Mick said......

Ti--ii--ii--ime is on our side... yes it is...

Hmmmm... is it? At 53, reckon I have to ask... At any age, we have to ask... Priorities... What are yours? I have friends who occasionally drive by here - and the priorities are diverse: of course family... friends... brothers and sisters.. bowling... jewelry... Virginia... kids... grandkids... Mexico.. Sports teams.. clubbing.. etc..

I recently babbled "for me at this age, climbing the ladder means to get one's self up high enough to get something off a shelf." Am I bound for hell because I don't give first priority to my work?

Yesterday, Gracie and I sat on the porch talking about trees of all things.. Her landlord deemed one "dead...gotta cut it down" and we were admiring the greenery that was sneeking out towards the bottom of the tree... I mentioned "we had a pear tree in the back yard... it was dead for 5 whole years and it came back to life... if you don't believe me ask my mom, dad or Vanda." Of course they're deceased - I've never joked like that (they would love it)- but.. point here is - my nuclear family is gone - thus it naturally can't be a priority...

My son is in a trying stage... that should be a priority - but he has no interest (at this point) in assisting himself.. ya can't boost someone upon a horse if they ain't gots no interest in riding. You're liable to get spurred if you try.

Ok, so it's not work, it's not immediate family... Gracie and I've found by not being 24/7 it's enhanced our relationship.. Gracie is a priority in my life, and I'm thankful for that...

I've always heard "got to get your priorities straight... in order." What if I ain't sure what they are? Do I have to have just one? Several?

If I absolutely HAD to list another priority - sadly it's that I simply make it to the next paycheck without running my billfold completely empty. Gas jumped up to $2.73/gallon last night. I drive 70 miles round trip. Sometimes it's hard to have Georges left in the wallet prior to pay day.

It is a priority to not allow ugly shit affect my mood. Kinda like a boxer that is getting the crap beaten outta him - daring his opponent "come on... hit me again... harder next time." I try not to talk about people (except when Kendra burps at work.. I think everyone should know she does that frequently, and it ain't very ladylike..)..

Happiness is a priority... Thus... I don't go home.. it's depressing.. I go to Gracies.. I go to the Casino.. I walk Jersey... I read the paper.. eat breakfast out... occasionally go to friend's house.. a pretty damn simple life..

As I leave these footprints during the resta my life... I'd like to: contact friends I haven't seen in awhile... take some weekends away with friends to immerse ourselves in happiness... go somewhere to have fun with my son because we each wanted to... continue the goal of an upbeat attitude... get lost for a weekend with Gracie... absorb myself with family - at a gathering such as The Mill...

I guess if I hadta have a priority, it's be to be able to blog "happily ever after."

For some, CEO is the priority.. another notch up.. proficiency in a hobby/sport... finding a mate... getting that three-car garage... raising snotnotes... having snotnoses... frequently spoiling "grand" snotnoses... a lush, green yard with no friggin dandelions..

Me.... I guess at this point, I just wanna stay happy. I ain't gotta bad batting average at that - thanks to folks like you. What's your priority? When you wake up.. do you address your priority(ies) for the day? Nomme.. i just wanna smile, and hopefully have smiles winged back at me..