Editor’s Note: Marlow contributes one of three missives this morning. This is one about the Rules under which we should live. Later, Arrias will contribute an appreciation of our passing year in verse. Vic has a Manual on letter-writing and social conduct from a sweet lady whose future is passed. We share the memory of a year in passing, and greet the new one with indomitable joy!

– The Writer’s Section

Author’s Note: The hardest and most painful time I had with these rules was patiently teaching them to my two unreceptive daughters and later on at some distance on a case basis to my grandkids who viewed me as a humorous fuddy duddy. It was no fun being what they saw as a meanie.

-Marlow

Rules

Despite my last post, simple rules in life for us old salts often came from situations that we really didn’t appreciate at the time we lived them.  Those situations were for the most part unpleasant and/or difficult.  We came to respect the hell out of them for the toughness and clear eyedness they taught us despite their intrinsic negative motivation.

More than likely our positive appreciation came much later.   In the end, many taught us in part how to excel, if not outright prevail, under trying circumstances.

So, as we stroll through the midsection of the 12-days-of-Christmas, here’s a summary of a few rules for life and the people that I met along my way.

Questions about people I came in contact in life

·      Does this person care about me?
·      Could I trust this person?
·      Is this person committed to excellence?

The four most necessary elements for a successful blessed life

·      someone to love
·      something to do
·      something to believe in
·      something to look forward to

Here’s wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

-Marlow

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