Change of Plans

A Tribute to the people of David Corry ... As my son said more than once when I was telling him about this experience -- you rarely find that kind of service in today's world.)

 A few days ago, in a moment of extreme laziness, a lot of surface ice on a long driveway, and an impressive wind chill factor, I decided to drive my Wrangler down the driveway to get my mail instead of walking.  Alas, when I pushed the start button,  the battery was dead... dead... dead....  Time for a change of plans.

I called my Jeep Dealer (David Corry) thinking that the service department probably would be closing early since it was Saturday after all and the weather was terrible. I was just thinking that they could put my Wrangler on the list for Monday morning.  Surprise, surprise.  Within minutes the Service Department had arranged for two gentlemen to come to my home, jump my vehicle and take it off to the dealership to see what was what. Communication by text worked well from that point on.  Easy Peasy.

I think it was in less than three hours - maybe less than two, the Jeep was returned with a new battery and all ready to go.  The thing is -- I never even had to put shoes on to take care of this. It was wonderful.  Plus --  after checking with me, they even did the state inspection that I had been meaning to schedule, but hadn't gotten around to.  

What started out as an "Oh, No!" turned into a "This is wonderful!"

How often does that happen?

How many times can a person say thank you!  The people of David Corry get an A+... excellent service all the way around ... above and beyond.  Thank you again ... and ...  Happy 10th Anniversary!

The Hug Seen Around the World?

 

I saw an ICE agent hug a protester in Minneapolis and for a brief moment, the insanity stopped. I am surprised that there was not more made of it. Well actually -- I am not surprised.  The mainstream media doesn't like to cover positive moments in time or present the full story. 

Picture this.  You have seen it a lot lately. Two lines.  Protesters screaming into the faces of ICE agents. It is a common scene these days.  Yet -- this time, it evolved into a nice moment. It was a positive in a boiling sea of negative. Hope many people saw it - caught this brief pause.  This leftist anger needs to be assuaged.  Too much hatred flowing in one direction.  It has been my experience that hatred is never productive and it doesn't  ever accomplish anything good.  

In the middle of air horns and screaming hysteria, an ICE agent spoke quietly to a protester. It was a genuine and calm moment.  He asked if she needed a hug ... said she looked like she needed a hug. She admitted that she did.  He hugged her.   It was a moment of kindness in time...perhaps unrecognized, but important.  I, for one, won't forget it.  Ever.

Human reaching out to human. Maybe there is hope after all. 

One more thing....  I implore women (and men as well) not to allow themselves to be used and taken advantage of. Don't take on the manufactured anger of others. You don't need that to be worthy ... of value. Think.  You know yourself. Do not allow manipulation of your energy. You are master of the world you create for yourself. You are not a puppet.  No one can tie strings on you unless you allow it. Think of where you want to be tomorrow.

 

 

Angel On The Porch

 A week into the new year now.  It sort of feels the same as last year, but I am trying to sense a difference. 2026 is young.  I don't know about you, but I, personally, am going to try to make it a good year for myself and for those whose lives I may have an opportunity to touch. This is sort of my goal every year.  Not sure how successful I am, but I do think that trying counts. Hope so anyway....

What really made me stop and think about this is the angel who appeared on my porch the morning after the most recent ice storm -- it was still mega icy out and yet -- there she stood ... a lovely angel with a lovely smile and cleats on her boots.  She brought me a book -- because it reminded her of me as far as sense of humor goes and, in some ways because of the sort of things I write about in this blog -- or maybe more about how I write about them. That she would even think of me touched my heart. The book is a bonus. Huge.  She mentioned that she had ended up using the positive messages of this book as a daily devotion.  I can see why.  I could never come close to that in my writing.  Wish I could.

So .. I recommend this book to you. My hope is to share the blessing that was passed on to me.  It is entitled When Life Gives You Pears.  The writer is Jeannie Gaffigan. These words are also on the cover -- "The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People."  That gives you a hint about the nature of this writing.  Warning... If you choose to read it, you will occasionally find yourself smiling/laughing through tears.  Have Kleenex at the ready. 😊 

So thankful for the kindness of others.  I believe in angels.  I think I always have.  May 2026 bless you and yours.... 

I wish you an angel on your porch.

Hold On

 It's the New Year and for some reason I am looking back instead of forward -- at least temporarily.  I am also thinking of things that I sort of miss from the past.  Plus ... I am wondering about things I used to find interesting when much younger.

Does the PA turnpike still have those ramps for run-away trucks? In all my growing up years of traveling that road, only one time did I ever see a truck stuck at the top of one of those ramps. What a thrill that must have been for that unfortunate truck driver.

Will I ever forget the hair and voice of Roseanne Roseannadanna or the sway and voice of Mamma Cass singing Monday, Monday with the "Mamas and the Papas"? (Where and Why in the world did they come up with that name for their group?) And... what about Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence?  Have you heard Disturbed's  rendition of it?  Amazing!  If you haven't, I suggest you Google or YouTube it. I suggest you close your eyes while you listen.

I have some vivid childhood memories ... and ... at the same time, I can still see my grown-up kids as children and wonder if I am actually remembering moments or revisiting photos caught in my head somewhere.

One other question running through my mind.  How is it that I have lived 76 years about 45 minutes from a Great Lake without ever knowing of weather that includes episodes of massive waves and seiche?   Seriously --  I swear I do not remember ever seeing or hearing the word seiche or the seeing photos of the  phenomenon of seiche and now recently seiche talk and photos have appeared twice within a few weeks.  Think about it - one side of a Great Lake recedes because of winds and causes twenty-five foot waves at another location????  This is nuts! I sort of wish I never heard of seiche.  I don't even like the way the word catches behind my front teeth when I say it,  and I am not sure that I am even pronouncing it correctly. Does it rhyme with quiche? Am I alone in this? Had you ever heard of this phenomenon? Please tell me no. 

Anyway -- years come and go.  Everything changes.  It's hard keeping up sometimes. No wonder we occasionally look back to things familiar... and cherish them.

Even holidays.   "... Times they are a-changin'" (Remember Bob Dylan?).   Once in awhile I speculate about this  change phenomenon.  I think it is what Time does to Living ... or.. is it what Living does to Time?

Hold on for the ride. Personally I am hopeful for 2026. It will be amazing to look back on this one.  I also think that you can look backward and forward almost at the same time.  I am doing that right now. Enough on that.  

Happy New Year!