Well, we just moved to another house.

Actually, it was from a large house to a small condo.

After 57 years of living together and raising a large family, we accumulated a lot of stuff.

Ya Think!

It took 10 hours a day for two weeks plus a moving company.

At the age of 80 we’re a little worn out.

Ya think!

Try fitting too much stuff into too little a space.

And all the decisions about what to keep and what to sell and what to give away or throw out.

Then there is the physical labor involved.

Moving is not for the faint-hearted!

And plan on surprises.

CHEERS!

DO IT ANYWAY!

Live your life as it is delivered to you.

One day at a time.

And as today’s title encourages you: DO GOOD TODAY!

Make a positive difference each day.

God knows we certainly have enough naysayers.

I firmly believe that there is one all important question you must ask yourself often:

Am I living in such a manner that I like myself?

It’s such an important question because we must be able to live with ourselves and our decisions.

And, getting back to today’s title, it doesn’t matter if others forget your good deeds.

You remember them and that memory helps you feel good about yourself!

And that’s what counts!

One of the most powerful weapons in the US Navy’s arsenal made a rare port call in Guam over the weekend, sending a message to allies and foes amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

The USS Nevada, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine carrying 20 Trident ballistic missiles and dozens of nuclear warheads, pulled into the Navy base in the US Pacific Island territory on Saturday.

It’s the first visit of a ballistic missile submarine — sometimes called a “boomer” — to Guam since 2016 and only the second announced visit since the 1980s.

“The port visit strengthens cooperation between the United States and allies in the region, demonstrating US capability, flexibility, readiness, and continuing commitment to Indo-Pacific regional security and stability,” a US Navy statement said. (CNN)

Hopefully, the threat of mutual destruction will keep the peace!

This is the world we live in.

For over a century, the worst fires in New York City history have claimed the lives of immigrants.

Sunday’s fire was the city’s deadliest since 1990, when arson at an unlicensed Bronx nightclub killed 87 people, mostly Honduran and Central American immigrants.

The Happy Land Social Club inferno — about a mile from the Twin Parks North West building — was the deadliest in the city since the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in Manhattan, where 146 young mostly Jewish and Italian seamstresses perished.

These historic fires parallel immigrant life in the city.

“Those who are most vulnerable, AND LEAST VALUED, live and work in precarious situations often under conditions where legal and regulatory enforcement is lax. The law, that is building and fire code, is insufficient as well as often poorly enforced, and this is the case today in the Bronx and it was as well in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory.” (CNN)

ARE THEIR LIVES LESS VALUABLE THAN OURS?

Do we have “Justice For All?”

Yesterday, it was announced that the President doesn’t have enough votes in the Senate to pass a voting rights law that would guarantee every American the right to vote.

Here are the strategies being employed to prevent poor people from their right to vote:

Dis-allowing early voting.

No mail-in voting.

Legislatures have created 250 bills to prevent people in poor areas from voting.

In some states, where the weather is warm in November, voters waiting in line are not allowed to distribute bottled water to keep people hydrated.

Because many poor people don’t own a car, they can’t get off work and get to polling places before they close.

Keep in mind that many of those same poor people fought in our wars and lost their lives and those of their loved ones defending America.

So, what happened to, “And Justice For All?”

Is this important to you?

If not today, when?

Definition: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

TRUST IN YOURSELF: Do you trust yourself to do the right thing?

TRUST IN YOUR SPOUSE: Can you trust in the words and actions of your spouse?

TRUST IN YOUR FRIENDS: Can you trust in the loyalty of your friends?

TRUST IN THE MEDIA: Can you trust that the media is truthful and unbiased?

TRUST IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS: Can you trust that they support your values?

TRUST IN YOUR EMPLOYER: Can you expect fair treatment and fair wages?

TRUST IN YOUR GOVERNMENT: Does local government treat everyone equally?

TRUST IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS!

Without TRUST, society cannot exist!

If not today, when?

His name is Walter.

He is always pleasant when he greets me.

He has a good marriage to his wife who drives a salt truck.

He refers to her as his partner.

The first day I met him, I told him how essential his work is..

Because we live in Michigan, he’s often out there at 7 a.m. loading the truck even on very cold days.

When I saw him yesterday morning, it was still dark outside and only 9 degrees.

He told me he has done his line of work for many years.

I always tell him I admire him because his hard work is so necessary.

Every time he leaves, he yells out to me, “God bless you!”

Do you even notice those around you, like Walter, who make our life so much better every day?

Take a minute to show your appreciation whenever the opportunity arises.

It means a lot.

This morning, while on a quick trip to the grocery store, I dropped a box of blueberries at the self-checkout.

Of course, the blueberries went in a million directions all over the floor.

Immediately. the store clerk rushed up to me and reassured me that the same thing happens all the time.

I don’t know how much she gets paid, but her quick reassurance was most appreciated because I was upset with myself that I could do such a thing.

Extra (unexpected) effort is a beautiful thing and should be recognized and rewarded by everyone in management.

Some people just try to get by while doing the minimum expected of them.

NOT HER!

Not today! Not Ever!

That’s what separates the WINNERS from the ALSO RANS!

The world’s events seem to be getting more and more serious.

Why not take a break and have whatever your kind of FUN is.

My FUN is driving a beautiful boat up the Detroit River to some distant destination.

The beauty and feeling of freedom all around me warms the soul!

I’m sure you would describe FUN in some other way that suits your tastes.

Whatever your brand of FUN may be, go out and do it!

You only live once and once is enough if you do it right.

So, throw off the worry and stress of modern day life and create your own Form of FUN!

If not today, when?

Heading into Tampa Bay’s game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon, Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski needed five catches, 58 receiving yards, or three touchdowns to get a handsome incentive heading into the postseason.

Gronkowski hauled in seven receptions with 137 yards and landed a $1 million bonus and quarterback Tom Brady completed 29 of 37 passes for 326 yards with three touchdowns in the Bucs’ 41-17 win over Carolina.

With under 7 minutes to go in the game, the Bucs held a two-touchdown lead over the Panthers, but Brady made sure to go back onto the field to help Gronkowski get one final reception to land the $500,000 bonus. (FOX)

The Buccaneers’ coaches told Brady to stay out of the remainder of the game to keep him safe for the playoffs beginning next week.

Brady, told the coaches he was going to continue playing until Gronk got his bonus.

Isn’t that what friends are for?