culture

Remembering My Parents

What were your parents doing at your age? Unfortunately, my parent’s journey was over before they reached my age. My mother passed on from bone cancer when she was seventy-five. This was in 1982. Three years later, my father passed on from a heart attack when he was seventy-five. This was in 1985. Since I am over eighty, they both are watching me from heaven then and now.

I have many good memories of mom and dad. They gave me a strong base to live my life. What I am and what I have done is because of them and the values and lessons they taught me. Sure, we had disagreements and differences, but I will always remember and love them for what they gave me and the love they showed for me. I am confident somewhere in the future we will meet again.

Daily writing prompt
What were your parents doing at your age?
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King For a Day

If I had the power to change one law, it would be to enforce the laws now on the books. It can be seen everywhere that current laws are not being enforced. For example, thousands are coming across the border every day. All of a sudden, the immigration laws are not being enforced. Crime is rampant in major cities. If by chance they are arrested, then the DA then releases them with no bail. Just to be released to commit their next crime. Shop lifting must be legal these days. A new phrase emerges, “smash and grab” where large numbers enter a store and take whatever they want. You never hear of any arrests and prosecutions for these crimes. When was the last time you saw a police officer writing a ticket for a traffic offense? How many expired license plates have you seen lately? Because of the political atmosphere it has made it appear that there is a double standard in the prosecuting procedure. Any law that is not enforced, the law becomes useless.

Daily writing prompt
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
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My Dream Came True

Here is a video of our dream home. These are photos that was on the agents listing.

Back in 2016 my dream came true. For about two years prior we have been looking for a new home. A medical emergency prompted us to do a home search since the EMT’s was not able to get their gurney down the hallway. We looked at many building sites in the Denver Metro area and was not having much luck finding our dream home. We were about to give up the search and started to accept that the home would not be found. 

One night around eight PM we were driving down this street we have been down many times in the past. I was going east and happened to see this for sale sign in a residential neighborhood. I asked my wife, “would you like to tour a home I just saw a for sale sign?” She said, “might as well, it doesn’t look like we will find a new home.” When we got home, I made an internet search and got the address and listing. It was just put on the market Thursday one day ago. Contacted our agent and she made an appointment for Saturday afternoon. We went Saturday and signed a contract the following Sunday.

The house was built in 1998 and the original owner was moving to Phoenix and was selling his home. It was all I ever wanted in a home. A two-car garage that didn’t need to be used for storage space. A large master bedroom larger than the 10 x 12 one we are used to. The laundry room is on the first floor, one of the requirements since we are becoming seasoned citizens. The HOA takes care of the lawn, trash pickup, snow removal, gutter cleaning, and other items. The basement is finished, and it has a workshop. something I have always been dreaming about. This was the final straw. I wanted this house.

To this day I still do not know how I saw the for-sale sign. It was dark and four houses down the side street. My wife says, “it was the Holy Spirit at work and this home was meant for us”. One will never know. We have been here for eight years and will more than likely spend the rest of our lives here.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your dream home.
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Amazing News?

I guess this all depends on a person’s definition of amazing, fantastic news. My definition is some news that affects the entire world not just my small piece of the world. For example, the fall of the Berlin Wall to me was fantastic news. Since I was born during WWII. Communism was a great threat while growing up. I had to spend two years in the army in Germany because of the Iron Curtain. In 1975 I took a trip and crossed the Iron Curtain from Budapest to Vienna Austria. The border was very depressing, 100 yards of defoliated land and machine gun towers 100 yards apart along the border. Fifty miles from the border the tour guide got off the bus. We asked why, she replied, “I am not allowed to get any closer to the border.” We have many freedoms we just take for granted. The Iron Curtain was to keep people in, not stopping people from immigrating in. The Apollo moon landing and return was fantastic news also.

On a closer note, I cannot think of something that was amazingly fantastic. A year ago, I thought I took my last breath. When I awoke from passing out and heard that the survival rate was three to five percent for this kind of procedure, I thought that was great and thanked the Lord for giving me a second chance. I had a good feeling but that is all I could do because I had to stay flat on my back for three days. So, I couldn’t get up start dancing and celebrate. The medical personnel acted like just another day saving lives. Link

I have not experienced a loved one near me survive a serious illness or accident and then survived. I do not know how I would react. I don’t play the lottery so I will never experience winning millions. I kind of doubt that I will ever experience a “great, amazingly fantastic news event”! Time will tell.  

Daily writing prompt
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
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My Interests Have Changed

Throughout my many years I have had many interests. In my teenage years, cars and hotrods captivated my interest. After I got my driver’s license, I bought a 1940 Ford two door sedan. It was a refugee from the junk yard. I paid $125.00 for it. My dream was to make it a car show item. I didn’t have a garage and spent many hours in the back yard sanding, cleaning up and learning about engine repair and modifications. This was before all of these emission requirements, and they were not as sophisticated as they are today. I quickly learned that those hot rod items were expensive, and my budget did not have room for those expenses. A couple of years after high school this hobby was over.

After I got married, we bought a home where the basement was partially finished. This was my next interest, to upgrade the basement. Hanging drywall and paneling was one of the jobs. Putting drywall on a ceiling is a task you never forget. Everyone wanted a bar, so I had to have a bar. All of these projects were a learning experience. you learn to appreciate craftsmen that do this for a living. You could easily see that my projects were done by a “do it yourselfer”. 

The most recent hobby I had was building birdhouses. We moved into a new home for us in 2016. This new home had a workshop and I started building birdhouses. One had to put this new workshop to use, right? I built many birdhouses. I gave birdhouses to neighbors. I sold birdhouses in garage sales. But after a while I had an overabundance of birdhouses. I finally thought enough is enough. In the end I gave the remaining birdhouses to a thrift store.

There have been other interests and hobbies that I enjoyed. Fishing, hunting, RV’s, computer repairs and others. As I aged and matured my interests have changed. The longest interest I have retained is writing. Computers and the internet have helped this interest. I remember that you had to retype many manuscripts before you had an acceptable piece. I have had this site since 2009. It was a little dormant for a period. Now, “I’m Back.”

 My first post

Daily writing prompt
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
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M&M’s

I am addicted to M&M’S dark chocolate. I am not ashamed of it. I have been eating them since the announcement of the dark chocolate type. I still remember the saying, “M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your hand!” I think M&M’s originated in World War II. The fighting forces liked their chocolate, and the M&M was created to fulfill that desire and solved the chocolate melting problem.

The Most Popular Candy in 16 Countries

according to this link  The US: M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

I get the family size package size, and gobble down approximately one a week.

After writing this post I must go grab a handful of M&M’s MMMMMM Good

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite candy?
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Time for Spring

I have king sized cabin fever! I am sick and tired of the cold days. I am tired of the funny winter hats. My hands are always cold. I miss sitting out on the porch enjoying the sunshine.

I received a battery-operated hand warmer last Christmas. The name on it is Zippo. I am sure many vets remember the name Zippo. In my military days everyone had a Zippo lighter. I guess the sales of lighters these days are not that high, so they had to diversify. The hand warmer is nice though. Rechargeable and you can plug into your smartphone and use it in case your smartphone battery dies.

Denver Metro had a record-breaking snowfall recently and that did not help at all. I did not go out of the home for three days and that does not help cabin fever one bit.

The older I become the more I cannot tolerate cold winter months. If I was twenty years younger, I may consider moving to a warmer winter month state. However, I am sure family would convince us to not even consider it. I guess all that leaves is to moan and groan about the cold months.

I need a break!

Daily writing prompt
Do you need a break? From what?
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February 7, 2023

Not much to remember on February 7th. In 1940 the movie Pinocchio premiered. General MacArthur returned to Manila in 1945. President Kennedy blockaded Cuba in 1962. Not much has happened throughout history on February 7th. However, February 7, 2023, is a day I will never forget.

This is the day I dodged death. I was standing in front of deaths door and Doctor Death was holding the door open for me to enter. Here I was laying on the operating table with a massive blood clot between my lungs. The doctors said they had better results if the patient stayed awake, so I went with that option. About 30 minutes after the start, I was really feeling horrible. I was having trouble getting a breath and there was the time I thought, “this is it, life is over”. I must have passed out, but a while later I woke up and slowly started to feel better. I survived and spent the next three days in ICU.

Many times, while lying flat on my back, in ICU I thought many times, “Why was I given a second chance?” It has been a year now and I am still searching for the reason I dodged death on February 7, 2023. Until the reason reveals itself, I will just do what I do best, and this is just be me and enjoy these bonus days and hopefully bonus years.

MEMORIES OF FAITH

https://tomt2.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/memories-of-faith.mp3 podcast

My first church 

The first church in my life was a Catholic church since my mother was a born and raised Catholic. I guess I can say my father did not have a practicing religion. He was raised a Baptist, but I would say he did not go to church services no more than ten times that I can remember. He never interfered with my mother raising my brother and I into the Catholic religion.  

First a little about the history of this church. The name was St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. It was established in 1924 in an old Presbyterian church in west or southwest Denver. The original was a small grey stucco building, I would say about the size of a small country school building. I distinctly remember the two tall evergreen trees on both sides of the entrance to the church. 

When I was very young, I remember the parish priest, Father Grohman. He was a funny man and full of life. He was probably around 60 when I was young, 

In 1949 father Wogan became the parish priest. Strange man, I could never get close to him. It could have been the normal fear of authority at my young age, and he liked to show his authority. Father Wogan expanded the church. The old gray stucco building was torn down and a new church was built across the alley in 1949. I was seven years old at the time. This church was in the basement because in the next six years a school was built around the structure. In 1955 the school was dedicated and is still open. In 1963 a new church was built just east of the original church, and it is still being used even after the church was severely damaged in the flood of 1965.  

I received my first communion there and confirmation. It is hard to compare the religion what I was raised into the religion of today. In fact, I could say there is no comparison. For example, fear was a big factor. There was time when I compared God to the big accountant. He sat there with his big ledger pad and kept track of every time you sinned and acted human. It was tough getting into heaven those days. Today the game has changed and now I feel like I may have a chance. 

I am sure my past exposure has affected my faith and me. Just as my present exposure affects my faith. The faith I have is based on events happening throughout my life. My life has been a learning experience and the older I become the stronger my faith becomes. 

An influence of my faith 

My grandmother or the mother of my mother was an influence in my faith journey. Grandma was born in Germany and migrated to America when she was seven years old. I am not sure when she learned to read and write English. I do know that she had very little formal education because the migration to America was during her young years when she should have been learning the basics and then she had to go to work to help feed the family. Grandma married and had fourteen children. About half of them died in birth or at a very young age. Her husband died at a young age because of Asthma, and she was left with many children to feed and support. She had to take in laundry and scrub floors so the family could survive. They did not have community support programs during that time. As her children became older, they had to quit school and start work at a young age to help support the family. It sounded like it was a very difficult time. 

 Grandma lived with our family. I think she moved in with us when my parents bought their house. I remember her living with us until she passed away when I was sixteen years old. Her life was hard and a struggle.  

With that said, she was an influence in my faith journey because I never heard her complain about her struggles in life. She was a very religious person. I don’t know how many times a day she would pray. She went to church as often as she could and she always would say, “have faith, God will take care of you.” 

I remember on her deathbed when we would come to visit her, she would say, “you don’t have to come see me anymore. These two angels are here waiting to take me away and she would point in the direction of the corner of the room. To this day I believe she actually saw two angels waiting to take her away. 

Song of my faith 

Here I am searching my brain for a song that is instrumental in my faith. It is in there somewhere, but I am having a difficult time finding it. In fact, I am having a difficult time thinking of any song this is significant in my life. One of the first songs that came to thought of was “Ave Maria”. Why that song came to me first I cannot explain. It just came to mind that many Christmas Carols about Christ is instrumental to my faith. I do believe that Christ is the son of God and Christmas Carols do celebrate Christ’s coming into the world. “Silent Night”, “Away in the Manager”, and others give me a strange warm feeling when I hear them. However, that is just a period in the year. After the Christmas season these songs are not played until the beginning of the next Christmas season.  

I am looking for that one song that affects me throughout the entire year.  

There is one song that I truly love. This may sound strange, but that song is the theme song from “How the west was won”. When the words “the Promised Land” are sung it emphasizes or re-enforces my faith that there is a Promised Land beyond life on this earth. I know it is not a traditional religious song. I may not have a traditional song stored in my brain. Many times, I strongly feel that my faith is not from traditional organized religious practices but from subtle events and ideas that I have experienced. 

Icon of my faith 

Here I am trying to think about an icon of my faith. This is a tough subject for me because I see an icon as an inanimate object with no life. Whereas my faith is alive and vibrant. I can look at a cross and it brings the thought of suffering Christ did for mankind. However, there are other icons or stories that bring the same thoughts to mind. The cross is not the only center of point for these thoughts. 

Being from a Catholic raised environment statues were and still are big in the Catholic faith. I feel that the statues were attempts to remember an individual. They were before photography. I have never looked at a statue as an icon. 

What I am trying to say is that my faith is not dependent on some icon. My faith has come from lessons and teachings of the Christian religion throughout my life and events that have happened between me and the unknown.  

Religion of youth versus religion of adulthood 

What I am today is so much different than what I was in earlier periods of my life. For example, in my young years when I was indoctrinated into faith and religion. Everything was black and white. Or you might say it was either good or bad. You had to worry about the bad things or the sinful aspects of life. Much of religion was memorization, many aspects were just bad, don’t question it, just abide by it. 

As I became older in my journey of life, I attempted to abide by all these rules and regulations. It was tough and many times I questioned my worthiness. I was a sinner and walked around with a large case of guilt. Now that I look back at these misdeeds they now are not as bad as they were at the time. 

As life progressed and other events in my life took place my outlook on life and religion began to change. Religion and faith started to be an important part of everyday life. Whereas in younger years it was a hamper to being happy and feeling good about myself. 

So here I am now. I will never be an evangelist. Religion and faith are a difficult subject to discuss because so much of my faith is an internal gift and what I feel may not work for another. If I can’t relay my faith in words, what do I do? I resort to actions and displaying my faith with what I do. How I live and how I show love to others that cross into my journey of life.  

What is worship? 

Thinking about it I am sure everyone has a different concept and idea on this thought. I am sure no one will ever come up with a one definition that fits all. Even my thoughts on this subject tonight may change at a later time.  

I am feeling that worship is a conversation with God. I have heard that worship is just praising God. Sorry, this does not work for me. I have been in many one-sided conversations, and they can be very boring and useless. To have a good conversation both parties need to be involved and share thoughts and feelings. Many will say that God does not talk to you. It may be that you expect to receive the response like you communicate to God. Is God communicating to you in subtle ways that is not in the form of traditional communication? This could be one of the mysteries of worship. Worship can be a seven-day event, not just an event reserved for church service time. It just dawned on me that I might just link worship with prayer. 

Conclusion  

In conclusion, the above subjects were writing prompts in a writing group from 2009. I brushed them off and refreshed them. It has been fourteen years since they were written, and a lot has happened in my faith.  

First, we have become more active in the Lutheran branch of Christianity it amazed me how close or similar the two are. When I was young, I was told than protestants were wrong and going down the wrong path. I came to the realization that they are God loving humans and try to do the best they can to lead a good life. We have attended many denominations during this period have realized that they are all Christians.  

Finally, I experienced a near death experience last February. I thought I breathed my last breath and was prepared to meet the maker. I must have passed out but somehow the doctors revived me, and I started to feel better. How long I was out I will never know. This tale can be read at “My Blood Clot”. All tests and lab work show that there was no long-term damage and the chances of surviving more years are good. I am now at ease of death, and I am confident there is more after death on this earth. I am convinced that God loves us unconditionally and Christ died for our sins. The hard part to accept is that God loves the bad guys unconditionally and Christ died for their sins too.