Golden Arches and Golden Crowns

Golden Arches and Golden Crowns

The laughter and squealing of ecstatic children took me by surprise. I had driven the couple of miles to my local big box shopping mall to make a purchase at the Home Depot store. The large parking lots were beginning to fill up, but as I alighted from the car an unexpected cacophony caused me to swing around to ascertain its origin. Crowds of people caught my eye and I realized that it was opening day at the new McDonalds franchise. Children were excitedly tugging their parents hands and clothes in their efforts to hurry them up. Red, white and blue balloons festooned the wrought iron railings; swinging wildly in the breeze in frenzied attempts to join those released brethren which had already escaped the clutches of sweaty little hands.

The tantalizing aroma of grilled meat assailed my nostrils, reminding me that my lunchtime was fast approaching. My stomach growled and saliva prickled my throat. Temptation indeed…but I decided this was not the appropriate moment for me to sample the gastronomical delights available at this establishment — not with Ronald McDonald, a mariachi band, jugglers and balloon artists holding court.

Never-the-less, I was completely captivated by the sheer exuberance of the crowd and decided to partake of the atmosphere, if not of the food. My attention, as if by a magnet, was irresistibly drawn to a small girl in a wheelchair. She was in rapture as the balloon artist twisted and pulled the gaily colored latex into all manner of outrageously shaped animals — one of which formed a donkey hat which she wore upon her head.

That the child was retarded or debilitated by some disease was apparent. Her body was deformed and drooped lopsidedly, while her facial muscles were not capable of genuine expression — but her eyes told a different story. For that moment in time she was transfixed in a realm of wonder and joy where pain and torment ceased to exist.

I turned to look at the parents, and where I expected to see weariness and despair, my heart was filled to almost bursting by the obvious love they emanated. Their pleasure in her pleasure knew no bounds. They too, wore funny balloon hats - but I saw golden crowns. 

Taylor Said

Taylor said...

I have often felt i was born in the wrong generation. I can't stand a lot of the social norms that permeate our society and really wish i was raised in my grandparents or parents time. I would have much rather gone through hard times 10 times over in the Great Depression, felt panic in wartime, witnessed the fall of Communism, been in love with a boy wanting to lead me away from the bad things in this world.
I feel life is boring as a young person because everything is so safe, and we have become weak mentally because we no longer have to fight to live for things. Will, i wish i could have been young in your time, but that wasn't the plan. I feel like an outcast sometimes at school and at work because sex is the norm and im not interested to share it with some sub standard boy that knows nothing about what it means to be a real man. I dont drink or smoke, and i guess that automatically puts me down a few levels. But i know im smart and i value the beliefs that i have. Someday i hope young people realize the importance of life choices that last forever.
I completely agree with what you say that girls are just as predatory as boys are. The normal young girl of today is being spoon fed from advertisers what it means to be a "wanted girl." And its really sad because girls have become so aggressive that boys no longer have to be polite or try to woo a nice girl to date. Girls are on the hunt to get what they can, and i feel bad for guys because society tells them that 'hey, have sex with as many girls as you can.'So they are taking what they get are morals diminish. I really feel for kids my age these days because they aren't being taught the basics to healthy relationships.

-Taylor

Romance and Courtship

Romance and courtship
 

I'm old enough to not really understand modern courtship. Does it really exist? I kind of get the impression that love and courtship are oxymoronic. Do young girls today dream of finding that wonderful guy who will love and cherish them forever? Do young men today dream of that innocent, sweet young girl that they would like to love forever? Do either gender dream of meeting their date with tremors and dewy eyed anticipation? If they don't, they don't know what they are missing. I've lived a full and exciting life - and I'm totally convinced that of all the wonderful experiences I've enjoyed and participated in - nothing comes close to true love. Absolutely nothing!

I first met my wife when she was seventeen, at a dance in England. Dancing to big band music and going to the "pictures" (the movies) was our only entertainment in England during the WWII years. We all left school at age fourteen and had jobs, and were all involved in the war effort. Life was bleak and the rationing severe. We all had a feeling of togetherness - adults and kids. We were all fighting for survival. There was a spirit of camaraderie. Young people's relationships began at schools but more so at the dances. Relationships?

No, it was not like today where promiscuity seems to be the norm. Girls being as sexually predatory as boys. Why? That's another story for a later posting. But I am telling you that our way was better. If you have never courted or been courted with honor and respect by the opposite sex - you have missed life's ultimate experience. There is something so sweet and intimate in learning to love that it defies my ability to explain it.

We had no cars. We walked everywhere. A date could be a walk in the country. A visit to the pictures. Picking bluebells or primroses. Shy conversations. Feelings of such enjoyment just being with this breathtaking person. Waiting for her/him to come into sight when meeting for a date. Feelings of absolute wonderment that he/she wanted to spend time with you.

Nothing comes close.

Posted by Will at 3:42 PM

1 comments:

Sally Went Away

Sally Went Away

Sally’s gone now. Not from my mind, or my heart - but in reality. Our time together was so very short - only three years. What did she do to deserve this? Someone once said ‘…only the good die young,’ and there seems to be some truth in that.
It’s been six months now, but the ache is just as real, just as hurtful - and why? To be taken from life so soon, with everything to look forward to - not just for her, but for us. We were just beginning to really understand each other - to anticipate each others needs, and to give each other all the pleasure we could offer. And we were so happy. Each moment together was an absolute joy - each moment apart bittersweet; sad at the separation and yet happy that it wouldn’t be for long.
Sitting at my desk, thoughts of her too often come unbidden, as they do now - distracting me from my work and causing me to reflect upon the past, and the joyless days ahead.

We first met at the Herrington’s place in the Hamptons. I’d been invited for the weekend, and with some neighbors we were going to do a little sailing, barbecuing, lazing around and enjoying the early summer sunshine. Sally was one of a group introduced by Barry and Phyllis Clark, close friends of Jim and Marcia Herrington - and the moment I saw her I was smitten. Brown eyed, with hair the color of chablis, and incredibly fun loving. We gravitated toward each other and spent much of the weekend together. I learned later that some among the gathering began to whisper and smile knowingly at our mutual attraction - the way we cavorted with each other across the rolling lawn and down on the beach.
There were moments of quiet tranquility between us. Sitting on the sand, huddled against the evening chill, with my arm around her and caressing her silky, flaxen hair – content in our togetherness. Sunset and lapping water, a faraway voice on a boat in the bay, happy sounds from the home behind us. She knew, as I did, that we were destined for each other - and so it was that when the weekend was over she left with me, and stayed with me until that fateful day three years later when she was taken from me forever - a victim of cancer.
My life before Sally was, by anyone’s standards, a good life. All the material things were mine. I was content, and enthusiastic about the future. At thirty years of age, with a burgeoning career as an associate professor at a prestigious university; I was seriously contemplating family life. My parents were wonderful role models who met while in college, married and raised a loving and respectful family. When Sally left me I was brokenhearted. For a long time I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t get her out of my thoughts. She had been so much to me in the short time we were together. Her only goal in life was to be with me, and to please me with unselfish love and devotion; but gradually, as if swimming to the surface from immeasurable depths, I realized that I must begin life anew.
The decision made, I logged on to the internet and selected Google as my search engine. When it came up, I typed in Golden Retrievers and experienced a sense of relief and exhilaration. I knew that everything was going to be alright again...soon.

United We Stand

United We Stand

Everyday, in every way, we’re handing our enemies the ammunition to continue fighting us. It isn't going well at all. Continuing down the path we have followed for the last sixty years is sheer lunacy. We've got to solve problems, not perpetuate them.

The League of Nations was created after World War 1 as the international tool of rational nations to promote peace and cooperation. Founded in 1920, it didn’t prevent World War 2, and was deemed a failure in 1946 - to be replaced by the United Nations to promote peace, security, and economic development.

Space limitations will not allow a primer on this organization, but ask yourself if, in the past sixty eight years, any of these goals have been accomplished. Is the world better for its existence – or demonstrably worse off? Add the previous twenty four years of the League of Nations mandate and it quickly becomes obvious that they are both dismal failures.

The UN charter specifically guarantees political independence and territorial integrity for all countries. A few, very minor diplomatic resolutions have been successful: but what about the invasions of other countries by aggressors which the UN proved itself impotent to resolve. The United Nations situated Israel where it is - and what has it done to ensure peace and tranquility for that nation against the hatred of its neighbors? Its mismanagement of the Iraqi situation led America into the quagmire that exists today. If it had ever performed according to its mandate in any circumstance, the world would be a better place. It didn’t, and it won’t - so forget the UN.

The U.N. is not only ineffective - it is our enemy. Among the representative dilettante majority whose careers are simply about high-living with no accountability, there is a cadre whose only aim is to destroy America - ably assisted by morons in our congress and our media who just want to make life tough for a constitutional America. Think confirmation committee's. Where is the hue and cry from our citizenry about the absolute hypocrisy of the politicization of the confirmation process? The first time it was politics - it still is. It’s not about America – it’s about personal and political aggrandizement – and a suicidal collective mental illness.

Pontificating politicians are not the answer to America’s problems. They are the problem!
The only reason we are losing the war on terror is because we are not united at home or with the rest of those who should be on our side. China and Russia are working steadily to dominate us. They will use North Korea, Iran, Syria and the world’s crazies as the hard line tools to keep us occupied and drain our resources while building their own capabilities.

We, the American public, are becoming exponentially aware that we are not infallible as a nation – or as a people. We have lost our way in dealing with truth, honesty and integrity. We cannot deserve to maintain our lifestyles and our position in the world if we denigrate each other to the detriment of our honor and purpose. Unless we come to grips with reality the future is bleak. We are woefully unprepared for what is facing us. Our lack of unity during national need will be our undoing in the end. It’s not about name-calling and blame at this point – it’s about survival. We have deluded ourselves about our invincibility, and we now know that we have almost no sound intelligence on any front. Israel is shocked at its ignorance of how the enemy prepared while these cease-fires have been in effect - and they always understood the threats to their existence. But give them credit for recognizing what they have to do now.

A large segment of the American population can’t or won’t face reality. Completely absorbed in their own little worlds of ethnic division, hate, selfishness, and recreational pursuits – and without the educational tools to fix the sputtering motor of our society, they don’t even recognize a calamity approaching at breakneck speed. We have the example of what the opposition party proposes for our future. It has nothing to do with the festering international situation - or solutions for domestic issues. Common purpose and a will to survive is the only answer. We need unity and an end to the divisiveness we broadcast every day. The world listens avidly to our squabbling and the good guys are dismayed, while the bad guys gleefully use our rhetoric strategically. They don’t really need to dissect our positions on any issue, our talking heads provide them with all the ammunition they need to perpetuate their war against us. The media bias (Goebbels could have learned from them) and the far left agenda of the political opposition with their lies and unadulterated hatred have deliberately and maliciously undermined the constitutionally minded electorate at the expense of the country.

If we had remained the United States of America and shown total support for our country this enemy would have been defeated long ago. If we disagree about national matters let’s settle them like civilized people instead of as political enemies. Belonging to one or the other political party shouldn’t divide us rancorously. We should be able to work harmoniously for the good of the country – and the survival of our constitutional precepts.

It’s time for the administration to promote the message of unity to the American people every day. Much of the nation is still in denial about the dangers we face. They must be aroused from their self interest, and yes…their ignorance of this fact – DIVIDED WE FALL. #

The Thief Among Us

The Thief Among Us

He arrives without warning. He’s an artist at breaking and entering, and leaves behind no physical evidence. We’ve never seen him, yet we know him intimately. This wraith is very real and he’s robbing us blind.

Oddly enough our encounters with him can be fun. He has a great sense of humor – when he’s not in one of his moods. A citizen of the world; he holds a passport for every country on the planet. Equally at home in Argentina or Zimbabwe as he is in our living rooms and backyards here in America.

We tolerate him, albeit we are somewhat ashamed of his being such a familiar acquaintance. He’s as old as Methuselah, yet very much at ease with people of any age. He knows all the tricks and plays them with the finesse of a professional poker player. He rarely tips his hand; and we never know whether he’s stealing big time or just a little bit here and there – but we do know his pilferage is not recoverable. This fellow is the con artist of all time. He’ll take our underwear while we’re still wearing the suit, and we won’t feel a thing. Quite often we’re willing participants – but we’re going to pay for his larceny down the road – are we ever!

Just who is this guy? Well he’s no punk. He’s a ‘made member’ of his syndicate and he never puts a foot wrong. Seemingly casual, yet often urbane; he deceives us over and over again – but he is evil personified. He scores every time. He’s a bloodsucking vampire – and it’s our blood! He’s the ultimate sports fan; knows all of the schedules and stat’s. Spends big time in the hammock gazing at the long grass - and admiring those big, puffy clouds and the cerulean sky. He just loves barbecues and beer. That’s right – he’s Mr. Procrastination! He steals time! The time, someday, we’re going to wish we hadn’t wasted. Precious time – unredeemable time…our life’s blood!

Who stole our airwaves?

Who stole our airwaves?

Remember all the wonderful music programs on the radio? The radio would be on in the home for the lady of the house to enjoy during the day. The whole family could take pleasure from it on the weekends. Most men had those pocket a.m radios and listened to the ball games while doing the chores. We were a lot more active then. I guess the sports minded of today settle on the couch and watch the games. What is most annoying now is how the airwaves (radio and TV) have been taken over by commerce. It seems like every time I turn on the radio or the TV it's a commercial; programming seems to be secondary. Annoying in the extreme is that there is always some icon or crawl or future program notes on the screen while a program is running.  I recall that the FCC used to control advertising time. I don't imagine the regulations have actually changed - but it's quite obvious that they are no longer being enforced. As government grows at every level the more inept and corrupt they become. Special interests actually decide how we live. America is changing fast and not for the better. By the way, I have recordings of some of the radio programs from the past with commercials. I'll learn how to include an audio sample for you to hear on this blog.

Laughter

Laughter

We don't stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing.
Granted, this complicated world is kind of grim at times...and seemingly growing grimmer all the time.
 

Who would have thought that with the fall of communism - an event we didn't expect to see in our lifetime - laughter almost immediately turned to tears. Now many years later our world is just as unstable as it has been for the last fifty years or so. We all expect the worst - and we generally get it.

What can we do about it?

Well, we can make our lives much more palatable by simply laughing about the things which are not portentious or evil. So much of what happens in our daily lives is humorous even though our first instinct may be to categorize it as something less than acceptable.

When we encounter rudeness, sloth, ineptitude, lack of grace, pomposity (you name it), instead of getting mad (and accomplishing nothing) laugh...and the world laughs with you! Cry, and you cry alone!

We're all fallible, we're all flawed (some more than others), but if we all see the humor in many of our daily situations - the better off we will all be.

The most utterly lost of all days is the one in which you have not once laughed.

Happy laughter and family voices in the home will keep more kids off the streets at night than the strictest curfew.

Greetings

Greetings,
I established this blog in 2008 and really had no idea how to generate a following. Eventually I let it lapse and deleted all of the postings. For some time now the managed political changes occurring in America, and indeed the world, have been motivating me to speak out in defense of morality, decency, education, love and marriage, family values, pride, tradition, love of literature, humor, ...just to name a few subjects. Put another way, I'd like to rekindle neighborliness and respect for each other who value the concept and the reality of what America is meant to be. I'd like to discuss with you why it is fast changing into a truly shabby, corruptible society of evil, greedy, manipulative individuals and organizations intent upon destroying this nation in the name of power - and to hell with the consequences for its truly patriotic and hard-working citizenry.

Let me assure you that I am not a shill for any entity. I am a retired individual who has lived the American Dream and I do not want any law-abiding person to be deprived of that opportunity. I'm going to be serious about some things but there will also be satirical jottings and the offer to help in the matter of job applications, interview techniques and planning a future for the younger readers. I will welcome comments and suggestions from you, and if they differ from my viewpoint I will post them if they are couched in a civil manner. Differences can be debated, but incivility will not be tolerated.  

My original banner will remain for awhile but will possibly change in the days ahead as I learn more about blog management. I envision this blog to be a friendly, warm, and humorous place but will at times be about serious matters. I guess it would best be described as being about us and what life is all about.  I am a conservative and an American advocate. I believe in the role that our progeny were destined to play under the constitution but I'm not pleased with the lack of pride and tradition that is evident today. 

Be happy,

Will