I often have time to think about life while driving alone. This week I was thinking about doing hard things like bike, run and swim training. The reward for hard work is gaining perseverance. Perseverance is the power to push past the obstacles that get in the way. When I think about perseverance, I think …
Author: fergysun
I'm Don Ferguson, I live in the coastal New England town of Newburyport Massachusetts and blog to track memories, sports adventures, create stories and to pursue interesting ideas.
Involuntary Musical Imagery
Music that's stuck in your head Songs, melodies and jingles get stuck in my head. If it happens to you also, you know how maddening it is ... It's got me wondering why it happens to me so often, and how can I fix it? This morning for instance, a Gregorian Chant "Regina Caeli" popped …
Mad Hatter’s Day 10/6
Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the card in the Mad Hatter's hat? The 10/6 refers to the cost of a hat — 10 shillings and 6 pence, and later became the date and month to celebrate Mad Hatter Day. So what is Mad Hatter's day anyway? Simply stated ....It's a day to act …
Other People Mindsets….
You may have heard about people see the world using either a Growth Mindset or Fixed Mindset. Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time...... …
Through The Looking Glass
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome Long ago, I read about a neurological syndrome called "Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS)" where a person experiences change in perception. It's the feeling that things are too big or too small in respect to reality. This past weekend I attended my 50th High School reunion and I believe I spent …
Triathlon – Sometimes you get more than you give.
Triathlon may seem it but, it is not a solo sport. OK, technically on race day, you swim, bike, and run yourself through each event and you cross the finish line by yourself. But, before and after that, a support network is a critical component in the triathlon journey. Working with a someone with experience or a …
Continue reading Triathlon – Sometimes you get more than you give.
A Simple Prayer
My first thought was to ask God... I wanted to bring your condition to God and pray for help. But, the more I thought about what I wanted to ask for, the more I realized that maybe my request was better placed elsewhere. So, I'm praying to the one person that I feel can best …
“Big Tom” Ferguson – Old School Lawman
Listed below is the obituary for my great grandfather Chief Constable Thomas Ferguson as posted in the Stirling Observer, Stirling Scotland on Saturday October 19th 1918. What's interesting about this account of his life are the descriptions and references to a time and place when Scottish law and order were still largely entrusted to a …
Old Dogs & New Tricks
Whoever said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" wasn't talking about dogs... Growing up we always had a dog in the house. At one point we had three at the same time, a malamute named Satin, a beagle named Dusty and boarder Collie named Speedy. We fed the dogs table scraps and cans …
Speaking Like Shakespeare ……
Have you ever used a quote or phrase, but were totally unaware how you knew it or where you learned it? There are very familiar ones that are easy to pinpoint like..."O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo"? That's Shakespeare right?? Quoting Shakespeare is often attributed to the more literate among us...but I think you …
Back to being seniors again….
I suppose right now you are wondering if you are going to your 50th High School Reunion. Should you or shouldn't you is completely up to you of course. However, if you are on the fence, I would encourage you to go….or at least consider it. TALK TO EVERYONE AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION Who cares …
Ever wonder about this triple decker?
It is hard to pass by this house on the corner of Putnam Ave and Magazine Street, Cambridge Ma., and not wonder about it as I did growing up. I wondered a lot about it...who built it, what was it like inside and who lived in it? It was across the street and down the …
The Pages of Cambridgeport Memory Wall
Those that view and contribute to the pages of Cambridgeport Memory Wall do so because it reminds us of our hometown. Our neighborhood is a familiar place where we find news about the friends who shared our childhoods, the neighbors who lived next door and the celebrations of time present and past. Hometowns are like …
Anyway the Wind Blows
I'm just now crawling out of a hole called December. Something happens to me every year during the holidays where I just can't keep my motor for exercise burning. My body, mind and spirit quit...and so once again with the help and support of friends and family, I start the climb and the suffering to …
Clubbed Thumb
Clubbed Thumb Club Isaac Newton is quoted as saying the following about the thumb.... "In want of other proofs, the thumb would convince me of the existence of a God; as without the thumb the hand would be a defective and incomplete instrument.... A few years ago my teen aged daughter asked... Dad, did I …
Happy Birthday Marines
Happy Birthday Marines - As is custom during birthday celebrations, a wish is made before blowing out the candles on our cake. It is also a custom not to reveal that wish for fear that it may not come true. My Marine Corps Birthday wish each year has been the same since my 1st at …
Ebb & Flo
LooLoo and I took trip to the beach today. It's a place where we used to play fetch the stick in the waters off of Plum Island. She's on in her years now, sight and hearing are shot but her sense of humor is keen as ever. I swear I can hear her cleaver remarks …
Cursive – Add A Pinch Of Panache
Cursive Writing In or about 2010, school standards were changed in an effort to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live. During this time The Common Core standards were implemented and seemed to spell the end …
Becoming Le Bon Vivant
Le Bon Vivant I had an interesting phone call yesterday with a very close friend who is about to retire. Talking through the logistics of his transition into retirement such as health insurance, social security financials, etc.. we got down to discussing what most impending retirees want to know which is, "what the hell am …
Valhalla Does Not Discriminate
I've read many beautiful stories in response to a writing prompt by Prisimatic-bell about Valhalla not discriminating against anyone. The message was; you can make it into Valhalla regardless of the kind of battle you fought to get there. This is of course contrary to actual Norse mythology, where only those that die in combat go …
Summers In Cambridge
Go Outside And Play ... But, Be Home Before Lights Come On! Back in the 60’s and 70’s kids played outside more often than it seems they do today. The parks, playgrounds, ball field, tennis and basketball courts seemed to run endlessly with back to back games. Those days did not require a parent to …
I think my wife has a hearing problem…
Ever get the feeling that your wife doesn't listen to you ? If so, try this test to find out what her hearing problem is...... When your wife is busy in the kitchen and has her back to you .... stand about about 15 feet behind her. Then in a normal speaking voice ask, Hey …
Happy moments…
I think most people want to be happy. So much so, I believe we spend our days chasing happiness. Some are able to find happy moments everyday, while others find them quite elusive. Happiness is a simple recognition function really. But, for some reason when happy moments show up, the ones where we actually find …
Just A Kid From Cambridge…With A Big Heart.
Kevin David Ferguson was born on March 9, 1958, in Cambridge, Massachusetts to his Dad Donald, and his mother Mary. He had four brothers Lynn, Charlie, John and Donnie. His greatest loves were his daughter Cara his loving wife Lisa DeMella Ferguson. He passed on December 31, 2021, at the age of 64. He was …
Continue reading Just A Kid From Cambridge…With A Big Heart.
No One Is Coming….
No one is coming to push you......No one is coming to tell you to put down your phone.....No one is coming to tell you to exercise.....Parent yourself....push yourself.... Because no one is coming. Quote: Mel Robbins
The Bow Legged Blogger 