December 14, 2020 thought for the day: When you say one thing, the clever person understands three. Chinese Proverb

I started the week out right...busy. After some work on the bulletin for this coming Sunday, Sue and I left for a shopping adventure. 

The December 13th photo theme was “grey”. This was a perfect day for that subject, the sky is a perfect color to fill the bill. It had a bit of blue in it but still grey. So, I went in search of something that would give the gray (notice the difference in spelling) sky a bit of character. The park down the street offered another subject model for me.   

While I was waiting for Sue to come out of the store, I had a call from Lowell wanting to know where I wanted to go for lunch for my birthday later this week. Also while I was out, I got a text from Natalie. She had stopped by the house to drop some cookies for us. I hate missing her, we see each other so rarely. But the festive cans of cookies I found on the porch swing were a welcome surprise. 

First stop was Kroger. Now that is out of the way for a week or so. Our next stop on the agenda was for me to stop at the church to pick the names I need to complete the Poinsettia dedication sheet to be an addition to the bulletin this week. I was able to have a quick chat with Jim, the Sexton. He had a bit of a health scare but is now back on the job. Sue had purchased a pair of boots for one of the twins but we found this week end while they were here she tried them on they were too small. So I dropped Sue off to try to exchange them. She couldn’t find a replacement so we stopped by another shoe store. She found something that may fit the bill. After that and a stop at MickeyD’s we were on our way home. 

Yesterday I had a wonderful experience. I got to “attend” a virtual graduation. Mickey, my grandson,  graduated from the Ohio State University with a cum laude addition to his name. I am so proud of him. After all these years and many graduations, Miami University, Capital University, Franklin University, and Columbus State University this was the first of this kind. I loved the virtual trip along campus grounds, the general congratulations extended from several OSU VIPs via live streaming, especially the commencement speech from Jerry Ravish and all ending with the OSU marching band playing Carmen Ohio (which always brings tears to my eyes) with another virtual tour of campus grounds including Mirror Lake. Altogether beautiful and a heart swelling with pride.

I was able to add some of the names to the Poinsettia Dedication as a start to complete that project. I will work on the bulletin and the dedication tomorrow. I still have a few groceries to put up.   

The word for today is proof.  Imagination should give wings to our thoughts but we always need decisive experimental proof, and when the moment comes to draw conclusions and to interpret the gathered observations, imagination must be checked and documented by the factual results of the experiment, Louis Pasteur.  It is never too late to give up our prejudices. No way of thinking or doing, however, ancient, can be trusted without proof. ... Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new, Henry David Thoreau. The highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom - that deed and word should be in accord, Seneca the Younger. It is proof of sincerity, which I value above all things; as, between those who practice it, falsehood and malice work their efforts in vain, Thomas Jefferson.  Wisdom is not finally tested in schools, Wisdom cannot be pass'd from one having it to another not having it, Wisdom is of the soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof,...., Walt Whitman. The principle exercise which the children of god have is to pray. For in this way they give true proof of their faith, John Calvin. Many words are not proof of the wise man, because the sage only talk when it's needed, and the words are measured and corresponding with the need, Thales.  My plainness of speech makes people hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth, Plato.   

Today’s photo challenge is black and white. Since Sue and I were out running errands I sought and
caught several samples of the black and white image. As a gall back I could have used the “darkroom” (Photoshop) to generate a black and white image but I chose on out of the camera instead. 

You all pretty much know my age thereby the generation that I come from. Girls have certain capabilities and fit in certain functions in life in general and boys the same. However, social growth continues and talents of the two redevelop. Though I still believe that the gifts each were endowed with are something to be proud of and protected. Anyway this article is about a young girl being one of the first females to receive the honor long belongs to Boy Scouts of Eagle Scout.  Her brother had also received the honor earlier, they ar3e the second brother-sister in the country to have received the honor. To earn this award a leadership role is required as well as earning a minimum of twenty-one merit badges. These badges can be in the area of first aid, civics, business, environment, all of which require research and service projects. The young lady mentioned in this article was a former Girl Scout. She said she saw what her brother was doing in camping and white water rafting, things that had interested her for a long while. She started her journey toward Eagle Scout in June and completed it in September. Toward earning the award she wanted to help kids in foster care. She worked on a project to provide book bags for them “filled with blankets, stuffed animals, toiletries and games”. Another part of her journey was becoming a Senior Patrol Leader where she learned how to be a public speaker along with other life lessons.   

I’m going to pull something from the freezer for dinner tonight. 

Joy