Calm in the Storm

Posted on March 14, 2020 by dfolstad58

Hope is about believing

with a humble heart

that tomorrow can be different.

It’s about knowing

that light will come

to chase away this darkness.

Looking around social media the last few days

it seems impossible to avoid the rising anxiousness and worry even in this small community.  Much faster than the virus this “bug” is spreading with every interaction and not just one-to-one.

This is very concerning as it is stressful, and may cause unneighborly behavior such as purchasing more groceries than is actually needed.

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Two things come to my mind, 

Let’s not pre-stress ourselves.

When I have my blood tested I am not stressed in advance,  I wait until I am face to face with the lab worker and I get through it.  Then I am past it.  50% of my stress is reduced if only experience it when it happens.

See the light, not the dark.

I am always amazed when camping, there is so much absence of light that I can really see the stars.  As I walk at night there is so much light from windows, street lights, outdoor street lights.  Yes there are some patches of darkness but mostly it is pretty light outside especially when there is snow or a full moon.

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There never was night that had no morn. – Dinah Mulock Craik

A bug of negativity, fear, and unkindness is at risk of spreading and that scares me.  

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Long after this health and economic crisis passes people will remember experiences that made them feel hurt or the kindnesses shown. 

How nice it would be if it was the latter.

I believe many people remarked how kind New Yorker strangers were to one another during and after the 9-11 shocking event. What a positive remembrance. (Google it for yourselves, kindness and heroes amidst the smoke and uncertainty)

Which experience will I leave others from this darkness?  I hope it will be the positive one.

Thanks for taking the time for this post. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. – best wishes to all. – David

 

 

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Few words for Flashback Friday

Posted on March 13, 2020 by dfolstad58

I went back in time when I decided to

look through the old photo albums.  I did that yesterday, and had a wonderful time. I was inspired by my blogging friend Laelheart. Visit her here.

I took some photos of some pictures in the photo album books, and these copies won’t do them justice, but you might get a “kick” out of them regardless. At least I hope you will, and maybe you will do your  own flashback.

I have gone wild here, so please forgive me

I captioned them.  Have a wonderful weekend, be safe everyone. 🙂 Dave

1976 high school grad picture. wonderful times
Wolf cub salute Vancouver BC looking spiffy
1980ish, merry go round at disneyland CA
my son and daughter, awhile back 🙂
I do look youthful here, way back!
1980ish, Sue shopping in Mexico
son on top, me on bottom
Mexico 1980ish,
1990s and dressed up
Marvin and Me, I’m the one on top
First steps while visiting grandparents
Mom and me at camp in 1970’s
North Battleford, Saskatchewan with Dad, the car had a continental kit on back. Cool !
Mom and I in Quesnel BC 1964ish, cowboy boots!

 

 

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Definitely Love

Posted on March 8, 2020 by dfolstad58

fingers-2

Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home

 

Perhaps love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more
And even if you lose yourself
And don’t know what to do
The memory of love will see you through – Perhaps Love (John Denver)

I know I blog annually to share my anniversary and it’s that time again. Susan and I were married in Kamloops March 8, 1980.

When we picked the date I had no idea it would turn out to be International Women’s Day (IWD) on our anniversary annually. 

Everyone always highlights that it is IWD but it is also Proofreading day, Dry Shampoo day, and Check your batteries day.

 

It could have been worse for example it could have been Absurdity Day (November 20) or Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19).

It could have been better also, like High Five Day (April 16th)

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After 40 years together we enjoy all our days together.

We celebrate being together in small ways now.  We don’t want cards, we want to share experiences, even small ones like a walk on a windy day,  quiet time, movie night, coffee date, a pedicure together, always and always we are grateful to be alive and for our family and friends. 

Every day for me I can look in her eyes, and it makes me happy she is with me, and I know she feels the same.   I guess it must be love, nah, I know, it’s Definitely Love.

Click here for our first date blog post _Love at First Bite

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yup, we were young

Thanks for reading Definitely Love today. 

Comments and suggestions always welcome.- Dave

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted on March 4, 2020 by dfolstad58

This gallery contains 7 photos.

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Invisible or Not

Posted on March 3, 2020 by dfolstad58

 

now you're showing offI think my growing up 

was probably fairly typical.  I did most of the things boys do, biking, playing army with straws shooting peas, water gun fights, kick-the-can and hide and seek after dark.

I had my share of accidents also, and have the scars from cuts, and burns (I fell into a charcoal bbq because I walking on top of a fence adjacent).  When the doctors would  tell me I would have a “nice” scar while he did the stitching,  that made it all ok.  Maybe even better than before.

Somewhere in the last few days

I heard the phrase “invisible scars” and it made me stop and think.  If trauma causes invisible scars, mine are varied for sure.  The “broken heart” scarring from girlfriend failures didn’t prevent me from ever dating again, and my happy upcoming 40th wedding anniversary is proof.

However, the trauma of dialysis decades ago never left me and I dreaded it again in 2018. As a result I recognize Invisible Scars is a real thing.

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My left arm during hemodialysis

Some may say that “time heals all wounds” but I think that’s false.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ― Quote from Kahlil Gibran

Neither is all suffering beneficial.

 

I doubt that any one can say that their life is completely unblemished by a traumatic event completely.  More likely we are each the result of trauma that has helped us, or hurt us, or just taught us.

The question may be perhaps then “what was the result of my own traumatic events to the person?”

The answers could be that the person has fears like deep water, heights, loud noises, fear of the dark, difficulty trusting, public speaking …

or the answer the person gives could be “ I realized I had this fear, so I have faced that fear by taking swimming lessons,  night lights, counseling,  practicing speaking at Toastmasters, and so on.

dave sr young

me and Tiger my dog

 

Perhaps I am just better off realizing that what I see and know of a person is not the whole person because I can’t possibly know their entire life or see how life has shaped them.

Like me, you, and everyone else, I am better off understanding that each person carries scarring, invisible or not.

 

I guess that’s part of the message of The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings, that the little things in life make a difference, and if everyone starts doing little positive things…… big difference. 

 

“Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found it is the small things.

Everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay.

Simple acts of kindness and love.” – Gandalf (J.R.R. Tolkien)

 

Not really sure of what this post response will be, but I will post it regardless and await your response.- David

 

 

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#ten minutes from anywhere

Posted on March 2, 2020 by dfolstad58

Tea anyone? 

I would like to start this post by inviting readers to visit a tea party – if you visit the link, it will explain itself.  Host one yourself, and invite me.

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#Mostly go NOT stop commuting

When I moved to little Penticton in 1992, I could have hugged the realtor during our first chat. I was moving from Vancouver BC, and in Vancouver I used to commute an hour or more twice daily (going to work and returning home), that was 28 years ago and it wasn’t getting better each year.

We told the realtor we wanted to live within ten minutes of downtown, and he said something like “in Penticton you are ten minutes from downtown no matter what neighbourhood you choose“.   #happy dance

Penticton

is a word from the Interior Salish word snpintktn, and is commonly translated as “a place to stay forever,” or more accurately, “a place where people live year-round.” For over 7,000 years, our region has been home to the Syilx First Peoples, who were instrumental in helping the first European fur traders travel through the Okanagan in the early 1800s.

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rubber path not concrete on this section of promenade

The home we picked in Penticton we still live in and it remains #ten minutes from anywhere.  In fact on my bike, I pushed it one day and I could ride home from work in ten minutes, not safely but I could.

Get away quick

Now safely ensconced in retirement, I revel in the fact that I am just a few minutes from the south lake (Skaha), about a ten minute walk, and about a 15 minute bike ride from the north end of town and Okanagan lake.

img_0676Today it’s a chilly walk or bike ride right now, 2 Celsius less wind chill, but I love, love, love not having to spend a chunk of time to be lakeside.

Just a quick post today, thank you to my friends who blog, who visit, comment, and encourage me.  You guys and gals inspire me. 

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. – Maya Angelou

 

 

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