Better Late

Evidence indicates that I should have done something different with my life. I seem to have figured it out, to the extent that it can be figured out, here in the last few years. I hope that doesn't mean that I wasted the rest of it.

Then again, I'm pretty sure that "wasting it" is our primary function. 

Oh, I would save the world if I could. 

Love when you can and where you can, just as hard as you can.

 

Maybe You Can Go Home

 

Ol' Thomas Wolfe claimed you can never go home. Frankly, I believe it's just all in how you describe "home." 

I'm going to Florida in a few days. Tampa. I lived there from the time I was seven years old until about two years ago when I moved to Great Britain. 

Going back to Tampa won't be going home, although I'll be glad to see old friends, two-legged, three-legged and four. Coming back to Dorset in a couple of weeks will. Pliny the Elder is credited with, "Home is where the heart is." I'm with Pliny.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.

Dogs In Polite Society

 

I had to cross an ocean. Now I live. Before I waited to live. 

Sometimes I walk in the field and sometimes I ride on the bus. I pet the dog and we're both aware of every stroke. Romance is woven into every scenario. William and Myrna would be well-cast in our fairytale story.

Hold the bubble and squeak, I'm just coming. I'll wade in the Gulf for a short visit soon and I'll drive on the right side for a couple of weeks. I still dream of peace on earth and an end to this dreadful, dreadful war.

Put The Squeeze On Verlin

Some days it don't pay to get up. What do you suppose snake handlers do on their day off? Boys, I've got better things to do than....

Wait a minute! No, I don't. I don't have a single thing to do. Oh, I could write a song. I could cut the grass. We all know that there are too many songs in the world as it is and I've written more than my fair share. The grass? I don't need to tell you that it will grow right back.

The Christian work ethic was a cruel hoax. I hope I may serve as a bad example to a few of you aspiring layabouts and ne'er-do-wells. Celebrate with me. Tell 'em you're meditating or something.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.

 

Artists and Models and Grease Monkeys

 

We all spend our lives trying to "get back home." The longer you live, the more obvious it is, I suppose. Folks with the means travel. Some seek through spiritual paths and others find the bottle.

In my new role as the poster boy for the quest, home found me. Now, to be clear, without Kate as the delivery agent, I wasn't going to find anything. It took me years to give up my dream to move to England and two weeks to get it back. 

Home is where they drive on the wrong side of the street. Home is where Kate lives.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thirsty

 

These days I keep up with friends mostly through dreams. When I arrived in England, I wondered if I would hear regularly from the people in my life. I don't. 

For a sentimental fool like me, you would think that would be a tragedy of some degree. It's not.

Memories have always been my greatest treasures. These new ones are divine.

I hope this doesn't translate as some idea that I don't miss anyone. I do. I'll see you in my dreams.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.

All The Saints Are Self-Employed

 

You fix what you can in this world. Sometimes the rules aren't fair. You can't always use that as your excuse. Just make sure that you're not missing any of the magic by tilting at the wrong windmills.

There aren't many valid excuses for not being kind. Righteous indignation shouldn't stop the party.

Take care of the lonely ones and don't pass up dessert.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war. I'll see you in Florida in April.