Pet People or Not

We have two Mini Schnauzers, Wendy and Sarge.

Wendy ( a few years ago)

Sarge  (a few years ago)

Wendy being the  older and wiser, is also the female and barks a lot.  Sarge, named after Sergeant Shultz of and old TV show Hogan's Heroes, that  was the German guard that overlooked most of what was going on by saying "I know nothing".  An Aunt of Pat's calls Sarge a "Toys R us" dog, he will never grow up.  Yesterday they were let outside in the early evening for 10-15 minutes and when Pat called them in, Sarge was acting a little funny and wouldn't look up at Pat as he usually does.  Pat closed the door before he could get in and started calling me saying she thought he had something in his mouth.  I rushed to the back door and went out side.  As I did, Sarge was standing off on the grass until I called him over. There was a couple feathers peaking out from his mouth, so I gave him the command he just HATES . . .  "Leave it, Sarge!" a couple times.  He did and has now kept up his record of the last four years of one bird kill a year!  So once he dropped it, I checked his mouth to make sure it was completely empty and then let him in.  I had to pick up the remains and double bagged it and it went right into the trash can.  Obviously he didn't get his treat for coming in, like they usually do.  Wendy got her's while Sarge and I were doing our thing, so I think she told him about it later.  Girls do that you know.  ha ha ha     Our bird adventure wasn't over though.  Later on, I heard Pat calling me again!  Raw bird didn't set well with Sarges stomach.  So now I had the task of cleaning THAT up.  That is a job I don't really care for, but accept because it is worse if Pat does it because then I have TWO to clean up after!  The joys of having indoor dogs for pets.  We wouldn't trade having them or the pleasure they give for anything.

Now with our newest addition Lucy, the little tuxedo cat, it is a very interesting  household.  I don't have her picture to show you, as it is on Pat's computer.  Granddaughter Kaci has labeled her "Ninja Kitty"because of her habit of streaking across the room and jumping on a chair or the couch, turning around and streaking off, out of sight.  She enjoys lurking in one of the living room chairs for Sarge or Wendy to walk by, the pounce on them and run away!  Good thing we had her front claws removed, or the dogs would be pretty scared up by now!

So that is kind of like what our house is about, with those that live here.  As the dogs get older, they are not as active as they use to be, but then neither are Pat and I.  Then Lucy came along and perked us all up a bit.  Keeps us laughing.

We love our pets and can't figure out how households without a dog or cat in the house get along.  We would have a very boring house, if something wasn't happening...Wendy barking at a car driving by or a leaf blowing across the front porch, or even Sarge thinking he is a bird dog!  Then there's Lucy, tromping down the hallway, ready for action. Looking back in time, we have actually cut back on the wildlife in our house.  At one time, many years ago in North Minneapolis, I had tropical fish, in a 55 gal, 35 gal Hex, 29 gal, 6-10 gal, and a 15 gal extra high Aquariums filled with fish, plus a dog or two  and two cats.  Asking if we are "Pet People"?  I think we qualify.

We have a good friend in Henderson that has a very large bird as a pet.  It doesn't like men very much, so I never got too close to it, but it is a very good looking bird and Miss Vickie sure does love him.  So we all have our preferences in our pets, and that is good.  My oldest son David had a ball python at one time.  THAT was interesting, and now he has two dogs, one which he rescued because she was gun shy, which isn't a good trait when she is a hunting dog!  She makes a better house pet anyway.   My youngest son Todd and his wife Shannon seem to acquire strays a lot.  Beside their own bulldog, german shepherd mix, black lab, a cat, and a couple sugar babies, they have occasional strays staying until their owners can be found, and with their four daughters, I have to admit, it is an interesting and active house!  I have found that there is LOVE and WARMTH in homes that care for their animal members.

Let me know how you are doing with your pets in the comment section at the bottom of this article.  It would be fun to see the variety and stories you have to share.  We are all God's creation, and I think we are our animal friends caretakers.

Keep singing, keep praying, and keep smiling

Blessings,
Gary

Happy Saturday Everyone!

How many people do you know that are really excited about a new day starting, or a new event to go to? Or perhaps a new experience like a new song to learn, or for those that love to act, a new part to memorize?  Maybe a looked forward to all year long a two week vacation to arrive?  How boring life would be if we didn't have something to look forward to.  If all you did was get up in the morning, go to work, come home watch TV and then go to bed, to start all over again in the morning, would not be a very fruitful life, wouldn't you agree?  Then if that is the case, what other "things" do you really look forward to doing that gives you enjoyment?

There are so many things that I enjoy doing, learning, experiencing, that there is not time enough in the day to cram it all in!  I love to read.  I was email talking to my cousin the other day and we were discussing reading books.  I told here I usually have two books going at the same time. One is for when I am at home and find time to pick it up and read a bit, and the other is in my equipment tot that goes with me whenever I leave the house.  I carry my electrical plug for my machine so I don't have to rely on the battery, extra hose, blood oxygen meter, medication chart that I am taking daily, and back-up three hour battery PLUS a book!  Quite often, I get really caught up in a part and will do some more reading when I get home.  But mostly read it while waiting for our food to come while out for a lunch or early supper somewhere.  We both enjoy reading.  Then there is my music.  I am now finishing my first set of 25, Song books for Sunday evening church when it starts up again.  They are a collection of music that I know the tunes to and some of them are going to be new to those that come to the Sunday evening worship before Bible Study.  The youth seem to really enjoy hearing a guitar played with the music, so am excited to be able to furnish that for them.  Being in graphic arts most of my life, I enjoy putting together printed booklets, flyers, etc.  Church is where these things usually are produced for.  Recently (several months ago) I put a little tract together from an idea I got while visiting my cousin and her husband in Alabama this last year.  We went to a Wednesday night meal and what I would call WORSHIP, but don't know what the real name of it would be called.  I was so impressed and got really excited about the message that I took it home and wrote a sermon based on Matthew 9:36-38.  It became a three part message and I finished the series up with giving everyone a tract to take home and contemplate a while and see if they could come up with a personal plan about their walk with Jesus.  The tract was redesigned from what we were given at the Alabama Church, because that's what I do.  I love to make things look good.  It was called "Laborers of the Harvest". It is nine simple question headings, with two or three specific questions under that main question, designed to make one think of the important things in life and how they live it.  For example:  Proclaiming Truth We're NOT living  Is my private lifestyle consistent with what I proclaim to others?    •    Now there is a question that hits most people right where it hurts!  It isn't only the occasional televangelist that gets caught up in real life of opposite realities, but we as human beings can also get caught up in it ourselves.  So, this is what I offered for my congregation to contemplate.  What I understand now is that there are varying levels of tolerance when talking about a subject such as this.  Where I thought I was making headway in something of value to those I was responsible for spiritually, and which I take very seriously, was a little less accepted than I had hoped.  Will it deter me from proclaiming the Word of God as I feel that God is directing me to?  No.  It is up to God, if that is what HE wants of me, I am listening.  I am waiting.  I am continuing to prepare myself to be a servant of God and feel that He has been preparing me for something special, and am praying that I am smart enough to recognize what it is, soon enough to act on it.  Until that time comes, I will continue to pray for guidance.  I am not a theology scholar. I am a man that has many faults, but am trying to overcome to show others that it is God in my life that makes a difference on how I live, how I raise my family, how I treat people that I come in contact with, not just family and close friends, but every one.  My job right now is "Retired Printer/retired Military guy", but my real job. . . the purpose of my life that God has been grooming me for, is still to come. I know it.  I can feel God's presence every day.  It is what I enjoy, because it makes God happy.

I am learning that people come in all kinds of packages.  Some are clear plastic...others are cast iron.  God is involved no matter what package and what baggage we have in these packages we call our LIFE.  I may be waiting, but it isn't a static wait.  It is an ACTIVE wait.  It is a "doing" wait. I am preparing, by prayer, reading, watching and listening for that whisper.

I am praying for everyone who is reading this today.  There are some of you that I don't even know.  How cool is that?  That statistics have someone in Europe and even Russia reading what I write.  I don't know your names, but I am praying that I am somehow making some kind of a difference in your life.  May God whisper for you too.  In order to hear His whisper, one must be listening for it.  It is then that you know what needs to be done.  Help your fellow man.  Love each other. This is real life stuff here. The days of the Hippies of the Sixty's have gone. This is the real time.  Help each other through difficulties and trying times.  Then you can share in the excitement of the results. It will make your days exciting!  You will WANT to get up in the morning and get going.  Try it out, and try to prove me wrong. You will be so surprised!

GOD bless each and every one.

Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling,

Blessings,
Gary

Family Pride

The year was 1966.  I had just finished a tour of sea duty on the USS Shangri-la CVA-38.  I was a Lithographer (printer) 3rd Class.  My next tour was CINCLANTFLT (that is: Commander In Chief Atlantic Fleet) Headquarters.  We were down the road from the main base, Norfolk, Naval Station and the Naval Air Station on what they call a "remote station".  I guess that was just as well, as the traffic on NOB at rush hour was horrible!  We were tucked away, off the main drag, as I recall.  Nice and quiet.  There were of course the Admiral's office buildings, a couple men's barracks, the Flag (Admirals are called "flag officers") Unit Admin. buildings, a couple security administration buildings and the mess hall.  Oh, and the largest all Navy printing plant that the Navy had at the time.  I am not sure if it is even in existence yet, the way the printing trade has been taken over with high speed copiers, etc....but that's a story for another time.  The plant was a block long and had a good size crew from 3rd Class Petty Officers (E-4) to the Senior Chief (E-8) and a Lt. as the Officer In Charge.  It was a highly restricted access, because of what we printed.  In other words, no one that didn't have the proper badge didn't get to see beyond the office.  It was an interesting place, and I enjoyed working there.  I ended up working in the office, which was the best place I could have worked!  The Chief's and I got along very well, and I guess they wanted me there, as quite often before they put me in the front with them, they were often asking "Where is Petty Officer Saffell?"  I had been assigned a medium size, one man press, and didn't like presswork.  I am not all that mechanical, and I was miserable.  So I would roam around the bindery department, camera department, and the letterpress department seeing if they needed help.  So I ended up in the front office checking in jobs that were coming into the shop.  It was a job that required interaction with the unit that was getting their job produced, and it usually involved making sure every piece of paper was accounted for. The Chief's and the OIC liked what I did, and how I was doing it.  I really enjoyed the job, especially when the only window in the whole building was the glass front door!

The Shangri-la was in dry dock up in Philadelphia when I left her.  I was there over winter and it is COLD in Philly in the winter. If it wasn't that I was already used to it, living in Minnesota and all, I would have been totally miserable.  But I had fun while we were in Philly, because I found a coffee house that had folk music jam sessions in the evenings.  I learned a few good songs that I later sang to Pat while we were dating and subsequently married.  It was a pretty weird experience, as I was about the only short haired guy sitting around drinking coffee and learning the songs.  It was the time of the "Hippies".  I was treated like one of the musicians which were basically all who were there.  It was a wonderful time.  Then I got transferred to CINCLANTFLT, and as they say, the rest is history.  The fact that I had a four door car made me the "taxi" for my friends.  I knew I would be, which is why I bought a four door car, and drove it from Minneapolis to Norfolk on Transfer leave between assignments.

The reason for all this "history" is coming to the front, so hang in there with me.  I had moved off base after a while with a couple other guys from our barracks.  Can't remember why now, it was so many years ago, but I do remember the New Years Eve of 1966.  We couldn't find dates evidently, so we stayed at the apartment (second floor of a house with an outside stairway) until midnight when we heard a trumpet playing close by.  We barreled out the door and down the steps and homed in on the music.  I guess we scared the kid who was on his front porch playing as we came running down the sidewalk.  He dove back into his house and by the time we got to his house he was peeking out the curtains of his living room.  We tried pleading with him to come out and play more.  He wouldn't so we went back to the apartment, and I cooked some scrambled eggs and minute steaks, which we ate and sat back listening to the music which was on a low volume and guess we drifted off to sleep.  Shortly afterwards though there was a loud knocking our door!  Stan went and answered the door and it was the Norfolk Police!  As Stan opened the door and the Officer was walking into our apartment, I was sitting up from the couch rubbing my eyes, and Wendy was sound asleep on a bed. The cop said to Stan that there was a complaint that a wild party was going on up here and they were called to take care of it.  After barely able to hear the music that was still playing, and seeing one guy sleeping and two others obviously just waking, said they must be mistaken, and wished us a Happy New Year and left!  We are some real party goers and rowdy bunch of guys!!!!

It was shortly afterwards that I felt the need to take some courses at Old Dominion College (for whatever reason I couldn't imagine).  So I went over to the Personnel Office and put in a request for tuition aid as I was just a poor sailor and needed the help.  I was shown who I needed to talk to, to get the request forms filled out.  That someone was Seaman Patricia Todd.  I really liked what I saw, and after a couple false starts, and a couple turn downs, finally got a date with this fine looking and intelligent woman.  Our first date was a triple date with Stan, Wendy and their girlfriends from the Air Station.  I had forgotten to fill Pat in on that point. When I escorted her to my car, there were two sailors sitting in the back seat!  Everything smoothed out when we got their dates and off we went. We went to a coffee house named the Guilded Cage which was having a folk singer, guitarist, that I wanted to hear.   Wendy left early because he and his date were going to a unit party.  So that left Stan, his date and Pat and I.  We closed the the place and had such a great evening that I after I got Pat back to her barracks, I had to get to work as it was my duty day that started at 7:00 am.

We saw each other every day from that day forward until we married at the Base Chapel on March 18th, with a few of our friends which included Stan and Wendy, and a few others....I think 12 all together.  That was March 18, 1967.  What a life we have shared since then.  It turns out that what we did was, started a family tradition that continues now with one of our granddaughters, Jess Saffell.  Pat was the first lady Navy member, our Daughter in law Mischell, married to oldest David, and now her daughter Jess.  Isn't that was wonderful legacy?  I am so proud of them.

Personnel Seaman Patricia (now Saffell)

Petty Officer Third Class Yeoman Mischell (now Saffell)

Since Jess is still in Boot Camp, and is doing very well, I don't have a picture of her in uniform yet.  She is planning to be in the Medical Corps field.

I have been so blessed by having the ladies in my family stepping up and taking responsibility to serve their country in the military, which isn't an easy thing for anyone. I wonder how far this line will go, but it has a firm base to go for many years.  I salute all women who have served our country in whatever branch they have chosen.  I have a friend that was a Col. in the Medical Field in the Army, and many friends over the years in the Reserve Units that I have served.  All women of integrity and honor.  I thank them for their service.

The point of my story today:  A family based in the military is a blessed family because they are grounded in reality of life.  Not everything goes well ... all the time.  There are difficult times as well as the great times.  Being in the military for . . . I think most of us . . . gives us challenges that we go through together and THAT gives us strength to work through it.   If you know of or see a lady service member, PLEASE go up to her and THANK her for her service.

Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling

Blessings,

Gary

Saturday FUNNIES

Memories . . .

Why is it that when I should be going to bed at night that I get to do my BEST thinking?  Of course BEST is a subjective word in this use!  We had our first day of the big garage sale today.  Wife Pat is so good at organizing . . . whatever it is, she is excellent at organizing it!  It looked pretty dim at first this morning as being 4th of July, with the parade in Dyer then the one in Kenton later in the morning, the customer rate was a slow start.  We could tell when the first parade was over as more folks started showing up and it became pretty fun, visiting with the people looking for a good deal.  We had them, and are going to be ready again in the morning...and then again Saturday.  Looks like we might be doing this again next weekend and possibly the weened after that!  The treasures we acquire through the years.

Seeing things that I haven't seen in years brings back memories.  I'm sure everyone can relate with that. At one point, a teen ager and his Mom were looking around and we had some electronics out, one being a monitor and a couple printers, that the young man was interested in.  As I was showing him the printer, we had, what I call a fairly modern typewriter, he asked what it was.  I took the cover off and showed him it was indeed a typewriter.  On the underside of the cover was the sales slip taped.  It was dated 1987 and cost $189.00.  We were selling it for $20.  He was amazed at what it was!  I guess my age was showing, as disguising my thoughts is not one of my best features.  The young man showed that he was brought up in a loving home on how he and his Mother talked to each other.  That was refreshing to see.  In our visiting, I spoke of my boys and how when they were young, I was busy working and trying to provide a safe, and comfortable home for them.  Now that they are grown, and have families of their own, and I am kind of, sort of, retired, I get to finally play games with them on the computer.  What a joy it is for me, and what a gift it was from my oldest son, David when he brought the game and loaded it on my computer several years ago, along with a communication program that we could talk to each other while playing.  I keep that program on all the time, just in case he and my other son are by their computers, we can visit.  Of course the telephone does the same thing, for that kind of talking, but still . . .

With Daughter Amy up the road a piece, we get to visit with her most every day.  But with the boys so far away, it is always good to be able to visit via the Ventrilo program or the in-game typing "chat".  We are very blessed to have children that have grown up respecting their parents.  I get a great deal of pleasure by playing with my kids now that I have time to do so.  Before, I am so thankful they understood that I loved them, but providing for them was my focus at that time.

So today when I am seeing some of our history up front and personal, these memories come to the front, and I am strangely warmed. How blessed I am that our children have grown to be excellent providers for their families and are bringing up their children (all GIRLS....but that is another story) to grow in a warm caring family with respect as well.  I am praying that the legacy of kindness and respect will be continued on for the many, many families that follow us.  We have a good start....starting with my grandparents, now us, then them......etc.

Those are my thoughts for today....I am happy and content.  Happy Birthday AMERICA!

Keep singing, keep praying, keep smiling

Blessings,
Gary

Sharing...It's a good thing

In these parts there is a TV channel available that is called RFD TV that has shows that are so refreshing and comfortable to watch, especially for an old man that loves music (as y'all know by now). They have shows like Larry's Diner which is a down home show that highlights various music groups and the show host Larry, always starts the show with a Scripture of the day.  Now isn't that wonderful?    The show is on at 10pm on Sunday.  It is preceded by several other shows like the Marty Stewart Show which is fantastic. Marty Stewart has re-runs too, and one is on tonight that I haven't seen.  Tonight they have Merl Haggard highlighted.  Our Saturday evening is filled with wonderful American music shows even including "Molly B's Polka Party" which highlights Polka bands throughout the country.  So it is a night filled with several styles of music and comedy and just "feel good" stuff to take the edge off of every day life.

My life is a wonderful life filled with wonderful things that, as I look back on it, is intertwined with music.  I have never been what I would call a professional quality guitar player, but through the years of singing, and playing and trying different styles of music with different instruments, it has been an enjoyable journey.  I have a mandolin hanging on my office wall and my new Dobro style style guitar sitting proudly in its new stand, ready for me to practice on it at a moments notice.  My Acoustic, Sunday-go-to-church guitar is in the case ready to go at a moments notice.  Right now Marty Stewart is playing with Merl Haggard and is playing a mandolin.  Makes me want to get mine off the wall and practice it some more.....maybe tomorrow I will have time.  There seems to be still so much to do and by the end of a busy day, I have not gotten around to practicing on the new instruments!  darn!  It seems to be a priority challenge.  ha ha

So much enjoyment comes from creating things for personal enjoyment.  If by doing whatever it is that you enjoy, will bring enjoyment to others, it makes the effort even better.  Music is something that can be enjoyed by many people.  When learning an instrument, sometimes to family listening in, can be a moderately painful experience, but time will heal those memories and before you know it, there is actually some recognizable music coming out of the long hours of practice.  I feel sorry for Mom when I was first learning to play. I practiced in my upstairs bedroom in an old house.  After a very short time of my first practice, Mom told me to put a pillow under my foot!  Seems my foot keeping beat was resonating directly downstairs.

I have a good friend that comes over on a semi regular basis so that I can share some things I have learned about guitar playing.  Randall is a good student, and is learning several instruments at the same time, so his work is cut out for him.  I will shortly be teaching several folks at church how to play the guitar as well.   It is going to be a good time!  I am excited about sharing what God has blessed me with, and that is the love of music making.  I teach the basics of what I have learned about the make up of music, and how to play the basic chords, how normal music is "built" in an order that can be understood and converted to a tone level (key) that can be sung without hurting yourself.  So in the next several days, in between helping Pat with the big Garage Sale July 4, 5, 6,  I will be busy putting together my study guides for my new guitar players to use.  I pray to God that what I do will be to His benefit and praise.

So when you have found a craft or something else that you have developed  that you enjoy, consider sharing it with others to enjoy as well.  Pat is a crochet person.  She has a wonderful talent of making beautiful afghans and has started a prayer shawl ministry at the church I was pastor of a while back.  She was teaching others how to crochet, and they had many hours of learning how to crochet and make prayer shawls for others.  What a wonderful ministry!  So I think that everyone has a gift, a talent.  If we are to keep that talent to ourselves, it is of no use to have.  We MUST share our gifts that God has provided to us.  For some it might be LISTENING.  What a wonderful gift to share with others is the ability to visit with a shut-in and sit and listen to them.  A lot of times when we are sick or healing from and accident, a visit from someone is just what is needed.  Not to be entertained, but to listen, with an occasional word or to to keep the visit going on for a bit.  You know what I mean.  I remember when I was recovering from a hospital stay and now at home, the church folks took turns coming over with lunch for me.  The food was alway great, but I learned that as good as the food was, it was the preparers presence that fed my soul.  It was the fact that they had prepared a meal for me and brought it to me and then spent some time with me to visit.  So being a listener is a GREAT gift to share.

Whatever it is that you have been blessed with, go out and find a way to share your gift.  I know a lot of talented folks that share their gifts with others.  My very good FaceBook friend Chuck (Doc) Williams lives in Vegas and I got to see him for the first time on our last trip out there a couple months ago.  He is a very talented writer and I have read his books. He shares his life through the printed word. He is very good at what God has blessed him with. Every day I look forward to see what he is up to for that day and what stories he will tell. He uses Facebook a lot like I use this Blog...to share experiences and thoughts.  I guess that's what I like about him....not only are we former seafarers, but we are two old men writing about what bugs us and basically whatever we are inspired to talk about at any given moment!   So don't be afraid to share what you have been blessed with....it may help someone that really needs to see, hear, or feel your talent in whatever fashion you decide to share it.  You will be rewarded, take my word for it...It has for me.

Keep singing, Keep praying, Keep smiling,

Blessings
Gary