A quote from millions of parents: GRANDCHILDREN ARE GOD'S REWARD FOR HAVING CHILDREN.
Ten days ago I had my seventy birthday. I got a card from granddaughter Ellyn and husband Ryan that was touching and inspiring. The card said,
Although there are millions of grandpas,
One thing is surely true-
This world would be a better place
It more were just like you!
Then she added "Wishing you many more years of health and happiness."
Lots of Love, Ellyn and Ryan
I can tell you one thing, Ellyn and Ryan most certainly "brightened my day". It made me feel so good.
While I'm on the topic of grandchildren I want to tell a story about my other two grandchildren. These stories are my humor for today. They are cute stories and and illustrate the innocence of children.
Ellyns older brother is Wesley. When Wesley was about five years of age his Mom took him to Dr. Collins for a check-up. Dr. Collins is African-American. Mom Carron said Wesley kept looking at Dr. Collins and you could tell he had something on his mind. Wesley could not stand it any longer and finally says to Dr. Collins, "Do you know Oprah?" What innocence and what a good laugh Dr. Collins and Carron had.
Then the story of granddaughter Alexandra from Denmark. She was about eight years old and was visiting us in Anamosa. One morning Grandma Ruth Ann was in the bathroom putting her blush and other make-up on and Alexandra was standing right beside her watching every move Grandma made. Ruth Ann told me later that she could tell Alex had something on her mind. Finally, it came out. Alex said, "Grandma is that stuff hard to put on with all those wrinkles on your face?" Ruth Ann had a good laugh and agreed it really was hard to put on.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Age 70 and remembering
A quote from Stdney J. Harris: THE THINGS WE DID CAN BE TEMPERED BY TIME; IT IS REGRET FOR THE THINGS WE DID NOT DO THAT IS INCONSOLABLE.
The quote for today is one of the reasons I'm wrting this blog. I don't want to look back several years from now and say, "I wish I had tried doing a blog."
My topic today is being age 70 and trying to remember. I was going to write on another topic but when I was getting my sweats on this morning to do my workout I told myself, before I leave the house for my walk, be sure and write PRINTER INK and FURNACE FILTERS on Ruth Ann's grocery list. I noticed the ink was low this morning when I checked the email. And at the end of the month I always put new filters in the furnace.Well, guess what? By the time I finished dressing (about two minutes later) I had forgotten about the ink/filters and I didn't write them on the list. I didn't think of them again until half through my walk. Then my problem was how am I going to remember ink/filters when I'm still walking - I still have 20 minutes to go. Anyway, I said ink, ink,ink, filter, filter, filter, all the way and I wrote it on the list as soon as I got in the door.
In recent years this has really gotten to be a problem for both of us and for all the other folks our age. What I've learned is the way to help solve this problem for me is to do one of two things: When I think of something I need to do go do it right now. And second, carry a piece of paper and a pencil and write it down. I'm considering a third way and that is to carry the little tape recorder I've had for 20 years.
And I've also learned I do not have alzheimers. When talking to Dr. Vernon (our family doctor) about trying to remember things as we've gotten older he says not to worry about it. His words were, "As long as you remember you do not remember you do not have alzheimers. It is when you do not remember that you do not remember that you have a serious problem." Good news.
Today I walked for 50 minutes which equals 2.7 miles. It brings my Novmeber total to 66.0 miles.
A little humor today. Doctor (on the phone): Ole, I have to tell you..your check came back.
Ole: Vell, let me tell YOU sumting. So did my artitis!
The quote for today is one of the reasons I'm wrting this blog. I don't want to look back several years from now and say, "I wish I had tried doing a blog."
My topic today is being age 70 and trying to remember. I was going to write on another topic but when I was getting my sweats on this morning to do my workout I told myself, before I leave the house for my walk, be sure and write PRINTER INK and FURNACE FILTERS on Ruth Ann's grocery list. I noticed the ink was low this morning when I checked the email. And at the end of the month I always put new filters in the furnace.Well, guess what? By the time I finished dressing (about two minutes later) I had forgotten about the ink/filters and I didn't write them on the list. I didn't think of them again until half through my walk. Then my problem was how am I going to remember ink/filters when I'm still walking - I still have 20 minutes to go. Anyway, I said ink, ink,ink, filter, filter, filter, all the way and I wrote it on the list as soon as I got in the door.
In recent years this has really gotten to be a problem for both of us and for all the other folks our age. What I've learned is the way to help solve this problem for me is to do one of two things: When I think of something I need to do go do it right now. And second, carry a piece of paper and a pencil and write it down. I'm considering a third way and that is to carry the little tape recorder I've had for 20 years.
And I've also learned I do not have alzheimers. When talking to Dr. Vernon (our family doctor) about trying to remember things as we've gotten older he says not to worry about it. His words were, "As long as you remember you do not remember you do not have alzheimers. It is when you do not remember that you do not remember that you have a serious problem." Good news.
Today I walked for 50 minutes which equals 2.7 miles. It brings my Novmeber total to 66.0 miles.
A little humor today. Doctor (on the phone): Ole, I have to tell you..your check came back.
Ole: Vell, let me tell YOU sumting. So did my artitis!
Friday, November 26, 2010
November 26, 2010
A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: YOU MUST DO THE THING YOU THINK YOU CANNOT DO.
This quote kind of makes me think about myself and starting this blog. I didn't think I could do this. But with son Brad and daughter Carron's help and niece Jane's encouragement I'm on the way. Thank You Brad, Carron and Jane for getting me on the blog road.
I'm going to start with a "day brightener" story. I was walking at Walmart the other morning when a nine year old boy stopped me and asked if I knew where he could find the sour creme. I led him to the sour creme and he says to me, "Thank you very much and you have a good day." I couldn't believe those words coming from a nine year old. When I took my next lap he stopped me again and asked if I knew where the bottled water was. I pointed to the bottled water and he picked up two gallon jugs. Then we walked to the check-out together and I asked him what his name was. He answered, "My name is Robert." I told him my name was Peter and he says, "I'm pleased to meet you Peter." I was thinking to myself that this was one very polite and respectful young boy. His mother was waiting for him at the check-out so I told her that she had a remarkable son and she should be proud he is so polite and respectful. I told Robert the same thing and he says, "Thank you Peter." Mother thanked me with a big smile and said, "We have tried to raise him the right way." I believe I brightened Robert's day and his mother's day by taking time to express my feelings to them. And it made me feel good to see the smile on both their faces.
This quote kind of makes me think about myself and starting this blog. I didn't think I could do this. But with son Brad and daughter Carron's help and niece Jane's encouragement I'm on the way. Thank You Brad, Carron and Jane for getting me on the blog road.
I'm going to start with a "day brightener" story. I was walking at Walmart the other morning when a nine year old boy stopped me and asked if I knew where he could find the sour creme. I led him to the sour creme and he says to me, "Thank you very much and you have a good day." I couldn't believe those words coming from a nine year old. When I took my next lap he stopped me again and asked if I knew where the bottled water was. I pointed to the bottled water and he picked up two gallon jugs. Then we walked to the check-out together and I asked him what his name was. He answered, "My name is Robert." I told him my name was Peter and he says, "I'm pleased to meet you Peter." I was thinking to myself that this was one very polite and respectful young boy. His mother was waiting for him at the check-out so I told her that she had a remarkable son and she should be proud he is so polite and respectful. I told Robert the same thing and he says, "Thank you Peter." Mother thanked me with a big smile and said, "We have tried to raise him the right way." I believe I brightened Robert's day and his mother's day by taking time to express my feelings to them. And it made me feel good to see the smile on both their faces.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Welcome to Pete Bungum's BLOG
Today, November 26, 2010, I'm launching my BLOG. The idea for me to have a blog was planted in my mind by my niece, Jane BungumZupancic. In 2009 I wrote a Gratitude Journal. For the 365 days of 2009 I expressed my gratitude to many of the people who and things that made a positive difference in my life. Jane purchased a copy of my book and sent me a note expressing her feelings about my journal. Jane's words were, "You are a very good writer. You have a nice sense of humor and an informative style. You'll do well with a blog." She wrote those words on April 9, 2010. I've been thinking about it for seven months and with Jane's encouragement I have finally decided to give it a try.
I've entitled my blog A GRATEFUL SENIOR CITIZEN. The first reason for the title is, obviously, I'm a senior citizen (I turned 70 on November 20). The second reason is I'm grateful for the good life I've lived for seventy years. I'm enjoying life at age seventy and want to use this blog to show some of the ways I'm grateful.
I intend to tell how gratedful I am that I still enjoy learning. I've always had a curious mind and have enjoyed learning new and different things from my pre-school days right up to age seventy. The most important words in my life have always been WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW. As actor Edward Norton said, "Keep learning new things. Keep looking for experiences that expand your sense of the world."
I'm going to show I still have a good sense of humor. There will be a lot of humor in this blog. I'm grateful I'm not a grumpy old man.
I'm grateful I can see the positive side of things. Being negative is no way to live. I'm going to include a quote with every post. The quote will be something positive and make us think and reflect a little.
I'm grateful I can still be inspired by thoughts, words, deeds, etc. I will write about some of those that have inspired me in my seventy years.
I'm grateful I have many great memories from my seventy years. I intend to share many of those.
I'm grateful I learned a long time ago that one way to brighten my day was to brighten someone else's day. I will share some of those "day brightener's."
And I know people are happier when they have a project to work on. I now have a project. So why not share in the form of a blog.
I've entitled my blog A GRATEFUL SENIOR CITIZEN. The first reason for the title is, obviously, I'm a senior citizen (I turned 70 on November 20). The second reason is I'm grateful for the good life I've lived for seventy years. I'm enjoying life at age seventy and want to use this blog to show some of the ways I'm grateful.
I intend to tell how gratedful I am that I still enjoy learning. I've always had a curious mind and have enjoyed learning new and different things from my pre-school days right up to age seventy. The most important words in my life have always been WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW. As actor Edward Norton said, "Keep learning new things. Keep looking for experiences that expand your sense of the world."
I'm going to show I still have a good sense of humor. There will be a lot of humor in this blog. I'm grateful I'm not a grumpy old man.
I'm grateful I can see the positive side of things. Being negative is no way to live. I'm going to include a quote with every post. The quote will be something positive and make us think and reflect a little.
I'm grateful I can still be inspired by thoughts, words, deeds, etc. I will write about some of those that have inspired me in my seventy years.
I'm grateful I have many great memories from my seventy years. I intend to share many of those.
I'm grateful I learned a long time ago that one way to brighten my day was to brighten someone else's day. I will share some of those "day brightener's."
And I know people are happier when they have a project to work on. I now have a project. So why not share in the form of a blog.
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