Endless Winter

I've always loved The Beach Boys.  Having never been a "California Girl" or ridden in a "Little Deuce Coupe," you'd think that I'd have no appreciation for their songs, but the danceable beat has always lured me in.  I've even seen The Beach Boys perform live in concert -- twice.  Recently, I couldn't help but think of The Beach Boys and their album, "Endless Summer," while grousing to a friend about February in Wisconsin and the sense of endless winter.  And I haven't been alone.  The latest storms only made the main topic of conversation the weather and the sincere hope that winter would be over soon.  We Wisconsinites are resilient souls.  While others to our south complain of everything grinding to a halt when three inches of snow fall, we Wisconsinites consider that to be a "light dusting," barely an issue for travel at all.  Despite our resiliency, I think a bit of cabin fever may have set in toward the end of last month, causing us all to crave (if even for a brief time) a bit of endless summer.

Picture Perfect

I was so relieved when a good friend revealed to me recently that she rarely watches movies and doesn't even derive great joy from doing so, for I'm rather in the same camp.  If I see one movie per year, it's a big deal, and it's usually what my husband Larry refers to (with a wink and a smile) as "one of those women's movies."  I would much prefer to see live theater or attend a concert than sit through a two- to three-hour movie in a darkened theater in a comfortable seat tilted back just so.  Such an arrangement only invites a nap.  With that confession, it was all the stranger that I would be drawn to watching the Academy Awards recently.  But, I turned on the TV, tuned in to the awards show and watched star after star receive his or her award for the year's greatest acting, etc.  I tend to like watching award shows, even if it's for things I know almost nothing about.  And that particular Sunday evening was no exception.

End of Your Comfort Zone

It seems that every magazine or book I pick up these days has an article or passage about change, trying something new, embracing your passions, getting out of a rut, reinventing yourself, all in the pursuit of happiness and a sense of purpose.  It might be my age, but I've been devoting a lot of thinking to such things lately. Perhaps my seeing so many references to these topics isn't just happenstance.  I believe that we have some kind of ability to attract what we are seeking.  And I must be seeking answers to questions I carry at a deeper level. I read a magazine article about a man who decided that he had reached the stage in his life where it was important to give back, so he had reinvented himself to do just that, leaving his comfort zone behind, taking a risk that would give him renewed vigor, satisfaction and rewards of the everlasting, but not tangible, kinds.  I don't find it easy to leave my comfort zone too often, so I have great respect for those who don't just dip a toe into uncharted waters, but seriously take the plunge.  It makes me wonder just what kind of a plunge that would be for me.

Roots Run Deep

I sound so old saying this, but modern technology still amazes me.  I was reminded again of how much electronic communication has changed our lives while talking with a friend who has become acquainted with relatives in another country, thanks to social media.  He is busy connecting with these people who barely share the same language, getting acquainted, learning about the ties that bind them through mutual ancestors.  Thanks to this mode of communication, he and his wife are hoping to make a trip to see these relatives, to learn more about their expansive family tree.  It got me to thinking about other amazing stories I've heard recently, primarily due to the act of my writing a history book for the hospital where I work.  The ability to reminisce is powerful, for it seems to draw an even stronger link between people and their loved ones who have now passed on, erasing time between today and their cherished memories.  I believe we all wish to belong, to understand where we fit into the continuum, to have roots that run deep.

Saturday Night Dance Party

I am faithful at exercising, for it makes me feel healthier and stronger.  I especially love to be outside, taking a long walk. At this time of year, however, I don't get outside as much as I'd like except to bundle up and scoot as fast as I can to and from my car.  By early March, I can't wait for the weather to cooperate so I can walk outside.  Throughout the winter, I exercise indoors.  It's OK, but it gets a tad boring.  With the addition of the converter boxes on our ancient televisions, we now get channels we hadn't received before, including a series of music channels.  One Saturday evening, while spinning around the dial, I landed on a few that provided music from the 1960s and 1970s.  Pretty soon, I couldn't stop myself.  I was out of the comfort of my big leather chair and dancing to the music.  Now, when I'm bored with my indoor exercise routine, I simply flip on one of the channels and start dancing.  A little music, a little dance makes the time fly by.  Now, every night can be a Saturday Night Dance Party.

Thinking and Wondering

While browsing Facebook recently, someone posted a quote attributed to Dr. Seuss:  "Thinking and wondering, wondering and thinking."  I couldn't help but be reminded of myself in that quote.  I've been doing a lot of thinking and wondering, wondering and thinking lately.  I have been using my quiet time, my alone time to ponder great adventures that have been coming my way and how to keep pursuing my passions with more gusto, vigor and persistence so that such adventurous opportunities keep coming my way.  Such answers don't usually come readily or easily to me.  They require thinking and wondering, wondering and thinking on my part, sometimes for several days before I come to an answer.  What I've learned is that, sometimes, I simply need to let go of my thinking and wondering in order to tumble to just the right solution.  So, perhaps my personal version of the quote would be, "Thinking and wondering, wondering and thinking, then letting go, relaxing and listening to that deep inner voice for just the right answer."

Good Daddies

Ah!  March is here!  A new month, time to think about spring, youth, beauty and hope.  Recently, I had the opportunity to think about youth, hope and goodness as I was engaged in conversation with two young dads.  While they talked comfortably about their careers and the state of their businesses, I found that they were equally comfortable talking with me and each other about the joys and woes of potty-training their children.  Their words were spoken with ease, grace and a good dose of humor, as they shared how they urged their young children to move into the next stage of maturity and the adventures they encountered doing so.  Some people have rough edges, where their words and demeanors reveal the hurt, disappointment and anger they have lived, but these two good daddies were genuine, kind, caring, smooth spirits (as are their lovely wives).  I have more assurance in the hope of spring and the hope of the world, knowing that there are such loving fathers bringing up children of today who will be the good daddies and mommies of tomorrow.