Oz knows cool...

...or does he?



It wasn't too long ago when Oz thought that having a 'big ol Angela Davis fro" was the key to happiness. It wasn't too long ago that Oz thought that cuffed baggies was the ultimate in hip attire. It wasn't too long ago when Oz would not wear straight leg jeans 'cause he was sure they made his feet look big (they WERE big). It wasn't too long ago that Oz wore a vest with a jacket and tie, jeans and hiking boots. It wasn't too long ago that Oz had a Member's Only jacket and knew it was the shiznit.



Yeah, Oz knows cool...now. Cool is different than what Oz used to see. Cool is what makes you happy. Cool is what makes you be yourself. Cool is what makes you love and accept. Cool gives you the ability to really see folks for who they are, not what they look like. Cool is subject to change as one gains knowledge.



There's an old Tower of Power song that says "Hipness is what it is, and sometimes hipness is what it ain't". Cool ain't a job title. Cool ain't a bank balance. Cool ain't a skin color, a religious affiliation, or a particular preference. Cool ain't a car, a house, or a boat.



You want to be cool? Accept, love, give, enjoy, be genuine, really care, listen, talk. Smile and laugh really hard...do both often. Be a friend, help somebody, hug your kids, call your mama. Open up a little, take a closer look, be receptive, look for some positive.



Before you know it, you'll know cool, too...just like Oz. He has decreed it so.



Love each other,
RD

Wisdom? Geez, I hope not...

I had dinner with some friends last night. Actually, they were more in my sister's wheelhouse more than mine, but I remember them well, and we had lots of acquaintances in common. It was a great evening spent in the company of several very delightful people who I had not seen in a looong time. I was comfortable right away.



I watched my friends interact with each other, and it was really cool. It was a group of people that grew up in very diverse backgrounds, but somehow were able to put aside their differences and became close friends. Now, some 30 years later, thru a lot of trying and some very strange times, the friendship has not only survived, but seems to have flourished. They talked and laughed and told stories all night. I, of course, added what I could, when I could, and I think we all had a great time.


It really gives me hope.



Sometime during the evening, the concept of getting to know a person before forming a lasting opinion was brought up. Such a simple, yet often overlooked little piece of advice. I gotta tell you, there have been many people in my life that I was pretty unsure of at first glance. Fortunately for me, I was able to get past that and get to know the person behind that first impression. Some of those people are best friends now.



I'm getting older, and, hopefully a lot wiser. If I've learned anything, it's that first impressions are lasting impressions, but don't have to be the ONLY impression. Give people a chance, be honest with your feelings and genuine with your intentions, and people may just surprise you. You really can't afford to tick off anybody nowadays. You never know when you might need a ride home...



Love each other.

Long nights...impossible odds

Wow...what a day! 8 loads of laundry, replaced kitchen faucet, trip to the grocery store for supplies, cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen after. I make one hell of a wife...

Lovely spring day today, but I wasn't able to enjoy a bit of it. My doc says my active vitamin D is low, so I could definitely use some sunshine. Most days I could be a vampire and not miss a beat. I usually go to work in the dark, and come home in the dark. Need to make a change. Think I'll spend my Sunday out in the man-cave, if I can get the tv to work again. A broken tv may be God's way of telling me to get off my lazy butt and do something. I know, a few hours reminding myself why I don't play golf more often. That would put me in the sun, but it's so HOT. Oh well...

The 'Chalenge' Leaderboard-3/26/10

I'm working on a new home for the leaderboard, and it should be done soon...bear with me.


Winner Points
Ceanne 59
Lynette 39
Debra 31
Marcia 31
Glynna 23
Marie 22
Julie 11
Angie 10
Ann 10
Eric 10
Roger 9
Annette 7
Felix 7
Karoletha 7
Chris 6
Bill 6
Marla R 6
Adia 5
Karrie 5
Lillian 4
Jake 3
Cherrie 3
Marcus 3
Marla DR 2
Lisa 2
Shawn 2
LaDonna 1
Scott 1
Sharon 1
Christy 1

D.U.T.I. Leaders

***D.U.T.I Challenge Leaderboard***
March 23, 2010

OK, I've been threatening for a while, so here is the new board.


Winner Points

Ceanne 59

Lynette 36

Debra 31

Marcia 31

Glynna 23

Marie 18

Julie 11

Angie 10

Ann 10

Eric 9

Annette 7

Felix 7

Karoletha 7

Bill 6

Chris 6

Marla 6

Adia 5

Karrie 5

Lillian 4

Jake 3

Marcus 3

Cherrie 3

Marla DR 2

Shawn 2

Sharon 1

Scott 1

LaDonna 1

Christy 1

Oz don't need no lucky...

I was out the other night and met a friend that I had not seen in 20 or so years. We sat and talked over a cup of coffee for a while. It was great to catch up, compare war stories, and generally try to get each other to remember people and events long-forgotten. It was a great time, so thanks, Sharon.

It got me to thinking...how did I loose contact with so many people that I was close to at one time or another? Really strange, when I look back, how often it happened. Here's a good example.

I grew up in a small town in SE Oklahoma. When we moved there, I was about 6 years old, and, of course, knew nobody. The second kid that I met was Maurice. He and I became fast friends, and we were together from Head Start (poor people's kindergarten) thru high school. We even spent a year or two in college together. Then I lost touch with him. We got together at a class reunion or two, and I got a couple of Christmas cards from him, but I never knew where he was or how he was doing. And, sadly enough, I never made much effort to find out. I was too busy living my own life, but Maurice as one of the people who helped me find my way in this old world during those turbulent teen-aged days. He probably didn't know it at the time (and neither did I for that matter), but he taught me a lot. Long story short, I got back in touch with him recently, and as it turns out, he lives about 20 minutes from me. Crazy stuff!

I suppose it's because I'm a little older, and hopefully wiser, but I'm beginning to really wonder about the people that I grew up with. I want to know that they are OK. I want them to know that I think about them often. I especially want to thank them for all that they have done to help me on this little road trip. I know that in the grand scheme of things, my life is fairly inconsequential, but it's a pretty big deal in my world. I could not have done what little I have accomplished without lots of help from friends, many of whom had no idea that they were helping to make a person. To those people, I owe a debt of gratitude that I can never repay. Instead, I'll follow their fine examples, and I'll be a friend to someone, and maybe I can return the favor in some small way.

When my kids were growing up, I tried to get them to understand that the people you choose to be associated with were the people that would help to define who you would become. I hoped and prayed that they would look below the surface and pick friends that would be around no matter what. My kids did ok, they choose well. Looks like they took after dear old Dad, because I have great friends too. Rest assured, friends, if you're out there, I'll find you.

I guess the point to all of this is, if you choose your friends wisely and pay attention to what they are trying to teach you, 'lucky' just may be optional. Yeah, it's pretty sappy...blame it on being 50.

Love you all!

RD

Another DUTI Challenge Leaderboard. I'll write something new this weekend, I promise...like anyone will read it!

Winner Points
Ceanne 59
Lynette 34
Debra 31
Marcia 24
Glynna 22
Julie 11
Ann 10
Marie 9
Roger 8
Angie 7
Annette 7
Felix 7
Karoletha 7
Eric 6
Bill 6
Marla R 6
Chris 6
Adia 5
Karrie 5
Lillian 4
Cherrie 3
Jake 3
Marcus 3
Marla D R 2
Lisa 2
Shawn 2
LaDonna 1
Scott 1
Sharon 1
Christy 1