Ah yes, the summertime!  Can it get any better than this?  Ask yourself, ‘who besides myself cares?’  Cares that is, about ‘my summertime’.  Caution, that could imply that one needs to care about another and therein lies the challenge. Do we want to “care” or do we want to “control by caring too much”? Just let the summertime take control! Live it and love it. Each day because all too soon…… 

Things to do, long daylight days, vacations, enjoy it. Spring slides into summer, hot days and nights that get our attention. However, these days that seem endless do have an end and what comes afterwords does get ones attention too. First cool then cold and snowy! Therefore, spend each summer day wisely, Then one can say attention”Summertime and the Livin’ is easy!”

They seem to gather speed as one ages! That’s what I’ve heard throughout the years. Time flys! Don’t get old! Well, it may be good advice, however, I rather think about how these measures of time have served my life well. The years slip away but not without rewards. Expect a miracle, enjoy the ride, life’s a journey, etc. All good ways to see the value of what this gift of life is doing for you.

This year started with the announcement of a grandchild forthcoming in late summer. What an expectation, a miracle for sure. A little person coming as a gift of life to be in charge of. That would be for the parents, my daughter and son-in-law. Me, I’ll just show up and be a part of the enjoyment that comes with a baby. So 2008 makes the top five in greatest years! Nice!

Late spring and I found what I had been looking for, an affordable Harley. Well, in my mind! A 2004 Dyna Wide Glide, red with grey, low miles, and drag pipes! Now that’s what a Harley should sound like! On my trip back home, I found that guys who turn 60 buy Harleys. No less than 5 of my classmates have new or newer Harleys. Also, my younger brother too! Cool! Fun was had!

Early fall brought about a milestone, so to speak, 60 years! And counting!! O, yeah! And the miles on the Harley continue, warm, sunny fall days make for great riding. Therapy for sure for the stuff out there that tends to make one crazy. Do I feel older? Not any older than yesterday! That’s what counts.

So, as the story goes, make of it what you want. Don’t get to impatient, pray for God’s Will and Love the one you’re with! There oughta be a song!

Are we stuck in how we celebrate our freedom from tyranny?  In 1776 the colonists were celebrating their freedom of religion and from British rule!  Free now to form a government and life based on what the people wanted, not one that was imposed upon them.  Can you imagine?  Surely we feel that now, don’t we?  The British rule had become so overbearing upon the colonists and their dreams of what could be.

Just now what do we have for dreams for yourself and your children?  Do we enjoy all that we dream that we could be?  As I see the busyiness of life pass by, I wonder what dreams are being lived.  Being actually realized?  Having a goal for your life, including children and neighbor may seem easy, however realizing that goal or some form of it isn’t as easy as it might seem.  But don’t despair, we all were made with the capability to dream and fullfill those dreams, however we may need to be patient and plan those dreams to completion.  After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

We’ve just seen the most interesting campaign for the Democratic nomination for President! I would also suggest that these two senators had a dream and they planned and were patient throughout their life until the time seemed right.  Therefore I would suggest to anyone to continue to dream and focus on your future, putting into place the pieces to your dream puzzle.  Dreams can come true!

What, when its gone cannot be recaptured? Of course, its time!

When one is in their youth, time seems like a never ending resource that can’t go quick enough. In school, some classes linger too long and one wishes time away. The drivers license that gives one freedom, again can’t get here soon enough. But, beware, with freedom comes accountability and responsibility. Then the working days come along and again, one might wish that the day go by faster than it seems to go, so that the leisure time of the evening will arrive.  Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!

Soon however, one becomes two and the days start to travel a little faster. Again one sees the grass greener on the other side of time. Then, family starts, responsibility lurks and time, where can I get more! Ah yes, if we only had more time. Sound familiar? If I only had more time to…….. WHAT?  Do more?

I would suggest that our evaluation of time is measured by how much we get done compared to how much we have to do. This seems to me to distort time itself. Then comes the time management books, seminars, etc. Someone again, telling us how to cram more into the same twenty-four hour day. HUH!! Now is the time to change our perception of time compared to accomplishments. It’s really us that is warping the time element of our lives. Perhaps, enjoyment in our lives, is what we should be measuring. Yes, we do have responsibility and are accountable for the quality of our lives, however, take time to enjoy what we work so very hard for, life itself.

Therefore, by making our ‘things to do’ list just one or two items shorter each day, we can enjoy those accomplishments and our lives ever more, plus have ‘time’ to ’smell the roses’! We’ll see the fruits of our labor and see  the effects on our kids for a long time, so focus on what’s important in life-the very family we love. Take a little hurry out of  youe life! Life abundant is what our Creator has in mind for YOU!

O.K., so you know what it means, loosely ‘the fifth of May’ or another ‘drinking day’ for us Americans. Like we need another reason. Really! And what luck, the new liquor law in Utah went into effect today. That’s right, now your drink has one and a half ounces of the spirit. Don’t you just love how the ‘powers that be’ think and act on regulating adults on their drinking habits? Makes it much easier for us regular folks to know that our thinking has already been taken care of when it comes to the difficult stuff!

Now, back to the point. The Independence Day thought and when it’s celebrated in Mexico. Well, I had reason to be in Ciudad Juarez last year and noticed a street, in fact a very central, well traveled street who’s name was, ‘16 de Septembre Avenue’. So, being the curious, well mannered person that I am, I asked the question. Well, to my astonishment, I learned that September 16th is Independence Day.

So, not to be disappointed at the thought of losing a drinking holiday, I spun it into another opportunity to celebrate, by drinking, of course! So, I salute our neighbors to the south, thank you for your holidays that we Americans can borrow and abuse to our hearts desire! I guess those same powers aren’t able to deport a holiday, yet!

March came in like a lamb here in Utah, Magna, Utah. We were somewhat excited to see the mild-like conditions and look forward to the spring. But alas, it weathered us out several times with cold and snow continuing weekly and making a mess. Homes too, are just on the verge of changing owners, what an exciting time to enjoy. The good news, we rebounded quickly, almost daily and our spirits were on the rise again. This pattern continued throughout the month and into April thus continuing to keep us at bay.

The days get ‘longer’ with more daylight hours and folks ‘rushing the season’ with their dress and mode of travel. Ah yes, mode of travel, two wheelers making the music of spring, it’s here! Wind and more wind making for an allergy festival. Cars, just washed, spattered with dirty drops of rain/snow. Jackets in the morning, sleeves rolled up in the afternoon, real estate signs springing up in neighborhoods.

And the market, housing market too, seemingly keeping us at bay also. Real estate sales pick up in the spring, don’t they? What to do? Undecided, at best. I say, take the ‘bull by the horns’ and make your way! When everything seems unstable, there needs to be someone or some group start the the stability movement. Just like the spring, we are undecided when the going is tough. But isn’t that when the tough get going? It may seem somewhat cliche’, however, I suggest we need to see the glass half-full and on the rise. We need to lead the folks waiting for leadership and again, don’t we all need that sometimes? Even Tiger Woods has a golf pro!

So, enjoy the weather, the markets, whichever market you subscribe to, and jump in. Now’s a great time to market a home. The market in northern Utah has stayed healthy, even with the inventory being at a high point. Select a realtor with the right attitude! This time of year is a renewal of the soul, also, my opinion, because of your initiative, there just might be one who sees this trend and gets on and enjoys the ride. We’ve all been there. Recently those of us in the real estate industry have done just that and some are still holding their reins, thinking positive. So, whatever the weather, why not just enjoy?

As history goes, so goes the present. Diversity, the fabric of America, indeed Magna. History of Magna and it’s birth would reveal how men from afar came to explore, indeed settle this land into what it is today. Within these mountains that lay just to the west of here is a treasure, gold, silver, uranium? No, copper. Copper? Indeed, a semi-precious metal that is used in lives world-wide daily. The Bingham Canyon mine in the Oquirrh Mountains, once a mountain in it’s own right, now an inverted mountain as deep as it once was tall. The ore trucks that seem as buildings several stories tall look like matchbox toys from the open pit’s edge and men are invisible to the naked eye.

Just a gaze to the east wil reveal the Wasatch Front of the Rocky Mountains, cancealing precious metals of vast value. Gold and silver had lured men for years as the legend of these riches was heard by the would be explorers coming to the wild west. Stories dating back to Native Americans brought men from afar looking for their fortune here. Diverse nationalities would be a part of the building of this American West. A western way of life that lives on even today. The geography that escapes those less travelled, not of this section of America.

Now, we live an unknown future not unlike those of yesteryear, daily going about our lives making our own history. Building on our experiences, improving our way of life through diversity. This diversity comes about through the evolution our daily living, using technology to learn how to take care of our own ‘back yard’. The spirit that prevailed in those who came to settle this land lives on in mankind today. It may seem like it’s an easier road now, however I would suggest that ‘the more things change, the more things remain the same’. Our diverse lives only seem more similar than they are, the work-a-day world, commuting, schedules, making time for everything or trying seems to put all in the same category. However, it’s how one uses the experiences moving forward to evolve our lives into the goals we’ve set for ourselves and our families.

Oh yeah, it’s not too late to start! Start? It goes so fast, just how would you suggest I start?

Perhaps you too have heard the story of the person who had moved to a new environment. One day while walking on the main street he came upon a man whittling and struck up a conversation. As they talked, the newcomer asked ‘what are the people like here?’ The local man thought for a moment and responded, ‘what were the people like where you came from?’ The response came, ‘they were friendly, kind, minded their own business and thoughtful.’ ‘Well’, the local man said, ‘you’ll find the same traits of the folks around here.’

A few weeks passed and another newcomer walked the same main street and came upon the same local man passing the time with the same activity. As they talked, the newcomer asked a similar question about the type of people who lived in the area. Shortly, the local man asked him the same question, only the response was the opposite, ‘they were nosey, selfish, unhappy troublemakers.’ After some thought the local man responded, ‘you’ll find the same type of folks around here.’

Thought provoking, don’t you think? One might believe that the local man was out of touch, just giving an answer that might keep the traffic moving. I would suggest that one ‘reaps what one sews’. Allowing for each ones character differences, this may or may not strike a chord with readers.

Watching how people act and react, one might learn just what motivates those we come in contact with. Being sales and management for a number of years has given me many experiences and a thus a knowledge of these actions and reactions, and calling on these gives one a ‘leg up’ on negotiating their way.

Since moving to Utah in 1983, the year of the flood, I have enjoyed the Magna life style. It has seemed somewhat laid back in most all aspects of life. The folks are very friendly and nice, as well as helpful, seemingly wanting to have you feel at home and welcomed. Now after many years of being a resident, I hope that I can be considered a part of that family. Helping people started for me in college, Western Illinois University, where as a freshman I was a lab instructor in my physics 201 class. This was a launching pad for what has been a fun way to be involved with the furthering of people’s path towards a more rewarding life and thus my life as well.

This attitude of being proactive instead of reactive seems to me as allowing for a much more enjoyable time throughout ones life. In this world of retaliation to everything that one experiences, it is refreshing to come in contact with folks who have chosen a more progressive way of looking at living life to it’s fullest by adding to other people’s lives in a positive manner. After all, we do have to live here, so I suggest we might as well make it the best place possible.

Now, my Daughter and son-in-law and soon to be grandson live and seem to enjoy life in Magna. Garrett’s family has roots here with his grand parents being long time residents and father born and raised in Magna too. With folks like these being the stock of Magna life, we can hope that life here gets better with each generation.

My son also seems to have memories of good times in Magna. His memories only are until he was nine or so, however some day he too might return to Magna as a resident. Both of these young adults call Utah home and have enjoyed what the small town feel of the city life provides for them.