Category: On The Bricks

There are many groups in our community that help you out when you need a hand up. They are all good. They all serve their purpose. We need each one of them.

Some of these groups are very specific in what they help with like Oklahoma Panhandle Partners who helps people who are fighting cancer. And Loaves and Fishes who helps put groceries in empty pantries. And Love Does that pays for school lunches for students who get behind.

Catholic Charities is a special group that helps in ways that many others are not able to help in. When you give a dollar to Catholic Charities, 82 cents is spent on direct client services. And 78% of those clients are non – Catholic. Thirty – seven percent of those clients are under the age of 18 years. Seventy – eight percent of the clients have an annual income of less than $15,000.

Those are statistics nationwide.

In the Oklahoma Panhandle, the office located in Guymon, last year they served 294 clients with 73% non – Catholic. Receiving information or referrals were 2,403 clients. Half the clients have an annual income of less than $15,000. Client assistance and emergency rent and utility assistance given was $17,013.

The $121,593 needed for the Oklahoma Panhandle services, goes for Family Case Management, Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance, Refugee Resettlement Services, and Immigration Legal Services. This amount is garnered with 16% from foundation grants, 30% from regional parish support (money from donations in the Panhandle), and 54% from non – regional parish support.

We are lucky to have Catholic Charities working with us in our community. It is good that we have so many people devoted to making this world less harsh, to being helpful and caring.

Now, it is true that taking care of others is important and it gives our lives meaning when we do such things. There is also the fact that we must not neglect ourselves. Maybe you have determined you will make some changes in your life in 2020. It is good to do so. Stand true because it is good for you to do so.

Thought for the New Year: Start by doing one push up. Start by drinking one glass of water. Start by paying toward one debt. Start by reading one page. Start by making one sale. Start by deleting one old contact. Start by walking one lap. Start by attending one event. Start by writing one paragraph. Start today. Repeat tomorrow.

Did you miss a chance to make an impression over the holidays with a wonderful insightful toast?

When you do a toast, you don’t want to embarrass yourself. So, here’s a few tips for the perfect wedding toast taken from Toastmasters magazine. You can rearrange them a little to be a good toast for almost any event, including Christmas or New Years Eve or Day, a wedding or even a divorce, maybe a child’s baptism.

Where there is a gathering, there could be a need to celebrate the occasion with a heartfelt toast. These proven tips are geared to help you deliver a memorable toast with confidence and finesse.

• Identify yourself. Open with a brief explanation of your relationship to whomever is being celebrated before beginning the toast.
• Be prepared. The best toasts include an opening, a body, and a conclusion.
• Stay on topic. Although you may be nervous, stay focused on the person and their special day. The toast is not about you.
• Get personal. A toast should be original, heartfelt, and customized for the occasion.
• Use humor but avoid telling potentially embarrassing stories and using offensive language.
• Be creative. Avoid clichés and consider using a relevant quote to illustrate your words.
• Be brief. A toast should last no longer than three minutes.
• Stand; lift your glass by the stem and say, “I’d like to propose a toast.” Pause to allow guests to shift their attention toward you and give them time to lift their glasses. When you start speaking, lower your glass to about waist height.
• Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your message in advance in front of a group of friends.

Maybe at your next social event you can toast the party host or the those in attendance.

It certainly beat the old “Here’s to you and here’s to me, in hope we never disagree. And if we do, then to heck with you, here’s to me.” That old stand – by doesn’t make you many friends.

Thought for the New Year: I’m walking into 2020 with a clear heart and mind. If you owe me, don’t worry about it – you’re welcome. If you wronged me, it’s all good – lesson learned. If you’re angry with me, you won. I’ve let it go. If we aren’t speaking, it’s cool. I love you and wish you well. If I’ve wronged you, I apologize. It wasn’t intentional. I’m grateful for every experience that I have received. Life is too short for pent up anger, grudges, extra stress or pain. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Make 2020 a year of forgiveness and a season of positivity.

See you on the bricks!

A gracious act can resonate for a lifetime.

When someone does something kind for you, it reassures you of your own worthiness and reminds you that the world is not a dark place.

David Sarasohn explains this more in an article “How Kindness Appreciates” in the Nov. 2019 Rotarian magazine.

“The kindnesses that stay with you, the ones that light your life for years to come, don’t involve the bestowing of stuff. Material generosity, the giving of things, is admirable, but our appreciation may last no longer than the stuff itself. A meal or a sweater or even a watch carries an expiration date; someone putting himself forward for you at a key moment stays with you as long as you yourself deal with other people. In the long – term database we each carry around, there are more entries filed under ‘kindness, deeply remembered acts of’ than most of us imagine.

“In 1970, after James Baker’s wife died of cancer, George H.W. Bush suggested that his fellow tennis club member might find some distraction in helping out on Bush’s Senate campaign. Baker was reluctant; he noted that for one thing, he, like most people in Texas at that time, was a Democrat. Oh, said Bush, he didn’t care about that. He just hated to see Baker looking so sad all the time.

“Bush’s reaching out to a friend led to Baker’s eventually becoming White House chief of staff, secretary of the treasury, and secretary of state. It didn’t work out badly for Bush, either. And 48 years later, in his eulogy at Bush’s state funeral, Baker quoted the former president as saying, ‘When a friend is hurting, show that you care,’ and ‘Be kind to people.’

“Kindness is more than an action. It’s a power, even a superpower. It empowers the receiver, giving him something that can strengthen him years later, after the original circumstances have faded like old election predictions. It also empowers the giver, because making a positive impact on someone’s life is the most powerful ability imaginable, much stronger than Superman’s X-ray vision.”

In this season of giving, try and give some extra kindness. Be a blessing.

Teenagers are invited to the Guymon Public Library on Dec. 30 for a Do It Yourself (DIY) Dream Board building. The class starts at 5 pm. Go by the library and find out about what’s happening there!

Special Game Day is the Noble Center in Good on Jan. 12 for families with a member that has special needs. The Sunday afternoon fun starts at 3 pm and Seaboard Foods is providing free hot dogs at the end of the game. The teams would love to have your support. This game of Kickball is put on by the OPSU Baseball Team in a partnership with Main Street Guymon. Such a great event to be a part of! Call 580-338-6246 to register to attend.

See you on the bricks!

The end of 2019 is fast approaching. We have Thanksgiving soon to be here, a time to be reflective of the many things that we are grateful for, one of those is, hopefully, family. The other, I pray for you, is community. And we need to be happy with ourself, the person that God made us, and find the purpose for our being here.

Albert Schweitzer said, “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” It is important to serve and it’s time we slow down on all the excuses for not doing so

Here’s another thing I read, and I don’t know if all are correct, but I think it gets the point across.

“The next time you think you have an excuse why God can’t use you consider the following:

• Noah was a drunkard,
• Abraham was too old,
• Isaac was a daydreamer,
• Jacob was a liar,
• Leah was ugly,
• Joseph was abused,
• Moses was a murderer,
• Gideon was afraid,
• Samson had long hair,
• Rahab was a prostitute,
• Timothy was too young,
• David had an illicit affair,
• Elijah was suicidal,
• Isaiah preached naked,
• Job was bankrupt,
• John the Baptist ran around in a loincloth and ate locusts,
• Peter was hot – tempered,
• John was self – righteous.
• The disciples fell asleep while praying,
• Martha fretted about everything,
• Mary Magdalene was demon-possessed,
• The boy with the fish and five rolls of bread was too obscure,
• The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once,
• Zacchaeus was too small,
• Paul was too religious,
• And Lazarus was dead.

Now, no more excuses!”

Remember, if you’re waiting until the perfect time or until you’re perfect, that never happens! Take a step the way you want to go and let’s get started! I choose to be the family and community member that does something positive and helpful for others. That’s my promise for this year. Even though I know I am imperfect and make many errors, that is my challenge for 2020. Might as well get working on it now!

Another good thought to remember along those lines is a quote from Ninon de L’Enclos, “That which is … beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.” I am choosing to be more beautiful this upcoming year.

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly, you are doing the impossible,” said St. Francis of Assisi.

Let’s get started on this positive journey!

See you on the bricks.

One of my kids gave me a book to fill out that asks all sorts of questions that our kids might one day wonder about. Often times, they don’t wonder about our lives prior to the kids until we’re gone. So, this book asks the questions now and you fill out the book for the kids. Some of the questions are odd, some are really hard to answer, and some bring back great memories that we should make a point to tell the kids.
You don’t have to have a book. You can just answer the questions and figure out how and when you want to give them to your kids. Maybe with their Christmas present? Maybe as a Christmas present?
What would you like to make sure your kids know?
I’ll share my answers.
“The twins come from Granny Grantham. And there are many of them in the family. She also gave us our height, but the strong chin comes from Grandpa Grantham. The cleft in the chin is also Grantham, but the really deep one is a Johnson deal.
“The lawyer … has my will. Get along during it. Don’t allow any problems to happen during the settling of it. If anyone causes any trouble, I swear I will come back with a 2 x 4 and use it on them. Our parents don’t owe us what they’ve earned. It is theirs to give as they wish. Our children we need to teach how to work and how to be responsible and of good character. Girls and boys. That is a parent’s job, not giving their kids everything they want and catering to them.
“Know with a certainty deep within your heart that your dad and I loved one another when we brought you into this world and that when we met each of you, we found ourselves loving you guys even more. We weren’t perfect, aren’t perfect, but we early love our children. It does not matter that you’re different than we imagined. It does not matter that life happens and we all countless times show our fickle humanness. We love you and I will always love your dad for giving me you guys and for being partners in raising you to the best we could. You four are our opus and we know this.
“Start each day with something that makes you happy. I love my coffee and when I take that first drink, it is full – on a drink of happiness. Nobody should have to start their day with a grouch. If that is you, have someone knock you upside the head. There are probably several who are wanting to.
“Nobody is responsible for your happiness except you. Nor are they who you can blame your unhappiness on. You have decided to be unhappy. It is all on you, if you are.
“Save some money every month unless you want to work until the day you die. Most of the things we buy we don’t care about in a month. Remember that. Get a grip on the difference between a want and a need.
“Lie in bed at the end of each day and thank God for each of the blessings he brought to you that day. Don’t treat God like a sugar daddy, always asking for favors – end each day thanking him.
“Remember, if you talk about other people – they have a right to talk about you. So, let’s try our best to just say positive things about people – or stay away from them.
“Always, when something bothers you about someone – take an honest look at yourself because you likely do / say the same things. Judge ourselves by the same standards as we judge others. If you do this honestly, and look at yourself with truth, you should find yourself being more kind to others.
“Pay attention to other people. Don’t assume you know them, what they have, what they want. Buying a gift for someone because it is something you want for yourself is shallow. Not buying something someone wants because you don’t agree may be egotistical and judgemental – but, then, we shouldn’t gift things that are bad for someone, so just be reasonable. Gifts should not be a game changer in a relationship, things are not as important as people.
“Never miss a chance to tell someone thank you. There is never too much appreciation shown.
“Learn something new every day so your conversation is never boring. Your opinions aren’t good conversation. People are drawn to those who tell entertaining and SHORT stories or who talk positive about other people.
“One time, Missy (my daughter) had a birthday dinner for Nate Leota (an OPSU football player). She invited Nate’s friends Nick, Jessica, and Neptune. She invited me – maybe because I would give Nate a ride? The meal was crazy good and very time consuming to make. And talk about consuming – those boys can consume! Missy and I posted pictures of the evening on Facebook. Lisa (my other daughter) saw them and promptly told her sister that she would have liked to have been there, that it hurt her feelings she hadn’t been invited.
“There are several reasons I tell this story. First, the fact that Missy and Cody gave that evening to Nate says so much of what I love about life. Share. Give. Be a blessing to others.
“The second part is Lisa’s reaction. She wanted to be a part and she had her feelings hurt. Rather than have her feelings fester (which makes for unhappy and bitter people who are no fun to be around), she promptly told Missy. She didn’t whine and complain to other people, she talked to Missy.
“Missy listened. Missy told Lisa why she kept the invites low and life went on. Neither took it personal. Neither held a grudge. Neither put anyone else in the middle. It didn’t affect the family. It didn’t make Sunday lunch uncomfortable. In fact, some jokes were made about it.
“This is healthy. This is family. This is who we are. If you’re an adult, this is how an adult should act. Mature. Not spiteful. Not hateful. Not making division.
“We will be disappointed by each other all the time, over and over. Don’t let these disappointments poison your soul and, ultimately, the family. Accept and forgive and the same acceptance and forgiveness will be granted to you when it is needed. You were not born to agree upon everything. You were born to love one another. Period.
“We are wonderful and unique … just like everyone else!”
If you’re inclined, write what you want your family to know about you and want’s important to you. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. Just put your ideas down and share with them. If you want to ….
See you on the bricks!

It is a known fact that starting your day with a positive attitude can make the entire day better, often for you and those around them. So, I shall choose to find something to be positive about in my mind.
The earth’s rotation makes my day.
You can also think of it as, living on earth is expensive. But it does include a free trip around the sun.
Think about it, I might look stationary, but, actually, I’m traveling at 733 miles per hour!
There are other things that we all know can make the day better. It is time to come to grips with some of those things. For me, chocolate can be one.
Hand over the chocolate and no one will get hurt.
We need to also learn that we are not the most important person in the room. Other people count. Other people are important. This self – absorbed vanity can be very hurtful and irritating. We need to remember this.
And know, some day when scientists discover the center of the universe, many people are going to be disappointed to learn it isn’t them.
Quit relying on others when you can do something yourself. Be productive. Make decisions and get something done.
“I’m trying to be independent, but no one will help me,” really isn’t going to cut it.
Be careful. And be safe. Choose your friends wisely. We are who our friends are.
And never trust an atom. They make up everything.
Computer technology is not easy for me. It moves at a rate of change much faster than my rate of adaption. I am a computer dinosaur and the problem doesn’t seem to get any better.
My computer geek told me, “I found your problem, you need a user upgrade.” He wasn’t joking.
He also told me, “Anyone who thinks the customer is always right never worked in Tech Support.” He wasn’t joking then either. Really, he doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.
So, I told him, “Autocorrect can go straight to he’ll.” He didn’t laugh.
Maybe I need to quit thinking about the problems and start working on the solutions. According to chemistry, alcohol is a solution.
Biology is interesting too. Bacteria. It’s the only culture some people have.
Physics has its points. I may look lazy, but on a molecular level I’m quite busy.
But, for me, math is confusing. “Dear Algebra, Please, stop asking us to find your X. She’s never coming back and don’t ask Y.”
English is much more my style (considering the fact that most people think I have no style at all). I hate it when people don’t know the difference between your and you’re. There so stupid.
English is important. Punctuation saves lives. Let’s eat, Mom. Let’s eat Mom. See it?
Marine biology is something we don’t consider much here on the Panhandle, but there are things it can tell us, too. The fact that jellyfish have survived for over 650 million years despite not having brains, gives hope to many people.
Here’s to a brighter day to you all!
Don’t miss these opportunities happening soon: Nov. 7 is Shop and Dine downtown, 4-7 pm; Nov. 9 is the evening for Panhandle Services for Children Blue Jean Ball at Pickle Creek; and this weekend is “The Producers’ at Guymon Community Theatre, call 338-0019 for times and to make your reservations, cost is $10 per person.
See you on the bricks.

Last Sunday evening there was a birthday party for my cousin, who just turned 60. She and I were raised close by each other, born within two months of one another, and our moms were sisters. She was the nice one. I wasn’t. She was the skinny one. I wasn’t. She looked like her dad. So did I. So different, but cousins are cousins and we were different enough that we were very compatible. Same with our mothers.

As we grew up, there she and her brother and sister and me and my brother, our parents, and grandparents always had our family holidays. We did a lot of things together and we kids always had fun.

Sunday it was Ronda and I, her three kids and their kids, myself and one of my kids and her new kid. My aunt, and Ronda’s brother and sister, their spouses, and two children. Everywhere I looked was family. Even more than we had back when we were growing up.

It’s amazing. Looking at all those kids and seeing ourselves at 60. Who would have ever imagined? They were all talking and laughing. The room was full of life’s blessings.

Things change. Hair gets gray. Butts get bigger. There are more stories to tell. And, hopefully, we learn lots.

Recently, I read something that my mind goes to when I think about how Ronda and I have changed.

I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters.

I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me.

I stopped fighting with my in – laws.

I stopped fighting for attention.

I stopped fighting to meet people’s expectation of me.

I stopped fighting for my rights with inconsiderate people.

I stopped fighting to please everyone.

I stopped fighting to prove they were wrong about me.

I left such fights for those who have nothing else to fight.

And I started fighting for

            My vision;

            My dreams;

            My ideas; and

            My destiny.

The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful and so much more content.

For me, the day I realized those people in the room, my family, is more important than anything.

And remember, it’s ok to go to an antique auction and have people start bidding on you. It’s good to have someone want you.

I need to tell my kids this: At my funeral, take the bouquet off my coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next.

And know this, being cremated is my last hope for a smoking hot body.

Some dates and events you might want to put on your calendar:

Chamber Draw Down at the Arena Hospitality Building, $50 per person, Nov. 2.

Benefit Craft Bazaar, High School, Nov. 2.

Pumpkin Patch Craft Show, Activity Center, Nov. 2-3.

Guymon Community Theater production, Nov. 2,3,9,10.

Shop and Dine, 4:00 – 6:00, Nov. 7.

Panhandle Services for Children Blue Jean Ball, Pickle Creek, Nov. 9.

Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.

See you on the bricks.