Kicking It

Whew! Some might say there is little to be thankful for this year. Let me remind you when we are alive, there is still hope. Just the same, it has been one for the history books.

Back in the day, when “All I Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten” was the mantra for decency, now is a good time to review the list. Written by Unitarian minister Robert Fulghum sharing his philosophy with the world in 1989, these are still truths to live by.

“Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Say you’re sorry if you hurt someone. Take a nap every day. Live a balanced life. Flush. Wash your hands before you eat. And still its true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.”

There’s more in his book. It warrants reading.

Recently, a friend forwarded to me an old Andy Rooney commentary. He was always the voice of reason on “60 Minutes” back in the day. If you’d like a copy, shoot me an email.

What neither of these gents covered, however, are some day-to-day practical bits of wisdom picked up over the years – besides not running with scissors.

First and foremost, if you have a fella available, let him open the pickle jar. If he is in the other room and too deaf to hear your call for help – use the pointy end of a church key – beer opener – to pry under the rim of the lid to break the vacuum. Don’t have one? Using any pointy device will break the seal, even a flathead screwdriver can work.

Second, an easy way to peel a hard-boiled egg with an unrelenting shell, use a wet upside-down teaspoon and follow the curve of the egg. It comes off easier. To avoid this next time, do as I’ve started doing. Steam raw eggs for 13 minutes, followed by an ice bath.

Since we live in the avocado capital, I’ve also discovered it’s easier to scoop out the fruit using a spoon with a slot in the bowl like one used to drain peas at the supper table. And here is something we’re going to try… freezing avocado. Apparently, the fruity part can be frozen in an ice tray and stored for later use. Let me know if anyone has done it. We are going to experiment with leftover Costco avocados.

Babysitting our two newborns seven years ago introduced our household to appreciate the many uses for disposable wipes. They work just as well for grown-ups. By tidying up after the Charmin, they will help avoid bothersome bladder infections. But, never flush them, even the “flushable” ones. They clog drains all the way to the sewage plant. Modesty requires wrapping and removing them daily out to the trash bin.

If anyone else has some tips they wish to share, pop me an email. I’ll do my best to include it for other readers to enjoy.

By the way, I discovered a wonderful veteran resource this week for injured warriors. There is a woman in Fallbrook who trains German Shepherd dogs for injured veterans, K-9 Guardians. What you possibly don’t know is it takes up to two years and about $15,000 to get one dog ready to pass certification.

I also learned she knows our publisher Julie Reeder. Therefore, I am hoping we can do a communitywide outreach to support this amazing effort by collecting funds in support of her noble mission. The Fallbrook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 and U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton would be a good start, plus why not a special collection during services from all faiths?

Happy Thanksgiving, and God Bless America.

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal can be reached by email at [email protected].