Thoughts, opinions, and musings from a curious "Seasoned Citizen"

Vol. 1    No.6

All my readers, both of them, have encouraged me to find something nice to say in this blog instead of this constant carp, carp, carp.  What ever.  Let’s see, there must be something “nice” I can write about …….. I’m thinking, I’m thinking…… OK, I’ve got a few ideas.

Right up at the top of “nice”, if fact it’s better than “nice” is the fact my daughter Kathy, in her face-off with cancer is much better than she was a year ago. Way to go Kath, hang in there, we’re all with you.

I’m happy for family and friends, who accept, nay, tolerate my idiosyncrasies, foibles, off beat hobbies, and some times irrational politics. They forgive my nasty habit of turning the air blue without realizing the grandkids are in ear shot, and hearing and memory which now and then leaves something to be desired.

I’m happy for my wife Suzanne, who in a leap of faith took a chance on an old grouch, set in his ways, who was taught to keep his emotions in check a poker face and attempt to control his immediate environment. Just the opposite of her background. No one ever said it would be easy, and it hasn’t been, but she’s a keeper. In addition to happy, I’m lucky too.

I’m happy a friend of mine from Peets, who spent four or five years hiding out in his car in the Target parking lot doing drugs is now clean and sober, going to school, and working. He has also found time to adopt, care for and give a home to a couple of homeless canines.

I am happy to live in the Napa Valley. Another truism from Peets; people pay a lot of money to come here and visit, and we old curmudgeons who have earned a retirement are luck enough to live here. Not a bad deal. However, just so you know I haven’t gone completely soft, if there was a way to pluck this valley out of California and replant it among the sane, I would.

I’m happy to have stumbled along through life long enough to see many of my grandchildren growing into productive adults, and considering their gene pool, I will say in all modesty I have great hopes for those younger ones who reach their majority after my warranty has expired.  I’m proud of the fact that at this moment I have one grandson onboard the USS Pennsylvania, a ballistic missile sub, somewhere underwater between the west coast and the International Date Line and he has a younger cousin who has been brought in on the bottom rungs of the ladder to learn, and hopefully participate in a program of submersible vehicles used for deep water scientific exploration.  Subs are OK, but as you know no port holes or screen doors. I’d think it would get a little close after awhile. 

I’m happy to be with the Napa Valley Chorale, an outstanding group of singers and musicians who allow me to play in their sandbox with them as long as I don’t sing too loud.

There, now I’ve got that off my chest. Next week no more Mr. Nice Guy. Inept politicians, road hogs, wheeler-dealers with the public exchequer, and newspaper reporters who can’t understand the difference between opinion and news, stand-by for the ram.

At least that’s the way I see it.