I stopped being afraid of failure and trusting my proven abilities. Finding one or two friends that I could depend on to be honest with me has made all the difference. One of those people has been my wife of five decades.

When it comes to human nature, it is not about quantity, but quality. You will never receive this from 5,000 followers on social media. Perhaps 5 at the most. But, how will you pick them? Who has the time for the nurturing process?

That you may be daughters and sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

I had just been honorably discharged from the Air Force, December 1968. Two months later I was to start my undergraduate studies at Albany State College, now Albany State University.

At age 22 I could not see myself in a dormitory with 18 year olds, doing silly things. One reason why I did not pledge Greek.

The Dean of Student Affairs office posted a message that a lady had room for one more mature male student. Off campus sounded good.

When I went to visit her I told her my name. Three first names. I had a problem in the Air Force with them getting my last name mixed up with my middle name.

She said, “ I am not going to try to keep up with your name. Which one is first, middle, or last. I am just going to call you Bubblegum.”

Bubblegum was my nickname for three and a half years, until I graduated. It was blazoned on all of my text books. I called her “Sweet Pea”

She was a wonderful person. She taught me how to stop hating my mother, to loving my mother.

I have been racking my brain, so to speak and I can’t think of a thing materialistic that I have that makes me feel that way. I once wanted an Izod sweater real bad but did not want to spend the money. So my sister-in-law bought it for me. I had worn it only once, but one cold night I had it on when I met a homeless man who said he was cold. I was not going to give him the item I wanted so badly and it was given to me. Then I remembered what my late brother-in-law told me when I was visiting him and I got my shirt wet. As he was giving me a dry shirt he said, “This is my favorite shirt, my sweetheart gave it to me.” So why are you giving it to me? “ A blessing only comes from a sacrifice.” I took the sweater off and gave it to the homeless man. He said, “Bless you.” It made me feel so good that I cried.

To be intelligent does not mean you have to know everything, just know where to find it. We were constantly told this by our school librarian. She also taught Civics. Her name was Ms. Louise Y. Cureton. I did not appreciate her then as much as I do now.

I wanted to drive big trucks. I lived near highway 27 in Florida. In the middle of an orange grove. I grew up with elderly parents and very few contacts with other children. I loved the sound of the big trucks at night with the changing of gears that were soothing to my ears. Thinking back, it may have been a symbol, an instrument, or vehicle to escape the loneliness I may have felt.

Researching information on topics I have chosen to write posts for my blog.

That I can be trusted.

For the past twenty plus years I have had a Primary Doctor, Dentist, Dermatologist, Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT), Opthomologist, Podiatrist, Urologist, and Gastrointestinal Doctor. I visit them twice per year or when they suggest. I strive to follow their instructions. Yes I could lose a few more pounds. I am working on it. The things I can not change, I change how I feel about them. I try to do a good deed for someone else each day.