Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

Why you should not count the days until…  You miss too much.  You can’t focus on the now.  You can but you have to be very careful you do not lose the moment, what is happening right in front of you.

Your best times are always now so look around, pay attention.  Enjoy your present situation.  It will only come once.  Then it is gone forever.

Don’t be like the ostrich whose neck is buried in the ground.  Soak in the present moment fully.  If you want to visualize a better future fine but don’t miss the present.  You may find out the future you have put off never comes.  So don’t count your days until…

The best time of your life is now.  Thank the Lord for today.  It is all you have.  You have to thank the Almighty for every breath He gives you and not take your days for granted.

Tags: best times, don't count the days, enjoy, every breath, focus on the now, future, God, look around, lose the moment, neck buried in the ground, ostrich, pay attention, right in front of you, take your days for granted, thank the Lord, The Almighty, the present, this moment, today is all you have, your life
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I forget sometimes to close cabinet doors and that drives my wife crazy.  She calls me careless.  I do not do it deliberately.  Nevertheless, I get chastised by my other for doing that.

I usually have two or more things on my mind at one time.  It is amazing I close any but I do for she complains.  She insists after I use the toaster and toaster oven I pull the plug.  I do, but every once in awhile I forget.  And then get yelled at for it.

Every marriage is really composed of many small things you work out between the two of you.  She does the checkbook for she has to balance it to the penny.  I would write in the register and make small errors and it would take her hours to locate them so I no longer write in the register.

It drove me nuts that our tax returns were always late.  I once asked her about it and it seems that her Dad’s returns were always late.  My parent’s were always on time.  Marriage is composed of myriad details you work out one by one.  Even making sure the dirty socks are not inside out.  She does the laundry.

Tags: balance the checkbook, cabinet doors, details in marriage, dirty socks, doing laundry, many small things in marriage, marriage, my parents, my wife, tax return, toaster oven, unplug the toaster
Posted in balance, humor, knowledge&learning, life, local, love, marriage, money, relationships, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I spritz the Boston fern in the post office almost every day.  And the Norfolk pine.  It is a conversation opener.  Last year the two Boston ferns were not doing well.  Then I started misting them both every day.

I had a running conversation with the clerk who has a dour disposition whether the two plants were going to make it.  It broke the ice.  We gradually became friends.  Now I say “Hello” to him every time I am in the post office.  And we usually exchange a few words.

I continue to mist the plants.  Sometimes I threaten to spray the postmaster.  She runs in the opposite direction when I point the mister towards her.  Or just laughs at me.  She knows I am not serious.  It is just a little game we play.

Other customers smile when they see me in the post office spraying the plants.  It is a great conversation opener.

Tags: Boston Fern, conversation opener, customers, friends, misting plants, Norfolk pine, plants, post office, postal clerk, postmaster
Posted in humor, local, nature, relationships, time | No Comments »

They almost did not make it on time:  She had gotten in the wrong lane and drove four miles unnecessarily.  They finally got to the carnival and she bought her excited kid a balloon.  The helium balloon was silver and quickly became a refugee.  It escaped her child’s grasp when she was jostled in a crowd.  The four year old was crying so hard she was trembling.  There would be hell to pay.  Her mother had been bamboozled and hounded by a salesperson who had tenaciously assured her, her kid would not lose the antler shaped balloon if she tied it to her pinkie.  Soon the balloon soared in the sky quickly became ant like in the sky.

Her Mom complained of her loss to that pretentious salesman stationed at his desk in his cranberry velvet suit.  He was the quintessential quick talker who knew how sacred her kid’s balloon was.  He explained to the bawling child the synchronicity of all balloons.  Of course not in those words, but said all balloons were born in the sky and when they were released they returned home.  He gave the child a torn velvet clothed doll to calm her down.

The kid left him clutching her doll tightly to her chest.  She had quite an adventure today.

Tags: adventure, all balloons born in the sky, all balloons go to Heaven, balloon, balloons returned home, carnival, four year old child, God, helium balloon, her child, lost balloon, mother, quick talker, salesman, short story, synchronicity, velvet clothed doll, writers, writing
Posted in animals, beauty, children, God, life, relationships, time, writing, your job/mission/profession | No Comments »

It was a small discovery but it gave me joy.  I noticed one cactus plant in my office had a bump on it almost a quarter inch high.  It was a very slow growing cactus so I was thrilled to notice that.  I will eventually point out this out (???) to my wife.  Life is full of small pleasures.  You just have to pay attention.  And appreciate them when they come along.

Tags: appreciate small discoveries, cactus plant, life is full of small pleasures, my office, my wife, small things give joy, you just have to pay attention
Posted in beauty, God, knowledge&learning, life, local, love, marriage, nature, seasons, time, wisdom | 1 Comment »

I left the door open to hear the cardinal sing although it let in some cool air.  It has been months since I heard one.  And I stood at the entrance to listen to the fifteen seconds of singing.  A few seconds later, I heard the cackle of a Pileated Woodpecker across the yard and from somewhere off in another direction the distant pecking of another woodpecker.

I must miss quite a bit since I usually do not get up before 9 AM.  I was going to church this morning and had set my alarm for 7:30.  I finally closed the door:  the brief concert was over.

Tags: bird concert, bird song, bird-watching, birds, cardinal, early morning, front door, God, going to church, Pileated Woodpecker, woodpeckers
Posted in beauty, birds, God, knowledge&learning, life, local, music, nature, seasons, time | No Comments »

I noticed the small pine tree in the pot outside near the driveway.  It was only three inches tall.  I wanted to transplant it on my property–somewhere I would remember and see how big it grew.  And then remember how small it once was.

All trees were once seeds strewn in the wind.  This property bought by my wife almost thirty years ago was barren and now the bushes are gigantic and woods and grass and trees are all over.  The land surrounding the house is no longer bare.

I wanted to see how much time the Lord afforded me.  I wanted to observe this small pine growing up and see if I could remember when it was this small.  At the beginning of the twentieth century the United States was denuded of much of its forests.

And they grew back.  I wanted to see how much time I would have.  I want to watch this small tree grow tall.

Tags: bushes, forests, God, grass, how much time we have, my wife, our house, pine tree, the Lord, the wind, tree seeds, trees, twentieth century, United States, want to watch the small tree grow, woods
Posted in beauty, death, God, knowledge&learning, life, local, nature, seasons, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I know I can’t be liked by everyone.  It really is impossible.  In fact, I found out often the people I dislike the feeling is often mutual.  I am who I am.  I know that.

If you insist everyone like you, you please no one.  It is really out of your control.  If you try to please everyone, you sway with every change of the wind and get viewed as a pansy.

Presidents know that very well.  All of them find out no matter what they do someone will not be happy with them.  And the best ones accept that.

I do not deliberately try to alienate any one.  Of course, you do not like it when your mate does not like something you do.  Although likes and dislikes come and go.  That is why commitment is so important.  It enables you to ride out the rough periods.

I did find that even if I initially dislike a fellow worker given enough time I usually end up liking the person.  But it takes time.  Maybe that is why your initial impression of someone has to be tempered with time.

You never know when your impression of someone will change.  Nevertheless you can’t be liked by every person.  And you just have to accept that.  There is no way to get around that.  So enjoy your friends.  They picked you.

Tags: can't be liked by everyone, commitment, dislike, enjoy your friends, fellow worker, initial impression of someone, likes and dislikes, please no one, president, tempered with time, time, your mate
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The reality of can’t.  There are some things we can not do.  Everyone is handicapped.  Of course, the handicaps are often invisible.  If there were thousands of talents in the world maybe you only possess several hundred.

The only tragedy of the word can’t is when you give up too soon and never find out what you can truly do.  And unfortunately that happens all the time.  That is why a computer can not replace a superb teacher (or parent or friend or mate) who can inspire you to greater heights.  No computer can do that.

Just realize there are some things you will never be able to do.  It is not one of your gifts.  Period.  And that is okay.  I believe each person I meet can do something well.  Much better than I ever can.  You just have to find his/her talent.

So don’t write off others, appreciate what they can do.  And accept your limitations.  But never give up on your talents.  Never.  Always try.  Don’t quit prematurely.

And it is not enough you can do something.  You have to want to.  That is another reality of the word.  Talent is not enough.  We are all wired differently.  So you have to listen to your mind and body.  And that is really part of the equation of the word can’t.

Tags: accept your limitations, appreciate others, can't, computer, don't quit, friend, give up too soon, greater heights, inspire you, listen to your mind and body, mate, never give up, parent, talents, teacher, the word can't, things we cannot do, want to do something, what you can do, your gifts, your talents
Posted in art, balance, beauty, God, knowledge&learning, life, marriage, time, wisdom, writing, your job/mission/profession | No Comments »

Take the time to learn other peoples’ names.  It always makes a difference.  Others want to be called by their proper names.  It always makes a difference.

So ask the names of people you have frequent contact with.  Do not hesitate to ask their names again and again until theirs are fixed in your mind.  Others always appreciate that.

Then you can gradually become more personal with them.  It might take awhile but you will learn about them quicker if you (first) went to the trouble of (first) learning their correct name.  It always starts there.

Tags: appreciate, ask the names of people, learn about other people, learn other people's names, make a difference, more personal, your name
Posted in knowledge&learning, life, relationships, time, wisdom | 2 Comments »

Everyone has a story.  You just have to stop and listen and observe.  Every one tells their story differently.  All the drama is there.  You often find out their tales in bits and pieces.  Very seldom will theirs completely unravel.

Most of the time you gets little pieces of theirs.  In little chunks.  Maybe ten, fifteen seconds at a time.  They do not have to know you.  It is hard not to reveal anything of yourself.

Your dress, manner and conversation speaks volumes.  You just have to listen.  Some people reveal triumph, others tragedy.  Others failure.  All you have to do is keep your eyes and ears open.

Others peoples’ story are always unraveling in front of you.  You have to take the time to listen.  That is all it takes.  A little patience and time.

Tags: bits and pieces, conversation, drama, everyone has a story, failure, keep your eyes and ears open, observe, patience, peoples' stories, reveal yourself, stop and listen, take time to listen, tales, tell your story, time, tragedy, triumph, your dress, your manner
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Love your pets while you still have them.  We put to sleep Slinky, one of our cats.  It was really hard.  She was this timid, really affectionate black cat I had since a kitty.

I woke up this morning and she was no longer there.  She was in heaven.  I would do any thing to see her again.  At least, she was no longer suffering.

Lynelle and I gently stroked her body as she lay on the table as the vet administered the drug that put her to sleep.

She was this innocent gentle cat that loved to hang out in the bathroom window and never got enough of our strokes.  I had taken her for granted.

I wish I had appreciated her more when she was on this earth.  I have now seven cats and four dogs.  I no longer want to take any of my pets for granted.  They are only on loan to us.  As every thing else.

Tags: affectionate, animals, bathroom window, black cat, cat, dogs, eight cats, everything is on loan to us, four dogs, God, Heaven, kitty cat, love your pets, no longer suffering, on this earth, pets, pets are on loan to us, put to sleep, seven cats, Slinky, take for granted, veterinarian
Posted in animals, beauty, death, God, health, life, local, love, pets, relationships, time, wisdom | 4 Comments »