It all started on a Saturday, August 6, 1979

Posted on August 6, 2014 by dfolstad58

In a sense, this is a reblog because I wrote about this dock misadventure before – click here to read the story.

My first date with my wife, Susan, was Saturday August 6, 1979.  It has been 35 years and that is a long, looong time.  We were both young, fairly footloose, working, but neither of were saddled with big responsibilities or ties.

We didn’t know each other very well that day, and the movie we went to on our date was a silly comedy, click here but it lead to some tennis dates.  We were apt to fall in love, shields were down, warp speed ahead we dove into marriage about six months later, March 8th, promising that whatever the future held, we would remain committed rain or shine to each other.

We have had both rain and shine like most relationships plus both have had serious health situations that we supported each other through. Rather than be divided during these times we upheld the other while they focused on their health.

Now 35 years later I smile and think, the journey has been interesting and we continue on, together and holding hands.

I appreciate the visit from you, I hope were happy you stopped by. I like to have visitors!

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Everyone has a Pet Peeve…. or two.. or ten

Posted on August 5, 2014 by dfolstad58
passes most gas stations !

passes most gas stations !

As a member of my family likes to say he’s the “Master of [fill in blank]” – I like to think I’m a decent enough driver. I drive quickly, albeit not as fast as some. I keep my attention on the road and what is going on around me as well. Kind of mastered that skill – driving that is.
But like most of you, I have a problem with some of the people on the road, other drivers but I use the description loosely.

Firstly I wonder why some people buy a car that will easily do the speed limit plus a couple more but insist on driving in front of dragging their feet (not literally) at half the posted limit. Okay I like slow drivers on side streets, but on the main roads, put your foot on the gas!

flintstonesSecondly what is it with people and turn signals? How many times do you get stuck behind a driver who sits at the light, when it turns green; THEN they put on their left turn signal. What? What? Come on! We both know that mannequin in the front seat knew they were turning left, why bother with a signal at all? The reason you signal in advance is so people know your intentions, if I wanted to know what you wanted to do after I’d ask for a letter.

Whew, got those off my chest! I’m sure I’ve frustrated a few other drivers myself as I know I’m only perfect 99% of the time.

Thanks for reading!

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Paris, France

Posted on August 2, 2014 by dfolstad58

Vis-a-vis my recent blog about not missing the dance, I want to share with you this blog post of these young girls on a tour in Paris, France. Memories and pictures to last their lifetimes, where do you want to go? How about a sailing trip in Norway to see waterfalls and the beautiful fjords?
I’d love to know your plans.

projectlighttolife's avatarProject Light to Life

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Paris

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In my last post, I referenced Sammuel Johnson who said that when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. True, I was not ready to leave London after spending just four days there, but our next stop was Paris, a city I had also always wanted to visit.

G.K. Chesterton suggested, “London is a riddle. Paris is an explanation.” Yet, when I think back to the elderly Parisian waiter who winced after I followed my “Bonjour” with “Uh, can I please have a hamburger?” my lack of command of the high school French I once took seems more puzzling to me. A comedian I went to see once commented that if he needed help or were being mugged in France, he would only be able to shout colors and numbers at his attacker: “Deux! Bleu!” I wondered if it would come to that.

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What the world needs now is…

Posted on August 2, 2014 by dfolstad58

“Kindness is the language the dumb can speak, the deaf can understand” – C.N. Bovee

You have probably heard of “Random Acts of Kindness” – where people practice kindness often demonstrated by doing something unexpected, and kind for a complete stranger. The idea is infectious, and touching both for the giver and the receiver. The giver meeting a need without being requested, and the receiver enjoying the warmth of generosity unsolicited.

Surprising is the wariness that some have when someone does something nice for them. In my younger days I worked at a garage, and I took tires off and installed new tires all day long. It was a job I enjoyed while I did it. One day on the highway I say a car pulled over with a flat, a woman was standing by the car along with her husband. He looked stunned and probably was unfamiliar with how to change a flat as many are nowadays. My wife suggested I stop and help as it was raining. I did and I changed the tire for the couple and waived off any payment. I could tell the whole time I was working that the husband was suspicious of my motives, and puzzled. It took ten minutes and my wife and I moved on. I felt good about it, and the wife was so grateful I was amply rewarded.

I have also been the recipient of kindness. My wife and I were in Mexico and I found I had a previously undiscovered aptitude for getting stuck in the sand. Fortunately a Mexican family came to my rescue giving us the boost we needed to get out of our literal rut. I have never forgotten their faces, and remain grateful for the lesson in random kindness.

Happiness is like jam. You can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself. – Anonymous

I think kindness is the best sweetener around,  sweetening our lives, and the lives of others simultaneously.  Non fattening also!

Let’s be kind as we live our hectic lives,  kindness as we drive,  kindness in parking lots, kindness to strangers, Kindness to our family, and also importantly, be kind to ourselves.

What the world needs now is……….. a little more kindness.

** this is my 370th post, amazing how they add up.  My thanks to everyone who takes time to read, and like my posts.  Your kindness is appreciated. 🙂 

Stop In the name of Love
dressed up for a day at beach
best friends
in the ocean with a paddle
Fun Fun Fun
Two Daves, twice as good
twice as nice
posing at Tojo’s restaurant
Go Saskatchewan! Thanks Mandy!
My favorite twosome
A Priceless Moment with tiger
ah shucks
Can I have some privacy?
That’s a Roma!
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Posted on July 29, 2014 by dfolstad58

Would you like to be free? Would you like to make decisions based on what think would make you happiest?

Would you like to quit the club that always considers the worst-case scenario so doesn’t ride the proverbial “roller coaster” that looks exhilarating, but is so potentially dangerous?

I have been persuaded to be more impulsive and “fly by the seat of my pants”. But that really isn’t me.
If you are happy being a planner, then be happy and plan away.
If you like to not plan and just grab your passport and find your adventures randomly and spontaneously – then I say enjoy.

I think for me I will try to release my tight grip on planning just one finger at a time, starting with my pinkie. Maybe that’s all the freedom I want or need.

I think life should be lived with safety so wear a helmet and go bike riding, don’t think cycling is too dangerous and sit on the couch. This is only an example but just imagine what you miss out if you never took any chances? I would have missed out on water skiing, skiing, cycling, hiking, camping, baseball, water polo, swimming in the rain,  and so much more.

Just living to the extreme makes no sense, but especially as you get older, loosen the straps and enjoy the dance of life, the music stops suddenly.  However you live, make sure you dance because when the party is over, your chance is gone,  just the regret remains. Enjoy the pics, click them to enlarge 🙂
Thanks for visiting, your ideas, feedback, and suggestions help me improve.

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Being a Hero should not be embarrassing and neither is it hard

Posted on July 28, 2014 by dfolstad58

So you happened to be in the right place at the right time. A man is down on the ground, his face is so swollen he’s unrecognizable, there’s blood and your heart is beating a mile a minute.

You immediately grab your phone and push three buttons, 9-1-1. You are on the phone five minutes, and wait ten minutes for the ambulance and reassure the man help is coming.

You did just what anyone would do right? You did three things, you used a little bit of data on your phone, and you waited. You were there, and you did three things,  but they counted, BIG.

To that man, to that man’s family, to his wife and children – you did not do a small thing. You saved his life, you are the reason those kids still have a Dad. To you it was simple, and what you expected so you just did it, maybe you find it embarrassing that people are saying you did something special.

You did, you did do something special – you saved a man’s life, look into his wife’s eyes, his two kids eyes, in his eyes – very special.

Being an Organ Donor – Living Donor or Not, is just like doing the right thing, make the decision, and do it. It takes THREE minutes or less.

If you live in British Columbia click here and in three minutes, you could be saving up to 8 lives and improve the qualify of life for up to 75 people.  Be a Hero, be an organ donor. It’s special, it’s important. Don’t delay. Please.

If you live elsewhere in Canada click here for organ and donation information.

BCT

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