March
It has been awhile since I have sat alone on my patio. It is a comfortable 75° accented with the sound of active amphibians across the watered spaces of my backyard's expanse. What I find pleasantly before me is a full moon gazing down through my Longleaf Pine and sparsely clouded sky. It is astounding when I take the time to allow the memories that embrace me as I sit alone in this particular spot. Distant planets are where they are supposed to be as I struggle to name the least brightest at distance to Jupiter and then Saturn? I wonder if there are those that wonder the same things as I when the beauty of God's creation embraces me. And that moon! Always that moon. Somewhere a life takes its last breath while another takes its first! As for me? Until I take my last, there are still dreams to capture! Another airliner passes overhead from Atlanta to Houston. I like it here until this time tomorrow. Shaking my head. Another jump from Winter to Summer is typical for my Louisiana. Will there simply refuse to be a Spring season? Temperatures are projected around 22° in the next couple of days. But I'm still breathing...
Posted March 3 from my afternoon home
Saturday morning in Central Louisiana. A week into daylight savings time and Spring continues her struggle with a determined Winter that refuses to relinquish her rainy dominance. March is a benchmark month for me as I said good bye to my dad on this date in 1996. Just 9 days shy of one year, March 5 of 1997 my mother joined dad in their promised reward. I recall memories of this month so well and vividly remember the blooms of the Dogwoods along with the pristine blue skies as the Southern Hemisphere passes their summer/fall to jumpstart our Northern Hemisphere's spring/summer. Yes, that gradual tilt of our earth as on the 20th of this, my most favored month, our daylight and dark will be equal in length as we mark the official end of Winter. Spring will tease us today here in my part of the world where I will participate! I have 8 students to instruct in basic pistol and concealed carry. I so desire the smell of fresh cut, spring grass. I am blessed!
Posted March 14 from my early morning start
She is only one foot below her minor flood stage of 36 feet. With that being said, she runs south with minimal flood gate control with an attitude. Northbound, against her determined destination, Miss Christi navigates the spans of my draw bridge with 8 barges of coal destined to fuel central Louisiana's steam electric plant. The disturbed interaction between the natural flow of my river and the adjusted power of Miss Christi's powerful Diesel engines, causes deep, discombobulated waves that could swamp any commercial Jon boat that might encounter such happenstance. In the meantime, my Mockingbird serenades the surrounding events and my 62° temperatures will yield to a warmer day as it passes. Thus defines the beginning of my Tuesday. :-)
Posted March 17 from my early morning river
For all of the intellectual types reviewing this final post for March, I wanted to share with you what Wikipedia had to say about the precision of the atomic clock: "The accuracy of an atomic clock depends on two factors. The first factor is temperature of the sample atoms—colder atoms move much more slowly, allowing longer probe times. The second factor is the frequency and intrinsic width of the electronic transition. Higher frequencies and narrow lines increase the precision." Man strives to synchronize the entire universe for whatever reason I don't even think they understand. And for what? I would think that everyone of us could come up with reasons to be precise and pinpoint that one point in time? Time. There it is. Time is now and becomes history in one tick of a Nano-second of the atomic clock or whatever a Nano-second is. I have no idea. Here is what I do know. Today is the last day of the month of March as well as the end of the first quarter of the year 2015. Three months of the new year we just celebrated a few weeks ago is gone. Had nothing to do with the atomic measurement of time but more of us being excited about something that is going to happen tomorrow while we let right now slip away unnoticed. Here is something else I feel comfortable with. When my Nano-second comes, will I know it, will it be slow or quick in its announcement of its intention, or will it surprise me. I just know it will come and being the chicken I am, sure hope it doesn't hurt too bad. Nope. The finite measurement of universal time is infinite! But there will come that atomic second when it will end. Then what? How long is forever and how is that measured?
Posted March 31 sometimes after the 1530 hour.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Still Within Your Grasp?
As I was going through my old blog and collection of short stories I had put together since 2011, I stumbled across this "observation" I had stored in the unpublished or draft section. I think at some point I may have published it as one of my daily or occasional Facebook post, just not sure. What caught my attention was the fact I had given this a title, so was it meant to be a daily post or a short story? As I read this, I found I had collected my thoughts in a short story attempt around February 25, 2015. Here we are in 2017, just a few days shy of Donald J. Trump's first 100 days as president, and the colors of this nation have never been more defined. We are slightly more red than we are blue, defined as liberal/conservative, socialist/capitalist, non-believer/believer and I could go on and on. Regardless, a very heavy disdain for one another exist among all of us that we presently acknowledge is as polarizing as North was to South. Yes. Do you remember studying that one in American History? I'm pretty sure it happened, but there are those out there that want to say the holocaust did not occur. Yes? So, as to appease these voices of social unrest, we allow the monuments of this country's dark history to be destroyed or taken down for what ever asinine reason any of us today were never exposed to. Why are they not looked upon as a reminder that this part of our history united us once again as a country blessed by God Almighty as our fledging Republic threw off the bonds of slavery as an example for the entire world? So let us fast forward 152 years and what say ye today as once again storm clouds gather posing another threat that may re-define our nations legacy? As my ramblings below reflect, you, as did I probably remained silent up until now. We did silently chose a side as our vote firmly spoke to those that opposed our core beliefs. So here we are. It is time to walk the walk and talk the talk and see if God will allow us to Make America Great Again. So this is where my collection of thoughts were spilled for review in ASCII format.
STILL WITHIN YOUR GRASP?
It was a cold, somewhat icy predawn at my river this morning. Several things crossed my mind as I noticed my river was giving off tendrils of foggy tags reminding me the ambient temperature was colder than the water itself. Scratched my head as my mind wandered off to Jackson, MS, all the way through Vicksburg, Monroe, Shreveport to Arlington, TX. I was just thinking of people in my past, present, and forever memory and how they were dealing with this late February icy mess. As I sat down in my office and brought up the internet to go over my news sources, Fox News and Facebook, the following picture hovered conspicuously on a friend's wall, imprinting into my mind. Let me see if I can share with you my thoughts as I looked, looked again, and simply could not shake the following posted script:
Things that I treasure that you do not mess with? Well, that resonated quite well with me and I felt like I could share that with everyone on my wall. However, for some reason it kept bouncing off short circuited intersections in my limited mental resources, and I could not help but think out loud. Let's start with the first thing of mine you should never mess with.
MY FAITH: Has nothing to do with Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, or any other spiritual concoction spawned in the mind of man. My Faith is within me and consists of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. My Faith: I believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob created this world and put everything in it for MY pleasure, for me to have dominion over. The only thing put on this earth for HIS pleasure was you and me. We, people, were created by God for us to Worship Him, ultimately, for HIS pleasure. Except now, we are being told our faith is substandard and only the ISLAMIC doctrine will be tolerated as an acceptable form of faith. What? Oh yes... It's happening, right now on every news source we have. And we remain surprisingly silent so as not to offend anyone while the proponents of Allah allow the slaughter of any other faith but Islam! Yes, it IS happening! Shut the hell up if you are that stupid!
MY FAMILY: If you are my age (64) or there about, your roots runs similarly parallel to mine. I think sociologists coined it the "nuclear family" somewhere back? The Father, Mother, Children (how ever many we wanted), and toss in any number of dogs, cats, gerbils, lizards and an occasional pet rock? Wonder where this family model was first established? Fast forward one 50 year span of time. Heather now has two mothers and the father is simply referred to as my baby's daddy! Its ok. I found myself in my early adult years trying to liberalize my world by redefining religious guidelines and social mores and ended up trying to float a blended family. On rare occasions it has been known to work, but usually it deteriorates along with the passage of time because that FAITH thing has obviously been so distorted. Nah, it wouldn't have a thing to do with rock and roll or country music, television, Hollywood, or may the God I referred to earlier forbid, the unionized school systems. Why don't you just tell me how effective that government modeled institution is to our youth today as "common core" is being forced down our throats!! Oh, and please go ahead and worship as quietly as you can now, Church or organized religion, before Islam burns you to the ground. Yup... We remain silent as that institution a long with education, slips into history to be distorted like everything else we once held dear.
MY GUNS: Oh yes... Guaranteed by the Constitution of the NEWNITED SKATES. Inalienable rights, correct? As John Adams stated many years ago, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Without faith, family and moral values, those inalienable rights are now not so "alien." We have them, sure, or do we? We have sat back as a civilized society and allowed "laws" to restrict the use of such tools as they were designed to be used. For crying out loud, do not go there with me! In the hands of an honest and moral people firearms, will balance and persevere over those that do not know better. For the first time in my LIFE, the very Constitution that everyone elected by a free society, raises their right hand to PROTECT from enemies FOREIGN and DOMESTIC is being attacked!! Not just the second amendment, but the first, as well as the other 24 are under attack by the very government it was Divinely designed to protect us from! Many of our elected officials draw encouragement from the bastions of liberal academia and would like to see nothing more than all 26 amendments destroyed and reconstituted along socialist lines of thought. YES!!! This is where YOUR KIDS are going to COLLEGE!!! Open your eyes and in the mean time, realize just how safe and secure you are because your daddy's, daddy's guns are in your closet? Don't worry. If your are wondering about the 27th amendment? It was repealed. Prohibition, remember? At least now when they undo the other 26 "inalienable rights," we can all get drunk and not think about them Democrats and Republicans that we sent to Washingmachine, DC to represent us. Still alarmingly quiet, don't you think?
MY FLAG: Oh my word. Our flag... No doubt that will not be trifled with! Love the song by Johnny Cash, "That Ragged old Flag," where he says "the Native American Indian, the yellow, black and white men and women shed red blood for the Stars and Stripes!" The blue Field of Honor with each state represented in pristine white stars as a symbol of us being UNITED! But yet everywhere we look, there appears holes in the melting pot that was once America. Flags from different nations pop up indiscriminately where ever those that choose NOT to be American stick them. Even the Glory of this very nation has come under attack when some veteran wants to fly that Grand Old Flag from his porch and some "neighborhood association" says it is NOW OFFENSIVE, therefore PROHIBITED!!! What?? Oh yes... Shut up and call me a liar! And that is exactly what we all do. We shut up and remain silent to be politically correct as not to disturb the sinking ship we do not even realize we are existing in.
MY COUNTRY: Many that know me have heard me share this from The Statue of Liberty: Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free! The invitation to become a part of One Nation Under God! And because of the promise of the Constitution guaranteeing them Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, they came from different cultures, languages, attitudes, and beliefs. Because this country was BLESSED by God Almighty, these people immigrated legally to the United States of America and gave up their native language and adopted our language. They believed in this Country so much they gave their sons and daughters in war after war and two world wars to solidify their commitment to this republic! Here we are today, asking the very God who once blessed us as a nation to step aside and let US govern ourselves. Somewhere in the old testament, did not God's chosen people demand a king? You know, like they didn't need Him? Oh yes, for the indifferent amongst us, history does repeat itself. If you are capable, observe what has happened to those once favored people we called the Israelites. This is going to happen to this once great nation! Our leadership continues to apologize to other Nations for who and what we are as we allow ourselves to become like the rest of the world. We are becoming less of a guiding light, and more of a dim reflection of what we once were. Now just A Nation, Without God, Divided without Liberty and Justice only for a Chosen few? Go ahead. Get angry... lay across the bed and try to zip up those pants you wore last year! That zipper ain't gonna lie, is it?
MY LIBERTY: Yes, we still have it. Conditionally. And we are still comfortable despite the constant erosion of "our liberties" as we once knew them. What, you might be asking? Try putting your kids in any public school you want even if it is across the street from your house. Wear an open carry firearm into the post office or better yet, walk into a police department asking for an accident report wearing one. Oh my word, yank up one of your children and blister that backside because you just watched them spit in the face of one of their brothers, sisters, cousins or a friend of theirs from next door. Don't you dare chastise someone else's child and be sure your vocabulary is politically correct! Do you still pray in a public restaurant? You probably quit that somewhere along the way and if you haven't, just give it a little more time. Some Muslim or agnostic leaning carbon life form will complain and that will stop too, eventually. And next time you pass by your local police department, smile when you see that huge MRAP or Mine Resistant Armored Personnel carrier sitting there. Seriously, why exactly is it sitting there now? And just how long will we sit here and be silent when a white, United Nations Vehicle occupied by folks with blue helmets start telling us just Exactly what we can, cannot, and will not do. Today, I can drive across the Mississippi Bridge into that great sister state without restriction. But what does my tomorrow really hold?
So as we beat our chest, exalt in our possessions and social standings, take the time to remember that with time, everything erodes. Including those things you think are inalienably yours. Think about it.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Rod's Reflections for February 2015
February
And February began its daily march through our life yesterday which was Sunday. I remembered the Space Shuttle Columbia's tragic reentry of earth's orbit on that clear frosty morning in 2003. At 43.5 (+/-) miles above the earth's surface traveling 17,000 (+/-) mph, Columbia began to tumble out of control and breaking apart. Debris and space shuttle wreckage was scattered for hundreds of miles across the Texas and Louisiana landscapes. The loss of Six American Astronauts and Israel's first Astronaut will forever be honored in recorded history as their fate was attributed to a piece of heat tile damaged at launch that NASA was aware of. As I was walking from the parking lot to my office in City Hall, I gazed into the cold blue sky of this morning's beautiful beginning as memories of that day resonated in my mind as it often does when Winter's February revisits us each year. I will never forget Neil Armstrong's words as we watched him step from the leg of the Lunar Landing Module onto the surface of the moon in July of 1969. "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." He never mentioned the stumbles and falls... They were certainly implied and imminent, but yet defined. Just rambling as another day passes by...
In Memory of STS-107 February 1, 2003
Commander: Rick D. Husband, USAF Colonel
Pilot: William C. McCool, US Navy Commander
Payload Commander: Michael P. Anderson, USAF Lieutenant Colonel
Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon Israeli Air Force, Colonel
Mission Specialist: Kalpana Chawla, Aerospace Engineer
Mission Specialist: David M. Brown, US Navy Captain
Mission Specialist: Laurel Blair Salton Clark,
US Navy Captain and Flight Surgeon
Posted February 2, from my morning office
When I think of America, one of the first things that settles comfortably into my mindset is the American Bald Eagle. Their existence alone defines the depths of America's beauty. Think it in your mind as you say, Purple Mountains and think Amber wave after wave of grain! The screech of a wild raptor soaring high against a blue sky framed in the Continental Divides Rocky Mountains is the collected icon of freedom that beats in the heart of true Americans! I am able to watch online at random the nest of mating Eagles, Harriet and Ozzie, as they raise their own eaglet on streaming video southwestfloridaeaglecam.com in Florida. It is so fascinating to watch the collective care both parents give their offspring as they feed, groom and continuously dress and maintain the lair the surviving hatchling grows in. And yet as we direct our focus beyond the nest, the never ending encroachment of the civilization they champion! As I sat in my car today over looking Lake Buhlow in my small city of Pineville, LA, I observed what appeared to be a bird of prey skim low over the calm waters of its surface. I felt it could have been but only until the bird pulled altitude was I able to clearly see the body framed against distant evergreens. That uniquely defined powerful brown body, accented with a white head and tail distinctly reserved for that particular symbol of power and freedom. It has adapted throughout our America and defines the vastness of our heritage that instills in me a passion to persevere and by any means to preserve what was handed to me.
Posted February 4 during my noon hour
Blistering morning beside my river's edge as mother nature crosses swords with those early blooming plants that dared to bare bloom during the first temptations of Spring's calling. It is 29 degrees with a wind chill factor of 20 degrees as I sit here watching my 60' flag at full extension as a north wind displays her filament lighted colors before daylight breaks. Yesterday morning greeted Central Louisiana with somewhat seasonal temperatures as most people began their day. I happened to be off work because of a national holiday we use to celebrate as George Washington's Birthday, but now behold as Presidents Day. I was on my own time so I found myself parking my car in the parking lot of Louisiana College where I am a member of their health club and gym. As I arrived at the gym around 11:30 am or so, an anticipated cold front was beginning to temper the coming change. Strong winds accompanied by an overcast sky with heavy drizzle presenting itself sideways in gusts, greeted me as I removed myself from the driver's seat and opened the back door to gather my gym bag. Closing the door to my car, I moved against the stiff winds to go inside to exercise when I heard the distinct singing of my favorite Passerine, the Mockingbird.
I stopped in my tracks, feeling a deep desire to possibly locate and see the source from which this sound was coming. Could I possibly find this bird in such a vast area?? I sat my gym bag on the trunk of my car and leaned against it for support with every intention of doing just that! To my left was the gym and health center, and just beyond that was US 165/167 by pass. Traffic noise is consistently generated from this source as north/south traffic races along at 55+ miles per hour almost constantly. In front of me spreads a parking lot with a sprinkling of vehicles. Just beyond that is Louisiana College's Baseball Field and a Kansas City Southern
Railroad crossing. The blaring horn from a brace of train engines and the clatter of freight cars that followed, combined with the high speed noise of the by-pass paled to the distinct sound of this bird's voice. He halted my progress desiring my attention as if the song he were singing was for me alone. Where could he possibly be? I searched the area knowing the direction of the music. The distant pine trees? No. My Mockingbirds do not inhabit trees when they rejoice. They sit independently on a high perch or high line. THERE!! On top of a tall security light at the edge of the parking lot of the health center was my source. A little gray spot sitting on the very top of the light frame, singing his heart out. I pulled my iPhone 4s from my hoodie, directed the photo lens in the direction of the security light, taking the first picture. I then zoomed the small camera lens to the depth of its ability and took the
second picture. I barely could recognize that little grey spot 100' or more from me, yet I was his captive audience. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the "sound" coming from such a tiny source. It was as if his tiny voice was magnified through the most powerful of Bose Concert Speakers because it muted the clatter of passing rail cars and high speed traffic. God's creation, however so small in size, dominated the noises of manmade clutter just for my pleasure! Thank you Precious God for using such a tiny part of Your Universe to pause my day that I may give You the praise You so deserve. A Mockingbird. Still amazed at the experience, I am beginning to think more and more that just maybe my heart's yieldings should not be cast out for casual review or critique, but maybe harbored here in the solitude of my blog. It is here that those closest to me might find and understand what lies within the meaning of the words I share. I so hope you take the time to hear a Mockingbird's prayer if one ever calls your name.
Railroad crossing. The blaring horn from a brace of train engines and the clatter of freight cars that followed, combined with the high speed noise of the by-pass paled to the distinct sound of this bird's voice. He halted my progress desiring my attention as if the song he were singing was for me alone. Where could he possibly be? I searched the area knowing the direction of the music. The distant pine trees? No. My Mockingbirds do not inhabit trees when they rejoice. They sit independently on a high perch or high line. THERE!! On top of a tall security light at the edge of the parking lot of the health center was my source. A little gray spot sitting on the very top of the light frame, singing his heart out. I pulled my iPhone 4s from my hoodie, directed the photo lens in the direction of the security light, taking the first picture. I then zoomed the small camera lens to the depth of its ability and took the
Posted February 17 from my office
It was a cold, somewhat icy predawn at my river this morning. Several things crossed my mind as I noticed my river was giving off tendrils of foggy tags reminding me the ambient temperature was colder than the water itself. Scratched my head as my mind wandered off to Jackson, MS, all the way through Vicksburg, Monroe, Shreveport to Arlington, TX. I was just thinking of people in my past, present, and forever memory and how they were dealing with this late February icy mess. As I sat down in my office and brought up the internet to go over my news sources, Fox News and Facebook, the following picture hovered conspicuously on a friend's wall, imprinting into my mind. Let me see if I can share with you my thoughts as I looked, looked again, and simply could not shake the following posted script:
Things that I treasure that you do not mess with? Well, that resonated quite well with me and I felt like I could share that with everyone on my wall. However, for some reason it kept bouncing off short circuited intersections in my limited mental resources, and I could not help but think out loud. Let's start with the first thing of mine you should never mess with.
MY FAITH: Has nothing to do with Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, or any other spiritual concoction spawned in the mind of man. My Faith is within me and consists of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. My Faith: I believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob created this world and put everything in it for MY pleasure, for me to have dominion over. The only thing put on this earth for HIS pleasure was you and me. We, people, were created by God for us to Worship Him, ultimately, for HIS pleasure. Except now, we are being told our faith is substandard and only the ISLAMIC doctrine will be tolerated as an acceptable form of faith. What? Oh yes... It's happening, right now on every news source we have. And we remain surprisingly silent so as not to offend anyone while the proponents of Allah allow the slaughter of any other faith but Islam! Yes, it IS happening! Shut the hell up if you are that stupid!
MY FAMILY: If you are my age (64) or there about, your roots runs similarly parallel to mine. I think sociologists coined it the "nuclear family" somewhere back? The Father, Mother, Children (how ever many we wanted), and toss in any number of dogs, cats, gerbils, lizards and an occasional pet rock? Wonder where this family model was first established? Fast forward one 50 year span of time. Heather now has two mothers and the father is simply referred to as my baby's daddy! Its ok. I found myself in my early adult years trying to liberalize my world by redefining religious guidelines and social mores and ended up trying to float a blended family. On rare occasions it has been known to work, but usually it deteriorates along with the passage of time because that FAITH thing has obviously been so distorted. Nah, it wouldn't have a thing to do with rock and roll or country music, television, Hollywood, or may the God I referred to earlier forbid, the unionized school systems. Why don't you just tell me how effective that government modeled institution is to our youth today as "common core" is being forced down our throats!! Oh, and please go ahead and worship as quietly as you can now, Church or organized religion, before Islam burns you to the ground. Yup... We remain silent as that institution a long with education, slips into history to be distorted like everything else we once held dear.
MY GUNS: Oh yes... Guaranteed by the Constitution of the NEWNITED SKATES. Inalienable rights, correct? As John Adams stated many years ago, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Without faith, family and moral values, those inalienable rights are now not so "alien." We have them, sure, or do we? We have sat back as a civilized society and allowed "laws" to restrict the use of such tools as they were designed to be used. For crying out loud, do not go there with me! In the hands of an honest and moral people firearms, will balance and persevere over those that do not know better. For the first time in my LIFE, the very Constitution that everyone elected by a free society, raises their right hand to PROTECT from enemies FOREIGN and DOMESTIC is being attacked!! Not just the second amendment, but the first, as well as the other 24 are under attack by the very government it was Divinely designed to protect us from! Many of our elected officials draw encouragement from the bastions of liberal academia and would like to see nothing more than all 26 amendments destroyed and reconstituted along socialist lines of thought. YES!!! This is where YOUR KIDS are going to COLLEGE!!! Open your eyes and in the mean time, realize just how safe and secure you are because your daddy's, daddy's guns are in your closet? Don't worry. If your are wondering about the 27th amendment? It was repealed. Prohibition, remember? At least now when they undo the other 26 "inalienable rights," we can all get drunk and not think about them Democrats and Republicans that we sent to Washingmachine, DC to represent us. Still alarmingly quiet, don't you think?
MY FLAG: Oh my word. Our flag... No doubt that will not be trifled with! Love the song by Johnny Cash, "That Ragged old Flag," where he says "the Native American Indian, the yellow, black and white men and women shed red blood for the Stars and Stripes!" The blue Field of Honor with each state represented in pristine white stars as a symbol of us being UNITED! But yet everywhere we look, there appears holes in the melting pot that was once America. Flags from different nations pop up indiscriminately where ever those that choose NOT to be American stick them. Even the Glory of this very nation has come under attack when some veteran wants to fly that Grand Old Flag from his porch and some "neighborhood association" says it is NOW OFFENSIVE, therefore PROHIBITED!!! What?? Oh yes... Shut up and call me a liar! And that is exactly what we all do. We shut up and remain silent to be politically correct as not to disturb the sinking ship we do not even realize we are existing in.
MY COUNTRY: Many that know me have heard me share this from The Statue of Liberty: Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free! The invitation to become a part of One Nation Under God! And because of the promise of the Constitution guaranteeing them Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, they came from different cultures, languages, attitudes, and beliefs. Because this country was BLESSED by God Almighty, these people immigrated legally to the United States of America and gave up their native language and adopted our language. They believed in this Country so much they gave their sons and daughters in war after war and two world wars to solidify their commitment to this republic! Here we are today, asking the very God who once blessed us as a nation to step aside and let US govern ourselves. Somewhere in the old testament, did not God's chosen people demand a king? You know, like they didn't need Him? Oh yes, for the indifferent amongst us, history does repeat itself. If you are capable, observe what has happened to those once favored people we called the Israelites. This is going to happen to this once great nation! Our leadership continues to apologize to other Nations for who and what we are as we allow ourselves to become like the rest of the world. We are becoming less of a guiding light, and more of a dim reflection of what we once were. Now just A Nation, Without God, Divided without Liberty and Justice only for a Chosen few. Go ahead. Get angry... lay across the bed and try to zip up those pants you wore last year! That zipper ain't gonna lie, is it?
MY LIBERTY: Yes, we still have it. Conditionally. And we are still comfortable despite the constant erosion of "our liberties" as we once knew them. What, you might be asking? Try putting your kids in any public school you want even if it is across the street from your house. Wear an open carry firearm into the post office or better yet, walk into a police department asking for an accident report wearing one. Oh my word, yank up one of your children and blister that backside because you just watched them spit in the face of one of their brothers, sisters, cousins or a friend of theirs from next door. Don't you dare chastise someone else's child and be sure your vocabulary is politically correct! Do you still pray in a public restaurant? You probably quit that somewhere along the way and if you haven't, just give it a little more time. Some Muslim or agnostic leaning carbon life form will complain and that will stop too, eventually. And next time you pass by your local police department, smile when you see that huge MRAP or Mine Resistant Armored Personnel carrier sitting there. Seriously, why exactly is it sitting there now? And just how long will we sit here and be silent when a white, United Nations Vehicle occupied by folks with blue helmets start telling us just Exactly what we can, cannot, and will not do. Today, I can drive across the Mississippi Bridge into that great sister state without restriction. But what does my tomorrow really hold?
So as we beat our chest and exalt in our possessions and social standings, take the time to remember that with time, everything erodes. Including those things you think are inalienably yours. Think about it.
Posted February 24 from my home
This Pledge We Take...
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We pledged that allegiance... Even still, a handful of "specialist" said, as children we were being brainwashed. All 50 of our states were United under the republic they were founded upon as well as the many territories that chose to pattern themselves with us. We were that "One Nation Under that One God," and we were blessed by HIM and we remained indivisible because of who we became under Him. But over a 50 year span of time, dissent against HIS desire for us became a mockery and that handful of others that could not understand and or recognize the blessings of an Omnipotent Being placed the blame on some manmade theory of science or other excuses allowing major divisions. These divisions began along racial and political divides and was preached in academia across this land to young minds oblivious to History's lessons.. This erosion of core values became a religion of its own and found traction in this country's Progressive movement with the help of the new propaganda that dusted us daily, yet we yielded still. If we could open our eyes we could plainly see this acceptance of a new moral standards has tapped a source similar in spiritual proportions only realized in those battles that existed in realms not understood by common man before, during and after our individual existence on this earth. I guess these spiritual battles became that "big bang theory" that divided us somewhat similar to the expanding universe God continues to create for us to spend an eternity in.
And here we are in the year 2015. A new order has taken place in this once great nation and it was accomplished in just one generation with the help and silent refrain of a couple of others. I take every opportunity the thank members of the greatest generation for their sacrifice and gift to me and apologize for letting them down. Guess I was one of the "silent" of the three generations that didn't want to "make waves" against the "loud and boisterous," the media leans heavily to support. I was referred to as the silent majority, disgruntled veteran, conservative, angry white male and Christian and of course that radical Three percenter or Skin Head??? My biggest mistake was sending those I elected to Washington to represent me and NOT HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE!!
So let us look at this Pledge of Allegiance and how it will evolve in time to replace the one we grew up with: "I cannot pledge allegiance to any flag of America as our States are no longer United under one, but several. The Republic, for which it once was called, is not blessed by One God but that of several pagan god's of our choice. Indivisible became splintered as America Today sees liberty and justice for all redefined along progressive lines with our governments telling us what is best us. These are the people we now pledge our new allegiance for.
I pray that I might survive into 2025 or possibly 2030 and still pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness as I was brainwashed to believe. I still have the life of freedom in every cell of my body as I know that God and His Divinely inspired Constitution was the reason for who and am and what this Country still is?? Yes I must ask, what will history reveal of my "baby boomer" generation as the greatest country in recorded history bows its knee to the satanic controls of progressive socialism in the hearts of our millennial population? My oath of allegiance to this Constitutional Republic never expires. What can an aging 64 year old veteran do to change back to the ways of our father's? As I debate this question and feel the sting of my "Molon Labe" tattoo under my left bicep, a couple of things are clearly obvious. Blood and Prayers. It was the blood of those that gave their tomorrow for our today as they responded to the answered Prayers of so many of us that got "me" to where I am today.
Posted February 27 from my office.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Rod's Reflections for January 2015
As 2014 faded, I debated continuing the collection of posts made through the year(s) in what is known as "Facebook Quotes for 2011, 2012, 2013 and of course each respective month of the year 2014." For those of you that follow my blog, this was nothing more than thoughts and reflections I shared on my facebook wall in ordinary writing. I would then copy and paste them to my blog of Short Stories where so often I would add to and edit, with the help of a friend, the final content. As the months passed, I realized that I was beginning to post more and more directly to my blog than to copy from my facebook wall. Thus I felt prompted to make an appropriate title change. Rod's Ramblings, Rod's Reflections and my choice of title, Rod's Cogitative Prose for January 2015 were tossed about amongst a thrice of favored friends and I lost. Should have called it Rod's Regurgitations and left it at that! As the positioning among friends evolved, I began to realize that "reflections" really reverberated in my senses, so I surrendered "more technical" for "simplicity." I still liked it though! Cogitation: The ability to think and reflect! Prose: Not poetry but ordinary writing. Both words seemed to play off one another as I do think and reflect at my river's edge. From those dawning thoughts, I write it down in ordinary words. So, here we are as 2015 begins. Hope you stay with me?
January
First work day of 2015! My River greets me with her cold, yet beautiful self as a 22° chill factor embraces me as I sit on her shoulders. The full moon positions herself through the lift spans of my draw bridge as I watch her race to her disappearance in the west, southwest sky for the 31st time since I started counting. I smile as I remember the wise old Indian telling a cowboy of an event that occurred "'many moons ago." It was some black and white western I grew up with as a boy, Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys, or Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy! Who knows. It was many moons ago and I still use that phrase to refer to a time long ago instead of a date! Regardless of who, what, when, or where, the faces we know in our life flash through our memories like a collage of graffiti. We speed by as these faces of thousands, so many closer that most, become imprinted in our minds that last a life time! Yup. Think about that one person you have known your entire life. The helpless face of an infant, their cute toothless years in the first couple of years of grade school? Think about it! We grow into puberty, high school, and then take possession of our generation's world. Faces, thousands more of other people blending with those that were more significant to us than were others. My face is but one of thousands in someone else's life! Anyway, I'm rambling now. My dawn breaks red in my rear view mirror and my moon is a perfect field goal sitting between my traffic bridge uprights as the dark night gives us yet another day. My 37 year old adopted son took an ambulance ride to the hospital early this morning as he awakened with another spell of angina pain. Heart disease? Imagine that. I must attend an 80 hour training school the next couple of weeks conducted by the sheriff's department to authorize me to babysit trustees that are so helpful in maintaining city facilities. And that collage of faces? Maybe, just maybe when you find more love in the memories than you do in the person standing before you or dancing in your mind, do you realize as surly as the many moons mark time in its passing, another face and their memories join the blur of those many others that will become a blur as we speed by. On the 31st of December, I closed my 2014 blog telling the readers there was peace in my heart for this coming year we just welcomed. Now, so soon into its infancy,there are small, defining challenges announcing themselves so I might prepare for my part in its resolution. But, my soul folkses, this is starting out to be a beautiful day! So glad your face is so vivid and real!
Posted January 5 from my River
On this gray, wintry mix, 31° January morning, I find my river seems to be displaying a temperament. She is higher than usual because of the "water" dumped into her all along her borders. Excessively cold and running a little faster, I can sense an "attitude" of indifference and determination as if to re-establish a new normal. But still her journey knows the final destiny as she feeds into a greater power. Despite her perceived attitude, she is still functional for and accessible to those man made creations designed to advance civilization and set mankind apart from other life forms. A piercing spotlight shatters the early morning dawn from a distant northeast bend in her local geography. My drawbridge raises to accommodate a string of approaching barges being pushed by the source of this light as the captain of the tow searches the span to acknowledge compliance for safe navigation. What was moments before a depressing adjustment to the awakening day was instantly transformed into a beautiful sight bringing me back to the reality of that moment! I smile knowing that an hour from now this moment will be forgotten until that time I discover once again, this moment reflected in the pages of my collected thoughts, weeks, months and years from this point in time.
Posted January 9 from my River
And on this day, I celebrated my 64th year of life. It was, for the entire day, heavily overcast with a steady cold wind. Most of January has been like this and the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder is beginning to play that persistent chord of depression across one's mind as we are still not that distant from the Winter's Solstice. I have defined throughout the first short story I wrote, "The Mockingbird... Why It Is So Real In My Life," the four seasons of a person's life. For simplicity's sake, I correlated these life spanning years into Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. These of course are 20 year seasons. 1 to 20 for the spring, 21 to 40 for the Summer and 41 to 60 for the fall? That would leave 61 to 80 for the winter season of my life. Anything beyond 80 is lagniappe, Okay? So with this definition, I have two (2) more years to spend in the Winter/Spring of my life before moving into the winter/summer?? Truth is, we actually begin counting those years from the time we take our first breath at day one (1). With this truth applied, the spring of my life was 20 complete years from birthday through 19 years of age. Summer began at age 20 through 39, with fall being age 40 through 59. You must understand that with every season one lives, there is another "season" following for you to undo and correct the mistakes or decisions you have made in your life. Except for the Winter Season. That is the last one. So under this obvious rule, if I/we/you are left to fulfill the remainder of our projected demise, then the first five years of that hopeful 20 year span, I will refer to as the winter/spring of my life which started at age 60. then 61, 62, 63 accented by todays 64th year. This of course is the fifth (5) and final year for me to spend in the winter/spring of my life before moving into the winter/summer. I am truly hoping that when I do reach that winter/winter season of my life, I still have my mental and physical abilities still intact. Understand? Good! I can imagine at least one good friend, that if she is still reading at this point, is probably pulling her hair out by now! Anyway, my health seems good, I exercise at a regular cadence, I take enough medicines that I could stabilize the Titanic, I've lost close to 90 pounds in the last two years and except for that scare with Bell's Palsy a year ago, there seems to be no immediate threat to my continued existence. Those of us that have taken our parents place in the "we are next to die" natural order of things, also acknowledge our past. We have come to accept those real life lessons and mistakes where the paint was grossly smeared on what we wanted to be that perfect canvas of our life. Even with those times so deeply rooted in our memories, time seems to correct those flaws that were so visible to the human eye and the judgments of mortals. With that said, let me ask you. Do you remember the Willie Nelson song, "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away?" It is funny in an amazing, collective sort of way. However, in our hearts, that time gone is sad. It is those wonderful memories and friendships that cushion the hurt of reality... and time still slips away... My thanks to the many that remembered me on this day of celebration that is now yesterday past. Your acknowledgement of my birthday strongly implies your acknowledgement to keep me as a part of your life for a while longer, yet to be defined. I do like that and it makes me smile from the bottom of my heart as I look forward to yet another gift of life our God grants us, that we call today.
Posted January 13 from my late evening home
It was one (1) year ago today that I had my unexpected introduction to Bell's Palsy. I actually kept a blog of those events for a few weeks until it slipped from its bond of dominance over my life and I realized I was actually going to return to a sense of normalcy. How do I define what level of recovery I have made? I will say this. Where I am today is more than acceptable compared to where I was this time last year. If you have kept up with my blog, you will notice a normal progression back to who and what I once was. If you could keep track of my mental adjustment, you might see I am back to where I was in some respects, before this "affliction" date. But what really does that mean? Everything is still in perfect orbit in universal tones, yet in the small timeframe we exist, sparing as intertwined interactions continue with those that structure my life into acceptable social harmonies. In the far distance a beautiful Super Nova has acknowledged the end of time as another light fades in the star lit night skies leaving traces of stardust invisible, somewhat similar to ashes poured from a golden urn into a running river. Almost as if on queue, a memorable comet high and visible in 71' and 72' appears in this millennium to do what comets do. Appear just long enough to apologize for choices made only to disappear again for another 43 years. I smiled acknowledging forgiveness, shaking my head at what possible travesty might have occurred in that unknown journey that made it focus its attention on me after so many years. I pray that this brief digital exchange was consolation enough as again that slingshot affect spins the memories of that encounter into another dimension that will exist through natural death. I am satisfied that peace was resolved after so many years. As I regain focus of these last 365 days, looking at what gains were accomplished, I count my loss insignificant as my only regret is a simple dysfunction of vocal cord synchronization. I cannot sing like I once did. That is the noticeable difference between before that event and now, one (1) year later. So, am I say, 98 or 99% back to where I was? Again what you might perceive, let us acknowledge, maybe 99 or 100%. But knowing what is gone, what I once knew and now know that I cannot use again, maybe I am at that 50% recovery. Regardless, trust me, this is far better than the unknown I was wrestling with in my mind while sitting in the emergency room of Cabrini Hospital this time last year. Now, if I could stop time and exist for a life time in that perfect moment, where oh where would I stop time. Or would I? What song will be music to my ears when the Gates of tomorrow's Dawn breaks? Maybe that would be the time to spend the rest of my life in, if I could stop time.
Posted January 25 from my late afternoon home.
Yes, I am aware this photo is very similar to my profile picture. But, if the lens of an iPhone camera could only capture what my eyes behold on some mornings, you would understand. I wrote on my blog last evening I was anticipating another display as the Gates of a Dawning day pushes the dark night to the other side of the world. The dark red hues that are becoming visible under my high speed traffic bridge helps frame the deciduous wood line against the rivers cold surface. If I could stop time, maybe it is here for a while I would stay. Wait? I did stop time in a simple digital print! Surely a song will rise to help navigate my participation in the unknown events of the coming day. A Shreveport friend suggested Morning Has Broken, by Cat Stevens. Within 15 minutes, Pandora shares one of my all time favorites, Fields of Gold, by Sting. Both songs seemed to work as I drifted back where times past comes alive in a frozen picture.
Posted January 26 from my early morning river
Let me see now. Where was I this time last year on this day? That telephone call that reminded me it was my generations turn to say goodbye to each other. My oldest sibling, Diane Ferguson Panzico Coleman, passed away at 12:15 or so on this day. It was not an unexpected passing, but a passing still the same. She is where nothing can ever take her away from us again. That is where I was on this day of last year. Reflecting back, I reached out to my sister's beautiful daughters and sent them this message:
Wanted to let all three of you know that you are in my mind, heart and prayers today. My how time passes! Has it really been a year? Realize where we hold her now, she will never leave us again. And the beautiful thing for me is I see her still in all three of you, especially your children. Cindy? Lori? LeeAnn? I truly love all three of you.
There was snow that day. I had to polish a short story about her I had written years before that she wanted read as an Eulogy at her funeral. Then as I checked back on my facebook wall, my three nieces left their response(s):
January
First work day of 2015! My River greets me with her cold, yet beautiful self as a 22° chill factor embraces me as I sit on her shoulders. The full moon positions herself through the lift spans of my draw bridge as I watch her race to her disappearance in the west, southwest sky for the 31st time since I started counting. I smile as I remember the wise old Indian telling a cowboy of an event that occurred "'many moons ago." It was some black and white western I grew up with as a boy, Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys, or Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy! Who knows. It was many moons ago and I still use that phrase to refer to a time long ago instead of a date! Regardless of who, what, when, or where, the faces we know in our life flash through our memories like a collage of graffiti. We speed by as these faces of thousands, so many closer that most, become imprinted in our minds that last a life time! Yup. Think about that one person you have known your entire life. The helpless face of an infant, their cute toothless years in the first couple of years of grade school? Think about it! We grow into puberty, high school, and then take possession of our generation's world. Faces, thousands more of other people blending with those that were more significant to us than were others. My face is but one of thousands in someone else's life! Anyway, I'm rambling now. My dawn breaks red in my rear view mirror and my moon is a perfect field goal sitting between my traffic bridge uprights as the dark night gives us yet another day. My 37 year old adopted son took an ambulance ride to the hospital early this morning as he awakened with another spell of angina pain. Heart disease? Imagine that. I must attend an 80 hour training school the next couple of weeks conducted by the sheriff's department to authorize me to babysit trustees that are so helpful in maintaining city facilities. And that collage of faces? Maybe, just maybe when you find more love in the memories than you do in the person standing before you or dancing in your mind, do you realize as surly as the many moons mark time in its passing, another face and their memories join the blur of those many others that will become a blur as we speed by. On the 31st of December, I closed my 2014 blog telling the readers there was peace in my heart for this coming year we just welcomed. Now, so soon into its infancy,there are small, defining challenges announcing themselves so I might prepare for my part in its resolution. But, my soul folkses, this is starting out to be a beautiful day! So glad your face is so vivid and real!
Posted January 5 from my River
On this gray, wintry mix, 31° January morning, I find my river seems to be displaying a temperament. She is higher than usual because of the "water" dumped into her all along her borders. Excessively cold and running a little faster, I can sense an "attitude" of indifference and determination as if to re-establish a new normal. But still her journey knows the final destiny as she feeds into a greater power. Despite her perceived attitude, she is still functional for and accessible to those man made creations designed to advance civilization and set mankind apart from other life forms. A piercing spotlight shatters the early morning dawn from a distant northeast bend in her local geography. My drawbridge raises to accommodate a string of approaching barges being pushed by the source of this light as the captain of the tow searches the span to acknowledge compliance for safe navigation. What was moments before a depressing adjustment to the awakening day was instantly transformed into a beautiful sight bringing me back to the reality of that moment! I smile knowing that an hour from now this moment will be forgotten until that time I discover once again, this moment reflected in the pages of my collected thoughts, weeks, months and years from this point in time. Posted January 9 from my River
And on this day, I celebrated my 64th year of life. It was, for the entire day, heavily overcast with a steady cold wind. Most of January has been like this and the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder is beginning to play that persistent chord of depression across one's mind as we are still not that distant from the Winter's Solstice. I have defined throughout the first short story I wrote, "The Mockingbird... Why It Is So Real In My Life," the four seasons of a person's life. For simplicity's sake, I correlated these life spanning years into Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. These of course are 20 year seasons. 1 to 20 for the spring, 21 to 40 for the Summer and 41 to 60 for the fall? That would leave 61 to 80 for the winter season of my life. Anything beyond 80 is lagniappe, Okay? So with this definition, I have two (2) more years to spend in the Winter/Spring of my life before moving into the winter/summer?? Truth is, we actually begin counting those years from the time we take our first breath at day one (1). With this truth applied, the spring of my life was 20 complete years from birthday through 19 years of age. Summer began at age 20 through 39, with fall being age 40 through 59. You must understand that with every season one lives, there is another "season" following for you to undo and correct the mistakes or decisions you have made in your life. Except for the Winter Season. That is the last one. So under this obvious rule, if I/we/you are left to fulfill the remainder of our projected demise, then the first five years of that hopeful 20 year span, I will refer to as the winter/spring of my life which started at age 60. then 61, 62, 63 accented by todays 64th year. This of course is the fifth (5) and final year for me to spend in the winter/spring of my life before moving into the winter/summer. I am truly hoping that when I do reach that winter/winter season of my life, I still have my mental and physical abilities still intact. Understand? Good! I can imagine at least one good friend, that if she is still reading at this point, is probably pulling her hair out by now! Anyway, my health seems good, I exercise at a regular cadence, I take enough medicines that I could stabilize the Titanic, I've lost close to 90 pounds in the last two years and except for that scare with Bell's Palsy a year ago, there seems to be no immediate threat to my continued existence. Those of us that have taken our parents place in the "we are next to die" natural order of things, also acknowledge our past. We have come to accept those real life lessons and mistakes where the paint was grossly smeared on what we wanted to be that perfect canvas of our life. Even with those times so deeply rooted in our memories, time seems to correct those flaws that were so visible to the human eye and the judgments of mortals. With that said, let me ask you. Do you remember the Willie Nelson song, "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away?" It is funny in an amazing, collective sort of way. However, in our hearts, that time gone is sad. It is those wonderful memories and friendships that cushion the hurt of reality... and time still slips away... My thanks to the many that remembered me on this day of celebration that is now yesterday past. Your acknowledgement of my birthday strongly implies your acknowledgement to keep me as a part of your life for a while longer, yet to be defined. I do like that and it makes me smile from the bottom of my heart as I look forward to yet another gift of life our God grants us, that we call today.
Posted January 13 from my late evening home
It was one (1) year ago today that I had my unexpected introduction to Bell's Palsy. I actually kept a blog of those events for a few weeks until it slipped from its bond of dominance over my life and I realized I was actually going to return to a sense of normalcy. How do I define what level of recovery I have made? I will say this. Where I am today is more than acceptable compared to where I was this time last year. If you have kept up with my blog, you will notice a normal progression back to who and what I once was. If you could keep track of my mental adjustment, you might see I am back to where I was in some respects, before this "affliction" date. But what really does that mean? Everything is still in perfect orbit in universal tones, yet in the small timeframe we exist, sparing as intertwined interactions continue with those that structure my life into acceptable social harmonies. In the far distance a beautiful Super Nova has acknowledged the end of time as another light fades in the star lit night skies leaving traces of stardust invisible, somewhat similar to ashes poured from a golden urn into a running river. Almost as if on queue, a memorable comet high and visible in 71' and 72' appears in this millennium to do what comets do. Appear just long enough to apologize for choices made only to disappear again for another 43 years. I smiled acknowledging forgiveness, shaking my head at what possible travesty might have occurred in that unknown journey that made it focus its attention on me after so many years. I pray that this brief digital exchange was consolation enough as again that slingshot affect spins the memories of that encounter into another dimension that will exist through natural death. I am satisfied that peace was resolved after so many years. As I regain focus of these last 365 days, looking at what gains were accomplished, I count my loss insignificant as my only regret is a simple dysfunction of vocal cord synchronization. I cannot sing like I once did. That is the noticeable difference between before that event and now, one (1) year later. So, am I say, 98 or 99% back to where I was? Again what you might perceive, let us acknowledge, maybe 99 or 100%. But knowing what is gone, what I once knew and now know that I cannot use again, maybe I am at that 50% recovery. Regardless, trust me, this is far better than the unknown I was wrestling with in my mind while sitting in the emergency room of Cabrini Hospital this time last year. Now, if I could stop time and exist for a life time in that perfect moment, where oh where would I stop time. Or would I? What song will be music to my ears when the Gates of tomorrow's Dawn breaks? Maybe that would be the time to spend the rest of my life in, if I could stop time.
Posted January 25 from my late afternoon home.
Yes, I am aware this photo is very similar to my profile picture. But, if the lens of an iPhone camera could only capture what my eyes behold on some mornings, you would understand. I wrote on my blog last evening I was anticipating another display as the Gates of a Dawning day pushes the dark night to the other side of the world. The dark red hues that are becoming visible under my high speed traffic bridge helps frame the deciduous wood line against the rivers cold surface. If I could stop time, maybe it is here for a while I would stay. Wait? I did stop time in a simple digital print! Surely a song will rise to help navigate my participation in the unknown events of the coming day. A Shreveport friend suggested Morning Has Broken, by Cat Stevens. Within 15 minutes, Pandora shares one of my all time favorites, Fields of Gold, by Sting. Both songs seemed to work as I drifted back where times past comes alive in a frozen picture.Posted January 26 from my early morning river
Let me see now. Where was I this time last year on this day? That telephone call that reminded me it was my generations turn to say goodbye to each other. My oldest sibling, Diane Ferguson Panzico Coleman, passed away at 12:15 or so on this day. It was not an unexpected passing, but a passing still the same. She is where nothing can ever take her away from us again. That is where I was on this day of last year. Reflecting back, I reached out to my sister's beautiful daughters and sent them this message:
Wanted to let all three of you know that you are in my mind, heart and prayers today. My how time passes! Has it really been a year? Realize where we hold her now, she will never leave us again. And the beautiful thing for me is I see her still in all three of you, especially your children. Cindy? Lori? LeeAnn? I truly love all three of you.
There was snow that day. I had to polish a short story about her I had written years before that she wanted read as an Eulogy at her funeral. Then as I checked back on my facebook wall, my three nieces left their response(s):
Cindy Panzico Linstrom: Thank you, Uncle Rod. That means a lot to me. I love you dearly :)!
Lori Panzico Smith: Thank you, Uncle Rod ! My heart is heavy too ! I can't believe it's been a year either. I so miss her ! I love you !
LeeAnn Panzico Shows: Thank you so much Uncle Rod!! I went to bed with her heavy on my heart, woke in the night thinking about her, and first thing this morning:) Happy and sad tears:) Although more happy, because I can only imagine how this past year has been for her :) :) :)
So you see, my sister is where nothing can ever take her away from us again! Her memory is forever etched in the hearts and minds of those she loved! As will your memory remain in the hearts and minds of those you loved. I contemplate my remaining years and wonder about my legacy and how I might be remembered? Maybe we all do as we stoke the warm fires of our winter months and years. I downloaded a beautiful saying off someone's facebook wall that resonated so well within my head. I may post it on here if I can find it, but I certainly can remember what it said.
"Nobody can go back
and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today
and make a new ending."
And with the known mistakes every one of us have made in this life as we pass through, no words could ever be truer. We simply cannot erase the mistakes we have made. It does not matter if they were acts of coincidence, accidents, or a deliberate act of hatefulness against another. Oh Dear Lord, how I wish I could make right with so many, some of the things I have said and done. But I can't with some as they have now departed and with others I know not where to seek them. So if the opportunity for asking their forgiveness never presents itself, I truly pray that for their sake they desire the same resolve for peace of mind in their hearts as do I! We all need to find in the depths of our souls just how to resolve our past failures and chose that day to start that new ending for that final door we pass through. I love you, Diane. See you soon.
Posted January 28.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Facebook Quotes for December 2014
My Facebook post from 2013 started in January and ran through the entire year for twelve long months. Friends trying to keep up with it told me it was difficult to start at the beginning of the only "true blog" I keep and arrow down to the last post. This year, I will post my blog from one month to the next as a separate story throughout the 2014 calendar year? If you find yourself remotely interested in what goes on in my thoughts and mind, please take the time to join and let me know you are here. I personally enjoy every fingerprint that is left here and appreciate your comments even more. There are occasional short stories I do post along with my Facebook Quotes Blog so if you have the time to join, again, please do, I am still trying to figure out who my favorite fan actually is. Their name is Anonymous! No last name. Imagine that.
DECEMBER
And the final chapter of 2014 begins at my river's edge on this 1st day of December. How many times have I shared that my river is calm and looks like black glass? I just wanted you to see a snapshot of her reflective peace as the world comes alive all around me. It seems that sometimes word alone cannot describe the beauty the eyes behold! This Christmas season is already reflected on Pineville's side of my River and the tall lights across the way you see reflected in the picture will evolve into 100' Christmas Trees, probably today. If I could capture this morning as it plays out before me in my heart and share the reason for this defined season with every person listening for the sound of a singing soul, there would be Peace on Earth!
Posted December 1 from my early morning river
I don't care what kind of Little Friskies cat food you promise me! I AM NOT going into any Kwik Pantry or 7-11 convenience store with this stupid panty hose on my head! I have no idea why this cat loves me so much, nor do I have any idea why I posted this. I've just always had a weakness for this stuff!
Posted December 4 from my home
Surreal, I might define myself this beautiful moon lit morning at my rivers edge. I think back of this past weekends events. I told Linda that I can't think of six names outside of family? Actually found away around that too. I strongly suggested it but that will be her decision, of course, at whatever time. And "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," reverberates in the recesses of my mind. Have I ever shared with you that I have always enjoyed choral music?
I had several friends that may have taken offense to my "I can't think of six names outside of family," statement. Of ever person that commented, I only had one that was tuned into what was going on in my life to figure out where my head was. I reminded my friends that I said good by to a couple of friends this past weekend. As I commented to Linda on the way back from one of those funerals, I seriously pondered that question this morning here at my river. Who is rreally close enough to me that would want to be my pallbearer? That was the question that was parlayed mostly in riddle form. And if Linda has me cremated, that would eliminate the stress of someone doing what they might not want to do, pallbearer me around. Yes, I have many wonderful friends, but seriously? Who really wants to do stuff like that?
Posted December 8
I have sat around for the later part of this calendar year wondering just why my friend base seemed to be eroding! As I read the following posted caption, I figured it out! Laughing. If you are just learning that every personality that skips by you on social media may not fit into your warped standards, drain the tub and start over. It is healthy in a mental sort of way. Here is what it said:
You gotta learn how to drop people with no warning...
We are getting too old to explain to people what they know they're doing wrong...
Now, with that being set before me like my mother's chocolate pie, I sat back and smiled with amazement as the "buts" became evident... One of my favorites from the Shreveport time zone nailed it, "Besides, at our age, we don't care what we're doing wrong." Ya think? When you have bonded in friendship through like thoughts, you really do not care what you say or do wrong and even if you do this, it is usually not even noticed by the other party! At least that's the way it is with me, anyway. However, the comments continue. My published friend in Monroe weighs in. "It's also healthy in a spiritual way. There's a big difference between a friend and an acquaintance that doesn't care to walk with you thru life. But I like having both. Perhaps the acquaintance will become a friend." I cannot help but agree with her as this is so very true. Maybe they will become a friend... The learning curve is, You gotta learn! Some simply aren't worth the efforts required at my age to gel a friendship at this stage in both of our lives! At least to me anyway... It continues. One of my DFW favorites simply laughed at me and said, " Lol! Rod, you always have such a way with words!" I sent her a smiley face and let it rest. Then one of my favorites from the last millennium entered the fray with what I perceived as a heart felt concern. "Don't drain me , please... I can just picture myself going down the drain with the last soap bubble... Sometimes I'm talkative and sometimes I'm not... It doesnt mean I don't still love ya! *sniff, making sad eyes*" With these words tapping my shoulder asking for an explanation, I trust my DFW friend's jest rings true as I attempt to have my way with words in explanation:
Dear Precious Friend (I called her by name on my facebook post...) You are perfectly safe in my existing world, and have been for a considerable period of time. What is it now, say 46 years or so? For the sake of many, let me see if I might categorize those people that could meet the criteria of your soap bubble analysis. If you have 1000 friends on facebook or more, clearly I would never be noticed on a newsfeed of such great proportion. These collective people have absolutely no time for me or anyone else for that matter to justify a "social" relationship with, as there are simply too many lined up for attention. Here is another "soap bubble" at risk of finding the drain... Check out your friend list. How many do you have with maybe 15 to 25 friends? And of course the next question. When was the last time you heard from them? They recognized your name long enough to make a friend request, yet never cared enough to grow a relationship! And of course my most favorite, take the plunger and purge them. Those that have major problems with that left/right thing, like me! I am way too far to the right to deal with bull feces and those that believe it! I don't understand the left, don't want to understand the left, will never attempt to compromise with them and wish they never existed! All 5 of them I have encountered are currently existing on my blocked list and there they will remain. If you have those, family included, pull the plug and wash your wall with Clorox and no one will ever miss them. They will not miss you either. And oh my soul, the chronic poster. *sigh* I know this is a social sight, but hey, this is where my guilt lies. I am sure I have been that soap bubble you speak of in so many people's tub as they drained my stupid river, mockingbird, and urban noise comments down their bathtub drain, re-inserted the stopper to keep me from re-surfacing only to flush their toilet to make sure it received that extra push into another affluent water source! lol That's ok... You see, we both have been around long enough to know that people, reasonably sane people that exist in the real world, actually build fences to separate themselves from their despised neighbor. I know this 8' wooden privacy fence is being installed to protect them from my dog and my dog from them, right? Now, here is something else for you. When someone I know and can identify with "goes dark" on this form of social media, I may seldom notice even for weeks or months. If they mean something to me, they will eventually discover a private message has suddenly appeared in their private mailbox! Yes! That has happened to you, has it not? And there are other classifications of folks that I also find marginal... The bi-polar types? You never know if it is PMS, or some other sort of psychotic disorder like psychopathic vs sociopathic rants that affect your comfort zone or crush your head with misspelled bad words. You just one day realized they have managed to exceed the limits of your medication and you no longer want them around. Go through your list occasionally. I just found my own son was not a facebook friend anymore. He deleted his account. Go figure! Just deal with the fact ya gotta drop people from time to time without warning! We are too old to explain to them what they are doing wrong. And seriously? Would they even show up at your funeral?
Posted December 9, 2014
On December 10, I had Carpel Tunnel surgery performed on both hands. I figured if Linda could have both of her knees replaced back in July, then certainly I could have both wrist corrected and over with. I did, and it worked. I am sitting here informing myself and those that follow my blog, why I have been so silent the last couple of weeks. Now you know. I am fine! Never had a problem going to the toilet nor did I have to ask my wife for assistance! Even though I prefer cats, dogs are actually more practical in correlated circumstances! I mean seriously, you think I would even consider the sandpaper tongue of a cat? Awe shut up and smile! Every person that I talked to wondered how I wiped my butt with both hands wrapped up! I go in Monday morning, the 29th of December to have an injection in my left shoulder. MRI found a tear in my Labium and we are hoping an injection along with Anti-Inflammatory medication will eliminate the need for surgery there. I am ready to start shooting again! So, if you are dealing with Carpal Tunnel, get it done. I dealt with the suffering long enough and it was well worth the minor inconvenience...
Posted as a filler on December 25
Christmas morning is in action in homes all around us. I watched the morning awake with Meggie curled up in my lap. Mrs. Santa completed her work after her "helper" gave up the spirit around midnight. Some time around threeish, I made my way to the media room and sat there covered in my LSU blanket smiling at the "bounty" that magically collected over night under the lighted bows of our Christmas tree. Down the hallway I just heard the hair dryer engaged so it won't be long before Linda makes me dress warmly as she chases me outside to fry a big ole turkey for Christmas dinner that is annually planned around one or this afternoon. That feasting usually goes fast as the grandkids anxiously wait to see what Poppy and Punya collected for their amusement! I do enjoy that time. The excitement, as I go back years to my youth and wonder how my mom and dad did all of this for my sisters and me. These memory trips back to my childhood certainly helps define the word "blessed!" For that, we are, my many friends and acquaintances. Merry Christmas to all of you on this day we celebrate as the birth day of our Christ. What a gift we received!
Posted December 25 from my early morning home
And finally, the last page of the last chapter of my 2014 collection of facebook quotes has arrived. It is a Wednesday workday for me. I sat and reviewed December 31 of 2013, to remind myself of where I was and what was going on. Oh, I well remembered, but reading through it I discovered that post was actually more of a thank you to everyone and more of a hope for the coming new year. As I exist at this time, at this moment of this year, I collectively post my thoughts from 31 December of 2014... I drove to Slidell, Louisiana to spend the night with my cousin Al. I was last down visiting with him the weekend following Thanksgiving. He told me as we sipped coffee on his deck the Saturday following Thanksgiving that I should see how beautiful the New Year's sky was from this spot when the New Year rang in. I took him at his word inviting myself back for the festivities! I brought with me, Linda and my oldest grand daughter, Mckinzi, or Kbear as many of you know her. It was a perfect night for celebration! No fog, no clouds, only a cold, blowing north wind. As the last five minutes of 2014 became history, Al's description of the sky line was not an imagined projection. Somewhere around the 1 minute before until 1 minute into the new year of 2015, the world before us exploded into bright colors and accompanied the cacophony rapport of distant cracks, cackles and booms. Linda gazed upon the spectacle of exploding fireworks from the warmth of the third floor bedroom window as Mckinzi, Al and I hunkered down on the second floor deck deflecting the bite of the blowing winds while mesmerized by the display unfolding before us! Kind of like that crazy wild ride at some amusement park somewhere in our life. It doesn't last long, but it will live forever in our memories... Breath taking...
And thus the final chapter of 2014 closed as I walked back into the warmth of Al's beautiful home on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Where I was this time last year and where I found myself at this moment was a question that ran through my mind. I tried to answer it the best I could. I do know this year there was a comforting peace. Yes, a peace of knowing at that moment, all was well in my world. My 30th year with Linda was before me, yet to be defined and that I was holding tight to memories past more than I did the faces of those I made them with. We all simply move on until we are no more. I knew my 2014 was beginning with expected but yet to be defined realities. Today is like a fresh snowfall or stretched canvas just waiting for the Master to reveal His plan. This time next year, this blank canvas I speak of will be filled. Thanks to all of you that might be reading this for the prayers you shared with and for me, the encouragement you gave me, and especially for holding tight to that thread of friendship that bound us together! What a ride!
Rod Ferguson
December 31, 2014
DECEMBER
And the final chapter of 2014 begins at my river's edge on this 1st day of December. How many times have I shared that my river is calm and looks like black glass? I just wanted you to see a snapshot of her reflective peace as the world comes alive all around me. It seems that sometimes word alone cannot describe the beauty the eyes behold! This Christmas season is already reflected on Pineville's side of my River and the tall lights across the way you see reflected in the picture will evolve into 100' Christmas Trees, probably today. If I could capture this morning as it plays out before me in my heart and share the reason for this defined season with every person listening for the sound of a singing soul, there would be Peace on Earth! Posted December 1 from my early morning river
I don't care what kind of Little Friskies cat food you promise me! I AM NOT going into any Kwik Pantry or 7-11 convenience store with this stupid panty hose on my head! I have no idea why this cat loves me so much, nor do I have any idea why I posted this. I've just always had a weakness for this stuff!
Posted December 4 from my home
Surreal, I might define myself this beautiful moon lit morning at my rivers edge. I think back of this past weekends events. I told Linda that I can't think of six names outside of family? Actually found away around that too. I strongly suggested it but that will be her decision, of course, at whatever time. And "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," reverberates in the recesses of my mind. Have I ever shared with you that I have always enjoyed choral music?
I had several friends that may have taken offense to my "I can't think of six names outside of family," statement. Of ever person that commented, I only had one that was tuned into what was going on in my life to figure out where my head was. I reminded my friends that I said good by to a couple of friends this past weekend. As I commented to Linda on the way back from one of those funerals, I seriously pondered that question this morning here at my river. Who is rreally close enough to me that would want to be my pallbearer? That was the question that was parlayed mostly in riddle form. And if Linda has me cremated, that would eliminate the stress of someone doing what they might not want to do, pallbearer me around. Yes, I have many wonderful friends, but seriously? Who really wants to do stuff like that?
Posted December 8
I have sat around for the later part of this calendar year wondering just why my friend base seemed to be eroding! As I read the following posted caption, I figured it out! Laughing. If you are just learning that every personality that skips by you on social media may not fit into your warped standards, drain the tub and start over. It is healthy in a mental sort of way. Here is what it said:
You gotta learn how to drop people with no warning...
We are getting too old to explain to people what they know they're doing wrong...
Now, with that being set before me like my mother's chocolate pie, I sat back and smiled with amazement as the "buts" became evident... One of my favorites from the Shreveport time zone nailed it, "Besides, at our age, we don't care what we're doing wrong." Ya think? When you have bonded in friendship through like thoughts, you really do not care what you say or do wrong and even if you do this, it is usually not even noticed by the other party! At least that's the way it is with me, anyway. However, the comments continue. My published friend in Monroe weighs in. "It's also healthy in a spiritual way. There's a big difference between a friend and an acquaintance that doesn't care to walk with you thru life. But I like having both. Perhaps the acquaintance will become a friend." I cannot help but agree with her as this is so very true. Maybe they will become a friend... The learning curve is, You gotta learn! Some simply aren't worth the efforts required at my age to gel a friendship at this stage in both of our lives! At least to me anyway... It continues. One of my DFW favorites simply laughed at me and said, " Lol! Rod, you always have such a way with words!" I sent her a smiley face and let it rest. Then one of my favorites from the last millennium entered the fray with what I perceived as a heart felt concern. "Don't drain me , please... I can just picture myself going down the drain with the last soap bubble... Sometimes I'm talkative and sometimes I'm not... It doesnt mean I don't still love ya! *sniff, making sad eyes*" With these words tapping my shoulder asking for an explanation, I trust my DFW friend's jest rings true as I attempt to have my way with words in explanation:
Dear Precious Friend (I called her by name on my facebook post...) You are perfectly safe in my existing world, and have been for a considerable period of time. What is it now, say 46 years or so? For the sake of many, let me see if I might categorize those people that could meet the criteria of your soap bubble analysis. If you have 1000 friends on facebook or more, clearly I would never be noticed on a newsfeed of such great proportion. These collective people have absolutely no time for me or anyone else for that matter to justify a "social" relationship with, as there are simply too many lined up for attention. Here is another "soap bubble" at risk of finding the drain... Check out your friend list. How many do you have with maybe 15 to 25 friends? And of course the next question. When was the last time you heard from them? They recognized your name long enough to make a friend request, yet never cared enough to grow a relationship! And of course my most favorite, take the plunger and purge them. Those that have major problems with that left/right thing, like me! I am way too far to the right to deal with bull feces and those that believe it! I don't understand the left, don't want to understand the left, will never attempt to compromise with them and wish they never existed! All 5 of them I have encountered are currently existing on my blocked list and there they will remain. If you have those, family included, pull the plug and wash your wall with Clorox and no one will ever miss them. They will not miss you either. And oh my soul, the chronic poster. *sigh* I know this is a social sight, but hey, this is where my guilt lies. I am sure I have been that soap bubble you speak of in so many people's tub as they drained my stupid river, mockingbird, and urban noise comments down their bathtub drain, re-inserted the stopper to keep me from re-surfacing only to flush their toilet to make sure it received that extra push into another affluent water source! lol That's ok... You see, we both have been around long enough to know that people, reasonably sane people that exist in the real world, actually build fences to separate themselves from their despised neighbor. I know this 8' wooden privacy fence is being installed to protect them from my dog and my dog from them, right? Now, here is something else for you. When someone I know and can identify with "goes dark" on this form of social media, I may seldom notice even for weeks or months. If they mean something to me, they will eventually discover a private message has suddenly appeared in their private mailbox! Yes! That has happened to you, has it not? And there are other classifications of folks that I also find marginal... The bi-polar types? You never know if it is PMS, or some other sort of psychotic disorder like psychopathic vs sociopathic rants that affect your comfort zone or crush your head with misspelled bad words. You just one day realized they have managed to exceed the limits of your medication and you no longer want them around. Go through your list occasionally. I just found my own son was not a facebook friend anymore. He deleted his account. Go figure! Just deal with the fact ya gotta drop people from time to time without warning! We are too old to explain to them what they are doing wrong. And seriously? Would they even show up at your funeral?
Posted December 9, 2014
On December 10, I had Carpel Tunnel surgery performed on both hands. I figured if Linda could have both of her knees replaced back in July, then certainly I could have both wrist corrected and over with. I did, and it worked. I am sitting here informing myself and those that follow my blog, why I have been so silent the last couple of weeks. Now you know. I am fine! Never had a problem going to the toilet nor did I have to ask my wife for assistance! Even though I prefer cats, dogs are actually more practical in correlated circumstances! I mean seriously, you think I would even consider the sandpaper tongue of a cat? Awe shut up and smile! Every person that I talked to wondered how I wiped my butt with both hands wrapped up! I go in Monday morning, the 29th of December to have an injection in my left shoulder. MRI found a tear in my Labium and we are hoping an injection along with Anti-Inflammatory medication will eliminate the need for surgery there. I am ready to start shooting again! So, if you are dealing with Carpal Tunnel, get it done. I dealt with the suffering long enough and it was well worth the minor inconvenience...
Posted as a filler on December 25
Christmas morning is in action in homes all around us. I watched the morning awake with Meggie curled up in my lap. Mrs. Santa completed her work after her "helper" gave up the spirit around midnight. Some time around threeish, I made my way to the media room and sat there covered in my LSU blanket smiling at the "bounty" that magically collected over night under the lighted bows of our Christmas tree. Down the hallway I just heard the hair dryer engaged so it won't be long before Linda makes me dress warmly as she chases me outside to fry a big ole turkey for Christmas dinner that is annually planned around one or this afternoon. That feasting usually goes fast as the grandkids anxiously wait to see what Poppy and Punya collected for their amusement! I do enjoy that time. The excitement, as I go back years to my youth and wonder how my mom and dad did all of this for my sisters and me. These memory trips back to my childhood certainly helps define the word "blessed!" For that, we are, my many friends and acquaintances. Merry Christmas to all of you on this day we celebrate as the birth day of our Christ. What a gift we received!
Posted December 25 from my early morning home
And finally, the last page of the last chapter of my 2014 collection of facebook quotes has arrived. It is a Wednesday workday for me. I sat and reviewed December 31 of 2013, to remind myself of where I was and what was going on. Oh, I well remembered, but reading through it I discovered that post was actually more of a thank you to everyone and more of a hope for the coming new year. As I exist at this time, at this moment of this year, I collectively post my thoughts from 31 December of 2014... I drove to Slidell, Louisiana to spend the night with my cousin Al. I was last down visiting with him the weekend following Thanksgiving. He told me as we sipped coffee on his deck the Saturday following Thanksgiving that I should see how beautiful the New Year's sky was from this spot when the New Year rang in. I took him at his word inviting myself back for the festivities! I brought with me, Linda and my oldest grand daughter, Mckinzi, or Kbear as many of you know her. It was a perfect night for celebration! No fog, no clouds, only a cold, blowing north wind. As the last five minutes of 2014 became history, Al's description of the sky line was not an imagined projection. Somewhere around the 1 minute before until 1 minute into the new year of 2015, the world before us exploded into bright colors and accompanied the cacophony rapport of distant cracks, cackles and booms. Linda gazed upon the spectacle of exploding fireworks from the warmth of the third floor bedroom window as Mckinzi, Al and I hunkered down on the second floor deck deflecting the bite of the blowing winds while mesmerized by the display unfolding before us! Kind of like that crazy wild ride at some amusement park somewhere in our life. It doesn't last long, but it will live forever in our memories... Breath taking...
And thus the final chapter of 2014 closed as I walked back into the warmth of Al's beautiful home on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Where I was this time last year and where I found myself at this moment was a question that ran through my mind. I tried to answer it the best I could. I do know this year there was a comforting peace. Yes, a peace of knowing at that moment, all was well in my world. My 30th year with Linda was before me, yet to be defined and that I was holding tight to memories past more than I did the faces of those I made them with. We all simply move on until we are no more. I knew my 2014 was beginning with expected but yet to be defined realities. Today is like a fresh snowfall or stretched canvas just waiting for the Master to reveal His plan. This time next year, this blank canvas I speak of will be filled. Thanks to all of you that might be reading this for the prayers you shared with and for me, the encouragement you gave me, and especially for holding tight to that thread of friendship that bound us together! What a ride!
Rod Ferguson
December 31, 2014
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