9/5/2019
Happy birthday to ME! Happy birthday to ME! I don’t know why I’m so happy, I turn 77 about 7:45 this morning. I guess that’s better than not turning 77 this morning, harumph! Nevertheless, every year this day comes around and I am somewhat amazed to still be here, and actually feeling pretty good, too.
I’ve had a couple of days in the last week wherein the SIMH is a lovely song, seemingly a girl singing about her mother, or at least some influential person in her life. The beautiful rendition which sticks in my head is done by a young lady I find on YouTube music videos named Katie Melua and the name of the song is “I Will BeThere” The full concert version (an entire orchestra behind her). Evidently, she wrote this song, I cannot find another writer. I love listening to her sing it, especially with the orchestra.
Barb and I are off to Birmingham for the day. Gonna get a good breakfast, visit a couple of shops not found here, and maybe stay late enough to eat “Lupper”—you know, late enough lunch to not want another meal in the evening. We’ve liked doing that for about the last 12-15 years. It gives us the freedom to eat all we want in the two meals and no muss or fuss in the even-tide. We lived in Birmingham (Hoover) for about 2 years in the mid-70s, then away for almost another 2 years, then back to Birmingham again (Helena) for a short period. We said many times that if we had to go back to any town we’ve lived in previously, we’d choose Birmingham. So, we’re glad we live close enough now to visit.
Of course, it has grown like most cities with increasing difficulties finding things as they were “back then.” But, what the heck, just go find someplace new. Many, many offerings in this city. A couple of the old places are still there, but the plethora of places to eat great food are many and we don’t worry about finding something we’ll enjoy.
Facing another of the challenges in business this week, if I can. the Blue Jug stores offer Alkaline Water at a filling station (a flat sink with spigots which dispenses our great water into the containers provided by our customers.) They fill, pay for the produced water, and carry their jugs of water home with them. We also offer packaged snack foods in sealed containers, and sundry other things, also completely sealed. For that, health departments in more than one state desire to place us in a category called “food establishments” and impose those rules on us. So far, the new owners have just complied and jumped through the hoops. But, it seems incumbent on us to get this definition changed. We are not a food establishment. Some of the regulations imposed are fixtures which we shall never use because the design of them are for sanitizing utensils used in food preparation and service—which we don’t do. Trying now to figure out how to properly write our explanation to the health departments of states, counties and cities in order to simplify our process and save our store owners some opening time and money, if possible. I think it’ll take a little while.
Well, once again, we are into September and my Cubbies are faltering. Actually, this year has been a season of trials, tribulations, and injuries which have kept the potential greatness from showing out and making them champions once again. I don’t have a lot of confidence it will all come together in the last 24 games and see them rise to the top in the post-season rings! Amidst the multiple injuries on players in all areas of the field there were also a couple of oddities. One, concerning a fairly young player (a big part of the World championship squad) had to work out a suspension imposed by the team for domestic violence. He diligently performed his civic duty, then came back through the rehab, even in his baseball prowess, working his way through the minor league assignments with gratitude and in humility, admirably. He’s now back and very helpful to the team. Seems like a fine young man.
The other odd occurrence, a veteran and champion on two teams had some personal family problems (never being explained—and that’s as it should be) which took him away for about 75% of the games played this year. He, also is back and may provide the strong will the team needs. It’s very interesting to watch and to read and hear about. I always wonder how much the Lord and His Word enter into these trauma recoveries, if at all. I guess I’d have to be a much closer friend of the team to find that out, wouldn’t you think? I can pray for them. These two, the young one and the old veteran, are both very much favorites to me. If my prayer is worth anything, they have it. Of course, if they are not saved nor going to be saved, it won’t matter except to me. (If this last statement raises questions in your mind, please ask me what I meant.)
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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