Our son had some items he no longer needed when moving to a new home.

So, he put their availability on the web.

He received three phone calls in the first ten minutes.

Of course, the buyers used mapping software to find our son’s house.

These transactions are a simple example of the dependency we all have on technology and specifically on our cell phones.

We travelled from Northern California to San Francisco Airport today with the use of Google Maps.

As we approached the airport exit, the speed and density of traffic caused us to miss it.

Immediately, the mapping software computed an alternate route that quickly led us back to our destination.

We all know there are many abuses of our new digital life.

I like to dwell, however, on the positives as I’ve described herein!

You don’t stop being a parent when you’re child reaches a certain chronological age.

The relationship between parent and child goes through various stages.

As a young child, dependency upon the parents is total.

As the teenage years come along, parents and children experiment with some independence of action and decision-making.

This is a painful period for both parties.

At some point, the child leaves the parents’ home and enjoys more independence.

Even at this point, your parenting role is not finished.

No, the parents are entering a lifelong relationship in which the child is making major decisions with major consequences.

When making these major decisions, the child is often unwilling to take parental advice.

So, the parent must. however, be willing to “PICK UP THE PIECES” when things go asunder.

It’s part of the job description of a parent.

You’re always a parent!

If not today, when?

Our daughter was in the hospital last week for medical treatment from a nurse.

The young nurse told us he had spent many years in his family’s business.

He, however, did not feel fulfilled and decided upon a dramatic change in his career. He went back to school to become a nurse.

He has been assigned to the TRANSPLANT DEPARTMENT where he treats critically ill cancer patients.

He is very good at his new profession.

No, it was not easy, but he enjoys his new responsibilities and feels he’s making a difference.

How about your current career path?

Should you re-evaluate your alternatives?

Would you look forward to awakening each morning and going off to a job you really love?

It is never too late to improve your life!

If not today, when?

I’m sure you’ve heard about the building collapse in Miami.

The technical details and forewarning are beginning to emerge.

I want to talk, however, about another aspect of the tragedy.

How prepared were the victims to meet their Maker?

In an instant without warning, their lives were taken from them.

Now, let’s talk about you.

Do you have any unattended business that should be addressed?

Friends who are friends no more because of your actions or inactions?

How about those family members who have drifted apart?

How about promises made, but not kept?

Are there bridges that must be rebuilt?

If you’re house is in order, life can be lived to the full each day.

If some relationship needs to be fixed, take the initiative regardless of who was at fault.

It’s better to be loved than to be right!

If not today, when?

We all have good and bad surprises.

Our son and his wife moved from the Midwest to Northern California.

After they were living there a while, we decided to surprise them with a visit.

Their furniture was supposed to arrive last Tuesday.

So, we planned on flying out there yesterday on Thursday.

This would give them a couple days to get settled in their new digs before we got there.

Well, wouldn’t you know, the moving van arrived yesterday.

We flew into LAX and then connected to San Francisco to be followed by a bumper-to-bumper rush hour trip that took a while.

Thank goodness, the moving van was still there as we pulled in.

I parked around the corner so our son did not see us.

I crept up to the opposite side of the van and asked the driver to give me a box to carry into the house.

We saw him working with things in the garage with his back to us.

I asked, “Where do you want this box?”

When he turned, his eyes got real big with the shock that his parents had traveled all that way just to carry a box into the house.

It was A GOOD SURPRISE!!!!

I know the saying is supposed to be, “Customers come first.”

The great majority of companies put their own wellbeing ahead of the customer.

Grocery stores are a perfect example.

Although grocery chains enjoyed great profitability during the pandemic, they have decided to cut costs where it directly disadvantages the customer.

There are fewer checkout employees and no baggers.

Today’s grocery customer must check themselves out and fill their own bags.

I was in a line of 12 shoppers waiting for a self-checkout position to become available while the regular checkouts stood empty.

My son hired a well-known moving company to move him from Detroit to Northern California.

The moving van broke down in Salt Lake City.

The company refused to send another truck to hook onto the trailer and deliver on schedule.

His belongings are now two weeks late.

Customers come last!

Each of us have people and events that influence our behavior.

The obvious sources are people in our lives beginning with our parents.

Parents either show us how TO LIVE or how NOT TO LIVE. We learn from both.

Pressure can also come from siblings positively or negatively.

Then comes classmates whose acceptance we would like to have.

Spouses have a major impact.

Later in life, employers and co-workers can influence our behavior.

After experiencing all these influencers, are you happy with you?

The old saying comes to mind:

“It you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything!”

Are there certain values you hold dear that you will not compromise?

Are they your values or someone else’s?

Are you doing what you’d like to be doing at this stage in your life.

As I approach my 80th year, I’ve learned life is too short especially if you’re not being yourself.

Life is more enjoyable if you are true to yourself.

If not today, when?

Oh, there are a lot of benefits!

And it’s the one form of exercise that most of us can do.

Look at these:

Burn calories.

Strengthen your heart.

Help lower blood sugar.

Ease joint pain.

Boost your immune function.

Boost your energy.

Improve your mood.

Extend your life. (betterhealth.vic.gov.au)

Well, there are the facts.

If you have not had a habit of walking for exercise, get started!

It won’t be easy at the outset if you’ve been a couch potato until now.

After a while, however, you will begin to have more energy to face your challenges with much needed gusto.

One final word.

I think a simple walking program will actually improve the QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE!

If not today, when?

Yes, we love our pets!

By the millions.

Perhaps the biggest reason we love them is the fact that they possess traits many humans don’t always exhibit.

Such as LOYALTY, PATIENCE, FOREGIVENESS and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

It’s sad, but true.

People may disappoint us, but seldom if ever does our pet disappoint.

Pets live only in the present moment.

When you come back home after being gone for a few hours, they greet you with such enthusiasm as if you’ve been gone for a year.

Even if you didn’t treat them well yesterday, all is forgiven.

Pets seem to be, by nature, optimistic.

They are always ready to have fun.

One of my neighbors came walking by with a dog I haven’t seen before.

He said, “It’s our COVID dog.”

Many people got a pet to help them through isolation.

We love our pets!

… because the six of us had a wonderful dad.

So, our Father’s Day is always a joyous one.

We are five sons and one daughter.

I don’t have one negative memory of his life.

He loved our mom and they were great partners throughout their 62 year marriage.

He graduated from The University Of Notre Dame with a masters degree.

He remained on the campus as a researcher and professor for 21 years.

Despite his busy professional life, he was very involved in our lives.

He could have written a book on how to be a great dad!

After he died in 2002, mom carried on for four more years.

She used to say, “I want to be with my husband.”

Soulmates to the end!