Thursday, May 31, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 31, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR GOOD TENANTS.

We traded some retirement funds for a couple of rental properties, as the return is greater than the market is now and will allow us to retire earlier and more comfortably.  


That said, the theory only works if you have good tenants that pay on time.  We have great tenants and are fortunate to have them (and they are fortunate to have us as landlords also, of course).


Like any relationship, it works best if you don't take the other party for granted and do work hard at making it work.  We are grateful for our good fortune in finding good renters.

rlw


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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 30, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SEEMINGLY LITTLE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED  EVERY DAY.

Once a person begins to focus on all the things we have and not on what we don't have, our lives will change forever.  


These past few days it would have been easy to focus on the minus sides of my life.  I ran across this video that brings it all back into clear focus.  


Those of us in Sacramento, CA., USA are part of a relatively small percentage of the world population that can enjoy the haves vs the have nots...

Video: Do you appreciate what you have?

rlw


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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 29, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR YET ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.

Bad news.
Good News.
No news.


Bad news:  Had to be at the hospital from 8a to 2p with a two & half  hour 'procedure' with a dye injected into my heart and a scan to find the blocked arteries.


Good News:  Couldn't find one.  Heart looks good.  No blocked arteries.


No news.  Still haven't found the source of the symptoms.  Dizziness.  Headaches. Can't get a full breath.  Rapid heartbeat - they noted today that my heart rate was all over the place from 80 bpm to 120 bpm...they called it "flopping" - just before they injected the magic dust into my IV hook-up.  


"Mr. Welton - We see you are still awake.  Do you wish to stay awake for this procedure"?


 Bob:  "Not really".


Fade to black.


Bob asks "When do we start?"


Man in Lab coat (people in lab coats never lie):  "We are done.  We started two hours ago. Go home and rest for a couple of days.  Don't get the incision wet.  Try not to walk up and down your stairs.  Avoid any excessive use of energy.  Don't be late for your appointment.  Good luck".


Have scheduled a follow-up with my cardiologist for next Tuesday to see what comes next.  Can't carry the little Nitro Tabs anymore...they are only good for you if you have heart disease...otherwise they just lower your blood pressure to an "unacceptable level".


No surgery today.  No hospital 'sleepover'. No answers but one:  No blocked arteries.


I am thankful for another night in Paradise.

rlw

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GRATITUDE - May 28, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR GREAT MEMORIES.

The brain is an amazing recording device.  It can harbor slights and disappointments from your childhood and ruin your life forever.  Conversely, it can hold near and dear, thoughts close to you to relive over and over again for your life, forever.


William Earnest Henley
Here we are, on the cusp of some minor, but somewhat invasive procedure where I get to have a camera in a tube poking around in my heart.  If they find what they suspect - a blocked artery - I get to go for a ride in an ambulance to another hospital for some more advanced work inside my heart.  


That said...I may not be able to do my blog tomorrow night, but should all the gods permit...I will double up to catch up later this week.


I am supposed to be cognizant with the first procedure (now, that is scary) but, my cardiologist said I won't feel it, as there are no nerves in your heart (gee whiz, Mr. Science, I didn't know that).  Over the past couple of years with the Cancer gig,  I have had the opportunity to be hooked up to or enclosed in, etc. with time on my hands to just think.  


I have so many great memories that I am still not through reflecting on them when they come get me out, unhooked, etc.  How truly blessed I am.


I am rich beyond my wildest dreams with family, friends and some truly amazing adventures...tomorrow is just another one.  Soon, it will be added to my memory book.


A memory/  My favorite poem:  I memorized poem this in 1959.  I was 12 years old.  I was in seventh grade at Mills Jr. High School in Rancho Cordova.  My mom was head of the English department.  My English teacher was Sandy Grong.  We had to find a poem that meant something to use, memorize it and recite to the class (I got an A). 


Fifty-two (52!!!) years ago and here I am with the perfect opportunity to recite it once again...what a great memory opportunity...just sayin'.

Invictus 


"Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul


In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeons of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.


Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me unafraid.


It matters not how strait the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am  the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Earnest Henley

Some may have heard parts of this inspiring poem before, few in its entirety.  All of us have known this great Scottish poet since childhood in a character from one of the most well-known literary classics.

He suffered from tuberculosis and had his left leg amputated below the knee when he was in his late teens.  How is that for a 'fell clutch of circumstance'?  Spending time in the TB ward, Henley became great friends with a fellow TB patient - Robert Louis Stevenson....and thus was born In 'Treasure Island', the large barrel-chested, red-bearded pirate with a heart of gold - Long John Silver.

Even the most well-read may not know a literary fact even more cool.  The now adult, William Henley, had a daughter that was sickly, bed-ridden and ultimately died about the age or five or six.  A family friend, another great author, befriended little Margaret and because of a speech impediment, she couldn't pronounce 'Rs', Margaret called the man her "Fwendy-Wendy".

The friend?  J.M. Barrie.  The star of his subsequent book:  Wendy Darling of Peter Pan.

See - when we endeavor to become an educated, creative person and hang out with other intelligent, imaginative, people...we can possibly live on forever.  We never know whose lives we touch.  We are the masters of our fate.

Hope to be back blogging this week and perhaps touching someone's life in such a way...I just may become immortal.  I am truly thankful for this opportunity.

rlw


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Sunday, May 27, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 27, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."


-Philippians 4:8


It is difficult, but not impossible, to develop the habit of constant positive thought.  I have embraced that mode for quite a while, so it is easier now than it was some years ago.  


Upcoming heart issues at the hospital on Tues. am has more people concerned than I am.  I am not blowing it off - I understand the challenge.  Feeling bad, morose, apprehensive, scared, etc. will not change a thing, except me.  My thoughts are the one thing I can control in this situation...once I am under...it is up to the doctors and staff...I trust that if there is a good solution they will find it.


My bridges are mended.  I am thinking only of nobler, purer and lovelier things.  That is how we all can truly choose to be in control of an uncontrollable situation.


rlw

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 26, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MAGICAL MOMENTS.

People working together with an amazing result....




.....Turn up your speakers and close your eyes.


rlw

Rain.wmvRain.wmv
4848K   Download  

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Friday, May 25, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 25, 2012

 I AM GRATEFUL FOR LEARNING TO SEE THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS.



"There is no danger of developing eye strain from looking at the bright side of things".


anon


As soon as I get on the other side of this heart hurdle...here is the next project...

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 24, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL, ONCE AGAIN, FOR GOOD DOCTORS.

My cardiologist thinks I may have a clogged artery and I get go in for a procedure to look at my heart with a tube they insert from my groin.  Instead of your head up your butt, it will be more like up your butt to your heart.   


I guess the ideal outcome would be to find minor blockage, whereupon, I will be transported by ambulance (because I would still be hooked up to all the tubes) to another hospital that specializes in the next step to install a stent (wire covered balloon) to create more blood flow.  


Finding a lot of blockage means more major surgery, which wouldn't be my first (or second) wish.


I do get to carry nitroglycerin pills on me at all times now.


I guessed correctly that I should do all my adventuring on the front end of my life...just in case....and there I was thinking I had no more adventures left to experience.


However, it is not a bad deal to have my exertion from here on to be sipping Merlot, lost in reflection.  A ton of cool memories to reflect on.


rlw

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 23, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MEDICAL INSURANCE.

I am getting ready to depart the workforce and of course, lose the medical benefits, that, if you are lucky, came along with full time employment.  


My wife's insurance through her work covers the family and with a couple of medical issues I have...I am thankful for that.  I have a friend that went to part-time recently, lost her medical benefits, had a stroke and is now unable to work.  She still has to pay almost $800/month in medical insurance out of a meager disability check.  This person made six figures last year and in a matter of months, is now downsizing from a four bedroom home in a nice area to a two-bedroom duplex in a not-so-nice area and is applying for welfare.


I have had a great life and do not, for a moment, take for granted the good fortune I have to be covered by medical insurance, especially in my physical circumstances, that allows me the luxury of retiring with a dollar or two left over to enjoy life with.

rlw

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 22, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF ALL OF US.

We are an 'American Idol' family like a couple of million others and we watch for different reasons..my thirteen year old roots for the 16 year old girl from Chula Vista, partially because her best friend's mother's hairdresser is third cousins with Jessica Sanchez' aunt...or something like that.  Very talented young girl.  Amazing.  My wife is partial to Joshua Ledet (voted off at number 3) because he is technically perfect and she appreciates him at that level.  Another amazing performer.  Great things ahead for both of them.


My preference is for Phillip Phillips.  Average guy from a small town.  OK singer - nothing at all like the other two of the top three.  But, he has no pretensions, stays true to his style, has a gazillion screaming teenie girls texting their thumbs off for him...so, he sings romantic songs and looks right into the camera...all the girls know he is singing just for them...


He doesn't have the God-given talent of the other two...but, has made it to the finals maximizing what he has and using his "moment " to make the most of it.


We all have those 'moments" cross our path...mostly we recognize them in our rear view mirror.  A few months ago Phillip was working in his dad's pawn shop in Leesburg, Georgia.  He is now on the cusp of a million dollar recording deal.


Phillip Phillips - HOME


Moments and opportunities are in front of us all the time...sometimes we make the most of them by NOT taking advantage of them and are better off for it.  Hopefully, maturity and hindsight become foresight and we can actually recognize the paths to take and the ones to avoid.


I am thankful for the ones that chose me and I was open to the moment.

rlw

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Monday, May 21, 2012

GRATITUDE - May 21, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR HAVING ALL THE NUMBERS ADD UP IN MY FAVOR THIS TIME.

The "R" word again.  One might even say retirement has become my newest fixation.  For years, retirement was a place far, far away in a universe I never intended to travel to.  I knew I would work forever (as well as, live forever, so why not?)


In my mind, retirement was the equivalent of quitting, giving up, giving in, impending death, pervasive doom, dark clouds blotting out the sun, no more zest for life or fun left to enjoy and at best, traveling in a huge, unmanageable, RV to various campgrounds to visit or to avoid the children.


It was what happened to you after one waited until you were too old, too weak, too frail, too incompetent to enjoy life.  A plant without water...withering away to dust.


Until it was my turn.


Now I feel much differently about the whole thing.  Can't wait to launch into a whole new version of fun.  Vacation for life.  I've been everywhere, so there is no sense of urgency to travel (there is however, is a 3x5 card's worth of hinting about taking Sarah to Italy, as Lise and I loved our turn in Florence...actually there at the same time in mid 70's...insert Twilight Zone theme song here).


However, when I was in Italy, I visited Palermo, Sicily.  Lost and directionally confused (go figure-see...this is not a recent cloud on my capabilities), I found myself wandering down a narrow cobblestone street with twelve foot walls on either side.  Every fifty yards or so, there would be an old, thick oak door in the wall, leading into an interior courtyard of the home on the other side.


I was fortunate enough to walk past an open door and peaked inside.  The image before me is still as clear as if it were today (I would say yesterday, but I often can't clearly remember back that far).


It was an image I have carried forward for 35 years.  A scene out of the Godfather movies.


Beautiful courtyard and garden.  A fountain, lots of flowers, hand-made tile everywhere.  Tomato vines in pots.  Best part - old, old guy (probably my age now, but 35 years ago - that was OLD to me, practically ancient).  Sitting in an old (everything about Sicily was old...cool, but old) oak and wicker straight back chair, sound asleep (maybe dead, but it makes a better story if he was just sleeping)...anyway - not moving, holding a glass of red wine in his hand.  A half bottle of wine in front of him on a small table.  A victrola phonograph playing 78's (for those that only know cds and mp3s - that is a vinyl -first brittle shellac- RECORD played on a RECORD PLAYER).


Enrico Caruso singing. Beautiful, soulful Opera music wafting away, totally contained in his walled secret garden.. acoustics unbelievable - like a private concert in a magical setting.


Even then, with no full appreciation of how it might apply to me, I was struck with the obvious reward of a life well-lived.  I have kept that memory close for close to 40 years and now can fully appreciate the value of achieving that moment.


Long segue here, but back to the beginning.  The numbers have lined up.  Retirement is possible.  Been everywhere.  Done everything.  Love my personal "courtyard".  Wine cabinet is stocked.  My personal opera favorites on MP3.  Fountains, flowers, tomato vines (oh, my).  


I am that old guy in Sicily.  It is my Twilight Zone. I could not plan a finer finale than to sip a fine Merlot, reflecting on the great life I have lived well, appreciating the visual fruits of my labors in my "Secret Garden" while listening to the aria from Gianni Schicchi - O Mio Babbino Caro.  I win.

rlw

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