simplify

My motto for my 95th birthday: simplify my life

BLOG RECESS

I am taking a recess of several weeks for doing my Blog. Will advise my known readers when I resume. Am getting a new computer. Presently, you can scroll down to view all of my blogs from the begnning over two years ago. This may not be possible on my new blog.
LSmith6100@kc.rr.com

Sunday Concerts

Last Sunday I attended three concerts:

Gene Lowry, jazz pianist, at the Broadway United Methodist Church; the Youth Symphony of Kansas City (granddaughter Rosie was one of the violinists); and Ruslan Biryukov, Cellist, at the Mu Phi Epsilon Musicale. Nothing but classical music at the last two events. I was trying to be very open-minded, as to which I really enjoyed the most. It was the jazz. My wife tells me that classical music is by far the best. I admit that by studying and listening to more classical music, you would enjoy it more. But for an older person, you might spend the rest of your life, trying to fully appreciate the classical. Is it worth it? Music, through listening and participation, should bring you great joy and comfort.

OUR UNIVERSE

Wonderful pictures on display on big screen at the Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry--showng the latest discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope.
This is the International Year of Astronomy--Galileo made use of the newly invented telescope in 1609 to explore the sky. And this is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. In commemoration of this, Linda Hall just opened a special exhibit entitled the Grandeur of Life. I re-discovered Linda Hall this morning. What an exciting place! And it's all free. Hours are: Mon. 9-8:30, Tu-Fri 9-5, and Sat 10-4. And while there you may want to walk around the beautiful grounds, featuring some 450 trees, 165 different species. You can also view pictures taken from Hubble at hubblesite.org
LSmith6100@kc.rr.com

F R E E D O M

Everyone likes his/her freedom. We don't like the government telling us that we can't do things. But our freedoms are necessarily getting more restricted all the time---as our population increases, as we depend more upon one another and as our government finds it necessary to spend more for general welfare. There has been resistance to any reduction of our liberties, including speed restrictions, use of drugs, gun control, helmets for motorcyclists, bans on smoking in public places, required automobile liability insurance; and now we have proposals for required medical insurance and for elimination of texting while driving.

Keeping Things

In down-sizing my belongings, I have come across many letters, documents and pictures that are priceless--things I may never have looked at again, but for the down-sizng. The moral is: at least every few years, take time to examine and enjoy your belongings that are not kept in sight. I'm afraid most of us save far too many things . It is better to save fewer and occasionally take time to reminisce, than collect, collect and collect, leaving it to your children or heirs to dispose of. No other person has as much interest in your things as you.

A unique experience

64 years ago, while I was still single, I roomed at a home at 120 West 62nd Terrace in Brookside. I frequently ate dinner at a small restaurant, just one half block south, on Brookside Terrace. Now the Brookside Market stands where the rooming house was located. The small restaurant is no longer there, but just one half block farther south on 63rd Street now exists Sharp's Restaurant. Last night, Jan being out of town, I had dinner at Sharp's. I was luckily seated by a big window overlooking 63rd Street. I had time to reminisce. I had a strange feeling--following my footsteps of old--but seemingly in another world. I saw many people go by, walking , running, biking and by car. But I probably saw no one that was alive 64 year ago.