Winning Words 6/13/13
“That which is beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.”  (Ninon de L’Enclos)  I saw a listing of the 10 best cities in world in which to live.  # 1 was Melbourne, Australia.  Detroit was not on the list, but neither was the place where you live.  Ninon’s words caused me to think.  What makes a city beautiful?  Parks?   Buildings?  The economy?…or the people?  What’s good about your place?    ;-)  Jack

 FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  I suppose what I would say is "good" is really what I like, namely: sunshine and clear blue skies, its warmth, the quiet of the desert, its beauty, its vastness, the surrounding mountains and the view of the mountain ranges on the horizon, an assortment of wildlife that roams or flies so freely, the absence of cement and glass, and a peace that cities lack. I think the desert experience is a part of Life's process.; i.e., there is a time for it and a season for it. Much like the city, which has its time and place, so does the desert have its own. The two don't truly work together; but their contrasts serve the parts the other cannot. ====JACK:  In a sense, the past has made the present possible for you.====RAY:  Absolutely true. For myself, the city was the place in my youthfulness to work the soil with vigor and fruitful attention. Today, the desert is the place where I can find some usefulness for the harvest of my work. All in their rightful time and place.

 FROM TRIHARDER:  I have a real, ongoing problem with physical "ugliness" being portrayed as "evil" in children's cartoons; goodness as "beautiful". What a poor message it sends to the impressionable.  It's a lesson that is not easily unlearned in life.====JACK:  I like the Ray Stevens song which goes like this...
Everything is beautiful in it's own way.
We shouldn't care about the length of his hair, or the color of his skin.
Don't worry about what shows from without, but the love that lives within.
And we're gonna get it all together now; everything gonna work out fine.
Just take a little time to look on the good side my friend,
And straighten it out in your mind.
Ah, sing it children!
Everybody's beautiful in their own way,
Under God's heaven the world's gonna find a way.
 ====TRIHARDER:  I love that song. Late 60s.  I think his next song was Guitarzan.====JACK: Guitarzan preceded "beautiful."  Two other songs of his that I like are..."I'm My Own Grandpaw" and "The Streak." 

FROM WALMART REV:  Our place used to be farm land. Now it's suburb but interestingly still carries signs of its having been farmland, i.e. the old apple trees we have in our yard, we still have much wildlife roaming around among us people living here--deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, sometimes a fox, etc., etc. The people who made the charter and designed the layout for our suburb must have really appreciated its farm-like nature because we have streets like "Southfield" and many of our streets are actually called "roads" and not streets or avenues. When I walk around, I come across many people and we greet each other with a smile and a "how are you?" They all seem like beautiful people to me. It's really a beautiful neighborhood --homey and comfortable and not too fancy, which wouldn't be to my taste at all. And it's beautiful because I'm here living contently?! Great quote again today. Thanks for passing it on to us to think about .====JACK:  I suppose you wear bib overalls and a straw hat, too.  Our house was the first to be built on what was once  a farm.  Of course, that farm was previously an Indian hunting ground.

 FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  A beautiful place can be filled with deadly snakes and spiders such as Melbourne, Australia.  But it's also filled with beautiful scenery and beautiful people.  I understand (although we've never been there) the people of Australia are especially nice.  Cities and towns aren't like they used to be.  People were out on the porches and walked nearly everywhere.  Everyone knew everyone else's business...sometimes that's good and sometimes that's not so good.  But, we live in a small sub on a cul du sac.  There are five homes on our cul du sac and we are very close.  Close enough to watch out for our children and grandchildren, close enough to be available to help each other, have meals together and have fun together.  It's a little city within a city for which we are deeply grateful! ====JACK:  Didn't you once write that you and your husband are planning to move (sometime) to your "dream" house up north.  I sounds as though you're already living in a dream house.====JUDY:  Gary will hopefully retire in two years.  Then we will commence to find a home with a lot of acreage and a stream or lake or some kind of water on the property.  We want a destination place where the kids can ride their dirt bikes, 4 wheelers and golf carts (when we get one).====JACK:  What constitutes a "dream?"====JUDY:  It's something you hope for pray for and work for.  It's also something which could be elusive.  But it's always fun to dream.  We dream for a lot of things we know we will never have or really even want:  like winning the lottery.  I really don't want to win it but it's fun to think of all the things we would do with the money...that's dreaming.  Did you have to read "The Lottery" in school?  We did.  It still makes me stop and think.  Some books never leave us do they?====JACK:  To dream the impossible dream.  This is my quest.

 FROM HF ON THE BAY OF FUNDY:  Friends and people who want to make a better place and Nature
Thank you Jack for the winning words. I look forward to them every morning.====JACK:  Nature is all around us...and so are potential friends.

 FROM GOOD DEBT JON:  Ultimately it is the people, their values, and acceptance of others. It is what makes my area great. As I like to tell my children as one that has survived a period of narrow thinking, "Wide open acceptance of others, leaves little room for the narrow minded to make a mark." ====JACK:  I read an article recently which raised the question..."Is living in a diverse community a sign of acceptance or just one of learning to adapt?"  Since I live in a very diverse community, the article caused me to wonder. ====GOOD DEBT:  I don't know whether I adapted or accepted, but I made a conscious effort to find the good in it.====JACK:  I celebrate the diversity, hoping that I'm not rationalizing.====GD:  What's that song? "Whatever gets you through the night...it's alright, it's alright"====JACK:  It fits.  Elton John, like many singers, expresses truisms through music.

 FROM JE IN MICHIGAN:  Rob and I have lived in Dunham Lake for 21 years. We feel so very fortunate to be in a place that is peaceful; offers great walking trails; has lake that is more than 100 feet deep, is clear and you can see the bottom; has NO motor boats and three beautiful beaches; has a wonderful golf course; is in a great location close to freeways and downtown Milford, and best of all, the people are caring, giving and have become extended family. We lucked out when we bought our home in Dunham! We’ve made our house our haven, home and refuge.  I continue to work on gardens, plant trees and make our house a home. We have so many incredible memories of times with family and friends in Dunham Lake.====JACK:  There's a place in Iowa called, "A Little Bit O Heaven."  It looks like you've found such a place in Michigan.

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Regarding the WW, I agree with the first half...but I don't agree with the other half.  And about cities, the perception of a beautiful city is so subjective, one should never let someone else decide for them which is best.  As a matter of fact, perceptions change, such as Cleveland, which was considered a loser back in the 70's, then was an award winner in the 90's, and now it's considered so-so.  Despite that, there's enough "beauty" there to hold some people through thick and thin.  Good luck Detroit! ====JACK:  Beautiful and good are subjective words.  Who can really judge a beauty contest, or who is to judge between good and evil?

 FROM MARCY IN FLORIDA:  Weather and much slower, joyful place.  Happy seniors!!   A lot of smiles ====JACK:  I liked that movie, "Grumpy Old Men."  It evidently wasn't filmed in your neck of the woods.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  "Heaven seems a  little closer in a house beside the water":  "Those lucky enough to live beside the water are Lucky enough!"   My small lake in the middle of Illinois is a pleasant place to be! Almost 300 homes around its shores, and mine is one of them....No Jet Skis allowed. Wild life including deer, and friendly neighbors  who potluck together once in awhile, golf course  at the end of my road.  I say a prayer of thanks every day for such a blessing, and for family and friends who come to enjoy it!   It is "GOOD"!====JACK: Edgar Guest says that a home is more than a house.  Your home is what makes you happy...health...friends...family...memories...church.  God is good!
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.

 FROM JT IN MINNESOTA:  Thank you for your continued winning words.  So many of them seem directed to my situation and life.====JACK:  Like in Jesus' parable of the sower.  I feel like I'm the sower each morning when I "throw" out Winning Words.  Evidently some take root in Minnesota.

 FROM BS IN MICHIGAN:  Your question made me think about the obvious & not so obvious:  (In addition to spouse, children, grandchildren & other nearby relatives.)  Friendly neighbors, feeling comfortable, feeling safe (but trying to be careful at the same time.), pretty surroundings, services - both public & private, nearby & accessible; good friends – both “old” & “new”; honest, ethical, hardworking business associates.  There are sad days, of course, but, in general, I feel lucky all the time.  This little exercise could be good for many people who often only see the negatives in life & society.====JACK:  There's a "religious" word that seems to fit, and that is...BLESSING.  G-d is good!