A Stolen Meme...or whatever the bloggers call it!

Stolen from Janet, the countess of the Woods.....


1. Five names you go by:
a. David
b. Bossman
c. da'Wizard
d. "hey Dad"
e. "Gilbert"

2. Three things you are wearing right now:
a. Salem College sweatshirt
b. Blue Jeans
c. Pink Floyd boxers

3. Two things you want very badly at the moment:
a. a new job
b. supper

4. Three people who will probably fill this out:
Who Cares?

5. Two things you did last night:
a. Cooked supper
b. Walked the dogs

6. Two things you ate today:
a. "Hunter's Soup" from Oak Ridge's Soup Kitchen
b. Cheese crackers (supper is not ready yet)

7. Two people you last talked to on the phone:
a. Mom
b. Official from the Department of Energy (DOE)....don't ask, don't tell!

8. Two things you are going to do tomorrow:
a. Suffer through a DOE Audit
b. Work through production issues

9. Two longest car/bike rides:
a. Car ride from Atlanta to Colorado Springs, CO.
b. Car ride to Maine from Oak Ridge, Tennessee

10. Two of your favorite beverages:
a. Sam Adam's Summer Ale
b. Blue Mountain coffee

Gilberts-The Next Generation (For Dad)

December 7, 2000 was a day I will never forget. I remember the phone call, to my wife from my sister-in-law, Michelle.......you had left us.

You were cutting wood, in preparation for the annual Christmas gathering of the families.......and it ended.

Stash notified Mom and my world went into a spin.

As an adult, I knew the day would come when I would lose a parent....but one can never expect it when it happens.

Since that day I have also lost a brother.....it's been a long road, but I hope to see you both some day.....just not today.

As I prepare for yet another Holiday, I long for the days when I heard you "clapping" in the living room, adding wood to the fire or just sitting in your chair....watching the young ones run around the house anticipating "White Elephants", stockings, gifts and the bountiful food displayed in the kitchen.

My hometown, as I knew it, is gone. My home, as I knew it, is gone.

And I now can fully understand what "losing a kid" to the world really means! My kids are grown and doing well.

Lorien is in Philadelphia and won't be home for Christmas. I remember the cards from you and Mom when I was in France during Christmas 1979.....my first holiday away from home, thanks to the US Navy. I can understand how you two felt as you spent Christmas without one of your own.

Carly is a senior at East Tennessee State University and will graduate next year. She's planning a career in teaching...but she's been planning this since age 3! She will be home this year, for Christmas....but this too will probably pass......




Terri continues teaching and I continue working.........


We miss you, Dad.....and I can assure the next Generation of Gilberts are onboard.....we will continue the legacy you left us all.....

Peace, my friend! And say hello to Mark and Stash!

I love you, Dad!

David

Jesus in the Bathroom

And there's not too many blog postings out there with such a title.

We have a small bathroom just off from the living room. It is usually decorated with whatever the season or holiday is currently in session.

This year we've added a little "saving grace" to the much-used room for those who happen to sample and/or endulge in my homemade salsa.



Upon careful viewing, it appears that we have also included a smaller Nativity set....for those who endulged a bit TOO much in that salsa....and are praying for the pain to end soon!




Pray hard.....and may everything come out "peacefully"!

da'Wizard

Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone

The morning after has to be the worst......

A lonely bed, within a lonely house.....

The cats wander, as they do, and seek the comforting hand for food......

The dogs bark, with the familiar sound of a car in the driveway.........

The papers lay in the driveway.....awaiting the 5AM gatherer of news......

The mail nestles itself in it's enclosed box....waiting for the next opening......

The plants long for water....and water is not found.........

The dishes, from the night before, are left in the sink.........


I often think of life after me........and I have to!

I don't wish to pass my burdens on to my wife........for she is such a loving being.

But death does not discriminate..........

I'll try to negotiate the final dance, but it's a dance I'd like to pass on......


And the last dance is on me........as Jackson Browne said....."the last dance we dance..... .....is alone....."

da'Wizard

An Injured Baby Deer

I watched a deer family walk slowly across my front yard tonight. And it was sad.

A family of deer (two mothers and two fawns) that my wife and I have enjoyed for the last few months, crossed my path once again.....but this encounter hurt.

One of the fawns had an obvious leg injury. She limped across my front yard as I stood and watched. And the look in her face, as she looked at me in curiosity, saddened me. She almost cried out for help....but what could I do? Her mother and fawn companion, encouraged her to keep walking. They knew I was no danger. While they huddled together in the front yard, I scrambled to get some cracked corn out in the yard. The injured, youngster watched as I spread some feed.

As I walked away, I could see the "Family" gather towards the food......and the healthy ones stood back as the injured young one ate some much needed food.

I don't hold out much hope for this child......one that has been a frequent visitor to my yard. But a needed meal and a shared and loving glance, from me to her, made me feel I had offered some hope for her.

At LEAST she knew that not all humans are bad.

But I STILL hurt for this child....and the mother who will likely lose her child.

And I have to say, my eyes watered as I watched that injured child limp away......as a parent, I couldn't help but to cry........

The injured one looked back at me, as she crossed the street into her next yard, as if to say thanks.....I just nodded, wiped back a tear, and went inside my warm home.

On this cold evening, I hurt for that child......

da'Wizard

Brought to you by the Letter "P"

I was challenged by the Countess of the Woods to list 10 of my favorite things that begin with the letter "P"......I promise to keep this clean but it goes against my natural instincts!

My List

1. Pound Cake...more specifically Almond-Cream Cheese Pound Cake. This is my seasonal baking speciality. The recipe follows:

Almond Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 (8-oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract + 2 tsp. Almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. salt

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Add vanilla, mixing well.
Combine flour and salt; gradually add to flour mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.
Fill a 2-cup, ovenproof measuring cup with wter; place in oven with tube pan.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool completely on wire rack.
Yield: 1 (10-inch) cake.


2. Pink Floyd-One of the greatest Rock 'n Roll bands of our time. Their music and lyrics have yet to be matched and their artistic ability to take every day sounds and morph them into great music is amazing.

3. Pickles-I am a lover of dill pickles and have the reputation (in the family) of giving every young child their first dill pickle. I also make my own pickles.

4. Tom Petty-Another one of my all-time favorite musicians. He has remained true to what Rock 'n Roll was meant to me....along with his Heartbreakers.

5. Peppers-I am a grower of peppers and make my own salsa...now a world famous necessity for gatherings of all types!

6. Plagarism-da'Wizards spouse is a high school English teacher and often challenges me to prove or disprove plagarized writings from her students. Yea, Google!

7. Plants-Most of my life has be spent growing various types of plants (orchids, succulents, African Violets). The struggle is protecting them and giving their babies nice homes to live and thrive. da'Wizard's spouse, however, is a murderer of plants, so there is a life-long struggle to keep her classroom "Green".

8. Pussy Cats-Yea, you just THOUGHT I was going there! Bad people! I love cats and their unique personalities....da'Wizard's spouse does NOT like cats......no way!

9. Photography-As my family and friends will tell you, I love photography. This goes way back to high school. I purchased my first 35mm and became the head photographer for our high school yearbook. I never let my interest get set aside. I publish my photography, now, at:


10. Pecan Pie-I am a lover of da'Wizard's spouse's Pecan Pie....and it's that time of year! Sorry....no recipe here....SHHHHHH! It's a family secret!

Bonus

Promise-It is my hope that America has evolved, matured and grown-up. Today is election day and change is needed for our nation to continue in her quest for freedom. I certainly hope you voted.......

Fun Questions to Think About

Stolen from Janet!















1. If you could have a super power what would it be?

All the powers that the nose twitching Samantha had in “Bewitched”.

2. If you could be a ruler of any country which would it be?

Spain….I’ve always loved the Spanish culture.

3. If you could live a movie in a real life which would it be?

Lord of the Rings…..more specifically Bilbo’s Home!

4. If you could play a professional sport which would it be?

Baseball…hands down!

5. If you were to be stuck on Desert Island and allowed only one food which food would it be?

Lasagna, with Garfield as my companion.

6. If you could hang out with a famous person for a day who would it be?

John Lennon…..what’s up, dude?

7. If you had to give up one of your five senses which would you choose?

Tough one here……with my love of gardening, photography and music, this eliminates a few. I’d say the sense of touch.

8. If you could witness an historical event which would it be?

Quite easy for me…..the beginning of time…..Big Bang or Something Else?

9. If you could have written any book which would it be?

The Bible……many corrections needed in that document.

10. If you had to live somewhere besides where you live right now where would it be?

Alaska, if I could afford it…..AND if I could stand the temps!

11. If you could be an animal what would it be?

A cat….I like their attitudes!

12. If you had to go and take a class for a week to learn how to do something new what would it be?

How to play a mandolin….love the sound of the instrument but it doesn’t jive with my knowledge of the guitar.

The Future is NOW!

Get Out and VOTE!

Obama for the future....OUR Future!

Obama

It's time for change!

Origins

I am from front yard, summer time baseball games and a lazy moving creek……from rope swings hung from majestic oak trees and baseball cards hung on bicycle tire spokes by wooden clothes pins.

I am from the homes of brick in suburbia and the country, from woodlands spreading to the end of my own imagination.

I am from the iris and salsa, the Christmas cactus and bright flower petals for the season.

I am from oyster stew at Christmas and brown hair and brown eyes, from Matthew and Tabitha and Gilbert.

I am from the Southern conservatives and endless, unnecessary fighting yet I am conservative no longer.

I am from Grandmama running away from school to escape a paddling and wood fairies that flutter down from Maples in the fall.

I am from Southern Baptists and Wednesday night suppers at church....from Sunday School teachers who didn't like or understand The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doobie Brothers, Dan Fogelberg or Bob Dylan.....the poets of my lifetime in this place.

I'm from Atlanta and Europe, Georgia and Tennessee; Lithonia and Oak Ridge... and fried catfish caught on the same day and Brunswick stew.

From the dad who, as a kid, stole watermelons from the farmer down the hill and cooled them in the creek, the grandfather who lived alone and sober after drinking his marriage away.

I am from the shoebox of photos, an ancient lock and key from a fallen brother’s treasure chest, a necklace whose twin was lost to a forgotten girlfriend, a wooden slide rule used by a father struggling with engineering and a key to a home I can never enter again.

Seldom the Silence, but 3AM



There is not a more peaceful time in my world but 3AM














It is crisp and fresh from the cooler morning airs flowing quietly into the new day
It is a virgin present for a new day’s dawn
It is as quiet as a whisper
Beckoning all to awake
And taste the new day

But few can see this time of day
Few can understand the making of a day
The darkness as it molds with the coming of daylight

The songs of the tree frogs
The chirping of the unseen bugs in the trees
The quiet footsteps of the deer
And the soft, fluttering of the wings of the night moths

There is not a more peaceful time in my world………

But 3AM!

If I Were Me

If I were me, I’d think about the seasons
Are they there for a reason?
What changes can I expect?

If I were me, I’d spend more time at home
Wandering in my gardens
And exploring the wonders of rain

If I were me, I’d listen to the music
The poets of today
Telling me how it is

If I were me, I would taste all the flavors
And criticize none
For a flavor serves it purpose to someone

If I were me, I would talk to my dogs
And listen to their stories
Of life inside a fence

If I were me, I’d walk with my cats
To see the things they see at night
And feel the things they feel

If I were me, I’d look in the mirror
And question where I’ve been
And where I was meant to be
And where do I go from here

I AM me….but what if I were Me?

Hope on an Empty Page

Hope on an Empty Page

Empty rooms and empty beds
Remnants of what was a family

Pages of writings from years gone by
And thoughts of a daily feeling

Now stored in cardboard boxes
Surfacing at a later date

Pictures of travels and family affairs
In old and worn shoe boxes

Stuffed animals longing for a hug
Looking for love and a place to call home

Living animals, longing for the comfort of youth
And periodically this comes

Seasons change…from summer to fall
And daily routines adjust to the change

But is the adjustment really there?

Perhaps

Perhaps......

Perhaps, one day, we can come together
Or reach an agreement to reconcile

Perhaps.....

Perhaps, one day, we can agree to disagree
Or respect each others' opinion

Perhaps.....

Perhaps, one day, we can look at each other, face to face
And color will have no bearing......

Perhaps.....

Perhaps, one day, we can listen to John Lennon....
And understand....

Perhaps.....

IMAGINE...........

Through My Father's Eyes

Through My Father’s Eyes

I often drift away, as I ponder my life
And try to see the world through my father’s eyes

What did he see when he looked upon his sons?
Did they grow up as he planned or was there something else?

He left us far too early and I never got the chance to ask.
Is he still looking now?

And does he approve?
Does he wear a smile or a frown?

He often sat in his chair and watched the activities around him……
His sons playing guitars and laughing at their mistakes…..
Their wives sitting in the living room, around the fire….
His grandkids running around the house…..
Looking for treasures and secrets hidden by their fathers……
His own wife, busy in the kitchen trying to serve up her finest dinner
And the never-ending football game on the television……..

This was Christmas in Georgia…….and only a faded memory

Reflecting on the Half-Century Mark-Part 1

In 5 days I turn 50. I really never thought I'd make it this far....had I known, I would have noticed more of the things around me and ignored the stressful days.

In looking back, there are things I've seen that my own children never experienced. It's nothing like the generation before me, but the world has changed before my eyes....

To quote one of my favorite artists...Jackson Browne...from his song "These Days".....

"These days I sit on corner stones, count the time in quarter tones 'til 10....my friend....please don't confront me with my failures....I'm aware of them."

Now on to the list......or the things I've seen.

My first true memory of childhood, other than play time, was the killing of President John F. Kennedy. I was 5-years old but I can still remember the announcement over the PA system at Wadsworth Elementary School in Decatur, Georgia. "Teachers please excuse this interruption.....President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas, Texas. We will update you as we learn more." I later learned at home that the President had died. While I watched the news that week, I was scared. And then I watched his accused assassin shot on live TV. Welcome to childhood....and the TRUE beginning of what we now refer to as "The 60s". All hell broke loose!



















The next year was more of a year of mourning......and then The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show...on a Sunday night! Now what was I doing home on a Sunday night instead of at Woodlawn Baptist Church? I suspect my parents knew there was something new and exciting.....and we stayed home to see it. Now you couldn't hear the music for all the screaming girls, but right there my life changed. Music would always be with me....and today that feeling is still there. I don't believe (or know) if my parents ever really liked The Beatles or appreciated what they did for music, but I can assure you I was never told "No" when I asked for their latest album or 45 (if you know what a 45 is, you're part of "My Generation").


















The years passed on....Johnson was now President, the war in Viet Nam (so far away) was escalating. I can remember each night watching Walter Cronkite close out his news broadcast by citing the number of dead Americans, South Vietnamese and the North Vietnamese. Of course, the enemy's count was always higher.....of course.

And 1967 entered the picture. We moved from the suburbs of Atlanta to the country...Lithonia, Georgia. Ok, it was only 20 miles away, but we had trees, woods and lots of land. On my first day of school, at Stoneview Elementary, I met a black guy named Ellis. Integration had taken place in Lithonia and this was my first experience with having blacks in my class (sheltered life, huh?). Now please don't criticize me for calling African Americans "blacks"....this was acceptable in 1967. Ellis and I became friends, as did his mother and mine through PTA....and remained so througout our school years. It was a difficult year for me because I missed all my friends from Decatur, Georgia but that passed quickly with Saturday morning baseball games in my front yard, treks in the woods to the creek...and the discovery of the old graveyard!

Enter 1968. Rock n' Roll music had taken over the airways. "Quixie in Dixie" was THE radio station (AM of course) and the hot tunes were always played. WSB, my parent's station, always played at home, but we were allowed to listen to OUR music when we were in the car. And then....April 4, 1968.

Dr. Martin Luther King was shot down in Memphis, Tennessee. I have to admit that I was only slightly familiar with Dr. King's activities, but I learned a great deal about the man that year. And to this day, I will always admire his stand and character. He remains today one of my heros...and idols.










May 1968 past quickly and we were heading into June and summer vacation. And then the news struck hard. Robert F. Kennedy had been shot in a Los Angeles Hotel after winning the Democratic Primary in that state. Bobby, as our generation referred to him, was to be the next JFK and the hopes of ending the war in Viet Nam rode on his shoulders. If a 10-year old can be depressed, I was that year. Two of the people I most admire today were gone.



















Later that summer, a war was waged against the youth of America. We (ok, we being those older than me, but I was supporting them) had turned on the older generation, the war in Viet Nam and the government. There was a divide between us and thus the term "Generation Gap" became the norm. And the war took to the streets. Complete and utter chaos.

I guess my bitterness that I hold today came from the events of 1968.

To be continued........

My Requested Meme

I was tagged by the Countess of the Woods to post this meme.....I don't know why....
da'Wizard







8 Things I'm Passionate About

• My wife and family
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Genealogy-when the mood strikes
• Writing poems that don’t rhyme
• Boy-the only male pet we have
• Photography
• The end of a work day and work week

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

• Return to Amsterdam
• Return to Barcelona
• Finish my book
• Pay off a mortgage-somewhere-anywhere
• Learn to cook Paella
• Open a bar and fashion it after the one I used to visit in Charleston
• Retire
• Find out who really killed JFK

8 Things I Say Often

• Cool or Kewl
• What day is it?
• Why should I work?
• Can you help a brother out?
• The paper is on the dryer
• Do we get paid this week?
• I’m gone to walk the critters
• Whatever


8 Books I've read recently (and by recently we mean during my life)

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People-Stephen Covey
• The Return of the King-Tolkien
• Jimi Hendrix Turns Eighty-Tim Sandlin
• Since Then-David Crosby
• Behold a Pale Horse-William Cooper
• Six Sigma Demystified-Keller
• Thistle-Mark Gilbert
• Nostradamus-The Complete Prophesies-John Hogue


8 Songs I Can Listen to Over and Over

• Long December-Counting Crows
• World Religion Zoo-Gene Cotton
• Can’t You Hear Me Knocking-Rolling Stones
• Comfortably Numb-Pink Floyd
• Patchwork Quilt-Warren Haynes
• Inside Looking Out-Grand Funk Railroad
• I’ll Follow The Sun-The Beatles
• Part of the Plan-Dan Fogelberg


8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends

• Honesty
• Humor
• Willingness to accept me as I am
• Similar interests
• Music interests
• Limited use of adjectives
• Still have their original teeth
• Don’t ask for money

8 People Who Should TOTALLY Do This Meme

The Presidential Candidates

Ode to Philip

Philip
Sung to the tune of “Vincent” by Don McLean

Smelly, smelly night
Cat piss hung on empty walls
Golden stains on Amber’s room
Reflections of his travels through the house

Dripping on the floor,
And carpets throughout all his trails
Sun drops on his long, thin tail
Like honey from a bee that is so frail

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
As how you suffered for the sake of pee
And how I tried to make you leave
But I should have known you, Philip
That you were doing what was must be

Smelly, smelly night
The ragged smell of cat piss trails
The anger of those other cat smells
And how you tried to hide their unknown scents

The job that you must hold
Of stranger’s brew in a stranger’s home
And their hesitation to smell their own
But you alone possess that only fume

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
As how you suffered for the sake of pee
And how I tried to make you leave
But I should have known you, Philip
That you were doing what was must be

A Change of Season

November rushes out and leaves begin to fall
The lawn is covered with Summer's best...
Reds, yellows, browns and gold....the dying remnants of trees

December sneaks up on you and forces you indoors
From the hot, sweaty days of September....
To the cooling afternoons of October......
And the chilling of November..............
To the fires of winter....................

The wood was stacked months ago in prepartion for the cold
And the fireplace was cleaned of last year's leftover ashes
Thanksgiving passes and football lingers
But the colours of December begin to emerge

Lights begin to shine among the homes
Inside and out
Candles are freed from their many months of storage
And the wreaths of the season emerge

And then the fairies begin to spread their magic over the house
Trinkets of many years of memories arrive and are placed on an indoor tree
Ribbons of red and gold are laid
And festive food fragrances smother the house

Cookies and candies, not seen in those other 11 months
Arrive on the counters and tables
Spices reserved for December are pulled from their shelves
And find their way to the necessities of Christmas

It's Christmas Time in East Tennessee
And its magical hold never fails
It's a Change of Season
And a welcome Change it is

November Blows In.....

And such it is
October slowly gives in to the winds of winter
And the fires inside glow

Warmth is what is now sought out
From the comfort of flannel sheets in the bed
To the soft warmth of the rocks of the hearth




The days are shorter
And the nights are cold and long
But the cats on the comforter keep you warm

It's the long-awaited change of seasons
Fall is such a tease
And winter is so forceful

Can you feel it in the air
Can you feel in in the mornings
Does your coffee warm you now

Back When Dad Loved Living

Age has a strange way of creeping up on you....

There were those times when I looked forward to the weekends.....
To see things that I couldn't see during the work week.....
To smell those fragrances that can only be "observed" at country fairs....

These days, I see weekends as never-ending "projects" of mowing the lawn.....
Pulling the weeds....and making the yard presentable for those who will never see it....

I long for the Fall of the Year....when the weeds die back, the grass dies back..
And Saturday afternoons are full of college football, chicken wings and chips & salsa.

At what point in my life did I forget the days of climbing in the truck and heading out to points beyond....just because?

I don't know.

But I'm trying to find those days and memories to be included in my new-found, empty life.

Stay in bed or go out? I don't know........

Empty Nest-Revisited 2007

Well it seems to happen this time of year...every year. We just took our youngest back to school for her junior year.

Where do the years go?

It was quite a summer for the "youngster". Dad put on his "bad boy" hat and forced the "learn to drive a car" issue, resulting in a car for her. Today was the longest road trip she has driven and she did well! She drove the 2.5 hours from Oak Ridge to East Tennnessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. Her only complaint was her foot was going to sleep.

We've retained a bit of her in her cat, and our Grand-kittie, Emma Lee (aka Penny). She was afraid the apartment folks would be inspecting the place early in the year and pets are strictly forbidden. That's my girl....."Rebel with some sort of a cause".

Best wishes for yet another successful year at college.

We'll try to hold down the fort....and the ol' empty nest.

Dad

My New Identity

You're a Hyena!

You have quite a sense of humor, though many others find it derisive
rather than appealing. You are perceived as being a coward, but actually have moments
of great bravery and have even stood up to those much larger than yourself. You like
hanging out in groups and are always making a lot of noise. Disney thinks you are an
idiot.


Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

My Daemon

From "The Golden Compass" website.

Back There........

BACK THERE.....













Wasn't it so peaceful?

A baseball game on Saturday.......
A walk in the woods.....

To discover what we thought had never been seen before.....

Of moss on trees, of multi-colours....
Of rocks in the creek.....with snakes sunning for their early-morning warm-up
Of racoons....scurring for their next meal........

Of music on vinyl.....The Beatles, The Stones, The Starship......The Dead.......

Oh, to have such simple times and simple pleasures today.......

Oh, the MUSIC!

Penny's First Rain

Penny's First Rain......
















My daughter and her roomate decided to populate their college apartment, illegally of course, with felines. They each got a cat. During the weekend and holiday visits, Ema Lee (AKA Penny) comes to visit us. She's a beautiful cat but has not been well accepted by one of our own cats, Ms. Juniper....in fact she gets her ass kicked on a daily basis....but she appears to be ok with that.

This is her first summer with the "grandparents" and loves visiting the "big house". She's been here long enough, since school let out, that she's pretty much taken over the house. She still gets whooped daily but she has expanded her territory from one room downstairs to the entire house.

Over the past several weeks she has decided that outside is quite an adventure and she greets me at the door each morning to be let out. Now I have to admit, I'm the one that first introduced her to the outdoors.......there was an unexpected 2-week visit (the girls suspected that their apartment was going to be inspected and they didn't want to get busted). I let her outside, downstairs, and she thoroughly enjoyed her adventure under my unusually large hosta gardens. And she remembered this adventure!

Fast forward to summer. She's been here since early May and goes out daily now. Yesterday we had our first "good" rain in quite a while. I let her out and she stayed in the covered carport area for a while. There was thunder and lightning but the rain was pretty light at this point. She seemed a little freaked-out at the thunder but stayed put in the carport......and then she decided to venture out in the front yard as the rain started to fall.

This was quite a shock to Penny! She continously looked up each time a drop would hit her and looked quite confused that she was not in control. I tried to bring her inside, as the storm intensified, but she would have nothing to do with this.....this was yet another outdoor experience and she intended to wallow in all its glory.

Another experience, another day, in the life of a cat.

Mother Raven, Baby Raven

I was outside this morning enjoying my usual morning bad habit. It was foggy and noisy. A congregation of Oak Ridge's finest ravens had decided my gardens would a nice place to set up camp. There was one particular individual that was making all the noise. As I sat on the back of my pickup I noticed that the noise maker was a "baby". I say baby but this bird was as big as Mom. It followed Mom all over the yard with its beak wide open and cawing (if that is a word). This went on for what seemed like hours...although I was only out for one bad habit intake.

I got to thinking that ol' Mom needs to put her foot...errr....claw.....well whatever a bird's foot is called.....and set that baby straight. In the first place if your baby is as big as you then you have obviously babied it long enough. Now I don't know much about birds, other than they eat a lot and poop on everything....but don't you think this mama needs to do a little life training and teach that critter to learn how to survive on its own?

I guess I can equate this to my daughter's recent graduation from college. We let go years ago and she survived to adulthood. And she doesn't go around cawing for attention.......or pooping everywhere. At least I don't think she does anyway.

I think I need another cup of coffee.

"When I'm 64"

"When I'm 64"
Lennon/McCartney

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine.

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

You'll be older too,
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride,

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

Every summer we can rent a cottage,
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera ,Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

A Whisper Comes on Sunday

Silence.....shhhhhh.....it only lasts for a brief moment......

It grabs you with a blanket
And tells you to rest
"The bed is already full"
So your lay down on the sofa....and darkness outside rains in......

The 4AM coffee has worn it's course
And the 4:30AM smoke has no meaning
But the 5AM meeting with the most comfortable bed
Beckons its call


"You need your rest.....and I am your resting place"

And so, I lay my head on the rough pillows,
I adjust myself among multi-layers of cats
And their vibrations of purring.....
And their claws of "biscuit making"......

The ol' clock chimes at 5:30 AM.....10 minutes later than reality.......

And then I pass on to the Netherlands............

Monday........... and work beckons..........

The Long Driveway

July, in Georgia, can be a furnace......if you let it get to you.....

Before the days of computer games, mp3s, iPods and cds, there was baseball and frisbee golf (a new sport, but rapidly growing among the college kids)

Before the sun would hit it's peak, in the blue, southern skies
The Boys of Summer would gather on Covington Highway to hit the ball across the road...or to search for the missing Homerun........

Simple times, with simple endings....you win or you lose....but you played until time was called.....8 innings....12 innings....or just 3.........the temperature gauged the game.......

I missed the gauge when my teammate told me he was throwing in the towel.....

I thought he meant he couldn't play kids' ball anymore.....

He did.

He tossed me his last ball about 6 months before he handed in his hat and jersey.....

And his bat is in my command....it has a long fret, and 6-stings.......

And it tells me daily......


"Play On!"

And this I will do....

Use To Be My Eyes

Use To Be My Eyes

Colours have covered me in blankets of memories
From my youth to where I am today

The map I used in 1976 is now worn and tattered
The map I used in 1958 is forgotten
Roads I once used are now old and lost paths
And the trail that got me here is now faded

I found a new map in an antique store
It had my name on it and called me to the shelf

"I am here", it said

"And who are you?", I responded

"I am you and you are here"..........

The old map suddenly unfolded on that old, wooden desk
And the X was highlighted in yellow

I saw my old pathways on that map.......
And saw my new pathways beyond its margins..........

"Why do you seek me out?", I asked
"I did not call to you. You called out to me.....I only answered your call".

"These use to be your eyes, but you forgot how to see".......

"I see fine....a little blurry these days but that comes with age".

The map curled a bit a unfolded again.........

"The blurry visions you see are what you make of them. Your blinders need to be fixed........you lost your ability to focus."

I pondered this for a few minutes.....why the hell am I talking to a map, in a store with few patrons. I stood at the old desk and waited.....

"You, my friend, have lost your way.....but I found you and you, reluctantly, have found me. Pick me up, pay your dollar and I'll take you to where you are intended to be...."

"And why should I trust you?"

"You should not! But you don't have a map to guide you today. What do you have to lose but a dollar?"

I grabbed the map, found my wife in the ceramics section of the store and paid for my goods.

The map has not spoken in 5 years.....but the yellow, highlighted lines move.....and they move daily.

These use to be my eyes.....and now my eyes have a tinge of yellow.....from an old, wrinkled map.

We Remember-Virginia Tech

We Remember

Ross Abdallah Alameddine
Christopher James Bishop
Brian Roy Bluhm
Ryan Christopher Clark
Austin Michelle Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Kevin P. Granata
Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
Caitlin Millar Hammaren
Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
Rachael Elizabeth Hill
Emily Jane Hilscher
Jarrett Lee Lane
Matthew Joseph La Porte
Henry J. Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Lauren Ashley McCain
Daniel Patrick O'Neil
Juan Ortiz-Ortiz
Minal Hiralal Panchal
Daniel Alejandro Perez
Erin Nicole Peterson
Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
Julia Kathleen Pryde
Mary Karen Read
Reema Joseph Samaha
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
Leslie Geraldine Sherman
Maxine Shelly Turner
Nicole White

Lately.......

There are days when I just sit and look.....no thinking required!

It's Spring in East Tennessee and the colours are as vibrant
As I can remember.....and memories are what make me what I am today......

The rains of spring have begun their march.....
Strong orchestras at times......
And soft percussions at other times........

From my solitary room, I can hear (and see) the softness of the drops,
The solitude of the emptiness of the waters
As they permeate the soils
Surrounding my self-made Gardens of Eden

A creation I claim
But surrender them to what they may become for a lifetime

Small ripples, in the washtub for the birds
Increasing rapidly as the winds rise up
Darkness whirls, as darkness does
And the clouds lower themselves over the Ridge.......

Leaves begin to shake
And the blossoms from the cherry trees
Shower the grounds
With the pink snows of the season....Heaven on Earth!

A darkness strikes deep into the soul of the Earth
Shadows fall to the departing sun for the day
And the falling rains continue.......

Purples and Blues,
And Greens and Reds
Color the landscape
And the intensity of the Greens
Absorb the abyss

It's Spring, again, in East Tennessee

Can Heaven be far behind?

Empty Benches

Empty Benches


There is a lonely bench
For most of the year it sits in the Secret Garden
Waiting for a lone squirrel, chipmunk or Cardinal to rest on it's wood

It waits patiently for the time of year
When colours emerge from the soils
That surround it's empty nest

Greens and purples, blues, whites and oranges
Suddenly leap forth
And life on the bench springs forward

It longs to feel its worth is noted
It yearns for the weight of heavy souls
And reaches out to capture the toll

This bench is my home
On those long, sweltering days of summer
And gives me the rest I cherish and desire

Reflections

Reflections

Sometimes the mirror offers images

Of things you don't want to see

You take the reflections of light

And mold them into shapes of lives that did not come to

You think of yourself as the man of dreams

Of passions and emotions that should not occur

But yet you continue to dream

And it was only a dream

What could you have changed?

What could you have done?

What did you seek?

What did you do?

Your questions surround you....

Your questions push you down......

And you scream from the depths.......

The depths of hopelessness

And then you realize....that all is not lost

Your reflections shed an image in the background

From behind the mirror shines.......

The next generation............

Of you............

Dried Puddles on Bidez Drive

Dried Puddles on Bidez Drive















Long after the rains cease to fall
And July draws in her reins of hell
The parched, dirt road of Bidez
Beckons the senses with art

As I walk down the ol' dirt road
Alone with myself
And whatever happens to join with my mind
I wonder if anyone knows of my paradise

Casual and alone, and taking in the views
That only I will see this day
Am I really alone on this Saturday
Or are there others around that sense what I sense

The old Blue Jay hops down the gulley of the passage
Seeking the buffet of the country road
A lone chipmunk gathers the new nuts of the season
And swiftly runs with her treasure to the homestead

A brown lizard, with tattered scales
Scurries across the hot, dusty pebbles
And finds the shade
Of an ancient Kudzu vine

I reach behind me, in my tattered jeans pocket
And pull out my own treasure of words
"Walden's Pond" calls me to listen
And under the old Chestnut Tree, I rest

I am lost in the drama
Of a New England forest
But I am forever burdened
With a Southern Exposure.............

Top 10 List of Stuff

Things you probably didn’t know

Top 10 Salad Dressings

• Blue Cheese
• Ranch
• Italian (separating)
• French
• Caesar
• Thousand Island
• Honey Dijon
• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Poppy seed
• Other Vinaigrettes

Top 10 Best Selling Albums of All Time

• Eagles: Their Greatest Hits, 1971–1975, Eagles (Asylum)-29 Million
• Thriller, Michael Jackson (Epic)-27 Million
• Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)-23 Million
• The Wall, Pink Floyd (Columbia)-23 Million
• Greatest Hits, Volumes I & II, Billy Joel (Columbia)-21 Million
• Back in Black, AC/DC (Epic)-21 Million
• Double Live, Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)-20 Million
• Come On Over, Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)-20 Million
• The Beatles, The Beatles (Capitol)-19 Million
• Rumours, Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)-19 Million

Top 10 Best Selling Beers in the US

• Bud Light
• Budweiser
• Miller Lite
• Coors Lite
• Corona Light
• Natural Light
• Heineken
• Michelob Ultra Light
• Busch Light
• Miller High Life

Top 10 Best Selling Cars in the US-2006

• Ford F-Series
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Toyota Camry
• Dodge Ram
• Honda Accord
• Honda Civic
• Chevrolet Impala
• Toyota Corolla
• Nissan Altima
• Chevrolet Cobalt

Top 10 Best Selling Books of All Time

• The Bible
• Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung
• The American Spelling Book
• Guiness Book of World Records
• World Almanac
• The McGuffey Readers
• The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care
• A Message to Garcia
• In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do?
• Valley of the Dolls

Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies of All Time

• Titanic (1997)
• Star Wars (1977)
• Shrek 2 (2004)
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
• Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
• Spider Man (2002)
• Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• Spider Man 2 (2004)

Top 10 Most Expensive Colleges in the US (2006-2007 Tuition Year)

• George Washington University-$37, 820 per year
• University of Richmond-$36,550 per year
• Sarah Lawrence College-$36,088 per year
• Kenyon College-$36,050 per year
• Vassar College-$36,030 per year
• Bucknell University-$36,002 per year
• Bennington College-$35,250 per year
• Columbia University-$35,166 per year
• Wesleyan University (Connecticut)-$35,144
• Trinity College-$35,130 per year

Intro to an Evening Rain

Intro to an Evening Rain

The ring around the moon
Gives warning
That the rains are coming
And cold fills the air

We gather 'round the fire
For winter grabs hold
Deep in the valleys
And Ridges of ol'Tennessee

Aromas of cookies, pies and cakes
Fill your head.......
As your body aches for the days
Days of comfort, safety and youth

Soft cushions cover the chairs
From houses so far gone
But they linger on as your travels
Take you to the next abode

And the quilts your ancestors made
In their desperation for warmth
They wrap you oh' so warmly
As you drift off into sleep

It's January
And it's raining
In ol'Tennessee

3 Good-byes

We often use "Good-Bye" as a way of saying "I'll see you later"....but there are times when the "see you later" doesn't materialize.

I have had 3 Good-byes I have made.......and because of these, I rarely use the word today.

In grammar school, I became friends with a guy named Scott. As the days progressed, we became "blood-brothers".....in the literal sense. I can recall the day when we each cut our fingers and merged our blood....back in the woods, at the creek, in Lithonia, Georgia. It was a pact that he and I never forgot. In 7th Grade, Scott moved to Hawaii. I was devastated! But I later learned that Scott had a disease that, at the time, required his moving to a more tropical climate. I visited him during the summer, after I graduated from grammar school. I spent a month in heaven!

Many years later, when we were both college students, Scott came to visit me....on a weekend after we had both had finished exams. I said "Good-bye" to Scott, as I headed to Macon, Georgia....and he headed back to North Carolina. I never saw my dear "blood brother" again..........

Fast forward to 1978......I was standing in the driveway of my childhood home....waiting for the Navy Recruiter to pick me up. I had enlisted in the Navy for a 4 year tour. I shook hands with my Dad.....I hugged my Mom and said "Good-bye".....I was choked-up, but excited to take on my new adventure. I saw my Mom's tears....though she says she cried her last tears years ago......

Another fast forward.......I am now a grown "man", with kids in college. I learn that my brother, Mark, has a form of cancer that is so agressive that there is little hope. I arrange for my other 2 brothers, and myself, to meet with Mark.....it would be our last gathering. In the past, my brothers and I would annually gather in Blairsville, Georgia....to play guitars, eat chili, drink beer and just bullshit. We're guys, you know. This was not that kind of gathering. We talked with Mark....and walked through his own gardens....but the 3 of us knew....our Mark would not be with us much longer.

My brother was showing fatigue from our visit, so I sort-of started the long process of getting us out the door......and I made one friggin' mistake......I said "Good-bye" to my friend and brother.

I don't say Good-bye anymore......and that word is no longer in my mental dictionary.

A Space in Time.....

We gather to play....and play! Weekend of February 16th, 2007!

And we do this for our fallen brother, Mark.

Fly on, Freebird........we play for you!

Peace.......

The Boys in the Saddles.........

Never Said Goodbye-6 Years Gone

Never Said Goodbye-6 Years Gone


Pearl Harbor Day 2000

Survived the "calamity" of Y2K

And the year flows on by.......


The year draws to a close
As we prepare to gather

Christmas in Georgia
With all the family around

And I pass
And spend my time alone


I see you with Stash
In my own room
In old Tennessee

"Get up boy", you say
"Time to walk the ol dog".....

I rub my eyes......
What did I just see?

"Is that you, Dad?"

Silence.....nothing but silence.

I wander upstairs and stoke the fire......
The coffee brews and the aroma fills the room.....

I never did say goodbye, did I?

Farewell, friend.......until the next time.........

Walking My Path Alone

Walking My Path Alone

It's a lonely hike
When you walk your path alone

Lonely in the woods
With only the sounds of nature
To push you along.....

As you age in the wilderness
You ponder your past

And know......

The greatest fear I have
Is to grow old.....and alone........

I don't wanna grow old....alone......

Twirl to the Ground

It is the ever-present pressure from day-to-day living
What to rember and what to forget

Sometimes I think about those old high school days
A young "adult"...with all the answers
But what were the questions?

We wander aimlessly into true adulthood
And still the unknown questions are followed
By the true unknown answers......

Were do we go from here?

It's an odd feeling, as you meander through "middle age",
And those same ol' questions go unanswered.....
And then you approach the mid-century mark!

I recall the question from the back seat
Of a long car-ride....
"Are we there yet?"

As we twirl to the ground
Wondering if there is an answer
We ponder life.....

And then we understand........

There is now an answer

It is just the journey.........

The journey that does not end......until you finally rest.

Fare Thee Well........

Wooden Indian

Wooden Indian
Words and Music by John Denver

Now I was a red man
I was proud, I was strong
You were the white man
And you stole away my home

Now I am a wooden indian
Painted dreams inside my head
Times a where you bring me down
And make you wish that I was dead

Na na na

Now I was a red man
And my passing made no sound
You were the white man
And you drove me in the ground

Now I am a wooden indian
Standing silent in the rain
Swear with my grandfather's father
We're going to rise again

Na na na

Now I was a red man
I was proud, I was strong
You were the white man
And you stole away my home

Now I am a wooden indian
Standing silent in the rain
Swear with my grandfather's father
We're going to rise again

All My Quiet Places

All My Quiet Places


Stillness and quiet is such a rarity these days

The herds of cars and people rush on by me
To their daily destination of chaos and disorder
As I sit on a rock and watch them pass

There is no slowness in this world today
Only panic and stress formed out of our own mistakes
And I sit on a rock and watch them pass

But quiet places lay hidden in the deserts and forests
And beside rushing, snow-fed streams along mossy-green tapestries
While I lay on a rock and watch its waters pass

I cherish all my quiet places

Early Morning Conversation in Baltimore

Early Morning Conversation in Baltimore-Waiting for a Flight

I was sitting alone in a Baltimore Airport Bar....early morning, waiting for my flight....and a young soldier walked up to my table......

"Mind if I sit here? The bar is kind of full."

"No problem, man. Have a seat. I'm just hanging out."

"I've been flying all night. Hope you don't mind if I have a beer. I know it's early but it's been a long night."

"No problem with me....I might even join you! My flight is delayed because of weather down south....just trying to get home."

"Me too", he said....but I knew with his words, there was more to this statement. This guy had not seen home for a long time. And that's all he was looking for.

"Where've you been?", I asked....knowing what the answer would be....and hoping I was wrong.

"Iraq, man. 2 years for me. I've got a kid that I saw when he was born......he's walking now.....and I've never seen that, other than the pictures my wife could sneak through."

"Wow! How do you feel about that?"

He took a sip of his beer...and paused for a minute.

"I'm a little scared, man! I mean, you know....not the kind of scared like when I was in Iraq......it's different, you know?"

I took my last sip of coffee.....and waited for him to continue.

"You know.....it's kind of weird. I never pictured myself as a Dad....but here I am.....and I haven't been there. I haven't been there at all. I mean....what is the kid gonna think about me?"

"I think you'll know what to do when you finally meet up with him."......I had no idea what I was saying.

"That's easy enough to say......but when I touch down in Charlotte and see my girl....and my little man.....well....what do I do?"

I ordered this guy another beer......and one for me.....I could tell this wasn't gonna be easy.

"Be yourself.......give your wife a long hug and kiss......and take that boy in your arms.....it'll all come to you after that."

He paused for a minute.....took a sip of his new beer and sat there. The silence was deafening.

"You sure?"

"Man, I don't know.....never been there. I mean, I'm a veteran but I just can't relate to the hell you've been through.....and now you're coming home!"

"You're a veteran? Cool! When did you serve?"

"'78 to '82.....Navy. Iran hostage situation"

"Wow! That's before I was born! I read about that in History Class"

"Yea....thanks!"

"Sorry, man. I mean....well you sort of understand....right?"

I couldn't lie to this guy....it was different.

"No, man. I can't."

"Oh......ok......but you can see my concerns, right?"

"Yup.....I'm a guy just like you.....and life scares the shit out of me......even though I've not been in a war."

"It ain't the war, man.....it's my kid. Will he understand me down the road?"

I took a sip of beer and thought for a moment......and thought again.

"He will.....you just have to talk to him.....from your first day and going on...and don't forget your wife.....she's been there too!"

We took our last sips of beer.....he picked up his bag and I picked up my laptop.

"You good?", I asked.

"Yea, man....thanks for the seat....and the beer. I think I'm gonna be ok. I hope so, anyway."

"You will be....."....and I started to turn to my exit.....

"Hey man.....thanks. I don't think I could face this last flight without you letting me taking that seat."

"That seat is always waiting for a man in fear........and you'll beat that fear and find love in North Carolina."

"Peace my friend....I'll probably never see you again....but I'll never forget you.....you're ok."

"Peace to you, my friend.....now go find your love......and your son."

I left for Gate D17.....my new-found friend left for life.

Flo' n' Flo'

Flo' and Flo'
From clouds on high
And snows on top
Life she takes it
And forward she flows

Deposits she makes
Unlike those we humans long for
For what she passes
Is life

We watch her in wonder
And we wander with her watch
Treking along her banks
Of rocks and blossoms and life

Flo' and flo' sweet river
Flo' 'til you end
And flo' more
For all in all....you flo' for us

Seeds

SEEDS
Dry and dusty.

Flat and floating.

The Seeds drop from the cathedrals that surround the deep valleys.

And softly lay on the dying leaves.

The rains of November push them to their ultimate destiny.

With colours hidden and textures enclosed.

Trees

The Old Man and the Old Yellow Bike

The Old Man on the Old Yellow Bike
A Tribute to Dr. James Steven Johnson, Jr.

For as long as I've lived in Oak Ridge, the highlight of my day was to see the old man on the old, yellow bike. Several times a day I would see him riding his ancient bike up and down West Outer Drive....and he was always smiling. There were days when work or family matters would really get me down. And then, as I walked up the driveway to get the day's paper and mail, I would see this old man. I would smile and wave....he just kept peddling his bike....and would always pass on his unbelievable smile to me. That smile, coming from an old man on a bike, would wash away all my bad thoughts for the day. It was a daily ritual....unless it was raining. But with the first passing of the rain he would be out on the road again....peddling and smiling....and always looking forward. He never spoke but always acknowledged your wave or smile with his....and forward he would keep pushing.

Several days ago I heard through a church friend that this man had died. He died in the front yard of this family....doing what he loved to do.....riding his old, yellow bike.

I never knew his name, where he lived or what kind of life he had lived. He never spoke and we never introduced ourselves. I just waved and he just smiled.

I learned about this man through his obituary. And I am sorry we never got to know one another. But the memories I have of this old man will always be implanted in my mind.

Farewell, Mr. Johnson. I will miss your smile.....and your old, yellow bike.

September, She Comes

She breathes a heavy sigh....
A long breath for a long wait......
August gives in.......
And late summer storms roar through.....

She walks among her old friends.....
Calling out for those left behind....
Of books and papers...and old, lost friends...

She sneaks behind the olden bushes....
And slinks beside the ancient chimney....
Awakenend by the sudden blast....
Of trumpets on the battle field.....

"Arise", she calls out....
"Arise and awaken....I summon you now"....
"For the boys of Autumn have come to replace.....the Boys of Summer"........

And with one, lone whistle you hear........

"Touchdown!"........

Swept Under My Rug

Occasionally you have to do a little house cleaning. I was amazed at what I recently found....Swept Under My Rug......

A necklace....with the other half in the jewelry box of a long, lost girlfriend.

A coin from Greece...the night I discovered Ouzo.

A pressed Dogwood Flower, in a Bible, from a long walk in the woods.

Old concert tickets....for The Doobie Brothers, Allman Brothers, Grand Funk, Led Zeppelin, George Harrison, Seals & Crofts and Elton John.

Rock posters from a room that will never be slept in again.

An old slide rule....used by my Dad at Southern Tech.

An old calculator used by me in high school chemistry.

A high school letter, full of medals....signifying nothing.

The label from a bottle of Italian wine...the day some sailors decided to look over the bay of Naples....and watch the sunset....without the help of a bar....or girls.

And an old Yamaha guitar....with so many stories....yet untold.

Summer's Lament

The freshness of Spring wanders so lonely through the heat
And then she passes to beyond the edge
A new face appears and calls on the others

"Rise up", she says, "And show all your goods."

"Rise up, I say....for the butterflies and the bees...
The hummingbirds and squirrels have emptied their cupboards....
They have come to visit your stores!"

And suddenly the old ones rise.....and take the stage.
The ones who return each midsummer and tempt the travelers
With exotic treats and perches to rest on

But slowly they pass.....they wither in the heat
The rains disappear and the earth separates as its skin parches to nothingness
And the weary travelers move on.....

"Come back", she cries. "We can offer more, if you wish!"
But her voice bounces off the barks of the trees....
And the withered petals of the old ones

And Summer slowly fades into Autumn.....
A time for rest...
Before the long, cold sleep......

Look Way Back

Sometimes I have to look way back
And force my mind to wander
To old dirt roads and rusty nails
And Coke bottles to squander

To midnight treks along the creek
And summer storms that thunder
Or baseball games with the neighborhood gang
Or old graveyards to plunder

Then up the road to Sharon's house
To ride horses on the trails
Or sitting with Stash up on the hill
And watch him twitch his tail

Back out to the garden in a hot, July sun
To water the tomato plants
"Quit whining, boys", ol' Dad would say
As he'd pull up on his pants

To find a turtle or a frog or two
And ask where they are going
And yet another summer day ends
With Autumn winds a blowin'

The days grow shorter and time runs fast
As school rapidly sneaks upon us
We gathered paper, pens and books
And wait for the yellow bus

Those days are gone, and long since passed
But visions come to see me
I wish I had those days back now
But that can never be

Sometimes I have to look way back
And force my mind to wander
To old dirt roads and rusty nails
And Coke bottles to squander

Now What?

We both sit there in the living room
Pretending to watch tv
And show some interest in what happened today
Are we listening?

"Good supper, Mom" or "Good supper Dad"
As though there is a crowd in the room
We respond generously
And continue to eat

We take the "old people's" walk
Through my gardens and flowers
Through my own made meadows
And past the dogs

They look at us through their confused eyes
"Where is your youth?", they ask
And we slowly walk towards their prison
Set free only in the afternoon

We settle into bed
You with your book and me with the TV
Egyptian Mummies or Star Gate?
Or do I roll over and look for sleep?

Now what?
We did what we set out to do, right?
Now what?
It's lonely in "this ol' house".....

Go to sleep, Juniper........
I'll see you in the morning........

Our Pastures Begin

And so it begins.....

A new dawn and a new becoming......

Where did the little feet go?

Where did the never-ending questions about life wander?

They left suddenly, on a day that was dreaded.......

A day we longed for yet and yet hoped would never come.....

They now pave their own lives

Searching for what we could not find.......

Solitude? Peace? Hope?

We now pass the torch to those who may be able to do.......

What we only hoped for.......

We wish you peace!

Again, the morning

She comes too early
And sometimes too late

She beckons me to call on a new birth
And I restrain.......

Why do I resisit?
Why do I continue?

I long for simplicity.....
I long for the land.......

I long for a peace that can't be found...and no once else can provide

I have to find that on my own......

And peace I will discover...........

And on my own terms...............

Ever The Spring

There is one moment in time that is constant
And the moment is the Spring

Spring is reliable
Spring is sometimes slow to show
But show she does

The purples and blues
The reds and pinks
And yellow........

I love Spring........
My efforts from the last fall
Are abundant in the show
And the show goes on for ever on

Can you taste the fragrances?
Can you feel the rebirth?
Can you live?

I live for Spring and all her luxuries.......
And I am always amazed the surprises in store......

For this year......
And the coming years........

Minstrel from Galilee

Minstrel from Galilee

He toured the land with music in his words
Attracting both young and old
While fires raged backstage

He talked of peace while war drew near
And never lifted a sword
While fires raged backstage

His following were often poor
Or homeless or rejected
While fires raged backstage

He led them down another way
And only asked that they listen
While fires raged backstage

He left them crying on a hill
And parted with forgiveness
While fires raged backstage

He promised a reunion tour
And has restrung his guitar
As the fires still rage backstage

Age

Age
Jim Croce

I’ve been up and down and around and ’round and back again
I’ve been so many places I can’t remember where or when
And my only boss was the clock on the wall and my only friend
Never really was a friend at all

I’ve traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time
I’ve turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again

Once I had myself a million, now I’ve only got a dime
The diff’rence don’t seem quite as bad today
With a nickel or a million, I was searching all the time
For something that I never lost or left behind

I’ve traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time
I’ve turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again

And now I’m in my second circle and I’m headin’ for the top
I’ve learned a lot of things along the way
I’ll be careful while I’m climbin’ ’cause it hurts a lot to drop
When your down nobody gives a damn anyway

I’ve traded love for pennies, sold my soul for less
Lost my ideals in that long tunnel of time
I’ve turned inside out and around about and back and then
Found myself right back where I started again

Daylight Again

Daylight Again
Stephen Stills

Daylight again
Following me to bed
I think about a hundred years ago
How my Fathers bled

I think I see a valley
Covered with bones in blue
All the brave soldiers that cannot get older
Been asking after you

Hear the past a' calling
From Armageddon's side
When everyone's talking and no one
Is listening
How can we decide

Do we find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down.

When I Was 10

So long ago and yet I remember
I was 10 in 1968...a year of troubling turmoil.....

*Nixon was elected President and his "faithful" sidekick VP was Spiro Agnew

*There were rumors of The Beatles having problems...talk of their break-up began

*Flower children controlled San Francisco....and 14th Street in Atlanta

*"The Great Speckled Bird" newspaper was the talk of the town in Atlanta

*Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis

*Robert Kennnedy was gunned down in LA

*David Crosby and Stephen Stills begin to play guitars together

*Soviet Union forces invade Czechoslovakia

*North Korea seizes the USS Pueblo, claiming the ship was spying

*In Viet Nam, the Tet Offensive begins

*Classical Gas by Mason Williams is released

*Boeing 747 made its maiden flight

*London Bridge sold to Robert McCullough for £1 million

*Helen Keller dies in her sleep in Connecticut

*Saddam Hussein becomes the Vice Chairman of the Revolutionary Council in Iraq after a coup d'état

*US spacecraft Apollo 8 enters orbit around the moon

Seems pretty lame today, doesn't it?

The Christians and the Pagans

The Christians and the Pagans
Dar Williams

Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.
He told his niece, "It's Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style,"
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile,"

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning," and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian,"
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.