Hamburgers

What food would you say is your specialty?

That’s right. I cook them medium well and put them on a bun. Sometimes, instead, I just put them in a plate aside mashed potatoes and put gravy over both of them. (Generally, store bought. I can’t make gravy as hard as I’ve tried.)

Maybe it’s not fancy, but then, I never did say I have fancy taste. So far, I’ve had no complaints. Then again, I haven’t fixed them much for others, that is, besides as a cook in a restaurant.

What do I Remember?

What major historical events do you remember?

I am 73. All of them. Okay. A small exaggeration. Just most of them.

Seems to me, I already wrote a post remotely on this subject, titled, “Remember the Alamo.” My contemplation was that we don’t. Not really. Many of us saw the horrid things that happened on 9/11 and yet all too quickly, it all fades from our memories. I know this because we permit aliens to swamp our border personnel to the point where they serve little purpose.

If we really remembered 9/11, we would be sure to catch and check everyone trying to get into this country. Even at the state that the border is in, they are sure that there are those who have gotten into this country who would love a repeat of 9/11 and worse.

Yes, I do remember many shootings, in our schools, our malls and even military bases. And yet the dems let the criminals out on the streets without bond, soon after performing all manor of serious crimes, all in the name of equality, not equal, mind you, but equality.

I remember a time when kids mostly had two parents, the movie playing at the local theater had no rating and no one was shooting up the schools. You suppose we did something wrong. You suppose we should turn around and go back to whence we came? You suppose we should start allowing God in our schools. Just perhaps we should say our prayers before rather than after the disasters. Maybe we should be more careful as to what we permit Hollywood to put on the big screen.

Just maybe, it would be a good idea to tame the commercials a little. In my youth, those selling bras resorted to models wearing the bras on the outside of clothing so that they could show them on TV. Children have new words added to their vocabulary these days, such as ED, and new ways of using words, such as performance enhancing.

Of course we can change channels simply turn off the TV before such commercials. It just is do you suppose they can issue warnings a minute or so before airing a commercial with adult content, as they do with programs? Then again, maybe TVs could be made where the parents could disable commercials with adult content.

It is a different world today, with many improvements. Then again, maybe we should not have made some of those changes. Maybe the world would be better. Maybe it would be safer if the kids all had two parents, one male, one female. Just maybe God knew what he was doing when he made it that way.

That for Which I am Thankful

Daily writing prompt
What are you most proud of in your life?

I am thankful for a family that provided for me and guidance in my early life. I am thankful for the Marines, which taught me many things that I have needed throughout my life. I am very grateful to be an American, where, at least for now, I have more rights and protection than any nation that ever existed.

Proud is a word I use very reluctantly. First, I have very little to be proud of. Secondly, it sorta gets in the way when I want to make a real self evaluation.

By the way, I do have a very extensive list of things I am truly thankful for. Certainly right at the top, is my salvation, which Jesus provided me, before I asked for it and totally without my help. I assure you, pride only delayed it, as at one time I believed I could do it on my own.

Work Stoppage

Daily writing prompt
What have you been working on?

As some of you are well aware, I have been working on the weeds in my back yard. They got out of hand when the China virus took hold of me, twice. Now, as I have the finish line in sight, I’m sick again, likely with the same stuff.

Why isn’t that so-called scientists, Fauci, in an orange jump suit and behind high walls? At the least, that cancel culture needs to cancel him.

Interesting Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s something most people don’t know about you?

If it is something most people don’t know, just maybe it is something I would just as soon most people don’t know. Sounds very much like an encouragement to get me to say or do something I rarely would want to do.

If anyone wants to know most of my history and beliefs, my posts will tell most of what I am or want to be. It’s better that I not repeat it here.

Good Fences

Daily writing prompt
What makes a good neighbor?

By the way, also, good window shades and maybe a good garage with a good door.

Actually, I shouldn’t make such rash generalized statements. I’ve mostly had good neighbors. Mostly I have not had any problems and they have actually helped a few times. In fact, if it weren’t for my neighbors, the two women ambulance attendants would have never gotten me in the ambulance when I broke my ankle. There is no way they would have been able to lift my 280 pound frame. And, incidentally, it didn’t help my confidence in them that they were busy reading instructions on how to install the air brace and pump it up.

One of my neighbors let us have their 60 pound dog, which helped scare the armed burglar away. I do miss the old dog but she was getting old and had a big bleeding tumor on her shoulder. One of her favorite things was crossing her paws on the arm of the chair and putting her chin on them.

I’ve lived here since the year Elvis died and I have seen a number of neighbors come and go. One night I heard a woman screaming. Once I realized she was out in the street, I went to see what was wrong. It turned out she just lost her, I guess about 7 mo baby. He died in the crib. They had just moved in a few weeks earlier. I never saw the couple again. They moved out a few days later.

I really wish I could have done something for them. I guess they did do something for me. I realized just how thankful I am that my two boys had so few problems, for which I will ever be grateful to the Lord.

The day after the 100 mph winds came through and toppled a couple of trees, keeping me from going to work, the teen next door came over to help and that was really great, considering I was still on crutches from my broken ankle. He didn’t ask if he could help. He just did it. I guess that is the sort of thing that makes a good neighbor too. I did make to work, though I was very late. It was spooky driving home though. No street lights or traffic lights. Really dark, even with the headlights.

Still, that good fence comes in pretty handy from time to time, especially when I can keep my dog from jumping it.

Right and Wrong

Daily writing prompt
What principles define how you live?

Though I frequently fail, I try to do what is wright and avoid doing that which is wrong. It is almost always that the easier, more desirable is wrong. If I realize I have done something wrong, I try to admit it, first to myself and then to others.

On the other hand, our president seems to have it backward. After doing what he knows is wrong, he refuses to admit, certainly not to himself.

Yard Work

Daily writing prompt
What have you been putting off doing? Why?

I was keeping up with it till this stupid virus. I got it, got over it and got it again. Took me a long time to build up my strength again. Truth be told, I am still not completely recovered. I don’t know if I ever will.

I managed to keep up with the front, more or less, but the weeds got almost 6 feet high in back. I work on it about an hour a day, as the heat permits. At 73, I just can’t stand up to the heat as I did.

Oddly my electric trimmer does most of the work but I do all the sweating. After an hour, I retreat inside and it takes well over an hour to recover. I huff and puff and drink the ice water.

About one more week, I will have the weeds under control, but there will be no grass till spring. Too late this year. Now, mostly dirt.

It’s the problem with weeds. They don’t care about reasons or excuses. You give them a chance…