A Hint for Happiness

I logged on tonight to rant over what is unfolding in our country. Wealth is evaporating at a rate that we have never seen. Government is powerless to change the course of economic disaster. Our leaders are approaching the crisis on a 'trial by error' basis and nothing is working. Trust in long standing institutions is greatly diminished. Times are tough and 2009 will be a long hard year. But the older I become the more simple life truly becomes. A close friend has a personal charter that drives her life daily. It is as follows: Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires...and run, you will then always be happy. Power and greed got us to this point, maybe simplicity and selflessness can get us back. Lord please guide us...we need it. And, to my friend, you are a shining light of Truth, thank you. Out, Ricky.

Reality Where Are You?

Hello Blog, how are you doing? Wish I had some better news after spending five days in Florida. The paranoia and confinement issues so common in elderly dementia cases are alive and well down here. My poor step-Dad is so confused with what is real and what is unreal it's getting quite crazy on a daily basis. The Chief seems to think his only link to the 'safe' world is through Penny Fisher, one of my Mother's fine nurses at the Sylvester Cancer Center in Miami, Florida. He is calling her several times daily in hopes of finding an answer why 'my nurses are spying on me.' This whole struggle is accelerating to a point where I am not sure how to handle it. I want so much for him to relax and enjoy these final months and years, but brain disease is not nice. Sometimes I feel like I should just let things unfold in an accepting manner but is that best for all parties involved? I just don't know what to do. I am struggling myself as to how to insert myself and convey the message that he is not well mentally. As a medical surrogate I do have responsibility to him to do what is right. But what is right? Reality where are you? May God provide direction to us all. Over, Ricky

Thankful to Run

Time for a quickie. I just want to share the feeling that I am so thankful to run with my running club, the Glen Ellyn Runners. Most Sundays I'm out there with a group of people that truly care and support one another. I have often called it the Church of the Prairie Path and I mean it sincerely. If community and comradery are important to the health of a social being, then thanks Glen Ellyn Runners for keeping me healthy. Wow, is my body barking today. Like last week, running the hills of the Arboretum and followed the next day in the streets of Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, my knees are really sore. I know it's the body's way of saying too much weight Big Boy. Time to live up to your Biggest Loser of 2008 award! The plan is to hook some distant family into running the Eau Claire Half-Marathon in early May.
If I succeed, it will give me a goal that will be fun and worthwhile. Keep the Faith, Keep Running! Thanks, Lord, for so many Blessings. Over, Ricky.