Another Money Pit

From a prospective 'consumer,' I once had a very exciting life...you could determine that by the mail I used to get back in those younger exciting days. I got endless mail and phone calls offering great deals on properties, automobile deals, vacation plans, college loans, investment arrangements and endless career considerations.

These days, sellers have a bead on me; my mail suggests something far more different. First, they know that I DON'T work and they speculate that parts of my body WON'T work. Hear me out. I receive weekly discount offers on Flomax and Viagra while the hearing aid hustlers send me birthday cards. Marketing agents at every assisted-living home in three counties contact me weekly with fresh proposals. A diabetic supplies company pleads with me to allow them to deliver my supplies to my front door at a reduced cost. Fairlawn Cemetery keeps sending me burial and cremation plans.

Speaking of mail, we will never use the amount of return labels my wife has amassed from her contributions to the American Heart Association, Alzheimer's Association, Diabetes Foundation, March of Dimes, St. Jude's Cancer Care, MS and scores of others. I suggested to my wife that she needs to re-think her giving to all these groups...we'll run out of money before we run out of good causes.

I said these 'sellers' know me. I GET Scooter Store and Lift Chair mailings once a month. Speaking of frequent solicitors, no one has been more dogged than some gal named 'Rachael,' who represent some credit card company. I mean this lady telephones me three times a week. Of course the police and firemen put me on a regular guilt trip begging for financial assistance. After all these folks risk their lives to protect me and they have good reason to expect some help.

I feel badly that I did not make more money during my working years. I sure didn't think so many people would be depending on my retirement funds.

I'll do my own Figurin'.

I sure did enjoy life back in the fifties and sixties when we had to use our brains and 'figure' things out ourselves. Today when something happens on the national scene and before you can say, "Jackie Chan..." some 'expert' explains the 'why's' and 'how comes.' I don't even get a chance to guess wrong.

I can be watching a sporting event attempting to figure out strategies and Dadgummit if one of those analyst guys doesn't spoil the moment by telling me how I should 'see' it. The guy ruins the moment and destroys the fun. Besides that, chances are very good that the analyst is a mouthpiece for ball club ownership as is the case with my St. Louis Baseball Cardinals' analysts.

On the political front, I trudge through newspapers, do research attempting to gain some insight when lo' and behold the MSNBC  pundits explain it away with a simple sentence...
" It's the Republicans' fault. Of course, if I happen to be watching Fox News, that fella explains how the Democrats crapped to close to the house. All my challenging fun is wiped clean.

Far too many outside slants being offered these days. Makes a mind go lazy. I always thought Grandpa E. V. Bennett had a sound approach to these matters. He'd often say, "Let me sit a spell and ponder on that a bit."

Don't Take Advantage

My wife tells me that I can oft-times be 'unforgiving.' I disagree with that assessment. I do agree that I am quick to dismiss people who disrespect me or wrong me. I have my reasons. I fear that a complete acceptance of peoples' mistreatment will categorize me with the 'meek' who are in line to inherit the earth and I surmise that the self-centered masses diminishes the earth's value and I wish not to inherit junk.

I am an idealistic, incurable romantic. Teacher preparation did not make me this way; I was 'cut' and nurtured in that fashion and thus gravitated to a teaching/coaching calling. During my journey, I have attempted to embrace three of Christ's admonishments: (1) My Lord tells me that if I NOT acknowledge Him before men He will NOT acknowledge me before His Father who is in heaven. (2) He tells me, "That which you do for the least of my people, you do also for Me. (3) My Savior also instructs me to 'turn the second cheek if anybody strikes me on my first cheek.' I truly embrace these directives from Christ...admitting on shortfall:  I do believe there is a limit to the number of times you allow others to 'strike' you...if that was not the case, God would have given us more cheeks.

I wish to believe what others 'tell' me...but I believe more quickly that which I see others do.

A Comment to Both Sides.

In the Presidential election aftermath, I would tell my Democrat colleagues to stop the finger-pointing bellyaching. It is sound reasoning that suggests we learn and grow more in setbacks and defeat than victory. In those times, we give a nod to the victor with a personal resolve to examine, learn, re-group and make modifications. In my 'world' we spoke of 'making adjustments.'

To my Republican friends, let me remind you of the words spoken by the great legendary Green Bay Packers' football coach, Vince Lombardi: "When you get into the end zone act like you've been there before. Humility is a wonderful virtue.

A personal acknowledgement:
             The more I 'ponder' that which I control, the more I realize the little time needed to 'ponder.'

Can't be Defensive Enough.

My wife, Gerry was discharged from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. She has broken ribs on her left side, a deeply bruised left lung and a fracture at the tip of her left shoulder. She will consult with an orthopedic surgeon next week.

She was most fortunate and blessed. A young woman ran a red light and 't-boned' the driver's side of our 2015 Toyota Avalon. The point of impact was directly at the driver's door 'hinges;' obviously had the impact been a couple feet back, her body would have taken an even more direct hit.

 We are both appreciative of the many concerns and continued prayers for her recovery. Gerry and I are well aware of folks who face far more dire circumstances this day than do we.

You all have a great day and 'look both ways!'

Day Off

My wife was involved in an auto accident yesterday and remains in the hospital under observation. Therefore, my attention has been on her and keeping our children informed.

I hope to share a post with you soon.

Thanks

And That's My Answer

This past Monday, November 7, was the official IHSA boys' basketball practice start date. On Tuesday, November 8, a prep sports' writer telephoned to interview me. The scribe asked a few questions about  the Annual Decatur Thanksgiving basketball tournament that I coordinate and then threw in a personal inquiry. His question: "Mel, now that you've been out of coaching for 15- years is there anything you still miss?" Absolutely. It never goes away.

I miss not 'having' a team. By that I mean, I don't have those players' names in my head always thinking of line up combinations and specific offensive/defensive alignments. But...the thing that I miss the most is bringing kids together from a wide range of experiences, attitudes, beliefs and expectations and then molding those different personalities into a 'unit.'

Some of those players were living on welfare others know a life of affluence. Some players knew the comforts and security of a family unit while other kids knew only the dysfunctional life of divorce, abuse and addictions. Some players came from homes with strong religious foundations while some were void of any support systems.

Regardless of the individual player circumstances those players come to the gym. They all share a love for a game...the game of basketball. Some were unselfish by nature others were self-centered with desires and personal gratifying-expectations. It became my charge, my challenge to create a team culture that made everyone responsible for one another, trust th coach and adopt true selflessness.

I will always miss that wonderful opportunity, which I found in a 37-year coaching career.