As this page opens, the first word I always is "Blogger" but the first word I read is "bigger" Of course, the word is Blogger but each time, I am taken back to my first significant interaction with a bum(begger) It was 1954 and I was sitting on the 4th avenue steps to the Downtown YMCA. An older man in rumpled, dirty clothes and long unshaven face that asked about the rubber thongs I had on my feet. We talked for a considerable time and when finished, the "bum" put his hand in his pant pocket and extracted what proved to be $1.83. Before he handed me this small fortune, we had enjoyed what I considered a fun time together so I asked why the money and he answered. "Because I took the TIME to talk with him. During the past 69 years, I have often recalled that incident favorably - not for the money but rather for the simplicity of a few kind minutes spent with a lonely older man and the joy of knowing the fortune that it was worth to that person, a person who is certainly long gone now, and how I wish that I could have spent more time with him; not for money but because it was so valuable to him that I have enjoyed it for a lifetime. I hope that I never forget that experience because i get such joy from it and I continue to be as generous as I possibly can be, indirectly I believe because of this experience, so many wonderful years ago... So, as 2014 comes rushing down the path, I do wonder how I can, with my limited old age resources, make life better for the developmentally disabled (my brothers lifetime situation) in the comming year, in part because I miss my brother terribly and because I cannot say that I've nearly had the 1954 learning experience since, except in the community of the developmentally disabled, a very special community. But now, as my time may be expiring, I need to continue and expand whatever good I may have done to this point. Please make your 2014 the best year ever.

• Frustration at my point in life is simply defined =new technology! I invested nearly half of this day getting my I-Pad back to a condition where I could complain about it! The part I hate most is that I hate to complain. It starts a negative train that can last so much longer then it deserves. I tend to think in those cost/benefit terms in virtually all facets of my life, not consciously but at some subconsciously. Of course, if it is subconscious, I don't have to consider the time wasted on such a minor matter :-). Life is good baby! I wanted to know if anyone else experiences the same sense of euphoria at odd times of the day. Personally, I find myself chuckling out loud so often I have to look around to assure myself that I don't have to apologize for disturbing folks. I assume that others do this as well but I never see others engaged in this behavior openly; maybe I have simply gone over the edge  :-); but then I've been doing this for decades. Please believe me when I say life is good. I am certain that there are few alive today that have been through more than me (how about having three different doctors telling you that you have between hours and mere months to live for three different deseases within three years of loosing your brother from one of those and only a few decades since parents died from the diseases. And stil, as I did when I was a kid, have little chuckling fits that lift me to where I cannot wait till the next time that a challenge will come my way. There are many reasons after all that time is my friend and so interesting to me. Oh oh, more time has slipped away so must get back to exercising my dream of this day and wishing you at least one of the finest moments of your life in the comming day or two!

Aloha my brothers & sisters.

 If you have a heart or soul, I urge you to search the internet for a copy of Michael Davis providing his eulogy to hi s daughter, 17 year old killed at. arapahoe High School. In the most powerful presentation I have ever witnessed, this man begged for love, respect, and forgiveness. For his daughters killer and others who might trespass, etc. please find this speech, watch it, strip out  anything you might find too religious for you and what remains is actually all we have. Our money and "things" are nothing without Mr. Davis' requests. I personally pledge to meet his request every day in the little time I have left. I am convinced that by doing so, regardless of the performance of my business, I will be the most successful man alive! I am so fortunate to have seen this eulogy! Here's hoping you can find such success!

Wow! I love to start my thoughts with a statement of my gut feeling at the moment! And Wow does that pretty well :-)  - I hope that your life is on a similar high. I just watched the recovery of a sailer in Puget Sound this afternoon after her cat capsized. It reminded me of the time off the Big Island of Hawaii when I told a fellow guest at one of the nicer resorts that I could take him out on a small sailboat provided by the resort. We headed out and the rudder failed so I slipped over the stern with sail contRol lines in hand and acted as a human rudder and skipper managing the sails. We quickly began heading for a  breakwater that would not have provided a comfortable landing. Continuing my "multi-tasking, my fellow boater, a medical doctor newly married observed that his wife standing on shore next to mine looked a bit concerned. In fact she was imagining me taking her new doctor husband away, in a very bad sense. Eventually, I managed to land the vessel back on the Sandy beach, to the relief of all! I don't know why but that thrilling event comes back to mind frequently and because of success with much good ! I certainly hope that the two women who were dunked in Puget Sound this afternoon can find similar warmth as they recall their event 40+ years from now! Every event that I've experienced on the water has been among t
He greatest experiences of my life.
Aloha all!

I've been asked so I should clarify that I seldom openly discuss political or religious issues because it seems to me that both beget argue mints, seldom beyond yelling since incredibly little logic appears to me to be a significant part of either. In one case, you know that everyone  relies on faith in one case and that no one can possibly be listening in the other. All of which in my opinion  means that only I (or you) can determine what is true, therefore there is no argument to be had. So off I go with my equally narrow mindset. I m. Ay just have to think about this. Therefore, it must be moving toward bedtime - you know, old guys ofteen face these time outs right in the middle of a thought.

I've been asking knowledgeable people for several years about America's drug policy and hope that  someone can help me with this one matter in particular. If there are laws prohibiting the sale and possession of controlled substances but TV advertising of controlled substances that can cause massive personal damage like death is OK. Now personally, I think that "educational" advertising of controlled substances should be allowed provided an equal sum is invested annually by those firms in  new product research in order to be able to deduct those costs as an operating expense  for tax purposes. I realize that the country has a ton of laws out of sink with reality due to the fact that we have local and federal governments that are the best that money can buy so what would I expect........... This issue is minor among the many unanswered questions I have but it just reoccurred :-) . Also, I keep seeing car ads that warn you not to do this(reckless driving) but heck, that's why I would want that car! At the end of the day, most of my questions by this time seem less likely tobe answered but my inquiries will continue. Why, because I am old so if I am going to know, I need to ask now! Earlier in life, I was too proud to ask because I really thought I either knew or thought that on my stage, I would be expected to know. Little did I realize what a tiny stage I was on! Life is fun! My life coul not be better - in part because I refuse to wallow in recalling those things that are part of my history that shouldn't be. But, they are, so now they are forgotten because I cannot correct them at this point. I am not wrapped up in my end but rather organizing my thoughts and actions for tomorrow, my tomorrow, not someone else's. With that, I need to walk my dogs - real buddies that make me think they love me every time I come in the house - might note what great thespians they are, oops, here I come......

Welcome to 2014! I was going to start with a comment about dating checks properly but who uses checks anymore?  Goodness, I've already begun the new year with an old mistake-allowing my concept mind to get ahead of the pragmatic mind. As a person, I am always greatly embarrassed  by any and all mistakes that I make. After all, I am perfect, well in my head perhaps but in reality, I have as many failures and weaknesses as anyone which is after all why it is exciting to close the books on another year and welcome in yet another opportunity to pursue perfection. But like nearly every other day, I no longer have the energy nor the time to devote to impossible dreams. I might note however
That I did devote much of yesterday looking at boats for sale so who knows. My son can drive a boat; after all he drives ships for a living OR maybe a miracle will happen and my sight will magically return. Of course if it did, I wouldn't adjust quickly so the experience of falling frequently would return to my life and at best I could simply claim to have gone in a large circle -:). Again, it is a new year so off I go on a walk designed to burn calories and time. Perhaps I'll see you in this neighborhood again. In the meantime, please enjoy all of this new year! Now, back to my YachtWorld page. Even blind, my mind allows me to enjoy both my past and what could be.