Ink Spots Blog: 8/13/13

Whenever some yahoo on cable news or on talk radio start railing about how sucky America is, I get in the car and drive to the grocery store.  Then I start walking around and start looking at the plethora of choices under one roof.  I go down the Little Debbie aisle and gaze with wonder. Star Crunches, Oatmeal Cream Pies and Swiss Logs, oh my!  Does it get any better than that?   Then I cruise over to the produce section.  We have fresh fruits and vegetables trucked in from all around the country.  And then I go to the meat and cheeses.  Holy Bratwurst! Got Milk? Why yes!

Now, my wallet may not be able to afford Prime Rib.  That’s a problem. But it’s there for me.  The opportunity to buy whatever I want is laid out right in front of my cart.  I might have to work for it.  Oh no! But with enough effort, I can eat as well as a king (Elvis.)

I’m not a pollyanna.  I know things are tough all over.  I know the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I’m just thankful for what we do have. The opportunity that does exist.  For living in a place where we can pursue our dreams on a daily basis. And have all the Little Debbies we could ever hope for.

We’re slowly getting back into the school routine. Luckily, my boys are pretty good at getting their homework done early on.  Last night, I was trying to write something in the den while everyone was in there. Building a house of cards in a tornado is easier — trust me.  Banjo used to sit next to me while I wrote. Pip stands in the middle of my computer keyboard. So I finally got mad and said to heck with it.  My oldest son needed to study for science class.  He didn’t know the terms he was supposed to be regurgitating to me.  So we went over them over and over until he knew them.  This morning, his mom asked him and he knew every single one.

I’m not a genius. Nor do I play one on TV. But I have a sneaking suspicious that the secret to a kid’s success is taking the time to help them learn.  I know whatever I was trying to write was really important.  But in the long run, it couldn’t touch what I did instead.

Pip the dog has new brothers and sisters from her mom and dad.  There are three boys and two girls.  Knowing that there are more Pips in the world makes me a wee bit nervous.