Patience is a Virtue

That's what they say about patience...that virtue thing.  Well, I don't claim to be overly virtuous and patience is a hard character trait to achieve.  Of course, are there any good strong character traits that are easy to possess? On the other hand, those bad things are a breeze. Just check out the Seven Deadly Sins. Hey, I can cover those in one fell swoop.  I can get angry at the hubby or the stupid politicians or the idiots on TV (wrath) and think how I'm so much smarter (pride), kick off my shoes and sit in the chair (sloth), gobble some ice cream and cookies and go back for more cookies (gluttony and greed) and look at the hunky guy on the tube (lust) and hate that skinny little twit beside him (envy).  E-z-P-z. 

Patience, that's one of those difficult things to master. Those of you who are married or ever have been, know that it is one long test of patience. It's not easy, two humans living together, sharing a life. Though the rewards are many, the cost is not cheap.  We're all individuals, different. It's a monumental task to learn to tolerate those differences when someone else is in your space.

The hubby, he loves Bluegrass music. I'm talking, could listen to it for hours at max volume love it. I like all kinds of music, but even my favorites are irritating after a few tunes. All my CDs are mixed recordings of a very wide variety.   I admit to detesting Opera, screaming in an unintelligible language just doesn't do it for me. Rather listen to fingernails scratching on a blackboard.  I do enjoy many of the Bluegrass renderings. I especially enjoy the mandolin and the fiddle. But, after about three songs, I begin to feel like I'm captured in that old movie Deliverance, my nerves as taut as those damn banjo strings. Of course, old handsome Burt was in that movie and lookin' go-ood. Sometimes sweet consolation swims around in the stinky irritation. 

Here's where that patience trait comes in. When you love someone, when you commit to being their partner, it's important to truly share in their life.  I'm not talking about you have to join them or participate in every single one of their likes and activities.  The spouse and I, each definitely have aspects of living that we don't share. I do believe, however, that you must learn to join in some things and develop the patience to smile and participate joyfully.  And when you don't go along, you must listen to the story.  If you truly love and respect someone, why would you ever want to deprive them of their enjoyment. As you wouldn't want them to spoil your pleasure.

So, even though I've joked to my children, "You will find me dead some day. It will be death by twanging. Your father will have killed me with his corny music!",  I sometimes go along to the concerts, I listen to the hunting and golfing tales. On long trips in the car, when the music starts to plink into my head like hail on a tin roof, I practice mind blocking techniques. I look over and smile at the long suffering man who listens to my prattling about the characters in my new book, puts up with my obsessive compulsive cleaning and ignores my nagging. I think of brownies and good bourbon, about what will happen in the next chapter. In the chapter of my book and in our lives. I practice my patience. JO

The Lazy Prepper

I have to agree with Garfield, even though I'm not a "cat" person. Mornings are just...early. Seems like my gears don't start moving until greased with coffee. And even following several hours of laying in bed and sleeping,  I seem to need another hour of  resting in my chair. You could call that lazy. I call it my warm up. 

I read a quote that said it well, "In order to counteract my laziness, I need obsession."  Sorry, that is a loose quoting and I don't remember the quote-er.  Rang very true to me, though. With a new interest or endeavor, I jump in enthusiastically and usually become slightly compulsive in my pursuit. Typically, I wear myself out and when the shine has dimmed, the newness faded, I become lazy.

This is the case with Prepping. Honestly, being prepared for disastrous possibilities is something I very much believe is important.  Our world is unpredictable and perilous on many levels. A can of beans could make the difference in another day of survival for you or your family.  Still, after an initial concentrated effort about a year and a half ago, to build a supply of food, water, medications and other provisions for a survival situation, I became lazy.  I go in my closet on occasion, searching for a item that I've ran out of or something to make a meal from and I don't always remember these days to replace that item I pilfered. I'm feeling quite guilty that I haven't been emptying a few containers of my stored water on my flower beds or lawn and refilling them.

In my defense, I say that it is not pure laziness, it's also distraction. Things like everyday life, my writing...which I discovered is another project that requires discipline when the fresh excitement has waned...get in the way, detour your mind and energies into other directions.  There is a good thing, however, about prepping.  Not only is it beneficial on any level you choose to prepare, whether you slide some extra supplies under your bed or have a whole basement full of stores, once you've made a start you can return to a neglected cache.  I can march right out there today and empty some water containers and refill, the containers are already there and thank heavens, the water is there.  When I go to the grocery store this week, I can buy a few extra things to replace some I have "borrowed" from my storage.  I've always maintained that some is better than none, when it comes to prepping.

Bottom line is that I'm a lazy prepper these days, but I am a Prepper.

Stupid Human Tricks

Forest Gump's mother said, "Stupid is as stupid does". She was very correct. Humans have a large capacity for stupidity and I must admit that I am one hundred percent human. I don't claim to be any world traveler, however, the spouse and I do venture around quite a bit in the USA.  When folks leave the environs they are accustomed to and journey into unfamiliar territory, it is the perfect situation for one's ignorance to pop right out in front of everyone.  Sometimes, our mistakes can actually make the other poor souls, out there muddling around, feel a little smug.  Oh, don't deny it, we've all been there. Some pitiful jerk makes a big boo-boo, stumps their toe, runs into a glass door, goes into the wrong restroom, etc. and we feel a bit better about our shortcomings. We just cluck our tongue and think, what an idiot.  Of course, in our heart of hearts, we are praying oh, lordy, don't let me do something assinine like that today. 

Well, the spouse and I have been traveling the last couple of weeks. True to form, we were not without our small stupid tricks.  Of course, there is the expected and norm. You are just bound to miss an exit, take a wrong road or have to backtrack.  You know, you drive all those miles down to the beach, walk around and get your shoes full of sand. Then on the way back, you say "Wait a minute, where was that old lighthouse that was supposed to be down there?" And your partner in stupidity says, "What lighthouse?"  And, Oh my goodness, Washington DC is not for the faint of heart. Trust me, you may think you're pretty smart, but if you're not accustomed to maneuvering around in a big city, YOU KNOW NOTHING. The simple act of using the metro rail system is a huge challenge. You feel like you're in a weird movie where you are the only two moving in slow motion amidst a sea of fast forwarded blurry figures. 

I have observed that the American way of life is very consistent across the country, but there are all those those small quirky differences. Some things are due to climate or terrain and some are just cultural preferences, such as foods they eat or don't eat or season in a way that is very unlike what you are used to. Not to mention, what your stomach is used to. I have to say that from Texas to the nation's capitol and back, there was always someone willing to help. That is encouraging. Someone notices your deer in the headlights look of complete lost-ness and steps up and gives a hand. 

I, personally, challenged a previous record for stupid on the first half of our journey.  For nearly 2000 miles, I b----ed and whined because I didn't have data service on my cell phone. I had really counted on using that phone to check hotels, weather and those things your hubby "nascars" past that make you wonder, hey-y, what was that? I was fully prepared to give my cell phone company what for, as soon as I returned home. We had an extra day outside of Washington and I decided to go into an AT&T store. I broke the take a number and wait until you turn gray protocol and stepped forward, said to the nerdy bespectled twelve year old behind the counter, "Excuse me, I don't mind waiting, as long as I am sure you can help me, since I am so far from home?...." more stupidity spilling from my lips.

Dodging the little knives of hatred from all the other weary waiters that were hurling at the two of us, he took my cell phone, touched it twice and said, "There you go, Mam. You just had the packet data turned off." I wanted to know what the packet data was, but the phone store had suddenly became a dangerous place to be. 

I gave my biggest Texas smile, said, "Well, bless your heart,"  pranced my old ass out, happy as a pig in mud.  My phone was working, I would look up the whatchamacallit later. Even the perpetual stupid get a break on occasion, or a hand up or manage to do something brilliant. The spouse and I fully participate in the dance of life, even if sometimes we don't know the steps.  JO