Wish You Were Beautiful!

Yes.  It’s a line in a song from Jimmy Buffett’s CD, Coconut Telegraph.

“The weather is here, wish you were beautiful”.

I used to travel all over the country, from 18 years old to 24.  Traveled by bus, car, foot and bicycle.

One year, I wound up in Pullman, Washington and called it home for a while.  My best friend was a Residence Hall Director at Washington State University.

Anyway, back to the point of this post.  In the 1970’s & 80’s, I was an avid post card sender.  It fit my budget.  🙂

Whenever I was somewhere warm, and sometimes cold but spectacular, and my friends back in Pennsylvania were cold and gloomy, I’d send them a post card.

Californian Coast, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon, Key West, Yellowstone, Bourbon Street, Times Square, Appalachian Trail – you get the picture, right?

So yesterday, I’m enjoying lunch with my family and Jimmy Buffett’s song is playing.  My wife had just told our son some stories about the post cards she’d get from me, many ending with, “The weather is here, wish you were beautiful”.

My son asked me, “So you insulted Mommy”?

I said, “No son, that phrase comes from a special place in my heart.  It may sound weird to say that to someone, but I only say it to people I care about”.

While it’s hard to know exactly who reads Mid Life Celebration, I do hope you readers know that this site is dependent on people who want to make a difference in this world.

On the journey to finish the last part of my  life, I want to make as big a difference as possible.  And, I’m looking for a few Baby Boomers and Gen-Xer’s to pitch in.

How could I not care about that?

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

PS.  I never liked Jimmy Buffett because my college buddies, who liked Buffett, were so fanatical about his music, I was put off by it.  Years later, as a bartender in Moscow, Idaho (home to University of Idaho), I fell in love with his music too.

Glories of Nature

“Let the glories of nature energize your body, heal your psyche, and uplift your spirit”. — unknown

Last evening, my family and I watched the sunset together.

A simple task, but one that can potentially require an enormous effort.

Why?

Because we get so stinking busy that even the simplest things can require Olympic-type efforts.

Not last night.

And I hope, not for the rest of the week either.

By the way, I watched the sun come up this morning.

Feels like, “I’m on a roll”.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Rare & Special Mid-Life?

Rare & Special Mid-Life?

“It’s really rare and special that some one’s parents get to be a mascot at a child’s party”.

A parent, and friend, made this reply last Fall after they asked us what we did for Halloween.  Our son loves Calvin & Hobbs.  He dressed up like Calvin.  My wife and I dressed like Calvin’s parents.

My wife sews and is incredibly artistic.   Off the charts artistic.  Seriously.

I was going through some piles of paperwork at my home office and stumbled upon the post-it note.

You see, when we got home, I wrote a quick note about what our friend said, because it was said with such spontaneity and sincerity, that I felt maybe we had actually done something incredibly special without even knowing it.

I hope so.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Mid-Life Independence

Mid-Life Independence.

Happy Independence Day everyone.

I started the day very early and it’s now late.

Will be back on regular posting schedule tomorrow.

Have a nice evening.  Carpe PM, jeff noel 🙂

Mid-Life Reverence?

Mid-Life Reverence?

“Associate reverently, and as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts”.   — Henry David Thoreau

There’s an old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out”.  And another, “You are what you eat”.

We are what we repeatedly do.

Mid-life excellence is a habit.  Not having mid life excellence is also a habit.

Chose wisely.

And remember, this is the hardest work you will ever undertake.  So, if you’re looking for an easy way, I personally don’t think you’ll ever find it.

But please know, finding it is my greatest wish for you.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂