Rattletrap Royal

 

It's time to convene every naughty thought that has ever used up space in the gyri and sulci of my used, if not well-used, brain. What has worrying about mundane, worldly events ever gotten me? We refer to such matters as "carpet samples" around here.

Nothing, that's what!

Like everyone else, I suppose, I've wasted time and energy worrying about what relatives would think. Job security. Admission to heaven.

Now, here I am with few relatives left and those few made up their minds about me a long time back. I don't really have a job. I mean I played rock'n'roll, for goodness sake. I don't believe in heaven. That is, I don't believe in any pearly gates opening to a glorious afterlife. 

This is heaven, this life I'm living. My mind's in the gutter and I'll only wear pants when I want to.

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

Pass The Pilgrims, Please

The more the world falls apart, the more precious my corner of paradise feels. I suppose I could feel guilty. I'm good at that. 

Utopia was a concept that always felt right to me. I was naive to the extent that I never considered that it was all fantasy. I signed up for a college course, Idea of Utopia, that I assumed was going to give me the skills to start one or a map to find one. Turned out to be a literature course. I learned a little something of other clueless dreamers who stared out windows and prayed for peace.

Since then I've been exposed to the music business, worked for the government, and talked folks out of buying things that I was paid to sell. All I've missed, I suppose, is the military and the pulpit. I have my limits.

While I never threw in the towel, after this amount of time, I had given up any realistic hope of moving right into some place that I would consider a paradise. I'm used to hearing the folks in Key West tell me, "Oh you should have been here before the Navy," or friends who have gone now declare, "I wish you could have seen Davis Islands before the storm."

As usual for me, it's too late for bad luck. I've got my girls and I stumbled into paradise.

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

 

Greener Grass and Better Manners

Ramblin' Jack says a cowboy never walks when he can ride. Me? I walk to town because I can't drive on this side of the road. I can use the exercise, anyway.

There are villains amongst us. I suppose there always have been, probably always will be. Their weapons seem to be money, misinformation, politics, fear and religion.

What are the odds that we will survive them this time around? That last bunch had the bomb. This year's bunch has added AI to the mix. 

They sit back and watch us beat each other's brains out for the opening act. Christian vs. Muslim, Sunni against Shia, Republicans and Democrats, men and women, ad nauseam. I wouldn't bet any money on the meek, but I wouldn't be a part of any other team.

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

 

Why Not Now?

Go outside when you can. Count stars, talk to animals. Save insects when you get the chance. Smile at strangers every time.

I don't know much, but I know happy is better than sad. Way better. 

There's always going to be something going wrong. Sometimes we can do something about it, sometimes we can't. Joyful memories of what we've lost are the sweetest souvenirs.

Tell the ones around you how much you love them. That's just making souvenirs for later.

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

 

Writer's Elbow

I've probably spent as little time doing what I didn't want to do, to stay alive and impress others, as a fellow can get by with. I suppose that I'm just running out the clock now. Maybe I always was, but I know it now.

If I've ever made someone smile or if I've ever helped anybody feel loved, I've served my purpose. In my book, ambition's overrated, status is silly.

Oh, I am rich by my measure. I have failed at ending war, protecting all animals and mending all broken hearts, but I've tried. I don't know- maybe I've always had too much ambition.

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