In response to last week’s question, "You can be full of thanks.  Can you be full of grate?,"  my temple friend Richard replied, "Depends. Are people who grate on your nerves full of grate? I know one can be an ingrate. Can one also be an exgrate?"

My neighbor Al  concluded, "My ego says that I can," while my cycling friend Ted cautioned, "If a man tells you he is full of Grate, he is really full of s---!"

My dad's beach buddy Bob advised, "To do so, you must reflect upon the blessings that have been bestowed upon you and your family."  And to that, I say "Amen.".

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

What  is  Victoria's  secret?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile.

Hal

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me to catch up.

How can you tell who your friends are? plus a Thanksgiving question

In response to last week’s question, "How can you tell who your friends are?," my cousin Greg Faber proclaimed, " They are the people who laugh with you in the back seat of the cop car versus the people who bail you out."  

My collaboration friend Tricia replied, "This one is so easy. Friends are those who stay by your side even when you have absolutely nothing to offer them. I, for one, am grateful to call you my friend."  My neighbor Al went further, "The ones who don't ask me to pay back the money I owe them......"   My compliance friend  Karla shared, "I think you can tell who your friends are when things aren't going well and you might need help or encouragement.  And my artist friend Fred added, "My friends are those who don’t make me feel 'marginalized' or 'disenfranchised.' "

My writing and sailing friend Rich wrote based on experience, "In the sailing world, it is pretty easy.  If someone has spent a week on a boat with you and is willing to get on a another one with you, they are a friend." 

My temple friend Kevin explained, "They are the ones who know I am crazy, sometimes obnoxious, but would be there to help me at a moment's notice.  Kinda like you and Alison."

My birthday bud Jon replied, "Facebook?  At least it helps me know who my friends were in high school" while my equestrian friend Royce countered, "It certainly isn't the ones you see on Facebook."

My hiking friend Kelly revealed, "Tell them you’re gay.  That worked for me.  I am by the way.  You really find out who your real friends are."

My dad's beach buddy Bob recalled, "The wise person keeps them a little further from him than his enemies."

My temple friend Richard noted, "Echo location."

My social media friend Mark  announced, "They make you laugh once a week. Hmmm."

And my interfaith friend Debby pointed out, "I think last Thursday's celebration is just what we all need--it is one big example to show how diversity is fun, good, and a blessing. I love coming to the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration every year and looking around the room at people from all cultures, religions, backgrounds.  The diverse faces are beautiful to behold, especially as we sing, reflect and later share food and make friends with one another. We all need to be able to be friendly, welcoming, kind and compassionate to everyone we meet. And a good laugh together helps too! I'm so thankful I was part of the planning committee this year--I learned so much and made some new friends."   Note:  Click here to watch the celebration on demand.

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

You can be full of thanks.  Can you be full of grate?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile.

Hal

Wishing you and your family a memorable Thanksgiving holiday.  May it be a time to enjoy your family, friends, good food and good times with excess of only good times..

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.

Why can't we all just get along?

In response to last week’s question, "Why can't we all just get along?," my social media friend Mark asked, "A long what?"

My dad's beach buddy Bob concluded, "That is what the inhabitants of civilizations that disappeared did.  They just didn't want to get excited about the important things."   My cousin Greg concurred as he wrote, "Because we're lazy." 

My writing and sailing friend Rich wondered, "how many people would have answered that question same way if they had been asked it last Tuesday morning or Wednesday morning" to which my gemologist friend Bill added, "Hopefully this a question that we can all start trying to answer now." 

My PR friend Stan proclaimed, "Because we’d rather just have everyone agree with us."

My college roomie John recommended, "Serve me a good cold beer and I will get along with you" and my hiking friend Kelly advised, "Not enough people smoke the green version of tobacco?"   (As of last week, AK, CA, CO, MA, ME and NV should be getting along better.)

My collaboration friend Tricia pondered, "Maybe the question is why do people have to be so mean!?!  Or, how boring would it be if we all just compromised on everything and got along? But with no excitement, disappointment, or disagreement. Seems like the unanswered question."   To this, my managed IT services friend Kosol agreed,  "If we did, there wouldn't be any drama or excitement.  You don't want to miss out on excitement would you? "  (Like missing a reality show?)

And my cycling friend Ted contemplate, "This 'Hmmm' thread has been about humor, but in this case, I think it's time for a very serious answer. I remember in the 90's a very simple man named Rodney King. He was a victim of police brutality, which set off race riots in LA. I was always struck by the very poignancy of this simple question from a simple person that has such an inextricably complex answer, which to this day I still cannot entirely answer."

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

How can you tell who your friends are?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile

Hal

If you want proof that people are healing and getting together since the very mean election, please join us online Thu at 7:00p for something I'm involved in that is very powerful.  And if you are in East Cobb, join us in person.  Click here for details.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.

Do you prefer a trick or a treat?

In response to last week’s question, "Do you prefer a trick or a treat?," my temple friend Lon shared, "Being single, I prefer a Trick, which is really a Treat!" to which my birthday bud Jon replied, "If you patronize prostitutes, it can be the same thing."

My dad's beach buddy Bob, "I prefer tricks as I am still in the learning mode and looking for new material, plus I have all the treats I can endure" and Bob is  both in learning mode and of retirement age.

My cousin Dave applied basic logic in replying, "Yes."

My social media friend Mark called out, "Never tried a trick. Think I'll go with treat" while my college roomie John recalled a Trump reference, "Thinking of dressing as a tic tac!"

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Why can't we all just get along?

Live well...laugh often and heartily.... have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile

Hal

Even if you dislike both Clinton and Trump, if you haven't voted early, please vote tomorrow one of the many candidates available.  If you can't accept one of the two major parties' candidates, your vote for someone else will make that statement.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.   I invite you to call or email me so  I can share what  I'm up to.