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JOURNAL 12-26-1996 |
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| All of this gerbish got started with a gift from my son Mark. On the back pages
of this book is the message
that he wrote to me encouraging me to put down some of my thoughts, from day to day, so that posterity might have
some of my musings. For the life of me I don't know of anyone that could get much benefit from what I might have to say. Not that I don't have knowledge and advice of value, but for the fact that no one listens to anyone but themselves. We are all self-learners. You can't tell a child what hot is. He has to burn himself first and then comes the thought, "So that is what they meant by hot!!" Anyway, I made a promise to keep a little record of daily happenings and I will try to do so. Along with the events, I will include some of my opinions and analysis so that the reader can have something to argue with me about. We all see things from a different viewpoint and take from what we read whatever it is that we expect to take from it. Don't expect these writings to give you any great knowlegde. If I were able to do that, I would be spending my time doing something great with the knowledge, rather than sitting on my ass writing about it. Anyway, have fun. Yesterday was Christmas. It was a good day with a variety of events. Mark and Luke (sons) were there with the spirit of Christmas and then we went to get Dick and Margaret (parents-in-law). It made for a good group and there was a lot of love present. Absent were the children of my first family. Glen (son) and his brood were doing their best to avoid the taint of the celebration of the birth of Christ. I will never understand why their faith (Jehovah Witnesses) makes them so afraid of exposing themselves to the beliefs of others. I can only conclude that it is because they question what they believe and exposure to another faith might cause then to veer off the path that they are on. I will always miss the companionship of Glen and his family and take great exception to the fact that they use the excuse of their religious faith to not associate with me. Glenna (daughter) couldn't be here from Lawrence. The reason must have been that she had to work. For some reason, she makes life hard on herself and others by not conforming to the things that society requires. Well, that is her choice and maybe she knows something that I don't. Frank (son) had planned to be at my home on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, Samantha (granddaughter) was ill and he had to cancel. He was obligated on Christmas to be with Carol's (daughter-in-law) family and that is understandable. Still, it would have been nice if he could have been there. I can better understand the saying, "Absence does not make the heart grow fonder." It is the association and inter-reaction with others that causes us to think of them as being close. For that reason, I am glad that I had a part of my children with me for the day. It was a good day. As is the habit and tradition, I got most of the meal together. Actually, Carol (wife) is the real spirit of Christmas in our home. She does so much to make sure that all is planned and put together for all of us. She is Truly the light of my life and without her enthusiasm and hard work, such days would be a bust. She will never know how much I have leaned on her for doing the things that make a good holiday. I got a call from Henry Beckman wishing us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He has been travelling and trying to get a movie put together. It is strange how our friendship has formed over the years that I have known him. I guess that we are kindred spirits and with the same beliefs, we tend to bond. I consider him one of my few friends. Well, I am at work and it is only 9:00 AM. What a way to start the day. I will try to do this regularly since it seems to be important to Mark. |
Copyright © 1994, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Glen Stinson & Mark Stinson