I’ve been in Wyoming almost 3 weeks, and so far life is very good. My job is all I’d hoped for, and I’d forgotten just how much I love the Rocky Mountains. It’s a little humbling to start a job at which I have to learn where in the store to find thousands of hardware items. Fortunately, I wear a radio and my co-workers are very patient. You would think they’d grow tired of hearing, “Can someone tell me where to find…?” But, they just keep telling me not to worry, that I’ll get it soon enough. Even the customers are great. When I tell them I’m still trying to learn the store, many say, “Don’t worry. I’ll help you find it,” or “I’ve come here for years, and I still don’t know it.” Do you have any idea how many PVC fittings there are? And that’s just one small aisle. Truthfully, I think I’m getting the hang of it a little more each day.

I never really thought I’d like small-town America as a full-time lifestyle, but I’ve been wrong before, and I was wrong on this one.  The more I get settled in, the more I like it.  Check out my little slide show, and you’ll see some of the reasons I like it here.

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I’m back. My special thanks to those who let me know I was missed. About 10 days ago, I came home after a week on the road. I had been on duty and behind the wheel far more hours than the law allows, but I needed the job and told myself this is what I had to do. I got to the yard about 12:30 AM and told my boss I was going home for at least 34 hours as required by Dept. of Transportation regulations. He told me I had to drive to New York later that morning. We argued, and long story short, I no longer work for that company. When I was in driving school, there was one message we heard every day, “The most important piece of equipment on the truck is your license.” We were reminded daily not to do anything to jeopardize that license. I’m a slow learner, but I usually get it eventually.

So, what happens next?  If you know me, you know I have few close friends, but the people I call by that name are the best.  Despite what Facebook says, you don’t get to be a friend be clicking on an icon.  One of my friends is Larry.  Larry and I go back about 20 years to a very different time and place.  Today, he lives in Wyoming and he wants me to come there.  He’s confident that I can have a better future there, and I’m ready for the next great adventure.  So, on the 30 of April, I’m going to pack Maxwell (my ’98 Olds) and head north.  I’ll be visiting some other great friends in Denver and Longmont along the way.  I’ve already registered with the state job service office and applied for several jobs in Wyoming.  I think this is going to be good.

I promised myself, and indirectly each of you, that I would use this blog to share lessons learned as I’ve journeyed through life.  So, now comes the question, “What have I learned?”  First, I got to drive several times between Texas and the Northeast.  I learned that this country is still magnificent.  It is so beautiful to see the mist rising from the meadows of Virginia and Tennessee at sunrise.  The hills of Pennsylvania are awesome.  The Mississippi River is huge.  Every time I crossed it, I was more awed than the time before.  And the people — If I had to lump all Americans into a single category and label it, I would say Americans are basically ‘good’.  If I had a question, it seemed there was always someone nearby who was more than happy to answer it.  If I had a problem, someone else had been there before and was glad to lend a hand.  We can argue all day about the good or bad of America’s government and institutions, but the American people have not changed in 250 years.  They’ll still help a stranger if they can, and offer a kind word if they can’t.

Perhaps between now and next November, it would be good for us all to remember that America is not her government or her politicians.  America is Americans; each man, woman and child plays a part in making us who we are.  And when we cut through all the politics and social commentary, we are still a good and decent people.  Yes, I think I’m going to be just fine in Wyoming.  Stay tuned,  the next chapter is going to be the best one so far.

For anyone who has ever enjoyed the awesome responsibility and great privilege of teaching others, this one’s for you.

If you’ve ever wanted to make a greater impact and empowering influence in your world, I hope you’ll enjoy today’s movie as a gentle reminder about the one thing that can transform any situation in literally 30 seconds or less:  compassion.  What a little third grader says to his teacher at Christmas time instantly bypasses the head and goes straight to the heart of any issue, no matter what.  You can re-energize your personal relationships and workplace culture – and inspire greater loyalty – by remembering to put into practice the message of this classic, time honored story.  Make sure to turn on your speakers before you watch it, and according to Sam Brandt … “You should warn people to get their hankies ready before the movie!”  Walter Wood writes … “I am a 6 ft. 2in., 250-pound construction worker and this short, but profound, film actually brought tears to my eyes.  It made me realize that I must be more mindful when I’m training my apprentices.”  Each time I watch it I feel inspired to make an even bigger difference by remembering to put compassion first.  I hope you will too!  Don’t forget to share it with others…They’ll thank you for it!  Together we can make a difference…

via Make A Difference Movie.

I've decided it's to grow up and be a productive, tax-paying citizen. I just finished school to get my Commercial Driver License, and on Monday I start work driving for a paving company. Many thanks to all who have been so supportive of me during my long job search. I probably would have gone off the deep end if I hadn't had so many who believed in me.

It’s tattered and torn, definitely frayed around the edges.  ”It should probably be replaced,” many would say.  And still, with nary a living soul to bear witness, it waves stoically, even majestically, upon a small hilltop.  Proudly, it stands vigil over this small cemetery lovingly watching over the remains of those whose souls have gone on.

Some would say the nation this flag represents is rather like the flag itself.   “It’s tattered and torn, definitely frayed around the edges,” we hear from the naysayers.  A few who think this country and her flag are long past their prime might even suggest, ”It should probably be replaced.”

I like this flag.  I like its character.  I like that it has seen some history, and no doubt, some heartache.  I like that despite its own poor, shabby appearance, it proudly continues to fulfill its purpose.  It waves silently in the breeze atop this desolate hill assuring those who rest beneath it that this nation, under God, indivisible, though perhaps not looking her youthful best, is still here.  Those who live under this flag’s protection and call for its replacement do so because this flag represents their right to speak freely.  Even those who would burn this old flag in protest do so because this flag gives them the right to protest in such a manner.

Yes, I like this old flag.  God knows I’ve not always done her proud.  She, however, has always done me proud; always provided a refuge for the forsaken; always been a banner around which good people could rally, often disagreeing but always free.  Before we suggest that this flag has outlived its usefulness, let’s remember that it is the flag and all it represents that gives us the right to make such a suggestion.

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I think she’s still a pretty grand old flag.

I recently had to leave a place that I liked very much.  As I was struggling to deal with the loss (because leaving a place and people you love is truly a loss), I was reminded of this little poem I learned when I was about the age of my handsome, young avatar in the photo above.  It spoke to me when I was a little boy, and it speaks to me still.

If you’re not old enough to remember, Mary Poppins, you missed a vital part of childhood.  Everyone who grew up in the 60’s wanted a nanny like Mary Poppins.  The closest I’ve come is flying a kite every chance I get, and of course, singing the ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ song.  Oh yeah, whenever I chance upon a chimney sweep, especially one in a the traditional top hat, I always shakes ‘is ‘and, because as everyone knows, “Good luck will rub off when ‘e shakes ‘ands with you.”

I didn’t intend to write about Mary Poppins.  I intended to write about the neat gift I got the other day.  One my bestest friends, Danelle (you know her if you’ve been reading my ramblings) sent me a new kite.  It wasn’t even my birthday or anything.  She just sent it.  I told her the thing that makes a gift special is the giver, and Danelle is one of the kindest, most special givers I know.  I’m so lucky that she’s my friend.

Today was the first day the weather was right for kite-flying.  It was great.  Here’s some pictures of my beautiful new kite dancing on the wind.

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Isn’t that a magnificent kite?

I know I’m getting lazy and just sharing things I find that I think are neat.  It’s not that I don’t have any original thoughts; I try to steal a few new ones every day.  So, click on the link and tell me what you think.  (Hey, that rhymed)

The Dash Movie | Store Landing.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. It so says exactly how I feel that I wish I’d written it. To all those who get offended every time someone says, “God bless you,” I say please get over yourselves.

My confession:  I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.  And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees…  I don’t feel threatened..  I don’t feel discriminated against .. That’s what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me.  I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.  In fact, I kind of like it.  It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu ….  If people want a creche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.  I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.  I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country.  I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God as we understand Him?  I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too.  But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different:  This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her ‘How could God let something like this happen?’ (regarding Hurricane Katrina)..  Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response..  She said, ‘I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.  And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.  How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?’ In light of recent events… terrorists attack, school shootings, etc..  I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.  Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school.  The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.  And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide).  We said an expert should know what he’s talking about..  And we said okay.. Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.  I think it has a great deal to do with ‘WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’ Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.  Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.  Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it… no one will know you did.  But, if you discard this thought process, don’t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben S.

Change for a Dollar (ya gotta click here)

If you haven’t already seen this, perhaps you should.  It’s 10 minutes long and worth every second of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gamin