The House That Jack Built

You could call this remnants of a life well lived or something close to that. You could write a story about a family that lived there and the million memories that are tied into it. You could tell a thousand tales about two kids and a dog and their adventures.

The only constant in life is change and all that we have is our attitude. I could rant about the idiots who broke the system and the idiots that tried to fix it. I could rant about politicians who are out of touch and unwilling or incapable of understanding how severe a situation has developed.

I could talk about compassion and how more people need it or how the mighty are humbled and many of you would nod your heads. I am not interested in political affiliation or any sort of partisan politics. I want solutions. I want to see affordable education and better healthcare. I want to hear about job creation and hope instead of empty rhetoric and silly slogans.

Look at that picture and listen to the ghosts of the past rattle their chains and hear the echoes of the future whisper soft promises of things to come. Some of the boys tell me that it is going to get much worse before it gets better and that I better how hold on before the ride gets rough.

Hard to say who is right and who isn’t.

But in the end we choose how we wish to confront the challenges that are presented before us be they public or private, business or personal. For now that is all I have to say regarding that, instead I would rather see you read one of these recent posts:

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12 Comments

  1. TheJackB August 2, 2011 at 11:56 pm

    @cathy.reaves Understood. Sometimes all you can do is go through the day hour by hour.

  2. Leon August 2, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    G’Day Jack,

    There could be no better time to quote George Burns: “Why is it that the people who should be running the country are too busy cutting hair and driving taxicabs?”

    Hang Loose

    Leon

  3. cathy.reaves August 2, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    I choose to confront the change and challenges before me by putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes that’s the best I can do because I’m just happy I got out of bed.

  4. TheJackB August 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    @AdrienneSmith It is not easy to do, but it is easily among the best advice any one can offer. If we focus on what we know and what we can influence it cuts down on the number of things to worry about and that never hurts.

  5. AdrienneSmith August 2, 2011 at 11:32 am

    I don’t know what the future will hold but I can only pray that somehow things will get back on the right track. I don’t obsess over things, I leave that to my mother. She’s a pro. I also don’t watch the news so again, my Mom let’s me know when things are going to hell. But as I continue to tell her, you have no control over what’s going on so stop stressing over it.

    When it’s time to voice your opinion, do it. Speak up when you can but after that, live life to the fullest and stop worrying about things you have no control over. I certainly do..

    Adrienne

  6. TheJackB August 1, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    @marianne.worley I think that it is awesome that your dad built your house. It is not hard to see why you would be upset at losing it. I would have been right next to you pleading as well.

    I love that you and your brother drove him back. If life is a collection of moments in time that must have been a special one.

  7. marianne.worley August 1, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    My Dad actually built the house he lived in for the first 18 years of my life. I lived there full-time when I was in high school. When he first told me he was selling the house, I was devastated. I cried and pleaded with him not to give away my childhood memories. It was tough, and to this day, I still dream about living in that house. But my memories weren’t sold with the house. My brother and I drove my Dad to Capistrano Beach so he could see the house for the last time–it was just few months before he died. It was a happy moment visiting the house that Dad built.

  8. TheJackB August 1, 2011 at 8:42 am

    @weforgotyounot We all have to do what works for us. I have to believe in it getting better based upon two factors:

    1) Nothing is constant- down goes up and up goes down.

    2) I can make a difference and improve things. It might not be “global” or “national” but it will impact my family in a positive way and that is enough for now.

  9. TheJackB August 1, 2011 at 8:40 am

    @Faryna Hi Stan. A million would be nice but I could do amazing thing with much less. Been thinking about your post about reduction- just makes a lot of sense to me.

  10. Faryna August 1, 2011 at 6:56 am

    I wish you a million dollars, Jack.

  11. weforgotyounot August 1, 2011 at 4:46 am

    “These are the times that try mens’ souls.” Thomas Paine. “Common Sense”, 1776

    I agree that everything’s a mess getting messier. I don’t think it’ll get better. Just different. I’m not sure I have any control over that. But I agree with you, ” all we have is attitude”. To be honest, even if it seems irresponsible, I can’t listen to much media these days. So I focus on where I live and what I can do. Might be insignificant to most. But it’s the only place I feel like I make a difference.

    Thanks Jack.

    Betsy

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