Wednesday Hodgepodge: Over the River and Through...Something.

A second installment from the world of Wednesday Hodgepodge:


Have you learned more from success or failure?  Explain

Well, it depends.  If you’re talking ultimate failure, no, all I’ve learned from ultimate failure is “if at first you don’t succeed, hide all the evidence that you tried.”  (Stolen from comedian and ace-one improviser Colin Mochre.)  If you mean correctible failures, then yes. However, I don’t see correctible failures as failure at all.  I just see them as bumps (sometimes landslides) in the road that teach important lessons.  The learning is not in the errors themselves, but how I fix the problem.  I’d much rather learn from success—I like getting things right the first time. 

What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

The only biological grandparent I ever knew was my mom’s dad.  I just called him Granddaddy Dave (his name was David).  I don’t have kids, so I obviously don’t have grandchildren.  All the precious children in my life call me Auntie or Miss Shannon.

You're invited to a luau. In keeping with that theme, what dish do you bring to share?

Watergate Salad because it has pineapple and coconut in it.  Hey, it’s the best thing I could think of.

Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know?

Oh man!  It’s a toss up between Mother Theresa, Mac Gober, and Craig Ferguson.  Yes, weird, I know.

Mother Theresa:  because she was the ultimate example of giving up everything to show the love of Christ to those who could do nothing for her in return.

Mac Gober:  Because he reminds us to never forget our Vietnam veterans.  Plus, his life shows us that if God can change him, He can turn anyone around.

Craig Ferguson:  Because as a Scottish immigrant, he reminds us Americans that we need to get back to what makes our country great.  His recovery from addiction and career success due to a God he admits he doesn’t understand, reminds us that God’s mercy and grace are plentiful and not reserved for the people who think they have it all together.

"Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or disagree?

That cliché' is right up there with “pick your battles.”  Is it something small in my eyes or in other’s eyes?  If it’s big in my eyes, but small in others, it may mean that I need to sweat the fact that I have lousy friends.  If it’s truly small in my eyes, I can easily not sweat it.

June is National Rivers Month...when were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see?

The last time I was on a river was ages ago fishing with my godparents on the Coosa River in Ohatchee, AL.  I’d love to go to Lake Guntersville (I know a lake and a river aren’t the same thing, but it’s best I could come up with) and hang out at the state park.  While I’m on the subject, I think I’d like to spend time at all the Alabama state parks and enjoy all they have to offer.  Lord, have I even answered the question? 

Speaking of rivers-paddling, swimming, fishing, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.

Fishing, definitely, if I am with friends.  Swimming for sure, if I am alone. 

Insert your own random thought here.

Just because I haven’t had a job in more than a year doesn’t mean I’ve been idle all this time (failing at a small business and getting my health together while job hunting is a full time job.).  I seriously need a vacation.  I’d even take a stay-cation at Cheaha State Park.  OK, I’m through whining now.  Thanks.  That is all.