Category: *Having My Say

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Mosaic of Life #90 – Windmills Of My Mind

RJ Walters

I have been in a playful mood lately, or maybe you could call it infantile creative mood. I have been on a serious search for Artsy tools and so far have found ten good ones. This mosaic was made with one of them. I tried to clear my mind of anything of this world and just go crazy with my iPad pen. When I was done it looked like I was trying to draw a windmill. I have been watching House Hunters International quite a bit lately, so maybe that had something to do with it. It was fun just … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #90 – Windmills Of My Mind

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Mosaic of Life #103 – My Pride & Joy…

RJ Walters

When I retired at the age of 54 after thirty years in a corporate world and moved back to Indiana, I was considering two options. To get another IT job at a college in the area, or opening up my own business in making custom furniture. I chose the second option, and I’m glad I did. Woodworking had been a life-long passion, but I never thought it as a business. Up until then, I had several woodworking shops. One I even had custom built on the back of the garage. It was my dream shop for the two years I … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #103 – My Pride & Joy…

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Mosaic of Life #94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye

RJ Walters

For this mosaic, I want to talk a little about AI (artificial intelligence) and how it relates to “My Mind’s Eye”. I am a techie, but even I am getting a little disturbed about the constant presence of AI in my life. Maybe the most disturbing thing is AI is that it is becoming more and more dominant as the days and months go by. I realize that this is new stuff that will eventually settle down to some established state, but right now it just seems too pervasive. Some say that AI will replace artists, but, I kind of … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye

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Fundamental Sameness Of All Human Beings

RJ Walters

When I came across the quote from the Dalia Lama below, it immediately got my attention. I am convinced that each one of us who currently occupies this earth are unique unto themselves, but at the same time, we all share a common core of what it is to be human. That common core must reject excluding others that are not quite like us. As the Dalia Lama says we must cultivate a healthy respect for each other. Having a “healthy respect” is not the same thing as agreeing with everything. There will always be disagreements, but the human core … Continue reading Fundamental Sameness Of All Human Beings

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What We Don’t Understand…

RJ Walters

I am constantly on the lookout for ways to explain why so many fear so much in the world today. The quote above is the most succinct description of that process I have come across. Considering that fear is such a debilitating condition, it seems like everyone ought to be doing whatever they can to figure out a way to eliminate fear from their lives. In someways dibalitating fear might be more damaging than cancer, at least for most of us. I think that maybe one group of people that have been the most fearful lately are Evangelical Christians. It … Continue reading What We Don’t Understand…

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Mosaic of Life #56 – Texture 2

RJ Walters

When it comes to texture, I slip between two extremes. One extreme is the rough texture as shown above. The other is glass smooth, and particularly reflections. You will be seeing both in spades in the course of RJsMosaics. The picture above was taken with one of my cameras that doesn’t have GPS, so I don’t know exactly where it was. But, I do know it was just a small town along a State road in northern Indiana. When I saw the barn, I had to turn around and get the picture to add to my collection. I can just … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #56 – Texture 2

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A Letter To Will… January 2020

RJ Walters

I wrote the letter below in 2020 to one of my primary heroes in life, Will Rogers. Of course, I never got around to writing to him again. But, I will now try to make up for that in the coming days. It’s time to dust off all the books and literature I have collected about his life. It’s time to try and learn what he might teach me about living the times I have left. Continue reading A Letter To Will… January 2020

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Mosaic of Life #48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King

RJ Walters

My wife wasn’t too excited about it, but for our 30th wedding anniversary we went to Disney World. When I told her about the idea, she blurted out, “Disney World is for kids”! I replied, “you ought to know by now that I am a forever kid.” Anyway, we spent five beautiful days in a very fantasy place. Looking back, I think the highlight of it was the performance of Lion King. Even though I couldn’t hear the music, the constant drum beats across my chest were enough to keep me in the mood. Instead of trying to describe all … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King

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Lessons Learned About Retirement Communities

RJ Walters

I am going to use my three years of experience living in a RetCom (retirement community) and visiting a dozen others, to pass on some information I wish I had earlier. It is about choosing the RetCom that is right for you. I am always one to plan everything out. I thoroughly study the destinations and route for all the many vacation trips I have taken. So, it should not be surprising to find that I had done the same thing in choosing where I would spend my final years. Up front, I want to get something that bugs me … Continue reading Lessons Learned About Retirement Communities

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Suffocating Interest Rates

RJ Walters

This post is a Will Rogers’ tongue-in-cheek rant about those who are whining about today’s mortgage interest rates. I hear so much now about those god-awful high-interest home mortgage rates for Gen Zs. Who can afford to buy a house when you have to pay 6% interest on a mortgage! Let me tell you about the “good-old-days”. I graduated from college in 1970 and bought my first home in 1983. It took me that long to save up enough for the required 20% down payment and monthly mortgage rate of 12.9%. It was a good feeling to finally be able … Continue reading Suffocating Interest Rates

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Mosaic of Life #85 – Sam

RJ Walters

I have had pets for most of my life, but my first personal pet was Sam. Before that, they were always family pets. I got Sam as a puppy in October 1972. When I graduated from college in June 1970, I got an apartment about 5 miles from where I worked. It was the first time I had ever lived alone. The first two years I enjoyed the solitude, but within a couple of years I started getting lonely. It was time for a pet. I really don’t know why I chose a dachshund who was the biggest in the … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #85 – Sam

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I Will Struggle To My Last Breath…

RJ Walters

I will struggle to my last breath to convince you that diversity is what has made the U.S. a shining beacon to the rest of the world. • You have nothing to fear from those who might not agree with you on all issues.• You have nothing to fear because a person’s skin color is different from yours.• You have nothing to fear because I am deaf. It is not contagious.• You have nothing to fear because of my neurological differences, and that I might not perceive things the same as you. • You have nothing to fear because I … Continue reading I Will Struggle To My Last Breath…

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We Don’t Know The End, Until We Get There…

RJ Walters

The more I learn, the more I think for myself, the more I question everything, the more I realize I know nothing. Of course, this is one of the primary lessons from a guy called Socrates. He lived about 2,600 years ago. What I mostly get from Socrates is that even though there is way more to learn than we have years on the earth, we must never stop learning. The more we learn, the more we can contribute to allowing future citizens of earth to have a better life than we had. This finally brings me to the main … Continue reading We Don’t Know The End, Until We Get There…

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Mosaic of Life #31 – One Of My Hobbies…

RJ Walters

I’m not much of a collector of things, but one thing I have collected are model cars, particularly the metal kind of the 1/32 scale from the 1960s. They currently occupy the bottom three shelves in my six-shelf curio cabinet. Being a teenager in the 1960s, I was intimately familiar with most of the cars of that era. My first new car, or any car for that matter, was a 1970 was a Mustang Fastback. I wore it out by 1973. Three years was the typical lifespan of cars during that period of time. Then came the 1980s and all … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #31 – One Of My Hobbies…

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A Report On My Week Without A Calendar

RJ Walters

Last week I told you that I was going to give up my calendar for a week. This post is a report on how that went and what I learned from that experience. Almost everything in the list below is primarily applicable for someone in their retirement years. When you work a mandatory a 40 – 60 hour week, little time is left for much of anything else. So, long story short, I am back to scheduling events and activities daily, but not as obsessed that every minor item needs to be put on that calendar. Sometimes lessons are learned … Continue reading A Report On My Week Without A Calendar

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Mosaic of Life #109 – Ottawa Reflections

RJ Walters

Ottawa, which is the national capital of Canada, is one of my most favorite cities I have ever visited. One of the primary reasons is “reflections”. That is, the old and the new building coexisting and actually complimenting each other. The picture above is replicated there dozens of times. In this particular case, it is a reflection of the Parliament building. Continue reading Mosaic of Life #109 – Ottawa Reflections

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Mosaic of Life #107 – I’m Canadian, “We Don’t Do Proud”

RJ Walters

One of the most memorable places I have visited was the Eastern part of Canada in 2011. The trip was scheduled for a month but was cut a week short due to my wife’s reoccurring illnesses. I have always wanted to go back and finish that trip, but the years have caught up with me so that is no longer a possibility. But, I can relive those times in 2011 with RJsMosaics and stories from my journal of those times. This is the first of several Mosaics yet to come. I’m pretty sure my roots go back to Great Britain, … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #107 – I’m Canadian, “We Don’t Do Proud”

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From The Heart…

RJ Walters

In the old days, it was always believed that the essence of who you are comes from your heart. Of course, we now know that the total function of the heart is to pump blood. It has no part of our essence, other than if it stops working, our essence stops working. Over my years of constantly wondering just who I am, and why I am here, it’s astonishing that I have never thought of looking to neurology for some of those answers. Well, the day has finally come when I look at the three pound cauliflower between my ears … Continue reading From The Heart…

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Mosaic of Life #75 The Thing About Orchids

RJ Walters

It has been a while since I posted an artsy mosaic, so here goes. Almost all my life I have had a green thumb, but that was mostly the outdoor variety. I had my first veggie garden before I was 8 years old. Of course, I don’t specifically remember all those early childhood dates, but I do use one reference to establish the date. In 1955, my mother abandoned us to looker for greener pastures, and I do remember not too long before that is when I was raising radishes, green onions, and leaf lettuce in a small plot in … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #75 The Thing About Orchids

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Mosaic of Life #98 About Jimmy Madison…

RJ Walters

This picture was taken on our “President’s Row” trip in 2011. We visited 6 president’s homes. Jimmy was a quiet guy. He didn’t stand out like so many of his playmates who were much taller and more vocal than him. He was intelligent but didn’t go around bragging about that. But, He was what was needed at the time to make this democracy project a success. I think some of you probably know who I am talking about? I don’t suspect you call him Jimmy, but instead use his God-given name of James. I am talking about James Madison, otherwise … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #98 About Jimmy Madison…

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Mosaic of Life #97 – The Adventures Of Youth… Colorado Mountain Top

RJ Walters

I was a 30-year-old single guy when I took this adventure. It was on a mountain top in southwestern Colorado, although I don’t remember exactly where now. I spent the year before outfitting my recently purchased Chevy van as a camper. My freshly minted roommate and I left Indiana one morning and were at the 10,000 ft elevation twenty-four hours later. That same day, we hiked to the 12,000 level where this picture was taken. Even in my youth I discovered that doing that so quickly was not a smart thing to do. We camped out that night and were … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #97 – The Adventures Of Youth… Colorado Mountain Top

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Mosaic of Life #33 – Mississinewa 1812

RJ Walters

The Battle of 1812 is not high on a level of importance as wars go. It was primarily about Great Britain riling up the Indians who were losing their homeland to the invaders. Except for the annihilation of many tribes in the Northeast, the war didn’t change much, but the reenactment at Mississinewa, Indiana is the biggest one of that war. This particular battle was mainly about ineptitude. Most of the men who signed up for this battle were kids 18 – 20 years old, who were poorly trained and led by the “Indian Hater” William Henry Harrison. (these are … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #33 – Mississinewa 1812

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Mosaic of Life #96 – A Nation of Immigrants

RJ Walters

I have several times in my life, had an “Inspiring/Life Changing” moment, where a solution to a problem that has plagued me seemingly forever suddenly becomes obvious. When that happens, I often look back at that time from the mosaic above. The picture was taken on January 29, 1999. Some of you who know the area probably recognize that it was taken from NYC Battery Park, looking over to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in the distance. Being a U.S. history nut, I have always been inspired by these two places and the number of immigrants who saw … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #96 – A Nation of Immigrants

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Mosaic of Life #95 – Red, Yellow, Green

RJ Walters

I spent the last weekend organizing my iPhoto Library so that it’s easier to find what I want here at RJsCorner. Putting 18,000 photos into about 20 different boxes is no small challenge, but due to my Aspie traits, I am up to it. During all this work I came to the realization that I have an affinity towards stoplights. The art and structure, especially this one, fascinates me. This picture was taken while I was visiting one of the Wright Brother’s sites in Dayton Ohio. There is so much to see in Dayton, I will have to get back … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #95 – Red, Yellow, Green

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Mosaic of Life #100 Turning Back The Odometer… And Other Such Things

RJ Walters

(An Artsyfiied picture of RJ – wrinkles and gray hair what there is of it) Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved. ― Will Rogers I recently saw an image of Cher, and it was obvious that she has had dozens of plastic surgeries. She is five months older than I am, but she refuses to show her age. As this quote from Will Rogers says above, NOT ME. I want people to know I am … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #100 Turning Back The Odometer… And Other Such Things

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My Blue-Collar Dad… 1950s – 60s

RJ Walters

May 16, 2017 – For some reason I am thinking of Dad today, so I thought I would pen some thoughts about him here. The first job I remember Dad having was working in a small sand casting shop making those little post office doors you still see in your local post office. I’m sure he made thousands and thousands of them. They were made of brass and as a result, he regularly got what he called “brass chills”. That is when he was over exposed to all the brass fumes coming off the melting material. His “chills were frightening to … Continue reading My Blue-Collar Dad… 1950s – 60s

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Mosaic of Life #45 The Fishing Years 1975 – 1985

RJ Walters

I graduated from college in 1970 and for the next 16 years I led a bachelor’s life. A good part of that time was dedicated to my fishing years with the rig above. I built a custom interior in the van for sleeping and hauling all the junk required. The 1976 Chevy van was my third new vehicle I had purchased. I traded in a 1973 Chevy Laguna, which replaced my 1970 Mustang. Yeah, in those years you pretty much wore out a vehicle in three years. Getting to my fishing years, eight months a year I was on lakes … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #45 The Fishing Years 1975 – 1985

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Mosaic of Life #41 Oriental Poppy?

RJ Walters

I think the flower above is an Oriental Poppy, but if I am wrong, please let me know. But, this flower was the cause of one of my most serious fights with my wife in our 35 years of marriage. It came in 2003 and totally surprised me. We were in our homestead three years, and I decided to help my wife with some weeding of her flower beds. Before I go any further, I need to tell you that my wife was a SERIOUS flower gardener. Back to the story. When I saw some thistles growing in her beds, … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #41 Oriental Poppy?

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RetComLife – Time Drift

RJ Walters

One of the most difficult things about living in retirement, especially for us elder orphans living in a retirement community, is “time drift“. I don’t know if I invented that phrase, but it certainly applies to me at this time in my life. I can count on one hand the number of people who have come into my apartment for a visit in the last three years. That, and the fact that I am mostly inept at things socially, means that I live my life almost totally on my own. Days just seem to drift into weeks, and weeks into … Continue reading RetComLife – Time Drift