South Of Someplace: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Haiku 116

Friends enter your life

When you least expect them to

But it all just clicks

Monday, February 27, 2017

Can't Breathe

Nothing will make me happy

Except holding you in my arms

I can't even breathe when you're not here

Fun For Francophiles - Les Chevaux

I had a nice dinner with a French-speaking family the other evening. It gave me a chance to practice my French, which has unfortunately become a bit rusty.

I had a good time chatting with the children, who ranged in age from six to twelve. I asked them if they had any pets, and we got onto the subject of horses (chevaux, pronounced shuh-VO). Unfortunately, I made a mistake and substituted the word cheveux (shuh-VUH), which means hair. The kids got a good laugh when I started talking about "hair races."

A Better Tomorrow

There's nothing to be done
No battle to be won

Just accept

Where we are

And feel what we feel

As we pray

For a better tomorrow

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Where Did Our Values Go?

After growing up in the Civil Rights era, I don't recognize this country anymore. Where did our values go?

Friday, February 24, 2017

Haiku 115

If I had one wish

I would grant us happiness

All that we deserve

Haiku 114

Concealed in shadows

That's no place to hide your dreams

Dreams are meant to shine

Haiku 113

Frequent flyer miles
When I almost have enough
They seem to expire

Haiku 112

How long does it take

To repair a broken heart?

All our days perhaps

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Haiku 111

No one is to blame

Say you're sorry and move on
This will pass one day

US Attorney General vs. Children

Attorney General - It sounds like a big, important job with expansive and sobering responsibilities.

So what did our new Attorney General do on his first day of his big, important job in his fancy, well-appointed office at the Department of Justice?

He removed protections for trans-gender children, protections that were designed to keep kids from being bullied and beaten up in schools.

This new government is stacked to the rafters with reckless, heartless, self-serving, autocratic bullies who propagate hatred and intolerance as they live and breathe. If you haven't figured that out yet, then shame on you for not caring enough to pay attention.

This is a dark and shameful era in American politics.

Haiku 110

As children we read

Half the night propped up in bed
Let's do that again

Haiku 109

Best to turn away

Than to fight or worse to say

Words you can't take back

Haiku 108

No, it's not too late

Start from where you are right now

Dreams do not expire

Haiku 107

Always best to talk

While wounds can still be treated

One day it's too late

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Haiku 106

When your life gets rough
Don't despair and don't give up
Do something useful

Haiku 105

Always give your best
Treat each client with respect
Stand out from the rest

Haiku 104

Neither brash nor bold

I'm too old for tricks and games

I say what I feel

Haiku 103

Never doubt yourself

You have precious gifts to share

Don't hide them away

Haiku 102

Wond'ring what I missed

I thought we were only friends

Then came that first kiss

Haiku 101

Rain cleanses my street

Dirt and trash flow down the drain

Some sadness remains

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

All You Need To Know

Liberals take care of the weak and advocate for the helpless.

Conservatives take advantage of the weak and demonize the helpless.

That's all you need to know about politics.

New York Minute 52 - Chicken Bone

Walking home from a nice dinner the other evening, I passed a man rummaging through a trash can on the corner. It's not an unusual sight. Every day, I see people sorting through the trash for bottles that they can recycle for money. Occasionally, I'll see someone looking over a discarded item trying to decide whether it's worth salvaging.

But this was different.

The man pulled a "bucket of chicken" container from the trash can and examined its contents. I saw him raise a small chicken bone to his mouth and chew on it, apparently hoping to enjoy a morsel of discarded meat.

It's difficult to comprehend someone struggling with that level of desperation and destitution. Do you think you have problems in your life? Try walking in that man's shoes for a day or two.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Let Go

At some point
You have to let go
Or risk hating the world
Forever

Let go of the pain
And the sleepless nights
Let go of dreams
That have been denied
And look elsewhere
For fulfillment

Then relax
Breathe
And get some rest
Spend some time
In the absence
Of stress

Let go of Frustration
And Disappointment
And enjoy life
At its best

Saturday, February 18, 2017

If You Are Unhappy

If you are unhappy, it's because you're focusing on the wrong things. You are giving the wrong people and the wrong situations priority in your life. Only you can change that.

Friday, February 17, 2017

No Time To Waste

Be happy every day. There's no time to waste.

Keep Breathing

Keep breathing.

Keep working.

Keep caring.

Keep helping.

Keep creating.

Keep living.

Keep loving.

Keep going.

Monday, February 13, 2017

A Valentine Memory

We were doomed. Anyone could have seen it, anyone except for the two of us in our moment of reckless bliss. I had left behind a challenging marriage, and she was headed into one. Somehow we found each other, and for a little while, we managed to enjoy that bliss together.

I saw something that I needed in her, a caring and soft-spoken angel, a stunning beauty with a sensitive soul and a smile warm enough to thaw the most grievously broken heart. She saw something that she needed in me, I suppose - a seasoned soul, a witty charm, a brash but caring distraction to help her forget the troubles in her life.

We socialized with a group of friends but found ourselves drawn to each other. Walking down the street with the others, I pulled her behind a sign and kissed her. It was a heavenly kiss but short, as the friends returned to see where we had gone. Later that night, I kissed her in a club, passionately, endlessly, publicly. Our friends looked on bewildered. We didn't care. We didn't notice. Nothing existed in that moment except two souls finding each other and unleashing months of misspent passion.

It didn't last, or course. At the time, I was a broken soul with years of healing ahead of me. As for my friend, she still had wedding plans. The dress was bought, the hall was booked, the guests were on the way.

I have no doubt that she was a beautiful bride. It's funny, but I still remember the day when she asked me not to show up on a white horse. I promised her that I wouldn't. Today is her anniversary.

For our last date, we rented Casablanca. My friend bore a striking resemblance to Ingrid Bergman, but prettier and with a better body. It was sweet of her to come over to watch the film with me. It was perhaps the most meaningful time that we spent together. Then, as Rick sent Ilsa off to meet her destiny, I sent my beautiful blonde friend away to find her own.

Love is not a simple thing. It defies expectations. It doesn't always show up on schedule or fit into a neat package. I makes us wait patiently, then it rushes in and presents us with a unique set of demands. We either adapt to those demands, or we miss our chance entirely.

When love comes into your life, embrace it, literally and figuratively. Let it work its way into your heart, even if pushes you outside of your comfort zone. That love might die eventually. It might flee. It might fail. And it will most definitely hurt at some point. You can avoid that pain if you choose to, but you'll be avoiding joy and fulfillment as well. This Valentine's Day, celebrate all of the love in your life, the love that lives in your heart now, and the loves that have touched you in the past. Life without love is barely worth living. Don't miss out. Take a chance on love, and it will take a chance on you.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

February Weather

I ran in shorts last night. What the heck happened?

Music Therapy

I need to load my iPad up with my favorite songs and listen to them all day long at full volume. I need some really good headphones.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Put on your bobby socks, boys and girls! We're going back to the 1950's! Just think of the fun that we'll have.

- a new Cold War

- Muslim witch hunts

- censorship

- legalized discrimination against minorities (formerly known as Jim Crow)

- lower pay for women

- limited access to birth control

- dangerous back-alley abortions

- speculative financial markets

- little or no regulation

- gas guzzlers

- all of the pollution that we can possibly handle

So, fire up that hot rod, kids, and don't bother to buckle your seat belts, because we're going on a fateful trip down Memory Lane.

Cholesterol Renegade

Okay, I was very disciplined leading up to my cholesterol test. I exercised. I ate a lot of salads.

Now that it's over, I'm gonna eat stuff! And maybe even treat myself to a coffee! Woohoo! What a renegade!

Attorney General - What's Wrong With This Country?

A racist attorney general! A fucking racist! Is that the America that we live in today?

I thought that we left that hurtful legacy behind in 1964. I guess not. I guess that the Civil War never really ended.

To every Republican senator who voted for this disgraceful nominee, I hope that you choke on your own shit, literally and figuratively. Because that's what you deserve for pulling this once great country back into the darkest of the dark ages.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Betsy DeVos and Republican Bullshit

It's a sad day for America when a major political party is so full of its own bullshit that it appoints and confirms someone as unqualified as Betsy DeVos.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Overcoming Negative Emotions

In the wake of negative events, how can we prevent sadness and other dark emotions from disrupting and dominating our lives? I decided to ponder this question actively. Here are the suggestions that came to mind.

1 - Go to bed early and get plenty of rest. Fatigue weakness you and makes you more susceptible to negative thoughts and emotions.

2 - Count your blessings. Focus on what's good in your life as opposed to what's missing or dysfunctional.

3 - Determine what - and who - is most important in your life. Focus your time and energy on those people and those activities.

4 - Recognize when people are being evasive or hurtful. Refuse to give those people power and priority over your life. You don't have to shut them out completely; just don't let them influence important decisions.

5 - Realize that bright new opportunities lie ahead, but in order to leverage those opportunities when they appear, you must move forward in a proactive way and with a positive mindset.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Why the Muslim Ban is Ludicrous and Counterproductive

Banning Muslims because they might be terrorists is like banning Catholics because they might be mafia hit men.