In summation.......

WAIT?  WHAT?

While I'm not the walrus, I sureasheck ain't the guru, Mr. Peabody, Einstein.  I'm not even of Ben Stein ilk.  In fact, as I was driving across Kansas yesterday (very scenic..and flat, btw Schwabby) I said to my grandson "YOU, are way smarter than I.  I was OK in math and English, but Science, I really sucked."  (It's ok, he's 13, it's among the favorite, most said words of 13 year olds)  "You're smart in every subject!"  And, he is. And yes, biased, and yes, don't care what you think, he really is sharp.

It seems.........  As The World Turns. or is it spins, again, I sucked in Science... we start out in January with all these 'This is the year I'm gonna" and we slowly transgress thru the year and don't.  But, along the way...... we buy more junk.  Hoard a tad more, so, before we keel we can spout "that'll learn em"....

We make it thru the seasons......... BRRRRRRRRRRR...  I'm SOAKED....... Dayum it's hot... honey?  Can you draw me an ice bath?..    OH! THE BEAUTY OF THE LEAVES!  Give it a rest Victor, they're leaves. and then gray, drab, and finally, BRRRRRRRRRR again.

11/12'a of the way, we kill a big bird.... think and arrange THANKS for a year... we ain't finished yet, why do we stop... again, mom/dad said "Finish everything you start, except sex."

We get to this point...   one eye on '26....  so we attempt to add it all up.. summarize where we been, what we've learned, what we're gonna do better next year... 

Then...... we lose 4 pounds in January....  gain 8 in February...  check our voicemail in late March .:"You have one, new message. Tuesday, January 23.."  Crap.  Pete and repeat, there I said it again.

We have a tendency, at this point of the year to add things all up.  Am I smarter at 73 than i was at 72?  Am I smarter than a 5th grader?  Victor, your grandson it in 7th grade and the answer is no, you're not.

Frank sings "It was a very good year"  47 relates 'greatest ever'.   Babies born, losses we mourn, some (bosses - some, members of the other party, jealous ones, arrogant ones) we scorn.  Pretty much, same ole same ole, nuther year.

Blessed.

Blessed we are with another chance, shot, sunrise, oh baby (well hey, to those of you with 'oh baby's', it's gotta help make it a goodyear aint it?"...  

Kids grow, clothes don't, midruff's bulge, leather punches add another hole at the enda the belt.

Snow, ice, are worse on the roads than acne is on a 14 year old..... Raindrops keep fallin' on ma' head... "Sir, this is the Code Enforcement Occifer for Liberty, you've GOT to mow that yard... REALLY?  It's so dayum soggy my lawnmower wheels won't spin.  We eventually cable guy git er done...   drought hits.... where have all the flowers gone?  Corner'a Kansas and Morse, either that lady's thumb is really green, or, she's got a well in her backyard, PRETTY flowers though (Hey, I wrote that last year too!)..

Honey, you checked the IRA lately?  It's AWE$OME!  Let's have a big ole dinner!  Ahm, KC Strip is Fitteen ninety nine a pound, hamburger $7.99, even pork chops are $5.99.... howabout chicken?  OK, grab some wings. Ahm.  Ever since wings became popular, they're $6.99 a pound too.. . OK, fried chicken it is. It's on sale at the Piggly.  I love you honey. (Hey, I wrote that last year too!)

That's Uncle Joe he's a movin' kinda slow at the Junction...... yeah? Well, you ain't exactly no spring chicken bird of paradise yourself Victurd.  Yeah, right you are. (Damnit, I wrote THAT last year too.)

There've been some breakups.. "oh well, positively, we'll get to see 'em this year at Christmas now". nope, wrong you are, already on the rebound... gonna be in Little Rock with the new mate for Christmas.

Glory days for most are like, "Hell, I can't even remember what sports I played in school.  Were we dating back then?  Ahm, we didn't even meet until we were 30, remember.  Oh yea, thanks.

The common denominator (that's the thing after the equal sign ain't it?) No Victor, it's the number below the line in a common fraction.  

OK, well, that number then.

FAMILY.

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."  Desmond Tutu

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything."  Michael J. Fox

We're all different, have grown up differently, different situations.  Family is the glue.  Year after year, summation after summation.  THE common denominator in life.

We don't speak ill of family.  We may have 'push over, roll outs' (sounds better than knock down drag outs!).. we may get huffy upon occasion.  We also may hug, love, call, care, be there, yada.  It's the best. It's comfort.

If I may share (which, is fancy for, nanny nanny boo boo it's my blog and I'm going to!) a tiny (huge) example... it may not sound it at first, but, 'twas, is to me.

Little looms large. My cousin's kid texted me last night.  She knows how much I enjoy basketball.  Her son is a really good player at the local high school, sophomore. she knows I come (sometimes) to the games.. she just wanted to forwarn me - they were playing the crosstown rival last night.. "He's had the flu, but, he's gonna try to play".... told her I'm on the tail end of this dadgum flu, "I'm gonna stay home tonight, but ty for thinking of me."  And, that's where it ends for most.  Except her, she's family.  Even though the game started at 8pm, it was Friday.. the last day of the work week..she undoubtedly tired, and she, maybe had the flu too...  texted me back... Do you have plenty of Mucinex and Sudafed ?  If you don't want to get out, I'd be happy to bring some by after the game?"

Little = HUGE.  Family = love.  Year after year after year, summation after summation.  Even if I sucked in Science, was not too bad in Math, English..... I've been very lucky in Family.

I hope you are too..........

By Henry Gibson....... pitcher Bob.......... Guitar inventor Orville...  actor Mel.

Oh, and Hatfields, McCoys, Brady bunch's, Taylor's (Andy, Ope, Aunt Bea), Waltons, Cartwrights (Hoss Ben Joe Adam even Hop Sing), and some Partridges in a pear tree.

Not to mention.... Solty's, Moffits, Shifletts, Stringfellows, Days, Pie's, Weagleys, Tiptons, Hahns, van Dijks, Hacks, Spencers, Rays, Craigs, Estes', Foster, Floray, Martins, Carters, Tucks, Bland, Watson, Brock, LaFevers, Mallory, and if I missed it, you/we are family too, sorry I missed it!

Love, Victurd