Who on Earth?

There are a couple of things that most of us do, while traveling by air. First and foremost, we all try to find a comfortable position to doze, relax or just sit in a very uncomfortable, much too narrow seat. Then, most of us attempt to read.  Prepared folks bring a book or a magazine. Techno savvy travelers tote their electronic notebooks or Kindle Readers. Others just read the display on their phones.  And, the remaining souls read the airline sponsored in-flight magazine.
Generally, the last item to be read on an airplane (not counting the emergency instruction card, found in the back-pocket-of-the-seat-in front-of-you) is the latest edition of "Sky Mall". Between the slick covers of this amazing publication are pages and pages of  "you-can't-possibly-do-without" items. You simply must have that tripod for your I Phone. How about the 2 foot high Big Foot statue for your garden, or the deluxe spandex security vest with enough pockets for all of your travel valuables? The "Sky Mall" also offers fine jewelry, mounted squirrel heads, faux shrubbery, and even a solar powered generator. Did I mention the singing tooth brush?
Before you scoff at the foolishness of impulse shopping, thousands of feet in the air, consider how many times you and others have read these catalogs! Somebody or a whole big bunch of somebodies must be buying this stuff.

Dear Lord. We witness your awesomeness as we travel along our life paths. When we travel your universe, we are amazed at your wondrous works.  Our insignificance smacks us in the face, when we consider all that you are and all that you have made. Thank you for loving each of us, individually, as your children. We are blessed to know that we are "one of a kind" to you.
We treasure our world and our fellow travelers.

Two For One Discount

My thoughts on childhood obesity were shared with my readers a few posts back. I  have written that modern children need to walk more. They need to run or walk, to and from school. We need to stop being private chauffeurs for our offspring. KIds have legs. Let's make them use them.
However today, while careening through South Kansas City, on my morning commute, I saw a sign that made me realize that the problem was much more serious and complex than I had previously imagined.
The sign I observed read "Huge Childrens Sale." Oh my goodness. Did it mean that parents are so obsessed and incensed by the appearance of their overweight children, that they are selling them? Or is there some kind of Chubby Police, removing kids from their Cheetos and Twinkies filled homes and putting them up for sale, on the street? Just how much is a Huge Child worth these days?
Parents and grandparents, listen up. Get a handle on the diets of your children and grandchildren. Promote exercise. Cut down on the sweets and sodas. This could happen in your own home town.

Gracious Lord. We need humor in our lives. Show us the healing power of laughter.
Sometimes we get so bogged down with the really serious side of life, that we forget to recognize our silliness. We praise your Holy Name, forever and ever.

Arrrrrgh!

Pirates are very hot. Johnny Depp has made millions being Jack Sparrow. Walt Disney Enterprises has taken a fun little animated theme park ride and created a whole series of vastly popular, wildly profitable, full-length motion pictures. Even our local museum is currently featuring an exhibit that promises to tell us all about the "Real Pirates."
We've been  fascinated by pirates for years. It's a safe bet that most of us have played at being pirates or at least chosen to wear a pirate costume at Halloween, as youngsters. We all love the romance and thrill of a pirate's life.
I spyed (get it???) a Pirate License Plate, just the other day, on a nice SUV parked near my place of employment. I work in a state that requires only a state-issued plate for the back of your car. Any plate in the front of your vehicle can be your choice.
But this particular car not only had a pirate logo plate, it also had a handicapped mirror-tag. What a bizarre combination, I thought. Was the driver a peg-legged, swash-buckling matey? Did he or she have a hook for a hand like the infamous Captain Hook in "Peter Pan"? I eagerly anticipated the return of the sailor. Had he or she gone into the Hardware Store, next door, to repair or shapen a rapier? Perhaps the evil soul would be sporting an eye patch or have a colorful parrot on his blouson sleeve?
But alas, I got busy and by the time I looked up again, my pirate and the SUV had vanished. I'll never know what manner of dastardly suburban pirate was piloting that hardy vessel.

Great God. May we never stop enjoying your mysteries. Life is amazing and you give all of it to us, everyday. Help us to grab the gusto. Life is not for the weak and meek. We are truly blessed.

Just Not Worth a Darn

I don't know about you, but I get some of the strangest stuff on my email account. I'm not counting the Viagra, scooter and walk-in bath tub ads. I know I get those because of  my advanced age. The ones I mention here, this time at least, are the CRAFTERS web sites.
I suppose it's my own fault. I crochet quite a bit and over the years I have searched for and opened some sites dealing with free crochet patterns and supposedly great deals on yarn. And, I'm okay with yarn companies sending me notice of their sales, even though I have never bought anything from them. It is, after all, a free-enterprise country.
But, the crafter sites have me baffled. My hand-crafted crochet items are useful, I think. At the very least, they can be used for dish cloths. Keeping my family and friends supplied with baby blankets, stocking caps and scarfs takes up most of my spare time and keeps me off the streets. But, I wonder just who has time to create some of the items on these sites? And, why would anyone who has the time, attempt them?
Today, I was sent a pattern for a empty toilet paper roll nativity set.
Yes, folks, with only three empty toilet paper rolls and some bits of fabric, you can create a splendid and unique Christmas display for your home or office. Oh, and don't forget it's a great way to use up all of those old light bulbs that we have all replaced with the new squiggly type. Those old light bulbs are perfect to use for the heads of the Holy Family.
Happy crafting.

Dear Lord. Excuse us in our craziness. We know that we must supply an endless source of merriment for you. Help us to enjoy the humor of life. I believe you want us to laugh. You have created so many beautiful and wondrous items in this world. Teach us to enjoy this life and enable us to live it to the fullest.
We praise your bounty.

Excuse me?

I pass numerous roadside advertisements, on my daily commute. One of my favorites is a large billboard that reads, "Your wife is hot. Fix her air conditioner." That's just too cute. And, I once drove up to a panhandler who held a hand-lettered sign that said, "Cereal Killer. My bowl is empty." Very clever. So, I gave him a buck.
Every day I drive by a suburban office building that displays a large, professionally lettered sign, "SMALL TENANTS WELCOME".
Excuse me? Does that mean that I, at 5 feet 3 inches, can apply, but my 6 foot husband cannot? What about my feisty friend, Shirley? She's about 4'10".  Can children rent there? Will they accept toy poodles as tenants, but not the standard breed? How about elves, leprechauns and munchkins? (Okay, the sign isn't in OZ...but it is in Kansas.)
So far, I have resisted the urge to pull over, leap out of my car and dash into the lobby. Will I be greeted by one of those life-sized posters, reminiscent of Disney Parks? "YOU MUST BE smaller THAN THE PRINCESS' MAGIC WAND TO ENTER".
I'm genuinely puzzled.
How often do we say or write something that makes perfect sense to us, but is totally confusing and misunderstood by others? The owners of that office building know exactly what type of tenants they want. But, to the passer-by, it's confusing, and slightly humorous. Words and phrases can often have double or sometimes even triple meanings. Often our words are just plain funny, but sometimes the misunderstandings can be hurtful.
Wise folks always think before they speak, or even post signs.

Gracious Lord: Teach me to hold my tongue. Help me to realize that my words can surely praise You and your children. Remind me to be thoughtful of others and to watch my mouth. You give us choices. Help us to make the right ones.

Over Troubled Waters

Because I live North of the Missouri River, and my job is South of that same river, my knowledge and appreciation of bridges is increasing daily. Twice a day, I must choose one of the five nearby bridges to complete my journey. A couple of the these bridges are located on major highways and the traffic and speeds are such that there is no significant difference between the regular roadway and the span over the river. You never even realize that you are on a bridge.
But, the one I prefer to use is a "bridge looking" bridge. It has graceful steel girders in an arching design that strikes me as quite beautiful. My favorite bridge was built in the 1950's to provide access to our smallish island-like airport, from the downtown area.  Howard Hughes' office was in a building, still sporting its Thunderbird-like designs, immediately adjacent to the southbound lanes of the bridge.
From the center most arch, you can see the dramatic curves of the Missouri and the point where the Kansas River, aka The Kaw, meets its much wider sister.  KC, Kansas, and the industrial river bottoms are to the West of the span. These views are possible because of the 45 mph speed limit and the narrowing lanes, which cause the traffic to  go very slowly across the bridge.
Today, while creeping my way over the Missouri, I noticed two large snags in the center of the river. Snags are large logs or even trees that get washed along by the river and at some point get caught on the bottom and stay lodged in one spot. Dozens of 19th century paddle wheelers were sunk when they hit river snags.
I think every one of us has had our share of snags. Nobody has smooth sailing or even easy paddling all the time. Life isn't easy. It's how we choose to deal with our snags that makes life real and meaningful.
Any day now, someone or something is going to dislodge those two snags, and we will all be better for the experience.

Lord: You never promised us a perfect existence. Guide us and lead us as we travel down life's highway. Keep our bridges strong and our pathways clear. Your steadfast love endures forever.

Dust it off, brother!

Except for July, the fourth day of the month is nothing spectacular. And, unless it happens to be your payday, birthday or some other kind of anniversary, chances are, it's just another day of the month.
But the fourth of July, is Independence Day in the United States of America. We're busy celebrating with fireworks, picnics, parades and band concerts. Every year, our local newspaper prints a copy of the Declaration of Independence, on the editorial page, along with a nice colored photo of the painting, by John Trumbull, depicting the 5 member committee who drafted the document.
That photo got me thinking about (stay with me here) powdered wigs. Why were many of those men in the picture wearing powdered wigs? What is a powdered wig?
So, I did a bit of research and this is what I discovered. The word wig is a shortened form of the word, periwig. Historically, a wig was a decorative head covering made from human or animal hair. Today there are synthetic ones, but that's another story.
According to my sources, wigs were generally worn by men. Women used hair extensions and various accessories (maybe even small animals) to poof-up their hair, in the style of the era. Wig powder was made from finely ground Talcum powder and must have created a kind of dusty aura around the wearer. There are paintings, from the 17th and 18th centuries, which show residue of powder on the shoulders of gentlemen.
Powdered wigs were the style. They were "in". We can relate. Imagine our founding fathers today in backward baseball caps and sagging pants.
Men might still be wearing powdered wigs, except for a very unpopular British Tax on wig powder. Uh, didn't they have enough of a problem with that one on tea?

Creator Lord: Our independence is very precious to us. We are blessed to have freedoms and privileged to enjoy our many blessings. May we also have the sense to respect the rights of our fellow earth dwellers and to use wisely the resources that we have been given. We are ever thankful for our existence. Show us how to work for You.