Greetings Fellow Travelers upon this Orb of Blue!!!

And what part of the process are you in today?  For it’s all part of getting from Point A to Point B.

And while we’re talking about Harrison Ford, and we were, at least I was, let me just say this: I am so glad that he did the right thing, knew what to do as a pilot, comported himself with dignity and grace.  He didn’t scream that he was a movie star and demand preferential treatment when he crashed his vintage WW II plane. He wasn’t drinking or using drugs to heighten the experience of flying.  He wasn’t entertaining some 18 year old with his pants around his knees.

He was a regular guy who acted heroically in an emergency situation, saving people’s lives by using his pilot’s training to land that plane which from takeoff was already hobbled.

Finally, finally, we have someone in the spotlight who is there because he did the right thing.

My daughter says I sound like the president of the Harrison Ford Fan Club. I’m okay with that.  I’ve always had a soft spot for that  grin of his.  And, as I say, he could eat crackers in my bed anytime.

But I am so tired of people doing things infamously and getting famous for it.  There doesn’t seem to be anyone pointing out that what they were doing was wrong in the first place.

Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things.  We need to honor them and tell their stories to our young people so they know who we think is important to emulate.  And not leave it to social media, tabloids, tv news stations who taint the news instead of report it to decide who their heroes will be.

We need to get excited about Kevin Garnett returning to the Wolves to finish out his career and help teach the youngsters how to play the mind game of pro ball. We need to get excited about a movie star who is also a pilot and has flown mountain rescue missions with his helicopter.  We need to thank the WatchDog Dads who volunteer at elementaries to listen to kids read.

We need to let our kids see us stand as the flag passes by in the parade.  They need to see us sing the words to the national anthem before a game.  They need to see us thank our military people for their service.

And I see this happening.  I think we have reached a watershed moment when the positive begins to make a comeback.  It’s no longer cool to be so jaded.  It’s cool now to be hopeful.

It also helps that it’s above zero now in Minnesota!

+++***++++******Off my soapbox now++++*******++++++***++++******+++

Lots of cool things have been happening!  We went to the Como Zoo yesterday for an outing.  Everyone wore a smile because we were so darn glad to be out of the house.  Families with kids in animal eared hats and mittens filled the sidewalks. The sun was shining, the animals were napping in the sun, and the Arctic fox was running around in circles.  The polar bears were in a new exhibit,  there was a new orangutan baby and the gorillas have new windows. We did see one step outside for a handful of snow, which he then ate. Will be looking forward to returning later in the spring to see how the polar bears and the gorillas react in their new digs.( well, new to us)

And speaking of new digs, I do have to confess to a bit of artistic license in the last post.  The Menards will be closing only temporarily as they re-tool (A ha ha ha ha!) for their grand opening as a Mega Menards. All sorts of shiny new things to tempt the hubster into building that bumpout in the dining room!  What?  A girl can hope.

***++++++*******

I have organized my state quarters into a new book with both Philadelphia and Denver mints. And, in doing so discovered that I was mixing the state quarters with the America the Beautiful quarters.  I mistakenly thought that each state had two designs, one for each mint.

Nope. So now, I’m collecting the America the Beautiful quarters as well.  New book is on order. And, then, because I was going through my coins to find the two mints for each state, I started to really look at the new nickels.

And, now I’m collecting the nickels as well.  How could I not with such direct references to American History as illustrations of  the Louisiana Purchase  crossed hatchet and peace pipe, Lewis and Clark’s boat, and the quote from the pair when they reached the Pacific, ” Ocean in View. Oh, the Joy!” Gotta order another book!

And the two special prizes from the coin jar? One of the  Georgia state quarters ( up until then I had no Georgia quarters at all. Now it’s only Illinois, Maine and Montana that are missing both mints)   and . . .

the best of all . . .

A wheat penny!!!!!  Doesn’t that bring you back to your childhood???!  And it’s date? 1931.  Just think of what that penny had seen and been spent for.  And whose pockets it’s been in.

I love wheat pennies.  I keep one by my sewing machine to bring a smile to my face when I need to unscrew a needle or a presser foot.  I think that one is dated 1935.

🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂   🙂

Oh my goodness. I’ve said a lot today. Well, that’s okay. I guess I had a lot to say!!

Have a specially super Sunday night and a Mighty Monday Morning!

Love,

Janet