SOMETHING IS MISSING!

Why can't I put my finger on the cause of this phenomenon?

The more I straighten up the garage, attic, closet, bookshelves, war drawer, van trunk, or whatever, the more the stuff seems to disorganize itself. Put in an hour rearranging, sorting, and even minimizing a household subcollection - shoes, canned goods, books, whatever - and the next time or two a search begins for a certain something, it has gone missing and a jumble of mixed items has seized its proper location.

Winter is tough enough anyway. With cold claiming the bonus room and the garage, little lasting progress occurs there between November and March anyway. I have generally accepted that trolls or some sort of irksome force will have rearranged those repositories during the dark months. But how do my sock drawers and desk areas and easy-chair side table and personal knick-nacks in warmer climes become so disorganized? And why?

Does anyone else live with the absolute certainty of where "it" is (and belongs) and the bafflement of finding that spot occupied with something else? Rarely is "that spot" empty. Oh, No! A foreign object will be smugly perched there, or nearby items will have migrated together eliminating that exact spot where I knew the missing item can always be found. And I'll look there a dozen times more, knowing every time that it isn't where it should be, but hardly believing such an anomoly is possible.

The most powerful DNA I have inherited demands that I know exactly where every single minute item I own belongs and that it is properly placed in its own niche (and stays there). It should be instantly available the next time I want it because it is always faithfully in its rightful assigned location. Disruption to this basic law initiates lengthy searches and reorganization campaigns and enlisting the family troops until the item is rediscovered, and correctly replaced, and the horrible rent in the fabric of the universe is repaired.

By now you understand that living with any cognizant awareness of misplacement is intolerable. Order demands correction and restitution (and sometimes retribution) at several levels above a simple "lick and a promise". It is a never ending task beginning at at any hour of the clock and it can not be postponed; until the errant item is recovered or its delinquincy is adaquately explained, the hunt must continue. Think of it this way. Recall the feeling you may experience when your keys, or checkbook, or credit card, or purse, or wallet are missing. I mean really, really unfindably GONE!! Yes! It's a Feeling like That! For Everything! (Are you thinking he's O-C?? You Betcha I am!!)

And now at my age, a new wrinkle is being added. In the midst of a search, distractions interrupt, rabbits intervene, divergance happens, and the focus of the dragnet becomes fogged .

What was I looking for? Oh, yeah.

A TABLE OF CRONIES (and a PS)

Some of you may have already read Patty's blog (See Sidebar) on this gathering of educators. It is rare indeed for me to have opportunity to sit with some of the best collegues of the glory years with whom I shared years of stomping out ignorance among students and administrations.

Of course the time went too quickly, and stories swapped wore mostly of the "catch-up" and "what-ever-happened-to" variety. There were some suggestions of a deliberate gathering of these and others in early June while the Wyatt's will be in Juneau to help Geoffrey (our youngest) marry his chosen, Dana. Maybe we will have some time then to do the undone, swap kudos, reveal a few secrets, and reflect on a couple of really good decades in education when Alaska was young and bureaucracy/administrators did not always hinder effective classroom instruction as has been the norm since.

PS This occasion was the marriage of little Julie Lynn, daughter of my teaching buddy and my summertime fish-boss. It was a lovely ceremony and the reception in an enormous room downtown Tacoma was packed. These kids have a great base of family and friends and evidence of a strong faith upon which to base this partnership. Well, the wedding is done and the chance to build a great marriage begins. I expect these kids to do well; my prayers and promises may be of little help, but they are offered with love and joy here at the beginning.

HERE'S MY VALENTINE

Here is My VALENTINE today. And next week, she will have been my Bride for 43 years! Oh, What a Happy man am I!!

Betty is the most selfless person anyone I know knows. She always puts others before herself and Jesus before everything else. She spends more time at planning a favor, or doing something nice, or arranging a surprise, or doing a little extra, or solving a problem, or just listening to others, or sharing her insight and practical ideas, or finding special ways to please people than anyone else anyone knows. She remembers names and kind deeds and savors the words and thoughts she receives and shares these precious moments with others. She instinctively knows how to make people happy and comfortable, and makes them feel good about themselves. She comments on how nice or special others are, but doesn't realize how precious she is to everyone else. Thoughtful, gentle, prayerful, and fruitful, she is truly a paragon among the saints. (And all who know her said, "AMEN". )

I'm pretty much a rube by comparison.

And now comes a chance to proclaim my heart to everyone on a day when lovers should declare themselves, and because I do love her powerfully much, I will tell the whole webwide world:

"I Love this Woman with all that I am and all that I have. I Always Have; I Always Will. I Love Her Deeply, Passionately, Faithfully, and Steadfastly. Under every condition. Without Reservation. I admire her spirit and character virtually to the point of envy. She is truly wonderful as a Christian, as a Friend, as a Wife, as a Mother/Grandmother, as an Encourager and as a Mentor to other women. I will never betray her, and I still want to make her ecstatically happy in any way that I can."

Betty, You may collect your well deserved XXXXXs and OOOOOs all day long, my Love.

PS. My other Valentines are Patty, Paige, Dana, Jessica, Bethany, Katie, Tabitha, Payton, Naomi, Aunt Edith, Billie Jo, All the ladies in my LIFE groups, the Sisters at church, and a bunch more who will be XXed and OOed whenever I see them again.

THE 1969 MERCURY MARQUIS

Remember when we all wanted an old car to restore in our garage? I've got a deal for you.

Maybe you remember when everyone wanted a Mercury, 'cause they were the best built American Car of all? My dad still has his "Big Bertha" but having just turned 88 he is getting close to letting her go to the right person. As you can see, she is big for sure. Built in a time of large, heavy, solid, real metal cars, Bertha is becoming a bit rare these days. But if she is to begin a new career, the world is going to have to sit up and take notice. These photos were taken on a dark, overcast morning, but she really is a nice, soft Robin's Egg Blue. The real leather seats are in deep blue and are really soft and plush to sit in.

Here are the basic stats: She's a four door sedan; Dad says he is not driving her much right now because there is a carburetor problem to be fixed, but otherwise she in good shape considering her age; recent mileage was just under 103, 000 (a second car for years, that averages undeer 3K a year!!), and all miles are his since he is the original owner; the engine is the big one - a 327? I think, and was rebuilt in October 1996 at 79K miles; Dad is a engineer type and has done most of his own maintenance all his life so he has complete, detailed records on Bertha; he also has all the original manuals and five other books specifically about the car.

I know there are a few issues, but to me they seem kind of minor. There is a torsion rod which helps hold up the trunk lid that has to be replaced, and there is a leak under the rear window where some body repair would be required, however, Bertha always stays in the garage so there is not much damage from that problem, and of course the carb that is guzzling gas and need to be rebuilt. Basically it's a project car with great potential for an easy and awesome restoration.

Have you ever wanted to "drag Main" like we used to do in the 1960s?? Want to relive your crazy teen years in a true highway chariot? Desire a lot of car around you on the Freeways and Interstates?? Want a Classic Toy to tinker with for Under $5,000?? (And I can get you a real deep discount on that if you just mention this blog soon.) I might even have an idea or two about getting this sweetheart to the Northwest. She's Muscle and Beauty combined!!

I can introduce you to "BIG BERTHA" at your convenience, but you need to know that she lives in the Los Angeles Valley area. OK, now Dream Big, - Beach? Shows? Parades? Honeymoon? Top the Joneses? Front Page of the Local Paper? Impress the Buddies? -Dream Big and give me a call.

BIRDWATCHING IN RIDGFIELD

With new binoculars swinging akimbo on a very cold foggy/frosty morning last week, the twins and I joined a BackYard Bird Shop guided walk in the Ridgefield Carty Unit. Our guide has 16 years experience leading groups and was interested in seeing that the girls had every chance to succeed among the fifteen or more adults also along on the outing. Many of our companions on this event were impressed that the girls already could identify several of the birds encountered. Indeed, they are familiar with most of the common backyard varities, but even I was surprised at their acuity at picking them out of the woods and grasses of the natural habitat (as opposed to knowing them on a birdfeeder). Sorry I did not get a chance to snap any good closeups of birds on this morning, just some of the granddaughters, sweet chicks that they are.

New field glasses not withstanding, the leader's spotting scope provided an extra close up advantage when looking at the red-tailed hawk in a nearby oak tree. We were able to make positive identifications on thirty-five specific kinds of birds, saw a dozen or more nearby that we did not solidly identify, and we were able to observe several types of field behaviors among those we watch closely. At times flocks of Canadian Geese, Tundra Swans and hundreds of waterfowl soared overhead, one massive fly-by consisting of several thousand birds and in formation. That was a most impressive display! The walk ended more warmly than it started and all present agreed it was a worthwhile activity. Still, one very popular find of the morning was the "Chocolate-Thermosed Hot Drink" found in the van after the tour was completed. Thanks, Grandma Betty!