Do you believe in Santa?

My grandson is approaching the age where many children start to doubt that Santa is real. It is a tough time for any child who has been told all his/her life that Santa is a real person. Our belief system functions to keep us sane, if not safe. Our parents tell us that Santa is real, and we trust and believe our parents. Yet, as we start to expand our sense of the world, and create and gain new friends, some older than we are, we learn new things. One of the things we learn from our ever-widening circle of friends is that some of them do not believe Santa is real. Our friends in an effort to help us understand the world tell us that Santa is not real and Santa is really our parents.

But our belief system is strong, and we know our parents can be trusted to tell us the truth and so when we ask we are told that, yes Santa is real.

My grandson came home and said to his mom, "I have three friends that tell me they don't believe in Santa, but they believe in God. What the heck is up with that?  I told them that I believe in Santa, but I don't believe in God."

His Mom asked, "Why?"

His response was, "When we were in Canada, we went to Grouse Mountain, and I saw the real Santa. Also, Santa brings me presents, and I have never seen God, and God has never given me a present." Seven-year-old logic.

My grandson had been to Canada a few times and when he was five, we had gone to the Xmas celebration at the top of Grouse Mountain called The Peak of Christmas as part of that experience, we went for a sleigh ride, visited Santa's workshop in the snow, and he got to see Santa in his workshop. It was a magical experience for all of us, and he still believes he saw the real Santa in his workshop.

My grandson lives in Australia and Xmas is usually pretty hot, we were there one year and it was 40 degrees Celsius (104 for my American friends) on Xmas day. Seeing Santa in his workshop and walking through the snow to get to the workshop, makes Santa more believable. One day he will catch up to his friends and lose the belief that Santa is real, but my hope is that he keeps the spirit of Xmas. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year when people give freely to others and to those in need. This giving is part of the Xmas spirit which sadly only comes on some at this time of year but should be with us all year. Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to you.

Follow up to my challenge

I was thinking about the fact that I have some very close friends, who I have known for a while. Social Connectedness is a big concern for seniors and many people as they age begin to feel isolated, as family and friends leave or die.

It is easy to say just make some new friends, but that is not easy for many. My friends are people who I have known for over 20 years. My latest friend I have known for 3 years. Looking at my list of friends I realized that I was becoming lazy and was missing out by not actively seeking new friends Yesterday I issued a challenge t see everyone, as a brand new challenge to find a new friend or to fall in love.

However, issuing a challenge without some background would not be fair, so lets talk about friends and friendship.

Friendship is an interesting aspect of our life when we were young making friends was not hard, but how do we as seniors go about making new friends, in fact, what makes a friend? 

• What do you value most in your friends?
• Do you look for people who enjoy the same activities as you?
• Do you like spending time with people who share similar beliefs to you?
• Do you prefer acquaintances that challenge your beliefs and make you think
• Perhaps you enjoy the company of people who share similar political or religious beliefs.

No matter what your preferences, it pays to be conscious of your choice of friends.

If you are thinking that it might be worthwhile to seek out new friends and adventures, first get over the idea that everybody else your age already has all the friends they need. Nobody wears a sign that says 'I'm looking for a friend,' but there are a lot of people out there in the same boat.

Pursue your own hobbies and interests so you are an interesting person and can meet people who are like-minded. If the church or the regular commitment of volunteer work doesn't appeal to you, cross those options off your list and find other ways to put yourself in contact with new people.

When you know what kinds of friends you are looking for, you can choose to engage in activities that will give you an opportunity to meet new people of your choosing. For example, are there political, religious, sports, social or other groups that you could re-engage with? 

Taking the time to think about what friendship means to you will make it more likely that you will see opportunities to start conversations in more natural settings – at the supermarket, in the post office, or in the park.

So, give some thought to what you’re looking for in a friend. Write your thoughts in a diary, if you have time. Friendship takes time, effort and advance planning. Think about the type of person that you’d like to meet and you just might increase your chances of meeting them!

There is an organization called MeetUp.com where people who are looking for companionship can either start groups in their local communities or join existing ones. They are organized by interest and by zip code. Some are specifically focused on seniors if you feel more comfortable with your age peers. There may other online communities where you can meet people with shared interests.

Halloween

When did Halloween become like Christmas? When I was young, Halloween was a small event for adults, but a big event for us kids. We dressed up and went out and tried to get as much candy as we could from neigbours who made us sing for our food or dance or do something, in exchange for the candy.

When my kids were young all of the parents on the block would divide the task of going out with the kids, one parent would stay at home and the other would circulate with the children. At the end of about an hour and a half, we would all meet and set up fireworks on the street and have hot chocolate for the children and hot brandy or mulled wine for the adults.

As my children grew older we allowed them to go further afield for their trick or treating, and we always checked their candy before they were allowed to eat it. Some adults were starting to have parties if Halloween was on a Friday or a Saturday. Eventually, the malls started to get in on the act and parents started to take their children to the malls for their candy. It was seen to be safer and the children loved it because they got more candy.

About five or six years ago, I started to notice that a few homes were being decorated as Halloween Spook houses, but these were few and far between. I never thought anything about this trend, but this year, I noticed in our local paper a listing of all of the "ghoulish homes" in our community and when they would be open for inspection. There must have been about twenty or more. I was surprised because even at Xmas we don't have many more houses that are showcased for their Xmas light shows. I also started to look at the retail stores and realized that the costumes that were being promoted were not for children so much as they were for adults. Halloween is big business, and I missed the change. 

I am not sure why this change happened, maybe because our world is so frightening that we need to have an escape and Halloween is the perfect time to dress up and have some fun. Enjoy yourself tomorrow night at your parties, I will be at home greeting the little ones that live in my block and handing out some nice treats to children who dress up and try to scare me. 

BOO!

On the road of life, sometimes we make a wrong turn. Lessons from our GPS

Over the years we have had many adventures and traveled many roads. I love the idea of serendipity, which is the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. Most of my adventures and I hope your adventures as well, over the years have been for the most part happy ones.

My first adventure with GPS was interesting and gave my friends and I a wonderful story.  Think about life, here you are driving down the road of life. Things are going well.  You know where you're heading. Your GPS device is guiding you along the way and everything is going smoothly.  The GPS speaks up and says: "In 300 meters, turn right." But you know the area, and decide that you will turn left, as the GPS is taking a route that you know and at this point don’t want to travel. So you turn left.

Others driving on the road of life with you may think, why did you do that, you may have screwed up! You didn't stick to the plan.  You sabotaged the entire trip! You couldn't even follow simple instructions.

Is any of that what the GPS unit says?  No, of course not.  It simply says something like:  "Recalculating" or "Rerouting".

On the road of life, we all make turns that don’t give us the results we need or want. Sometimes because we're not paying attention, sometimes it's because the path looks too difficult, sometimes we just fall back into old patterns.

If you have made a wrong turn on the path of life, it is never too late, just take a lesson from the GPS.  Re-examine where you are now, reconfirm where you want to go and recalculate your route. No judgments - just get back on track!

Remember we are all doing the best we can. One wrong turn now and then isn't the end of the world - you can always recalculate.

When I was young

When I was young I had many dreams, but one of my dreams was about perfection, imagination, and realization. And because it was my dream, I knew it would inevitably come true. And every manifestation would be exactly as it should be. Every detail part of the plan. Every grain of sand, chiseled long in advance. Nothing would be left to chance, not one second could ever go astray, and not one chuckle, laugh, or tear hadn't been thought of before

So when I realize the degree of attention that was given, and I weigh that each blade of grass was considered, there's only one possible explanation for the image that has become my own.

Today, I am exactly who I most wanted to be. What is your dream?

What today's work world looked like from 1978

What experts in 1978 thought the 21st-century workforce would look like written By Bob Lind. This is a bit of fun, to see what our experts believed the world would look like, and it shows that even experts sometimes get it wrong.

I have highlighted some of the interesting bits from the article. For the full article go here In 1978, the Associated Press out of Washington, D.C., came up with a story about what was predicted in the 21st Century

"By the year 2000," the article said, "job conditions will reflect basic trends in the workforce: an older, more self-assured group than today. More women will be active in dual-career families where the working father will share housekeeping responsibilities.

Millions will find themselves in the thick of these trends:

·         The work week will shrink. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says employers should expect the four-day, 32-hour work week for most workers by 2000. Increases in vacation and holiday time also will sustain the growth in leisure time.

·         A continued increase in the percentage of women, especially young mothers, who hold paying jobs.

·         With more than one breadwinner at home, fewer job holders will feel trapped in undesirable jobs.

·         Worker wanderlust will grow to epidemic proportions. Experts say American workers will shift jobs eight or nine times, and many will change careers two, even three times, before retirement.

·         Retirement will be a gradual process, rather than the abrupt dismissal at 65 that marked recent decades, with phased-retirement plans and post-retirement careers.

In the 21^st work will only take up 14% of our time. The work ethic, it seems is slipping as the article concludes, "Hard work leads to affluence; affluence leads to new lifestyles; new lifestyles diminish the work ethic”.

Did you see the news last week?

I'm actually not referring to anything in particular, but I'm willing to bet that your mind was able to instantly jump to something from the news last week.  Now let me ask you:  was it good news or bad news that sprang to mind?

The fact is, there are a million things out there all vying for our attention.  A million issues. A million causes. A million stories. And a million headlines. It can quickly become very numbing. Especially when so many of them are negative.

The thing I want to remind you about is that we always get to choose where we look. Choosing not to look at depressing or enraging headlines doesn't mean that you're condoning things or that you're allowing things to continue.  First and foremost, it means that you're choosing to own your life by owning your attention and deciding where to direct your focus.

We all have options, focus on the bad news and spring into action to do something about it; focus on the bad news and get angry and depressed about it. 

Maybe even re-post the bad news while adding in your angry/depressed $0.02. This is not helpful at all. Reposting doesn't help the situation and drags you and others down in the process.

Another option, see the bad news but focus on kittens and puppies instead. This is much less depressing, but not very productive.

Choose to focus on the things that really matter to you and throw yourself into them.  Who's with me on the last option?

No reason to be unhappy, if you think about life

Most people will find it very hard to believe, but there is nothing, ever, worth being unhappy about. 

Because no matter what happens, it will add to you, and your life story. You and everyone else are still alive. In your heart, everyone, whom you love and who you have lost, is together. They will remain as long as you remember them in your heart.

Something to think about

Should you choose to go, do, and be, at the end of your life, shocked and dismayed, you'll likely assert that because of all the uncanny events, wild timing, weird coincidences, and sheer chance encounters, all of your life's good fortune must have been your destiny. 

Or, should you choose to wait, wish, and hope... at the end of your life, shocked and dismayed, you'll likely exclaim that because of all the uncanny events, wild timing, weird coincidences, and sheer chance encounters, all of your life's bad luck must have been your destiny.

There is a difference, and that difference is your attitude, so don't wait, wish and hope, get out and go, do and be.

Thank you

Two of the most powerful words in the English language for bringing about change, are "thank you." 

This small but mighty phrase, which dates from the 15th century, goes a long way in acknowledging kindnesses big and small. The less formal variation that many of us use today to express gratitude, thanks, appeared in Shakespeare's writings. 

Saying "thank you" especially when offered before the change even occurs and everything still looks pretty much like it did yesterday.

You'll have to think of something to say afterwards on your own.

Suddenly a change occurs

There are some things that are best forgotten. And when I remember what a few of them are, I'll write about them. But a couple of things worth remembering, that are all too easily forgotten, are the times in your life when you felt absolutely alone and uncertain. 

Yet somehow, perhaps beyond perception, there was a great click, after which suddenly a new friend appeared, an idea was imparted, or a connection established, causing the tides to turn and the floodgates to open.

And remember this, should such "alone and uncertain times" ever revisit you, however dark they may seem, you'll at least be comforted by recalling how transient they always are.

How small are we in the scale of the universe?

When I was young, one of my favourite pastimes was to lay out on the grass and watch the milky way float by. I always wondered if we were alone, and many of us share that question. In addition, I wondered how our earth and sun fit into the giant or big picture. Here is an interesting TED talk that explores that question.

In 1995, scientists pointed the Hubble Telescope at an area of the sky near the Big Dipper. The location was apparently empty, and the whole endeavour was risky – what, if anything, was going to show up? But what came back was nothing short of spectacular: an image of over 1,500 galaxies glimmering in a tiny sliver of the universe. Alex Hofeldt helps us understand the scale of this image

Aging in our society

The following was written in My Senior Portal  by Bonnie D. Kupperman, Executive Editor of My Senior Portal.

The beginning of a new year signals fresh thoughts of better habits, lasting relationships and improved health.

For me it is a time to reflect on the state of affairs for those of us in the 55 and above club.

How will we live?   Where will we live?  What will we do that will bring us happiness and give back to the world we live in?

How are those who are already living in assisted living and nursing homes fairing?

Will medical science come up with ways to keep us off walkers and out of wheel chairs?

Will we remain healthy or not?…will be become closer to families and friends,…get our affairs in order and discuss them with our offspring. These are questions we all face at the same time as many still struggle with  texting and tweeting.

What can each of us do to plan for the future and precisely what should we do starting immediately to help insure that the lives of those we love as well as those we will never meet, have healthier, richer, more meaningful lives?

It is the last thought I would like to share with you for this first column of 2015. I think about it a great deal both personally and in my role as a columnist and editor of this weekly newsletter.

I am optimistic that life will be better as more people recognize that our demographic is so large we cannot be denied. We do control more than 3/4 of America’s wealth. We have learned over our lives that money talks, yet we remain silent.

I worry because no matter how many articles I read about baby boomers changing the face of aging and older people swallowing up technology of all sorts, I do not see the recognition and respect for “elders” that I see in other groups…i.e.  women, gays, people of color. I also do not see a strong unified, growing grassroots  movement within our ranks of some 80 million people 55 and older, speaking up, demanding equal rights as other groups have done.

The odd part about the lack of movement is that those who fought so valiantly for gay marriage, integration, equality of women  are themselves today a member of the “elder” generation. Where are their voices and yours when it comes to  ageism, such as the disgraceful treatment in nursing homes where abuse is common?

Where is the chorus of protest against those ravaged with frailty and dementia as family members abandon  them or quietly empty their savings?

Where are the voices of proponents of equality when it comes to job discrimination against people over 55?  Why do we merely grumble among ourselves but do nothing to protest advertising for fashion aimed at bodies we can no longer be certain we once had?

Women over 50 spend $21 billion on clothes annually yet there is not one pictured on the pages of Vogue?

Why do we accept leisure travel campaigns aimed only at families with young children or glamorous couples in their 30's when we represent more than 50% of all vacations dollars spent in America?

In almost ever category from food away from home, entertainment, personal care and gifts we outspend the average consumer yet we remain invisible other than when we are pictured as foolish as in the “she is writing on her wall” television ad or hurricane walking aids and incontinent diapers.

When are we going to be the voice of elder hood and demand to be recognized as the competent, experienced, intelligent, savvy  and most of all respected group we are?

The world has never before had a group of  human beings as large as we are (and growing) today. We should be front and center but we mostly hidden and silent.

There are those who are trying to make changes. The problems of this aging and old population have been apparent to many professionals for years.

In 1990, the late Robert N. Butler M.D, founded the International Longevity Center as a research and education organization to respond to the twentieth century phenomena of great longevity and population aging.

The center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City was created along with the word ageism. Dr. Butler’s concern for the changes that are now occurring throughout the world was developed to change the face of “old age” from end of the line to a vital stage of life rather than as a burden on society. It continues to explore everything that affects this demographic from better care for the ill to inter generational interaction and continued working opportunities within communities.

There are other encouraging signs of change such as gerontologist and author Bill Thomas . He created the Greenhouse project to replace traditional institutional hospital-like models. Projects such as he envisioned are cropping up around the country.

Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Encore.org has pioneered a movement to encourage people past midlife to engage in new and exciting careers to solve world problems during the 30 or more years they will live beyond retirement.

Another movement called Village to Village Network supports communities that are willing to create villages where elders live in their own homes among younger people who volunteer to help them with daily living.

There are many others though assorted sponsorships from independent living facilities to assisted and nursing homes striving to make life better for our lives.

In order to make our lives what we want them to be however, I am convinced that those who want life to be full, rich and meaningful must step up and act, step out and speak. We must form grassroots efforts to let everyone from 26 year old technology geeks to 35 year old advertising executives that we are alive, we are vital, we demand to be seen and heard from.

Imagine where women, blacks, gays would be today if they had stayed hidden and quiet. We must follow their lead or accept life as hard of hearing geezers who lack sexual appetites….as people who must stop working at an arbitrary age whether we want to or not, accept elder abuse as sad but…., and remain silent.

How can we make changes we want to see? Weight Watcher started with an overweight woman name Jean Nidetch in 1961 Meetings began in her Queens, NY apartment. Apple Inc. creators Steve Job and Steve Wozniak began in a garage.

Great accomplishments begin with small ideas. What are we waiting for? Gather a few friends and talk about what you would like to see happen. It is amazing what can come out of a coffee meet around kitchen table. We do not have time to sit still.

What advice are you giving the young people you know?

Today was the start of the Second World War, on the 3rd of Sept. 1939, in response to Hitler's invasion of Poland, Britain and France, declare war on Germany.  Much has been written about the war, and the aftermath and the changes made to the world map once the war was finished. 

In 1965, the year I graduated from high school, the yearbook committee, of which I was a member, chose to celebrate 20 years of World Peace as our theme.  Looking back we were full of hope for the future  and we optimistically sent letters out to World leaders and War Hero's asking them a series of questions. One of the questions was:

What brief message would you send  to young people of today?

The Adults around us were surprised (but we were not--remember we thought we could change the world), that we received replies from all those we wrote to for this theme. I recently went to my 50th High School Reunion and in preparation, I looked at the yearbook and thought I might share a few of the responses we received:

Lester Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada, said: 'I urge young people of Canada, first to purse their education as long as they possibly can for today's and tomorrow's challenges require the best training possible to meet them adequately in order to contribute to our country's growth and security.
Secondly, Canada's youth should always maintain an informed interest in political matters and in national and international affairs so that by voice and actions they may give their assistance to those responsible  for formulating policies that govern Canada and the world at large.'

Walt Disney, founder of Disneyland said, My advice to every youngster in the civilized world today is "Get education."  In these trouble times it is imperative that every child receives as much educational training as he possibly le can. The world of business is becoming more competitive with each passing day and the boy or girl with a college degree holds a trump card in the game of employment. I think that every youngster preparing to finish high school should give serious consideration to going to college.I don't mean just "going through"either. I mean taking advantage of every possible minute for improving his mind and absorbing knowledge that will b e need in the career years ahead.

Chester W. Nimitz Chief Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet said, 'Use your best efforts to obtain the best possible education make full use of the educational facilities in your area and with the limits of your means. Keep yourselves in the best possible physical condition. While good health does not necessarily ensure success, bad health will almost certainly prevent you from reaching your maximum in your community.Become completely familiar with your government, both local and national, and prepare yourselves to participate actively in the the affairs of your government when you reach voting age. Remember that citizenship also involves responsibility for defending the freedom that make possible your citizenship. Prepare yourselves to defend the freedoms of your country.,"

These people were extremely busy, yet they took the time to respond to a request from a group of students they did not know, from a small town on Vancouver Island.  We are all busy, but maybe we should take the time to consider the next generation, who surely must have questions. My question to the Boomers out there is what advice are you giving the young people you know?

Are you computer literate?

Boomers are for the most part computer literate, but what skills should we have when we are navigating the Internet. If you can do these you have basic computer Internet skills.  Having and understanding these tasks will make it less confusing when you are in the process of creating or setting up your own product on the internet. It is great if you already know these skills!


 1.) Creating folders
 2.) Naming and renaming files
 3.) “Dragging and dropping”
 4.) Copying and moving files/folders
 5.) Zipping and unzipping files
 6.) Installing a software program
 7.) Opening a program
 8.) Copying and pasting text
 9.) Editing and saving files/documents
10.) Save vs. Save As
11.) “Googling” and other online research
12.) Opening a PDF file with Adobe reader
13.) Using productivity software such as Word and Excel, or OpenOffice
14.) Online business terms

The Noisy Neighbor

I was reminded that we need to get along with our neighbours when I was talking to my next door neighbour and he was complaining about the fact his other neighbour had put a very noisy air conditioner unit on the side of his house, right beside the patio. Both sets of neighbours are nice people and I hope they can resolve this conflict without resorting to calling the noise by-law officer.

Back when I was younger, we had a noisy neighbour and even though I and others on the block did follow the steps outlined below, we ended up with a neighbour that disliked us. Lucky for us the issue remained unresolved and was fixed by a very move on my neighbour’s part.

Backyard barbecues that get out of hand, stereo system that’s heavy on the bass, a passionate couple who yell at each other 10 hours a day, whether a wall or a yard separates you, sometimes you and your neighbour just seem much too close.

A loud neighbour can make your life miserable. If he or she is making so much noise that it is disturbing your lifestyle, it is time to take action. Of course, you will want to silence the racket without antagonizing the person who lives in such close proximity. This is not an easy task!

Start by smiling. Catch your neighbour’s eye when you see him outside and give him a friendly nod. Then try to start a simple conversation. It is much easier for people to have a callous disregard for people they do not know at all. If you get to know your neighbour– even a little bit– you will be more likely to get a courteous response to your request that he be quiet.

During your pleasant little conversation, mention that you can hear your neighbours drum practice from your house or apartment. You will want to let her know that the practice sometimes wakes you up. In many cases, this revelation will be enough to let her know that her behaviour needs to change. She may not know, for instance, that her practising is audible outside her walls

Wait a few days after your conversation to see what happens. If you have informed your neighbour, kindly and calmly, that his raucous Friday-night parties are bothering you, and there is no change, you should go to his house at a time when no party is going on and mention in a more direct way that you would like him to lower the volume. Be clear and specific with your request although you should still be friendly.

If this does not solve the problem for you, you should wait until the next time your neighbour makes a big clamour. Then you should call the police. (Most cities have ordinances against excessive noise.) I hope that this will be enough to get your neighbours attention. Make sure you keep a record of your neighbour’s loud activities, and document the times that you have contacted your neighbour. You may even want to send her a note that explains your request and the steps that you will take to get her to comply. These steps can include filing a complaint with your apartment/condo manager, making a complaint to a homeowner’s association, or calling the police.

If the noise still does not stop, then you do not have any choice but to get ugly. Call the police again and be willing to fill out a complaint. While you will probably end up with a neighbour who dislikes you, at least you will be able to sleep at night. In most cases, the earlier steps will do the job.

My noisy neighbour issue was settled when he decided to sell his house and move to the interior to become a middle-aged hippie. We found out later that he had lost his job a year before and was living in his house without paying the mortgage. He sold at a day before the bank was going to repossess and sell his house. He still made a profit and moved, much to the thanks of all of us on the block.

Wine for drinking

My wife and I bottle our own wine, because it is cheaper and the quality is just as good as the store bought wine. So, I was interested in what the bestselling wines were in B.C.'s commercial liquor and wine stores. It was interesting to discover what is most popular with wine drinkers.

Of the five best selling commercial wines in the province there are a few things that stand out:

• The group is comprised of three reds and two whites. 
• Three are single varietals and two are blends. 
• Four can be found under $10 (before tax) in commercial liquor and wine stores. 
• Three are Canadian wines. Two are imports. 
• Three are available in bag in box format. 

"Sweet" wines, particularly reds, are gaining much more acceptance these days especially among the younger generations.  

The most significant thing that becomes apparent, and not surprisingly, is that a large portion of wine purchasers in British Columbia clearly appreciates value, a decent product at a good price point. Here is a chart of the best sellers and what you get using a wine kit. 

Commercial Best Seller Wine Kit Description Jackson Triggs Proprietor's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon A bold, medium-bodied red wine with rich black fruit and hints of spice. Excellent to partner with rack of lamb. Copper Moon Malbec Malbec makes wines of great power and character, with blackberry, plums, tar, red pepper, sweet cherry, spice, licorice and deep bittersweet chocolate, or espresso. Serve with game meats. Apothic Red Winemakers Blend Unoaked and off-dry, Enigma brings intense fruit aromas and notes of black cherry, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Pairs well with pretty much everything from pizza to pasta and a particularly great match for meats like ribs or chicken with sweet and sticky marinade. Peller Estates Proprietor's Reserve Pinot Grigio A zippy, dry white wine with floral notes on the nose and plenty of fruit on the palate. Amazing for sipping and a perfect wine to accompany a picnic. Hardy's Stamp of Australia Riesling-Gewurztraminer Floral notes and apple crispness with perfumed headiness of lychee, rose petals, and hints of passion fruit. A great off-dry wine for sipping and excellent to serve with Asian cuisine, soft cheeses, oily fish and especially smoked salmon.

Thought to ponder

Appreciating what you have little of is easy. Appreciating what you have lots and lots of...

takes a spiritual master. 

And you have lots so appreciate it!

Forever young,

No matter what mood we are in
Time passages move forward not back

If we are lucky we can suspend time 
for a moment to savior the sensations
but for most, time flies by and we notice not
the little things that  make life worth living
Blossom that blooms in the field
A child who clutches your hand and your heart
A friend still lingers in your mind and your heart.

And that is where time goes.

It's Compliment Day!

Certain things in life are priceless. Compliment is one such thing.

Time for you to let all those wonderful people in your life know how special they are in their own sweet way. You might have felt a whole lot of admiration...

There is no better feeling in the world than to understand that you are appreciated. There is no need for an achievement by someone for you to compliment that person. 

You can compliment them for being just the way they are, their simple self, their loving self, their humorous self and their friendly self. To perform such a gesture here is a beautiful excuse for you - Compliment Day is here. Do it.