Oh how much happier I’ll be when the 21st of this month comes and goes and the sun once again begins its march back north. It grows annoying after a while when finding myself both going and returning home from work in the dark. For sure I’ll be glad when daylight savings time returns the 10th of March. In the meantime, I guess we’ve all got to endure these long dark evenings until that promised day arrives.
I’ve found this year to be yet another where old and familiar clients and customers stop by my office just to wish me Merry Christmas. It’s always good to see them walking in the door for a nice visit, and today’s was all the more special for me because of one of my favorite’s having arrived. I tell nearly everyone who knows him that I want to be just like him when I get to be his age. Of all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never heard him speak ill of anyone–even when we once spoke about a very controlling person we both know. At the time we were talking about that person, he just shook his head and said, “I do everything I can to steer clear.” It’s no wonder he’s in such good physical and mental health due to his not having to carry such negative baggage around 24/7. I do wish all the more of us would take lessons from him.
A contractor stopped by the office who needed a favor from me, and just before he walked out, I stopped him and said, “You know your friend Mr. ********* really got under my skin about five years ago, and I’m telling you now, I’ve nearly never had anyone in the general public talk to me like that.” He looked surprised and said, “Oh I can’t believe that because he’s always been good around me.” I then said, “Well, all I can say is that while he was calling me every name in the book, I stopped him and told him he’d better be careful what he was saying about me because there are those who do get sued for slander.” Before he walked out the door I said, “To this day I have no idea what he believes I’ve done to him.”
People who carry grudges for the smallest of reasons really do need counseling. I can’t even imagine how much work it must be to hold such ill-will in their hearts for others. For me, I’d rather forgive them, along with wishing them very good lives, while praying they stay as far away from me as possible. Now some think that’s not true forgiveness because of the wishing for naughty monkeys to stay out of my life, but I believe them wrong because oft times we allow ourselves to be pulled right back into relationships with people who have characters un-like ours which manage re-ignite all the more discordant dramas.
I had another soft landing closing today with the most delightful young couple who’re going to be yet another positive addition to our community. We actually made our tight closing date which was a relief for both of them when knowing they’ll not have to move their furniture twice. I’m glad the sellers were in attendance so they could meet them and be assured their home will continue to be well cared-for.
One of my clients stopped by my office today and somehow we managed to get on the subject of when and where our City sewer systems were installed. As chance would have it, I have an old book that was published in 1940 that was a proposed development plan for Mason City which was conducted by an out-of-State research company. So out of my cabinet I pulled that book and made copies of four mapped pages showing where there were privies, wells, and non-bathing facilities still in existence in 1934.
While looking at those maps, it was once again confirmed how certain districts were given preference over others by our City’s government. As we all well know, that type of mentality has been taking place within city governments for a very many years. The four districts which were the most darkened were: Those blocks north of 12th St. both east and west of North Federal, Midland Heights, West Haven, and the area around where Shopko is now located which used to be called “Powder Lane”. One can only imagine how many wells there are in our City which are likely buried, but not properly capped. So much for saving our aquifers from contamination.
Please don’t forget about my public open house at 24 – 11th St. NE tomorrow afternoon. It’s a beautiful home that would be a perfect fit for a growing and/or an extended family. I was wishing someone would’ve purchased it in time to hold their Holiday gatherings and begin creating life-long memories.
Tonight’s one-liner is: A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.
