If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words……

I was recently made aware of a quote which stated that the acronym DEI should stand for “Didn’t Earn It.”  Well.  Hehehe. This is too easy. 

With respect to Pete Hegseth and his service to this country (thank you), these are the poster children  for DEI. Ironically, none of the gentlemen pictured support DEI initiatives. Their boss is doing his best to convince America that DEI is bad for the country.  The same boss who appointed these lesser qualified individuals to positions they have not earned and that they do not deserve. I am certain that there are more qualified people for these respective offices. In actuality these men would not have even qualified for Affirmative Action……

Choose wisely.

I started posting to this site in 2019. I steered clear of any political views since 2023. However, out of respect for all of the veterans and federal workers  I thought I’d share these words. I do not know the author but I appreciate his right to freedom of speech.

Forever cry lonely sleep

Broken thoughts only thinking

Time for a poor heart to mend

Hopes and dreams rising, sinking

Each day I breath a new life

Each night I dream a new sorrow

My dreams will never say why

Good things don’t come tomorrow

One thousand smiles passed me by

Yet all these frowns are still here

One smiling face lasts one day

One teardrop lasts for ten years

My song is all that I have

My song is all I live for

And if I had just one more life…….

I’d still need so many more

Most people prefer sunny days over rainy days. Save for maybe farmers and meteorologists most of us do not wish for rain unless it is “convenient” for us.

Likewise, most people prefer sunny days over cloudy days. Count me among those people. But……..I think cloudy days are underrated. I think overcast days are misunderstood.

In my generation most kids spent a good deal of time outside. Unlike the times of the most recent generations of adolescents there was more to do outside the confines of home. But ask any person of any age and most will speak fondly of fair weather fun outdoors.

My appreciation for cloudy or overcast days began in my childhood during the Fall season on a day similar to this one. I knocked on the doors of my neighborhood friends and none would or could come out to play because it was cloudy and “might rain”. So, I grabbed my football and remote controlled planes and went to “the field”. Kicked and threw the ball around, ran with the ball avoiding imaginary defenders. Flew my planes until they ran out of fuel. The peace and quiet of those solitary overcast days left a lifelong impression on me.

To this day I still enjoy being outside on a cloudy fall day. Time seems to slow down just bit. The air is crisp. Your senses are heightened. The background noise is subdued. Most other people are indoors. Try it for yourself. Do not take your phone. No texts. No email. No alerts. No notifications. No messages. No likes. No tweets. No calls. No FaceTime or Meets required.

Go out and take a walk amongst the clouds. Just listen to the silence and you will hear your true voice speaking to you. And don’t be surprised if you develop your own appreciation for life between the sun and the rain.

You know,  sometimes life will teach you lessons that you didn’t know you needed.  And said lessons may come at a time not expected.

I have lived for more that five decades and through parts of two centuries (I just like saying that..).  All of my life I have been the emotional and mental support for those close to me. While I have faced life challenges just as the rest of us I have been blessed to be the person who others seek to talk to.

Well, a few months ago I told my wife that my brain felt like it was moving. My thoughts just kept going and going and as soon as I finished one thing I had to do the next thing.  I couldn’t rest.  Thought it was anxiety but turned out to be overactive synapse activity. There is actually a name for it but it’s too damn long to spell or remember.

Remedy: doctor said to feed my Spirit and soul. So I took a class. And then I got an idea. I started playing electric bass at 16 years old. Mostly self-taught until around age 30.  A lesson with one of the more accomplished players helped to expand my knowledge and accelerate my development. Sooo…..

I recently started playing guitar, right?  Right. Why not take guitar lessons?  Why not?  I don’t want to wait for 14 years like I did with the bass.

One of my sons plays in a band  with a great young guitarist who offered lessons at my leisure. I took him up on his offer today and my playing showed immédiate benefits.  Thank you Tyler Bartram! Thank you for showing this old dog that it’s never too late to learn new guitar tricks.

It’s extremely rare for me to have enough leisure time to practice music. Even more so to find time to practice multiple instruments.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away I was once actually in my twenties.  Single. No kids. Days lasted forever. So did my energy…  I can recall working from 8am to 4pm, working out from 4:30 until 6pm, going to class from 7pm until 9pm and going home to practice bass, guitar and keyboard from 10pm until midnight.  Five days a week! Completed all my class assignments on the weekends to free up the weekdays. On occasional summer nights I would go for a midnight spin just to enjoy the freedom and the breeze.  A late night snack was a usually a part of the journey. Hehe…..

Fast forward to the current galaxy and time. I barely have the time to THINK about what I want to do let alone DO IT! Seriously.  I usually have dinner with my family around seven and by the time I start the evening activities it is already 9pm. A couple of phone calls later and its 10:30.  Without even realizing it I am lying on the bed wondering where the time went. And I’m yawning…….

So imagine my surprise when today, after a few appointments, I arrived home a little early. Got my chores out of the way. Got a “50 Year Old Man Workout” in. And I wasn’t tired. 7:30pm. Man I turned on some music and played my bass for the first time in a couple of years.  WHAT? Learned three new songs too. I ain’t playin’ wit’chall! Still wasn’t tired. 9:30pm. Grabbed my guitar!?! Boy this shit ready get real! First time in what, maybe 30 years, that I picked my bass and my guitar on the same day. Hell, I might even hop in the car and take a midnight ride tonight.

Hold on for a second………I just  had to yawn. Hold on. One more yawn. That’s enough with this guitar. Almost 10 o’clock. Aw’ man I’m tired. What do I have to do tomorrow?

I hear myself breathing, restless with no creative thoughts, all the while trying to slow my mind.

Yet the instance that I close my eyes and count the time, darkness awakens me, closing from behind.

Sounds, whispered in the air, speak beauty in the hopelessness, I wonder but where.

So much of everything to do and to say, so much thought gone awry, proving the soul of my conscience to be uncommonly bare.

There, in that space, in that time, in that place, hands cry out, empty, no feeling to spare.

Restless, motionless, continually moving, with no wonder at all of the cost or how much the fare.

What a difference a year makes, what a difference the time it takes. Both everything and nothing seem the same.

Confusing choices ambiguous faces, too much time to pretend to be gracious.  Entire world exists in a single window pane.

Wanting nothing you already have, needing more than you ever will.  The future calls with broken sounds and broken voices.

Such a difference a journey makes, any difference a turn can take.  Always the same, infinite and random the choices.

Miles away from everywhere, finding your place not anywhere. Who will die first your future or your past

Such a life a death can take, but what a difference a life can make. Always the same, forever and at last.

Yesterday was Saturday. Friday was two days ago. You’ve been at this place in time more than a thousand times. And yet, each time one fades away you still cannot believe how fast time goes by. No matter how much gets accomplished in a weekend there is always more that needed to be done.

Despite your best efforts, the inevitable end of the weekend comes around to remind you of just how precise it keeps time. It never changes. It is never too late, always either early or right on time. Ready to cast it’s shadow whether you are ready or not…

So, here I am. Covered by the latest weekend’s shadow. Wondering how I put so little into sooo much time, or so much into sooo little time. Either way….

Once again covered by the weekend’s shadow. Counting the hours and wishing that time goes by.

The human brain is considered the most advanced living organ on earth. Consider all of the accomplishments of mankind over just the last sixty years. And remember that for advanced as computing and artificial intelligence have become, they are creations of the human mind.

Which leads me to ask these questions: How can the most  advanced human organ be so vulnerable?  How can we as a people be so susceptible to external influence?

For as intelligent a species we are history provides numerous examples of times when the human brain inexplicably falls under an undeserving influence.

As Americans we sometimes don’t know or recall our history. I submit this name: Father Devine. 

If you are so inclined please read the unlikely and remarkable story of Father Devine. It is a fascinating insight into how the human mind can be manipulated against its own better judgement.