I do so love a happy crowd....

Those of you who have been reading "From Pencilbox to Keyboard" for a while know that I am the kind of person who cries at parades...the kind of person who loves all things small-town America. This past weekend was the ultimate of that type of experience, and I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of it.  

My daughter was a vendor at the North East, PA Wine Fest and it was a happening. I was her helper.  Not only was her booth of LuLaRoe clothing a hot spot of activity, but...it provided me the opportunity to people watch Friday evening, all day Saturday and then again on Sunday afternoon.  The weather, although a little chilly, was sunny and dry. Perfect... People were not only celebrating the local and regional wines, but also the beginning of Autumn and the break from this past summer's heat.  Fun... fun... fun....

There were all kinds of unique and wonderful items for sale in North East's Gibson Park. I personally bought an outside metal bird that is taller than I am.  (It makes me smile.) There were pony rides, people walking around on stilts, young people boisterously stomping grapes, wine bars, horse drawn wagon rides, a continuous flow of live bands, and food... food... food. There were babies in buggies, seniors with walkers, little children skipping about -- the entire range of humanity (plus a large variety of dogs) -- and -- almost everyone had a smile on his or her face. My personal favorites were those who walked around with necklaces of pretzels to nibble as they walked through the park -- many with glasses of wine in hand or hanging in wine glass holder necklaces so that they could sip as they moved through the festival.  Amazing. Why have I never driven over the hills to North East to attend this before?  

The weekend was encouraging and comforting in these crazy times. It was a welcome return to the positive of the small town experience. I had heard that this Wine Fest draws a crowd of as many as 30,000 people, and I do believe that is so.  I personally met people who came from New Hampshire, Georgia, Florida and Wisconsin -- not to mention from a ton of places closer by in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.  They all had one thing in common -- they were having a wonderful time.  Nice, isn't it?  It's a most pleasant diversion from the current events of the national and international level. I do so love a happy crowd... especially if it is celebrating "things" of small-town America. 

Like Herding Cats

Musing of the day...

As I continue to work my way through this lifetime, I make a serious attempt to be mindful of my surroundings -- of people with whom I interact or meet in passing -- of the sounds, smells and movements of the world around me. The thing is -- it's easy to forget to remember to be mindful.  Today I am thinking about why that is. Here's what I am thinking -- there is sort of an internal dialog that goes on inside my head all day and that narrative sometimes distracts me from being aware...of being mindful.  Does this make sense?  I guess I am thinking about what I need to do, what I want to do, what I have to do.  It's a prioritizing...a multi-level organizing, and let us not forget the time spent in wondering what it is that you were going to do or where the car keys went. You know -- the experience of passing through a doorway and standing in the room wondering what it is that you came to get or to do?  The only comparison I can think of is that this "thinking" sometimes blocks awareness of the outside world much in the way that children playing and asking questions can make things so chaotic that you can't even string enough words together to make a complete sentence.  Sometimes life is so scattered that it is hard to focus on it...to be as mindful, aware, in tune... as you would like to be. Then again -- sometimes it isn't fun to focus and escaping into a world of meandering thoughts is pleasant.  I guess balance is the goal.  Then again again -- maybe even thinking about this escape is a type of "mindful" introspection.  What do you think? I think the whole concept is a bit confusing. Trying to sort it out is like herding cats.

A Knack with Words

Call what you want.  Some people just have a talent, flair, aptitude, genius --with words.  I admire that.  Sometimes I think my admiration borders on envy, but in a harmless - sort of complimentary way.  It's all in the word choice and phrasing. Sometimes if you read carefully and/or listen well enough at the right time, you will discover a choice of words that captures it all. It is a rare "thing".

A friend of mine once said that he thought that James Michener, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, sold his epic novels by the pound. As I was struggling through one his longer works at that time (I think it was either Hawaii or Centennial), I could not help but agree. Then just the other day I read that that a particular book was an "endurance contest".  I so get that. Perfect. (Why is it that many of us are still at that point where we feel the need to finish an entire book even if it drags on and on? Actually -- now that I think about that -- I am sort of slowly moving beyond that particular torture.  I think the guilt for leaving a book unfinished lessens as I become more aware of my aging self.  So little time, so many "good" books to read.)

Two more examples and I will call it a day.  I can't remember where I heard this -- on TV or perhaps in a movie?  Maybe someone out there will remember and help me out.  Anyway -- someone was talking about some horrible event and called the mastermind behind it a "sick twist".   I think of that every time I find myself watching an episode of Criminal Minds.  That series is full of "sick twists".

Finally -- and I still am not sure that I get this one.  A character in a book I am currently reading refers to another as an "arrogant bellybutton".  That one makes me laugh out loud. It's all in the phrasing.  

Without mentioning any names... This blog was first posted two weeks before the Presidential Election in September of 2016. Perhaps the proverb is true "...the more tings change, the more they stay the same".

I have recently been enjoying a self-imposed news blackout -- again. It works well for me.  My day-to-day life seems nicer somehow. I can always check in once in a while to get caught up if I want to, but I don't have to let the heavy stuff drop in clumps on/around me before I have a chance to self-protect... or even have a morning cup of coffee.

Without mentioning any names... here are some of the ideas and questions that I have been thinking about while enjoying a break from the dark side of the news -- and that includes the political front:

• How interdependent are we on the rest of the world?
• How can we focus more on similarities among people rather than on differences?
• What values do we have in common with all of humanity?

Look -- we all know that the old order is changing -- again.  No matter how scary things may seem, I think it is important to remember that this is not the first time.  It happens.  Here's hoping that the new ways of living in the world will take the best of what still works and will use those things with success to fight the new dangers of the times. 

Again --without mentioning any names...

• Who offers a sense of a breakthrough into a new way of living?
• Who offers a sense of strength in a complex world? 
• Who is not afraid to say "No", this is it.  We are done giving it all away. What is "it"?  It is, in no special order, -- American jobs, American dignity, American strength, American pride -- American hopes and dreams.
• Who knows the people who can get the jobs done that need to be done?
• Who dares to say what needs to be said?

Is there such a person out there? If we can find that person or one who even comes close to that, I may see you at the polls. Just sayin'.  In the meantime, I don't need the "news" to try to tell me what to think.  What happened to the "news" anyway?  Did objective reporting ever exist or is that also a pipe dream?  

Subtlety -- no explanation needed.

Recently a very good friend of mine was describing an unfortunate exchange that she had experienced in a nail salon.  I won't tell you exactly how she described her annoyed self, just that she recounted at the end of the tale -- that she was quite certain that the salon in question now had her photo behind the counter. When we were in touch later on in the day and she was talking about an upcoming appointment with a dentist, I felt it necessary to offer the caution that I know for a fact that some doctors use red flags on patient folders, and although these particular doctors are veterinarians, she needs to be extremely careful.  Of course... I am sure that she was exaggerating the nail salon situation for my amusement, but...  the subtlety of her comment is so perfect, and it got me to thinking about how much I love it when people imply in this way. 

The funny thing about this conversation is that I had just encountered the same type of humor in a book I was reading by Stephen King. (I love the work of Stephen King).  Anyway -- He was describing a character in this story, and at the end of a scene in which this character is talking to his partner, King wrote, "His eyes flick up and to the left".   Later on (before I could even finish my bowl of cereal) King described a situation as being "like the mafia...every time I think I'm out, it pulls me back in".  (That is actually exactly how I feel about laundry, by the way.)  Perfect.

Now that I think of it, the subtle reference or implication is one of my favorite things -- either for effect or more importantly -- for humor. My favorite comedians just drop a comment on you and hope you get it and ... I must mention ... sometimes I have a rather delayed reaction before I do -- if I don't miss the point entirely.  Real life, literature, comedians -- when subtlety is employed, and I do "get it", it makes me feel like I now belong to the special club. Actually this may be the closest I ever get to feeling like I belong at the cool kids' lunch table.  

You know what I mean. Subtlety, implication -- whatever you prefer to call it -- is especially nice when you come upon it unexpectedly and no one explains it to you.  You just "get it".  If you run across an incident like this, please share it with me. No explanation necessary.   Thanks!