A new look and a new day

Blog friend Kelly, who got me started blogging about seven years ago, recently wrote about passing the ten-year mark on her blog.

As I said, mine is about seven years old, and with that, I think it's time for a new look and a renewed commitment to this site.

As I've mentioned previously, in 2011 I began writing a weekly column for a local publication. It has been an absolute blast and I have freedom to write anything I like, about any subject. I'll write about local subject matter and politics on occasion (from the point of view of an observer, rarely offering an opinion), and I get decent feedback.

I get the most positive response, however, from my "everyman" installments -- stories about everyday life that will occasionally strike a chord with a reader or two. And that's what has usually gotten the best response here too.

There's no doubt that my blog posts began to lessen when I started the column. And this past year my posts have definitely been fewer and farther between.

On a recent trip to Arkansas, I ran into an old friend who has followed this blog since its inception. When I told him what I just told you (that I didn't write on the blog as much since I started the column), he suggested I post a link to my column here.

I believe that's been suggested before but now I'm going to do it. My new columns are generally posted on Mondays so I'll try to post the link Monday or Tuesday.

Here is today's installment:




Nov. 2

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Now, I don't flatter myself so much as to think all of you would click on the link. I'm doing this in response to a request and in hopes it will make me more prolific here, not just posting this link but also writing additional entries.

Many of the folks who have gone along on this blog journey with me have dropped off, possibly in favor of Facebook. I get that but that's still not my thing.

I'm going to tidy up a bit on my list of frequently visited blogs and hopefully add some new ones.

I have just acquired a new laptop computer and I think that's going to help me to come here more often too. For a long time I've been sharing with Wife. She's great to let me interrupt her at times but she uses her computer for work most of the time, so it's not always convenient.

I just hit a preview of this piece and I don't think the the link is going to work so bear with me on that part. I am still woefully inept when it comes to technology, but I'll figure out what I'm doing wrong and come back and post it later.

**UPDATE: OK I came back and might have figured out how to make the link "live."


Thanks to all who stop by here from time to time and I hope this marks a new beginning.

Change is a certainty

 

So here you go -- just a few glimpses from Daughter's wedding, nearly two months ago now.

Wife and I went to visit the newlyweds this past Friday night. Daughter had a wonderful meal for us. We looked at all the wedding photos and laughed and reminisced about all the good times from this summer.

We spent the night and came home mid-afternoon Saturday.

Older Son and DIL are traveling through Italy right now. This is a trip they have been saving for since the day they married and it finally came to fruition. They flew from Atlanta to Amsterdam last Monday night, spent a couple of days there and from there they were off to Venice, Florence and Rome.

We get the occasional email and they are having, as expected, the time of their lives.

Speaking of Atlanta, they will be moving there this fall. Older Son has a new job and he is excited about it. This will put them about 3.5 hours away from us, as opposed to 11. Although they will leave Dallas with heavy hearts, they tell us they are pleased they will be near family again.

And of course we are pleased about that too.

Younger Son continues his writing and hosting podcasts for 247 Sports. He seems to be doing great and we're happy for him.

The days are getting cooler here in Middle Tennessee. It's totally a tease. Warm weather will return. But the nice, crisp breezes from this weekend remind us that the season is changing, and remind us of that our lives are constantly changing, and we do well to "trust the process."

More importantly, we trust the One who stays the same in spite of all the changes around us.

Late summer update

What a summer it has been.

Daughter's wedding on July 18 was, of course, the highlight. I'll post pictures later. For now, take my word for it that Daughter was a beautiful bride and Wife and I were just as proud as could be.

It was a stifling hot day but, except for a few photos taken outside and some outside areas at the reception venue (that were optional and from which one could return quickly), everything was inside in the air conditioning.

The entire weekend was a joyous occasion. On Thursday night, we had a food truck in our back yard. This was Daughter and SIL's idea and it was a huge hit. This was intended to be for family and wedding party members who arrived early but Daughter told me I should also invite my college friends. They all cam and we had more fun than should be legal.

On Friday there were the bridesmaid luncheon, golf for the male wedding party members and lunch with my college chums. Friday night was the rehearsal dinner hosted by SIL's parents. Both Older Son and Younger Son made toasts to their sister that brought tears to almolst all. Warmed my heart.

The wedding was beautiful and a lovely, spiritual service. The reception was a blast and we danced the night away.

Sunday morning was brunch at our house and we got to visit a little more with friends and family before they headed out.

Our hearts were full to overflowing from start to finish.

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In the midst of all of this I was making a career change. I won't go into the many, many details but will just say I have changed jobs and have gone "back" to the bank that acquired the bank I used to work for from 1998 - 2005. The guy who made this happen is the same one that hired me in Nashville in 1998 and I'm working in his group. I have one week under my belt and so far, so good. I am convinced it's a good move for me.

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Wife and I managed some down time following the wedding. On the Tuesday following, we went to a lake house in north Alabama owned by some dear friends who were gracious enough to offer it to us. We spent that Tuesday afternoon floating on rafts and hardly talking -- just relaxing and unwinding. I spent the next day in Birmingham, about 45 minutes away and the headquarters location for my new employer, in interviews and discussions about my new position.

When I returned late in the afternoon, Wife was again floating on a raft in the lake and she was very relaxed. It was a good way to de-program from all the activity.

We took a quick weekend trip to St. Louis a couple of weeks ago for baseball. Then, not long after that, we flew to Buffalo, NY and drove from there to Niagara Falls. Older Son met us there and from Niagara we drove to Toronto (stopping at a couple of wonderful wineries along the way), and spent the weekend. We went to two baseball games and saw the Blue Jays play the Yankees.

All of these getaways were great, and we especially loved having Older Son go along with us on the Niagara and Canada trip. Thanks so much to DIL for letting him join us while she stayed home and worked! 

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We are settling into "normal" again now, whatevcer that is. It's weird to be starting a new job at my age, but it's also really cool to have a fresh start, something that is sometimes needed no matter what stage of life we might find ourselves in.

We're healthy, we're gainfully employed and we have three adult children ( and a daughter-in-law and son-in-law) who we get to see often and who are making their ways in the world.

So thankful for all of that.

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We also recently celebrated 31 years of marriage.

Pretty remarkable somoene could put up with me that long.