Only a Warm-Up
I was whimpered out of bed at 2:30 a.m. this morning, the Pomeranian needed my spot. She’s 14 years old, takes multiple heart meds, shows signs of doggie dementia, and is losing her hearing. But I love her so I navigate to the recliner.
I am unable to sleep, there are too many thoughts running through my head. At 3:57 a.m. I finally give up trying and push the button on the coffee pot; besides, this isn’t too far off my regular routine anyway.
It’s been a big summer, so much movement and merriment and madness, and I rarely if ever left the zip code. No vacation, no camping, no unique adventures to treasure, yet the days and weeks were full and complete. I want it all to slow down a little but on the flipside I really don't. This is life and it only asks you to dance one time.
Margaret and I did manage to make it to a funeral and a wedding however: both were expected, both joyous and natural, both shared with family and friends and food. The curtain closed on a beautiful waltz while another opened on a ballet just beginning.
Thoughts about events, local and otherwise, trivial to tragic, rattle and spin and ricochet between my ears, urging me to say something about them, but there are reasons why I haven’t; far different from excuses. Lacking the focus and the fortitude is about as honest as it gets.
Hulk Hogan passed away. I was his waiter a couple of times in Malibu. Nice fella, happy. His scratchy, deep from the chest voice pointing toward the table with thick balloon hands, “Hey brother, why don’t ya bring us two more lobsters?”
“They’re running kinda small Hulk, I’ll get ya three,” I replied. It’s just salesmanship. He and his gang wouldn’t have any trouble eating one more and every little extra 15% gratuity on a ticket is money in my pocket.
We had great luck at the citywide garage sale; sold a King size mattress and box spring to a tiny little gal from South America, probably the nicest thing she’s ever owned, enjoying the safest life she’s ever known. She spoke zero English, but we got the deal done; we even delivered it and set it up. Is she legal? I can't say, but she's alive and she's free. It's very difficult to argue that.
People in the Middle East and in Asia are fighting and killing each other, wasting time and resources and lives, and it’s ludicrous. Yeah, every once in a while you have to punch the other guy in the mouth – but over and over and over again? Hate takes too much energy. I wish it would stop.
The rain has been such a blessing; inconvenient at times but nobody is complaining. Every drop is a deposit, compounded; they offset the withdrawals.
Bruce Springsteen. Big rock star, Elvis big. He bought me lunch in 1982 in Kansas City, gave me his sunglasses and red bandana. I thought he was great. Now he bags Trump. I’ve lost all respect.
The pool is closed, but how wonderful it was to see them all – the young ones, crisscrossing town, towels wrapped around their necks, meandering through the park, sun burnt and silly.
The blinds or drapes on some houses never open, the light never gets in, the yard is not well tended. I know there are children inside. Who am I to judge, I just see things differently I guess.
Smoke from wild fires in Canada created a haze over large swaths of the U.S. I’m not a fan, but its nature and its Earth doing what Earth does to clean and stimulate. And it’s God who put the whole thing in motion. That’s kind of important to remember.
I’ve only scratched the surface, but I gotta go. The mounds of dirt will hopefully get backfilled soon. I miss mowing the grass.
My yellow chariot has rested long enough. It needs to hear some little voices with big dreams and laughter. I can’t wait.
