I’m so looking for outlets of creativity. So I’ve started two new pods… one for those who are interested in Japanese and one for those who wish to play at Haiku. My Japanese pod is a safe place to learn basic phrases and expand vocab…

Haiku for you is for those who wish to play with the format of Haiku… I ask all to try this… it’s so much fun!

I’ll write more later… but I’m knee deep in a bottle of cab… so I shouldn’t say too much!

Japanese

Haiku 4 You

 

 

... by the tone of your voice... you haven't heard.

 

Danny was a wild one, a lifesaver. A life taker. To me, a catalyst. For change is always inspired by great leaders. Danny was a leader.

 

What does it mean to extinguish a flame. Danny knows. I've wondered what it feels like... the moment after. To realize, you didn't need that six pounds of pressure. Danny knows, but he couldn't have known a moment earlier. A moment later, he would never forget.

 

I suppose it would be enough to find god.

 

How he clung to his faith. Hours we argued... "Mother Theresa, nice lady. Burning in hell." " How can religion be based on fear?" Stalemate, or to me it seemed. I guess now, Danny knows.

 

Beautiful day in June, I think I need some milk said the widow. Eyesight isn't what it used to be and driving isn't so easy. Had to take it up since her husband died. Motorcycles are hard to see.

 

...by the tone of your voice... you haven't heard.

 

We lost Danny.

 

 

Friend

What does that mean?  Recent events in my life have thrust me into evaluating what the word means to me.  I've had few friends in my life.  Don't get me wrong... I'm a very social person.  But what I think of when I use the term friend is different than that of, say, a friendly acquaintance.  I believe that friendly acquaintances are those who litter our lives with phrases like, "How are you today?" and "Lovely weather we are having, isn't it?"  They are nice to be around and serve a social function.  However, they aren't true friends.  True friends are rare... But what is a true friend.

I think a friend should honor you, as you should them.  I think a friend should have your back, even when you aren't looking and would never know.  I think a friend should know your strengths and weaknesses and help you when one or the other becomes out of balance.  I think a friend should be there when you fuck up big time. And, without making excuses for you or helping you point the finger in different directions, help you through it.  Someone who you would gladly offer the last beer in your fridge to, because you know he/she would do the same.

My ex-wife is the kind of person who is everyone's friend.  I am not.  I am a friendly acquaintance to everyone I meet, a social person, but I have few people that are close to me.  Recently, maybe one less.  I could count them on one hand and still have fingers left.  So I'm trying to figure that out... what is it about that particular relationship that is so elusive to me. 

Maybe it's my definition of friendship, maybe I expect too much.  Maybe I should lower the bar and just consider friendship to be loose relationships that require no effort.  People who will accept me, so long as I fit into their box.  Or, maybe I already have.

I would like to know...

What does friendship mean to you?

For all my 72 brothers, and the 343 brother firefighters who lost their lives five years ago.

Heros.

Rest now brothers, we've got the watch.

I think there are places that call to you. Places that say, “Hey buddy, come here.” I so want to go to Japan. I always have. I have no idea why, but it’s always called me. Maybe, as Paulo Coelho says in The Alchemist, some part of my personal legend exists there. Or, maybe it’s that eastern thought, specifically Zen, always rang like a bell of truth in my soul. Whatever it is… it calls.

Where is it that calls your soul?

In my small town there are a number of bicycle races.  We are actually very famous for our mountain biking.  However, we also have a few road races from time to time that shut a couple streets down.  This always provides for very intense and colorful debate.  As it turns out, I usually end up working them. 

One of my duties is checking on the race marshals that keep an eye on the intersections. At one location an elderly lady (she was 90 if she was a day) pulled up.  I went over to the lady as she was rolling down her window.  I asked if I could help her and if she was trying to get to church.  The elderly lady responded, "Yes damn it!"  I asked her if she was trying to get to the Baptist church and she made an angry gesture pointing north.  I asked, "The Catholic Church?"  While looking for a way to turn around she made a nod in the affirmative manner.  I told her the city was having a bike race and that was the reason the roads were blocked off.  The woman stated she understood and said "the next bicyclist I see I'm going to run over!"  I attempted to give the woman some directions on how she could best get to where she wanted to go.  While I was explaining this the woman became exasperated and started rolling up her window saying, "Oh just go to hell!"  The woman then turned around and drove off.   

Isn't is strange that just having to drive four or five blocks out of her way she was willing to condemn me to hell (even though I was just trying to help her) and threaten vehicular assault on "the next bicyclist" she sees.  And all this... while trying to get to church.  It still surprises me sometimes, the lack of compassion in some people.  I feel for them... because I think they truly are their own worst enemy.