Our weather continues to be hot and dry. The lawns have turned brown or are in the process. The field crops are beginning to show signs of stress. All of this adds to our daily chores. Instead of basking in the sun we are watering our plants and special things that we want to survive the summer heat. Even though we think of August as a time of rest and relaxation, a glance back in year’s past there have been many noteworthy things that have been accomplished during this "lazy" month. For example, it was in August 1492 that Columbus set sail on his voyage of discovery which brought him to our shores. It was Aug. 1, 1873, that the first cable streetcar was put into service on Clay Street in San Francisco, Calif. It was in August 1903 that the first coast-to-coast automobile trip, which began in San Francisco in May, ended in New York City. It was in August 1945 World War II ended in the Pacific. This can be a real challenge for us, especially when the thermometer reaches a little over 100 degrees as it did on Saturday. What worthwhile thing will we accomplish this August?The news is very scarce this week as I left for St. Cloud on Sunday for a three-day meeting.I have one correction from last week’s column, however. It was Laurie Van Der Weerd who graduated from the Mayo School of Health and Sciences with a degree in radiology technologist on Aug. 8 instead of her brother, Lance. Sorry about that!I have a personal help wanted request I need help with. About 12 of my white and buff colored pet cats either got lost, strayed or were stolen on Friday evening, Aug. 15. They have never left my yard before and I miss them very much. I would appreciate it if anyone has seen them, dead or alive, please return them to me.I will catch up with the Steen news next week, I hope!Every once in awhile when I am looking through things, something catches my eye. This title that caught my eye was, "What I would do if I were 21 again!" Of course I couldn’t resist reading it. After doing so, I thought that my list would have been quite different. However, I will share this with you and you can do as I did, make your own list. Who knows, perhaps you have already accomplished everything you had intended to do. This was written by Ruth Smeltzer. oI would speak so directly that there would be no danger of my being misunderstood. oI would be extremely careful not to appear to notice physical defects in others. oI would not be a borrower of small things. One can easily forget to return them. oI would remember my creator in the days of my youth. That would bring present pleasure and eternal happiness.oI would cultivate the ability to tell the exact truth.oI would be careful about making promises, but when I did, I would keep them to the letter. oI would use one hour a day for concentrated reading or study, even though it might not all be done at the same time. oIn taking directions from my employer I would be sure of understanding them. I would ask to be allowed to repeat them orally if they were incorrect, so there would be no chance of a mistake. oI would not grieve over lost opportunities but would try to create new ones. I would do more than I was paid for. If I had intentionally or unintentionally offended anyone I would ask for forgiveness, however hard it might be. oI would take success humbly and failure bravely. All of us have had our ups and downs in our lives and no matter how much we might like to go back and remedy them we cannot do it. I did find a few words of advice that might help all of us through whatever problems we face in the future. It is called "The Five Point Plan." Great leaders in every era of man’s history meticulously disciplined themselves in fundamentals like this proven five point plan: 1) Do one thing at a time; 2) know the problem; 3) Learn to listen; 4. learn to ask questions; and 5) learn to tell sense from nonsense
