Wait a minute, what’s this? They’re slowing down and waiting for me. Gee guys, you didn’t really have to wait, it would have been alright for you to go on without me. We are now moving on down the five mile stretch before the road splits doing about 55 MPH, neck and neck. This calls for cool cunning now. Just wish I had some. But then an idea forms in my mind. We’re going to lick these guys because they are not coming home with me! We are about a mile from the split when I punch it again. I’m doing 130 MPH when once again I hear that air shattering roar. Here they come and they are flying. I’m headed for the bridge approach when two missiles blow by me, one on each side.  I hit the breaks hard and pull left to the Belt Parkway. They have long passed the point of changing their direction; their going to Bay Ridge. I slow down and put it into “meander gear” for the rest of the ride home. As the 4 Season’s song goes, “Oh, what a night!”

Ps 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. NIV

Blessed Lord, guide our feet on the pathway of righteousness and help us to see the work of the Kingdom assigned to us. Help us to succeed in the missions you send us on; in our Savior’s precious name. Amen.

Today is my birthday!  I am sure we have all had that realization on one of three hundred and sixty five days that make up a year (yes, 366 on leap years) . I am also certain as we get older that we have mixed emotions about this.  We thank God we made it another year. We wonder where the additional pains have come from although that often indicates that we are alive one more day.  We wonder why certain events happened in this year past and we wonder what our next year holds for us and our love ones – we worry about the bad and hope to God for the good.  

Summer, for some, is a wonderful time of year. Not for me. I’m a Spring or Fall kind of guy. I hate the heat; I hate the hot sun beating on my head; I hate the humidity; my eyes start to run from allergies I guess; well you get the picture. One thing I will say about summer is that we add two more rooms on to our living space from the late Spring to early Fall time. In the front of the house is a porch which is great to get out of the sun or when it is raining. In the back is a deck which is surrounded by flowers and good smells. We very much like going out there and enjoy an evening cocktail (or two).  

That's what my wife and I just celebrated.  We went to the same hotel, the Garden City Hotel (jewel of Long Island) where we spent our wedding night; however some of the things we did just were not the same.  On our first trip, we used valet parking; this trip we used handicapped parking.  On the first go around we spoke of love and fun; this time we spoke about medical tests and drugs, primarily pain killers.  25 years ago we looked at the dining room in awe; 25 years later we wanted to know how close were the bathrooms.   

We speak of living the golden years; the only gold going on here is our constant urinating.  In those years, we had to do something stupid to feel pain; today, getting up is enough.  Lest I sound like I am complaining, I must say that the wisdom gained in these years serve us well.  Friends that we have made in these years are to be cherished.  Memories in these years have been wonderful (if we can only remember them).  Well, all in all, it ain't so bad.  If you are young, I recommend you stay that way.      

My mother's favorite statement when life got tough.  Looking through the eyes of scripture, it is saying that when God closes one door He opens another.  In these down times, these are words to hearken to.  For many of us, especially after going through a "downsizing", we find that it is time for a career change.  After all, did not our President say it was a time for change?  I am sure when we were listening to those words on the campaign trail, we were not expecting unemployment, underwater mortgages, and worse.

 As our nation moves to the changes in industry, banking, brokerage and all of the many facets of our economy, we must move to changes in our own lives. A new career, a new home, and a smaller car maybe the things that we need to change in our lives. Saving not spending is the language of the day. There are opportunities available to assist us in these changes and we need to take advantage of them. 

Faith is a most important component in our lives today. Without faith, we are left to our own devices and if you are like I am, that is a very scary proposition. Seek out what God has in store for you. If you let Him, He will put you where you need to be. After all, could it be worse than where you are now?

What a wonderful state.  Just letting your mind go and see where you end up.  I'm not talking about sleep dreaming, I'm talking about good ol' day dreaming.  Many a fine idea has been developed while you sit in your favorite chair and let your mind waunder.  For me, that chair is a recliner; you know, get your feet up, head back, eyes closed and away you go.  You can soar above the clouds, fly into valleys and canyons, stand before an ocean or put your back against a big old redwood tree and just relax.  Not to much or you'll go from day dreaming to sleep dreaming and those we tend not to remember.   If your as old as I am, the next thing you realize is that you have to go to the bathroom and there goes the dreamin'.  Till next time!