Winter Haiku

Apple blossoms cry out
desperately,
Spring can’t be so far away!

gigoid

And on the other side of the coin, we have this….. and, yes, it’s a strange world I live in….

SHIN: a part of the body useful for finding tables and chairs in the dark, and for stopping pucks.
___________________________________

“When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I’ll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights, and lock the universe behind me when I leave.” — Death

Death…..a subject which has crossed my mind more in the last two years than in all my years before. For most of my life, I have had the invulnerable armor of denial working for me regarding my own demise. I figured it was something that would take care of itself in time; all I had to do was to live my life well enough that when death comes, there will be no regrets over love never shown, none over help withheld, and no regrets over duties undone. But in the last two years, as I approach ever closer to a more intimate relationship with Death, I find my denial to no longer be a viable tool; it is that or spend all my time fighting a battle that cannot be won.

I can’t say I’m particularly afraid to die; I’ve always been more curious about the unknown than afraid of it. But, with one’s final breath there is an effect on those people whose life we are a part of; there is no way to soften the blow for either of my children, any more than I could be shielded from sorrow upon the death of my own parents. All I can do is provide them with an example of how to die with dignity, and for that I have had the perfect role model myself, in my own father. It’s comforting to know that what he passed to me is something that will be passed on to my kids, and that is the knowledge that they are loved, and will live in our hearts forever…..or at least until all the lights are turned out, and Death takes a holiday…..

“Death, the most dreaded of evils, is therefore of no concern to us; for while we exist death is not present, and when death is present we no longer exist.” — Epicurus
___________________________________

“A certain person may have, as you say, a wonderful  presence: I do not know. What I do know is that he  has a perfectly delightful absence.” — Idries Shah

I think we all have a list of folks who would be on such a list; in my case it’s practically a battalion. Here are just a few names from my list of folks who are made more attractive by the mere act of leaving a room….

Rush Limbaugh
Any ex-president named Bush
A very long list of televangelists….
Lady Gaga
Madonna
Ronald Reagan, the Great Deceiver
Bill O’Reilly
Ann Coulter (what a waste of sperm!)
Anyone who claims “diva” status
Anyone named Kardashian (who could possibly care?)
and, in the interests of moving this along…our final candidate….

Geraldo!….. there are more, but I could add to the list all day….’nuff said. Too close to bad karma….
___________________________________

Most people make sense, I’m not one of them.

I originally intended to be one of them, but I found there was no audience for that. Nobody wants to hear anyone else make sense; it just challenges their own misconceived preconceptions. So I have studiously engaged in a program designed to turn the most staid, straightforward statement of common sense into a more palatable form, more like lime Jell-O than filet mignon. Lime Jell-O is the world’s most versatile food, because there is no way to make it anything but what it is, i.e., silly. So, next time someone accuses you of either making too much sense, or not enough, just refer them to Lime Jell-O. It’s the least anyone can do, given the state of reality…..

Man was born to love–
Though often he has sought
Like Icarus, to fly to high.
And far too lonely than he ought
To kiss the sun of east and west
And hold the world at his behest–
To hold the terrible power
To whom only gods are blessed–
But me I am just a man.
— Patton

I know not if this is General George Patton; I found it like this. If he is the author, he has a lot more sensitivity than he is given credit for. In my reasonably humble opinion, this is a very good poem. And like any good poem, it needs no adornment, so, enjoy!….

___________________________________

So ends another episode of the adventures of gigoid amid the wonders of culture, or lack thereof. It’s been a tough row to hoe, but perseverance wins again….this one may not be up to my usual standards; it’s hard to tell with my mind in the semi-soft state that comes after creating Pearls. We will now enter the fray out in the Big Blue Room; well, maybe a nap first…. Y’all take care out there…..