Month: February 2023

Our cherry outlook was dimmed by the dark

gray clouds. They appeared to the eye as you

looked up over the snow mountains, which had

been around just a bit too long. We were praying

for warmer weather, but none was promised by

the Channel Seven weatherman. So we resolved

to take it as it comes. There were plenty of things

to do before spring was upon us. We were thankful

for how good we had it, especially when we thought

of the many who were suffering in the world. Even

in our own town, there were children who were hungry

and unhappy. Their folks spent money for alcohol or

at the casino, Always wishing for the big payout. The

more they lost, the meaner they became, and they

lost their sense of perspective. To put it mildly, they

were miserable, angry at themselves, and thought

nothing of taking it out on their children. The school was

an afterthought. Whether their children did well or

failed was of no concern. Most of these children fell

behind, and some dropped out of school and became

addicts. Some suffered from depression and had no

place to turn. The counselors and the ministers had

no answers and could not refer the children

to someone who could help. The life and spirit of the

town seemed to be on the decline, and no one took

a deep interest in the welfare of the community.

Hope was a forgotten word. Still, there were citizens

and leaders who thought we could do better, but their

enthusiasm was short-lived, and they gave up. The do

nothings and the let the cards lay where they fell did

not relish victory and were reluctant to try anything

new. It is a sad story and not unique to our community.

There are successful cities and we should try to follow

their lead but, sorry, it looks hopeless. New leaders

may be the only hope.

Stanski

Feebruary 6, 2023, ^

The birds are quiet today

Tree limbs are still and

The temperature is cold

No animals are roaming

Evidence of the sun along

The horizon as brightness

Is prevalent in multi-shades

There is no doubt that this

Is the middle of winter

We acknowledge that

Spring is getting closer

This fact lightens our burden

And makes us feel like

We have accomplished

Something. We have a means

Of keeping warm, but at

The great expense as the bills

For energy keep increasing

As does the tab for food

Flurries are dropping to

The ground, ever so slowly

We do not need more snow

Mountains of it are everywhere

And snow-machine enthusiasm

Is at a peak as they travel

Hundreds of miles to take

Advantage of the well-groomed

Trails in the U.P., spending

A week here before returning

To their families and work

Down below. They are trolls

And their bravado is not

Appreciated as much as their

Money is. We know what we

Have and don’t need to be told

By them or anyone. Meanwhile

The lake is very calm and the

Sky is gray. So it goes.

Stanski

February 5, 2023, ^

I AM HERE

I see sunshine in the woods. it has an orange-yellow tint.

It lifts me. Everything is possible. Along the shoreline,

the small mountains of snow reflect the sun. The whole

of the lake looks frozen, and the sun shines brightly off of it

almost looking like a cloud. There are clouds above, which

are different shades of gray all the way to white. Winter

is amazing in beauty. All the trees have snow on their

limbs. It is eight above zero at the present time.

We are halfway through winter, and most are eager

for spring. The sun has been scarce, and we have had

cold and snow throughout the season up until now.

It will warm up. It always does, and we will be able

to resume our usual outdoor activities. That fact

makes us happy, but when the warm weather

comes, we will find something to complain about.

Our time is right now, and we have to make use of it.

People want to know what you are going to do

next and my answer is I am here, that is all that

matters. What I do I am doing now. Let us pray.

We prayed and asked and answered a few

questions. Everyone seemed to be at peace.

This was my first time joining them. I came

uninvited and was received well because we

were acquainted and they liked me for the

many things I had done for them. We have

now, regardless of the sun and weather. We

should not be idle but have some agenda that

we gladly carry out. We have the moment and

nothing else matters with respect to ourselves.

We pray, give thanks, and move on to the

next thing. This may frustrate those who

have no plan, but it is satisfactory to us.

Stanski

February 4, 2023, ^

You are who you are. If that

makes you unhappy, then

it is up to you to do something

about it. A champion golfer,

if he wants to stay sharp,

hits a thousand golf balls per day.

A runner must keep running.

A six-week layoff and he is back

to square one and has to start all

over, building slowly back to what

he once was. We make mistakes.

We make corrections. If we want

to be happy, we must do things to

make others happy. We start to do

little things and keep building up to

the point of doing things we never

thought of doing when we were

unhappy. Our growth, if we keep at it,

can be phenomenal, and we surprise

ourselves and those around us.

These sorts of things are the miracles

of life. If we did not take the initial step,

we would still be forlorn. We learn to act

when things are not right. We have been

given all of the instructions necessary and

have bee promised that there would be

someone with us to help us. It is now up

to us to find food and water for those in

need. We may begin small, but keep

increasing our efforts until they become

second nature to us. We begin to like

who we are and begin to bring others

together to assist us as the problems

increase and are discovered. At this point

to ignore what we know we must do

would bring us back to unhappiness.

If others fail or find that the effort is

too much, then we find new people

who will carry on with the opportunity.

We are finding our place in the promised

land and in reality, that is what life is all about.

Stanski

February 3, 2023, ^

The loss of a loved one is real and grief,

though modified by temperance, remains forever. 

Rough edges are smoothed

allowing us as bearers to

be calmer and more serene.

Our human frailty

does not allow us to give up a bond

that seemingly anchored us

in our identity and was part of our self-worth. 

Life is a precious gift and

we do not stop living without purpose. 

We become a monument of sorts for

the one lost, a proof that someone mattered. 

We will not and do not forget. 

Scrapbooks, picture albums and

conversations often become sidewinders

that bite us with reality,

bringing tears and wounded hearts which

again will need time for healing. 

This is the story about

what love does when absolute. 

It is a treasure of gold

that we will not spend for ourselves,

but will sometimes share with others. 

Nothing new in our life will alter what was

because the new is something different and unrelated. 

We, in a sense, have a new story. 

It, too, will end and

we hope it is not us

who has to write the final chapter.

But if it is we will write the story

With grace and dignity.

Stanski

February 2, 2023, ^