Goodbye Papa

Raises fist

Rails against the desert

Drinks morning coffee
Plans meal of chicken fried steak
And anticipates happy hour more than she should

Damn it all to hell
You lovable old man

I'll miss your calm relaxed presence
Those smiles and hugs and silly jokes
~12-1-15

You left, yet your absence does not soak my pillow as I seek sleep and wait for your visit.

But your absence is redefining me
and my future
The definition of family

If mother was the home spun glue
That held us tightly together
You were the storyteller
who defined us
12-14-15

Remembering Papa

It must have been during the "gas shortage" in 1973, when Dad decided to ride his motorcycle to work everyday. I can't remember where the flight suit came from. A relative with connections? It was the flight suit that ensured a warm ride in the cooler months. 

Around the same time, a manual treadmill appeared in Chuck & Jim's old bedroom in the basement. Dad would ride home for lunch and walk on the treadmill until it was time to eat. So true to his personality--setting goals, improving a personal situation. 

Which reminds me of the time he hypnotized a wart off his nose. I'll save that for another time.

Unless . . .

I heard the following quote on NPR, the day after America's latest school shooting. At first the statement pissed me off and then I realized how all of us try and put distance between our families and the last tragedy.

"It’s not if, it’s when."
Where?

Small town,

big city,

east,

west.

America needs to stop wringing its hands and pointing fingers. And stop pontificating:

“society has gone to hell”,

“the good guys need more guns”,

“identify the mentally ill”.

We have all played a part in creating the current atmosphere. And we all have the power to change it. And if lighting a fire under society with the truth of, “it’s not if, it’s when”, doesn’t move us, then I don’t know what will.

Sit down and begin writing to your congressman, form a local group, make your voices heard. And while you’re forming your own speech remember: The deaths occur in seconds, minutes. A hero with a gun is a fantasy.

Write now and write often.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-oregon-shooting-20151004-story.html

Rumors

If my reaction to a Twitter comment today is any indication--rumors make me c-r-a-z-y. And from that lead-in, you might have already guessed that one of my main roles as a teen was being fodder for the rumor mill. In a small town with a small school, that makes you center stage entertainment. I had it on good authority that I was held up as an example of what not to do during many family dinner discussions.

There were the first rumors. They made me sad, angry, indignant, outraged. Then came the helplessness, depression and suicidal thoughts. And finally the "Oh what the hell! I'll give them something to talk about!" Does that make rumors like a self fulfilling prophecy? {laughs to self}

And yet, like so many life experiences, it's part of who I am--> someone who gets crazy over rumors.

The Uncalendar

You never know what you'll stumble across on the web.

In 1978 I purchased one of these "Uncalendars" and have often wished they were still available to buy as gifts. 

I found the link and then they took it down. I had the file saved for a few years, but recently lost it. 

Hope it's still out there somewhere.