Rise and Shine --- When new is old

Good Morning and what's that they are talking about this week?

Anyway, the house has recently discovered the joy of board games.
For years, we had games sitting around the house, everything from "Chutes & Ladders" to "Candyland" to "Operation."
We played the games maybe a couple of times a year or every other year or something like that. Somehow, the pieces have all disappeared. There are broken boards. There are missing cards, dice, whatever.
In January, we picked up "Monopoly" (actually a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer edition of the game). Since then, we've played probably ever other day.
As fun as that has become, we needed to branch out. I remember sitting around the table all those years ago playing games like "Clue" and "Life."
So, I picked up "Clue" a couple of weeks ago and now that's in the rotation.
It's actually kind of cool in this age of video games where we can gather around the table, laugh and have some fun.
Now, I have to find more games for everybody.

Rise and Shine --- Really, that long?

Good Morning and how about that Sun, Ladies and Gentlemen!




Attended a funeral service Friday for my aunt on my father's side. Haven't seen that part of the family for about 20 years. The last time any of us could remember, it was a different funeral.

Yeah, not the greatest places to catch up.

To tell the truth, I always find the situation kind of awkward and, even at my advancing age, am somewhat perplexed on how to handle it.

On the one hand, I was happy to see my cousins again. We had fun times growing up. I remember playing ball. I remember running around. I remember walking to the corner store.

Then there was the little reason why everybody was getting together.

"Hey, great to see you. Oh yeah, sorry about your mother."

It's sad, but it's happy. Too many things going on at once.

By the end of the day, after eating too much, drinking too much and spending too much time in the sun, everybody seemed to be smiling.

Here's to hoping it's not another 20 years.

Rise and Shine --- Tiny dancer

Good Morning and welcome back to another day!

There is a little girl I know who can't stop dancing. It doesn't matter the type of music (or if there is any music at all), she just keeps moving.
She picks up her dolls and has them dance. She dances in the car. She dances in the living room. She dances in the kitchen. She dances during dinner. She dances at school. She dances at the supermarket. She wants to dance with Mom. She wants to dance with Dad.
It is pretty amazing, really.
While the boys would rather wrestle or have Star Wars battles, the little girl just dances away.
She puts on shows for the family. She makes sure everybody is watching.
With all the problems in this wide, wide world, it's nice to have that in your life.
While her Dad may have two left feet and couldn't hold a rhythm if his life depended on it, this tiny dancer is turning us all into ballroom fans.
So, I just wanted to say thanks.

Rise and Shine --- Help

Good Morning and welcome to a real December day!

Well, since it is Dec. 1, it has to be a real December day, right?
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot over the last few months (smell something burning?). For too many years I haven't thought about everybody else.
With the holiday season here, that tendency seems to permeate through everybody. We want, we need, we buy. There are too many out there, though, who don't have anything.
They are just happy to have a place to live or a people to call loved ones.
That's the most important thing in the world. It doesn't matter how much money you have. It doesn't matter how much 'stuff' you have. You have to tighten the circle and try to help out those closest to you.
When you get down to it, that's what makes life worth living.

Rise and Shine --- Tight circle

Good Morning and welcome back to your favorite early-morning blog!

Can a leopard change its spots? Can a dog learn new tricks? Can an elephant learn to be friends with mice?
I believe it is all possible. The sun will come out today, drying up the rain left over the last day and the flowers will soon start to bloom.
Spring is the perfect time to look around and see it's time to feel better. Forget the doldrums of winter, this is the time when everything gets better. Sure, there will be bumps in the road. We wouldn't be in this opera called life it there wasn't, it's how we deal with those bumps that define us.
As we continue to read (hear?) about murders, money and drugs, we have to concentrate on our circle. Make the lives around you better and the world becomes that much brighter.
It's time to do just that. Hug your family. Talk on the phone. Help somebody across the street. Let a car out of a parking lot even though you've been sitting in traffic for, like, five minutes.
We have the chance to make everything brighter. Let the world work for you instead of you working for it.


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