Chatter

Podcast - Chatter . . .

Just the other day - well, what seems like the other day, Lori brought home a pristine copy of The Readers Digest from December 1966 (35 cents).

The cover is exactly as I remember it, a summary outline of the articles with the corresponding page numbers. This issue boasts 45^th Year: Over 27 million copies bought monthly in 14 languages. That was over 54 years ago!

How she acquired this heirloom is interesting. The Paul Ecke family was featured in an article titled Crimson for Christmas. Paul Ecke III came across boxes of this particular issue that he distributed to employees of the Paul Ecke Ranch.

The trifold cover page featured an ad from Ford, “Mustang 1967 . . . bred first to be first!” With the slogan, “Just in time for Christmas . . . the do-it-Yourself Escape Kit!”

What’s interesting is the First Class Business Reply Postage Paid subscription card in the centerfold reads, “One new Digest gift subscription ONLY $2.”

Yes, in 2020 you can still subscribe to the Digest.

Huh, I’m wondering what would happen if this was mailed in to claim the subscription? With a quick Google search, you can buy a copy of this “collectors” issue from abebooks.com for $25.00 plus $5:00 shipping.

A popular section of the magazine was always; It Pays to Increase Your Word Power. Reviewing the list of words I’m certain young people and for that matter, people of my generation still benefit from this list.

Let’s test your vocabulary: define the word garrulous – is it? A: friendly. B: argumentative. C: talkative. D: senile.

No cheating, I see you pulling out that smartphone. Today, it’s so easy to just say, "Hey Siri what does garrulous mean?"

Provided you're still listening (reading), according to the author Peter Funk the correct answer is C: Tediously talkative, especially about trivialities; as a garrulous old man. Given to excessive and often trivial or rambling talk; tiresomely talkative.

Ok, I get it . . . someone who talks too much about unimportant things. It comes from the Latin root garrire, “to chatter.”

So, it seems I’ve become rather garrulous. Huh, not much has changed really!

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

History Isn’t a Museum

✨ In this episode, History Isn't a Museum—It's a River . . . History isn't a museum—it's a river, and like it or not, we're already swimming in it. Its waters carry timeless lessons forward, flowing through each generation, waiting to be rediscovered . This profound realization struck me while reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . Imagine: a Roman emperor and philosopher two thousand years ago, writing notes that sound like advice from a modern mindfulness coach. When he says, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength," it feels like he's speaking directly to us. The water may change, but the river is the same. Examining this writing with a fresh, childlike perspective and a wealth of experience, I realize how consistent human nature remains over time. Every generation faces familiar challenges, marked by frustration, peace, courage, faith, baseball, and the search for meaning across the ages...

Lessons from 1872

In this episode, Lessons from 1872: Travel in the Age of No-WiFi . . . Imagine having 80 days to explore the world, with no smartphones, no jet planes, and no money concerns. A thrilling thought, right? That’s the fantasy Jules Verne implies in his classic adventure, Around the World in 80 Days , and it's a question I've been pondering from my easy chair in Vista, California. This week’s On the Fly , we're traveling back in time with one of the most thrilling literary adventures ever written. Early on, it’s clear this is Phileas Fogg’s story—a man of clocks and calculations, whose every move is measured. His journey isn’t about discovery, but a bet—a mathematical challenge involving money, schedules, and perfect timing. But when you think he’s the engine of the story, someone else quietly steals the show. Meet Passepartout: The Heart of the Journey. Jean Passepartout, Fogg’s new valet, is Fogg’s complete opposite. A former circus acrobat seeking a quiet life, he joins Fo...

You're Not Stuck

✨ In this episode, You’re not Stuck—you’re in a habit you forgot you built. One bad moment can ruin your day, but one habit can change your life. In this episode of On the Fly , discover how small, daily actions can rewire your mindset, replace negativity with possibilities, and even lift the people around you. Your 7-day challenge starts now. You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just in a Habit. Yes, a single bad moment, a rough headline, or a tense conversation can throw off your entire day. Before you know it, your thoughts are spinning in a hamster wheel of frustration and negativity. Here’s the reality: you don’t have to stay on that wheel. The secret isn’t a lightning bolt of motivation—it’s something quieter but far more powerful: habit. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle. Mindset doesn’t change through grand gestures—it changes through small, repeatable actions . Your brain is constantly building pathways—tiny roads tha...

On The Fly

Search This Blog