Quit Slaying Dragons

Maybe we all come along at just the right time. From this vantage point I can see that I was destined for a solo journey. Fill a room with every teacher, all the lovers, each and every friend and they will all tell you- I'm a lone wolf.

This is not what I have thought I wanted. I was always sure that I needed brothers and sisters. As a kid, I would cry when the aunts and uncles went home. I have always moved from romance to romance with no consideration of an alternative.

Playing in a band always seemed like the ultimate occupation. Oh, a hit record would have been nice and, contrary to what you may have heard, I'm not adverse to success. What I always moved back to, though, was the camaraderie of the band.

Well, sir, after more than fifty years and dozens of bands, it's obvious that I can't do that. All those buddies from all those bands will, of course, be in that room telling you the same story.

Don't think that I'm whining. I've had the best teachers, the sweetest lovers, and the best friends a fellow could ever ask for.

Eventually, we all go home alone.

By Now

It would be over by now. On this end of the wringer, I can tell you the story. Nowadays, I can save a lot of wear and tear on this old heart and a whole lot of trouble for the other party by just running through a romance in my mind.

Seems I've had enough of everything I ever needed and more than enough of anything I ever wanted.

Thank goodness for memories. Oh, and imagination.

Prosperity For The Colonies

Life is like quicksand. If you struggle, it will pull you under. I don't suppose anybody has had it much easier than I have. Oh, I've done my share of belly-achin'. More than my share.

If bucket lists had been a thing when I was a kid, mine would have been a weird one. Every single desire has been granted by the mysterious forces in the cosmos. Mysterious to me at any rate.

I'm down to world peace, living forever and true love.

Always Too Much Information

My jaw locked once when I was twelve or thirteen years old. I could only open my mouth about half-way. For some reason I never mentioned it to anyone. One day, after a year or two, everything popped back in place. It seemed like a miracle at the time. I felt like one of those rubes "healed" by the television preacher who could suddenly throw his crutches into the audience. I had gotten used to my affliction and adjusted my eating, talking and yawning habits without really noticing.

Today, nearly two years after losing my beloved Jamaica, I felt a twinge of joy. I wasn't really aware that it was gone from my life. Oh, I've had some good times and I've heard some pretty music. I've laughed at some good jokes and I've enjoyed some fine food. Still, bliss has been absent and I didn't know that I missed it.

My record producer, Phil Gernhard, told us once while we were awaiting fame and fortune, "Enjoy it when it comes because it only means something in the beginning."

Well, sir, it never came. Fame or fortune. In order not to miss anything, I had willed myself joyful. I suppose that I had gotten used to it and I guess I've always kept happy as my default setting. I kinda' forgot all about the fame and fortune.

Now, though- hot dog! I plan to laugh and dance and sing and yawn for the rest of the ride.

Hurry Home

They try to tell you from the start, it's all about loss. By the time that it sinks in, most everything is gone, behind you. The whole game, it seems, is about getting ready for the end. If that sounds gloomy, convince me that I've got it wrong.

Bob Dylan told us that it wasn't dark yet but that it was getting close. That was twenty three years ago. I suppose that means that it's a whole lot closer now.

Ram Dass said that we're all just walking each other home. Don't worry about leaving money on the table. Just don't leave any love in your heart.

Gimme an "A"

The physicist deals with matter and energy and time. The biologist studies living organisms. Chemists work on the atomic and molecular structure and the interaction of matter.

All of the "space" between all of this is where the magic is.

Me? I'm a magician. Oh, I don't know any tricks and I can't amaze, dazzle or astonish you with any sleight of hand. I suppose I would describe myself as a poet if I weren't so lazy. When you're too lazy to be a poet...*

*I may come back and finish this thought later.

All That's Left Of Me

There was a time, boys, when I was all piss and vinegar. You know- snaps, snails and puppy dog tails.

I had no interests that were not prurient. I wanted to walk like a man. Take charge. Buck up.

Of course I was never very good at it. Any of it. I was raised by women.

Nowadays, I consider myself complimented when someone tells me that I drive like an old lady or that I throw like a girl. I should admit here and now that I sometimes cry like a baby, too.

Oh, I'm quite comfortable with my masculinity. I just don't have to prove anything to anyone.

Moriarty Be Damned!

Sticks and stones, my esteemed, imaginary rival- sticks and stones. I have seen the "other side" and, steady, boys- there is no other side. With cautious abandon I have sought truth for all of my long life. It has been with me all along. Children know truth. In fact, that's all they know. Oh, kids will fib. Some of them lie with regularity.

We try to make sense of suffering and create involved scenarios of gods and spirits to justify loss and isolation. Then we argue over the different ideas and fight wars with the ones with different agendas. 

The dominant genes keep the aggressive ones at the top of the games. They reproduce and hope that their aggressive nature will insure their offsprings' niche at the top.

In case I have it wrong, maybe you should run for office or donate to the church. Promote yourself for the legacy and keep up those life insurance premiums. 

Meanwhile, I will play. That's pretty much all I've ever done.

It's all about love. Nothing else much matters.

My World

Nobody ever accused me of optimism. That's alright. I see that half-full glass. Of course I see that other half, too. They say, whoever they are, that you make your own luck. Well, I've always been a little too lazy to make much of anything.

My luck, though, has been almost too good. I'm not complaining, you understand.

Maybe I'll have some new songs for you soon. I seem to have a head full of them.

Black-Eyed Peas, War and Cornbread

One of our continents is ablaze. In the meantime, we have just assassinated Iran's second most powerful man. Are we off to a fine start for a year, a decade, or what?

Hey, all you end of the worlders- I hope the premium on your life insurance is paid up.

Me? I suppose I'm one of the fortunate ones. Neither my teeth nor my savings were designed to last this long. My phone nor my pecker, either, come to think of it.

My allegiance is to no flag, no political party. By the way, whose idea was it to call them "parties," anyway?

My New Year's toast is to love and art; truth and beauty; nature and charity and kindness.

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

Love and Mercury

As a kid I loved to take those little desk thermometers and break the glass so that I could play with the mercury. I would always end up putting the mercury in my mouth. That seemed to be the only way to keep it from disappearing, bit by bit.

Seems that maybe I've used the same shaky logic dealing with love over a lifetime. Life, in general, I suppose. I've hoarded life like other nuts have kept twine or tin foil. Oh, I'm aware that it's aluminum foil now, and has been for decades. I'm too stubborn to call it that.

Those t shirts from twenty years ago that I saved for the future- this is the future and they won't fit. Dad blast it!