April 30, 2013

Number two in the blog series for the Alaska trip. 9 days until we leave for Seattle. 11 days before sailing. Trying to glean as much info as possible from CC and FB posters. FB people are asleep! Can’t seem to get them to interact. When looking at profiles, they just aren’t FB posters at all for the most part. But the CC folks are a lively bunch so far.

Rethinking the dining option for 6 p.m. seating in traditional (private) seating. Many opinions on this subject about doing early or late seating. Early seems to be the most popular since it is full at this time. So I think we will stay with what we got based on my original research.

So, 98% of all details set. 99% of all buying done. A few small items left to do. Working on last minute items and issues, like how much cash to take with us. The costs can get a little scary as they build up. Very good that we got an early start on this and got things early and good prices and confirmed and paid for, with the exception of the car rental. Getting excited for sure. 

 

Trip of a Lifetime - Coming soon!

   I think we’ve all envisioned what it might be like to travel and experience places we’ve never been before. We fantasize about going to Europe, Australia, or Bora Bora, just to mention a few of the dream locations in the world. We’ve all had friends, relatives or co-workers who report back the fun they've had at locations where as they were bowled over with awe from their trip. My own kids have been and seen things in their young lives that I’ve only read or wondered about. From the great wall in China, to the outback in the great down under, to Europe and back. And even in the Americas my kids have traveled to places that make my own life seem boring.    

  As we age, our mind’s dreams of going to such locations grows farther and farther as our priorities change and as the old body just doesn’t have the same spring in the step of earlier years. I’ve always loved to travel. It never mattered what the destination was. Just leaving the comfort of normalcy for a weekender has always recharged my batteries. Always has. And hopefully always will.

   With my bride of 40 years we’ve been a few places when we’ve had the chance, that have provided wonderful and lasting memories. Our travels have taken us to and from Canada both in Ottawa for us both and Saskatchewan for my better half. On our joint trip we came back via Niagara Falls (you have to see it to believe it). We’ve taken time in both northern and southern California and we've seen some incredible sights. A few years back we had the opportunity to travel to the northeast, all the way to Maine. It included the wonderful drive through Tennessee, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and on through the Big Apple. It culminated in old New England. And the return down the Appalachian Trail was wonderful.  We've had shorter trips within our own little country, known as Texas.  From the tip top of the Panhandle down to the tip of Brownsville. And even from the southeast shores of the Gulf of Mexico to the dry and dusty El Paso. So even within the confines of the U.S. we’ve really been able to eat a good tasty slice of Americana pie.

   So it was with a great deal of amazement last fall that our sneaky kids brought us all together for a Sunday dinner where they presented us with a copy of a large check in an amount beyond belief for a cruise! We were shocked with the size of the gift and how they had been saving for years. The gift is to celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary, that happens later this year. The kids were thinking we might do Europe, Hawaii or some other exotic location, but my very first thought was it HAD to be Alaska!

   The great state of Alaska is still considered a pioneer and pristine destination. It seems to be the only place in North America (and maybe the world) that is virtually untouched by the blight of man. The only experience I have with the 50^th state is second hand knowledge from a friend who traveled there as a teenager and from my step dad who traveled there and stayed several weeks camping alone. He had the time of his life. The difficult adventure getting there and back was half of the adventure for him.

   We’ve all seen the photos, travel videos, documentaries, and even quirky sitcoms and dramas with the backdrop of beautiful Alaskan. The views are magnificent, even in photos. Ever been on vacation somewhere and snapped what you thought was an award winning photos only to have your viewers say nice. Nice? The photos and experience to me was WOW and I get a “nice” from someone that didn't go. They just weren’t “there” and don’t really understand so they? That scenario is probably played out with most vacation photos for everyone. I tend to think after seeing a number of YouTube videos that those really do capture more closely the sights and sounds of the adventure. The missing components from a sensory standpoint is actual sights, actual sounds, and actually feeling whatever weather elements and scents only captured while “really” being there. 

So very soon (less than 3 weeks) we will be embarking on something wonderful. I'll try and share as much of it with you, that I humanly can.

Charting Unknown Waters

OK. I just started my journey into the unknown. The uncharted waters of life in my sixties began yesterday. I guess I must have thought that yesterday I would have somehow “felt older” or that my memory would suddenly disappear into the abyss or something else drastic might happen. Well I’m still here today and alive and relatively well (for my age!).

I’m really enjoying life these days. In some ways I’m coasting down life’s highway. But in other regards I am still squeezing out from my resources of memory and experience to eek out a survival in the corporate world. Most days it is still an adventure for me. And other days it seems to have the word “drudgery” attached. But all in all, I’m still having the time of my life and getting the job done in the best way that I can.

I treat my own job and duties with the same sense of drive and determination as if it were my own personal business to care for. And it really is. Perhaps it's just me, or my generation, or my upbringing. I am hoping it is not just a generational thing that will someday be gone forever. Having this type of mindset should really be the norm and not the exception. Some day I really do hope that someone else will pick up my mantle and carry forward with the same sense of pride and care that I’ve come to enjoy and expect from myself. My faith has played a crucial role. 

Sometimes we sell short the generations behind us as being uncaring or lazy. As with any generation I’m sure there is some of that at play. But I see a bright future in the midst of some shaky and dark things in this world when I see innovators and those that are "up and coming". Our followers will certainly face new and different challenges in every aspect of life. But I look forward to seeing if what my generation modeled will be repeated or built upon, in new and exciting ways of innovation.

As I begin the fall of my life, my calendar and some days my body still screams that it really spring time. Away with the dead of winter. With anticipation we watch the explosion of newness in everything around us as the plants wake up and start singing. And with the new chorus comes color and beauty and tons more oxygen to fill our lungs again. The whole process is refreshing. Seasonal change is one of the wonders of life (and death). It’s a stark reminder that out of death can spring forth new life.

So even though my driver license now says I’m older, I refuse to fall prey to the dullness and negativity of getting old. I choose to be happy and fulfilled and complete. And out of my own “deadness” I look for new and green and colorful life as I travel toward the winter of my days.  

Trying to Understand the Liberal View

I'm trying to understand!

My upbringing in Dallas, Texas was smack dab in the middle of the so-called bible belt of the United States. The Bible belt was and is a microcosm with a diverse mix of cultural values that have been embraced for a number of generations in the south.

My wonderful parents instilled in me a basic understanding of right and wrong. Also instilled in me was a basic respect for authority at every level. I knew instinctively that I would always be subservient to someone, and many times that would be applied to my relationship with an employer or other authority over me that controlled some part of my life. I would be lying if I didn’t say some of the required submission to authority didn’t stick well in my craw and I mumbled about it every chance I could, at times. But the facts remain that I was and still am subject to the authority of greater powers than myself.
     

I think about a lot of different issues just in the course of any day. During our most recent election cycle I was deep in the mire of keeping abreast of every event or newsworthy tidbit related to the election. I listened to a lot of facts about both sides and sifted through the facts and disseminated fact from fiction the best I could, and as carefully as I could.
 

Although the candidate on the “right” side of the debate was not my first choice, I resigned myself to the realization that he was the better choice of the candidates we were given to vote for. My guy was not as conservative as I would have liked him to be, but he had faith and family values and virtues that I admire and embrace in my own life. But the rest is now history and we know the outcome didn’t appease the conservative voting block of the nation, of which I count myself a part of.

As I've surveyed what's happened in the past few years I’ve learned some invaluable lessons that I didn’t think I would ever be faced to learn. Like the fact that our society has changed. And in my own opinion these changes have happened in rapid succession in recent history, perhaps over the past 10 years. Having lived through the many changes of the 1960’s and the social revolution that took place then, I compare what’s happened in the past several years to the 60’s in some ways, yet in a deeper more drastic and dramatic way.

Until the past decade I didn’t really think of myself as a true conservative, until I realized what a large difference there is in my own values contrasted to the “new” way of thinking about everything. And, dang it, I find myself really as far right as you might be able to swing. This thinking is really deep seated and very dogmatic.
 

I’ve tried to think about and embrace, in some way, the thinking of those who have turned the apple cart up on its side to include morality, trustworthiness, and the overall view of fiscal matters at every level. I know that in every generation some of the accepted practices and beliefs are altered, toned down or even flat ignored and changed. Some of this is a generational cycle that bucks the norm, but at some point that pendulum swings back in the other direction, at least to some degree.

But from what I’ve observed (and this is open to debate) I think our society has been and continues to make significant changes to what I call the "liberal way". What troubles me greatly is the fact that there no longer appears to be middle ground. No serious debate occurs between both sides with any negotiable outcome, left or right. It seems that when the majority view (or voting block) leans to the left, there is a complete and utter ignoring of any alternative view or proposition toward the right. In previous generations this was called "stonewalling". But stonewalling happened so as to prove a point, so that middle ground could be achieved.


The atmosphere of our current age (liberalism) is that "they" will change things to "their" way of thinking and will not compromise or take any part in the "right’s" positions or view. They will not even consider them, whatsoever. If this is really true, we have a serious problem in our society that is not easily remedied. From the view of the right, it appears that we are on a collision course and even though every red flag, bell, whistle or other warning signal is being used, the course of our destinies will not be changed. It is utterly and ignorance of truth.
 

That is what I see. I would hope that this is only my view of things, but I’m afraid that we are perilously close to a full collapse in our society on every level. Unless the powers in control do not come to some place of discussion and serious debate and concession we will be forced to take a road that will not be a fun or smooth ride. Considering the great and many strides we’ve made as a people in every form of our society might be greatly diminished or destroyed. What Americans love and expect could be gone.




Think through and decide you own convictions. Give future generations a chance to carry on our precious liberties. Speak the truth to those you know and car about. Stand up and be counted. Vote in every election and vote for people who share your values and convictions. Don't waiver and give up. Stand strong and be counted.      

Destination - Unknown?

Destination – Unknown?

Ever think about the many ways that we get to where we are going? In our country we have the Appalachian Trail, the Chisholm Trail, Route 66, and many State and Interstate Highways that cris-cross virtually square mile of the country. These are normally well known highways and byways and most of them are clearly marked from one end to the other.

Some of the paths we take in our journeys are not even marked in any way. Some of them are way back in the woods somewhere and you might be the only one that knows the path without getting lost. But your previous experience leads you back out every time.

Sometimes we take paths without any knowledge of which way to go. Sometimes our trips may be made in stormy weather or in the dark of night. Many times we think we know the way, but we get lost and have to back track to find another way to go. Or we have to stop and ask for directions from someone who knows how to get there.

Many of our travels involve using a map, a GPS unit or even a navigation system on our phones to lead us to our exact destination. Without these tools most of us haven’t a clue about which direction to travel.

While getting ready for work this morning I thought about my own life. And I thought to myself, do I really know where I’m going and how I can get there? Not sure if this was a wake up call about my life or just another random crazy thought. But I am questioning myself now with this idea. Do I really have a planned destination? And if I do, do I possess the tools and directions in order to get there?

As we live out our lives, we can get so wrapped up in the daily grind of things that we may overlook basic planning of any kind. And if we don’t know where we’re even headed, we surely can’t get there can we? So may be the case in your own life.

What kind of man or woman do we aspire to be? Do we want to emulate a parent or some other admired person from your past? Becoming who we want to be requires, at least, a little planning. Without planning life may take you to destinations you don’t want to go. 

I challenge myself and anyone reading this to do a little self evaluation today. See if you are headed where you want to be. Want to be a better Dad or Mom? Want to aspire to something good or great? Want to be the top salesperson? Decide who you are today. Plan out your route. Make the necessary course corrections to lead you out of darkness or storm. Ask others for help in your journey. Don’t be afraid to admit you’ve lost your way or that you don’t have a map or guide for directions.

Others before us have traveled many roads. It is wise to lean on the experiences (and failures) of others to help us on our own journeys.

Finally, being a person of faith, I would be remiss without telling you that our God has a plan and purpose for your life and wants to give us the destination location and directions on how to get there. He can lead you on your journey. He’s already given us directions and the guide. He’s taken others before us on their respective journeys. Some have gotten lost on their way and had to back track too. Some of them even knew the way to go and took a different path. Those successes and failures are recorded for our benefit in the book we call the Bible.

The Bible may seem like an ancient and outdated map to you. But as you open it and read and meditate on it, the author can and will show you where you want to end up in your journey. And he will surely make sure you have ample directions and signs pointing you in the right direction.

Be a sojourner. Ask for help along the way. Watch out for unplanned detours. On your journey be sure and stop and take time to plan and evaluate from time to time to make sure you are going the right way.

I sincerely hope you find your destination.