lives. My own journey has been a stark reminder that neglecting core principles and priorities can lead to unforeseen challenges. The wisdom of maintaining focus on what truly matters becomes clearer with time, revealing that the most critical elements should never be compromised or overlooked.

Through my personal experiences, I’ve gained wisdom by learning from my own missteps rather than capitalizing on the shortcomings of others.

Daily writing prompt

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

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I was in the Marines. Also, my son was in the Boy Scouts. Actually, I enjoyed it, which makes me wonder why I never did other than just for the day. We really wanted to a lot. It just seemed something was always getting in the way. No excuse as was spent a few years in Southern California, a very nice place for camping. Does a day at the beach count?

By the way, Camp Pendleton has some of the most beautiful places for camping anywhere.

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever been camping?

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Daily writing prompt

What’s the most fun way to exercise?

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Specifically, basketball. Specifically, pick-up basketball. No refs. No timeouts. No fouls. Just running up and down the court and putting the ball in the hoop. Let me tell you, if the NBA played that way, most of the pros would never be able to keep up. That was the way we played when I was in high school and it was the fittest I ever was.

I’m retired. As much as possible, I don’t do mornings. Mornings are for birds who seek worms.

Straying slightly from the core topic, I recall sage wisdom from my time as a junior enlisted Marine: Temporary fixes often become unintended permanent solutions. Avoid makeshift repairs that can calcify into long-term problems.

Temporary fixes often linger on a to-do-list, perpetually postponing proper and better solutions. This is especially true when the temporary solutions work well enough to postpone until the temporary fix fails.

Democrats. Yup, that about sums it up.

Not going to happen, no way, no how, no time.

(what I am afraid to do)

From age six, I loved playing baseball. The problem is, now I am far too old. As for football, I use it for napping. Fifteen minutes, and I’m out like a light. I suppose I could record games for the summer, but so far, it just takes a bit longer for me to fall asleep.

My passion for ping pong remains strong, though opportunities to play have become increasingly rare. The sport demands a controlled environment, as even a slight wind can disrupt the delicate balance of the game. While I’m confident in my initial skills and believe I could hold my own against casual players, my age suggests that sustained, intense play might challenge my endurance. I’m eager to find a suitable venue and a worthy opponent to reignite my love for table tennis.

I’ve always had an interest in trains. I haven’t a clue why. As I approached seventy, it came to me that I chose the wrong profession. I also like to travel. It is very possible I might have been happy as truck driver. However, thinking back over it, I think I would have been happy with most anything on a train.

But alas, I really don’t think any railroad is looking for anyone to do anything who is eighty.