OK Solberg: 00:01

Wanna again welcome you to The 405 Coffee Break. You like it to rain? I hope it rains more. Get your cup of coffee, glass iced tea, bottled water. Let's see what's happening.

OK Solberg: 00:11

Spring wheat $6 and 3 pennies. $6.03 before dockage. I wanna tell you this, a steer calf at PAYS in Billings, not just one, 46 head, weighing 589lbs. That's more than 550. 589lbs at $4.90 a pound. And a 100lb fat lamb in Billings, $3 and a nickel per pound. But guys, there's more much more.

OK Solberg: 00:41

Today. Today, a story I found online, and I found it very interesting as I grow older. You remember what I told you, Tom? Nobody lives forever. I looked and I found it, and I'm glad there's someone else out there who thinks like me. Listen now.

OK Solberg: 01:01

And I quote, I'd like to tell you something about something you can't see until one day, and then you can no longer miss it. There was a man, just a man, somewhere between 75 and 80 years old, sitting quietly in a grocery store parking lot.

OK Solberg: 01:26

The engine is turned off. The radio is low. And for a moment, he doesn't move, not because he can't, but because he's remembering. A car door slams nearby another one and then he sees them. Young people, young people, they step out of their vehicles like it's nothing at all.

OK Solberg: 01:49

One foot then the other quick, effortless. Doors swing wide, bodies turn, and off they go. Across the pavement like the ground itself is helping them along, brisk, loose, unthinking. He watches, not with envy exactly, but but with recognition because once, not so very long ago, well, that was him. He remembers hopping out of trucks without a 2nd thought, long strides across gravel parking lots, running in the rain just because, well, it didn't matter.

OK Solberg: 02:29

Knees that didn't argue, hips that didn't negotiate, a back that didn't send warning signals before every movement. He didn't plan his steps back then. He he just took them. Another young man passes by his windshield now, phone in hand, moving fast, not noticing the miracle beneath him. Not noticing the balance, the strength, the quiet coordination of muscle and bone working together without complaint.

OK Solberg: 03:05

And the older man smiles, just a little smile then he says, not out loud, but clear enough to be heard. I wonder if they know that someday they will be wishing for what they now take for granted. This simple extraordinary thing standing up, walking forward, carrying your own weight without thinking twice. Oh, he shifts in his seat now slowly, carefully, one hand on the door, one steady breath before the movement because now every step is a decision, every motion considered, and still he is grateful. But oh, he remembers when gratitude wasn't necessary because it was just normal.

OK Solberg: 03:59

He watches one more couple laugh as they head towards the entrance, arm swinging, steps quick and sheer and he thinks not critically, not bitter bitterly, just thoughtfully. I hope they appreciate it. I really hope they appreciate the freedom of movement that they have at this time. It's a gift that we never say thank you for until it's too late because sometimes the most wonderful things in life are the ones we never think about at all until we have to. The old man opens the door now slowly.

OK Solberg: 04:37

One foot finds the ground, then the other. He steadies himself, stands upright, takes the kink out of his back, and begins his walk towards the store. Not as fast, but hey, I'm doing it and hallelujah, I don't need the walker today. As he enters the store, the grocery store, here's a young boy about 12 dashing, turning, looking behind, and suddenly stopping just before he runs into the old man. The man nods at him.

OK Solberg: 05:12

The boy smiles and yields right away. The man thinks, he's got the world by the tail on a downhill pull, and he doesn't even know it, but I'm happy for him. End of quote, end of story. I like that. Hey.

OK Solberg: 05:31

Did you think I forgot the bible verse? From the book of Job spelled just like Job, Job 32:7 I said, let days speak and many years teach wisdom. Job 32 verse seven.

OK Solberg: 05:50

So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.