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Originally posted on Life and Random Thinking:
According to my memory, there was never (as a child) a lake that was too cold to run into, usually with gusto, about 10 steps, and then a horizontal dive under the cool…
the temperature was just above zero, and I was cycling (dressed appropriately) every day. I can’t say I get to do that every year. Afterwards I tend to relax and warm up; coffee in hand.
One of my household chores is putting the garbage cans out on garbage day, preferably before the truck arrives, otherwise it’s too late. Somehow I thought our garbage day was delayed, and (forehead slap) I didn’t check.
Lazing a bit after Christmas Day, I looked out and realized the garbage truck had already done our side of the street and was looping around to pick up the other side.
I dashed outside grabbed our garbage can, and ran to the end of the driveway, as the truck pulled up to a stop on the far side of the road.
The driver was concentrating on maneuvering the mechanical arm to pick up my opposite neighbours containers, he was looking away from me.
I had time to push my container 20 feet ahead of his truck so it would be grabbed, but I stalled, and waved instead. Poor choice, and one I soon regretted.
He never saw me and drove away, the opportunity passed. I was right there, but I blew it. I felt frustrated with myself.
I had lots of opportunity to kick myself for a week until next pickup, and in between I realized there was a lesson in this small event. So not all is lost.
it had been easy to grab, but I had failed to act. Something to remember.
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The year 2020 arrived in the Okanagan valley, and the sunshine shone, and lo, there was no ice on the lakes! Perfect for a New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim !
The opportunity to do a polar bear swim in the ice-free lakes was an opportunity that many in the valley were seizing. My son and I planned to watch the 350 or so brave opportunists, and enjoy a bonfire along the lakeshore. I had thought about trying it but my kidney transplant is still only eight months old, I didn’t know if it was risky.
My son, Dave, jumped in the car with a towel and said – I’m doing it!
Dave ran down the beach in the crowd of all ages and plunged right in, lasting a full five minutes before heading up to rub himself dry and stand by a bonfire. I was grinning and taking pictures.
I thought it was cool (no pun intended) that he seized the opportunity, and enjoyed himself and I was there when he plunged in.
Sometimes it seems we fail to see an opportunity as what it is, until it fails to be one.
The message to me in these two events was that opportunities can be fleeting, and I know I miss many, but I hope to improve especially for those experiences like Dave had, that are memorable and fun.
Hopefully my judgement will improve in 2020. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Like hot chocolate to my mind, it warmed me in a special way. It reminded me of the power of words actually. You will soon see why I say that, and I expect it will give you a sweet smile, and put a twinkle in your eye.
This post is by a blogger whose blog is called “Life With the Top Down” I think it will make you smile like it did me. She will appreciate your comments I’m sure.
Click to read “The Honeymoon”
Spotify lists your top listens for the year and not sure if I agree but for certain some of my favorites are definitely in the list. A few links in this post, I hope you like them.
By the way, this post was inspired by a blogger in NYC who writes under LA, check her out here. She would love it if you say “Hi!”
This is the order that Spotify came up with, so I’ll go with it.
As you can imagine, this song sounds easygoing. The steel guitar has you tap toeing within a minute. Click here
‘Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
On the ground
toasty toes at Sunoka beach
I first heard Elvis sing this song and liked it, but even better is Willie’s version, but that shouldn’t be surprising as he wrote it.
It’s kind of a sad song, but sweet. Definitely country, and not positive but I think Hopalong Cassidy sang it to his horse. Buttercup was always on his mind I guess.
And maybe I didn’t hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
I guess I never told you
I am so happy that you’re mine
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
In Turkey with my Susan, super memorable
I think this song came out around 1979, loved it right away.
Check out the guitar twang here.
You check out guitar George, he knows-all the chords
Mind, it’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t want to make it cry or sing
They said an old guitar is all, he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thingAnd Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t, make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright
This is an old song, and I think I heard it back in 1974 !
It’s fun to sing along with, and sometime I would love to do this song in karaoke with a group! Ooga chaka Ooga chaka
I can’t stop this feeling
Deep inside of me
Girl, you just don’t realize
What you do to meWhen you hold me
In your arms so tight
You let me know
Everything’s all right
Not too many albums are fantastic, good from beginning to end, but when this one came out in 1974 it was absolutely amazing. Remember Jet and Bluebird?
I loved it and another song I would sneak in by PC from another album would be Silly Love Songs.
You know what they say ……
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs
And what’s wrong with that
I’d like to know
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
When it’s a classic, you don’t have to say hardly anything, it’s a classic ! So many songs from Diana Krall that I could add.
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like,
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, darling, kiss me
In other words,Hold my hand
Country covers such a broad spectrum of sounds, and some of it I really enjoy like this song, and I could easily add some other country songs like Neon Moon (Brooks & Dunn) or My Maria (Brooks & Dunn)
Oh I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know whyCan’t be late
I leave plenty of time
Shaking hands with the clock
I can’t stop
I’m on a roll and I’m ready to rock
An instrumental song, this song was responsible for me buying a new stereo when I moved out on my own, before I bought a bed. If you can’t remember how it sounds, click here
Kodachrome – Paul Simon Another song that brings back memories. I used to walk to school with Blaine, an amazing friend in high school. I remember Blaine and I one sunny morning in East Vancouver singing this song on the morning walk. For a happy sound from the 1970’s try here.
When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah
The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No no they can’t take that away from meThe way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No no they can’t take that away from me –They Can’t Take Away From MeLouis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald
I have many Christmas moments, one of them was when I was a tyke living in Quesnel, BC and the winters there were outstanding if you were a little boy who loved being outside. I did, cold and wet didn’t seem to bother me much.
My Dad even build a skating rink in the front yard one winter, I am sure that then I didn’t realize all the work that went into that gift, but I do now. Lots of work, not done quickly. It was pretty big and Dad kept it cleared off, and I careened around in my hockey skates which he also tied for me.
The snow was often deep enough beside the house that I could tunnel through it, and just poke up my head up here and there,(imagine a squirrel popping out of a hole) 🙂
A hill right behind my home was short and steep, and a slide down it would take a boy on a toboggan out of control down the hill and sliding way out on the side road we lived on. So I would do it again and again, oh if I only could have had a rope tow back then. 🙂
I love this moment also
Ah yes, that wooden toboggan, beautiful shiny 4 feet long, impossible to steer, curled front to deflect the flicks of snow as you careen barely balanced down a virtual cliff.
It was a gift from Santa, and Santa hid it behind the stereo in the living room and Mom and Dad found it for me.
How did I walk past it every day in the living room and miss it there?
That moment Dad lifted it out on Christmas Eve with a red bow on it…….. that’s a moment this little boy (albeit at heart) won’t forget.
Thanks for reading, I hope your heart is filled with special moments, special experiences that are yours forever.
Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is gray and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusionThe Day Begins – The Moody Blues
the last couple of mornings I have enjoyed the blue sky of predawn as I rode from home to Okanagan Lake, silently pedalling along.
Mornings are peaceful especially on the side streets, few people need to commute just after 6 a.m. in Penticton.
I am bundled up, full face fleece toque so only my eyes are exposed to the wind, gloves on my hands, warm shoes, and windproof jacket and pants.
My bike is lit up, lights back and front and reflective tape all help to keep me noticeable.
as I rode along this morning, my bike lights were extremely noticeable on the path which has no lights; to my delight an owl passed over my head and it whirled as it was silhouetted against the city lights. You can be certain I was very pleased to spot this shy hunter.
SS Sicamous – the paddlewheeler landmark on Okanagan Lake
and often the wind is pushing me and that makes it especially silent.
It’s a perfect time for me to talk out loud without anyone fitting me for a long jacket with sleeves that buckle behind my back.
I look forward to warming up by the fireplace and I am definitely wide awake, as it usually only 1 degree outside not including any windchill effect.
Wide awake without caffeine! It’s a great way for me to begin my day.
Some people are out at 6:30 a.m. but mostly it is still, and peaceful
As long as the weather and road conditions allow I will try to awaken early to enjoy the fresh air with a rendezvous with my bike.
It’s a treat I don’t usually have this time of year.
Just a short post, December 21 is the first day of winter – in a few days the daylight hours will begin to grow fractionally. But first I know there will be days of snow, and wind. That’s part of living where you experience all four seasons. As my wife would say, you got to have snow, if you want to snowshoe. 🙂
