Springtime Thoughts

Springtime Thoughts

April - Quotations

"O Day after day we can't help growing older.
Year after year spring can't help seeming younger.
Come let's enjoy our winecup today,
Nor pity the flowers fallen."
-  Wang Wei, On Parting with Spring

"When the time is ripe for certain things,
these things appear in different places in the manner
of violets coming to light in the early spring."
-  Farkas Bolyai

April - Quotations

"Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment." 
-  Ellis Peters

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."
-  T. S. Eliot, The Waste Land, 1922

April - Quotations

Best Wishes for a Happy and Productive New Year in 2026

Best wishes to all, from Karen and I, for a productive, happy, and decent New Year in 2026. 
May you enjoy good health, and enjoyable exercise.
May your family and friends thrive.
May a more peaceful and cooperative world emerge.
May you prosper in your work and communities.
May your gardens thrive.
May you learn about truth and virtue from great books and universities.

"What can be said in New Year rhymes,

That’s not been said a thousand times? 

The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know. 

We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night. 

We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings. 

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead. 

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of a year."

The Year by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I am very sorry for all the hard-working people
whose jobs are in peril from the crazy, dangerous,
unhinged, failed, and insulting policies of our 
currently failed President Trump.  His crudeness,
and insults have caused massive boycotts of 
travel to America and loss of revenue from
boycotted products.  Impeach that foolish
pervert felon NOW!!

New Year's Eve, 2024, Reflections

Peace on Earth and Good Will to People

May family and friends have continued happiness.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice for Wise Persons

In 2025 I plan to, intend to, and will apply effort to:

Continue to enjoy playing and learning about making music with my harmonica and electric keyboard.

Write and study poetry, e.g., At the Edges of the West.

Walk over 5,000 steps per day for three months, then increase.

Go on a 4 day Yurt Camping trip each month.

Eat under 150 Grams of Carbohydrates each day.

Practice Yang Style Tai Chi Chuag each day for 30 minutes.

Happy New Year

My New Year's Day celebrations for the last 73 years have consisted of enjoying time off from work or school for a national holiday, socializing with family and friends, eating special meals, watching football (Rose Bowl) or basketball games, playing in the yard, watching the Rose Parade in Pasadena, playing with children and adults, drinking, laughing, etc.  All this time was spent in California, Oregon, or Washington, USA. 

I have been very fortunate in my life, and I am very grateful.

In 2020, I am planning to enjoy learning more about using vector graphics software, learning how to draw, practicing Tai Chi Chuan every day, walking every day, and keeping a daily journal.  This, of course, is on top of all the chores I have to do for basic daily living in the suburbs of Vancouver.  Fun family activites and local travel also occupy my time in a very pleasant manner.

As for my Lifetime Body I plan to exercise more, eat less, take my medicine properly, and hope for the best.  The many Paths to Fitness and Well Being are also quite pleasurable. 


Best Wishes to All

For a Healthy, Prosperous, Peaceful, and Happy New Year

Farewell to 2019

"So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh.
This dusty old dust is a-gettin' my home,
And I got to be driftin' along."
-  Woody Guthrie, 1940

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."
- Robert Burns

For me, 2019 was a taste of a cup of kindness.

Karen and I were in good health and live comfortably in Vancouver, Washington.

Some family and friends passed on in 2019.  We were priviledged to share part of our life's journey with them.  Others are battling against illness.  We wish them well.

Overall, our families are prosperous, living in peacetime, productive, and in good health.

California, Oregon, and Washington have many prosperous cities and towns. 

How about way back when I said Farewell to 2006?

Best Wishes to All!  Cheers!  Cheers!  Salud!