Random thoughts on a warm Sunday afternoon!

"Heck, what's a little extortion among friends?" Bill Watterson

In case you are not familiar with Bill Watterson  and his most famous work:

A gifted man who worked very hard at his craft, who also stayed true to his own world view. Or at least it seems so (I don't know the man only his reputation).

I read a quote from Jim Valvano recently that said, 

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." 

It made me pause and think. First, do I agree with the thought? Second, if I do agree how am I doing? 

I agree. 

Most days I laugh or at least smile bemusedly, I think every day, and I cry almost never. 

Laughing and smiling come naturally to all of us, I think. Maybe I'm being too general here so let me limit that statement to my family members. The Mahan clan (and their affiliates) laugh out loud often and smile even more frequently. Sometimes through gritted teeth and difficult circumstances, but we seem to always find something amusing in all situations. I believe this is why we always have so much fun when we are together. Shared stories of struggle and growth often end with someone getting the rest to see the humor and then we can laugh and shake our heads together. Nothing may have changed except our perspective but that, temporarily is enough.

I probably over think life's troubles and struggles. I don't have the vision to say if that is good or bad. My guess is it is probably both. This family of mine can bring a quick and healthy dose of perspective - and thank goodness for them. Same as above. If I have something I am wrestling with I only need mention it to Mrs. Mahan and she helps guide my thinking and also draws into the discussion the opinions and ideas of our children. The Mahan girls network seems to always be buzzing about one thing or another that may have a deeper impact on the way I see the world than any of them realize. I am very grateful that Cindy is so tuned in to these daughters of ours, with their insight and intuitions.

As noted above I am not prone to cry without reason. So I'm not sure I completely agree with the referenced quote. It may, however, be more important than I realize. I will have to turn the Mahan girls network loose on that thought.

I have quoted Mitch Albom's "the magic strings of frankie presto" in previous posts but will do so again here. One of the daughters (Holly) recently finished reading the book and was strongly impressed with it. This led to a discussion among the family about the book and we have all been reminded of quotes and thoughts that have been generated as a result of the time spent reading, enjoying, and pondering parts of the book. 

One of the quotes that made me stop and think was this,

"Everyone joins a band in this life. And what you play always affects someone. Sometimes it affects the world." Mitch Albom - the magic strings of frankie presto

And another is,

"As life goes on, you will join other bands, some through friendship, some through romance, some through neighborhoods, school, an army. Maybe you will all dress the same, or laugh at your own private vocabulary. Maybe you will flop on couches backstage, or share a boardroom table, or crowd around a galley inside a ship. But in each band you join you will play a distinct part, and it will affect you as much as you affect it." Mitch Albom - the magic strings of frankie presto

Sometimes we (or at least I) forget that everything I do has an impact on others. That scientific principle we all learned as children is true; "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." (Newton's Third Law). Including in daily living.

I don't often think about making changes in my attitude and approach to living but I am beginning to wonder if I should consider more carefully the possibility that a tear or two, sincerely offered, might be a good thing.

Perhaps my original band mates (Cindy, Jen, Adam, Stef, Holly, Lisa, and Kelli) can help me find joyful reasons to shed a tear.

Thanks for checking in. More to come soon. See you then.

"Every man has a right to a Saturday night bath." (Lyndon B. Johnson)

I am sitting at home on a Saturday afternoon. It still seems very strange to me. Some of you know that I have been working in the automotive sales business for most of the past 19 years including working on nearly every Saturday. There were occasional vacation days or sick days that included Saturday but not very many. I am still involved in the car business but now with a company that provides software as a service for car dealerships. Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Inventory management, and Website services. So Saturday has become a regular day off. Even before getting into the car business I would usually work a half day on Saturday - but no longer. Very strange.

 Mrs. Mahan and I have also relocated to the Orem, Utah area where we are, for the moment, living with one of our daughters and her family. Once we find a place, that will change, of course, but we will likely be nearby. It has been very good to be near two of our daughters and their families. I have enjoyed getting to know the grandchildren who live here on a much more personal level. Cindy and I try not to get too involved in directing behavior, though it does happen once in a while. It has been very rewarding to see the interaction between the parents and their children as they seem to have figured a way to avoid some of the pitfalls that the grandparents stepped into as we raised ours.

I remember fondly the time we spent in Montrose, CO and enjoy looking in on the lives of friends and neighbors left behind through some of the social media outlets that are available today. A lot of good things happened in my life there and a lot of personal growth occurred while working and serving in the area.

Even the neurotic dog has settled in here, and seems to enjoy being part of a larger pack once again.

"Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the phone rings and you hope it isn't for you." (Ogden Nash)

Amusing quote; sadly becoming more and more true for me. Oh don't misunderstand I do enjoy an infrequent foray into the world on a Saturday evening, but don't find myself habitually attending restaurants, movies, concerts, or other entertainments on Saturday evening. I think that should be reserved for Friday night. Saturday is often the day I begin to prepare myself for the coming Sabbath. It is much easier for me to iron a white shirt and make certain that my shoes are polished on Saturday than to try and squeeze all that activity into Sunday morning - especially when meetings begin early.

I'm trying not to get preachy here but I do want to continue this thread for a few more lines and thoughts.

A favorite quote, and example from one of our church leaders may help illustrate my feelings:

"I am intrigued by the words of Isaiah, who called the Sabbath “a delight.” Yet I wonder, is the Sabbath really a delight for you and for me?

I first found delight in the Sabbath many years ago when, as a busy surgeon, I knew that the Sabbath became a day for personal healing. By the end of each week, my hands were sore from repeatedly scrubbing them with soap, water, and a bristle brush. I also needed a breather from the burden of a demanding profession. Sunday provided much-needed relief." (Elder Russell M. Nelson)

I have similar experience in my life history. Working on Sunday usually means having to work seven days straight in a week - which for me meant working twelve or more days in a row. Doable, certainly, but not the most productive use of those days. 

Anyway, It has been awhile since I posted anything here. I hope more frequently to share. 

Thanks for checking in. More to come soon. See you then.