07 June 2010

Monday Musings...
First off this morning...a personal milestone.
When the missus and I went grocery shopping this past Saturday, I noticed the odometer edging VERY close to that magic 100,000 mile mark. And I knew it would happen while we were out and about.
Well, we DID, in fact cross that 100K threshold...and I have to admit that the "Wifey-Mobile" (a 1996 Caprice Classic) is running pretty damn well (except for an occasional stall - must be another oxygen sensor of something in the fuel delivery system).
And the car still LOOKS great, too. Wouldn't even know it's 14 years old.
After school lets out, Wifey plans to get the car in the shop to get the stalling issue resolved.
Other than that, the car runs like a damn bear!
Hell, my car hasn't even made it to SIXTY-THOUSAND miles...and it's close to 27 years old!
With the digital display in the Caprice, it still shows mileage over 100K, instead of rolling over back to "zero" (like in my analog odometer).
Gotta love that.
Yeah, my Dad was right (again) when he used to say:
"You take care of something and it'll take care of you".
(Thanks for the advice, Dad...it's still working for me)
Yesterday was the anniversary of D-Day, and I have to admit that I was less then impressed at the overall "coverage" of the day.
Now, with ALL the channels available, one would "think" that more than ONE channel (the Military Channel) would have SOMETHING about the significance of yesterday, right?
I mean, you've got (in some services) over 100 channels to choose from.
Nope...no one bothered (except for the aforementioned Military channel).
(Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot???)
Not ONE of the movies I mentioned in yesterday's post was on...at last nowhere for free.
It would have been nice to see Robert Mitchum storm the beaches one more time...
But, twas not to be.
Still, there were some good shows on the MC.
The first was Normandy - The Great Crusade (parts 1 & 2), and then The Day After D-Day.
They reminded me a lot of the style that Ken Burns would make a documentary.
Like I said...it wasn't a total loss.
Funny, how there used to be a time when you would ask "daddy" what he did in "the war", and he'd sit down and tell you stories about how it was. Hell, I remember talking to my grandpa about the FIRST world war.
Today, it's a lot different, that's for sure.
We still have wars being waged, and brave men and women going into harm's way. We even have the "empty chair" at tables across the country for those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and are considered "still on patrol".
But are the children asking about the war?
Did such questions allow former generations of soldiers the opportunity to channel their emotions by talking about what they went through?
Unfortunately, I feel that war (of some type) will be with us for some time.
There will always be someone wanting to take from someone else...someone wanting that parcel of territory, that natural resource, or will want to foster some ideological political agenda somewhere in the world.
There will be those who wage war in the name of their deity, or because some despot wants to make a statement.
Whenever such things occur, there will also always be those who answer the call to duty, in the preservation of freedom and liberty for all people. That's just the way it works.
And it works damn well in that regard.
Lastly...our blooming garden.
Man, I can't believe how the Asian Lillies are popping out!
And since we went out and bought 6 tomato seedlings, it's only natural, that I discover I've got about SIX MORE growing in the garden for FREE.
Must have been from the tomatoes that fell on the ground and ignored at end of season last year.
Nice to know Mother Nature has a back-up plan for our garden...LOL.
Also have a yucca plant that looks ready to bloom.
This bloody thing is taller than I am. I'm thinking of hanging some Christmas decorations on it.
But, from what I've seen online, we're due for some really nice white flowers (which probably also won't have a fragrance).
Tell 'ya...if it wasn't for the peonies (gone now, but not forgotten) our too few roses, the (future blooming) phlox, and the lavender and sage, there'd be nothing at all to smell!
It's one thing to have a garden that LOOK nice, but it's better still to have one that SMELLS GREAT, too.
I can always rub my hands in the lemon thyme, and stir that fragrance up.
Gardens, like our lives, are (or should be) a work in progress.
There is always something to do, something that needs our "attention".
Amazing how our lives mirror that, right?
Our lives always seem to need some attention...somewhere.
Maybe there is a lesson to be learned and appreciated here.
Maybe we need to better "amend the soil" in our life, or plant something beautiful, or even yank out those nasty weeds.
And maybe, like our garden, by doing as much, our lives will become a lot nice place to spend more time.
Wouldn't seem to do us any harm in making the attempt, right?
Might even discover we have a green thumb when it comes to living our lives.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and ...
Stay safe out there, America.

8 comments:

Slamdunk said...

Congrats on the 100,000. We just traded in the Mrs. vehicle at half that mileage--she hated it and it was getting to be more of a hassle for the mechanics and me. Best to cut your losses sometimes.

Keith said...

That's really cool about the car. It's always great to get a car that runs really well.

Ann T. said...

Dear Bob,
I don't have T.V. Your post did the work for me, about D-Day. Thank you for that again.

As for the garden, I need to learn more about lilies. I LOVE those that you have. And I am so with you on a scent garden.

I love the smell of herbs and rosemary is one of my favorite. I'll draw my fingers along it and enjoy.

Anyway, about that taking care of things: I met one of my Goals today! I have plenty left, though, so I'm moving forward!

Have a great day!
Ann

Bob G. said...

Slamdunk:
Wifey was talking about getting a "newmobile", and I asked her:
WHAT'S CHEAPER?
Wanna blow close to $20K on something "brand new" and probably won't make it TO 100K miles, or blow a few HUNDRED to get this puppy fixed?
Reason will out...

Thanks for stopping by.

Bob G. said...

Keith:
Hey, as long as all systems are running A-OK...this car doesn't OWE US a dime.

Thanks for swinging on by.

Bob G. said...

Ann:
Sometimes I wonder about having TV...I probably need one JUST to play the DVDs and VCR tapes...LOL.

The lillies seem easy enough...buy the bulbs, plant 'em and sit back and watch the fun.
That woirked for me, anyway.

Always good to hear someone taking care of something that needs it. Congrats!

ANd thanks a lot for stopping on over (now that Blogspot is back up)

Have a great week!

indy said...

my dad was into gardening. i always thought it was my mom until her last few years on earth and she confessed one day that she didnt really care for it. lol i like a little gardening. not like you or my dad. but, i do admire people like you guys that hang in there and garden away. i liked that yucca plant. looked very cool indeed.

Bob G. said...

Indy:
I tell 'ya...if I went back to Philly today, they' wouldn't recognize me...LOL!

I'm nowhere NEAR being anything close ot a "master" agrdener, but I do enjoy getting something to grow and even eat (tomatoes and peppers).
Must be that paternal instinct in me.
'Ya think?

Thanks for swinging on by.
And don't be surprised if your thuimb gets "greener" in time...it GROWS on you (pun intended).

:)