Sunday, chilly damp and still beautiful.

When summer decided to go it just split, man. No lengthy goodbyes, 90 degrees one day, the next it was 79 the next it was 68 and today it will be low 6os. Rain has moved in and it is starting to feel a little like Noah’s flood. The world has become a very violent place, and the similarities are there.  But according to the weather app Tuesday is supposed to be sunny and in the seventies. So, maybe the world is safe, or maybe the weather app is wrong. I’m hoping the rain stops and the world is safe. Of course, I don’t think there is another flood predicted in the New Testament which is encouraging. But, it is still wet, chilly and a little depressing. 

So, we move onto the Cornhuskers, who lost last night. It was a heartbreaking game, at least for the new coaching staff, and most definitely for the players. But, there were so many good things, so much to be happy about. And, I am still the worst kind of fan, a fan that always holds out hope. With the starting quarterback on the sideline with an injury and a walk-on backup I thought they would pull it out. Close but no cigars, missed it by that much, whatever you want to say. It was the first game and the first game jitters were on display several times, in very bad ways, and it was against a very good team, so I am excited for next week, when Troy comes to Lincoln. 

Also, fall brings the coming of November, and that means NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month, I think. I have decided to completely rework the novel I had been working on, making it more compressed, add some central characters, throw in some punch, push, pull and shove, a seer, and some much needed dialogue. For those of you keeping score at home this makes the fourth novel of my adult life, all of them incomplete, but all of them in progress, sort of. I only work on one at a time, but they will all be finished, someday, if I live long enough. Every attempt gives me more insight, more practice, a much firmer grip, on what I need to do. There is still the small problem of doing it, but like the Huskers I am just a few plays away. And, like I feel about the Huskers, I will break through.

So, happy September, I hope you find your place in a cooler world, except for my friends in the Southern Hemisphere who have the seasons in opposition, I hope you find the warmth and sunshine comforting and peaceful. Today is going to be a good day, even if it is a little damp. Don’t forget to head over to The Wild Word and pick your favorite song.

Smile, You Will be Happy You Did.

Last night a mixed martial artist fought a boxer, in a boxing match. It was wildly anticipated, hyped beyond reason, advertised, talked about, waves of unrelenting publicity crashing across the nation, probably the world. According to reports it was a good fight. I didn't really pay much attention, before or after. It was an interesting mixture, though. Two angry, outsized personalities glaring for weeks. Face to face. Would it kill them to smile? Is that a sign of weakness? 

Musicians are the same, if you look at publicity photos of bands they seem sullen, angry. "I hate being popular and getting my picture taken." Smile, people like your music enough to want to see your picture in an advertisement. Why is smiling so shameful?

When our children were younger we used to go to the local water park or the zoo. It always amazed how angry people looked storming toward their cars. Did they have such a terrible time? I was almost afraid to go in, what horror had visited these poor people? Why were they so mad, stomping across the miles of burning asphalt, dodging the cars driven by angry patrons who had left in the moments prior? My wife said they weren't mad. They were just tired. But, they looked mad. Not talking to each other, not even looking at each other, they could have been strangers, enemies.

I made my family smile as we walked away, sometimes promising the dinner of their choice for a happy demeanor. We were freaks, outcasts, it never caught on.

I do the same with my wife. We go kayaking and we joke and laugh as we tie the boats to the top of the car. I hold her hand to prove despite time preparing to go, the hours of paddling around together, the carrying of boats back to the car we still like each other. It hasn't caught on either. In the words of the Grateful Dead, "nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile."

"You're not doing that right." Echoes across the parking lot, husband, wives, girl friends, boyfriends, it is like the call of angry, dissolutioned birds. "The strap goes through the slot and over the boat. Don't you ever pay attention?" 

I ask my wife to check if I have the straps straight. "Do they look right?" It may never catch on, but our drive home is pleasant, our time together relaxing, our affection nurtured. And you know what, it makes me happy to make her happy.

Dang, I might be a genius.

Smile to Save the World. It can't hurt.

Life is madness, and anger and incivility are about the nicest things a person will see these days. Go shopping and it becomes a game of dodging speeding shopping carts, and moving stealthily past hostile customers, and bitter, aggressive employees. Almost an arcade style movement and avoidance game. Christmas cheer fills the air.

Turn on the TV, heart breaking tragedy, and loss. Which inspires vitriolic, stump climbing presidential hopefuls to swing their purses vengefully at each other. Where have the great orators of the past gone. Why is there no message of hope.

Would it hurt to hear one person with a microphone and a television camera say "things are not going well, but working together we can overcome the hate, and the fear. We can learn to live together."

I have lived a long time, and it seems like things have not gotten noticeably worse, only different, and more televised. And the people who can blame, and find fault are the most rewarded with the trophy of attention from the news outlets.

+Trina Emmerson and I have decided to start a movement. Smile To Save the World. So far she has done most of the work, (thank you, Trina) and probably most of the smiling. She provided this wonderful picture.  I am going to try to catch up. #smiletosavetheworld.



I am going to try to do a nice thing for somebody every day. And I may try more than one. There are plenty of ideas on this website. In fact a quick search provides hundreds of sites like this.

And, when I hear about someone doing something nice I am going to write a blog post about it. If you hear about something let, or Trina know and we will make sure it gets mentioned.

Please join us, Smile, be polite and Save the World.

Yes, it is probably futile, and a waste of time, but it can't hurt. And nobody else seems to be trying anything.

Thank you,

The Smile To Save the World foundation.