Nine

Nine years ago this month I released my very first blog post. I think I gasped a little as I quickly looked for the "undo" option. If I had been smart enough to figure out how to unpublish posts at the time, I probably would have done so. I certainly didn't believe this blog would be much more than a flash in a pan moment. But here we are, two hundred and seventy-seven posts later, and my fingers keep tapping away on my keyboard. No predictions for the future and I am always just one post away from the final one. 

The teacher in me continues to look for lessons learned along the way and here are a few of mine. 

1) Just do it.--I am not a risk taker as is evident by the name of this blog. But, there are times when one feels the urge to jump into the pool despite an ill-fitting bathing suit, icy cold water and questionable swimming skills. Dog paddle your way to the other side and pat yourself on the back for at least trying something new. 

2) Don't take yourself too seriously.--My aspirations for blogging do not include reaching for the stars. I never saw blogging as an income generator so there is no pressure to be perfect or, heaven forbid, glitzy. Beige will always be good enough for me and the minutia of every day life will most likely continue to fascinate me.  

3) Be realistic.--If it becomes evident that a new skill is becoming more of a noose than a gift, give yourself permission to cut the cord. Most adventures have a shelf life, be it a few moments or many years. Give yourself a break if necessary and move on to something else when your still small voice begins shouting in your ear. 

4) Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes it is not.--There are times when my fingers can barely move fast enough to keep up with the flow of ideas clamoring to become words on a page. And then there are times when I stare at a blinking cursor taunting me to put a single word on the page as my mind feels uninspired to produce coherent thoughts. By setting deadlines for myself I am learning to push through the curse of the blinking cursor.  I also hearken back to lesson #2 and remind myself not to get bound up in doing things just right. Gratefully, I have a very forgiving audience.

5) Be aware.--I recently finished a book that included a chapter on Jack London's time in the madness of the Canadian Yukon gold rush. He never found gold in nuggets but he found gold in observations. It was a pivotal moment in his career as he went on to claim success as a writer and thankfully, he recovered from a bad case of scurvy. Most of us will never experience adventures to the level of Jack London, but that matters to no one else. Keep your eyes open and you will see things that will make you smile, laugh, cry and ponder. 

So, whether you are contemplating a recipe for making the perfect chocolate cake or you are considering learning how to play the accordion, go for it. Just keep me posted. I love cake and I am a sucker for a good polka. 

 

Cool Thoughts

As the heat and humidity of summer bear down with crushing decisiveness, many of us are looking for ways to stay cool. I am blessed with the option of spending most of my time in air-conditioned environments. I am also old enough to know that air conditioning is truly a blessed invention. My younger days on the farm often utilized "natural air-conditioning" to keep cool. Windows were opened at night in hopes of circulating cooler air throughout the house. Early in the morning, the windows were snapped shut in an attempt to hold the cooler air inside as the mercury in the outdoor thermometer soared. In theory, this was a good way to make the best of summer days. In actuality, there were many days of hot, sticky air that simply recycled itself around and around. We had large box fans strategically located throughout our house which gave some relief but hot air is hot air. 

My siblings and I came up with other ways to beat the heat. We didn't have easy access to a clear blue swimming pool but our farm was located a few miles from the Missouri River. Clear blue it was not but it was wet and it could potentially cool you off. When I was old enough to drive, it became possible for us to spend an afternoon at the "beach." We probably spent more time planning and preparing for our afternoon at the river than we actually spent on the beach but it was a good distraction and it kept us out of our mom's hair. We saw it as an opportunity to escape potential chore assignments and add a little adventure to our lives. 

Our supplies usually consisted of three items, towels, snacks and a jug of water. We had no cell phones. Sunscreen was not a thing. Bottled water was unheard of and a beach umbrella was for ocean people. Occasionally, we took a transistor radio (if you are young, you might have to Google it). We often spent more time trying to get a station on the radio than it was worth but we always hoped for the sweet spot on the persnickety dial. 

I don't remember my mom giving us very many warnings as we took off on the gravel covered, winding road to the river, but she did remind us to be watchful for snakes. The poisonous prairie rattlesnake liked to spend time in shady places along the river and one could potentially experience a nasty interaction with the reptile. My vivid imagination was sure that I was hearing the rattling of an angry snake with every step I took in the grassy areas. Our beach area was undeveloped so we had no walkways or "designated areas." 

Occasionally we shared the shoreline with a few cows, flicking their tails at the biting flies while they cooled themselves in the shallow water. The cows always reminded us that it was best to keep our mouths closed when spending time in the water. No chlorine or filters here.

We stayed at the beach until our interest and snacks waned. We packed up our soggy towels and empty water jug so we could wind our way back through the river hills and head home. We may not have sufficiently cooled ourselves but we always felt refreshed from an afternoon along the river. Cows and kids sometimes need the same thing on a hot summer's day. 

Missouri River Hills