DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE #251

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 - The rich, full, and deep greens of the summer at full throttle are beginning to lose their grip and shades and hues are softening to a lighter shade.  All the signs that the winter months are inching their way into the picture are evident if you just look to see them.  While we are thoroughly blessed in our state to be spared the harshest of winter’s assault, the price we pay comes at the expense of the vibrant and elegant colors of the central US where autumn hosts the blustery breezes with a brisk chill that ignites the resident foliage into an explosion of the reds and yellows that have come to be the palette of fall.  Here in the South, autumn is also a most enjoyable change in climatic conditions, unfortunately however, the season passes way too quickly – both days.  As the approach of Winter Solstice nears, the refrain of an old home song speaks volumes:

Back home again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candle light, still burning bright,
Through the Sycamores for me.
The new-mown hay sends all its fragrance
Through the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
Then I long for my Indiana home.

At least, while I think of the Midwestern autumn leaves, I will miss the old home days – and that will last until I hear the first reports of sleet and snow - then when you ask me what I think of my Indiana home, my thoughts may have a slightly different perspective.

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ANOTHER VACATION #250

Monday, September 7, 2009 - After spending last week in Illinois, vacationing and visiting with my mother, we have returned home to a monumental stack of ‘need to get done’ items on a seemingly ever-growing list.  You see, the holidays are rapidly approaching and since we are generally the hub of all the family activities in that window there are many preparations to be made.  Included within the list are also the normal household things as well – you know what I am talking about – the fill assembly that needs replacing in the master bath toilet, the cold water line in my lavatory, the gasket between the disposal and the sink that is supposed to keep the mélange of waste inside the unit when it is on – you guessed it – if you don’t hold your hand just so over the opening while grinding up the scrapings from dinner, you will be wearing some of the fare yourself.  Oh, the list is much longer, I assure you!  Fall window washing, the hardwood floors that need cleaning, new electric to be run in the front and back – you guessed it again – we will not be finished by year’s end, if ever.  Just thinking of all the ‘undones’ that need to be ‘got dones’ and I think I may need another vacation.

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EAR-TO-EAR #249

As I sat motionless and speechless on the bronze-colored leather sofa in our family room, my gaze was transfixed on our grandson of 20 months less two days.  What an incredible transformation has taken place in the brevity of a mere three or four months.  He was engrossed in imaginary cooking at this Fisher-Price Living Center, a plastic wonderland of kitchen fantasy – miniature stainless steel skillets, spatula and whisk – neoprene simulated bright green peas, orange carrots, and chicken nuggets – the whole fare.  What had me most fascinated was the maturity from formerly using the aforementioned food items for projectiles and items to be hidden under the couch and in plastic drawers, as he had been doing only weeks ago, to intensely accurate preparatory activities including sophisticated motor-control maneuvers like stirring, flipping, and serving the faux foods in culinary acceptable arrangements.  I was so overjoyed at seeing his development and I deliberated within the confines of my analysis if this observation process is anything like what goes through God’s mind as he observes His creation transition from misuse of the talents and gifts He has made available to us which we could not comprehend until, in the flash of a moment, we learn to employ the tools to perform within the proper utility of His intended purpose - at those times, He must truly be smiling ear-to-ear.

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SUMMERFEST 248

As a young man growing up in the Midwest, summertime fare featured several home-grown favorites.  They may have actually ‘become’ favorites due to the frequency of appearances in my youth, but for whatever the reason, they appear on the marquis list now.  Early in the day, we discussed what we might ‘throw on the grill’ for the evening supper and discussion gave way to decision and, before you could say “Jack Robinson” the menu was set – succulent, mouth-watering, medium rare lean-ground burgers served on bakery-fresh buns with all the accoutrements  necessary to accessorize such a backyard entrée – add one medium steaming baked Yukon Gold potato swimming in a pool of molten yellow butter, a monstrous ear of large tightly-kernelled golden corn-on-the-cob cooked to absolute perfection, tender and sweet, and to finish it all off, red, ripe, tasty and dripping-off-your-elbows juicy seedless watermelon, and you have the perfect response to the age-old question, “Is there anything that beats a steak on the grill?”.  One might think that when a man grows up that he outgrows this summer-fest of outdoor cuisine and perhaps some men do – just not this one!!  Saturday, September 05, 2009 

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