Life - simple but, always complicated!!

My last blog was about time, and not being promised a tomorrow. How appropiate & timely that in today's life celebration of Kobe & Gianna Bryant, Michael Jordan spoke of living in the moment in his eulogy of those two & the other seven individuals who perished in helicopter crash last month. Spend as much time as you can with loved ones, whenever you can. Michael didn't mention it but, his father was murdered in 1993 at the age of 56. Michael just turned 57.  I had a dear uncle who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58, my mother died shortly after turning 63.  So don't say, next month, or next year if you can do it now. The old adage again, next month or year may not happen, those loved ones may be gone.  Watch Michael's powerful speech, and God Bless Gianna & Kobe. 🙏 ✝. https://youtu.be/-SEiGEbxv5M

TIME ⏰ ⏰ is not a given, It's not infinite,  More time cannot be bought, If not used wisely it will cause regret,  Time cannot be saved for a later day,  It's a precious gift from God,  Some get more,  Some get less,  We don't know when our time has expired,  So treasure your time,  Be generous with your time to others,  Don't bemoan the time gone by,  But, use today's time the best you can.  Tomorrow's time may never come ! 

I really don't have much to write , as the poster sums it up very concisely. We worked hard, but we also had lots of fun. Counted our blessings, if we didn't keep our promises & tell the truth, then the family farm wouldn't have survived. Unsaid , but we loved each other. ! 

February is the birthday month for all four members of AJ SCHMITT & SONS FARM .  On just two dates,  Grandpa  & Dad were born on February 24th. On President Lincoln's birthday, February 12th, Uncle Joe & Uncle Roger were also born. Maybe Grandma wanted to save on birthday cakes and was selective on the days she gave birth. 😆 My childhood home was on the farm , less than a football field distance from the barnyard. That meant in addition to my father, I saw these proud farmers mostly everyday, especially in the growing seasons, when I was in my childhood and adolescent years. They all had a strong positive influence in my life. I was saddened by all of their deaths.  I was also influenced by Grandpa Greiner and Uncle Bub (also my godfather). I saw them often during my childhood, and maintained a relationship throughout my adult years.  Finally, I had a strong relationship with my father inlaw until he died. We talked, played golf, discuss...

Simple, yet powerful !

It made #7 on Today's ESPN Top Ten . Irondequiot vs Webster Thomas. I never had the pleasure of ever making a buzzer beater. Although I did make a few walk offs at the YMCA. 😏 ( https://twitter.com/ aschmitt58/status/ 1226583811863044097?s=03 )

I'm not supporting the beliefs & actions of Ms. Pelosi. She was obnoxious & beyond spiteful on Tuesday night.  The Democrat leadership & her family should convince her to ride into the sunset & not seek reelection in November, or at least give up the House Leadership position .  I think our country is being led into a dangerous divide, never seen before. The pure hate being spewed by both sides of the aisle is not the type of leadership that our youth should yearn to aspire to. It's sad. 1  Timothy 6:9, "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."  We see Timothy's passage coming to fruition today. 😥 Sad state of our next generation , when DJT Jr. mocks a U.S. Senator on instagram. I thought in USA , we are taught to vote our conscience without fear of reprisal. 😲😲 Decorum?  not how I was raised or taught. The saying ...

Yesterday, I attended the Funeral Mass of Bill O'Rourke Jr. who died last week from cancer at the young age of 72. I often attend weekday Mass at St. John of Rochester RC Church where the Mass was celebrated. The Funeral Mass was well attended with family, Webster School district folk, Section V basketball community, & friends. I didn't know Bill much at all. I've always followed local high school basketball and especially Webster basketball, the town I called home for 20+ years. Mr. O'Rourke was a long time Webster educator as a Spanish teacher, basketball coach, and principal. I learned that he and I shared much in common. Loved the game of basketball as players & coaches, my coaching only at the youth levels. We both attended SJFC college, only had daughters as offspring, were faithful in our Catholic religion ( I saw him at both St. Paul's in Webster & SJR), and unfortunately both divorced.  His daughter, Erin, gave a touching remembrance of her Dad....

Shame that many judge me without knowing all the details of an illness that engulfed me & controlled me. Many friends & family forgot the real me , and my values & beliefs that sometimes were ignored due to a terrible & powerful illness. Yet, I clung onto my vow "until death do us part", I didn't quickly abandon when things got really bad or hard. In other words I wasn't the one who quit, I sought help.  I had struggled with illness a couple of times before, but on the opposite pole & much different symptoms. But, I had been in a medical health care center only a few months before for Four weeks, before my partner threw in her cards. Wasn't interested in it for the long run. I found out not the fighter I was. Unfortunately, the other person quit, couldn't stand by a few of the vows.  For better or  worse , in  sickness  and in health, until death.. I don't remember a free get out of vows card ever being issued. 😒😒 I tell you thi...

Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" In an incredible act of compassion, the brother of the black man murdered by white Dallas cop Amber Guyger hugged her and offered her forgiveness Wednesday as she was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Victim Botham Jean’s brother, Brandt Jean, was reading a victim-impact statement in the Texas courtroom when he broke off and asked the judge if he could hug Guyge.

Nice to know , but I wonder if I die in a similar manner on a Sunday morning will it also be reported that I had attended Mass & received communion. The media gets a bit out of control, by reporting truly irrelevant facts about celebrities. My father received Holy Communion & last rites hours before he died. How do I know? Because I went into the hospital & grabbed a priest, I was only one who shared the Eucharist with him. Mark 3: 31- 35. Yet, less than two weeks later my actions that day did not matter to family, as I was locked out of a shared family home. No sorrow for those actions by many responsible. I do believe my actions were family love, not sure about being barred from a family home.  🙏 😥 But, guess what?  I did not communicate my Dad receiving last rites  to people at the funeral home , nor with the priest who officiated at his funeral. He was a man of faith, not a saint. Yes, it is a tragedy that Kobe , Gianna, & 7 others perished at ...

Ah, Raffi ! When my daughters were very, very, young; Raffi's music cassettes were usually playing in our home, or in the van on road trips. 🎶 😊 . His music & songs never got old. I'm happy to hear he is still entertaining many. Oh yeah, we also had his VHS tapes to watch. https://youtu.be/-CSxGHve60E https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raffi-songs-for-the-very-young-and-young-at-heart/

Parvas, Stone, Manafort, Collins, Cohen. Remember when your parents told you; When we were younger, we were most likely warned by our parents to be careful of whom we choose to spend our time with. They said this in reference to the way others would judge us in accordance to our friends, in addition to the influence our friends would have upon us. The type of people you surround yourself with speaks of your values and what you stand for. We have all heard of the concept of being guilty by association, the act of people associating your behaviors and thoughts with the people you hang out with. If one of your friends acts in a negative way, you will be lumped in with him or her. Despite if this is true or not, it is all based on perception. Regardless if you believe yourself to be an altruistic person, a time may come when your bad company starts to influence your good behavior. I heeded this advice, it's apparent not all who are in leadership positions do. 😲😲 What you leave behind...

"Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ― Benjamin Spock, pediatrician All true , all good. It's the best times of your life, frustrating -yes, rewarding - infinite.  ---  AJS   III

January 2020 In the fall of 2018, I got up in front of group of 75-80 men at a weekend retreat and gave a 2-3 minute talk about the perils & destruction of depression. It wasn't easy, but I needed to share. It has caused much destruction in my life, but we all have destruction in our lives.  What is important is that I recovered from the destruction & perils, many abandoned me, so be it, but it was my talk therapy, faithful medical professionals, proper medication and most of all my FAITH in GOD that got me through the despair & darkness of depression. That was the message I was trying to convey. FAITH is our rock. Read on... FINDING LESSONS IN BIPOLAR DEPRESSION BY Melody Moezzi Battling depression includes working with your doctor, paying attention to your sleep hygiene, eating healthy, exercising regularly—and, above all, fighting self-doubt. I’ve always believed in setting high expectations: in school, work, relationships—everywhe...

Herman Boone, Coach Portrayed in ‘Remember the Titans,’ Dies at 84 Mr. Boone led the T.C. Williams High School Titans to a state championship in 1971, his first season as head coach. By Sandra E. Garcia Dec. 19, 2019 Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Herman Boone, who led a racially integrated high school football team in Virginia to a state championship in his first season as head coach and was later portrayed by Denzel Washington in the Disney movie “Remember the Titans,” died on Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Va. He was 84. The cause was lung cancer, according to Anthony Henderson, a son-in-law. In 1971, Alexandria’s three public high schools were merged into T.C. Williams High School. Mr. Boone was hired by the Alexandria school board as the head coach for the football team, the Titans. “He handled that coaching year with dignity,” said Wayne Sanders, 64, who was a running back on the school’s junior varsity team that year. “He was the right man for that year because of his coaching style...

I've only resided in one state my entire life, The Empire State aka New York State. The reason is basically out of happenstance & inertia. I was born on Long Island and I had a great childhood in Farmingdale. & Melville. The island had lots to offer, open space, fantastic beaches, close proximity to NYC and all its culture & entertainment venues, and  lots of family & friends. I was fortunate to grow up on a farm, and at that time agriculture still was prevalent on LI. Then went to college in Rochester NY, Western NY. The first time I was west of the Catskills was on my college visit. College was good. I got a good job in Rochester after college, met a beautiful girl, married, bought a house, had two beautiful daughters..etc.  But, now I'm not in a career job. My daughters are married and far away.  It's true cost of living and taxes are high, winters can be harsh. I think it's time to scout more suitable places to reside as I enter the last third of my ...

It's about honoring and respecting those who supported you & got you to reach your goals in life. What a wonderful gesture by George, I can't think of a better honor. That young man will go far in life, as he recognizes at an early age that you never do it without those who sacrificed everyday for you. God Bless !  https://youtu.be/0WOzIQYS2nw

A Walk down Memory Lane October 11, 2010                                                                                                                      Farmingdale, NY     Tony Schmitt (the younger one) It was a beautiful fall night this past Friday, a perfect night for a high school football game under the lights.  Earlier that day I had checked the paper, and saw that Farmingdale High School was playing Oceanside. My father’s house is about a mile away from Farmingdale HS, so I decided to get some exercise and take a walk to the game. I had not been to a Farmingdale football game in over 35 years. Actually, the last high school game I saw on Long Island was in 1977,...

Someone asked the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, “ Is there anyone richer than you in the world ?” Bill Gates replied, “ Yes, there is a person who is richer than me.” He then narrated a story. “It’s during the time when I wasn't rich or famous. I was at the New York Airport when I saw a newspaper vendor. I wanted to buy one newspaper but found that I don't have enough of change. So I left the idea of buying and returned it to the vendor. I told him of not having the change. The vendor said, “ I am giving you this for free.” On his insistence I took the newspaper. Coincidentally, after 2–3months, I landed at the same airport and again I was in short of change for a newspaper. The vendor offered me the newspaper again. I refused and said that I can't take it for I don't have a change today too. He said, “ You can take it, I am sharing this from my profit, I won't be at loss.” I took the newspaper. After 19 y...