I am close to turning 70. Along with the stuff that’s breaking down in my janky body, this is truly a horrible milepost in life. People telling me I’m being stupid. None of those people have turned 70. My love of the human race is not improving with age.
Now 72. Stuff continues to break down regularly. Doctor visit almost every month. The human race is worse (MUCH WORSE) than it was 2 years ago. So that's not changed.
Midway through year 72. Is it over? Life? All the things I’ve done, memories collected. Body starts sputtering. Diabetes type 2 , after eating crap foods (read mass produced processed “food). now ubiquitous and in me. Hips that quit working requiring replacement and shots. A Thyroid that starts overreacting for no other reason than it’s old man time. The grim reaper creeper gets worse each year. So, is it over? With every new malady, it’s less fun. It’s not at the end of the line, but I can almost see it from here. Feels that way. That sucks. What can I say? Fin
This is worth nothing unless like me you love history and love bicycles. In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop, a gilded age tire dude. with the help of his beard, revolutionized the still-nascent pursuit of cycling when he introduced the pneumatic bicycle tire:
I was raised as a Catholic. Catholic school K-11. Altar Boy. Went on Catholic Retreats. Went to Catholic Summer camp. Played in the Folk mass that started late 60's . Assigned seating in church on Sunday. To be missing... required a note from parents explaining why before admission to school on Monday. So I had it. Total Catholic immersion. It sticks too. Until it doesn't.... as in graduate leave home travel the world courtesy of USN. Then it's all gone. Too many things to enjoy. No time for God. I did that for years. Not until I met my wife and entered a world of Non Denominational Bible Churches did those early memories come back. So I am prepared for this weekend. Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday. Jesus paying the price for the sins of mankind. Sometimes hard to process. So much is bad. So many horrors in this world. Why? Why would God allow it? I still don't know. A woman recently went on a vacation for a week or so. Left her baby home alone in the crib. Comes back to baby Dead. Why? How can God allow this? For this weekend, I celebrate what God has done for us all. And I just pray that someday I will know and understand the truth. The Why Why Why of life. All of us need to celebrate this coming event. The greatest in all of Christianity. And pray. Pray for strength. Pray to understand the Whys of this evil world. To pray for the mothers who can do such an evil thing. Pray for all the people who don't do that. And Thank God for giving us a way out. Resurrection Sunday. May we all find peace in His gift!
Maundy Thursday.... During Easter week... commemorates the Last Supper before Jesus was taken, tortured and crucified. And then rose from the dead. The ultimate day in the Christian faith for all Christians. It's not about chocolate bunnies, or Easter Rabbits, or Egg hunts or Easter parades. It is not treated with as much respect and awe today in our 21st century world as it once was. Doesn't mean it isn't real. Nothing in our new "enlightened" millennium is treated as it once was. And people cannot understand why everything is all screwed up. Everyone has a side they are on, Some it is left. Others right. And no one has answers. We need to look up, That is where the answers lie.
I have a stationary bike for "supplemental" use. As in bad weather days etc. NOT to be used for the majority of my cycling workouts. In the last 2 months, it has turned out to be my primary cycling tool. Why? The worst weather I have seen here in the south in years. That's why. Getting close to just stopping totally. This is indeed an activity that is good for my health in many ways. But honestly I have had it. This keeps up.... I will just quit till we actually get to a summer type weather. I realize that many people ride in all types of bad weather. And I don't care. I'm not gonna do that.
Worst winter ever here in the Deep south. They said (the "experts") that with an El Nino winter the southeastern US would be wetter and colder ALL winter. Ok so its spring now. ENOUGH!!!!
This morning in Church, they sang "It Is Well With My Soul", which is also known as "When Peace, Like A River", a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford. This has always affected me deeply whenever I hear it. The story behind it follows from Wikipedia
"This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (Spafford had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire).His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to England with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, to help with D. L. Moody's upcoming evangelistic campaigns. In a late change of plan, Spafford sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. Spafford's wife, Anna, survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
I cannot imagine suffering that loss that Mr. Spafford did and still be able to write this hymn of such powerful Faith. I have to confess, I would not be able to do something like that. My life would have been so impacted. Every time I hear it, I have tears streaming down my face. I guess God has a message for me and anyone else who's faiths would be shaken. This man, losing almost everything was still able to write a song of praise and faith in God. If we could all be that strong in our individual faith."
A reprieve. No trip to the mountains. Not till next week.
Instead we have flooding downpours.
Cold windy nasty "spring" weather here in Georgia. I am SOOOOOOOOOO Sick of rainy weather this winter/spring. Everywhere. There are no good places to go.
Soooo once again, pedaling the indoor exercise bike. Thank heavens for Schwinn.
When do we actually get some nice prolonged sunny days?
Nuff said. But first,
On the domestic political side of things. Illegals have figured out how to steal vacant houses using US law against the homeowners. Depending on the state. A house left empty for say X amount of
days becomes a house that is up for grabs. And it's legal . And illegals those darling newcomers know about it and they are using it. And guess what police in places like New York are standing up for their right to do so. Homeowners who come back to dispute this have been arrested. The fascist left is on board with it. They created this. Reset... a new America ... the old America to be wiped out... swept away in this insane criminal government. And they are pushing biden for reelection. And the worst thing of all, people are ok with this. Actually support it. More people than I can believe. Insanity. The end of America as I know it. Evil.
Now Nuff said.
Good Weekend To You All Stay Dry, Stay Warm, Stay Calm
Busy running errands day. Hip injection tomorrow. Pain be gone 2.0 is my wish. We shall see.
Getting close to return trip to the Smokies on Friday. They forecast cold rainy days through next week. March is not spring up in the Appalacian Mountains. Sigh…. Someone has to do this stuff. Joan and I. Got it. 🤷♂️
Something is up with those royals across the pond. Someone is either dead or about to be dead. The media are driving themselves mad trying to figure it out. Joan really follows this stuff. Me… not so much.
They are seriously squeezing Trump for these so called fines they are giving him. Every day the left continues, we the people get more Trumpish. Democrats are clueless. Disgusting watching it all unfold though. It’s like watching the end credits for the USA show. Sickening.
Everyone out there be good to each other. And have a great midweek.
