Time..... Really Our Most Precious Gift

We are in the heart of the holiday season and nearing the end of 2013.  It's a perfect time to reflect on our lives, our loves and our futures as we are considering our Resolutions for 2014.

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye or say "I love you." 

So while we have our relationships and life, it's best we love, care, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick.. This is true for marriage.....old cars...children with bad report cards, dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.  Life and death is important...the rest is just details.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a nieces and nephews after divorce. There may be relatives not at the top of your list, but love them also and if not love, than at least like them for who they are.  They may be having problems or low self esteem so cut them some slack!  

There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what and no matter when.  Teaching a child something new, helping people especially the elderly, volunteering some time and not just at the holiday times.   Practice random acts of kindness.   Both you and the persons you help will feel amazing. Have you considered that just maybe they have no one left in their life right now?  Be a good human! 

There really is just one race....the human race!  Society needs to get back to the Golden Rule we used to teach our children....Do Unto Others as We Would Have them Do Unto Us.  Can you imagine how just that one rule in your life could change this world for the better??

Smile....just because you can!   I have learned that giving smiles away, (they are free and  in unlimited supply) may just may make someone's day who is having problems.  Positive attitude matters in life.   If you don't believe that, just try it for a month, or even a few weeks and see if your life doesn't change change for the better.  If you want more people in your life, be pleasant!  No one really wants to hang around with a person always saying "woe is me"!  Snap out of it!  Here is just one more good reason to smile...have you ever noticed how as people age if they are always unhappy that frown becomes their wrinkly frown face?  To age gracefully remember to smile.

Life is important.  Work on your connections with the people in your life.  In our crazy too fast paced world we need to remember the most important thing you can spend on someone is your time. That time spent is especially is important with children.   In a blink of an eye they are grown and on their own.   There are no do overs in life!  Jackie Kennedy had the correct perspective on this matter, "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much."  

Sometimes you think you have a "keeper" and you find out you do not.  Now it's your turn to share this with all those people who are "keepers" in your life if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?  What will be their last memory of you? Today is the perfect time to let them know.  Tomorrow may be too late.

I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said. Don't be afraid to let people know how you really feel about them.  

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you will be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do. Make peace with your enemies......and just in case I'm gone tomorrow share this.  We need to make this world a better place and as Michael Jackson sang make the change first with the man in the mirror....yourself.

Remember always that tomorrow is Promised to no one.   Appreciate your life and everyone in it because it could be a lot worse.   Be grateful and appreciate not the trinkets and gadgets in your life but the people in your and today is the perfect day to do just that and change your life and this world for the better.

2014 the beginning of a better future for all of us!!  I wish you all Peace, love, prosperity and gratitude!!

Ciao for now!!

JPKC

 

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

Off The Main Roads....Tales of a Wandering Soul

I love getting out of the house to explore on the back roads.  I usually remember to take a camera in addition to a smartphone along. When you are exploring you never know what you will find! Just north of New York City in Westchester County is a favorite ride.  Get off the main roads of Interstate 287/87 and get on route 9A north and wind through the very scenic Hudson Valley.  It’s especially scenic this time of year with the trees in their autumnal splendor.  Maybe stop at a farm stand or pick some apples too or go antiquing.   All up to you!

Nestled in the heart of the Hudson River Valley near Tarrytown is a quaint town known as Sleepy Hollow. Until 1996 Sleepy Hollow was known as North Tarrytown. The whole Hudson Valley Region sits on the banks of the Hudson River and is ripe with Revolutionary War battles and history. The area was originally a Dutch settlement.  This is the same town where Washington Irving’s tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is set.  There are a number of interesting places to visit in Sleepy Hollow and surrounding areas such as Kykuit the Rockefeller family estate set on the Hudson River with it’s vast views of the river.

Sunnyside is the estate of Washington Irving and there are a number of other estates along the Hudson River.  Philipsburg Manor, which was a successful farming, milling, and trading, center owned by the Philipses in the center of Sleepy Hollow. If you have not had the opportunity to explore this are I would recommend you do make time for a visit.

I will not tell you the entire tale here, just a snippet in case you have not heard or read it.   Ichabod Crane was a teacher who one very dark night was heading to a party at the Van Tassel’s residence hoping to woo Katrina Van Tassel. Suddenly out of the shadows came the Headless Horseman, local legend claimed him to be a fallen Hessian soldier buried in the nearby church cemetery in search of his head.  Ichabod was chased over a bridge trying to get away from the Headless Horseman.   The Horseman hurled his burning jack o’lantern head at Ichabod and chased Ichabod to the Old Dutch Church.  

The bridge is no longer in the center of town however the Old Dutch Church built in 1685 is.  This is the oldest church in all of New York State.  The cemetery surrounding the church is quite large and holds a great number of famous final resting places for business legends including Brooke Astor, The Helmsley’s, Andrew Carnegie, Rockefellers, and even Walter Chrysler founder of Chrysler Auto Company.   Tours are given of the church and cemetery including some at night, or, you can purchase a map and wander around yourself.

There are a number of seasonal events hosted in Sleepy Hollow, which reference that legendary tale. This year and every October Sleepy Hollow hosts a fabulous event The Great Pumpkin Blaze with more than 5000 blazing jack o’lanterns and is being held for 25 nights this year.  This is always a sell out event and tickets are necessary. It is mostly handicap accessible also.

Another seasonal event held yearly is at Phillipsburg Manor is Horseman’s Hollow.  Ghosts and ghouls abound and will try and scare you out of your wits…. all in fun of course, and not for the faint of heart or small children.  Or perhaps Irving’s Legend would be an event you would like.   A reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by a master story teller and held in the infamous Old Dutch Church where Ichabod fled. If you can not get there this time of year, how about a summer event like Pirates of the Hudson in early July, or Scrooge telling his story in the Old Dutch Church just after Thanksgiving and throughout December?  Family fun for sure!

This is a great area to visit for families, take photos, learn some history, step where many of the most famous people have the 19th and 20th century walked.   You do not always have to go far from home to have a great time.   There are many other towns along the Hudson River Valley on both sides of the river like Piermont….but that is a story for another day.  Get out and explore!

Ciao for now!

Hudson Valley Events

Hudson River Views*

Kykuit*

Old Dutch Church***

Great Pumpkin Blaze**

Great Pumpkin Blaze**

Chrysler Mausoleum Sleep Hollow Cemetery

Helmsley Mausoleum

                                             

Phillipsburg Manor

*Kykuit   **Hudsonvalley.org/events   ***Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

JPKC....The World As I See It!

Hello world....welcome to the first blog for "JPKC....The World As I See It"!  We are happy you found us.   Come back often and enter into the dialog on life, food, gardening, travel, music, entertainment and other topics. And just maybe, some political views too. In case you're worried about the politics I am totally independent of any political party.  If I had to declare a party it would be the Common Sense Party.

Our goal is to inform, entertain, encourage you to explore the world and all it has to offer and give you food for thought.

Ciao for now!

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