Yello!

Youth is not entirely a time of life; it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubts; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~ General Douglas McArthur

The Bucket List is a movie that you should see. Although the critics were not all kind in their reviews, I loved the movie. Perhaps it appeals more to an older crowd, but I think it touched on a topic that we’ve all thought about before. If you were told you only had a few months to live, how would you choose to spend your last days on this earth? When two strangers find themselves sharing a hospital room and sharing the same fate, they decide to make a list of things they want to experience before they “kick the bucket”. Soon they are off on a great adventure to explore the Great Wall of China, pyramids in Eqypt, African wildlife, and a breath-taking view from the top of a mountain. It’s a movie that makes you laugh out loud, touches your heart and gives you something to think about later. The soundtrack was great too. Follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX4jBL29aic to see clips of the movie on YouTube and hear “Say”, the song John Mayer recorded especially for this movie.

After seeing the movie, I realized that my dad made his own “bucket list” of sorts. A farmer, he never was one to travel much preferring to stay close to home and the farm. After undergoing treatments for prostate cancer in the mid-eighties he decided to take the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land. I’m really glad that he took the opportunity to fulfill a dream while he still felt well enough to enjoy the trip.

What would be on your “bucket list”?

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

Our farm dog recently had an unfortunate injury to his paw that led us to make a sort of funny analogy. Nearly two weeks ago, Turner - our Border Collie/German Shepard mixed farm dog - somehow managed to cut the pad on his front left paw on some ice or something around the farm. He is Francis’ right hand man, helping to guard the cattle from going out the gate when Francis feeds them and just making sure all the animals stay in their rightful places around the farm. We consulted the vet and were advised that stitches probably would not successfully help the cut to heal, but rather the foot should be bandaged to help Turner remember to stay off it and let the wound heal itself. So Francis played doctor and fixed Turner up with a bandage covered by a sock and wrapped with heavy tape. Turner has been slowed somewhat but is getting around pretty good using only three legs. Much of the time, though, he has taken to staying on our back porch resting in warmer surroundings. Although his bandage has been removed, it still is tender enough that he avoids walking on it. Yesterday, Francis and Jesse were out in the pickup tending to a cow that was having problems calving. On their way back to the farm they decided to buzz on by in the pickup down to the sandpit to check things out there. Turner’s habit (when he’s well) is to follow the pickup when it goes south because that usually means Francis is checking on cattle or doing something that Turner can help with. Soon after the guys got to the sandpit (about 1/2 mile from our farm) they were surprised to see that Turner had followed them, running on his three legs, just so he could be there with them in case they needed his help. When Francis told me this story, I had to admire Turner’s love and devotion to think that he would want to be there so badly he would run so far, all hobbled by his injury. I asked Francis if he was on crutches and saw me driving by… would he also run 1/2 mile in such a condition just to be with me or to see if I needed his help??? I guess you probably know what the answer was! So when you hear the saying about a dog being a man’s best friend… you know, it’s probably true!

Christmas, my child, is love in action. … Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas. ~Dale Evans Rogers

Christmas has come and gone at our house with much anticipated cards and letters from friends and family, the usual good food to eat and holiday gatherings. I surprised some with unexpected gifts and was surprised with some pretty cool gifts too. It’s been great having the kids home for various lengths of time over the holidays. We had a white Christmas and continue to get a bit more snow about every other day. If it warmed up enough to take the bike out that would be OK with me, but I don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. I took a couple of cute pictures of the animals over the holidays - Mika, as “Santa Paws”, in the Mrs. Claus outfit that Kalie got her and Jenna’s kitten, Boots, as he snuggled up under the Christmas tree. The stockings photo shows the Christmas stockings I made for the newlyweds and their pets. Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year too!

To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were.  We know each other’s hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time.  ~Clara Ortega

The two distinguished gentlemen I am standing with in the photo below are two of my big brothers, Glenn and Bill.  When I was growing up, my family consisted of three older brothers, an older sister, and a younger brother (who passed away as a three-day old infant due to a lung condition called hyland membrane). Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing two of my big brothers at a family wedding in Lincoln. So I decided I would include a post on this blog about them and some of the stuff I remember from my point of view. (One thing I have learned is that one person’s recollection of a time or event will nearly always vary drastically from another person’s memory just because of their personal perspective on the situation.) Since these two brothers are 12 and 10 years older than I am, my memories of them at home are from the viewpoint of a small child. I’m sure I probably bugged them a lot, like little sisters would, and most definitely was spoiled. Glenn was the one who would sometimes help get me ready to go someplace by brushing my hair, etc. And, I’m pretty sure, he once got a ticket when he got caught driving me the four country miles to grandma’s house when he was only 14. Glenn was always teasing and and fun to be around. Once he slipped a mouse into his lunch pail to surprise mom when she opened it after he got home. Bill was home for a couple of years longer than Glenn and I remember him helping me with my 4-H projects like photography and the calves. He also surprised me one time with a black bunny that was my pet (until our black cat found it!). I think I may have sat on Bill’s lap in the driver’s seat of the car a time or two to steer while we drove (slowly) the last 1/4 mile in the country to our house and I think I remember something about heading right toward the windmill until he moved the steering wheel in the right direction. After they both grew up, got married, and had homes of their own, it was always fun to visit - there were lots of fun times spent with my small nieces and nephews who are now all grown up too! I actually lived with Bill and Edith for a few months while I did my student teaching at Millard and then later for a couple of months before my wedding. One funny episode (now as I look back) was when Bill and I got into my car in his driveway and I backed directly into his little VW that was parked behind me and both of us were completely surprised that it was there. I’ve traveled to Europe with both of them: with Bill in 1971 along with the school group he was sponsoring as a young teacher to 6 European countries and with Glenn in 2003 along with friends and family to Ireland, Wales, England and France. They, along with my other brother and sister, were there as we struggled with the illnesses and loss of our parents and to form a different type of relationship as adult siblings. Now we see each other at family events like graduations and weddings and also make a point to spend time together. I’ve got new memories of recent events that make me smile - like driving his fishing boat in Alaska and later getting stuck in the sand on the beach in Glenn’s pick-up and taking in a Husker football game with Bill. One good thing about being a little sister is that you will ALWAYS have big brothers - no matter how old you get!

It was a beautiful fall week-end to venture out to visit the kids in Rapid City. We also took a Saturday morning drive over to Devil’s Tower just north of Sundance, WY. The fall leaves were in full color and we had a great time!

Elton John came to Omaha over the weekend and we went to see his concert. This was the fifth time we have seen him in concert over a span of more than thirty years - and he was every bit as good this time as he was then! The first time we saw him was in 1975 while I was still in college. We drove out to Denver and went with my cousins, Patty and Arlene, to the McNichols Sports Arena where we were treated to a four hour music marathon. The concert began promptly at 8 pm and ended when it was nearly 1 am. Although Elton gave his band a rest, he never left the stage that night except for occasional episodes of piano bench throwing and breaking! The second time we saw Elton John was in Lincoln at the Devaney Sports Center in the early 80’s. We saw him again eight years ago at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha when we took all three kids along. The five of us happened upon an Elton John concert a fourth time in London in 2000 as we walked through Hyde Park. He was giving an outdoor concert in the park so we plopped down on the grass and enjoyed the music. So last Saturday night marked the fifth time we spent an evening with Elton John.

As I listened to all of his familiar songs, I felt almost as if I were spending the evening with an old friend. After all, Elton John had been there for many momentus occasions throughout my lifetime. Thoughts of college take me back to Der Loaf and Stein on “P” Street listening to Bennie and the Jets, Pinball Wizard, Saturday Night’s Alright, Rocket Man, and Crocodile Rock blaring on the jukebox. Our wedding song was Your Song and the recessional was Bitter Fingers, by John and Taupin - of course. Elton John was still there when our kids were small with the soundtrack of Lion King hooking a whole new generation on his powerful vocals and mastery of the piano. And who can forget Elton John at Diana’s funeral comforting the world with his tribute to the princess with Candle in the Wind. Elton John has been pounding out music for the past thirty-eight years!

Even though the music is still the same, a few things about his concerts have changed over the years. When the crowd swayed en masse to a ballad in the 70’s, people held lighters…on Saturday cell phones were waved in the air instead. In the 80’s we had to check our camera at the door as no photography was allowed…on Saturday people were snapping photos with their cell phones and digital cameras. In the 70’s, we watched him smash multiple piano benches dressed in outrageous outfits and flamboyant glasses…on Saturday he didn’t break anything, had no glasses and wore only a mildly outrageous outfit.

On the other hand, there were many similarities between the concerts. Drummer Nigel Olsson was still pounding out the beat as he has from the beginning, as well as long-time band member Davey Johnstone on the guitar and back-up vocals. Also, as with every Elton John concert we have been to, he was a masterful performer who definitely gave us our money’s worth and a night to remember!

To see the movie of Elton playing Burn Down the Mission, click here. The file is big, so be patient.

Last Friday something happened that probably will never happen again…a house drove by! A farm house about 1/2 mile south of ours stood empty for the past couple of years and was recently sold. Our neighbor bought it and moved it a mile west.

My new puppy. I’m thinking of calling her Mika. Any housebreaking tips?