April is already here. A great month where the amount of daylight and the average temperature increase with each passing day. It is also a great month to take naps. And as you know, April showers bring May flowers.
I don’t know about you but…
Judging by the amount of precipitation we have received this April we should have a bumper crop of flowers this May!
I don’t know about you but…
We are always excited to have visits from grandchildren. Our three grandchildren, ages 7, 4 and 1, came for a short visit over the Easter weekend. Exhaustion occurred within a matter of several hours. Now I can say without any bias that our grandchildren are among the best young people anywhere, but it takes 24 to 48 hours after their departure for our home to get back to normal. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
I am not fooling you when I tell you that I had my regular therapeutic massage on April Fool’s day. I don’t know about you but…
Many people regard therapeutic massages as a luxury. Since I started getting massages on a regular basis about 10 years ago I have come to think of them as a necessity and would recommend them to anyone that has the means to afford them. I have been blessed to have had two outstanding professional therapists during that time.
My current therapist is married to one of my former KHS football players. They both work from home. They are two of the nicest, most personable people you would ever want to meet. My regular visits to their home are not only good for my body, but my mind and spirit as well.
April means that major league baseball is in full swing. I don’t know about you but…
The St. Louis Cardinals, arguably the best franchise in the history of the National League, really know how to do Opening Day. The first home game of each season in downtown St. Louis is a celebration to behold. They roll out the red carpet so to speak. I would recommend that any Cardinal fan that hasn’t had an opportunity to get to Opening Day put a trip there on their bucket list.
April also means that the Master’s Golf tournament will be conducted in Augusta, Georgia. I don’t know about you but…
The Masters is my favorite golf tournament of the year. Augusta National is my favorite golf course of all time. I was fortunate to be on the grounds for the third round in 1995 and a practice round in 2013. To appreciate the grandeur of the place you must see it live. Television just doesn’t do it justice. Even if you are just a casual golf fan I recommend you put a trip to Augusta National on your bucket list.
April also means it’s time for the NFL Draft. I don’t know about you but…
I believe that the entire ordeal known as the NFL Draft is discussed in the sports media ad nauseam before, during and after the event. Are you kidding me? I also believe that if history tells us anything, the Chicago Bears cannot do the correct thing with the first overall pick in this year’s draft.
Does any Bear fan really believe that the quarterback they choose with the first overall pick in this year’s draft will become the best quarterback to come out of this draft, let alone be a perennial all pro or hall of famer? Only time will tell. Some might think they are overdue to get it correct! I hope for all my friends that are Bear fans they do get it right this time.
I don’t know about you but…
If you don’t know anything about an organization known as Rebuilding Together-Henry County you need to make it a point to find out about this wonderful group. Their mission is: Repair homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. They do this in part by doing home rehabilitations and by installing wheelchair ramps free-of-charge to those in need. They also provide adaptive equipment on loan to individuals in need among other services.
A great opportunity to learn about this group would be to attend their open house on Sunday, April 21 between 1-4 p.m. at their headquarters at 101 N. Church St. in Atkinson.
And finally April 22nd is Earth Day. I don’t know about you but…
I believe that everyday should be Earth Day. For centuries mankind has been doing harm to the planet it inhabits. Just from the mere fact that I drive an internal combustion engine automobile makes me a contributor. I do some measures such as recycling, not using plastic straws and trying not to waste water to help, but it is probably not enough.
There is no denying that extreme weather events are occurring with greater frequency and intensity. Polar caps are melting and oceans are getting warmer. Whether you believe these phenomena are due to human’s treatment of the environment or are due to normal fluctuations in climate patterns doesn’t matter. Science doesn’t care what you think.
Taking measures that treat our planet a little better and that reduce the amount of harmful emissions we release into our environment are completely doable and take little or no effort. I guess I don’t see the downside in them. My hope is that by showing Mother Earth a little love and with a little help from technology, humans can live safely on this planet for a long, long time to come.
Whew, I think it is time for a nap. Maybe after I watch Caitlin Clark play basketball.
