It has been a few days since I have blogged and each day I have an idea of something I want to write about… and didn’t do it. Tonight Jayci Carol reminded me that I had not blogged in a few days. Thanks j… I think?!?
For the last few days I have thought a lot about my Uncle Dan. He was one of those Uncles that was such an interesting character. One of his favorite pastimes was to gather all the kiddos in a circle and tell stories….. and an amazing storyteller he was! Each Thanksgiving and summer growing up we could not wait for the “Kalenak Klan” to make their trek from West Texas to Southeast Oklahoma. They would drive up in that cool station wagon and out would jump Tony, Eric and Liz ( or Lizzy as her brothers loved to call her!) We would spend about a week roaming the woods, swimming the creeks, and just enjoying our time with our cousins. Not only did we look forward to our cousin time but we loved getting to hear “Uncle Dan Stories”. He had this amazing knack with words that would keep you on the edge of your seat as he was telling his wild tales. Everyone needs an “Uncle Dan” while they are growing up. We pretty much thought he was a celebrity because he was on TV. He was a radio and weather man, an author, he was also known as Dangerous Dan, and he loved dressing as Benjamin Franklin and going to schools and making sure the younger generations knew how very important Ben Franklin was to our country. Here is a youtube clip that tells a little about Uncle Dan:
I can’t talk about Uncle Dan without mentioning my sweet Aunt Karlene… she truly is the sweetest lady you will ever meet. She has this soft spoken voice that I have never heard say a bad thing about anyone. I think the thing I love and will always remember about Aunt Karlene is her laugh… she is always smiling and she has the sweetest laugh. I love you Aunt Karlene!!!!
Uncle Dan loved this Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-27) … not sure how many times I heard him recite it… but I can still hear his voice:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”
RIP Uncle Dan.
Here are a few quotes of Benjamin Franklin… if you google his quotes you can see how many he had… this is just a few! While you are at it… google his inventions… I think you you will be surprised at some of the things he invented.
Beware the hobby that eats.
Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities.
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.
A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
A place for everything, everything in its place.
All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.
All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world.
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
And whether you’re an honest man, or whether you’re a thief, depends on whose solicitor has given me my brief.
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.
Applause waits on success.
As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment.
jacksjourneys 