Wishy washy......

Ain't that life?

As always, I've had a dadgum hard time in ciphering what I felt like writing about.  I thought about stupid observations along life's way, then thought "nah".... but then i remembered friend David saying something to the effect of "we don't know whatintheheck you're saying, but we enjoy reading it."

So what the hey.......  I've noticed 66.6% (2 or 3) men, wash their hands after peeing.  So, you ask (I know you wouldn't, didn't, but patronize me).. women?  100%.  100% of the times I entered the women's restroom to balance the survey, see from their shoes, I was kicked out.

See?  What Moffitt said.

Traffic annoyance.  Don't anyone follow rules any more?  (Victor?  There are rules.. to the road?)  Uh huh, what I thought.  Yesterday I was at a light... Facing North.  There was a car across from me, facing South.  She (oops, sorry) turning Left onto a Three lane road going East, me, turning Right onto Three lane road going East, same way as her.  She must've had a green light, she turned.  I, not needing a green light, after coming to a complete stop turned right into the inside lane (dats where the law says I must turn) at the same time She turned left...  It was my belief, the law indicates she turn into her inside lane.  SHE. HONKED. HER ASS. OFF. AT. ME. Exxxxxxxxxccccccuuuuuuussssseeeee me, I wasn't aware you needed all three lanes.

See?  I'm nuts.  Maybe that one guy that 'liked', agreed with Moffitt, the one that I ain't seen before in 12 years of writing this crap, will once again, comment, or something in agreement of me being nuts..

I don't rightly care no mo' what others think.  It's a glorious feeling.  I keep a pee cup in my car too. I'm 73, I pee way more times than I'd like. Sometimes I ain't got time to turn (get honked at) pull into the QT, wait, as being the 4th in line to the urinals.... so... I park. I pee in my cup. I open door, I poor it out.  Uh huh, do.   It's a red Landing cup I keep tucked way up under the passenger seat, don't never drink outta it.

And then, I got all serious in thinking about grief.  The loss of a loved one.  Should I feel guilty, am I nuts in that sense too.... that these feelings surface:

Shock.  Numb.  Denial.  Disbelief.  Disorganization.  Anxiety.  Guilt.  Regret.  Sadness.  Depression.  Physical symptons.  Spiritual questions.  And even sometimes, relief.

YES, normal to feel, to all of the above.

Is it normal to feel guilt the next, very first time you catch yourself smiling, laughing, having fun?   YES.

Is it, can it be hard to look at pictures of your loved one?  YES.  Or so many sites I saw indicated it was normal.

So.  I'm deducting the following:

Ya damn right you should wash your hands after peeing.  I saw online a bar that somehow had it eletronically rigged, where if a dude went to pee and didn't wash his hands after, lights would flash, bells and whistles happened "DIDN'T WASH HANDS" would light up, said patron was greeted with a unanimous EWW upon restroom exit.

But................ ifn's you're 73, have a probable enlarged prostate, can't no longer run the pee pee dance 50 yards (and start leaking, after going about 30 yards) by all mean, pee in a cup. Wash your hands first chance you get.

Ya damn right you turn into the inside lane, and you're an idiot, stupid driver should you not. And if you honk, add ............. B, to that.

Grief?  A little tougher nut to crack, but we'll all get there.

Love, Victurd

I read the News today oh boy........

With 'Bits and Pieces' thanks to lyrics of The DC Five:

A volunteer for a Children's Home.... a Builder's Class..  A Service Network that moves families out of poverty toward improved quality of life and self-sufficiency.. Choirs... Mayoral Committee...  City Citizen of the Year.. County Volunteer of the year...

Another who volunteered for a League of Women focusing on women's and children's well-being, education and health..... a group focusing on Colonial history preservation, education an patriotism.. and, to mention a talent in the beauty of nature outside, bringing it in to display for others inside the home....

One who wrote a manual for a new long distance, which ultimately led to replacing the use of operators... juggled Church Administrator, Organist, Chairman of Missions, and Outreach Committee... a Discipleship ministry for boys focused on building godly men through activities, mentorship and spiritual growth, Young Life Chairman, Church Fundraiser, etc etc etc.

Another....... member of Missouri and American Poly Sci Association.. Wrote four books.. (40's Sports Heroes, Atomic Energy Law, Constitutional Law, History of a Coal Company..  Gathered, outfitted, coached eager kids in the mini-track club he personally organized.. Ran a gym, when the business ended, donated all the Nautilus equipment to a local University..

I got fatigued simply reading all those accomplishments...   Those four have recently moved on from our Earth, and it's a certainty, they're continuing their good elsewhere..

And............. oh yeah........... they had jobs.........

And............ oh yeah........... families........

And............. oh yeah....... Every. Single. Day. I read the Ugly that dominates our News today. TV. Radio. Social Media.  Seeing something on Social Network as simple as..... seeing a car for sale...  a group convo on how a college sport team is doing... a restaurant review on a local site........ within the first five entries, people are at the throats of others.  Name-calling, mudslinging, hatred spewed from a keyboard.

I'm in pieces, bits and pieces... all I do is sit and cry......

Thank you thank you thank you to The Greatest Generation examples above of folks who spread good... care... concern for others......  rather than standby, armed with a barrel of manure and a shovel readied to shove it on someone.

Seems we could all learn from their examples......  perhaps pull ourselves up by our bootstraps........ concentrate on good......... giving.......... niceness......... to give another Dave Clark Five record a chance.........

And I'm feelin', glad all over yes I'm glad all over.

Why's it so hard?

I'm gonna...........

Hibernate.

Uh huh, am.

Katie Horner.  Victor?  Who's she?  She's a local weather lady Channel 9.  This morning, one hand on my coffee, one eye, here...... one eye, one ear, on her....... she announced...... "Sunday, wind chills below zero."  Now I enjoy Katie.... after years and years of study, comparing each forecaster's predictions vs actuals, she's way more accurate than Busby, Bender, Grigsby, Miller and Foster. (by a lot).... NOTHING to do with her being fitty, looking like she's 25, fit, trim, gorgeous complexion and I NEVER mentioned body parts.... and I NEVER complain like many when she turns sideways and ya can't even see Lawrence, KS on the map.  NOT a Jayhawk fan, don't bother me a bit.

So, there's the cold... and.....

EVERYTHING is more expensive... Needs (cigs, Natty Light) and Wants (food, rent, utilities, taxes, that crap.) and...........  The rising costs to Medicare, completely wiped out any increase in Social Security.

I read the news today oh boy......  THAT.  Not ONLY, are the Chiefs NOT in the playoffs... I hadn't noticed, but someone mentioned our Continental Divide is worser than ever before.

So...... joining the list....... bears, ground squirrels, bats, hedgehogs, chipmunks (Alvin?  Get in here!  Alvin?  ALVIN!!!!! "OK!"... dormice (what's a dormice), skunks, opossums, snakes, turtles, frogs, ladybugs, bumblebees... a lot of us are.

As I age........... I just likes the sounds of some of the aspects of hibernation.

Minimal activity.  Sign me up Gomer, I'm right there withya. Maynard G. Krebs, you comin?

Before entering hibernation, animals need to store enough energy to last through the duration of their dormant period.  Larger species eat a large amount of food and storing the energy in their bodies in the form of fat deposits.  Tell 'em Austin! YEAH BABY, pass the Twinkies Sherlock, flip those funnel cakes Arnold!! Hyperphagic, they call it.  Whatever, sign me up Goober!  Ms. Piggy?  You in? (Kermit is fer sure)

So.......... ya think this means I'll go in the ground fat, then, once Pux gives the OK, I'll come out skinny?  Ain't no GI Blues here, let's go Elvis! We both could use it!

Researchers have studied how to induce hibernation in humans.  You could... hibernate 'em, treat the ones with afflictions whilst they snooze...  or, traveled to Mars...turna' last Century, the Brits tried to help some peasant Ruskies by having families sleep six months around the stove, waking up once a day for bread and water...  You in Boris?  Natasha?

I mean........ what better?

Mahomes would be damn near healed....... ICE melted.. it's a joke son.... Midterms near... and, Katie only fitty-one.

Who needs five months of Mehico?  A hunnerd-plus at night at an Arizona RV Park.... 

My pocketbook.......... my fatness.... and my disposition all vote yes.

Taking a long Blogcation....... There's a snow shovel and a bag and half of ice melt in the shed if anyone needs it.

Good day(s)........ Paul Harvey

Love, Victurd

 

Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood... in your neighborhood?

The Muppets tossed about the Mailman.... and.... the Fireman... and, it's twue, it's reawwy twue...  and, where I live, well, Agnes is next door... Mr. Davis, catacorner across the street... Opal next door to him........

Yeah yeah yeah, but, not really what I meant.

Oh the games minds play now, every night and every day now...... (crapola, tangent warning, here he goes!)

I have moments.  I look at my phone..  nope, no texts.  Then, check the recently called me list.. huh uh, nuttin' there.  So, naturally, my mind takes a walk down 'poor poor pitiful me road'...  Them thoughts up there in the brain... I'm just sure it's akin to needin' to clean your gutters out... or, have one'a the fitty local "YOU HAVE TO get your ducts cleaned out" companies that clog up Facebook. And, reckon we do.  We all visit the boxing ring of our brain to have a sparring bout.  All too frequently.

To have a friend, we learn, we gotta be one.

Why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends... Lemme ask first, WHY do we NEED friends?  Mebbe I'll Google it...  I dunno about you, but, at this point in my life I don't needs no Encyclopedia Brittanica, Yahoo, Google, and especially HELL TO THE NO'S I don't need, want, amscray AI, don't let the dangling participle hitya in the ass..... BUT(T?).......

In this instance, I kinda did like AI's response as to why we need friends:

Friends provide crucial emotional support, reduce stress, combat loneliness, boost happiness, improve mental and physical health and offer different perspectives, helping us feel a sense of belonging and purpose, leading to a more fulfilling life.  Friends are essential companions for celebrating joys, navigating hardships, building self-esteem and encouraging personal growth, acting as a vital buffer against life's challenges.

Nicely done AI, and, conversely, it too feels pretty darn good to be on the 'giving end' of friendship...

We are unique in life......  our age..... our disposition... so, so many factors... where we live, what we look like, our families (or not)..our health... our economic situation... PARTNER (or not)... siblings, cousins, other fam... jobs can uproot us to different zips, time zones...

"Friendship is not something you learn in school.. but, if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."    Muhammed Ali

OK, I admit, it feels pretty darn good when someone looks you in the eye.... or, calls you on the phone, and specifically asks "How are you doing?"  We needs it... and again, it must travel East and West, North and South, both directions.

Perhaps the Muppets were even smarter than we thought......... the Fireman, a great example.. one might grease the pole a little so he, his friends can board the firetruck a little faster...  another, might operate the ladder lift.... raising his friend up in time of need..    And, I think it's known and common most everywhere, Firemen (and Women) work 24 hour shifts.. so... there can be oodles and oodles of time to sit around, enjoy camaraderie, become wonderful buddies with great emphasis on helping.  I've found, any job where plenty of time is allotted 'off task', healthier work habits happen... greater friendships are achieved.  Just my take.

"I have learned that to be with those I like is enough."  Walt Witman

"Pickya a friend who can make driving to the gas station to get gas, FUN."  Rufus Iheard Itsomehwere

"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it."  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

We've heard.... Friends don't let friends...  drive drunk... give friends haircuts.. hire their friends.. a true friend intervenes to prevent a friend from doing something foolish, harmful, or embarrassing, even if it is unpopular advice...  friends, dont let ice buildup on the electrical line over the head of their friendship - for you never ever want that severed.

Can you imagine someone who doesn't have any friends?

I gotta go... I'm gonna run out and ask Mr. Davis whyinthehell is he mowing his yard at 7am, waking up Agnes, Opal, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, the firehouse boys and girls... me.. .and...  I MEAN... I'm going out to see if he needs a glass of iced tea.  yeah, that's it.  He's a good friend!

Love, Victurd

Oh But Interesting Tell Us All Remembered Years

Oh

But

Interesting

Tell

Us

All

Remembered

Years

Get it?  Got it.....

I'm weird, but you knew that.  My daily routine - awaken.  Be thankful.  Sit on edge of bed long enough to see if I remember whointhehell I am, what day it is, and, most importantly, which way to the john. (Yesterday kinda frightened me. After putting out on hole #7, I walked and sat in the wrong golf cart.  Ya never know ya know?)

After that, make coffee, chromebook to 'DailySudoku' (It's easy on Monday, works it's way harder thru the week, Sunday is a bitch, I LOVE a good challenge.).. Fill coffee cup.  Read local sports.  Then, obituaries.

I understand that (to read or not to read an obit) is a thing of choice.  I'm weird (we established that), but, I'm weird in that, I NEVER want anyone to die, but I gotta admit - I enjoy reading, learning about other's lives.

Yes, there are the basics.. born where, when, to who... survived by.... suggested donations if folks feel so moved to do so.... and, services, date, time, place.

That's kinda like a book.... Title... Table of Contents... Main chapters.. Indexes.. we all gots that. I wanna hear the core narrative baby.  Tell me about this person, who this person was.  Is fun legal?

Can we include "Mildred used to bake chocolate chip cookies and would leave them on her front porch for when the neighborhood kids would enter her yard to retrieve their Wiffle ball." Or, hell, if that wasn't the case.... tell us..... "Herbert, when the kids would hit their Wiffle ball in the yard, would crank up his weed eater and chase the little bastards away."

Who are you?  Who, who, who, who?  Who are you... or, better said "Who were you?  Who, who, who who? 'Cause I really wanna know (Who were you?  Who, who, who, who?)

Problem is, it's often written by loved ones... so it's a third person view from their shoes.  I guess, sometimes, that could be good.  You know, like, "Boyd cared more about that damn dog than he did any of my family members."  Boyd is left defenseless.. were he able, he mighta answered "Bruiser (the hound) never borrowed money that he didn't repay, he never griped about this, that or the other (continually) and, he was always welcome, he never wore that out."

Plaguerized (NO, not YOU Victor? Uh huh, me... a couple below from Readers's Digest)...  "Faced with the prospect of voting for either Donald Trump or Hiliary Clinton, Mary Anne chose to pass into the eternal love of God."

"She loved her family more than anything else....except cold Budweiser, room temperature Budweiser, fall follage, the OJ chase, and the OJ trial."

June, 2015.  He was kinda boring.  His family honored his choice to pen his own.  It was, simply, "Doug died."  Let's just say it gives new meaning to the old adage "brevity is the soul of wit."

And, Emily Debrayda Phillips, self penned "It pains me to admit it, but apparently I have passed away."  She mentioned she wasn't sorry for making her daughter wear "no frills" jeans as a kid, nor for red-shirting her son... back in kindergarten (No, seriously, Red Rover is surprisingly competitive...."If you want you can look for me into the evening sunset or with the earliest daffodils or among the flitting and fluttering butterflies... you know I'll be there in one form or the other... Of course, that will probably comfort some while antagonizing others, but you know me... it's what I do.  Any questions?  TOO LATE!"

I really wanna know............ Did he own twelve hammers because his garage was so dirty, messy, he'd buy another when he couldn't find it........ or, "Sam was particular, mebbe OCD. If you put a box end wrench in an open end sleeve, you were never allowed in his home again."

Did he/she snore?  A lot?  Busy body?  "Her lasagna was the bomb, recipe passed down from her Italian grandmother."  "He/she couldn't cook a lick, I never said nuttin' but many a night after he/she went to bed, I snuck a bologna sandwich"

"She liked your or she didn't, it was black or white.  As her children, we are still trying to figure out which one if was for us (we know she loved us.)"

"It is believed she passed away peacefully at age 94, believed to be caused from carrying her oxygen tank up the long flight of stairs to her bedroom that made her heart give out.  She left behind a hell of a lot of stuff to her daughters and sons who have no idea what to do with it."

I know many disagree... about fun...  that's ok, I'm good with that.  We talked yesterday, I think levity helps virtually any situation, especially maybe the really crappy situations, of which death can certainly be one.

I honestly do enjoy reading what loved ones have to say... it can be very touching..  some paint very vivid pictures... sure, some are mundane (scroll to levity... or, really knowing about someone.  Ominous task, a one page wrap on one's life.

This morning, there were only two in the paper.  The first one, astutely written, I think I woulda liked getting to be a friend with the guy.  The second one........ I clicked the link..... it took me to..........."FORBIDDEN" some # error message, 404 maybe.  So, I switched to my phone, tried there........... same.

For shame for the fella.  Will never know.  All I really wanna do is know people.  I enjoy people, even if perhaps too late to sit and enjoy a dinner with them.

Memories fade..  obits go in the ICloud or whatever they call it.  Stand up and be counted.  No, that ain't.  Lay down is fine, but be counted.  And let us (you or your loved ones) know who are you.... who who who who.  We really wanna know.

Oh But Interesting Tell Us All Remembered Years........... before it's too late.

Maybe I'd mention "I never cheated on her... or at Wordle... I did once, not say nuttin' when I gave a lady a 10 and she gave me change for a 20... sorry... kinda... I enjoyed my beer, my cigs, outta leftfield humor.. I was far, far, far from perfect but all I really wanted was to be known as a good guy.  And, find a woman that really enjoyed........... well, nevermind. Garage sales, yeah, that's it, garage sales.

Love, Victurd

The never annual 2026 "Checkenginelight Awards"......

In keeping with Rhyme and Reason (ie, about all he does is steal song lyrics [Rhyme]... adds his own thoughts..[Reason, as in whatintnehell is he talking about?] there is no particular order, logic, popularity, 1st or 2nd or 3rd, nope, nonea that)....... no Order (just like, my junk drawer... the front and backseat of my car with hamburger wrappers, hammers, RainX, mouthwash, cologne, brush, see the pattern?  Me neither).. no order.......

The Been There, Read That, Day After Day After Day Award goes to friend David S.  Normally published way too early Pacific time, he always manages to read, usually comment, from a treadmill somewhere aside the Sea Of Cortez.  I owe him many Pesos for his every day hitchhiking.

The Catch Em Doing Good goes to friend David M.  David could, would qualify for many awards, including the "BRB, Lemme Lookup What You Said In My Funk and Wagnalls" the "NoDoz I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" for the toothpicks he certainly keeps his eyelids open with, from late Eastern to hella early Pacific.  David is remarkably creative, owns, runs, a remarkable software business, has a remarkable family, and three remarkable hounds I ain't even gonna try to spell the breed of.

The I'm Really Nice And A Good, Calm Friend award goes to Susan.  Susan is first to compliment, do/say things friends do/say... If the United States was full of Susans, we wouldn't have the discourse we witness daily today.

The Carol Burnett I Want Fun Award goes to friend Phyllis. Happy Capital H, Fun, Capital F, and Loyal, Capital L.

The Sly and The Family Stone Wanna Take You Higher Award goes to buddy Bear.  No, he's not a drug dealer, he is one of the prime oranizers, doers, of a group of kind men in his Community that raise funds, then use those funds to purchase materials, then, sweat and build, loooong wooden handicap access ramps for residents at no cost to them.  Kudos Buddy!

The Biblical Quote A Day goes to buddy Pie. He never takes a day off on his posts, and more importantly, he lives the life.  Kudos Steve!

The Worlds Best Juggler Award goes to friend Liz.  Mom, Granny, Corgi Mom, the Middle Sibling of a Pierce Liz Tommy sammich, Lifelong friend to the same ole same ole wonderful group of ladies forever... congrats.....

The Pig and Bernie, Yes I'm Happy, No, it's Not Drugs Award goes to friend Joyce.  There is but one beat, up.  As in upbeat.  Very cool!

The Fitty Fitty Award, goes to buddy Terry  Fitty Percent Humor, Fitty Percent Strong Posted Beliefs... all, from the easy chair of calmness. Cool.  And that he is.

The Warmth From Afar award goes to friend Vicki, never forgetting her KC, WJC roots...... friends starting many years ago, close, thanks to her, Facebook, today.

The Yeah Buddy I'm A Buddy Buddy Award to friend Janice. Always supportive, always up for fun, alway loyal. Cool.

The Most Likely To Succeed Hell, He Done Did It Award goes to friend Larry.  If you need an Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lincoln, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Hyumda i, Volkswagon, or... a 5-10 minute meetup with guaranteed humor, seek him out. Congrats Larry, a life well done.

The Best Supporting I'm Not An Actor I'm A Real Friend to friend Ryan, thank you Ryan!

The I'm ALMOST As Popular As My Hound Buddy Award goes to one of the nicest men I know, Randy.

The Big'N Award goes to Big'N, now a kinda sorta Texan, they STILL, haven't forgotten "The (Basketball) Shot" from these parts, years ago.

The I'm Now Making (Rockies) Mountains Out Of (Flint Hills) Mole Hills friend Schwabby.  We may bat heads over KS/MO, brothers forever.

The Certainly Among The Best Grandpa's Ever Award, friend Brian.  His excitement about that is crazy good to witness.

The I Commented For The First Time On Blog Number 12,763 friend Pat.  I'll see you again on blog #25,526 when we're both 97.

The Best Niece Award (tie between Valerie and Vickie!)

I know I'll leave some out (apoligies) and that worries me, but please know, I appreciated any, everyone that comes by.

Off to pee, then Piggly Wiggly to buy something for this itchy itchy rash. Thank you ALL for being here!

Award list has been protected by PricewaterhouseCoopers because we kinda thought Steve Harvey would be too busy.

Love, Victurd

So..... when are you considered 'old'?

Kids might say....

When you get lines and vines.......

When you grow a beard or a mustache....

When you need help figuring out electronics.....

When you become a 'repeater'...  I agree kid, color me guilty.

When you have readers everywhere

Some, even made up a list

Talking about 'the good old days'

Gardening

Drinking Tea

Listening to the radio

Watching daytime TV

Talking about aches and pains

Sleeping

Knitting

Complaining about the weather

Doing crosswords.

What year were you born Grandpa........... 1952...    and, you're not dead?

We, of age, might say

When you can cough, fart, sneeze and pee at the same time.

When, the only females that pursue you are mosquitos

You knew the Dead Sea when it was only sick

When the candles cost more than the cake.....

Married twice, which, is my 'out' for not saying which one this was.....  Quite fetching, she'd get highly aggrevated at 'catcalls'... a smart alec hubby would comment, "The time to worry is when you no longer hear them."

Ten or so miles East of my hometown is Excelsior Springs.  Waaaaay back in the late 1800's, a farmer had his daughter drink from a spring there - and presto, she was cured of tuberculous.  Katy bar the door... word traveled, folks came and came... the water won awards at both the 1893 and 1904 World Fairs.

Why?

WE WANT TO BE YOUNG. FORE'ER....

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." Sophia Loren

Sears has a Santa Claus....... but being young has freedom, energy, fewer responsibilities, better health, optimism, much.

We've all seen videos of kids, having just met, hugging, becoming best buds, no mater the size, age, clothes, weather, color, yada..... we see children jump in to help without being asked... 

Kids have unmatched BIG, BIG SMILES, and WIDE, BRIGHT EYES!

Kids can find fun just about anywhere, doing just about anything.  One speed, full bore.

For fun, and sure, part need maybe, I gave each of my three grandkids forty bucks to go to our town's most charitable, lowest priced, thrift store, to buy clothes or whatever else their heart desired.  My ex, their granny, had just lost her aging houndpooch.  The youngest grandchild, 9, searched the entire store for something that would ease the hurt of her granny losing her dog - before she bought anything for herself.  That's kids today. Empathetic.

I briefly scanned an article by a shrink who studies American youths....common perception "They don't care what people - their mothers and fathers and uncles and aunts think of them.  They haven't any sense of shame, honor or duty.  They don't care about anything except pleasure."

Trickster he was, as this was  a quote about flappers from 1926.  He found, youth of today, as measured by test scores - smarter.  More patient. With more time spent in school, schedules jam packed, kids are anything besides lazy, having less unstructured time, thus, a tad bit of burnout.

I haven't done a very good job of communicating what I wanted to...... It's a pretty stressy era we're going thru for VARIOUS reasons.  We need, feel good.

To me, kids give good cause for a feel good.  Among my favorite moments in life - I was teaching Elementary PE long ago.... Seven times a day, thirty or so kids would walk into the gym quietly, but OH if I could recapture the smiles from those days, the excited look of  "What are we doin' today coach?"  Twas the best.  Minimum, ten times a day a wonderful little sweaty palm would hand me a piece of candy, a note, a small gift... giving.  They learnt me more than I they.

Have your own little loved ones?  Hug em up, fill your lap... talk, ask, listen.  They 'ain't there long'....  Mine are now 9, 13 and 15.  It usedta be easy.  Pull into ANY playground, two hours of fun guaranteed.  It's a little more difficult now as 'too cool for that' has naturally happened - so, we go, stop, unannounced, no time for "Nah, I don't wanna, I'm too old for that."  They jump out and again, are kids.

Just like we wanna be.

Love, Victurd