THOUGHTS AT THREE A.M.

MEMORY

FIELDS, COMBED GREEN AND YELLOW

BY A STRONG BREEZE, EDGED BY

BRACKEN, BIRCH, AND PINE,

TOPPED BY A PREENING SKY OF PEACOCK BLUE-

CAUGHT IN A MOMENTS GLANCE,

RECALLED ANEW

REMEMBERED HAZILY, THROUGH SMOKEY WINE,

CUDDLED CLOSE UP  AGAINST

THE REALITY OF WINTER'S FREEZE

A LOVED AND SMILING FACE DRIFTS IDLY BY,

DANCING FLAMES DRAW PICTURES IN MY MIND...

HOW IS IT THAT I SEE AGAIN THAT DEAR FACE

AND HEAR THE MUSIC WE ENJOYED TOGETHER,

AND YOU SO LONG SINCE GONE?

SOMETIMES, MEMORY IS NOT SO KIND

SCENES COME BACK, FULL,RICH, AND CLEAR

THE VISION FILLED WITH COLOR, SCENTS AND SOUNDS

SO STRONG, IT BRINGS A TEAR...

I CAN SEE THE SPARKLE OF YOUR HAIR,

AND SMELL AGAIN YOUR PERSONAL PERFUME

SO REAL, I COULD REACH OUT AND GRASP YOUR HAND

AND BID YOU STAY, FOR ONE MORE MOMENT

AND ENTREAT YOU, STAND HERE WITH ME

FOR A MOMENT ONLY

THE WAY BEFORE LOOKS LONG

AND LONELY...

AND YET, YOU TURN, AND GIVE ME A SMILE

BELOVED,

AS IF TO SAY

WORRY NOT...

IT WON'T BE THAT LONG...

AND I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU

AND MY HEART GLOWS,

WITH THE MEMORY.....

OUI?

VALLEY SERMON

WHEN HE SAID, "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR"

HE DIDN'T SPECIFY,

THE COLOR THAT THE GUY SHOULD BE

OR SHOULD HE WEAR A TIE,

OR THAT HE LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR

OR LIVE ACROSS THE SEA,

OR IF HE'D OWN A VAST ESTATE,

OR LIVE IN HOUSE, OR TENT,

OR TO WHICH LODGE OR CHURCH HE'D GO

OR EVEN IF HE WENT!

HE DIDN'T DRAW A CONTRACT, CLAUSED, WITH LOTS

OF TINY PRINT.

HE MERELY TOLD THEM WHAT HE MEANT,

NOT TO CONFUSE THE CROWD

HE MADE IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE,

HE SAID IT CLEAR AND LOUD

HE SAID IT VERY LOUD AND CLEAR

HE MEANT IT SHOULD BE HEARD...

HE KNEW THEY'D UNDERSTAND HIM

HE MEANT IT, EVERY WORD

THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE MEANT,

AND EVERY HEART WAS STIRRED.

HE DIDN'T AIM TO LOUSE IT UP

BY BURYING IT DEEP

UNDER FANCY PHRASES

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP

HE KNEW THEY'D TRY TO CHANGE IT

THE BOYS WHOSE GAME HE'D QUEER-

THE BIGOTS,AND THE HATERS,

THE CROWD THAT THRIVE ON FEAR-

SO HE  MADE A FINAL STATEMENT

ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP THAT DAY

DON'T BE LIKE THE PHARISEES...

DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU,

LEARN TO LOVE, AS WELL AS PRAY.

AND HOW WOULD WE RECEIVE HIM

IF HE SHOWED UP ONCE MORE?

A BAREFOOT BEARDED JEW, WITH CALLOUSED HANDS-

AND NOT A LANDED GENT-

HE CHOSE TO LIVE HIS LIFE THIS WAY

TO SHOW US WHAT HE MEANT-

JUST IN CASE WE OVERLOOKED THE FACTS WE READ IN PRINT...

INTO OUR GLOSSY MONIED CHURCHES

THROUGH THE POLISHED, MODERN DOORS...

WELL GROOMED CONGREGATIONS, IN THEIR POLISHED PEWS

WOULD STARE-

WARN THEIR PASTORS, WITH BLEAK FACES,

TO ACCEPT HIM,

IF THEY DARE !

WOULD HE FIND AGAIN THE CHRISTMAS

OF TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO?

CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY

ONCE AGAIN,

IN A STABLE?

IN THE SNOW?

HE ALONE

OF ALL THE PEOPLE

OF THIS TEEMING EARTH-

HAD A CHOICE

AND, HAD HE CHOSEN

TO BE KING

BY RIGHT OF BIRTH

TO BE OTHER THAN MARY'S SON-

A WEALTHY, CULTURED

PAMPERED LORD-

SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE-

THEN...

WHO IS LEFT TO BE ADORED?

BY THE HAVE  NOTS

AND SUCH.

SUCH LOVE IS NOT GIVEN JUST FOR PRIDE.

WOULD WE FOLLOW IN HIS WAY

IF OTHERS WALKED, SO HE COULD RIDE?

(scripture reference, Matthew, chapter 5)

OUI?

TOO SLEEPY

I HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED, AND VIEWED WITH ALARM RECENTLY

FOR FALLING ASLEEP IN MY CHAIR.

YES, I DO IT, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, AND NO, I DON'T FEEL GOOD

WHEN I AWAKE.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES, THAT IT IS EASIER THAN GOING TO

BED.

IT TAKES WORK, TO GO TO BED, AND THERE ARE

RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES, I CANNOT SHIRK.

SOUNDS SILLY, DOESN'T IT?

OKAY. FOR EXAMPLE;

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE CAT ISN'T IN THE KITCHEN WITH

THE BIRD AND THE FISH. FEED THE FISH, AND TURN OFF THE

LIGHT OVER THE TANK. TURN OFF THE OVERHEAD LIGHT, AND

CLOSE THE BATHROOM DOOR AND THE KITCHEN DOOR, TURN ON

THE BEDROOM LIGHT, AND THE FANS, GO BACK AND TURN OFF

THE DINNING ROOM LIGHT, TURN ON THE LAMP IN MY ROOM,

TURN OFF THE OVERHEAD, TURN ON MY OXYGEN

CONCENTRATOR, AND THEN, I CAN GET INTO BED, AS SOON AS

I HAVE SMOOTHED THE SHEETS, AND BANKED MY PILLOWS,

THEN THE REAL FUN BEGINS. I AM TRYING TO GET SETTLED,

TAKE OFF MY GLASSES, FIND MY BOOK,AND USE THE PUFFER,

GET A SIP OF WATER, WHILE THE CAT IS JOCKEYING FOR

POSITION ON THE BED. FIRST SHE IS IN THE MIDDLE, WHERE

I USUALLY PLANT MY BEHIND, SO I HAVE TO GENTLY SHOVE HER

OVER. ONCE I HAVE ATTAINED MY SPACE, SHE IS STOMPING

ACROSS MY LEGS, OR BALANCING ON THE GOLD-VELVET

COVERED WOODEN RAIL THAT FRAMES MY WATER-BED.

RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THE STAND-UP CANE WHERE MY AIR

HOSE IS KEPT, AND THE TABLE WHERE THE WATER, BOOK,

PUFFER AND CRYSTAL ASHTRAY WHERE MY GLASSES LIVE.

   "MOLLY," I SAY,"PLEASE, HONEY, MOVE..." ALL THE WHILE

ATTEMPTING TO REACH AROUND HER. THIS IS ALMOST

IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE SHE IS WANTING PETTING AND COOING.

THAT IS WHEN I RESORT TO DIVERSIONARY TACTICS, AND FLUFF

THE THIN SHEET I USE TO COVER MY TOES, MEANWHILE,

WIGGLING SAID TOES. MOLLY FREEZES, EYES WIDE. SHE SEES

THE INTRUDER UNDER THE SHEET. SHE STALKS SLOWLY

TOWARDS THE FOOT OF THE BED, AND I WIGGLE MY TOES AGAIN.

SHE POUNCES. WIGGLE. POUNCE. WIGGLE.POUNCE.

BY THE TIME SHE REALIZES THAT IT IS ONLY MY FEET, I HAVE

TAKEN OFF MY GLASSES, USED THE PUFFER, GOT MY SIP OF

WATER, AND LOCATED MY BOOK AND AIR HOSE. I SETTLE BACK.

WITH LUCK, MY PILLOWS ARE RIGHT, AND SHORTLY MY

BREATHING SETTLES DOWN, TOO. THAT IS ON A GOOD NIGHT.

LIKE I SAID. SOMETIMES, I AM JUST TOO TIRED TO GO TO BED...

DORIS AND ROCK, AGAIN!

MY NEW FAVORITE MOVIE IS NOW ON VIDEO! IT IS ENTITLED

" DOWN WITH LOVE", STARRING RENEE ZELLWEGER AND EWAN

McGREGOR. PUT OUT BY 20TH CENTURY FOX, WITH DOLBY SURROUND

SOUND. RATED PG-13, BECAUSE THERE IS STRONG SEXUAL INNUENDO,

BUT FOR ADULTS, IT SHOULD BE A TREAT TO SEE. IT IS BEAUTIFUL,

WITTY, SHARP AND USES THE OLD FORMULA THAT DORIS DAY AND

ROCK HUDSON USED IN THEIR SMASH HITS, SUCH AS "PILLOW TALK"

AND "MOVE OVER DARLING". THIS ROMANTIC COMEDY TAKES US

BACK TO THE 1950'S, WHEN CLOTHES WERE STUNNING AND BOTH

LADIES AND MEN DRESSED FOR DINNER, AND THE MAKE OF A CAR

WAS DISTINGUISHABLE BY THEIR LOOKS, AND CAME IN SEVERAL

DIFFERENT COLORS-UNLIKE NOW, WHEN THEY ARE ALL STARTING

TO LOOK LIKE LITTLE GREY BOXES.

PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE, I  THOUGHT, WAS THE DIRECTOR'S USE OF

THE SPLIT SCREEN, WHEN BARBRA NOVAK(ZELLWEGER) AND THE

DASHING CATCHER BLOCK (McGREGOR) HAVE TELEPHONE

CONVERSATIONS. RENEE, ESPECIALLY, WORKED HARD ON THIS PART.

SHE DID SO WELL ON DORIS DAY'S LOOKS, AND ATTITUDES, SHE HAD

TO HAVE STUDIED FOR HOURS AND HOURS TO GET TO DOWN, AND YET

AVOIDS COMING OFF AS A CLONE.

THE SETS, THE  STYLES, THE MUSIC, THE PLOT ARE

COLORFUL FRESH AND NOSTALGIC ALL AT THE SAME TIME, AND THERE

IS THAT INEVITABLE TWIST, THAT TWISTS AGAIN, AND YET, AGAIN, 

MAKING IT FUN AND ENTERTAINING, TIME AFTER TIME.

A SPECIAL TREAT, WAS AT THE VERY END OF THE MOVIE, AFTER IT

SAYS THE END, DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!

AND NOW I HEAR, IT IS OUT IN BOOK FORM!

WHOOSH! I'M OFF TO THE LIBRARY!

OUI?

QUESTIONABLE ADS

SO, I'M WATCHING TELEVISION, AND THIS AD COMES ON. IF YOU

WATCH ANY T.V. AT ALL, I AM SURE YOU HAVE SEEN IT. THERE IS

THIS GIRL IN A BALLET COSTUME, AND IT IS ALL VERY LOVELY,

AND ETHERIAL, AND THE SONG IS "THERE SHE GOES, THERE SHE

GOES AGAIN"....AND IT HITS ME, THIS IS AN AD FOR BIRTH

CONTROL! SO, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

THIS GIRL IS HITTING THE STREETS, LOOKING FOR A GUY,

SO SHE BETTER GRAB HER BIRTH CONTROL? IS THAT TACKY

OR WHAT? I MEAN, THE AD ITSELF IS PRETTY, BUT THE MESSAGE

IS WAY LESS THAN CHARMING. APPARENTLY, THIS YOUNG LADY

HAS HAD THESE ATTACKS BEFORE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT SHE

POSSESSES NO SELF CONTROL, WE ALL KNOW SHE IS GOING TO

END UP IN THE SACK WITH SOMEONE, SO SHE SHOULD BE

PREPARED. OOOPS, THERE SHE GOES, THERE SHE GOES AGAIN!

TO ME, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DISGUSTING, DEGRADING

COMMERCIALS ON THE AIR. DON'T THESE SPONSORS OR THE

ADVERTISERS HAVE ANY MORALS, ANY COMPUNCTION WHATSO

EVER?  OR, AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO VIEWS THIS SPOT THIS

WAY? SURELY NOT.

I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO TAKES IT THIS WAY. I MEAN,

IT IS OBVIOUS, ISN'T IT?

GOOOBYE, JOHNNY

IF YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE JAY LENO'S SHOW MONDAY

NIGHT, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT A TOUCHING TRIBUTE HE AND ED

MCMAHON,BOB NEWHEART, AND DON RICKLES WERE ABLE TO THROW

TOGETHER IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. IT WAS MOVING, AND VERY FUNNY

AS WELL. I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT IS REALLY NICE, THAT THEY WOULD

GIVE CARSON SUCH A WONDERFUL SEND-OFF. I ALSO NOTICED THAT

CONAN O'BRIEN DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A WORD TO SAY ABOUT IT. TYPICAL.

HE DID JUST WHAT I EXPECTED FROM HIM. NOTHING. EVERYONE ELSE

AT LEAST MADE MENTION OF JOHNNY'S PASSING, AS IS PROPER AND

DECENT TO DO. THE NIGHTLY NEWS HAD A BIG STORY ON HIM, AND

ALL THE CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOWS HAD SOME CLIPS FROM THE MORE

HUMOROUS MOMENTS OF HIS CAREER, BUT O'BRIEN, WITH HIS USUAL

LACK OF CLASS, WAS OFF IN BO-BO LAND, DOING HIS OWN THING, AND

COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THE GRAND OLD MAN

OF LATE NIGHT, OR ACKNOWLEDGE HIS PASSING.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, IT WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE IRRITATING TO ME

THAT THE TRIBUTES KEPT COMING AND COMING AS THE WEEK

PROGRESSED. LIKE INSIDE EDITION. THEY MADE MENTION OF IT

MONDAY.

AND TUESDAY.

AND WEDNESDAY.

GOING BACK INTO HIS PAST, DIGGING UP DIRT ON HIM FROM HIS

EX-WIVES AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. HOW TACKY. THEY COULDN'T

PUT FORTH ANY EFFORT ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY, SO NOW THEY ARE

CLIMBING ON THE BANDWAGON, AND DRAGGING OUT STORIES ON

HIM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WEEK, LIKE HE WAS A PRESIDENT

OR SOME OTHER DIGNITARY. PLEASE. I LOVED JOHNNY TOO, BUT HE

WAS NO RONALD REAGAN. IN POINT OF FACT, I FELT THEY RATHER

OVERDID THE COVERAGE OF RONNIE WHEN HE DIED, BUT HE WAS

A PAST PRES. AND BELOVED. AS SHY AS EVERYONE SAID JOHNNY WAS

I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIT EMBARRASSED THE WAY

THESE ON AIR MAGAZINES HAVE CARRIED ON,DAY AFTER DAY.

THIS IS NO RANT, OR RAVE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ENOUGH

IS ENOUGH. DO THE STORY, AND THEN, LET IT GO. IT IS NOT

NECESSARY TO BELABOR THE POINT, TIME AFTER TIME.

SOMETIMES, THE BEST WAY, IS SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT.

GOODNIGHT JOHNNY, MAY FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO

THY REST...

OUI?

AN EITHER/ OR SITUATION?

HI ALL! I MISSED BEING ABLE TO BE WITH YOU THE LAST

COUPLE OF

DAYS. FRIDAY, I GOT CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD, AND MY WINGS

HAVEN'T

QUITE THAWED OUT, YET. EVEN NOW I  HAVE A FEW

PINFEATHERS

STUCK TOGETHER.

THEN, LAST NIGHT, I WAS SHUT OUT. TYPEPAD WAS CLOSED OR

SOMETHING, FOR "MAINTENANCE". WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY

MANAGED TO FIX THE AIR CONDITIONING, AND MOP AND WAX

THE FLOORS! THIS OFFICE WAS STARTING TO LOOK PRETTY

DRAB!

BUT. THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT TODAY.

I HAPPENED TO MENTION TO OLD MAMA AND SPICY THE OTHER

DAY

ABOUT PRAYER, AND THEY BOTH INFORMED ME, THAT THEY WERE

NOT RELIGIOUS. WELL, WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

SEE, RELIGION IS A SYSTEM OF RULES AND REGULATIONS, BASICALLY

A MAN MADE ORGANIZATION. WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT

WAS ENGAGING GOD IN A CONVERSATION, AND ENJOYING MY

RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, THROUGH PRAYER.  THEY ARE TWO

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE IS RELIGION, THE OTHER, A RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I HAD A FAMILY WHO DRAGGED ME TO CHURCH

ON SUNDAY MORNING, AND I WAS BORED OUT OF MY MIND AFTER I

LEARNED THE PROPER RESPONSES, AND WHEN TO STAND, SIT AND

KNEEL. THEN, I BEGAN TO SING IN CHURCH, AND THAT TOOK OUT

THE

BOREDOM FACTOR UNTIL I LEARNED ALL THE SONGS,AND GOT

USED

TO STAGGERING INTO CHURCH AT 7 A.M. EVERY DAY. THEN, BOREDOM

SET IN, AGAIN. BUT THEN, WHEN I WAS FOURTEEN, THEY GOT MY

ATTENTION. ALL THESE YEARS I HAD BEEN LEARNING ALL THIS STUFF

IN ORDER TO WORSHIP GOD. NOW, THIS UNCHANGEABLE RITUAL WHICH

WOULD REMAIN A BEAUTIFUL PART OF MY LIFE ALWAYS, CHANGED.

SO, THIS WONDERFUL PLACE OF GUIDING  LIGHT, HAD LIED TO ME

ALL MY LIFE. NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO EVERY MEMBER OF MY

FAMILY, AND TO EVERY MEMBER OF MY "FAITH", FOR HUNDREDS OF

YEARS!

MENTALLY, I REELED.

THIS GROUP, THIS HIERARCHY, HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WAY

I DRESSED, THE WAY I TALKED, AND THE SCHOOL I WENT TO ALL

MY LIFE.

I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT ONE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

ONE IDEA WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR. YOUR CHURCH SHOULD NOT LIE TO YOU!

AGAIN, MENTALLY, I WASHED MY HANDS OF THAT CHURCH, BUT HAD

TO KEEP GOING ON AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED, UNTIL

I WAS OUT ON MY OWN.

ONCE ON MY OWN, I TOLD MOM, THAT'S IT. I'M NOT GOING.

SHE SAID, WHY?

I SAID, THEY LIED TO ME. NO TRUE CHURCH, LIES TO YOU.

OR, TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, NO CHURCH LIES TO ME, AND GETS BY

WITH IT. RULE OF THUMB, IF THEY LIE, THEY CANNOT BE THE

ONE TRUE CHURCH. PERIOD.

OH, BUT YOU CAN PROTEST, YOU CAN LOBBY, AND GET THEM TO

CHANGE IT BACK.

NO. GET THIS. CHURCH IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. IT IS A THEOCRACY,

WITH GOD AS IT'S HEAD. WOULD YOU LOBBY GOD TO CHANGE THE

TEN COMMANDMENTS? I DON'T THINK SO. NOR, WILL I BE INVOLVED

ONE MINUTE LONGER WITH A CHURCH THAT I NOW KNOW TO BE

FALSE.

I WENT ON A QUEST. I WENT LOOKING FOR GOD. AND, MANY YEARS

LATER, I FOUND HIM.

NOW I HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON, JESUS.

AND, AS THE SONG GOES, IT IS EVERYTHING I HOPED IT WOULD BE.

IN FACT, IT IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN I EVER IMAGINED.

FOR ONE THING, I AM NEVER BORED ANYMORE! LOOKING BACK, I CAN

SEE WHAT A WONDROUS THING GOD DID FOR ME, MAKING ME

STUBBORN AND WILLFUL OVER BEING LIED TO. EVEN THEN, MY

SAVIOR WAS CALLING ME, AND I WASN'T AWARE OF IT. NOW, SUCH

JOY FLOODS MY SOUL, JUST AT THE MENTION OF HIS NAME...AND

I AM SO GLAD I FOUND HIM.

OH, BY THE WAY.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PLEASE GOD?

BRAG ON HIS SON.

OUI?

THE SILLY SEASON

For the life of me, I cannot recall if it was Ray Bradbury,Isaac Asimov, or Robert Heinlein who wrote about the silly season.It's been so long ago...but it really doesn't matter. The upshot of it went something like this. Every seven years or so, everything goes a bit  wacky. The Weather, people's behavior, fads and fashions, all of it. Everything and everybody around you, looses it's center. So, here we are. The silly season is in full swing. It ranges from the mundane, to the downright goofy, to the dangerous.Certainly, anyone who is not living under a rock can attest to this silly season, up to and including a blurb I just caught on television, when some guy had the giant gonads to call Donald Trump,  "Trumpster" to his face. How stupid can one man be? I didn't stay around to witness it, but I am almost positive that guy got fired. If he didn't, then" the Donald" is slipping. But enough about that. I don't care one way or the other how the current apprentice turns out, or the one before it. I watched the first one out of  curiosity, and that was enough for me. The premise is a bit ignorant, if you ask me. Whether you are street-smart or educated, or male or female, has no bearing on how well or badly you will do on a job, or in the market place. It depends on a clear mind, steady nerves, and a willingness to work hard. And, that's all I have to say about that.

I am tired of all the "reality"shows, however. None of which are, in actuality, reality.It's all smoke and mirrors and  manipulation.There is no truth in them. The parameters are false, the situations are not real, and the only thing that is revealed is how much nonsense these people are willing to put up with for money. Money. That's the bottom line, the be all and end all for all of these participants. It's obvious. Isn't the theme song of the apprentice, money, money, money? Okay. Perhaps, not ALL. For some of them, the bottom line is to be loved and adored. To be beautiful. It's pitiful. Might just as well call them, " Look how shallow I am!" Now, I don't mean to get off on a rant here, but what ever happened to plain old Fashioned well written shows, and good acting? Or, if you need to be titillated beyond that, how about shutting off the T.V., and reading a book, or writing your own book or show, or blogging? Not that I don't enjoy a good reality show now and then, but the sort I like are generally called "documentaries." You know the type. The unvarnished truth. Well, the reality shows we have now are reeking with varnish. I mean, think! Don't you react differently when you have a camera on you? I do! How could you not? I mean, it is there! Somebody is following these people around with cameras! That's what makes a normal person become brave, boastful, proud, contentious, argumentative, and haughty. The women become vain, surly, pushy and downright nasty. God forbid they should accept defeat with poise and grace, Oh no! That would be far too ladylike. The men are nicer, and even more sensitive, and that isn't reality, either!  They are all behaving the way they think they should behave, not the way they would in real life. Consider this. Would any potential employer expect one of their applicants to continue working, once they had sustained a head injury? No! The task would have been brought to a screeching halt, and that person would have been sent to the emergency room, regardless of whether the victim wanted to go or not. If he had done that, would Trump have lost a single dime? No. At the worst, he might have had to change his time line, the deadline for the task to be finished. Big Woop! All I can say about Trump is, I don't envy his bride at all, if his attitude is any indication of his compassionate nature. Given a choice, give me a poor man with a sweet nature, and kindness in his heart for those who are sick or injured, rather than a rich man with icewater in his veins.

As I said at the beginning, this is the silly season, and it's in full swing. But sooner or later, it will fade again, and most things will go back to normal. But I have my doubts as to whether the producers of the reality shows will change at all. I do believe that they shall continue to be what they were before. Grasping, avaricious, and completely consumed by gain and profit, with no interest in how these wild ideas will impact the participants, the audience, or the world around them. I don't think the silly season really had any impact upon them at all. It just revealed what was already there. To those of us who are watching and listening, now we know who and what they are...and it ain't pretty son. It ain't pretty at all.

OUI?

IN CLOUDS AGAIN

I HAD A NEW DREAM. IT DISTURBED ME GREATLY. AS USUAL, IT STARTED

OUT SO NICELY. I WAS FLYING, AND THE RAIN FALLING ON THE LAND

WAS SOFT AND WARM. THEN, SUDDENLY, AS IN ALL DREAMS, THINGS

CHANGED. I WAS WALKING DOWN A NARROW, BLACK PAVED PATH,

BAREFOOT. THERE WERE LITTLE DEPRESSIONS IN THE PAVEMENT, TINY

POOLS OF WATER, FROM THE RAIN THAT STILL FELL. IT WAS DARK.

THE SKY WAS LAVENDER, AND FROM ALL AROUND ME THERE CAME

SUMMER NIGHT BIRD CALLS. I WAS COMPLETELY RELAXED AND

ENJOYING THE SCENE, WHEN I LOOKED UP, AND SAW A DARK FIGURE

APPROACHING ME, THAT I KNEW TO BE  A MAN.  I GREW A BIT WARY,

AND SO FOCUSED ON HIS COMING TOWARDS ME, THAT I BEGAN TO

SPLASH THROUGH THE PUDDLES WITH MY BARE TOES, INSTEAD OF

TAKING CARE TO STEP AROUND THEM. I BECAME EDGY. SOMETHING

ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR MADE ME FEEL THREATENED. OR, PERHAPS IT

WASN'T HIS ACTIONS AT ALL, BUT JUST THE MERE FACT OF HIS

BEING THERE. BEFORE, WHEN I WAS TOTALLY ALONE, I WAS

COMFORTABLE. JUST NOW, I HAD WANTED SOLITUDE. NOW THAT WAS

TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, AND I WAS UPSET. AS HE GREW CLOSER,

WARNING BELLS WERE GOING OFF IN MY HEAD. THEN, AS WE CAME

NEARLY FACE TO FACE, I SUDDENLY REMEMBERED I COULD FLY,

AND TOOK WING.

I WOKE UP IN A PANIC.

WHY, DO YOU SUPPOSE?

COULD IT BE THAT I FELT IT WAS A WARNING, THAT A MAN WAS

COMING TOWARDS ME, THAT WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE?

BUT THAT'S SO SILLY. I LIKE MY LIFE, JUST AS IT IS. I WOULDN'T

AGREE TO ANY CHANGES, SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

OR, COULD IT BE THAT I TOOK IT AS A PREMONITION THAT SOMETHING

OR SOMEONE WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, OVER WHICH I WOULD HAVE NO

CONTROL?

THAT JUST MIGHT BE  THE PROBLEM .

THE VERY THOUGHT OF IT, MAKES ME FEEL ANXIOUS.

NAAA! DON'T BE  AN IDIOT.

IT'S JUST THE SILLY SEASON, GETTING ON MY NERVES.

OUI?

BIRTHDAYS

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE WONDERFUL THAN A BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATION? CERTAINLY, A LOSS IN THE FAMILY ENDS ALL THOUGHTS

OF A FUN TIME, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHEN IS THE FAMILY MOST 

LIKELY TO COME TOGETHER, OTHER THAN A HOLIDAY?

I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED UPON A BIRTHDAY PARTY AS A KIND OF

MOVABLE FEAST.

THE ONE BEING HONORED USUALLY HAS THEIR CHOICE OF WHAT TO

EAT,AND WHERE, WHETHER IT IS A BAR-B-QUE ON THE BEACH,

OR A LUAU IN THE BASEMENT, A FORMAL SIT DOWN DINNER IN THE

DINNING ROOM, OR A BUFFET AT A FANCY RESTAURANT. AND THEN, OF

COURSE THERE'S THE PRESENTS AND THE CAKE AND ICE CREAM, AND

EVEN SOMETIMES CHAMPAGNE. NOISE MAKERS. FUNNY HATS,

CONFETTI...IT'S ALL VIABLE AND ALL SO MUCH FUN. ACCORDING TO 

THE WHIM OF THE BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL.

PERSONALLY, I LIKE, NO, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO HOST SOMEONES

BIRTHDAY PARTY. I AM PLANNING ONE, RIGHT NOW, AS A MATTER OF

FACT.

IT IS A JOY. THE ANTICIPATION OF SEEING THAT LOOK OF  PLEASURE,

SURPRISE AND DELIGHT, (HOPEFULLY) WHEN THAT FRIEND OR LOVED

ONE SEES THAT SPECIAL CAKE, OR OPENS THAT PRESENT, AND KNOWS

YOU DID IT ALL FOR THEM.

ONE YEAR, WE DID A MAD TEA PARTY, ALA ALICE IN WONDERLAND,

WITH THE MUSIC FROM THE DISNEY MOVIE PLAYING ALL THE WHILE,

AND EVERY TEAPOT AND COFFEE POT, CUP AND SAUCER AND MUG IN

THE HOUSE ON THE TABLE,AND EVEN A "DOORMOUSE" IN THE SUGAR

BOWL, (ACTUALLY, IT WAS A CATNIP MOUSE BORROWED FROM ONE OF

THE GUESTS CATS)  AND COOKIES FROSTED AND DECORATED WITH

"EAT ME" AND LITTLE BOTTLES OF JUICE WITH"DRINK ME" TAGS ON

THEM. ONE OF MY FRIENDS EVEN DRESSED UP LIKE THE CHESHIRE CAT

AND SURPRISED US ALL! AND AFTER SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WE

THEN SANG," A VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY" TO ALL THE REST OF US.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, SOMEONE  WOULD SHOUT CLEAN CUP, CLEAN

CUP, MOVE DOWN, MOVE DOWN...AND EVERYONE WOULD GET UP AND

MOVE TO A NEW PLACE. WE LAUGHED UNTIL OUR STOMACHES HURT,

AND  NOW, IT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT...BIRTHDAY OR NO BIRTHDAY!

I'VE DONE THIS SORT OF THING FOR YEARS. SINCE LITTLE ON, I WAS

FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A SPECIAL CAKE FOR

MY DEAR MOTHER. SADLY, THAT DEAR LADY IS GONE NOW, BUT I STILL

HAVE PICTURE AFTER PICTURE OF MYSELF AND HER, HOLDING UP HER

"FLAG CAKE "...SHE'S LOOKING GORGEOUS AND SWEET, AND THERE

I AM, DRIPPING SWEAT, HAIR HANGING IN STRINGS, OBVIOUSLY

WORN TO A FRAZZLE, AFTER BAKING AND DECORATING THIS LOVELY

CAKE. A LOT OF WORK, BUT OH, SO WORTH IT. IF ONLY I HAD HER BACK

SO I COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN.  BUT, I HAVE THOSE PICTURES, AND I CAN

GO BACK TO EACH ONE OF THOSE TIMES, AND RELIVE ALL THE FUN,

THE HAPPY LAUGHTER, THE SMILES, AND THE REST OF THE GOOD TIMES

WE HAD.  WHILE MOM WAS ALIVE, HER HOUSE WAS OVERRUN WITH

VASES OF RED ROSES, LOVING CARDS, SINGING AND LAUGHING, NOT

JUST ON HER BIRTHDAY, BUT ANYTIME I HAD THE MEANS AND A WAY

TO GET THEM TO HER.

SO, IT IS A DELIGHT TO ME TO CONTINUE TO DO THESE THINGS FOR

MY LOVED ONES NOW. LIKE MOM, THEY WON'T ALWAYS BE AROUND

FOR ME TO SPOIL. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN DOING ALL THAT I CAN

WHILE YOU STILL HAVE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH YOU, NOT

WAITING UNTIL THEY ARE GONE TO SEND FLOWERS, OR SAY WHAT

WONDERFUL PEOPLE THEY WERE.

LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. BEING DEMONSTRATIVE AND AFFECTIONATE

IS A HAPPY WAY TO LIVE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE LAST

TIME YOU SEE THAT SPECIAL PERSON WILL BE. YOU JUST DON'T.

SO SHOULDN'T EVERY TIME BE TREATED AS THOUGH IT WERE THE

LAST TIME?

BEFORE I PART COMPANY WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, I ALWAYS SAY

"I LOVE YOU" AND KISS THEM GOODBYE, BECAUSE ONE DAY, I WILL BE

RIGHT,AND THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE TO SAY WHAT WAS LEFT

UNSAID. NO TIME TO GO BACK AND MAKE IT RIGHT. OH, I HAVE

HEARD OF FAMILIES THAT DON'T GO IN FOR "THAT SORT OF THING".

MORE'S THE PITY. A FACT THAT THEY WILL LIVE TO REGRET.

NOT I. I HAVE NOTHING TO REPROACH MYSELF FOR WHEN MY

DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE GONE, I WILL  KNOW THAT I DID

ALL I COULD TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THAT TO ME, THEY WERE SPECIAL

AND LOVED.

GOTTA GO NOW. I HAVE A GIFT TO WRAP,AND A CAKE TO BAKE, AND

FESTIVITIES TO PLAN!

WE'RE HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY!