Thanks for preserving the illusion of normalcy. I will approach my spouse about NY NY being a haven of anything, (she is technically an upstater). Thanks for the limerick. Why do you suppose Emily had to dress Hope in feathers?
After I listened to the Elvis clip on YouTube, another song popped up. Barbara Mason singing Yes, I’m Ready. I am moved by this essay, and by the music of my younger years, and I would send you the link to that song, but my tech savvy is not quite good enough right now, but I will keep trying!
Elvis never moved me much but I am passionate about 'old school' music and your recommendation is one of the reasons why! Maybe we should build a 'Cheerfulness' play list:)
My Grandma loved Elvis, while I was crazy about Pat Boone! Anyway, I have been practicing the Barbara Mason song, and singing it from my heart, which is 17 yrs old inside, even though I was born in 1946! I like your playlist suggestion.
Pretty good post from you today Old Scout. I liked that very last paragraph the most (as I sit here sipping my coffee at sunrise). Another beautiful weather day in MN awaits.
I 'm in my second marriage, and know exactly what you mean about love. But what about the 11 years with Mary, the 5 with Ulla, and the "other companions besides in youth," notably Margaret Moos. You say those decades were spent in the "vanity of ambition." But were all those relationships false? Worth nothing? Or just conveniently forgotten.
Arnold, I may be in the minority around here, but if one looks at human beings as "vertebrate animals," the condition of "One Alone" for mammals is quite unusual! To me, Men can be like wild stallions, or bulls - elk or cattle, etc. There are probably evolutionary reasons at least among those of European origin that singular pairs are favored. Look around the world - Moslems, for example, feel comfortable with a harem..
The Belgian mystery writer, Georges Simenon, had quite a quandary to deal with when he decided to move to the American southwest. He had two wives - legally or just "accepted" when he came to the US. On his immigration papers, one was listed as "wife" - the other as "housekeeper."
Personally, I find the concept of a "Stallion" rather exciting! I wouldn't be surprised if all those extra masculine hormones have added to our host's appeal as an entertainer!
"Cheerfulness is a choice" is a message that would be great on T-Shirts! and newborn Onesies! I'll buy a T-shirt - size Adult Medium:) Lots of colors please - cherry red would be my choice!
Great use of Ecclesiastes bro! I wish you would cite the verse about knowledge increasing sorrow so I could read it in context. Thanks for the commentary, love it.
Thanks for this uplifting piece. In the midst of so many awful things going on around us, you make me smile, nod in agreement and remember fundamental goodness the human experience. Then, you send me to Elvis! What could be better?
What a paean to married love! I was recently reminded of a time years ago, that spoke volumes about the love between parents and children. It started right here, in the parking lot of this library. My two daughters were 13 and 11 years old. While I was in the library, they had discovered an abandoned grocery store shopping cart . They were squabbling, at full gusto, over possession of it, when a woman entered her parked car, turned on the ignition, and set her gearshift in BACK. I came down the steps, just as I saw her red tail lights shine as she began to back RIGHT INTO MY GIRLS! I waved my arms, yelled, and ran toward her while I was in her rear-view mirrors. Fortunately, she stopped. I took the girls, plus shopping cart, off to the side, and, relieved, went to thank her for her caution.
Once she was out of sight, I WHOLLOPPED both of the girls in turn - a heavy-duty, full force spanking! Until that day, my daughters thought that "A Spanking" was a pat on the rear, equivalent to the way friends greet friends by tapping the other person's shoulder. They had proudly told their friends that "Mom spanked us," without ever having the idea of how their back ends could hurt in the aftermath of the real thing! That day in the parking lot, they got "educated."
Not long after that, I took them to a parking lot in Pasadena, California, to get on buses and go into the Angeles mountains for Girl Scout Camp. They spent a week there, sans showers, sans swimming sessions (the camp had no lake). When I returned to the parking lot to pick them up, the buses unloaded what appeared to be a full load of "dirty blondes." Some parents spotted their kids, grabbed them by their shoulders, shook them or otherwise showed their open disapproval of the way these campers looked. For my part, there were so many dirt-disguised girls there that I couldn't figure out which ones were my daughters. I just stood still, and waited for them to come to me. And Come They Did! They ran to me with open arms and hugs and kisses, and tales of their adventures that went on nonstop all the way home!
I see these two events as connected. Before I gave them that "Frightened/Terrified" mother's spanking, they probably had never realized how much I cared about their well-being. Their friends had interpreted a vigorously applied spanking as a "sign of love." Not that it should be that way, but, out of my own fright, they had gotten their "proof." I don't recommend that philosophy. However, I think that experience indicates something about "social norms" and the way they're based on the peer group involved. "Mom" took on a more heart-felt meaning for them, as a result of that fight!
Thanks for preserving the illusion of normalcy. I will approach my spouse about NY NY being a haven of anything, (she is technically an upstater). Thanks for the limerick. Why do you suppose Emily had to dress Hope in feathers?
After I listened to the Elvis clip on YouTube, another song popped up. Barbara Mason singing Yes, I’m Ready. I am moved by this essay, and by the music of my younger years, and I would send you the link to that song, but my tech savvy is not quite good enough right now, but I will keep trying!
Elvis never moved me much but I am passionate about 'old school' music and your recommendation is one of the reasons why! Maybe we should build a 'Cheerfulness' play list:)
My Grandma loved Elvis, while I was crazy about Pat Boone! Anyway, I have been practicing the Barbara Mason song, and singing it from my heart, which is 17 yrs old inside, even though I was born in 1946! I like your playlist suggestion.
“I know that touch by heart.” Maybe because you know that heart by touch. Beautiful line.
Pretty good post from you today Old Scout. I liked that very last paragraph the most (as I sit here sipping my coffee at sunrise). Another beautiful weather day in MN awaits.
...like a fine wine...
I 'm in my second marriage, and know exactly what you mean about love. But what about the 11 years with Mary, the 5 with Ulla, and the "other companions besides in youth," notably Margaret Moos. You say those decades were spent in the "vanity of ambition." But were all those relationships false? Worth nothing? Or just conveniently forgotten.
Arnold, I may be in the minority around here, but if one looks at human beings as "vertebrate animals," the condition of "One Alone" for mammals is quite unusual! To me, Men can be like wild stallions, or bulls - elk or cattle, etc. There are probably evolutionary reasons at least among those of European origin that singular pairs are favored. Look around the world - Moslems, for example, feel comfortable with a harem..
The Belgian mystery writer, Georges Simenon, had quite a quandary to deal with when he decided to move to the American southwest. He had two wives - legally or just "accepted" when he came to the US. On his immigration papers, one was listed as "wife" - the other as "housekeeper."
Personally, I find the concept of a "Stallion" rather exciting! I wouldn't be surprised if all those extra masculine hormones have added to our host's appeal as an entertainer!
"Cheerfulness is a choice" is a message that would be great on T-Shirts! and newborn Onesies! I'll buy a T-shirt - size Adult Medium:) Lots of colors please - cherry red would be my choice!
Speaking as one well-loved man to another, thank you for this.
Great use of Ecclesiastes bro! I wish you would cite the verse about knowledge increasing sorrow so I could read it in context. Thanks for the commentary, love it.
Ecclesiastes 1:18
Becoming worldly-wise, and at first, even spiritually wise can open the eyes to the harshest and saddest realities and keeps comedians in business.
The portion about the "touch on your shoulder" was beautifully said. Thank you
Amen
Thanks for this uplifting piece. In the midst of so many awful things going on around us, you make me smile, nod in agreement and remember fundamental goodness the human experience. Then, you send me to Elvis! What could be better?
I love the "essay" pun!
What a paean to married love! I was recently reminded of a time years ago, that spoke volumes about the love between parents and children. It started right here, in the parking lot of this library. My two daughters were 13 and 11 years old. While I was in the library, they had discovered an abandoned grocery store shopping cart . They were squabbling, at full gusto, over possession of it, when a woman entered her parked car, turned on the ignition, and set her gearshift in BACK. I came down the steps, just as I saw her red tail lights shine as she began to back RIGHT INTO MY GIRLS! I waved my arms, yelled, and ran toward her while I was in her rear-view mirrors. Fortunately, she stopped. I took the girls, plus shopping cart, off to the side, and, relieved, went to thank her for her caution.
Once she was out of sight, I WHOLLOPPED both of the girls in turn - a heavy-duty, full force spanking! Until that day, my daughters thought that "A Spanking" was a pat on the rear, equivalent to the way friends greet friends by tapping the other person's shoulder. They had proudly told their friends that "Mom spanked us," without ever having the idea of how their back ends could hurt in the aftermath of the real thing! That day in the parking lot, they got "educated."
Not long after that, I took them to a parking lot in Pasadena, California, to get on buses and go into the Angeles mountains for Girl Scout Camp. They spent a week there, sans showers, sans swimming sessions (the camp had no lake). When I returned to the parking lot to pick them up, the buses unloaded what appeared to be a full load of "dirty blondes." Some parents spotted their kids, grabbed them by their shoulders, shook them or otherwise showed their open disapproval of the way these campers looked. For my part, there were so many dirt-disguised girls there that I couldn't figure out which ones were my daughters. I just stood still, and waited for them to come to me. And Come They Did! They ran to me with open arms and hugs and kisses, and tales of their adventures that went on nonstop all the way home!
I see these two events as connected. Before I gave them that "Frightened/Terrified" mother's spanking, they probably had never realized how much I cared about their well-being. Their friends had interpreted a vigorously applied spanking as a "sign of love." Not that it should be that way, but, out of my own fright, they had gotten their "proof." I don't recommend that philosophy. However, I think that experience indicates something about "social norms" and the way they're based on the peer group involved. "Mom" took on a more heart-felt meaning for them, as a result of that fight!
There's no reason for independent writers to strike. Who would you be striking against?
I'm not going to miss SNL I can use a break from their sanctimony.
Yup.