THE DUCK PARK

                                

                

                                                      THE DUCK PARK

   Now that I am the only one living in my home I seem to have times when my feet start to shuffle and my hand starts feeling for the steering wheel and I just feel like I must GET OUT of the house. I am sure the feeling is all in my head, but never the less I start to get nervous and MUST be on the go.

   Well recently I have got into the habit of grabbing the newspaper and going over to the Duck Park to read it. I have my morning Diet Coke, read the paper and watch the “goings on” while I feed the ducks.

   Of course if you go to the Duck Park you would think it would be to feed the ducks, Right? That is not so in many cases. Even though it is called the Duck Park, it is much more than that. It is what you might call a multi-faceted, or an all purpose urban Park. We started taking our kids there many years ago, then we took our grandkids and now there is JUST ME. Of course I will not fit on the slides or the monkey bars.

   Now in one short venture there I see a lot of things that I did not notice when I was taking my family there, many years ago. I see families, some obviously multi-generational. I see single people of all ages (why are some kids 6-9 years old there by themselves, with no parents?) It is interesting to watch the people and their activities, even though I don’t do much but sit and read and watch. It seems like one of the favorite activities is for the children (all ages) to chase the ducks and try to catch them—right under the sign that says, “Unlawful to hunt or interfere with any wildlife.” The thing I do not like the most is the people who bring their dogs to walk them, and as soon as they let them out of the car they run over and (do their job) right in front of the sign that says. “All dogs must be on a leash & please clean up after your dogs.”

   Of course there is always a group kicking a soccer ball around and having a great time. Then there are the “worker bees”, putting food on the table and setting up play pens. It usually looks like a Mom & Dad. They are hustling about trying not to step on or knock down the toddlers who seem to be ever present under their feet, unless they are in a high chair or a stroller propped up so they can watch the action.

   Several times I have been there when there is a young guy or gal sitting off in one corner of the park with a guitar. I usually wonder what he is singing and what he or she is playing and why he or she is alone when almost everyone else is with at least one other person or else a group of people. He and I are the loners I guess, and I am pretty sure it is for different reasons.

  Well what usually happens on one of my trips to the DUCK PARK, is my big task of finishing the newspaper, watching the people and feeding the ducks. It is then time for lunch so I am off to get a burger or home to make a sandwich or perhaps a bowl of dog food (This is a private joke in the family.) This is not a typical everyday happening but it seems to happen quite frequently.

   I am sure I could read the paper at home, but at THE DUCK PARK I get to watch the interaction of the people as well and I enjoy that.

W.R. Baldwin May 2015

Carl on Patriotism

Carl says: If you do not pledge Allegiance to the flag--- Why do you want to live in the USA?

A MINORITY

                                            A MINORITY

   I recently went to lunch with a friend and like we usually do we started talking about a lot of different things. He said,”What do you think it would be like to be a minority?” Well you never know where a discussion like that will take you. Both of us being over 80 years old, does not necessarily mean we are really smart, intelligent or well informed—but we have had a LOT of experience, been a lot of places and done a lot of things in our lives.

   We talked about when we were young, which is a big difference than what it is today. I guess each person has to decide if it is better or worse? We talked about when we were in the military and served our country. And of course depending on a lot of things, each one of those experiences was different. We also decided a lot of people enlisted in the Armed Service for A LOT of different reasons.

   We also discussed families, both ours and others that we knew and came to the conclusion that most of the families we knew were about like ours in many ways. (That kind of surprised me, but I do not know why.)

   We were just about finished with our lunch and I said to him,” You know what, I think we are a minority.”

   We are both over 80 years old.

   We are both Mormons.

   We are both white US Citizens.

   I am happy with my life.

   I like to talk to people, even strangers. (That is if I can get them to speak up?)

   We are both overweight.

   I love my kids, and yes I still love my wife.

   I love to be with friends.

   I have the necessities of life, and some additional comforts.

   I am proud of my ancestry.

So we kind of agreed we may both be in the minority. So if you do not think you would like to be in the minority—think again- you might decide it is not so bad?

“Touche”   

4 May 2015

MOTHERS DAY

 I wrote this in 1993. The first year after my Mother passed away. In reading it tonight I thought it was still how I felt so I decided to post it. Wally                                

                    Mothers Day     1993 by W.R. Baldwin

The day to honor Mom’s is finally here at last.

It is different this year, not like in the past.

Mom is no longer here in this earthly state.

She has gone to meet our Dad, through the pearly gate.

She has been our anchor, of all things that are good.

We were taught many things. We learned what we could.

“Love at Home” we always sing, in an old Church song.

It was a reality for me, for my whole live long.

This was the first year she was gone, you see.

It was much more different that I thought it would be.

We went to her grave and stood and looked down.

Her body was there under the grass so brown.

But my spirit did rise like the wings of a dove,

When I realized she had gone to a Heaven above.

I thought to myself, and I am sure there were others

Who said,” We need more than one day to honor Mother’s.

This is a day, or so to me it seems

We think about Mother’s and all of their dreams.

To them, their kids will always be great.

They teach them to love and never to hate.

Mom’s want you to grow, to be honest and fair.

They want you to be careful, not fall in a snare

Laid out in the world by designing men

Who hope you forget Mom’s teachings now and then.

Mom’s grandkids and great grandkids were her pride and joy.

It did not matter to her if they were girl or boy.

In her house all lifelong she kept toys in a box.

Spools for the “little ones”, sometimes balls and some just rocks.

As I stand at her grave on this Mother’s Day,

I ponder, I mourn and I think and I pray.

I know we will be together in another life

If we live like we should through good times and strife.

My Mom is special, and my Kid’s Mom is too.

She is a special Mom to them, but she’s my wife too.

Where is the line drawn that says that we

Must honor our Mom’s and our wives separately?

When the day is all over and my thought are gone

I still think of the Mom’s still here and those who are gone.

They give us love in abundance and lots of advice

To honor them at all times would be very, very nice.

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.