When I was very young I had a mock up space suit just like the ones used by the Apollo Astronauts. It was a wondrous time to be a young boy with the exploration and the feeling of constant progress it was even termed the "Space Age". We drank Tang and our science books were written as though we had already created a space station and were on our way to Mars.
However, with the civil unrest, war and inflation it seemed that the good times had peaked. Did they?
As a young boy who walked proudly in my space suit I never got to be an astronaut, in fact I wasn't very good at math. However, I gaze upon the stars with the wonder of a child still. I am closer to them than I was back in the 1970's even if it just because I have grown a few inches.
One thing I have always felt good about was that my reach has always exceeded my grasp. With sheer determination and persistence I have overcome and reached goals that others have simply quit.
The real secret to happiness, success and love is realizing it isn't getting them it is keeping them.
The Wizard of...ahhh
1939 was a wonderful year, although I can only make that assumption from the movies that came out. Two classics both in color came out that year and thrive to this day. "Gone with the Wind" of course the "Wizard of Oz".
They are the essence of what makes film rather than movies. For me I can remember when the WOZ came on tv every year, and it was an event when I was growing up. I remember the terrifying flying monkeys the wicked witch and the one I most identified with was the scarecrow. He was clumsy and losing his stuffing and he was the first companion that Dorothy met (and kept) on her way.
(sidebar) WOZ is really a parable about turn of the century politics with each character representing a certain facet of the voting block. The Scarecrow was the American Farmer, but back to the story.
I see myself as the scarecrow today, because I am always just a little off balance and I don't use my brain (oft times I wonder if one is there, although I have had my head xrayed and they found nothing.)
By far the sweetest thing about the scarecrow was that Dorothy said she would miss him the most.
Who says nice guys finish last, all the time.
They are the essence of what makes film rather than movies. For me I can remember when the WOZ came on tv every year, and it was an event when I was growing up. I remember the terrifying flying monkeys the wicked witch and the one I most identified with was the scarecrow. He was clumsy and losing his stuffing and he was the first companion that Dorothy met (and kept) on her way.
(sidebar) WOZ is really a parable about turn of the century politics with each character representing a certain facet of the voting block. The Scarecrow was the American Farmer, but back to the story.
I see myself as the scarecrow today, because I am always just a little off balance and I don't use my brain (oft times I wonder if one is there, although I have had my head xrayed and they found nothing.)
By far the sweetest thing about the scarecrow was that Dorothy said she would miss him the most.
Who says nice guys finish last, all the time.
Time for a change
As I grow older I spend less time thinking about the future and more time examining my past. I look for trends and why I do things that are destructive and never seem to learn from them. It seems that I can do little to change the things I don't like about myself, but I was driving home from work the other day I am pledged to make a change in my life.
I was listening to the radio and George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" was on. It occurred to me how spiritually moving that song was. I feel the depth of emotion in that song. So I decided to make a change. From now on George Harrison will be my favorite Beatle. For years I have swayed between Paul and John but I have put all my chips on George.
John I think appealed to me due to his creative expression with music and his quotes. Some of my favorites:"I wish I had the mind of a fisherman" (I relate to that one a lot. I wish I were a simpler man without so much drive and talent)
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans" (So true)
Now Paul I think is a genius. Without equal in the field that he has chosen and I don't think anyone has written a better hook line than "My Love" (The I love you, it is so right on).
As far as great songs is there any one better than "Yesterday".
I have put those reasons behind me and I now have planted George as my favorite Beatle. I think it unfortunate that George's talent was not given the album space to flourish they way that John and Paul did, but they all were icons.
I was listening to the radio and George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" was on. It occurred to me how spiritually moving that song was. I feel the depth of emotion in that song. So I decided to make a change. From now on George Harrison will be my favorite Beatle. For years I have swayed between Paul and John but I have put all my chips on George.
John I think appealed to me due to his creative expression with music and his quotes. Some of my favorites:"I wish I had the mind of a fisherman" (I relate to that one a lot. I wish I were a simpler man without so much drive and talent)
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans" (So true)
Now Paul I think is a genius. Without equal in the field that he has chosen and I don't think anyone has written a better hook line than "My Love" (The I love you, it is so right on).
As far as great songs is there any one better than "Yesterday".
I have put those reasons behind me and I now have planted George as my favorite Beatle. I think it unfortunate that George's talent was not given the album space to flourish they way that John and Paul did, but they all were icons.
Trans Am
It has been my experience that the reason cars, ships and planes are given female names is that men carry an interest in a machine longer than they do the fairer sex. Of course there is a certain amount of projection that takes place there too. Men want a woman to behave like a fine car. Sit pretty and wait for them only to throttle the motor.I will keep my cards close to the vest. I do have a favorite car though. I have had some very nice cars in my life and driven pretty nice ones too, but the one that still makes me smile was a 1979 Trans Am.
This car was in deplorable condition when I first found it. I had to drive about 2 hours to pick it up and it had been parked for some time when I finally found it.It was out in the country and the original motor, 301 V8 turbo motor, which were simply awful had been replaced by a Pontiac 400 truck motor. The car had a window missing and the the guys dogs were jumping though there to sleep when it got cold. I kid you not. You know the Dukes of Hazard? This was not far from the real Hazard county.
Anyway some of the good things, well on good thing was it had T-Tops. The motor was able to run and there was just something about the look of the car that got me excited. I was able to fix the window, paint the car, replace the stereo and clean out the dog hairs. When it was done it was the sweetest car I ever had. I never gave her a name, but it has significance because I have always been drawn to women who need just a little TLC to become irresistible. I have found that most, not all, have been trampled upon and put aside for the next big thing, that turns out to be a bust.
But for the soft hands and gentle encouragement given the right set of circumstances we can all run with the newer models once again.
Viva la Trans Am!
This car was in deplorable condition when I first found it. I had to drive about 2 hours to pick it up and it had been parked for some time when I finally found it.It was out in the country and the original motor, 301 V8 turbo motor, which were simply awful had been replaced by a Pontiac 400 truck motor. The car had a window missing and the the guys dogs were jumping though there to sleep when it got cold. I kid you not. You know the Dukes of Hazard? This was not far from the real Hazard county.
Anyway some of the good things, well on good thing was it had T-Tops. The motor was able to run and there was just something about the look of the car that got me excited. I was able to fix the window, paint the car, replace the stereo and clean out the dog hairs. When it was done it was the sweetest car I ever had. I never gave her a name, but it has significance because I have always been drawn to women who need just a little TLC to become irresistible. I have found that most, not all, have been trampled upon and put aside for the next big thing, that turns out to be a bust.
But for the soft hands and gentle encouragement given the right set of circumstances we can all run with the newer models once again.
Viva la Trans Am!
Rearview regret
I find myself living in the past much to often. Try as I may I cannot change the road I have taken. Still nothing pulls stronger than my desire to change a single decision. Well, If I spent more time I may have others, but one more than most weighs on my mind.I am sure you will find this narcissistic and self-indulgent, but nonetheless I shall confess.
This was an epiphany for me within the last year. I looked back on a decision which at the time I really didn't know was open to me, but had I done would have made me much different today.
I was in the eighth grade, yes trifling I know, and one of the talents that I had just begun to cultivate was my singing. I was in the chorus and I had a natural rhythm that was beginning to show itself. I had something else too. I had a passion for the stage and preforming. I lite up before a crowd, and the rush was unreal.
There was a talent competition and I didn't even put forth the effort to do it. I really didn't know what to do so I did nothing. I watched as others did their best but knowing that I could done more than watch. It was hard watching all these people perform. There was one act that sticks in my mind to this day that I could have helped , and they me.There were these 4 guys who could actually play drums, guitar, bass and piano. They preformed Electric Light Orchestra "Don't bring me down". They did fairly good job, except for the singer guitar player. He couldn't sing and he tried to do it. He was flat and you couldn't even hear him over the din of the music.
The talent show began on a Thursday night and the awards were given out that night, but the next day the show was repeated for the students. I could have gone to them and said "Hey, I can not only sing this song but I can perform." To this day I am sure I could have done a back flip off the stage. I never went to them. I never asked and they never knew.
To this day I will hear that song, quite often in fact, and it will take me back to a school that is no longer there and a choice that caused me to live out my life not knowing if I could or would have done a back flip off stage, but I do know I can keep my dreams to myself as they slowly become patches of regret in my mind.
This was an epiphany for me within the last year. I looked back on a decision which at the time I really didn't know was open to me, but had I done would have made me much different today.
I was in the eighth grade, yes trifling I know, and one of the talents that I had just begun to cultivate was my singing. I was in the chorus and I had a natural rhythm that was beginning to show itself. I had something else too. I had a passion for the stage and preforming. I lite up before a crowd, and the rush was unreal.
There was a talent competition and I didn't even put forth the effort to do it. I really didn't know what to do so I did nothing. I watched as others did their best but knowing that I could done more than watch. It was hard watching all these people perform. There was one act that sticks in my mind to this day that I could have helped , and they me.There were these 4 guys who could actually play drums, guitar, bass and piano. They preformed Electric Light Orchestra "Don't bring me down". They did fairly good job, except for the singer guitar player. He couldn't sing and he tried to do it. He was flat and you couldn't even hear him over the din of the music.
The talent show began on a Thursday night and the awards were given out that night, but the next day the show was repeated for the students. I could have gone to them and said "Hey, I can not only sing this song but I can perform." To this day I am sure I could have done a back flip off the stage. I never went to them. I never asked and they never knew.
To this day I will hear that song, quite often in fact, and it will take me back to a school that is no longer there and a choice that caused me to live out my life not knowing if I could or would have done a back flip off stage, but I do know I can keep my dreams to myself as they slowly become patches of regret in my mind.
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