I just spent a few days with my brother. We spent our time looking at old cars, remembering what it was like to drive or ride in certain makes or models. We also drove a couple of hours so my brother could do his #12 on his 48 state run tour, which turned out to be his coldest. I also signed up for a one mile walk, and beat my record pace time. Returning, we stopped at the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa, and among other things, stopped at the Freking Law Office (yeah, that's really it's name). We also watch a OSU game and a couple of Pro Football games on TV. On top of all of that, we got to spend a lot of time visiting.
In the 72 or so hours, I learned to laugh and remember again. I learned to enjoy things that seemed to be forgotten by the rush of my "everyday life". I recalled what it was like to "have fun", even if, as I said, "I rode 2 hours to walk a mile in the rain, and all I got was a t-shirt (and it was a blast!)"
Sure, I miss my brother already, but I'm already looking at my calendar for vacation plans to Ohio to see family and old friends. I'm also looking more at my walking schedule, working at getting my leg back in shape, with a goal of entering a Run at "some point".
It's those times in life when you can step back and not take things so seriously... laughing at those comments you or someone else makes (like someone having two broken arms - as opposed to three? or "you're gonna shake your what"?! (inside joke)).
If you've been living under a rock recently, you haven't heard about the auto auction in Pierce, Nebraska this weekend. All sorts of vehicles are being sold, as well as parts and memorabilia.
This has created a circus-like atmosphere for the tiny city of Pierce and the surrounding areas. No one can get a hotel room for hundreds of miles, nor a camping spot. Farmers and businesses have cleared fields to help out, as well as make a few bucks.
Some of this will be interesting. Some cars are unique, sitting on a showroom floor for years, whereas others have sat in a field, exposed to the elements as well as vandals and thieves.
A sad part in this seems to be a hype that has been placed on everything. Sure, there is some history in this old dealership that closed its doors some time ago, but what people don't know about is the stories that the auction company didn't tell - like when they went to interview some old residents at the care home for some video footage and couldn't get anything "nice" to film. Or how the old used cars have been sitting in a field for so long that it's really like seeing a used car lot.
I'm not trying to take away anything from the town. Pierce is a great city full of great people. But the people here know the real history that doesn't always make it to print or the video press.
When everything is back to "normal", I'm sure we'll all have a big sigh of relief. =)
I’ve attempted four times to write something, only to
roll my eyes at myself, shake my head, or make that sound that sounds like a
chipmunk just got hugged too hard.
Maybe it’s because I’m surprised at humanity. But given
my ‘occupation’ and route through life, I’ve seen a lot. So I can’t really be
too surprised.
Maybe it’s because I’ve confused why some people do what
they do. But seeing how they go on and on about this, that, or the other via
social media, socializing, or any other form of gathering, I just chalk it up
to different things. So I can’t be too confused.
Maybe it’s because I don’t remember this sort of behavior
when I was growing up. Some old high school friends have told me things that
happened that I never knew about, and that did catch me off guard. But these
things are happening right in the open for the world to see. So it’s not really
a shock.
The only thing I can come up with is that some people
think that somewhere in this vast universe, someone owes them something. Maybe
because they didn’t have enough as a kid. Or maybe because they had too much.
Or maybe because they didn’t understand the meaning of “get all of the facts”.
Or maybe no one taught them how to ask a question. Or maybe they think they
already have the answers and no one can tell them different. Or maybe they
think that no one has the answers and everything is a waste of time.
But then there is that moment when someone comes along
and takes that person and puts them in their place. Maybe in a subtle way,
maybe direct and blunt. It’s like a bully trying to show up on a playground
with a big stick, and the other kid shows up with 20 kids, all with bigger
sticks.
Instead of trying to bring your big stick to the
playground, how about leaving it at home and seeing how much fun and
interesting it could be to just have a good time and learn something from the
others?
