your continuing spirit

mind closed to the truth
no longer setting you
free
capturing a moment
when the smile on your face
had an actual element of
truth behind it
but now
nothing more than a hideous
lie
much like the rest
of your life
and the value
you put on truth
and the trust
you place in others
as you continue
to refuse to see
with both of your eyes
closed
open.

Thankful

A time to reflect, as always, on those things that I have to be thankful for.

Rather than list them and possibly leave something out, let me just say that I am thankful for a very abundant and rewarding life and for now having the time I need to truly enjoy it.

I am also thankful for my eyes opening up and seeing all of the bountiful blessings I have in my life. Several times over the years I almost walked away from some of these blessings, for whatever reasons, but today, I realize that what I have is more than enough to satisfy my needs.

I am loved, I am happy and I don't want for a thing.

I have a smile on my face most days and I'm not merely content, I'm truly happy and blessed!

If your eyes happen upon this blog today, I hope you and yours find much to be thankful for and that your blessings are as abundant as mine.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Broken Dreams

It's funny, but before I had a computer, I used to do a lot of writing on scraps of paper or single sheets of paper, fold them up and put them somewhere, and eventually I come across some of those things when I'm cleaning or looking for something else.

This folded up piece of paper was found by me about ten minutes ago as I was doing some fall cleaning here in my den. Wow, it's from 21 years and 2 days ago, and it was written shortly after our son decided he was too grown up for us anymore and he had moved out to be on his own, and suffice to say, it was not a popular move or one that his mother or myself ever really understood or got over.

Funny, things haven't seemed to change all that much where he is concerned, even to this day. He lives his own life with no contact with us, and he keeps his sons away from us by his choice as well.

I used to wonder what I had done wrong, but now, I realize, that it wasn't anything my wife or I had done, but it was his selfishness and his lack of love and respect for us. Funny how selfishness can take away so much from one's life.

I hold no hope for him to ever change, hell, he's going to be 40 years old on his next birthday. Selfishness and self-centeredness is much like a terminal disease, and in most cases an incurable one as well.

I can't help but wonder if he ever stops and realizes what he has not only taken away from himself but what he has deprived my grandsons of having. Somehow I doubt that is the case.

Anyway, like I said, this poem captures feelings I had over 21 years ago, and I decided to post it here so I can throw the original writing of it away in the trash, kind of like our son threw our lives away into the trash all those years ago.


Broken Dreams (written November 15, 1991)

For eighteen years he gave me reason
To get up and face each day.
But now my incentive to live my life full
Has packed up and moved away.

It's not just the fact that he's moved away
That is hurting myself and my wife,
But for some unknown reason we don't understand
We're no longer a part of his life.

Now I know we aren't perfect as all parents aren't,
Although I thought we were better than most.
And that special closeness I thought we all shared,
I imagined it all, I suppose.

I mean what do you say to a son that you love
Probably more than your own life itself?
You can't say, "You'll live here and do as I say,
And damnit, you'll love us or else."

I just hope he realizes we'll always be here
And stand behind him thru good times and bad.
And we're not the bad montsters he thinks that we are,
We're just simply, his Mom and his Dad.

Four More Years

Thankfully, and almost mercifully, the election is over and life can resume in a somewhat state of normalcy.

President Obama and Vice President Biden are secure in their jobs in the White House for four more years, and hopefully Congress can finally put aside political differences and platforms and put the interests and the well being of our nation first and foremost.

Most refreshing will be the absence of political advertisements on television and now we can see more of the things we're used to seeing: Ads for new gimmicks sold "only on tv," viagra and cialis ads, Flo prostituting for insurance and the fabulous Brookfield Lantern, just to name a few.

Congratulations to all the winners and to those who lost graciously. Ladies and gentlemen, you've got a lot of work to do in the next few years. Here's hoping you put America's best interests ahead of you.

Let the games begin!

Regarding Election Day 2012

I'm not going to post anything anyone can perceive to be political, because quite frankly, I don't think political postings are necessary, mainly because you aren't going to influence or change anyones' mind with what you think is necessary to post. What I am going to post about tomorrow's election is simply this:

I don't care who you vote for, I don't care what party you vote for or what candid
ate you vote for. What I do care about is that you simply go exercise your American voice and go vote! Follow what is in your heart, follow what is in your mind, and do so when you pull that lever, punch that button or mark your selection on your ballot. Let your voice be heard and be happy in your heart and mind that you took a few moments to vote for who you think is the right candidate.

No one party has all the right candidates, no one person can change anything by themselves, but you can make a difference when you take the time to vote.


Thanks to you all, and thanks for voting.

The future of our nation is at stake.

Let your voice be heard!

VOTE!!!

DST Fallback

Once again it's time to fall back with the clocks as DST 2012 comes along.

To some of my Faithful Few, this is old news. To those of my Faithful Few that are here in Indiana, it's been a lot of years for us as we have on been back on Daylight Savings Time a few short years now.

Personally, I love it!

Those extra hours of daylight in the summer are most welcome.

Of course, we have those rocket scientists that have since discovered that they don't like it, and they have decided that they might like it if Indiana moves to the Central Time Zone, which, in vast Indiana thinking, is another step backwards. However, they have figured out they can have their daylight hours rearranged back, even with DST, if Indiana steps back to the 20th Century again and moves to the CTZ.

Again, we get to take a giant leap forward and people are then ready to take 3 steps back. And people wonder why Indiana seems to never get ahead.

Regardless of how you feel about it or where you are this weekend, if you are on DST, don't forget to move your clocks back prior to 2AM Sunday, when it will magically become 1AM Sunday.

Seriously, how damned much energy is there to setting a few clocks back, people?

eyes

what he sees
he sees with his heart
he feels it in his soul
and it remains held within
him
never leaving him
never failing him
never departing his grasp
as within himself
his internal eyes
open
and he truly
sees