What's a father (smart alek) to say?

So my wife tells me that one of the unnamed teenage daughters was using the wrong cleaning product on a wood table, causing the finish to dull. She explained that the product choice is important to maintain the finish.

"Well, then, what do I do, it it hard to get the 'glunk' off the table sometimes".

"Sometimes you just have to use elbow grease".

Puzzled look. Rifle through the cabinet. More puzzled look.

"Where is the elbow grease?"

Priceless.

What are we doing?

Last night's bee class revealed yet another factoid of interest - one cell of honey is the life's work of 60 bees.

One cell of honey takes up a little more space than a brand new eraser on a wooden pencil.

Whew.

As those 60 bees fly for about 6 weeks making that happen, I'll bet it would seem to them something very important is happening.

As I got my mower back from the shop today from it's winter maintenance I imagined how important the work I will do this summer grooming my lawn will bee...

Say What?

My 3 year old is pretty handicapped with autism and some other problems. He came to us as a foster child and has progressed to have some communication from his previous position of no communication. That's the good news.

The bad news is that what a 3 year old has to say isn't usually something you want to hear. Now that he has learned he can have some control over his environment, especially over those big people who order him around, he has been working us over like a normal, healthy 3 year old. He continually reminds us that the "terrible 2's" are actually a prelude to 3. (Which hibernates and reemerges as 14).

He knows he isn't allowed to throw toys. So, he does, and he gives a defiant look that says "whatareyougoingtodoabotuthat?" He goes to the time-out, where he very clearly signs "all done" and "I want to get down".

I guess we can be thankful. And watchful....

Was that camelot?

My Dad and I were talking recently about the direction of our country. It does, in fact, seem a shame that our public is more interested in what they can get for themselves rather than what they can do for the country.

Sound familiar? Those of us who were around in the sixties remember it.

We have a republic whose cry in history is "of the people, by the people and for the people". It is a noble thing to say, and it seems a shame we don't say it more today.

As we approach this election season our focus might better be the "of the people and by the people" part. This government is that, in fact. Each of us must look at the part we are playing, and the result will be a better "for the people". We, the people, are the governing, not the governed. It is a unique place to be, a rich thought for us to live under.

Look around. Are there any weak, any poor, and sick? Are there any who you can defend? Are there any you can feed? Is there someone who needs to be led? Or served? That indeed is government of the people and by the people. We don't really need to be reminded about the "for the people" part. We have that one down pretty well.

A good time to review and debate, but also a good time to reset. Thanks for the reminder Dad.