November 2017

Went to Costco last Sunday.  The clouds looked menacing, but I was properly garbed and not worried.  Upon entry with the rest of throng of shoppers, distinctly noticed that there were few Smith or Jones shoppers.  These would be someone like me.  Many were in large families and all speaking a variety of languages that I could not discern.  This appears to be the new definition of America. Everyone was getting thru the mess with kindness and politeness.  All were running thru the rain with bags or boxes on their heads.  This is it.  It is not going to be the way it was.  We all need to get along, respect each others cultures and maybe learn something new.  These people will have sons and daughters that will put their lives on the line as soldiers or sailors or police or firefighters.  And despite the way they might worship, in many ways they are that same as me.  My grand daughter may marry someone from a different culture, grandson too.

The picture above is of my boys and I and a couple guys yesterday at the Motor City Brew Tours bus tour to three breweries in Pontiac and Auburn Hills.  We had a great time sampling local brews and eating pizza,  really enjoying each others company,  for the first time in a long time, a guys outing. Steve Johnson, the owner of the operation does a great job making everyone feel welcome, safe and relaxed.  The brewers are a comfortable bunch and happy to talk to any that will listen about beer and the process .

A good friend from my past lost her mother this week.  She lived a good long life and always had a happy home,  I was always welcome there.  Thinking today of my mothers passing a year ago, we kept some of her things at our house, a favorite sweater hanging next to my mother in law's favorite sweater in our office.  I kept some of mom's kitchen utensils,  A knife or cake spatula and the small pot she used to make oatmeal ( I use for the same purpose).  As I was making this morning's breakfast, in that pot, was reminded of her.

All for now