Violating Guidelines

Yesterday was the 4th of July, so Hil and I broke the rules (“guidelines”) and went out to my sister’s house for a BBQ.  We know it’s poor form, but sometimes you risk more than you should to be with family (Gemutlichkeit) – if only because these moments will be fewer in the future than they’ve been in the past.  It doesn’t make it “right”, but we ate outdoors and, when inside, the rooms had the exterior doors and windows open.  Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny and warm day with a steady, cooling breeze coming off the Bay.  Oh, yeah, and except for the time it took to take these photos, we were mostly socially distanced.  Anyway, here’s three photos commemorating our throwing caution to the wind…  (And one for history.)
Me in my “flag” cap…
With the hostess… (2020 version)
Kev & Carm at 4th of July 2016 BBQ
And with our mom (who now lives with my sister).
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On This Day In:
2019	I Walk Faster (Too)
2018	Modern Day Behaviour
2017	On Misogynist Tweets From #DumbDonald
2016	Cowboy Boots & Missing Teeth
	Or Electricity
2015	Oh, To Be Vulnerable
2014	Neglected Horror
2013	The Price Of Illusions
2012	Once Again
2011	And The “Market” Isn’t Always Right

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Learn To Forgive Yourself

If God has forgiven you your past, you have no right to continue clinging to it.
—   Alex Rebello
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On This Day In:
2019	I Walk Faster (Too)
2018	Modern Day Behaviour
2017	On Misogynist Tweets From #DumbDonald
2016	Cowboy Boots & Missing Teeth
	Or Electricity
2015	Oh, To Be Vulnerable
2014	Neglected Horror
2013	The Price Of Illusions
2012	Once Again
2011	And The “Market” Isn’t Always Right

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At Least Until The Rainbow Comes

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.  It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
—    Vivian Greene
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On This Day In:
2019	And/Or A Great Soulmate
	Austen Stalking
2018	Dead Red
	You Ain’t Done Yet
2017	Just Because
2016	As Close As They Can Get
2015	And So I Blog
2014	Take Flight
2013	Contributing Joy
2012	More Than A Race
2011	Institutionalized Leadership

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Know Love

The best way to know God is to love many things.
—   Vincent Van Gogh
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On This Day In:
2019	Spoiler Alert
2018	Tic-Toc
2017	Explaining Working Class Support For Donald
2016	Not In My Experience
2015	Effort
2014	Honest Wants
2013	Faith, n.
2012	Surprise Me
2011	Confused With Truth

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Still Learning

No man ever prayed heartily without learning something.
—  Ralph Waldo Emerson
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On This Day In:
2019	Almost Hallmark
	Beyond All Reason
2018	Daydreams And Wanna-Be’s
	Or Work For #45
2017	Summer Pale
2016	Ain’t It Funny
2015	At Both Ends
2014	Whiner(s)
2013	Just Passing Through
2012	Dog-gone Heaven
2011	Occasional, Sad Results

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Two Loves

You can be a follower of Muhammad or Jesus or Buddha or whomever.  Always, they said that the most essential factor is to love your neighbor.  And to love you.
—   Leo Buscaglia
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On This Day In:
2019	Don’t Forget: Fire Burns
2018	Especially In The Middle East
2017	A Good Local
2016	Life Unlimited
2015	Still Trying
2014	Destiny, n.
2013	No Apologies
2012	Utterly Convinced
2011	A Key To Effectiveness

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Necessary Events

If you have experienced even a single moment of real joy in life, and you understand how all the other events in your life were necessary in order to bring this moment about, then you can affirm and justify the totality of your life and find joy in its infinite repetitions.
—  Dennis Sweet
From his introduction to the “new” edition of: “Thus Spoke Zarathustra“
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On This Day In:
2019	I May Have Started Too Soon
2018	But Me
2017	A Little More, Please
2016	In Full Vigor
2015	A Good Lad
2014	Who Dare Not Speak
2013	I Love Beer
2012	Trial By Jury
2011	First Class
	Got Knowledge?

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Happy Meeting Day 36 (And Counting)

Thirty-Six years ago I met the love of my life…   And holding her hand still makes me happy inside.
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On This Day In:
2019	Happy Meeting Day 35 (And Counting)
2018	Happy Meeting Day 34 (And Counting)
	Storytelling
2017	Happy Meeting Day 33 (And Counting)
2016	Picture Perfect
2015	Life Showed Compassion
2014	And Then I Met Her
2013	Defining Maleness
	The Run Continues
2012	All Set
2011	Not Always

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Nearer My God To Thee, By George

Hil’s Mum and Dad with Big Smiles
Early this morning, my mother-in-law, Doreen Carter passed away from COVID-19 back in Liverpool, England.  She was predeceased by her husband, George Carter, by some twenty-years.  They are survived by their three children and five grand-children.  Below are some photos to remind us of her journey through life…
Hil’s mum (as a little girl) and her mum at the beach.
George and Doreen in their wedding limo…
The newlyweds with their parents…
Doreen and her three at the beach… (Hil on the left)
Grand-dad (Doreen’s father), Doreen and the three on picnic…
A (Brit-side) family portrait…
The American side…
George, Doreen and our Sarah (back when we lived in Liverpool)
And more recently…
“Nana” and Hil in Mike and Viv’s back garden…
A recent Facebook post…
Together again…
In our hearts, thoughts and prayers…
Way back in 2011, I posted a conversation I had with “Nana” Carter:  Things I’ve Learned From Life – Nana Carter
Her thoughts on “Life’s Lessons” may give you some insight into our loss…
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On This Day In:
2019	Laugh With Me
2018	Both Sides, Mr. President?
2017	Republicans Better Wake Up
2016	Truth Telling
2015	To Be Effective In The Modern World
2014	A Little Cover
2013	Binding
2012	Lift
2011	Another Good Movie, Another Excellent Book
	miSFits
	I’m Just Not Sure

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Trying To Grow Pearls?

The Master had no use at all for scholarly discourses.  He called them “pearls of wisdom.”  “But if they are pearls, why do you scorn them?” said the disciples.  “Have you ever known pearls to grow when planted in a field?” was the reply.
—    Anthony de Mello, SJ
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On This Day In:
2019	Instantly Turned
2018	Sitting
2017	No Right Way
2016	Still Ticklish
2015	Maybe Sooner Than You Think
2014	The Path Of Mastery
2013	Love’s Ignorance
2012	Here’s To Enjoyment
2011	Not Just The Facts, Ma’am

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I’m From Missouri

[The Sunday following Easter Sunday is the day Catholics are reminded of the story of “Doubting Thomas“:
19 In the evening of that same day [Easter], the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.  Jesus came and stood among them.  He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’
20 and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord,
21 and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.‘
22 After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.‘
24 Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord,’ but he answered, ‘Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’
26 Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them.  The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.  ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.
27 Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands.  Give me your hand; put it into my side.  Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.‘
28 Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’
29 Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.‘
30 There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.
31 These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
[In my lifetime, I have been a believer, an agnostic, an atheist, and an on-again / off-again believer / agnostic.  I am currently a believer (with doubts).  My doubts are not about God.  My doubts are about the Church and religion I CHOOSE to follow.  As a practicing Catholic, I simply cannot tolerate the child abuse scandals which have come to light in the past few decades.  I recognize the Church is made up of individuals and sometimes they can be spiritually weak and fail in their personal duties and responsibilities.  But I cannot accept the institutional toleration of crimes against children (or the elderly).  I believe the arc of history bends towards justice.  I believe the touch of the Holy Spirit guides the Church on its own arc towards justice.  I believe in a just AND a loving God.  I do not fear God’s wrath against the Church of my faith as much as I dread God’s indifference in a time of need.  I am still waiting for this generation of Church leaders to ACT.  Justice will come.  The question which remains to be answered is whether today’s leaders place greater value on the followers or on the institution?  By your acts we shall know you.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Before & After
	Quiet, Please!
2018	Heavy On The Starch
2017	But The Beginning Of What?
2016	Today’s Rule
2015	Remembering Oklahoma City
2014	Who Was That Masked Man?
2013	Enemy Mine
2012	Strengthen Me
2011	Service, Please
2010	The Church In Crisis…

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Neither Alone, Nor Lonely

In America, all most of us are being asked to do is stay home, sit on our butts and watch television.  Why are folks acting like this is this so difficult a request?
Happy Easter, everyone!!  Christ is Risen!!  My God counts the insects, the birds, the plants, the fish, the animals and the grains of sand.  And if you are not a Christian, then stay safe anyway.  If you are reading this, know that you and yours are in my prayers and in my positive thoughts…  Namaste!
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On This Day In:
2019	That’s Why It’s Called Faith
2018	So We Agree, #45 Is Dumb – Too
2017	The Morality Of Spying
2016	He Doesn’t Remind Me Of Me
	The First Rule
2015	Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow
	The Man Without Fear
2014	I Blame Robocop
2013	Future Trustees
2012	Praise Not The Day…
2011	Educated Living

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Make A Fuss

If one is going to change things, one has to make a fuss and catch the eye of the world.
—  Elizabeth Janeway
[Happy Birthday, James!  —  Mum and Dad (KMAB)]
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On This Day In:
2019	Hopefully, You’re Learning To Forgive
2018	Enjoy The Sunsets As Well As The Sunrises
2017	Enjoy
2016	I Got A Feeling
2015	Fiction Leading To History
2014	A Self-Correcting Process
2013	None But He Knows
2012	99% Are Demanding
2011	All In The Family
	Take Your Pick

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To My Idealistic Sister

Ideals do not determine what we do to make a living in life; they govern what we become as we do it.
—  Joan Chittister
[Happy Birthday, Sis!!   You inspire us by always remaining true to your ideals.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Respect For My Sister
2018	I Trust Cows
	No Boundary
2017	Don’t Sink Now
2016	A Burning Passion To Teach Freedom
2015	Before Debit (And Credit) Cards
2014	Herding Cats
2013	Ooops!
2012	Understand A Great Truth
2011	Start Here…
2010	Random Acts of Vandalism On Easter Weekend…

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Hanging In There

I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.
—  Yogi Berra
[When my mom comes over to “visit”, after saying hello to everyone, she sits in the Lazy-Boy, pulls a blanket over her lap and lets the TV watch her sleep until she’s ready to go home.  She particularly enjoys sports and news.  Still, she loves visiting us (at 93).  Happy Birthday, Mom!!
We love you!  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Her Job, Too
2018	Just Another Song I Like
	Earlier Still
2017	Ten To Go
2016	Unstable Emergence
2015	88
2014	Some One-Liners Are Too Easy
2013	Greatness
2012	Memories Of Arlington
2011	Wake Up

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