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The
"Your Life is Your
Story" Blog
© Tom Gilbert
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quality family history and life story news, views, methods, products,
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Happy Little Chill
February 28, 2021
 If you are a fan of Bob Ross
then you know that the painter was a longtime host of his own
television show. In "The Joy of Painting" Ross, in his charming
calm style, would instruct everyday people how to find joy as they
released their inherent artistic talent through brush and paint.
The show was not intended for the serious artist, although if you were
one there was plenty of good to be found in his show. The magic was how
he gave those of us who felt we weren't artistic some confidence from
following his lead. His style was low key and he encouraged viewers to
make the most of the "happy little accidents" that our errant
brushstrokes might make.
And he was actually quite a talented painter. I personally believe
everyone has some kind of artistic talent. We all have a creative
spirit. Sometimes it needs encouragement to come out of hiding. Bob
Ross provided that encouragement better than most.
Bob Ross died in 1995 but his legacy endures. In some ways his
popularity keeps growing. The show has been popular in reruns for many
years on public television, used to stream on Netflix and now you can
watch past episodes on Hulu. Ross may be more popular than ever
as a result of our isolation time during the pandemic. A
piece on CBS Sunday Morning revealed to me two things I was unaware of.
One, that his show was filmed in a house in Muncie, Indiana. They converted it into a TV studio for the show.
Secondly, that same house is now a museum and homage to Bob Ross and his painting show, called the Bob Ross Experience.
There are lots of painting classes that carry on the style and essence
of Bob Ross' instruction. I've attended a couple. It's not uncommon to
have people at such events state, "Bob Ross is my boss."
Over and over again the average person has discovered they can actually
create a decent painting as a result of the instruction from Ross. The
encouragement he gives and the confidence it instills is a bonus. How
refreshing in a world often full of hype and exagerated promises to
discover that you, too, can paint, and learn it from a person who
was so calm and self-effacing. He was a master at showing us how to be
happy and chill at the same time.
Gary Parker and the Surgery Ship
February 26, 2021
Ahoy Matey! Here's something you might not have heard of. There is a
ship that is improving and even saving lives through their
offering of surgery and dental care to people who normally would not
have access to that health care.
They call it the Surgery Ship. National Geographic has documented this ship and its incredible mission and you can check it out online.
Gary Parker is the Chief Medical Officer and an Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgeon. He is part of a crew of 400 coming from over 35
nations. Most of the people benefitting are in Africa and living
in deep poverty.
Gary has been working on this ship, along with his wife, for 33 years!
They even have raised their own children during this time. It is a tale
of incredible devotion and dedication.
You can hear more about Gary Parker and the work of the Surgery Ship by listening to his appearance on John Fischer's Blog Talk Radio.
Fischer is a musician, minister and really great guy reaching out
through the Internet to connect people and their stories. He is working
to make the world a little better and a little more faithful to a
message of hope and love.
Video Recording Your Life Story
February 17, 2021
 Many
people want to record their life story in some fashion. As a personal
historian I highly recommend it! But how to go about it. Photos, a
written narrative, scrapbook or maybe using a website service. These
are all viable options.
But when you consider our modern technology, especially the incredible
advancement in video recording and editing, using your smart phone
could be the way to go. Now I am no aficianado on this, but I do know
there are many apps to make it possible without breaking your budget or
freaking you out with techno overload.
Here's a suggestion. My Living Legacy
is the creation of Dick Liersch. He's an experienced videographer.
Remember the big, bulky cameras of the 1980's? He started with that and
he's been recording life stories and helping others do the same for
years. With his super affordable guide you get step-by-step
instructions. So even a novice can create a video you'd be proud to own
and show.
And I am not kidding about the affordability. The download is just
$5.95! Create a video storybook of a lifetime. First step is to check
out Dick's story here.
Frontier Restaurant is Fifty
February 10, 2021
It seems most communities have a favored restaurant. Some place
famous for food and ambience. In Albuquerque it is arguably the Frontier Restaurant on Central. It's across the street from the University of New Mexico and for fifty years has been a much loved hangout.
What makes a local eatery so favored and legendary? Certainly the food
is part of it. The Frontier is renowned for their tasty breakfast menu
and great hamburgers and other lunchtime items. Their cinnamon bun
alone is worth a visit.
But the "recipe" for their status is much more. When the owners Dorothy and Larry Rainosek opened the place 50 years ago this day,
February 10, 1971, they had come to Albuquerque with a U-haul, a couple
of kids and some big dreams. Those dreams certainly grew. The
restaurant has expanded, has some great local art on the walls, and is
a place where you can have good conversation to go with some downhome
cooking. It's not a fancy-pants gourmet establishment. It's good grub though. And good vibes.
Sure, Covid 19 has stretched them thin like so many other food
operators. But they are weathering the pandemic and providing take out.
The Frontier has established itself as a much loved place that locals
favor and visitors make a trip to like some kind of pilgramage.
Albuquerque, New Mexico has an interesting multi-cultural environment.
Red and Green chile, the Southwest climate and the enchantment that has
to be experienced before it gets under your skin. Some people complain
about crime or the economy, but I have found for many years that it is
an appealing city to live in. The Frontier Restauarant, now celebrating
its golden fiftieth anniversary, is firmly established as part of what
we like to call the 'Burqueno flavor.
Super Sober Bowl
February 7, 2021
 Today is the Super Bowl. It's the 55th Big Game. LV in Roman Numerals, which is the way they like to display it.
On this Super Bowl Sunday we are still immersed in a society dealing
with a pandemic, Covid 19. It is a virus that has not "simply gone
away". No, it is still here and it is a fact of our lives.
Yes, we have vaccines now. Yes, we have dealt for a year with
precautions and the results when they are not followed. Not everything
that has happened has been bad. Science has made strides and impressive
gains in the creation of vaccines. People have had to reset and maybe
slow down and do an inner check on what really matters.
This is not to overlook the tragic aspects of the pandemic. The
struggles with illness, isolation, death and economic hardship are
every bit as real as the virus itself.
But on this Super Bowl Sunday maybe we will do a couple of things. One
is that we might get a bit of an escape from the preoccupation with our
pandemic situation. The other thing is that we might continue to be
real about what really matters. Life is often risky, but it is also
quite beautiful.
 Thirty
years ago, in January of 1991, another Super Bowl was played in Tampa,
Florida. It was one of the most exciting games ever, going down to a
final seconds field goal, a victory for the New York Giants and another
heartbreak for the Buffalo Bills.
I was there.
I was also not drinking. White knuckling it, really. I was anxious, worried and angry. But I was at the Big Game.
My job at the time was Program Director for a rock n' roll radio
station. And the night before the game I was pulled over and booked for
drunk driving. I spent the night in jail. Got bailed out in the morning
by an unhappy and angry wife. Tail between my legs. Realizing maybe
something was happening that I had no real control over.
Some of us are powerless over certain things. Like alcohol. And some of
us have lives that are unmanageable on our own power. That was me. I
just hadn't realized it yet.
I know it now, all too well, and I live each day sober and aware that
"one is too many and a thousand is not enough". So today I will
enjoy a sober Super Bowl, my 30th in a row. It doesn't mean I won't
laugh at humorous beer commercials, or even be around a couple of
people who will drink and enjoy their adult beverages. It's going to be
just myself, my wife, my sister and brother-in-law. They can drink. I
choose not to. My sister and brother-in-law are from Kansas City and
love the Chiefs. It'll be fun.
But it will also be a day when we four are cautious. I am not going to
risk lives either through the Covid 19 virus or the insanity of taking
a drink.
I want you to know that turning point for me in 1991 was a tough place
to be at the time. However, it put me on a path that has been the best
thing for my life.
Super Sober Sunday. For me, the right thing today.
Your-Life-Your-Story.com
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