Tribute to Walmart Shoppers

                  WALMART SHOPPERS

I have one member of our family who is an avid Walmart customer watcher. When he sees one of interest he puts it on his Facebook page, usually with a comment. This past month I also have made several trips to the local Walmart and also saw some strange things. I suppose this could happen in any store, but as I saw, or my cohort saw, these in Walmart so I thought I would do a “blog” on them so here is a “Tribute to Walmart Shoppers.” 

You with the body parts hanging out,

Please tell me what that is all about?

You with the flip-flops on your feet,

Do you like the slap-slap noise clear up the street?

Those whose hair has seen neither comb nor brush,

When you get home please fix with comb or brush.

When I’m standing in line waiting for the register to start,

Don’t let your kid bang my legs with your blasted cart.

The parking spot with the wheelchair sign---

Not for people who park and RUN inside just fine.

And you with the zipper up the back of your skirt,

You probably should check it—It would not hurt?

The lady who keeps hitting her kids on the head,

I’ll bet they can’t wait to get home in bed.

And the sign on the door that says “no dogs in store”,

You should remove your dog from your purse, and head for the door.

The guy with the hairy arm pits, and ½ a shirt,

Shouldn’t strut down the aisle with his girl, (she’s a flirt.)

And then there is the “tween”, with his pants to his knees.

Don’t he know what’s wrong?? Can’t he feel the breeze?

And the gal in the Tu-Tu and the guy in his Tux,

Must want you to know they make “Big Bucks.”

Then the Mom with the baby, that smells like a compost pile,

Please change her diaper, so the poor thing can smile!

THAT’S ALL------------

LONLINESS/SOLITUDE

LONELINESS/SOLITUDE

   I set here today looking out my window and watching the world go by. A car passed by  (way to fast in my opinion), a bird carried a twig for her nest, up into the tree on my front lawn. Then there was the ever present "wasp" floating around with it's wicked looking legs hanging down, looking for a crack or a hole in my home in which they could build their nest. 

   My mind started to wander and I thought about the past many years of experiences I have had. Even when I was young I liked solitude, or was it just to be alone. NO, that could not be it, because I always wanted a friend or two to be around. 

   I have always loved being in the mountains. It did not matter if it was hiking, hunting or just laying on the earth in the green covered forest and watching the white clouds go scudding by. My friends and I could lay there for hours just enjoying the shapes of animals and other things as the clouds presented them to us. Of course like most kids, we also did that while laying on our lawns at our homes.

   Since my wife passed away I have come to realize that there is a big difference between solitude and loneliness.

   Solitude seems to me to be when you go into seclusion by your own initiative. Perhaps you have isolated yourself for a specific reason and for a given period of time. Or perhaps you have gone into isolation on your own just because you enjoy it. You are just removing yourself from others so you can think or ponder or just enjoy nature, art or music by yourself. Perhaps you want to be remote from other people, or even remote from your regular habits and comings and goings. If it is just solitude you can go back to your regular activities when ever you want to.

   Now loneliness, I have found is a completely DIFFERENT THING. Loneliness to me is a very UNPLEASANT emotion. It is sitting in the same house that you have lived in for many years but not talking to anyone, (unless it is your self.) It is (pardon the expression) like being in the world but not part of the world.
   As I said, loneliness is unpleasant. It is like being isolated, when you do not want to be isolated. It is like having a lack of friends or companions that you can have a conversation with when ever you want to.

   Fortunately I have overcome the loneliness feeling. I may still live in solitude but I realize I have many friends and family when I need them.

   And now what "pops into my mind"----The Electronic Gadgets--- There are computers, I-Pads, Telephones (all different kinds), E-Mail, Texting, Facebook and a myriad of other ways to contact and stay in touch with people. Yes, I am involved with most of them but when it gets right down to it there is nothing like a good face to face conversation, which might invoke a good laugh or even a good cry. And of course E-mail is OK but in my opinion (and I realize I am just an old grandpa) it will never replace a hand written note or a hand written letter that may be a treasure in the future.

       Then there is the "Blog." Some of my kids got me to start one and I am glad they did because I am enjoying it, even if just for my own pleasure. It is enjoyable to hear how people relate to it and I can even keep my "solitude" if I desire. And perhaps it will also get rid of some loneliness if it keeps hanging around.

   Well I started this blog and train of thought tonight as a soliloquy on LONELINESS AND SOLITUDE, but it seems to have gotten away from me?
          W.R. Baldwin 10 April 2015

   
      

RUMSPRINGA- An Interesting Read

This is a book about how the Amish, who have reached so-called adolescence have to decide if they want to stay in their town or village and with their family, or do they want to go out and live in what other people call "The Real World."

For a short period of time they are allowed to live without the strict Amish rules they have lived with until this point in there lives.

It gave me a small review of a large group of people who live in this country, that I did not know much about. I liked it.