Coffee-Sipping, Strapping Young Men, Cussing Photographers, & Lessons Learned

Three things I learned this week:

1. How to tape drywall (and yes, I may have spent this time experiencing the anger stage of grief knowing my Grandpa Gene would have done this for me if he wasn’t building mansions in Heaven).
2. There’s not a “Kiss the Bride” moment at certain types of weddings…and some couples don’t exchange rings.
3. Watching the maypole at the Hinton Spring Festival is almost as nerve wracking as a close game at the Big House. AND…young Mrs. Branson was part of the maypole’s debut 60 years ago. And…Mister Coach Allen, your fist pump after the last eight-count will forever be ingrained in my mind. #CoachAllenFan Also, Peter Edward Phillips, your piggy back ride dancing was pretty legit as well.
4. Also, this was more than a week ago, but some semi’s are full of milk. Strange.

Three things Kyle learned this week:

1. What the Space Jam theme song is.
2. In some cases a married man can become a priest if the couple agrees to live as brother and sister (according to google – could be lies; and, no, this is not one of Kyle’s aspirations).
3. It feels pretty freeing to be finished with the Bachelor’s degree. The SUPER senior is finished!

Three things J learned this week:

1. “I dunno.”

Three things Haddi learned this week:

1. How to french braid my own hair. 
2. How to start writing a book.
3. How to do a two-year-old’s hair.

Three things Everly learned this week:

1. “I learned how to do two back handsprings and that’s it.”

*Note: She learned this many moons ago. She apparently doesn’t want to play my games. 

Three things Malachi learned this week:

1. He ditched us for my sister’s house so no comment.

A core component of a growth mindset is seeing the world as a place of constant growth; a belief that one can always learn and develop new skills. If you’ve not read Growth by Carol Dweck, I recommend it. Before the semester started, I read a few chapters; then my availability for fun-reading dwindled significantly. I have high hopes for the rest of it though! Luckily, the downhill slide to summer break is picking up speed. 

One of my favorite Instagram accounts is run by a sports photographer who sounds like he once lived in England. He cusses a lot; he cares a lot. He’s always giving great info and sometimes giving away big-daddy lenses. The latter part is compelling, but that’s not why I follow him. I appreciate his authenticity. I appreciate his support and encouragement to others; his dry sense of humor and sarcasm. I appreciate that, despite his years of experience, he recognizes all of us, regardless of age or years of experience, are able to continue learning. He says things like, “some of ya, wanna get ******* better. Ya hear what we have to say, but ya don’t ******* implement what we say. Ya listen to your dumb friends. Why not listen to us who have 10, 20, 30 years of experience?” 

Why not? It seems like the appropriate thing to do in order to grow. Okay, Mr. @gshotpictures, I’ll keep watching.

When I was 15, on my way to track/cross country meets, I would stop by Sooners (the local gas station) and buy two plain biscuits and an orange juice before strolling over to a table full of coffee-sipping, strapping young men in their 70s and 80s. At first, when they motioned for me to come over, I had no clue who these men were, but after a few weeks they quickly became my buddies. The routine went on for years and continued even into my college days when I’d come home to visit. 

Over the course of their lives, I can only imagine all the things they had learned, all the wisdom they had and shared, all the goodness they learned about Jesus. Now they’re all probably up in heaven sipping coffee (actually I’m not quite sure if said beverages exist in heaven; one day we’ll know). If only I could bring these fellas and my grandpa back. Oh, the things I would think to ask them now. The deeper things? The simpler things? The things that matter a lot and the things that matter less.     

Anything fascinating you learned this week?

Bye friends. 🙂