Big Frank is preparing for the Big Change. We are moving out of 2008 and into 2009. Why is it that we view this as such a change? It’s absolutely unlike going from Wednesday to Thursday, or from December to January. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it is a number – not a name that is changing. Do numbers carry more momentum, more significance than names? We feel that when our age changes on our birthdays that it is also a time of significance. However, unlike when the year changes, on our birthdays we tend to look back more – it’s a more wistful date. New Years day, on the other hand, is a positive, hopeful, and auspicious day for most. It is a day whose numerical change we feel reverberates within us also. Those backward glances that we do allow ourselves are primarily used in identifying areas in our life that we want to change – either because what we want cannot be found in the review, or because what can be found we want to eliminate. We as humans are commonly identified uniquely as tool-making, or language using. However, Big Frank proposes another way of setting humans – you – apart from other creatures: we are capable of changing ourselves! We can mold our behaviors, our thoughts, our relationship to others, and become something new. We can do this because of our imagination - another distinguishing feature of our humanity. It is because we can imagine ourselves as someone different that we can make those changes. Of course, there are lots of people who neither desire nor will change. For them the new year will be a continuation of the old one, as far as they are concerned.There are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe they can change and those who don't. We all know the stories of people who made dramatic spiritual changes: Sidhartha, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Augustine. Physical changes, lifestyle changes, career changes, changes in values - all these can be found in the plethora of self-help books to be found in any bookstore. There is even good research showing that people can change their personalities - as indicated by changes to the so-called big five personality traits: conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness and extraversion. If you are still doubtful of this watch "Protagonist". Big Frank believes change is possible and has a few in mind for 2009 - all good ones - for him and all of you too.
Stephen Bruton has a CD called, what else?, What It Is. With a title like that how could you go wrong, and you won't with this. It doesn't actually have any song entitled "What It Is", well there is one called "It Is What It Is" - and that was actually recorded by that great old country western group - The Highwaymen - (listen to their version of that great tune by Willie - "
OK, Big Frank got a note from USPS six months ago. They told him that his mailbox was 6 inches to low and 3 inches too far from the road. Then they stopped delivering mail (can they do that?). The note was delivered into that so-called faulty mailbox - good enough for the their note, but not good enough for anyone else's notes. And, by the way, it also had some kind of vague threat concerning the dire repercussions if the mailbox was not kept in tiptop shape. So Big Frank got a shovel and moved the mailbox. He then took it off its pole and raised it a full 6 inches. No thank you was forthcoming from the USPS. However, since then the mail has been delivered regularly - not one day has passed without mail . . . until yesterday. No mail! Take a look at the photo. You can see right into Big Frank's mailbox, and clearly there is no mail in there. Now, it is true that the mailbox leans a little to the left and the nails holding it are a little loose, but it is exactly as close to the road as USPS regulations require, and is at the stipulated height (as per USPS regulations) off the ground. The lilt was caused by gravity - not Big Frank. So why no mail today? Snow? Oh, yeah, sure, let's all blame the snow!
Big Frank woke this morning with biking on his mind. What with all the recent posts of vacations and bike tours etc., he thought: "What better time to get on the old bike and get some miles in to keep those biking legs in shape?"
However, when he opened the garage (yeah, sometimes Big Frank is a little oblivious) look at what was out there - two feet of new snow! So Big Frank got out his shovel and went to work. There was a problem with where to put all this snow. He thought about the garage, but then he'd have to move out his vehicle. His neighbors weren't interested - so in traditional fashion he just threw it in his yard and decided to deal with it later. The main thing was to get that driveway cleaned out so that he could get on his bike. NO, Big Frank was not deterred by the snow from biking.
Big Frank still has vacation on his mind. There is nothing like winter cold to get one thinking of travelling to warm places. What Big Frank has been doing is looking into alternative ways to travel: alternatives to standard accommodations and alternatives to the standard site seeing approach to travel. With that in mind here's one good option: couchsurfing!
Big Frank is cold. Big Frank is telling himself that he needs to get out into the cold in order to not feel so cold. Big Frank needs to stop referring to himself in the third person, but, hey, it goes with the blog so that ain’t gonna happen. The new snowshoes are beckoning, but Big Frank needs some appropriate boots to insert into those shoes. Then he will strike out into the wilderness in search of . . . (I, guess Big Frank had better figure that one out or he won’t know when he’s reached his destination). In the meantime, while this is being worked out there is time to think about warmer vacations – either in the warm parts of the world, or planning for the summer. The bike is resting, but come summer it will need to move, so now’s the time to be thinking of a possible bike trip. And for those of you readers who might also be thinking of that here are a few resources to look at:
Big Frank was out tonight looking at that giant moon, closest to the earth of anytime during the year. When that big pizza pie, as that shmaltzy crooner Dean Martin sang, hits you in the eye – it says: “Amore”. And we all know what amore conjures up – wishes! So wishes it is – this is the season of wishes. This is the time of the year to express what you want for those who are near and dear to you. And remember the wish should not be a wish for YOU, but what you wish for them. You don’t write to your son or daughter and wish that they would correct their lives in the way in which you would like their lives to go (I’m referring to grown children here). You don’t write to your siblings and wish that they would acknowledge some worth you see in yourself that they have ignored. You don’t write to your enemies and wish them ill. You don't write to your friends and wish them to take better care of you. You don’t write to your co-workers about how they could improve their work performance. And you don’t write to people for whom you have strong feeling (much as you might like to) and wish them to do what you would like them to do for you . No, in all cases, this is the time of the year to unselfishly wish for the well-being and genuine happiness of those in your heart. Just think, that wish could be the tipping point. What a terrific holiday gift that would be to have tipped someone whom you really care about into their peace and joy with your wish. Well, who knows; wishes are positive thoughts and they do have influence!
Big Frank has received an e-copy of Don Paterson's book of aphorisms, "
Susan cooked up a terrific Thanksgiving meal, an amazing spread of dishes that everyone enjoyed thoroughly. Dan and Susan invited a number of friends and in total there were 14 sitting down to share the Thanksgiving feast. Dan said a touching prayer that Big Frank wishes he could repeat, but faulty memory won't allow it. Family and friends sharing a meal and talk way into the evening - this is something that Big Frank gives thanks for. Dan and Susan: Thank You!
