School is always in session

As I’ve written before, I don’t make resolutions. What I did this year was take a “day off” each week, and not worry about life’s little travails. That has helped me improve my attitude about life and people and the world I live in. Even when I was enjoying my “pre-retirement” I would take one day and relax and not worry about things. And when I went back to work, I continued that practice and it’s helped my mental outlook immensely.


And although I don’t make resolutions, I do like to say that if I don’t learn something new every day, it’s a wasted day. So I wanted to write down some of the things I learned this past year. Some of them are mundane and some of them are uplifting, but at least I can say I’m not wasting my days.

1. Working for a living beats the alternative. I think it’s the feeling of being productive.
2. Not working beats the alternative. You get to do the things that you enjoy, you just don’t get paid.
3. I miss reading as a past-time. I used to do a lot more of it when I was commuting on the train, but I’d never go back to riding the train. What a unenjoyable experience that has become.
4. Living near friends and family is better than making a lot more money and living in a strange place.
5. Big snow storms no longer fascinate me.

6. Living close to where you work helps your mental outlook immensely.
7. Getting older is better than the alternative.
8. The Mummers parade is not as entertaining as it used to be. Maybe it’s because the city shortened their leash, or maybe because it’s gotten too outlandish and can’t even be held outdoors anymore, but the parade has lost its luster.
9. The Beatles were wrong: if you love the right person the love you take is ten times more than the love you make.
10. The Phillies are a class organization – from the way they treat their players, opponents, fans and employees to the terrific team they’ve assembled, they’re a top-drawer club.

11. Left to their own devices, sports fans will do and say stupid things. Sometimes having a watch dog around is necessary.
12. I’d rather spend 80 days at Citizens Bank Park than 80 days at Lincoln Financial Field. Maybe it’s a size thing, but CBP has a better feel about it than the Linc.
13. Not all young people are slackers. Some are honest, upright, hard-working, responsible people. I’m lucky to know a few.
14. One thing I’m still trying to figure out: why is it when you have the time, you don’t have the money, but when you have the money, you don’t have the time.
15. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with people. It can also be a big waste of time. Once in a while you have to turn off your computer and go out and talk to real people.

16. Although I could never live in Florida, too many old people, ya know, I could spend the month of March there for spring training. Talk about an attitude adjustment - to go from freezing cold to warm climes and baseball. I’ll make that trade any day.
17. Soccer is a great sport, but it will never catch on in this country. In order for people to enjoy soccer they have to be emotionally engaged and passionate about a team. I saw non-fans rally around the US team during the World Cup matches, but after US got knocked out their attention moved elsewhere.
18. About twice a month we are treated to world-class sunsets here in Philadelphia. The best place to view them is behind the Art Museum.
19. Women have too many alternatives which is why they like to shop. Sometimes their heads are filled with so many details that they miss living their lives.
20. The trouble with men is they never grow up. The trouble with women is that they do.

21. A baseball stadium filled with like-minded fans cheering for their home town team is as close to heaven as we get here on earth.
22. I’ll never pay full price for a Broadway ticket again. There are so many half-price ticket opportunities both in NYC and here in town, that it’s silly to pay full price.
23. And speaking of New York, a well made Manhattan is something to be searched for.
24. I thought I was retired; then I realized I was just unemployed.
25. To paraphrase John Lennon: In front of every brilliant woman is a complete idiot.

That’s all for now. One week to go before the big day. If I don’t write again, have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and the happiest of New Years.