Some Days

Oh, give me a home where the punks don't have guns and the skies are quite cloudy all day. Drivers wait courteously for oncoming traffic on narrow lanes where two cars can't pass. Road rage consists of a roll of the eyes and a muttered, "Blimey!"

Politics on television is, nearly as I can tell, what every Monty Python skit is based on. You just don't see any lavender turbans in the halls of congress.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not intentionally denigrating American culture. It's just that the sense that I've had over the last few decades that kindness and civility were disappearing seems to be well-founded.

Homesick? Ever? Well, I miss my friends and what family I have left, but Katie and Vera determine home. We share a snood. Can you believe it?

 

Jiggety Jig

Home, as they say, is where the heart is. I'm home. By the way, who are "they?"

After a short visit to the good ol' USA, I'm back in Dorset. Home. It was surely sweet to see friends. Of course I missed more than I saw.

There are good people and there are bad people wherever you go. I really prefer to think that there are only good people, but some of them have been damaged along the way. At any rate, I seem to run across mostly the good ones.

We're gonna take the slow approach to Christmas this year. Since we lost our Sunny Jim, we're down to three for the holiday. I'll get our 2' plastic tree down from the attic when I get up the ambition and Kate and Vera and I will decorate as the mood dictates.

I wish for all of you the measure of happiness that I have. Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.

 

How Many More Summers?

When the world is burning and drowning at the same time, but you keep rolling sevens, it's time to go to the party, isn't it? Nothing is guaranteed, regardless of what was promised. You do what you can.

Love is the only currency that matters. 

When you find home again, settle in. If there's wild knocking on the door as the sun is coming up, just assume that it's true love.

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

 

Now What?

Arrogance comes early. Wisdom, if it comes at all, is late to the party. Kindness, as it turns out, doesn't cost you a thing. In fact, it pays great dividends. Show me a soul who believes he's been kind enough and I'll show you a fool who hasn't paid attention.

I ran out of stuff to want a long time ago and, knowing that nothing is permanent, all I really want is to pay attention to everything that's in front of me.

Memories? More than my fair share, thank you.

I've always cried at endings but I've always loved a grand finale.

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

 

It Rolls 'til It Don't

 

Doing good should just come naturally, right? Far as I know, little boys continue pulling the wings off flies. Hey, kid- good luck if you're absolutely sure that you're gonna live long enough to make up for all your meanness.

Snake oil dealers came up with heaven as a concept just before car salesmen originated the extended warranty. Everybody wants to kick karma down the road.

No matter which of those books you pick up, love is always the answer.

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

What Ever Became of Bebop?

Whatever have I done to deserve this? In all my dreams as a kid, everybody got all the things that I had. Every seagull got his share of bread crumbs and every stray in the pound went home with a loving kid.

Oh, I worry about this old world and I'm well aware of how little I've done to make it any better. It occurred to me a long time ago that I wasn't going to improve the lot of the planet with government work or demonstrating in the street. Now, I've done some of both and I have great respect for the folks who have chosen those paths. Ms. Thunberg is the hero of a generation.

War and climate change and hunger and hate haunt us all. If you miss the magic, however, fretting about the tragedy, you've missed it all.

Do what you can. Love hard, play fair and share what you have. Stand up for the ones who can't and speak for those without voices. Enjoy the whole trip, though, while you're at it. It's beautiful.

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

 

Go Now!

Funny, truth and grammar are dispensable, it seems. War never goes out of fashion. Who put these bozos in charge? Oh, yeah- we did.

If you can ignore the buzzing around you, there's still a beautiful world to rejoice in. Poetry doesn't have to rhyme and you can combine any colors that you want. No need to wear your skirt the length of the fashion model's. No need to wear your skirt. 

I'll drive the speed limit because I should and I'll pay taxes because I use the infrastructure. 

Kindness brings happiness and love brings peace. It surely ain't rocket science.