We can complain all we want about gas prices. We can't go places as we want. Our fast pace style of living must slow down. We can't afford to go 100 miles an hour. We can blame it on a wide variety of reasons. Political rhetoric is off the charts. Let's stop. How can we use this for our good?

My granddaughter Faith Cator made an idea jar a couple of days ago. It was painted like a strawberry with Summer Ideas across the front. One of the ideas was to camp in their backyard. Everyone family member had to be in a tent. It will be fun to see what they do for entertainment that doesn't cost an arm and a let.

On Sunday, a woman at Chinook came up to me and introduced herself. Her son swam against Henry, and she was excited because they were becoming such good friends.

A friend of mine traveled to Havre for the first time in two months. She said she almost felt overwhelmed! We laughed, but honestly, it's expensive to go anywhere.

That got me thinking. Every family should make a Summer Idea Jar. Have the kids join in on the fun. Ideas must be realistic and cheap.

Every once in a while, someone will mention that the Mountaineer used to have columns like Out South East, Around Town, Box Elder West, Warrick and Dog Creek, South Prairie, and Prairie City Breezes. They were columns where the reporter told what was happening during the week. Like the Miller family had company from Box Elder. So and so celebrated a birthday. They told of machinery breakdowns and card game parties. I was mentioned because I had visited a neighbor. I remember when Ruth and I would leave on a whim and visit a neighbor and drink ice tea.

Let us take the lessons learned from our past. Invite friends over. Try cooking new foods. Have theme parties. Honestly, this could be one of the best summers if we spend a few minutes making a Summer Idea Jar. It will be great to connect once again. Stop all your doing, run over to a friend's house for half an hour, and drink tea. (Summer ice tea is easy and cheap to make.)

Stay home and enjoy a slowed down simple life.