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Copyright 2023

Richard Radstone / Sidewalk Ghosts

No images, videos, audio recordings, writings, or any other content may not be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission from Richard Radstone, Sidewalk Ghosts, and contributor.

Christmas day, presents unwrapped, huge meal three digesting, and settling in after a neighborhood walk.

A small side note: My family is getting used to me typing my 365 entries, so no matter what is going on, I’m usually somewhere in the background, writing away. Even now, as I journal this entry, across the room from me is my family, happily playing Mexican Trains.

For those of you who have never played the game, think of one part comedy improve, one part espionage and one part large-scale dominos, and you have the game. Bottom line, as my wife puts it, “It’s family feud.”

The game is a blast to play, but even with the blurt, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” delivered by my brother-in-law, I remain glued to my laptop. Day 108, there is no way I’m stopping 365.

This last week has been filled with hopeful wishes for the future. Again, I state, “It looks like the best of humanity comes out of people at the year-end.”

With that said, it does not surprise me to have chatted with a couple who share this positive outlook for what’s to come and an affirmation for dealing with the present.

I ran into them during our earlier walk, grabbed by the sounds of family laughter.

That laughter I am speaking of is coming from the home of Eric and Ivona, my newest Arizona friends. Only a dozen or so houses from my sister-in-law’s is where I met them as they shared their front yard “good-night” to family and friends.

We keep the meeting brief. It’s family time, and with my own family waiting in the wings, all is well.

Their comments are hopeful and thoughtful. And what is especially uplifting is meeting a united couple. I notice this in the way they respond, answering as one to all of my questions.

“Our advice to the world…” they stop for a moment of shared contemplation.

A minute or two passes, and while looking eye to eye at each other, they reply, “…enjoy what you have, don’t stress the small things. What is important is family and friends. They are your support system. Especially your family.”

“We are optimists. People need to think more about each other, not like in politics, where the thinking is not always about the people.”

Tomorrow we travel home. What I will take with me is the peace of a comfortable suburban neighborhood. Streets that are busy with families, quite skylines and groups of children playing.

I had grand intentions of a deep message for my Christmas day entry. But the more I think, the more I realize, it’s better to be short.

We’ve spent over one hundred days meeting a plethora of personalities, in becoming a community and reaching out to simply say, “This is who we are and what we believe.”

Just a friendly hello to the world. An invitation to appreciate your neighbors for who they are, no more, no less. And a call to do what you can to make the world a better world.

It can start with the voice of one. From the one can become many, and who know what can happen.

257 more day to go, with every day of 365 making me less aware of the end, and more present to the now.

And for now, the words of Eric and Ivona are ringing in my ears, “Family is first and enjoy what you have.”

Let’s just leave it at that for tonight.

Tomorrow, we travel back to Los Angeles. We’ll see who we can find on the way.

Later Gator!

Shameless Plug:
If anyone in the Phoenix area is looking for a great realtor, give Ivona a shout out, she may be able to find you your dream home: ivonab88@cox.net. Tell her Richard sent you.

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Pam
Pam
12 years ago

I recently just stumbled on your blog. It’s weird. I was planning to photograph strangers as well and ask them about life, etc. but being shy has most often stopped me and here you are. I think it’s given me a bit more encouragement. Good job on your 365 strangers series! It looks good!

awindowinthesky
12 years ago

I just read your post this time, and it’s like 3 AM in the morning right now here.. in Santiago, Chile…, and I can tell you that I think your Blog is really really good… I think the same about family… at the end of the day, is the only structure of support that you can get when you share life… and happiness is to share…. that’s in Buddhism too… and it’s very important to keep that in mind and to be honest with ourselves and towards the people we love, like the first primary structure of support that you mentioned we got… Family. Great Blog!

Yeony and Suny
12 years ago

Your Blog is really good. I run blog for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.
Please teach me how to do for my blog….

http://2012expo.wordpress.com

PLEASE SHARE

Follow on Instagram

“Every moment of every day… your individual impact truly does matter to someone else in the world.”

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Help Grow Sidewalk Ghosts Podcast at Patreon

Copyright 2023

Richard Radstone / Sidewalk Ghosts

No images, videos, audio recordings, writings, or any other content may not be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission from Richard Radstone, Sidewalk Ghosts, and contributor.

0 0 votes
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Subscribe
Notify of
guest
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
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Pam
Pam
12 years ago

I recently just stumbled on your blog. It’s weird. I was planning to photograph strangers as well and ask them about life, etc. but being shy has most often stopped me and here you are. I think it’s given me a bit more encouragement. Good job on your 365 strangers series! It looks good!

awindowinthesky
12 years ago

I just read your post this time, and it’s like 3 AM in the morning right now here.. in Santiago, Chile…, and I can tell you that I think your Blog is really really good… I think the same about family… at the end of the day, is the only structure of support that you can get when you share life… and happiness is to share…. that’s in Buddhism too… and it’s very important to keep that in mind and to be honest with ourselves and towards the people we love, like the first primary structure of support that you mentioned we got… Family. Great Blog!

Yeony and Suny
12 years ago

Your Blog is really good. I run blog for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.
Please teach me how to do for my blog….

http://2012expo.wordpress.com

PLEASE SHARE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG

Enter your email address to follow us and receive notifications of new stories and updates by email

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Pam
Pam
12 years ago

I recently just stumbled on your blog. It’s weird. I was planning to photograph strangers as well and ask them about life, etc. but being shy has most often stopped me and here you are. I think it’s given me a bit more encouragement. Good job on your 365 strangers series! It looks good!

awindowinthesky
12 years ago

I just read your post this time, and it’s like 3 AM in the morning right now here.. in Santiago, Chile…, and I can tell you that I think your Blog is really really good… I think the same about family… at the end of the day, is the only structure of support that you can get when you share life… and happiness is to share…. that’s in Buddhism too… and it’s very important to keep that in mind and to be honest with ourselves and towards the people we love, like the first primary structure of support that you mentioned we got… Family. Great Blog!

Yeony and Suny
12 years ago

Your Blog is really good. I run blog for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.
Please teach me how to do for my blog….

http://2012expo.wordpress.com

PLEASE SHARE

Follow on Instagram

©2023 Richard Radstone / Sidewalk Ghosts

No images, videos, audio recordings, writings, or any other content may not be copied, downloaded, or transferred without written permission from Richard Radstone, Sidewalk Ghosts, and contributor.

“Every moment of every day… your individual impact truly does matter to someone else in the world.”

“Every moment of every day… your individual impact truly does matter to someone else in the world.”

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