"Onion rings in the car cushions do not improve with time" Erma Bombeck

My family owned a gas station when I was young. We sold gasoline, vehicle repairs and service, and tires as our main business. My Dad also decided to sell a variety of other items. Things like hunting and fishing licenses, jewelry, firearms, and assorted candies and snacks. With all of these options available for the traveling public and the local consumers, we were busy most of the time. For a young boy who had an interest in all things going on in the world this was a terrific place to spend the hours after school and much of each Saturday.

 

When there I was expected to help customers that pulled in to fill their gas tank by performing that task plus washing all the windows, checking the oil level, and any other services the customer asked for. Most of the time I did so happily and quickly. There were those odd days when I hoped that each car that pulled in would stop at the self service island. Those days, of course, did not always go as hoped and I ended up waiting on far more customers than I cared to. A funny thing usually happened by the end of those days. I left work feeling a lot better about life than I did when I arrived earlier in the day. Our small town was seemingly filled with people who knew how to smile and make a young fellow feel better about whatever troubles he had.

There are funny things that happen when you are dealing with the public. There are also some not so funny things. I'll share just a few from my memory here today.

One of my least favorite jobs was cleaning the floor to ceiling windows that fronted the showroom and included the entrance to the building. Those windows faced a busy street so they accumulated a lot of dust and grime and needed to be washed and squeegeed regularly. We always knew that something humorous would happen on the days when that glass was cleaned. Whenever a customer would pull in to gas up we would get the work done while keeping an eye on the customer as he/she looked for the restroom. Invariably they would head for the showroom, but with clean glass it was sometimes hard to tell which pane was the door - or even if there was a glass pane in the frame. Many times people would walk straight into one of those windows banging their head or (if they were lucky) kicking it with their shoes. We finally had to resort to hanging signs and banners in the windows so people would stop walking into them.

 

There were also not so funny things that happened. Another one of my jobs was to clean the restrooms several times a week. Usually not too difficult or disgusting. But occasionally.... .

We arrived at the station early one morning and after the first customers had departed and we had some down time Dad asked me to clean the facilities. I took care of the men's room and then headed over to the ladies facility. I opened the door and discovered that whomever had used the room last had missed the toilet almost completely. There was human excrement all over the toilet, the floor, and even on the wall next to the toilet. A new experience for this young man and not fun at all to clean up.

 

There was one day when the Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came in to speak with my Dad. They were always welcome both at the gas station and in our home. This time though these two missionaries said something that got my Dad riled up and he forcibly told them to leave. There was one feeble attempt to calm his anger, he again told them to leave and they did. I remember having them over for dinner a few nights later that week and apologies where made on both sides and everything returned to normal in that relationship. A lesson to me on many levels - managing  anger (still trying to master this one), remorse when in the wrong, and forgiveness always.

I have pleasant memories of sitting in the garage on many quiet winter afternoons observing Dad, Dan or Adolph working on someones vehicle. Tune-ups in those days were frequently needed (spark plugs, condenser, points, timing) and carburetors needed to be rebuilt after a thorough cleaning. A lot of lessons to be learned. The opportunity for a young man to spend time observing men whom he admired and looked up to was well worth the time.

As I occasionally reflect on those simple days and experiences I smile. What a great childhood my brother an I had. Children today live a different life than we did. Even at a very young age they face challenges and distractions that we could have never even conceived. My hope is that, as my grandchildren grow, their parents (and grandparents) will help them find opportunities similar to those we had. Not necessarily how to work on a car, but time spent learning together about this life.

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

Movement. Balance. Growth.

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." (Albert Einstein)

I remember a Monday when I arrived at work following a major snow storm in the Denver, CO area. It was cold and I was loving life. Cold weather has always been a favorite of mine so I was feeling pretty good that morning. One of our customers came into the dealership mid-morning and informed us that the car we had let him take over the weekend had been totaled. We had seen that car on a flatbed tow truck just a few moments before he walked in but had not yet connected the dots. My good day very quickly deflated. Of course we were concerned about the driver and any others that may have been involved in the accident. he was fine and only one vehicle was involved in this accident. I don't remember all the details as it was quite awhile ago. I do know that there was a crash into a wall and then the car rolled several times down the highway. Modern vehicles are really amazing. So much damage to the exterior but only minor bruising and scrapes to the driver.

I had a conversation with my boss later the next day about the incident. There were many things we had done wrong with regard to a loaned car (paperwork) so the dealership and our insurance would be on the hook rather than the customer and his insurance company. We (my team and I) received a major chewing out later that day. I accepted full responsibility for the snafu with our paperwork and was fully prepared for whatever consequence followed. There were none, other than the yelling and cursing. My boss and I had a conversation a few days later where he did tell me that he was fully prepared to release me from employment with the company until he spoke with his boss (the owner) who said simply, "Did he (me) learn anything from this?" to which my boss replied, "yes", and then the owner replied, "Then we are done with the incident - if we and our employees are not learning from what happens here every day, then we have a problem and changes need to be made. We will pay the deductible, the insurance company will pay off the car, and we all move forward."

I have been grateful for the understanding of a seasoned employer and for the lesson learned every time I consider what might have been.

Movement. Balance. Growth.

Our son, Adam, was given a bicycle when he was 5 or 6 years old (I think.... possibly a little older) and he really wanted to learn how to ride that bike without training wheels. We didn't take them off until late in the summer because he needed to grow physically in order to ride safely. He did grow and the day finally came when we decided to give it a try without those training wheels. We worked for several days helping him to balance and try. I remember the day when he finally understood that he had to keep moving forward or he would fall. There was one thing lacking yet - he hadn't quite caught on to the trick to maintain balance. I finally realized that he had not been given the key to balancing on a bicycle and shared it with him quickly and quietly. "Adam, when you feel the bike starting to tip to the right turn the handlebars slightly to the right, when you feel the bike starting to tip to the left turn slightly to the left." He gave me a quizzical look but I could see him thinking about it and suddenly...the light bulb turned on and he understood. Forward momentum, turn toward imbalance, and the bike will right itself. It was fun to watch him ride for the rest of the afternoon with no training wheels and no tumbles.

I hope we all understand that we grow and learn the most when we are struggling or even failing. This is a lesson I have been learning repeatedly all my life. There is a quote attributed to Robert Kennedy that says, "Only those who dare to fail can ever achieve greatly." I believe this to be true.

Oprah Winfrey once said, "Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it."

Many of us, me included, let the distractions of life (family, entertainment, working for a living) get in the way of what we really want to do. Today is the time for me (you make your own choice) to take some risk. There are things I want to do. Now is the time to begin.

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

Labor Day Weekend!

I overheard a conversation on a recent afternoon at work that went something like this; Voice 1, "What do we celebrate on labor day?" someone replied, "Isn't it about veterans?" "No, I think that's Memorial Day." Well then what is veterans day?" Oh, right, that's a good question." "What is Memorial day?"

For the record, I did make sure they all understood what these days off (in their minds) are about. Though I thought it would be good to share that information here.

"Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America."

"Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there." (copied from usmemorialday.org)

Labor Day is about the American Laborer and has nothing to do with honoring military men and women. According to the US Dept. of Labor website;

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

Regarding Veterans Day; "An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars." (copied from va.gov)

If you are a curious individual you might visit these and other websites to read up on the history of these holidays. Some of what I read is speculative because we really don't know the exact history or the specific context of what information has been preserved over the years. Even those who read this blog post who are my age of older may not remember from their history lessons all of the information pertaining to these three holidays. I recommend that we all take a moment when these holidays approach and research a little so we are reminded of the significance of each date.

I know I will. 

Moving on.

"Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it." Steven Wright

You all may have noticed a bit of disappointment surrounding the Mahan Clan not having our annual gathering on Grand Mesa this year. The time spent together on that mountain has become a cherished event in our lives since sometime in the middle 1990's. As our children have started their families it has become more difficult to pull everyone together every year. I have been excited at the prospect of being unplugged for the weekend and not worrying about work or any other life issues that arise from time to time. We are not able to gather this year but we will likely spend time communicating, celebrating, and enjoying time with family that is near."

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

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.

Sometimes you just have to laugh!

"Laughter is an instant vacation." Milton Berle

A few months ago I was visiting the home of one of our daughters. They have two children we'll call one of them Mo and the other Mara. I had driven to their family home in Orem, Utah for a short visit as I had a job interview arranged with a company nearby. Upon my arrival at their home I knocked on the door and Mo came down the stairs and unlocked the door to let me in. I followed her into the house and was standing on the landing at the bottom of the stairs as she was telling her Mother and sister who was at the door. She stepped back around the corner from the kitchen, looked at me and said, "Why didn't you bring Grandma?" This story makes me smile every time I think of it. It made me smile that afternoon as well. And her Mom chuckled as she invited me to join them in the kitchen.

I don't often spend time around my grandchildren without Grandma along for the ride.

Victor Borge is quoted as saying, "Laughter is the closest distance between two people."

He makes a good point.

Later that same day I had returned to their home from the interview and was sitting at the kitchen counter with Mara next to me when our daughter said that she needed to run to the store to get a few things and wondered if we all wanted to ride along? Mara immediately said "No! I will stay here with granddad." Lisa asked Mara if she was sure about that. Mara replied that yes, she would stay home with granddad. Lisa looked at me and I said sure we can stay here just the two of us. Lisa continued to prepare to go to the store. Alex arrived home just a minute or two later and joined us in the kitchen. He was warmly received by his family and we had a brief conversation about the plan for the evening. Lisa then mentioned that she and Mo had to make a quick trip to the store. and Mara immediately said, "Dad you go to the store! I'm staying home with granddad."

We were all amused. They went to the store and Mara and granddad stayed home. We laughed together, we colored, and finally we read a book together. A connection made between her old granddad and her three year old self.

Fast forward to last weekend. The Guzman family (Alex, Lisa, Monroe, and Mara) decided to make a visit to Montrose. They arrived Friday evening and settled in fairly quickly. Those granddaughters played for an hour or so before retiring to bed. The feeling in the house changed immediately upon their arrival. The laughter and energy of young children is joyful. I had not known that they were coming to visit until just a few hours prior to arrival but so glad they came.

Saturday afternoon Mara was running from the play area that Grandma has arranged for them, heading toward the bedroom where their things were kept. She was intent on her destination and I had just walked out of the kitchen and saw her running. I paused until she was almost at the turn to the hallway. I squatted and gave a little rrraarr at her.... and, without missing a step, she leaped into the air, her legs churning (think Wiley Coyote) landed back on the floor and continued down the hallway. No squeal, no shriek, no slowing down. Lisa saw this and laughed out loud (so did I).

Our grandchildren learn humor from their parents just like those parents learned from Cindy (grandma) and me.

"Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." (W.H. Auden)

No grand thought here today. Just hadn't posted anything in quite some time.

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