First of all, to all those who celebrated father’s day here in the US yesterday, Happy Father’s Day! And as a first time grandfather let me add, Happy Grandfather’s Day! For me, it really is a special time for self reflection, looking back, and at the same time, looking forward.

Every Father’s Day, my first thoughts focus on my own dad, Harry Kraemer Sr., a very special guy and one of my best friends. I owe so much of my values and purpose to my dad and mother, Patricia Kraemer.

As a father of five children, I feel truly blessed. Suzie, Andrew, Shannon, Diane and Daniel really make life very special. They are always full of surprises, including breakfast yesterday morning.

If being a father isn’t amazing enough, how do I explain how incredible it is to become a grandfather for the first time? Before I became a grandfather, since I have five children, I wasn’t sure what the big deal was. However, ever since I became a grandpa to Harrison eight months ago, I must admit it truly is a VERY big deal.

For example, my children have accused me of taking more photos of Harrison in eight months than all five of them combined in the last 35 years… And I’m pretty sure they’re right. 🤣😁😁

However, and in an attempt to defend my behavior, look at the photo below. Can you blame me?

On another topic…I believe it is incredibly important to study and understand the issues and establish an educated perspective. However, if you only focus on all of the issues and troubles in the world, it is easy to become overwhelmed. In that perennial drive towards BALANCE, I believe it is also important to make time to relax, enjoy some comedy, and cultivate a healthy sense of humor. In that spirit: A good friend of mine who is currently living in Shanghai sent me a list of funny quotes from a comedian whom I had never heard of named Steven Wright (thanks, Mike!). After reading through the list and laughing so hard that I started crying, I found a link to a YouTube video that you may also enjoy.

(Remember to have a sense of humor!!!)🤣🤣🤣🤣

Comedy Quotes from Steven Wright:

  • I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Borrow money from pessimists — they don’t expect it back.
  • Half the people you know are below average.
  • 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
  • 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
  • A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
  • A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
  • If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.
  • All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.
  • The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
  • I almost had a psychic girlfriend, ….. But she left me before we met.
  • OK, so what’s the speed of dark?
  • How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?
  • If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
  • Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
  • When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
  • Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
  • Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.
  • I intend to live forever … So far, so good.
  • If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
  • Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.
  • What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
  • My mechanic told me, “I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.”
  • Why do psychics have to ask you for your name
  • If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
  • A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
  • Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
  • The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
  • To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
  • The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
  • The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.
  • The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.
  • Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don’t have film.
  • If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
  • If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

And here’s a video from Steven Wright’s first appearance on the Johnny Carson show (yes, I said Johnny Carson for you old-timers) 40 Years ago!!!

Balance | Blog | Self Reflection