a kid at heart

Cookies, m&m candy, and Halloween treats. 

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with milk.

Organic animal crackers (all animals are organic, so it goes without saying).

Razor kick scooter — actually my senior mobility device for fun and cheap transportation.

Rollerblading — a senior balance exercise. 

Model railroad for my second childhood. 

Children’s songs, especially some I loved in Primary.  (“Teach Me to Walk in the Light”)

These are a few of my favorite things … whenever I feel like a kid at heart. 

Hints From Grandma Kay

Be adventurous!

Plan family vacations.  Go, learn, and have fun!

Learn to play piano or other instrument, and love it.

Don’t let a garage or unfinished basement turn into a storage trap.  Simplify!

Wives, let your husband sometimes open and close the car door for you, as gentlemen used to do.  Lovingly encourage him to help you in other ways.  Praise him.

Husbands, be kind and communicative with your wife.  Together at church and events, keep her in mind as the most important person there, hopefully close … with love.

Keep a journal.

“Live every day to its fullest.  Act on good impressions.  Follow the Prophet with love for the Lord.”

Remember me.

Hints From Grandpa Ned

Repurpose an old toothbrush to sweep lint off the dryer screen.  Also good for sweeping bugs into a bottle.

To disable a laptop CapsLock key, jam a bit of TP under the left end.  My problem solved!

Use a very short paring knife for most food preparation, including carving-out ice cream.

Keep a big $4 Walmart clock in its box frame to easily keep track of time in the bathroom or wherever (mobile); cover it at night to mute the tick-tock.

Choose Oreo Mini cookies to reduce sugar intake.  Same for healthy Hershey’s Miniatures - Special Dark Chocolate Assortment (recommended one a day).

(Dove dark chocolate: “Be fearlessly authentic.”)

Shop Costco at peak busy times to avoid the temptation to wait for a cheap hot dog or slice of pizza.  (Works every time for me.)  Read something inspiring while waiting for check-out.

Apartment dwellers: use Bluetooth headphone for high-volume music etc. to avoid annoying the neighbors who have sensitive hearing like mine. Save the smart speaker for the social/club room.

Slow down sometimes, read a good book, and know that God loves and guides His children. 

Be prepared. 

Envelope Notes

Last Saturday, listening to the BBC Proms concert, I was impressed with Emily Dickinson’s “Envelope Poems”.  ( I will look into her history about that.)  My first thought was of notes Grandfather Cannon often wrote on envelopes as scratch paper.  ( I do the same with used envelopes carefully opened and saved.  Why not?)

Now my second thought relates to the book I’m working on — Love Notes: a tribute to my wife Kay.  Some of those tributes may have been drafted on envelopes or napkins.  Each writer certainly exhibits his or her unique style of writing.  So appreciated!

I suspect my extensive iPhone Notes and PC Notepad files lack a certain character that handwritten envelope notes preserve for future generations.  Time will tell. 

Never a dull moment

It’s true.  In contrast to some former neighbors challenged with boredom, I have never been bored — not since the summer when, as a little boy, I complained to my mama that I was bored with nothing to do.  So, she put me right to work.  Problem solved … for the rest of my life.

There is never a dull moment, even during times of renewal, such as resting with music, snacking with dark chocolate, and walking for exercise at Costco.  Learning from salespersons never frightens me.  Browsing in the public library always fascinates me.  Visiting family and friends brings me joy. 

Yes, I find life is more amazing away from my phone and TV.  Never dull in my experience.  How is that possible.

A piece of cake?

Having a young professional write my wife Kay’s biography may appear to others like a walk in the park.  It may have been a piece of cake, if I had simply handed her everything to transcribe and unloaded hundreds of photos for her to choose from.  Then, not worried about editing to my satisfaction, trying to match my quirky style.

She interviewed key people, especially our children, and did most of the writing — far better than I could have done.  However. it certainly was not a cakewalk.  Fortunately, with both of us working on the book as a team for several months, a biography was produced that is extraordinary and fun to read.  Truly, in the author’s words, “Remembering Kay is as effortless and delightful as savoring a slice of her homemade, delectable fresh peach pie.”

A Day of Rest

One of my favorite films, Chariots of Fire, has messages that have inspired me ever since I first saw it.  Released in 1981, it tells a true story of British runners who won medals in the Olympic Games of 1924 in Paris.  Eric Liddell, champion and son of a Christian preacher, refused to compete on the Sabbath Day. (Main message.)  Instead, he humbly preached a sermon to a church congregation and quoted Isaiah 40:31 in the Old Testament:
“they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Another powerful message.)  His example in competition inspired hope in others to never give up. (A third message helping me manage old age.)

Sunday has not always been a restful day for me.  In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have opportunities to serve on “the day of rest”, as well as other days.  For some leaders, the Sabbath is a full day with work of the Lord helping others find peace.  I like to think it’s a refreshing change from other days of work and play.  As a young student, I followed my father’s example (his Harvard years) of never doing school study or homework on Sunday, although I admit it was sometimes my excuse for procrastinating until early Monday morning.  The habit helped me get good grades, however, by giving me confidence in divine guidance.  Without doubt, I felt it and made the habit part of my working career. 

Those who are required to work on the Sabbath can feel peace in knowing our loving Heavenly Father understands.  So, whatever your situation or idea of rest is, enjoy Sunday as a special, extraordinary day.