Tip of the Hat

A simple gesture. 

Where do I start?
I was raised, as I'm sure many of you were, with basic manners. A simple list to follow to not get my butt whipped. 
1.) Respect others.
2.) Honor others.
3.) Treat others the way you would have them treat you.
4.) Take your hat off when indoors!
5.) Keep your parents informed as to where you are going to be.
6.) Don't lie... This is a simple one. ( Moms always know! )

Okay, so now I have a short list to start with. Let's compare the youth of today to this list. We will start with hats. I had an aunt who, if you didn't remove your hat, she took it. She had quite a collection. I feel the same way. Men who don't remove their hats when going indoors have extremely poor manners. This is a major pet peeve of mine. It"s really simple. 

Respect. That speaks for itself. This too is lacking in both the young and old. I don't know what has caused this, or why it has changed so much. I like small towns where everyone knows everyone and they say hello!

How many times a day do you smile and say hello? It makes people feel good, I know it makes me feel good to say hello to people I don't know....
I also wonder if people know what honor is anymore? We honor our soldiers one day a year, when it should be everyday. 

Do we think about our actions and how they effect our families honor? Probably not. "Family honor".

 A lost term, perverted by movies about the mob. 

I'm 55, so I didn't live during the 40's and 50's. When you look at pictures of that period, people dressed much nicer. Men were men and women were women. Men, I never leave my home without a collared shirt on.

 I have a problem with saggy ass jeans, over sized sweatshirts, hats turned side ways, and hoop ear rings on men! What the hell are they thinking? Certainly not appearance. In fact, if you are older than 25, earrings just make a man look like their clinging to their youth. 

Women, believe or not, a real man doesn't want to see the whole package before delivery. 

Personally, I like sun dresses and a woman who dressed with comfort and class. No sweats or skimpy clothing. 

All that know me, know that I lost my wife a while back and live with my 21 yr old son. He is growing up... Growing apart from his father. I know he wants freedom, yet it's hard for me to let go of the last thing I have in my life. This scares the shit out of me, but I know he will be a fine man in his own right. He had a great mother, I hope he remembers that one day. I also have probably the best daughter a man can ask for who found one of the good men! ( I can't go without mentioning my granddaughter and soon to be grandson! ) I love all of my family, you know who you are!

So, a smile or a tip of the hat, can make a persons day! It's pretty simple. Good day 

What is Love...?

   When we are young, it feels like love every time we have a girlfriend.
Then, out of nowhere, it hits you! All people describe it differently. For me it was like an entire body high. A body rush of complete euphoria. A short, dark haired, woman walked by me and I felt an attraction I had never felt before. So much so, I bet my co-worker $20 that whoever that is, I'm going to marry her...I was 17 years old, and when I looked into her root beer brown eyes, I was lost inside them. I am still in Love with that short, dark haired woman with the root beer brown eyes to this day.

   One of my jobs included a lot of traveling. I can proudly say that not one time did cheating even enter my mind. So when I hear Cameron Diaz say marriage is dead, and the NY Times write crap like monogamy is ruining marriage in our country, I get pissed off! I take great offense to such low standards! Is this what we want our children exposed to? Obviously someone told these people that we actually give a shit what they think! I'm here to inform Hollywood, and the NYT....Shut the hell up! The only thing these people understand is money. I have stopped attending movies of the worst offenders. However, I'm just one voice..one ticket. It's going to take more than one person to get through to actors.

   Back to my point. Yes, I'm in Love with a woman who passed away in 2006. I talk to her daily. Some would say that I am crazy. Maybe I am? All I know is that she is all I see when I close my eyes. She is what I dream about every night. ( I guess I have my very own Dream Lover ). How can I move on with my life without my heart? ( That's what it feels like to me anyway. )

   Some people "grow apart". I've often wondered what that means. Love is just Love! It's not who you are,or what you are. Love comes from the heart, work comes from our head. I guess it's hard to determine which one defines us? I think when someone says they grow apart, one of them just wasn't paying attention as time moved on. Hints are dropped, but we just have our eyes 'wide shut'...

   The key is happiness. What is happiness? I think we, ourselves, chose if we are happy or not! My dad always told me that work is what you make it. I realize now that applies to life as well!!!

  Are you happy? Am I happy? Love isn't always perfect. It takes work and lots of patience. Not to mention forgiveness. There is also communication. Without these things, ( in my opinion ), all relationships are doomed. Respect for each other is a given as well.
I don't want anyone to think that my life with Erin was a smooth ride! She was my polar opposite. The one thing we did do was work through all problems. Believe me, it wasn't easy! But, what worth having isn't worth a lot of effort? I had to remind myself of that many times after, and before she got sick. I'm also sure I said some things I didn't mean. Somehow, we forgave each other... every time.

   The way I look at it, my Lover is always more important than me! Will I ever fall in Love again?I hope so! I still have a great deal of love to offer. The key is finding a woman who is looking for a simple man!
Many people called me whipped because I put my wife and family before myself. It never bothered me, I followed my heart, and my heart was her!

   At this point, I don't control what happens in any way shape or form. I can only hope and pray, and keep hoping....and praying...

For all of us.....

Until next time.