First things first. I got to see the musical production of "In the Heights" about latinos in New York City trying to "make their way". All the singing was "rap". That means a rapid fire barrage of one syllable words that my sensitive hearing picks up with perfect comprehension. The dialogue was 50% spanish, 25% "broken latino accent english" and 25% english. Amazingly, I did understand the storyline. A good time was had by all.
I remember very clearly a time in the 1980's. We lived in Sheboygan and I went out to our cottage at Crystal Lake (next to comrade Floyd). The grass needed cutting along with some other things. It was hot and sunny with lots of mesquito's. I literally pushed the lawnmower (even though it had a self-propelled feature) up the slopes in back of cottage. I remember sweating profusely and breathing very hard. At the top of the hill I turned off the mower and sat down to gaze out over the lake. I remember asking God "please don't let me die this way" while cutting the lawn with no-one around in a place I didn't want to be. It is a vivid memory.
Wednesday we had a really big snowstorm. Armed with my trusty snowblower, I did pretty well moving 14-16 inches of wet heavy snow around. I even had some help on the driveway from Grasshopper No.3. About mid-morning the city snowplows came through and put a pile of 2-3 foot high snow in my driveway. Grasshopper No.3 was already gone and I headed out for a second time to remove the plowed snow. Because the snow was so heavy, my snowblower kept wanting to "crawl up" over the packed snow. As the blower crawled upward, the handle bars tipped downwards with me hanging on until I lost my balance and tumbled forward. There I was laying on top of my snowblower (I had stopped the auger). I asked God "please don't let me die while laying up to my ass in snow on top of my snowblower during a snowstorm". Again, I was in a place I didn't want to be and things weren't going well.
I don't know how many prayers I am entitled too. I guess it depends on how many situations I put myself in that require spiritual help.
I'm sure you all have been in situations that you didn't want to be in. You survived. It is life!
Stay warm.
Love,
Dad