I Believe I Just Got Served

     There's nothing wrong with being able to "leave a tender moment alone" as Billy Joel once said. It's hard - wanting to take an epic encounter and raising it higher. It's so much more warmly expansive to gestate in the essence of what has been said. Screaming in its vast void - "I'm in the exact same place." Humility marinates where arrogance misses the point.

       Just be quiet and hear the voice of an angel.

Hmmmmm... Where Have I Heard This Before?

      The United States is in disagreement over race again. Politics floundering, extremists crying out in the night. A war of words has become the death of true innocents in the streets. Those cops weren't shot, they were assassinated. This isn't a new phenomenon, but it will again divide the country as its predecessors did. The hippies in the sixties. Oh, and there was another one - the next Civil War is coming, people. In my own life, brother has challenged brother on race alone. The whole race issue isn't about equal treatment, it's a promotion of the radical ideal being accepted as reasonable. It's the bastardization of the dream to promote ones own self interest.

Across the Vast Echo Comes A Voice

     I stumbled across a memory this evening as I walked past Kezar Staduim to the booming voice of some gentleman excitedly announcing SOMETHING. The echo and dulling from the walls made it difficult to hear outside. With the tone of his voice and the appearance of the building, a sense of connection came over me and reminded me of my six months in the true, rural south town of Munford, Tennessee. It was a town of a little over two thousand people, and there wasn't a lot to do since Memphis was an hour away. When I started "dating" my cute next door neighbor, she asked me to accompany her (and her brother and parents) to the talent show on Friday. I agreed, as the smile of a woman can sway most things in a man's... Heart.

     We arrived at the building, only for me to find it was a church. A Christian function that screamed some part 'hoe down' and some part innocence. I was not looking forward to the events of the evening, but her hand squeezing mine in excitement gave me pause, as I had sprayed Right-Guard directly in my crotch - I needed a payoff for the burning hunk of honkey love that taught me a valuable lesson on the proper placement of alcoholic substances. As we sidled up to the door, the man at the ticket counter handed us each a raffle ticket as we paid the nominal three dollar fee for "some good ol' fashioned entertainment"! Then, the memory that jogged this all free would arrive. "Bombastic Buford" (I'm not certain hat was his name... But I'm not certain it wasn't either) would come on stage with a mixture of Baptist Preacher meets 'The Micromachine Man' (about five of you reading this understood the reference) and take control of the situation. This was one of the first ties I noticed the power of charisma. Whether it was a fifteen year old boy with a cracking voice singing Patsy Cline or the girl who could touch her tongue to her nose (that happened, but I don't think they understood why men uncomfortably nervous), he would bellow forth and assure you that this was a ride you needed to take. Also, hallelujahs. 

     At the end of the night, I felt thoroughly entertained but not sure why (like reality shows always do) - entertained by the MC more so than any act. It was just clean wholesome fun. I went a few more weeks with "Right Guard" Rita until we decided we needed time to find ourselves. 😀 Also, figured she would be a cold fish. Fourteen is too early not sow ones wild oats. I may never have gotten to her, but those moments with her obviously still resonate within me.

A Double Left-Right

     Sometimes, you just have to skip a step. Either your out of rhythm (with life) and need to fall back in or maybe your out of step with a partner. It feels awkward to skip out, but it can help reset your momentum. If you are in a rut, the only change necessary is any change at all. Whether it winds up being better or worse in the short term - it will be a different beat. It doesn't always make it better, but it's a step toward recognizing that you have control in changing your trajectory. 

     No one has ever lived this life pain free. Take the bumps in the road and just be ready to slow down and enjoy the smooth patches while they last. Don't speed by and then fantasize about how great it will be if you ever get another break. Your responsibility in life is to appreciate everything you have before you want for more.

Last Rights

Drifting off to sleep with our song humming low... Marble arches, victory marches and you. Melancholy melody motivates memories meant to mesmerize and maintain. Your arrival us but a day away.

Good night, my love.

Screw Your Privilege.

     I think what has gotten away from us as a whole is that we went from wanting to treat kindly (and be treated kindly) by our family and friends, then mistook it to mean everyone has to be nice to everyone. What an absolutely childish mindset, to feel as an adult that anyone should bow to your whims solely based on the personal choice to be 'different' - while seeking to dilute the idea of 'normal' to the point it has become a symbol of hate. Do people just expect to go through life without any inconvenience or even injustice? Why would someone feel they are entitled to me treating them according to their idea of the world in place of my own philosophies?

          We, as a society, need to return to a place where logic was the rule of the day. Some people would need thicker skin, some people's feelings will be hurt, but we will be able to continue to grow as a species. This naive belief that we can walk through life pain-free and without difficulty is a fool's folly that only makes the rest of us suffer. I shouldn't look over my shoulder in the restaurant to be sure that no one is offended, and I will not do so. I will fight for my beliefs and I will fight you for trying to impress upon me your worldview. I won't quietly sit by and be accosted, I will instead fight you and pay the price.

Shane is a Nice Name.

     The true beauty of diversity has been perverted and eviscerated by the cancer of political correctness. In one morning, I have had breakfast with a Nicaraguan while being served by a Lithiunian lovely; purchased a bong and learned from a Middle Eastern Male and shared drinks and cheered for both soccer and Irish Football (alongside a friendly father of one of the players on tv). I asked the waitress where her accent was from out of fascination, not folly. I was openly ignorant of Irish football rules, but was able to cheer the action and have the father discuss the sport and not get his feelings hurt for me not knowing a sport a world away. People don't know what the don't know, and you as a 'different person' only have a right to explanation of your 'truth', but I don't have to be changed or affected if I choose not to.

     When did we lose the right to disagree and be done with it? And when can we bring Irish football to America to be played by the ladies above? 😬