Preface: In our youth, the squabbles between my brother and I resulted in lots of bumps, bruises, mercurochrome, and a bandaid. Things got more serious when barbed wire fences and pitch forks were involved with our squabbles. Originally, these were two separate stories but in 2016 I have combined them into one story for the web world. Stitches and Gett’n …
Romance Renewed
Preface I consider this story to be the most important advice I’ve given to my kids and grandkids. Romance Renewed As I grew up on the farm, we seldom took vacations. Except for an occasional family dinner with Aunts and Uncles on Sundays, we worked most of the time. Spring and Fall were seven days a week, and livestock had …
It Was Love
IT WAS LOVE The Iowa winter of ‘61-‘62 was filled with big snows and blizzards. In February of ’62, I started dating Maxine Horness. She had been trying to catch my eye for months, but I had been oblivious of her. We kissed on our first date and agreed to “go steady” on our second date. As they say “life …
Kim’s Wisdom
Preface: Kimberly Sue is my eldest daughter. At age 30, she was killed by a drunk driver. In her business life she was a lot like me, only better, a lot better. We shared the love of Desiderata. After her death, I found a decoupaged plaque of it in her apartment. Both of us used a Franklin Planner to organize …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 6
Stratton’s Advice for Life’s Journey–Section 6 I’m not an expert but I am experienced. From listening comes knowledge, From speaking comes repentance. Discovery consists of seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought. Albert Szent Gyorgy If I don’t ask “Why me” after my victories, I cannot ask “Why me” after my setbacks and disasters. …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 5
STRATTON’S ADVICE FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY–SECTION 5 When you think the world can’t do without you, put your hand in a bucket of water; pull it out and measure the size of the hole. Don’t apologize for success. As Dizzy Dean said, ” Pardner, It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up.” To learn more; say I don’t know, I …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 4
STRATTON’S ADVICE FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY–SECTION 4 Learn to cry to release your emotions. Vote in all the elections. Take the responsibility, don’t blame others. Remember newspapers and magazines represent an opinion. Demand excellence and be willing to pay for it. Do a nice thing for someone who won’t know who did it. Enjoy family and class reunions. Relish the beauty …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 3
STRATTON’S ADVICE FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY–SECTION 3 Initiative is doing the right thing without being told. Victor Hugo Positive anything is better than negative nothing. Elbert Hubbard We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there. Smokey and the Bandit Ninety percent of the work done in this country is done by people who don’t feel …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 2
STRATTON’S ADVICE FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY–SECTION 2 In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on. Robert Frost (from this desk of Kimberly Sue Stratton, and how meaningful that has been) We remember 90% of what we do, 75% of what we say, 50% of what we see, and 10% of what we hear. Lost …
STRATTON’S ADVICE–SECTION 1
STRATTON’S ADVICE FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY – SECTION 1 Memorize and believe in the Jaycee Creed THE JAYCEE CREED We Believe: That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life; That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations; That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise; That government should be of laws …