Marylou Falstreau

I think I am most sure that there’s not much that I know for sure!

I am pretty sure that is a very good thing.

Have you ever been sure of something only to find out you were wrong?

Just last week I was certain that I’d turned off the soaker in the back yard, and it wasn’t until my neighbor came over to tell me that her front lawn was saturated with my run-off water that I became uncertain.

I’ve been sure that I put the pot roast in the oven at 2:00 p.m. to cook long and slow, only to find that I forgot to turn on the temperature knob an hour or so later when no nourishing smells were wafting through the house. And I’ve been sure that I turned off the oven and left something to burn to a crisp.

I’ve been sure that I gave the right advice to a friend, and then spent a sleepless night worrying that I might have given her the wrong advice and had to phone her in the morning to tell her I wasn’t so sure.

This week I had two paintings reframed at very considerable cost and then worried that the mats I picked were going to kill the paintings. It’s only money I reasoned, but now I am not so sure I will like them when I pick them up.

DON’T DESPAIR! There are actually a few things I am sure about:

I can be sure that Santiago, my gardener, will never show up when he says he will. I also can be certain that he’ll prune things down to the nub unless I am out there to rescue my plants. I like a somewhat natural garden where the plants are free and easy. My plants appreciate me for this by remaining quite green and lush, spilling about in their own fashion. Santiago likes to trim them back into severe control. If I give Santiago free rein, I can be sure that I might not live long enough to see my injured plants grow back.

I am one of the fortunate human beings that can truthfully say that I am sure that I was always loved. I am sure that my parents loved me. I am sure that my husband always loved me. I am sure that my children love me, that’s “love” not necessarily “like.”

I am really sure that people who know ‘for sure” about a lot of things will certainly make me unsure about the things that they are sure about. Religion is one of those things; how to run other people’s lives is another. Some mothers in my age group used to say, “My daughter would never do that!” or “He needs or ought to or should do this or that” or “Why don’t you…?”

Like you have control?   I really want control over a whole bunch of things, but I am sure I don’t have it.

Sometimes folks are even correct. “But”, a big “but,” ---it has been my experience that people need to go through their own processing in life and reach a successful or unsuccessful conclusion. I guess I am somewhat sure of that fact and believe that lending support is what friends and family can surely do.

One of the things I am sure about is that I love GREEN. People who know me think my favorite color is Red, and it is – I have a really Red car; I have a Cranberry and green kitchen, and color energizes me, but the color I love is the green of a natural environment. I am sure I have a more than a fond affection for trees. Sometimes I hug them.

I am sure that my favorite place is Yosemite and that is a long story; be content to know that I am sure it is.

There are moral values of right and wrong, bottom lines of integrity and conduct toward others that we can rightfully be sure about – our bottom lines so to speak. But I guess the main thing I want to convey is that I AM SURE that it isn’t that important to be sure about the details.

It’s okay! Not being sure opens up your mind and your life to possibilities. Being sure can be a pain in the neck, full of responsibility and limiting. Being too sure doesn’t allow for CHANGE.

That old guy Ben Franklin reportedly said, “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” I would add to that list-- that ever present happening I just mentioned – “change”!

I agree with old Ben in that we can all count on dying. Eventually, we hope, is the key word here. Fortunately young folks shouldn’t have to and hopefully don’t think much about dying, unless of course they are fighting in a war where they are forced to face it everyday. And this is tragic and grim.

Those of us of advanced age know the years they have before dying are what I sometimes refer to as the “count-down” years. It can be sad, but it really isn’t grim, it’s natural.

We are the lucky ones; we already have LIVED more years than some. Hopefully, this year, this day, this minute is ours to continue to appreciate and be grateful for the gift called LIFE – FOR SURE! ####


		WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE? By Jacqueline Cathcart I think I am most sure that there’s not much that I know for sure! I am pretty sure that is a very good thing. Have you ever been sure of something only to find out you were wrong? Just last week I was certain that I’d turned off the soaker in the back yard, and it wasn’t until my neighbor came over to tell me that her front lawn was saturated with my run-off water that I became uncertain. I’ve been sure that I put the pot roast in the oven at 2:00 p.m. to cook long and slow, only to find that I forgot to turn on the temperature knob an hour or so later when no nourishing smells were wafting through the house. And I’ve been sure that I turned off the oven and left something to burn to a crisp. I’ve been sure that I gave the right advice to a friend, and then spent a sleepless night worrying that I might have given her the wrong advice and had to phone her in the morning to tell her I wasn’t so sure. This week I had two paintings reframed at very considerable cost and then worried that the mats I picked were going to kill the paintings. It’s only money I reasoned, but now I am not so sure I will like them when I pick them up. DON’T DESPAIR! There are actually a few things I am sure about: I can be sure that Santiago, my gardener, will never show up when he says he will. I also can be certain that he’ll prune things down to the nub unless I am out there to rescue my plants. I like a somewhat natural garden where the plants are free and easy. My plants appreciate me for this by remaining quite green and lush, spilling about in their own fashion. Santiago likes to trim them back into severe control. If I give Santiago free rein, I can be sure that I might not live long enough to see my injured plants grow back. I am one of the fortunate human beings that can truthfully say that I am sure that I was always loved. I am sure that my parents loved me. I am sure that my husband always loved me. I am sure that my children love me, that’s “love” not necessarily “like.” I am really sure that people who know ‘for sure” about a lot of things will certainly make me unsure about the things that they are sure about. Religion is one of those things; how to run other people’s lives is another. Some mothers in my age group used to say, “My daughter would never do that!” or “He needs or ought to or should do this or that” or “Why don’t you…?” Like you have control? I really want control over a whole bunch of things, but I am sure I don’t have it. Sometimes folks are even correct. “But”, a big “but,” ---it has been my experience that people need to go through their own processing in life and reach a successful or unsuccessful conclusion. I guess I am somewhat sure of that fact and believe that lending support is what friends and family can surely do. One of the things I am sure about is that I love GREEN. People who know me think my favorite color is Red, and it is – I have a really Red car; I have a Cranberry and green kitchen, and color energizes me, but the color I love is the green of a natural environment. I am sure I have a more than a fond affection for trees. Sometimes I hug them. I am sure that my favorite place is Yosemite and that is a long story; be content to know that I am sure it is. There are moral values of right and wrong, bottom lines of integrity and conduct toward others that we can rightfully be sure about – our bottom lines so to speak. But I guess the main thing I want to convey is that I AM SURE that it isn’t that important to be sure about the details. It’s okay! Not being sure opens up your mind and your life to possibilities. Being sure can be a pain in the neck, full of responsibility and limiting. Being too sure doesn’t allow for CHANGE. That old guy Ben Franklin reportedly said, “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” I would add to that list-- that ever present happening I just mentioned – “change”! I agree with old Ben in that we can all count on dying. Eventually, we hope, is the key word here. Fortunately young folks shouldn’t have to and hopefully don’t think much about dying, unless of course they are fighting in a war where they are forced to face it everyday. And this is tragic and grim. Those of us of advanced age know the years they have before dying are what I sometimes refer to as the “count-down” years. It can be sad, but it really isn’t grim, it’s natural. We are the lucky ones; we already have LIVED more years than some. Hopefully, this year, this day, this minute is ours to continue to appreciate and be grateful for the gift called LIFE – FOR SURE! ####
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	© Content Copyright Marylou Falstreau 2009 All works are copyright of the artist. Reproduction of works or images in any form is prohibited without the express written consent of artist.