Thoughts at holiday time that are good for every day

Note: Christmas is often a good time for reflection. Please accept this entry as my gift to many of you. And I hope you know who you are!

By Jeff Orvis

Gratitude.

That may seem like a topic better suited for Thanksgiving, but as we have a little time around the Christmas and New Year holidays to reflect on what has happened to us in the ending year, it's a good time to take stock in some happenings and people that we all too often may take for granted.

When people sit down to write this sort of blog, there's always a danger that the reader may wonder why, if he or she is included, they are not higher in the order of thoughts. So as a sort of disclaimer, if you are mentioned, the order in which you appear has no bearing on how important you are to me. And if you think you should have been mentioned but aren't, remember the writer recently reached the official senior citizen status.

Senior citizen. When we were in our teens or twenties, we probably thought that designation was reserved for our grandparents. Few of us ever thought we would reach that age. We were too busy chasing grades, girls (or boys) and that first job. But I can tell you, from my limited experience so far, being a senior citizen ain't all bad. First of all, you've probably outlived all your teachers who would claim you can't use the word “ain't.” Then there's the ready-made excuse when you forget something that those things happen when you have over 60 years of memories to sort through!

So I can say I am grateful for being a senior citizen in fairly good health. Sure, there are some issues that I regularly visit with my medical professional about. But with God's help, I hope to be around for quite a few more years.

Of course I am grateful for my family. I have a police scanner playing all day here in the apartment and believe me, after hearing some of the calls our local law enforcement has to handle, having a family you love, am proud of and can count on is a true gift. My sister Missy and her husband, Richard, have been so supportive since Mom died and left me to be the executor of her estate and the years following. They have spent many of their married years living in bustling metropolises like Dallas, Shreveport and Jacksonville. They are probably still wondering why I chose to live in a town of just under 3,000 not once, but twice. But that's another part of this whole gratitude thing that I'll get to in a moment.

Two of Missy and Richard's closest friends are Lynn and Eric Johnson. I won't say I stole them as a second sister and brother, but they are proud Iowans! Lynn calls a few times each week just to check up on me. She is a big sports fan, although I'm still trying to convince her that the Cubs will be the next Chicago team in the World Series, not the White Sox. We had a mutual long distance celebration last winter when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Yes, she's turned me into a hockey fan!

Eric and their son, Aaron, spent a Saturday a couple of years ago moving me here from Davenport, for which I am super grateful. Their younger son, Ethan, is starting a career as a teacher in the Davenport Schools. Sorry Ethan, I was going to say an “exciting career,” and I realize it is for you. But I never was a fan of math when I was in school.

Getting back to other relatives for a moment, my niece and nephew are raising young families and that's exciting. Laura has found the love of her life and she and Kevin are raising her son, Warren, who has started school. Warren recently relinquished some of the honors as most photographed grandchild in the world when my nephew, Chris and his wife, Erin, welcomed Gavin into the world. Laura, Kevin and Warren live in Jacksonville and Chris, Erin and Gavin recently moved to the Dallas area. And yes, I am scouting from afar, watching the physical development and sports interests of both of my grandnephews to see if I should alert the Hawkeye basketball or football offices of the possible future recruits.

I think I've mentioned this before, but once again I am remembering to be grateful for the Belle Plaine family. When people ask me why I moved back here, even though I was entering the senior part of my life, part of it was economics. Part of it was apartment availability, but more important was knowing that many of my Facebook friends live here. It took less than an hour after I arrived back in town to be recognized and welcomed on Main Street.

I am also grateful for modern technology, specifically the internet and Facebook. I can sit here at the desktop or in my recliner with my Kindle and instantly be connected with friends and family from Florida to Texas, from Colorado to Vegas, from Washington State to Maine.

Through Facebook, I am grateful that I still have friends who tolerate my opinion. Even those who don't agree with me often present informed opinions of their own. I may not agree with them all the time, but at least they take the time to state their side.

As we prepare to dive head-first into 2016, there will be plenty of highs and lows for all of us. There always are. It's a presidential election year and by the time we are finished with our February caucuses in Iowa, we will be counting the days until the general election is behind us.

Maybe by the time we know who our next president will be, I will have unpacked the last of the boxes my move warriors moved for me. I may even clean out a bunch of stuff from my storage unit. Or maybe that resolution may have to wait until 2017!

Let's all hope and pray that when we stop to reflect on the events of 2016 this time next year, we will all have many things to be grateful for!

Moving no longer an easy task

Note: The following was written in the days immediately following my move. While awaiting the cable guy to transfer my service, I had no access to the internet, but access to the computer. This is the result of having a few days without communication with the outside world.

By Jeff Orvis

How many times have I moved in my just over 62 years on this earth? This is a question that I realize many people think about. If you grew up in a family where either or both parents were active military, you probably moved quite often. If you were successful in business and advanced up the corporate ladder, there were probably several moves in your life.

So what prompted this little trip down memory lane for me? I am in the latter stages of relocating to another address in this fair city. I say “latter stages” because although I have all my worldly possessions across town from where I was a scant six days ago, thanks to a small army of wonderful helpers, which I will talk about a little later, I am still on a treasure hunt for a few things hidden in poorly marked boxes and plastic totes. Where is that nearly open package of flour tortillas? I couldn't find my shampoo when I finally slowed down to try out my new shower. And I haven't looked for my laundry detergent yet and will probably need that in a few days.

What was moved and organized by a hearty band of volunteers is nothing short of a miracle. I wouldn't blame them if I asked them again for help in a move in the coming years if they were suddenly out of town. But the miracle came when I asked my aunt and uncle if they might drive over from western Illinois to help. I remembered that Donna, my aunt that is younger than I am, had been interested in seeing where I was living. Her ever-patient husband, Danny, is still young and healthy enough to try an adventure. Not only did he provide a lot of the muscle and transportation, I'm sure he is on a first-name basis with the clerks at Casey's, which supplied us with pizza for supper one night, as well as a couple of adult beverages and breakfast the next morning.

Knowing I would need some local help to supplement my relatives – I wasn't going to be much help in moving that living room and bedroom furniture, I got instant help from Rev. Charles Johnson. But when he showed up with his wonderful wife, Karen, I knew that she and my aunt, both recently retired teachers, would have a lot in common and would make quick work of packing and cleaning the kitchen in the old place. The last important volunteer was Bruce Gapstur, who was uncertain if he would be in town on Friday, but luckily he was. So I witnessed two work cyclones that day – Donna and Karen in the kitchen and bathroom area and Danny, Charles and Bruce in the rest of the apartment. I tried to help when I could, but I quickly realized that age and a tricky hip made my work more a person to answer the frequent question, “Where do you want this?” I love my computer and the internet, but I am a self-professed amateur when it comes to knowing how this thing works. Thankfully, I remembered my pastor, Steve Huebbel, knows a lot more about how this thing works than I do and he quickly figured out the tangled mess of cables and wires so I would have something to type on today.

When I had a moment to think back on the initial question that I posed at the start of this piece, I amazed myself. Trying to remember each place I had moved to from the time I took my first full time job in Independence to this weekend was like counting sheep when you try to sleep. I can remember what each apartment and house looked like, just don't ask me to remember the address of each place. Remember, I'm officially a senior citizen! Starting in 1977, I lived in seven places in Independence and this is the fourth residence in Belle Plaine. There were a couple of necessary moves to the Quad-Cities during those years. On the plus side of each of those moves, I've had great help from family and friends and usually settled in places where I didn't have to move appliances. But I do have a substantial record collection. The good news for my most recent mover warriors, a majority of those records remain in local storage, where they have been for several years!

In each of those moves, I have had wonderful and patient landlords and was never evicted. Most of the moves were an attempt to upgrade my surroundings, along with a couple of family considerations. My last apartment was really nice and I'm glad it already has a new tenant. I gave up a second bedroom and a garage for this move. But that apartment rent was based on fair market value, while since I reached that magical 62 year old birthday, I not only qualified for Social Security, but also senior housing with a welcome rent reduction.

Before I forget, I should also mention that my out-of-town helpers were very impressed with our local overnight accommodations. Jerilyn DeRaad and Jeff Brown have a wonderful downtown apartment they rent for overnight visitors. And once Donna and Danny got used to the trains roaring past just feet from their bed, they raved about their night stay.

What have I learned about this move so far? Besides the most important factor that God had a hand in giving me such wonderful helpers, I realize that I must be diligent in paring down my possessions. Sorry, Danny, I haven't decided to part with those VHS tapes I inherited from Mom and I promise one day I will have a workable machine to play them on. I am also learning to wean myself away from visual media, thankfully on a short-term basis. The cable guy couldn't come until today, meaning I was without TV and internet for nearly a week. WMT-radio is a poor substitution. I'm sick of Fox radio news and right-wing commentators. But WMT is also the local radio voice of the Chicago Bears. Fortunately, KDAT-FM is playing non-stop Christmas music, so in the coming few days I should be able to get in the proper spirit as I rest my tired muscles and continue the unpacking and arranging. One of the first things we did on Saturday was unpack, decorate and light my Christmas tree!

As I read what I have written so far, I realize most of it has been about me, along with some words of thanks to my great helpers. I pledge that my next entry with focus on other matters, perhaps the reason for the season!