I recently read a news report out of Nampo, Idaho. It seems that Nampo has a serious Pigeon poop problem. The birds are crapping all over the downtown buildings. The city's facilities manager is not only frustrated with roof repairs and painting needs, he is concerned about the poop's bacteria getting into buildings' ventilation systems causing health issues.
On a personal note, I have bird feeders all my backyard. I enjoy 'watching birds.' That said, I'm on record telling y'all that chickens are the nastiest creatures on earth and you know what they say..
'birds of a feather?'
I don't have a solution for the Idaho community but I would remind them that 'S#*t Happens.' Remember when you were in school and forgot to do homework? The class was about to end without the teacher 'asking' for the work to be turned in when some nerd-butt said, "Teacher, do you want our homework?" S#*t Happens. And you readers can relate to this: Anytime you are in a hurry you can count on a slower person to be in front of you whether it's in a checkout line or traffic. 'S#*t Happens.
Years ago, I had a brother-in-law who worked to hone his comedy-routine. He had a unique scheme to land a stand up segment on Johnny Carson's 'Tonight Show.' At some cost, he had a homing-pigeon trainer train a bird to fly from East St. Louis to New York where The Tonight Show aired. The pigeon would have a note attached to its leg. The note would give the name and telephone number of my brother-in-law. Great idea, eh? I thought so!
Two weeks after the pigeon left East St. Louis for New York, my brother-in-law's phone rang; it was a farmer from Paducah, Kentucky wanting to know if my brother-in-law was missing a pigeon.
The moral to this story is a simple one: You can enjoy watching birds, you just can't trust them!
'S#*t Happens'
(Touch)
Little Jimmy Dickens
Monday, May 8, 2017
Sunday, May 7, 2017
When It Counts...Be Remembered
Sunday, May 7, 2017, Rejoice in this day and The Lord's gift as you listen carefully to these words.
(Touch)
Brook Benton
(Touch)
Brook Benton
Friday, May 5, 2017
Fleeting Time
I believe it is human nature to be impatient. What surprises me, personally, is I seem to grow more impatient as I grow older. I thought the youthful years were the impatient-years and with aging-maturity, I would become mellow with greater patience. Actually, I believe I understand why I find it difficult to 'wait-on-life,' but that stated later.
The late baseball great, Jackie Robinson said something that resonated with me through my life's journey. Robinson said, "Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect." For me, I was always impatient and tried to be honest. I would admit to wishing for respect but respect was secondary to people getting on board with support or getting out of the way with their hurdles.
As a high school basketball coach my primary focus was on players and 'The Program.' If I could anchor a sustainable 'program' then those players, coaches and fans WOULD be well-served!
Thank God a 'perfect storm' brewed in Jacksonville with administrators such as Bob Crowe, Fred Osborn, Joe Dewees and John Conklin all of whom recognized the value in a number of program anchors proposed and more importantly had an understanding for my impatience to implement. Those particular program anchors will serve players and fans long after my last sunset.
Today, I try my best to serve the Decatur School District and the Decatur Community with coordinating a extravagant high school basketball event at Thanksgiving. I am most fortunate for those business leaders who share a desire and passion to sustain one of the States best basketball tournaments. I also try to serve my Church with small efforts. Sometimes, I find the processes move very slowly and I fight my impatience demon.
Look, I'm seventy-eight. Don't you know it's becoming more of an issue? The sand is running faster and faster down that hour glass. That my friends, begs impatience!
(Touch)
Simon & Garfunkel
The late baseball great, Jackie Robinson said something that resonated with me through my life's journey. Robinson said, "Many people resented my impatience and honesty, but I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect." For me, I was always impatient and tried to be honest. I would admit to wishing for respect but respect was secondary to people getting on board with support or getting out of the way with their hurdles.
As a high school basketball coach my primary focus was on players and 'The Program.' If I could anchor a sustainable 'program' then those players, coaches and fans WOULD be well-served!
Thank God a 'perfect storm' brewed in Jacksonville with administrators such as Bob Crowe, Fred Osborn, Joe Dewees and John Conklin all of whom recognized the value in a number of program anchors proposed and more importantly had an understanding for my impatience to implement. Those particular program anchors will serve players and fans long after my last sunset.
Today, I try my best to serve the Decatur School District and the Decatur Community with coordinating a extravagant high school basketball event at Thanksgiving. I am most fortunate for those business leaders who share a desire and passion to sustain one of the States best basketball tournaments. I also try to serve my Church with small efforts. Sometimes, I find the processes move very slowly and I fight my impatience demon.
Look, I'm seventy-eight. Don't you know it's becoming more of an issue? The sand is running faster and faster down that hour glass. That my friends, begs impatience!
(Touch)
Simon & Garfunkel
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Worth a Shot
Last Saturday after grandson, Colin's Western Michigan University graduation, Colin's mother (our daughter Dawn), his father, (son-in-law, Shawn) along with Nana and Boompa enjoyed a long visit as we luncheoned at a Kalamazoo restaurant. It was a most enjoyable couple of hours.
Conversation topics ranged from Colin's post graduation employment to a variety of current events. I'm not sure how the 'grandparent-old-age-housing' subject came about but it did. Oh, I do remember.
I was lobbying my son-in-law to consider purchasing a home in the Sunshine State of Florida and his in-laws, Mel and Gerry would move there and take care of the place until his retirement; I added the incentive that,we would vacate the premises anytime he wished to vacation at the site. Before you jump to some conclusion hear my post script theory. I explained to my son-in-law, Shawn that this arrangement would likely add years to his wife's parents' lives and thus postpone a time when one or both of us (Nana and Boompa) have to go live with our kids. (Note: I'm hedging my bet that my kids will avoid the nursing home and agree to rotate the old folks from house to house.
Immediately, my wife spoke up and adamantly stated, "I'm not living with any of my kids, I'm going to a nursing home." I countered with an opposite opinion, "I'm living with one of my kids but I'd like to delay that by moving to a warmer climate for a few more years." Hey, every body's got be somewhere!
(Touch)
Brook Benton
Conversation topics ranged from Colin's post graduation employment to a variety of current events. I'm not sure how the 'grandparent-old-age-housing' subject came about but it did. Oh, I do remember.
I was lobbying my son-in-law to consider purchasing a home in the Sunshine State of Florida and his in-laws, Mel and Gerry would move there and take care of the place until his retirement; I added the incentive that,we would vacate the premises anytime he wished to vacation at the site. Before you jump to some conclusion hear my post script theory. I explained to my son-in-law, Shawn that this arrangement would likely add years to his wife's parents' lives and thus postpone a time when one or both of us (Nana and Boompa) have to go live with our kids. (Note: I'm hedging my bet that my kids will avoid the nursing home and agree to rotate the old folks from house to house.
Immediately, my wife spoke up and adamantly stated, "I'm not living with any of my kids, I'm going to a nursing home." I countered with an opposite opinion, "I'm living with one of my kids but I'd like to delay that by moving to a warmer climate for a few more years." Hey, every body's got be somewhere!
(Touch)
Brook Benton
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
A Fool Like Me
I absolutely hate it when that happens. Oh, excuse me, I assumed that you knew of that which I speak because at the time it happened I felt as if the world was watching me! Yesterday afternoon, I did a post office stop and then went to the garden shop at Walmart. I left the garden area cashier pushing a cart filled with flowers, mulch, potting soil and two large hanging ferns. As soon as I exited the doorway, I realized that I was clueless as to where I had parked my automobile.
As I began weaving between autos going from aisle to aisle it started to rain. Making matters worse two neighbors drove past me and waved. I quickened my pace to give the appearance I knew where I was going and in a hurry to get out of the rain. The reality was I did not know if I was going towards or away from my car. It was during that faster pace when one of the ferns fell from the cart. A homeless fella begging at a nearby curb ran to help me pick up my fern. I reached in my jacket pocket and pulled out a dollar bill, which was change from my post office visit and handed it to the guy. He then said, "You want me to help you find your car?" Crap, this guy has been watching me.
I finally located my vehicle and quickly slipped behind the wheel and departed. While driving home, I thought of other moments that perhaps equals that embarrassment of losing your car in the Walmart parking lot. I recall standing up from my coaching chair during a game and asking for a time out only to realize my team didn't have the ball...that's dumb. I remember coming out of a Theater's restroom with my 'fly open.' The bad thing about that incident was being told by a total stranger that I was not zipped, I looked down to notice part of my shirt tail was protruding from the open fly. That'll make your face flush.
Then there was the time our school's coaching staff was going through a CPR certification class. You know the procedures involving chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The day after, I noticed my upper lip was bruised. My goodness, I accept the fact that I am intense and passionate about challenges but holy cow 'it was a dummy.'
(Touch)
Everybody Plays The Fool
As I began weaving between autos going from aisle to aisle it started to rain. Making matters worse two neighbors drove past me and waved. I quickened my pace to give the appearance I knew where I was going and in a hurry to get out of the rain. The reality was I did not know if I was going towards or away from my car. It was during that faster pace when one of the ferns fell from the cart. A homeless fella begging at a nearby curb ran to help me pick up my fern. I reached in my jacket pocket and pulled out a dollar bill, which was change from my post office visit and handed it to the guy. He then said, "You want me to help you find your car?" Crap, this guy has been watching me.
I finally located my vehicle and quickly slipped behind the wheel and departed. While driving home, I thought of other moments that perhaps equals that embarrassment of losing your car in the Walmart parking lot. I recall standing up from my coaching chair during a game and asking for a time out only to realize my team didn't have the ball...that's dumb. I remember coming out of a Theater's restroom with my 'fly open.' The bad thing about that incident was being told by a total stranger that I was not zipped, I looked down to notice part of my shirt tail was protruding from the open fly. That'll make your face flush.
Then there was the time our school's coaching staff was going through a CPR certification class. You know the procedures involving chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The day after, I noticed my upper lip was bruised. My goodness, I accept the fact that I am intense and passionate about challenges but holy cow 'it was a dummy.'
(Touch)
Everybody Plays The Fool
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Music...A Great Anti-Depressant
Many years ago, a basketball fan asked me if I ever fought depression. I told the fan, "I get depressed but I head it off before it becomes a crippling negative." His question was, "Do you mean you take antidepressants?" "Hell no, I don't take pills. I lock myself in my office at home and listen to anti-depressant music."
My goodness how shall I count the number of things that can possibly depress a high school basketball coach? How about a 1-23 season? How depressing when on one of your best ever teams your 6'8" all-state center dislocates his shoulder just before playoffs? Would perhaps a person running for the school board to get the coach fired be depressing? Maybe, just maybe a coach might get depressed when a hired police guard shows at your work place to protect you because there has been a threat on your life.
Well after sharing what must be shared with my wife and keeping it ALL from your children, I just pushed on never showing any signs of concern. You prepare your team day in and day out never quitting on them for one moment and never showing signs of distress. Then during those late night hours when sleep might be elusive, I would head downstairs to embrace my music...
"Got to Make The Best Of a Bad Situation"...................Gladys Knight
"Back Stabbers".............................................................The O'Jays
"Bridge Over Troubled Waters".....................................Simon & Garfunkel
"Imagine".................................................................. ....John Lennon
Then there is this one by the late Frankie Laine......
(Touch)
Frankie Laine
I Believe
My goodness how shall I count the number of things that can possibly depress a high school basketball coach? How about a 1-23 season? How depressing when on one of your best ever teams your 6'8" all-state center dislocates his shoulder just before playoffs? Would perhaps a person running for the school board to get the coach fired be depressing? Maybe, just maybe a coach might get depressed when a hired police guard shows at your work place to protect you because there has been a threat on your life.
Well after sharing what must be shared with my wife and keeping it ALL from your children, I just pushed on never showing any signs of concern. You prepare your team day in and day out never quitting on them for one moment and never showing signs of distress. Then during those late night hours when sleep might be elusive, I would head downstairs to embrace my music...
"Got to Make The Best Of a Bad Situation"...................Gladys Knight
"Back Stabbers".............................................................The O'Jays
"Bridge Over Troubled Waters".....................................Simon & Garfunkel
"Imagine".................................................................. ....John Lennon
Then there is this one by the late Frankie Laine......
(Touch)
Frankie Laine
I Believe
Monday, May 1, 2017
Bullying
It is disturbing to read or hear reports of youthful bullying. This practice, however is as old as modern civilization. That said, it would appear that the twenty-first century social-media indulgence makes the sting of bullying greater for the victim; an Internet negative comment is transmitted to the world in a blink of the eye. I would suspect that much of the driving cause behind one individual intimidating another individual is anchored in simple jealousy.
Whereas I do not have the expertise to explain this ugly and hurtful practice, which victimizes and costs young lives, I do recall a personal experience that was undoubtedly bullying. At a young age, I remember becoming the target of negative verbal comments and ostracism from that which had been my 'soicial group.' When you're 11-12 years old, those peer-group memberships seem to be your heartbeat. I responded with hurt feelings but resolved to embrace the very thing that I knew was the basis of the jealousy...sports' abilities. I pursued the sports not the group. Today, I would charge every youngster to not allow others to define them through coericion.
Just as I hear most bullying victims have lingering scars, I also accept the reality of scars. I spent a lifetime serving others without desiring many close friendships. Stated more succinctly, I love people and wish to do what I can for people but I don't trust people. A thirty-nine year high school coaching career would have never happened had an not embraced that modus operandi.
There is good news...My wife makes many friends her husband has few selected inner-circle friends.
Look, my story is not abnormal; it is repeated millions of times daily across this nation.
(Touch)
Jerry Butler
Whereas I do not have the expertise to explain this ugly and hurtful practice, which victimizes and costs young lives, I do recall a personal experience that was undoubtedly bullying. At a young age, I remember becoming the target of negative verbal comments and ostracism from that which had been my 'soicial group.' When you're 11-12 years old, those peer-group memberships seem to be your heartbeat. I responded with hurt feelings but resolved to embrace the very thing that I knew was the basis of the jealousy...sports' abilities. I pursued the sports not the group. Today, I would charge every youngster to not allow others to define them through coericion.
Just as I hear most bullying victims have lingering scars, I also accept the reality of scars. I spent a lifetime serving others without desiring many close friendships. Stated more succinctly, I love people and wish to do what I can for people but I don't trust people. A thirty-nine year high school coaching career would have never happened had an not embraced that modus operandi.
There is good news...My wife makes many friends her husband has few selected inner-circle friends.
Look, my story is not abnormal; it is repeated millions of times daily across this nation.
(Touch)
Jerry Butler
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