Messed Up Checkup

Raoul’s Two Cents: January 3, 2025

Out of the Spotlight

How was your holiday time? Spent it with family? For almost 2 weeks, my family was complete — all the kids and grandkids … but somehow, things did not turn out the way I planned.

In my head, I was planning where to go, what to do, what to eat and what to watch. But early on, none of my suggestions got much support. I wanted to watch “Godzilla Minus One” which I recently read favorable reviews (even though this movie was made a year ago). Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a monster fan. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full Godzilla movie. And yes, the miniature building demolitions by a man in a dinosaur costume was cheesy — but the review said this Japanese production with a measly budget of $15 million raked in about $250 million. Compare that to numerous $250 million Hollywood flops. This movie showed that the storyline, acting and directing beats any kind of expensive and pointless CGI (Computer Generated Imagery).

Surely (in my mind) this would be interesting for both adults and young kids. Wrong! I was the only one who watched it during a lull time when everybody else was occupied with something else.

“So did you like the movie, grandpa?”
I did. I actually cried in the end. Of course, nobody else did.

Another time, I volunteered to cook pork chops for lunch. I cooked a whole batch with fried and scrambled eggs on the side … also concocted fried bok choy and green beans with chopped garlic. Excited, I brought it to the lunch table but only one person was hungry. The others had eaten a full late brunch. I felt unappreciated and rejected.

But as I sulked in silence pretending to watch the movie that was playing, I observed my kids laughing as they played a boardgame. My grandkids were playing with their Spiderman action hero toys. My wife was playing with our grandbaby.

I felt like the Grinch at the scene where he was looking down at the little town of Whoville. He had successfully stolen all their Christmas presents thinking he had ruined Christmas but the Who villagers were — laughing, singing — Christmas was not about gifts after all … it was about giving and sharing — loving.

Just like the Grinch, I had an “aha” moment: Christmas vacation wasn’t about planning some extravagant party but enjoying the moment — living and breathing the same air as the people I love. I also realized my time to plan events was over. My grownup kids have taken the baton. I am now who my parents were when we took over the planning from them. The spotlight was no longer on me. What a relief!It was at that point that Christmas really began for me.

It’s a new year. While others plan their ambitious new resolutions, I think I’m going to relish feeling even older. I’m going to slow down. I’m hoping to get more artwork done — build a legacy for generations; get some more exercise to oil those creaky joints; learn to play a new instrument and do some recordings; look out and comfort some lost souls; and of course, love my wife more and more because she’s going to be with me watching the world pass us by. It’s going to be good and relaxing.

TGIF people! It’s the dawning of an exciting new year!

---

“When you run a part of the relay and pass on the baton, there is no sense of unfinished business in your mind. There is just the sense of having done your part to the best of your ability. That is it. The hope is to pass on the baton to somebody who will run faster and run a better marathon.” — N.R. Narayana Murthy

“Each generation has an obligation to pick up the baton. We want young people to feel a sense of responsibility to take that baton and run with it.” — Valerie Jarrett

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he; I am he who will sustain you; I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”— Isaiah 46: 3-4

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Roland of Washington, DC

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

---

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Sherman Oaks, CA

Thanks to Joan of Covina, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this email.
You can view past issues of my TGIF jokes, read reactions from readers and discover great travel tips at Travelingboy.com

SUBSCRIBE