But Only God Can Make a Tree

Before I begin, last week's article was about winter and how my seasonal perceptions are affected by geography.  Shortly after hitting the publish button, I made a quick trip to the grocery store. Next time, I might wait a while since I was obviously still tuned-in to the stories told.

As I checked out at the service desk, there was a basket of free key fobs.   I convinced myself that these little buggers were Cincinnati’s answer to a quick window-scraper for the car.  So tiny and somewhat convenient, I was a bit impressed while simultaneously laughing at how ridiculous it would look to see someone using one.

Well, it LOOKS like a window scraper - right?

Flurries and Gratitude

Cincinnati Memories.

The first snowfall.

A little bit of rain and then, a little bit of snow.  It was predicted. No surprise other than the fact that prediction itself was accurate.

I was leaving for work a bit early on that first day of experiential winter.  Just a block from home, I saw a young lady dressed in less than the layered clothing required for winter weather.  She was slipping and sliding around the parking lot in her attempts to scrape her windows with, listen up, a credit card!

OK.  Can't ignore that without making an effort to help, right?  So I pulled into the parking lot, grabbed my scraper and got out of the car.

Whoa!  Her reaction mandates that I immediately stop with my hands in surrender mode.  I meant no harm, but I apparently scared the poor girl half to death.

Reviewing Purpose

Stories.

Sometimes they're just stories.

Sometimes they can be used as reflective instruments focused inward.  They become helpful when analyzing our own lives, our own decisions, goals and direction.

This one now floats around the Internet.  I am guessing that it's fiction.  Actually, I'm hoping that it's fiction, but maybe not.  The lessons available will probably be unique to each of us. 


Author Unknown

*** On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was a once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost.

Be The Bucket Brigade

I’ve decided it’s time to lose a few pounds.  Actually, I decided that a long time ago but I’m finally getting around to spending time on my feet attempting change.

There’s a mall not far from the office.  During lunch, I’ve been trying wander the hallways at a ‘brisk’ pace a few times per week.  Burning calories is the goal, but it's a sad place to be, actually.

I researched the mall's history.  Someone (actually many of them) spent a small fortune (This, a relative term as small doesn’t resonate with me.  Huge might be closer to truth) on this retail structure.

Efforts to create a scaled-down Mall of America never saw success.  Currently, with few exceptions, storefronts remain empty and boarded over.