Sick.....AND tired!

We've all been ill at one time or another...colds, flu, allergies....You name it and most folks deal with it from time to time. Generally, I'm fortunate...I'm rarely sick more than a day or two and usually its just allergies or a head cold. Annoying...inconvenient for sure, but manageable.
This past few weeks I've had the karmic equivalent of a kick in the pants for my years of good fortune. A cold, followed by the flu and topped off with a sinus infection...Gawd. 
   Am I whining? No. Well, maybe a little...(honey say's A LOT!) Which prompted me to write about the differences between men and women when we're ill. When honey (my wonderful wife) is sick, she usually takes short naps and does task in micro burst. She only goes to the doctor as a last resort as she's a fitness/health fanatic. Her mood is dampened but rarely is she short tempered or out of sorts. A dainty little cough...."ahack...hack." A red, irritated nose...actually kindia cute.
ME on the other hand, after two days with the flu....
A waste basket full of crumpled tissue and an end table littered with prescription drugs and over the counter remedies are within arms reach of the couch, where I lay swaddled with blankets, the powerful aroma of Vick's permeating the air around me.
                "HACK---HACK----SWIIIIICHHHHKKKK----PATOOOO!"
Spitting and hacking disgusting globs of goo into the basket makes my honey cringe. Moaning, I plop back down, resuming my bear like slumber as honey mumbles.
                   "That's SO gross! You're making me nauseous!"
Harrumphing, I drag my blankey over my head, croaking.
                 "Will you rub some more Vick's on my chest?"
Rolling her eyes, (I can FEEL it!) honey sighs, replying.
                 "Yes, dear."
Uncovering my head as she reaches me, I say.
                 "And bring me some 7-up?"
Suppressing another eye roll, she reverse course to the kitchen for my drink. Handing me the glass, I sip before handing it back to her with a groan.
                 "Now the Vick's?"
Nodding, honey smears the axle grease-like concoction onto my chest. I ask her.
                 "Sing soft kitty to me?"
Scowling, honey replies.
                  "Absolutely not."
Giving her my best puppy dog look, I plead.
                  "But I'm sick!"
Smiling slightly and rubbing my head, honey answers.
                  "You are...and apparently deranged. Maybe we should check that fever again!"
College girls....To her credit, honey put up with my demands for a solid week ( I only missed two days of work) before threatening to bunk me with our dog. I grudgingly scaled back the sniveling after that...well...some anyway!
So are women tougher than men when it comes to being sick? I dunno. I think us guys just wanna be...pampered a bit more. What's wrong with that? :o) Besides, my traitorous dog snarled at me when I tried to crawl into his bed....Selfish animal!

A heart-felt thank you!

Good morning all,
                             I want to thank all of you for the prayers and well wishes for my wonderful wife. The swollen lump on her opposing side has receded and the second series of test still show it as a none issue! :o) After completing the cancer treatments less than six weeks ago, we are understandably greatly relieved! Honey sends her thanks and hugs out as well.
In other news, honey (who has always been terrified of the water) took and completed a 25 hour lifeguard course this past four days! She is now a certified lifeguard and just plain certifiable!! LOL! She plans to add this to her hours at the YMCA were she is a personal trainer and fitness instructor. She continues to inspire me daily with her desire to overcome her personal fears and to challenge her own boundaries. We had the following conversation.
"I'm SO proud of you! Now you can save ME!" I say with a leer.
Honey looks me up and down saying with a smirk.
"I think I'm gonna need a bigger floatation device..."
The stupid dog snickers. Glaring at him, I protest.
"HEY! In the water, I'm light as a feather!"
"Uh-huh...I was thinking about getting you OUT of the water..." Smiling brightly honey snaps her fingers, quipping. "I could put snacks pool-side!"
Scowling, I shake my head, replying.
"No way...I'm not getting out til you give me mouth to mouth!"
Wrapping her up in a bear hug, honey kisses my nose giggling.
"Ok, then...I guess I'll keep you instead of throwing you back!"
Smart alacky collage girls!
I hope you all have a wonderful week and once again, I thank you!
                                                   Jim

Getting Reviews

Getting Reviews!

You’ve done it! Finished that labor of love that’s taken you months (or years!) of painstaking research and editing. Your novel…it’s complete! You send it out into the world and just KNOW if people would only pick it up, they’d love it as much as you do!

Unfortunately your work has just begun…getting the readers to actually BUY your book is a daunting task! According to Bowkers, the folks that issue ISBN’s, last year three MILLION books were published! That’s a 200% increase over the previous year! Astoundingly, they estimate that THIS year that number could be 15 MILLION!! The mind boggles….

What to do? It means that we have to use EVERY single tool available to us to increase our visibility. Honest reviews are one tool that must be included in each marketing plan. There is no “magic” plan! No one thing works for everyone or with any consistency! TRY EVERYTHING!! Even your failures will net exposure! Here are a few things that I’ve personally had some success with. The only limit is your imagination.

I've spent a LOT of time talking to (in person) the local book chains and small storeowners. Some of these have been fruitful and others are still in progress. I also researched the local newspapers carefully for the editors of the lifestyles sections and crafted emails requesting inclusion in their weekly "book-news" they only included me however, once I started having book-signing dates. I've mailed hard copies to several big reviewers and am hoping to get those within the next few months. I polled my friends that I KNEW where avid readers and gave them a copy with a request for a review. ONE of them so far has read and completed a review! LOL! I do use twitter but rarely do I promote my material (maybe 15%) the folks that constantly bombard with nothing but self-promotion quite frankly BORE ME TO TEARS!

In my opinion, social medial is just that….SOCIAL! It’s for getting to know folks a little at a time. If I wanted to watch commercials, I’d sit in front of the T.V.! Marketing takes time and patience, BOTH of which are in short supply when all you want is for somebody to READ YOUR BOOK!

My advice? DO market and promote but NOT at the exclusion of WRITING! Give yourself a time frame for promotion each week and then get back to work! The reality is simple. Not everyone is going to like your work. That’s OK…because some WILL too! When that wonderful thing happens, guess what? Those folks are going to want your next work and if it’s NOT there…well, goodbye new reader! They’ll move on to the next work that’s available….don’t you?

Another tactic is to place some of your books in chain stores on a commission basis. You’ll be the supplier, which means you purchase copies up front and the store gets a cut to put them on the shelves. As indie authors this may be the only way to get your work in the chains in something other than an eBook format.

The bottom line…short of being obnoxious, promote everywhere and in any way you can imagine! Be dandelion like…spread the fluff EVERYWHERE until something takes root! Above all, be kind! ESPECIALLY to those that aren’t receptive, they may be at a later time or not, but if you show you tail you can BET that word will get around!

Always be the best example and presenter of your craft as possible. In the end, people buy books because they fall in love with YOU! Your voice thru your characters…THAT’S what it’s all about!

                          

The power of positivity

It seems everywhere we look these days the news is bleak. Death, destruction, chaos...followed by heaping doses of denial. Certainly the perpetrators of these horrendous acts are imbalanced but in the aftermath there are always those that want to make excuses or worse, flat out refuse to acknowledge the truth! The media spins each nauseating detail until we're weary of listening...dragging it out (seemingly) until the next tragedy.
The underlying gist's is always what we ALL want to know....WHY? How could such a thing happen? Why would anyone do such a thing? What were they thinking? The answer is simple.
                   "Madness has no reason...but it can have a purpose."
An oversimplification? I suppose. If you're looking to understand the psychology behind such things. I would classify such musings as a S.W.A.G (Scientific Wild Ass Guess) human being are to wildly diverse to neatly pigeonhole into neat little boxes. Generalizations? Sure...Why not? I know there are experts that would vehemently argue this point BUT I think rational folks would agree...nuts is nuts!
Take a thousand people, expose them to the EXACT same stimulus and no two will agree or react exactly the same. It's what makes us unique and as individual as snowflakes!
There seems to me to be a tipping of the scales...more hopelessness...desperation. Has living gotten harder in the past fifty years? I think not. By all measurable standards, our lives are easier than at any time in history. More stressful? Debatable...a lot of our stresses are self inflicted.
                           I NEED this...that...or the other thing....NOW!!! 
I believe, that in part we've become so complacent in the instantaneous nature of modern existence that we ignore or fail to recognize the simple joys all around us. The sun on our face...the laughter of a child...the unquestioning love of a pet. Not enough you say? To simplistic? I would ask you...WHY?
If the simplest things fail to move you, if we only live for the highest of the high then why would we expect our lows to be less devastating when there is no cushion in between! In each of our lives there are a myriad of things we cannot control...what we CAN control is our response AND our attitude! We either take a deep breath and make the best of a situation or we take a deep breath and bemoan our fate. We get one shot folks...make the most of it! Life is change...good...bad...it evolves and ebbs. Let me tell ya a secret....it's ALL wonderful! Even the points that are the most difficult can be used in a positive manner. You may be able to keep another from the same heartache or use the wisdom of your experience to alter your course. The point is...YOU CAN CHOOSE! Attitude...my friends, ATTITUDE!

Senseless....

We're bombarded daily with horrific acts of senseless violence. It would seem there's no shortage of imbalanced people willing to inflict harm on innocent and unsuspecting victims. The media brings us these events in real time and the heartache and agony of those involved is replayed over and over in an unending loop until we become desensitized.
Shock value it's called...
In the age of instantaneous information, we're used to getting everything NOW. It's a double-edged sword...while we see the aftermath of a mad-man's  mayhem, we also witness the courageous acts of everyday folks thrust into impossible scenarios, exemplifying the very best in human behavior.
I sometimes despair at the hopelessness of it all. Asking the unanswerable...why?
There are no satisfactory explanations. Good versus evil? Angles and demons? I dunno...I only know that unless we all slow down and realize that in reality, there are no differences...race, religion, economic class....We ALL want the same things!
A commonality that bridges language and nationality...most folks want a sense of purpose. A feeling that we've make our mark and that we lived for something! We want our children to grow up healthy and without fear. To have the freedoms to pursue our desires and dreams...life offers no guarantees...it's not fair...it's not always just...BUT by striving to be the best each of us can be, we make our world and those we come into contact with a little bit better!
Trusting is hard...more so in these times. I'm more cynical that most...my sweet wife, bless her; has shown me by example that doing little things to help others can make profound differences! Yes, we must be wary and vigilant, but temper that with a willingness to lend a hand. There are a great many kind, good people in this world...they just rarely get equal time in the press. Start today...let your own light shine.

Remembrance

Remembrance

I write this for my fallen friend and comrade now gone ten years this day. I also wanted to take the time to thank those special people I have meet through this site who's humor, wit, and determination continue to daily inspire me. I thank you all for the support and open hearted sharing. Something; that for me, has always been difficult...... I would caution those browsing this that it is primarily written for me and to hopefully acknowledge a very old and personal wound. Boring at best, and not relevant to this site other than as a call to face your pains head on and find a way to put them to rest; or at least to make peace with them.... here goes.

 I will call my lost partner "Buff" in this writing as it was his military acronym. He always said (in public anyway) that it stood for Big, Ugly, Friendly, Fella. Buff was a special operations pilot in the Army's 160th group for over twenty years. His fellow pilots gave him the nickname, (a little imagination will tell you the original  version) as he was also a lifelong martial artist, competitive body builder, and topped out at 6' 2" at around 245 lbs. To expedite this story, I'll skip a lot of details, but I first meet him (to my knowledge at the time) as an introductory student in my dojo. I was the instructor teaching his "Intro" lesson. It became quickly apparent that this was no beginner and after speaking to and working with him, that he was a complete professional and control freak. Because I'm a former soldier, this rang all my personal bells and with a little co-sharing we discovered we had a lot in common. Buff explained that he wanted to start training again and that he also had five children, ranging in ages from 6 to 20. He went on that while he'd like to train as a family, money was tight and could we work something out?

He'd brought the entire gang with him and I'd group trained them after his intro. Lots of raw talent and his wife was a doll. Clearly the mastermind behind the curtain! After prying the details of his M/A experience out of him, (its traditional to start @ white belt when entering a new style or art, something I personally don't agree with) I told him if he'd do some private training with me, we'd start him @ brown belt (one below black) as a junior instructor. When he opened his mouth to protest, I told him we'd not pay for his services and we'd give the family a deal in exchange for his time. (5 for the price of 1 & 1/2) Grinning like a wolf, I told him not to worry, he'd earn it!

Thus began a friendship...one that was soon tested, when shortly after starting; I dislocated his shoulder during a sparring session. Buff was 11 years older than me, (I was in my late twenties then) and with the warrior mindset, sometimes we both went to fast and too hard. An accident, but one that I felt terribly responsible for. He argued all the way to the hospital.....when his wife and kids arrived, I shame- faced; told them what happened...they all hugged me and told me it was alright????!! It was then that I discovered just how deeply devoted to their faith and to each other that they were.

Later, after his surgery, we were talking in his room about guy stuff. Army stuff, in general. I was telling him in broad terms about a mission were some of his crazy comrades swooped in and literally saved my young life and the lives of my teammates...he starts laughing and wincing, (from the shoulder) and repeats a most embarrassing phrase I once uttered on said mission over the common push. (I THOUGHT I was on internal headset only!) We look @ each other and laugh...”YOU!!!" I point and grin. "Are one CRAZY S.O.B.!!"

That sealed our friendship. We became closer than brothers. Over the next few years we built up the school, shared dinners, tragedies, and failures together, and he came to me one weekend with a dream he wanted to enable. He wanted to complete his doctorate, write a book (co-author with me) about a "new" martial arts system (KKR Kenpo) that used the arts as a tool or vehicle to bring people to Christ and to train them to be "better human beings" as he put it.

"Buff" I said. "I believe in the kenpo system we've been working on; but bringing religion into it? I'm not sure that'll work."

"We do it as an outreach. Non-profit and incorporate scripture and life lessons into the training doctrine!"

He's excited and with a master in business, I know he's looked at all the legal angles. Buff's wife home-schools their children and knows a lot of "Encouragement deprived" folks through her associations with that and church, ect.

Buff has also just been promoted to a WO/4 slot. (The highest warrant officer rank at that time) He's the planning and operations warrant for his entire unit. Sigh....I know when I've been out maneuvered. A word here on military professionals. We all have goals and task with which we become focused on. A military person see’s these “tasking” as a mission. When on a mission, EVERYTHING else takes a back-seat .Your family, health and in some cases your very life is secondary to completing the mission. A common radio report and reply would be to update command and close with, “Request permission to Charlie Mike, over.”

Charlie, Mike (Continue/ing mission) in the mil-speak alphabet. To be brief, we spent the next three years of our time, (we both worked full time jobs and ran the school, taught classes, ect) every spare minute working on techniques and starting two outreaches in separate churches. Halfway thru all of this Buff was diagnosed with throat cancer. He attacked this affront to his body with the same laser like intensity with which he did everything, all out. Am I leaving things out of this? Yes. Like a bitter divorce..mine. Like a move of 90 miles away and a new town to begin an outreach in and to put me closer to my “real” job. Like a man and father struggling to complete his dreams and trying (and failing) to make enough time for his family. This and hundreds of road blocks that would take a novel to tell about, tried to stop this mission from happening…..We stayed focused…and it was working.

I became saved during this time frame, mostly due to buff and his family. I’d always believed, just never really understood… (STILL DON’T) Anyway, the little church I started in had a membership of 54 people. Our outreach grew to a total of 87 folks in a year’s time, only ten of which joined the church. More on this later, but some may see were its going. (I didn’t) My honey cleaned the church, taught there, and gave free yoga classes to all who asked on top of working as a police officer full time.

In the meantime, Buff’s health was worsening at an alarming rate. He’d undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Both times the roller-coaster ride of optimism followed by the reality of the cancer coming back somewhere else. Our book was nearing completion, the outreaches were in place and his doctorate was close at hand…. Our training sessions involved black belts from around the country, but the sicker and weaker he got, he only allowed me to train with him. He was afraid in his weakened state someone else might accidently hurt him...his trust in me still chills me to my core.

After one of the finishing sessions was complete and everyone else had departed (even his family had gone home) we sat in seiza (a most uncomfortable formal sitting position, denoting honor, respect, ect) facing each other. I could see his exhaustion and was trying to hurry our training review to get him home. He says,

     “You’ve been pissed off and distant all day. What’s going on with you?”

His questions annoy me even more because I thought I was hiding my emotions pretty well. Shaking my head, I reply,

     “Nothing. It’s just been a long day. You about ready?”

He gives me what I call his “paternal scowl.”

     “Bull***. I’m gonna sit right here until you cough it up.” He crosses his arms across his chest to wait.

After trying to wait him out a few minutes, my anger and annoyance get the better of me.

     “You really want to know!” I growl at him. He nods and I continue, “All this work!” I spit vehemently, opening my arms in a wide circle. “We’re working our asses off, and YOU!” I jab a finger at him “Are F***ing dying! Twenty years of service! All this good work, for WHAT!” I’m nearly yelling now. “Is THIS Gods master F***ing PLAN!”

I don’t even see it coming. One minute I’m cursing his fate and the utter futility of it and the next my eyes are watering and my head snaps back as his massive hammer fist hits me right between the eyes. My hands come up reflexively and I start to rise when his meat pickers reach out to hold me in place by the shoulders and I look into his eyes. We’re nose to nose and he says in a fierce whisper,

     “Jim, you’ve been an operator your whole adult life, not a policy maker. Just what in the hell do you think has changed?!”

I’m too stunned to reply at first. I know exactly what he means; I just don’t want to accept it… In the dimly lit training hall, hot tears of frustration, sorrow and rage course down my cheeks.

We’re both “fixer’s” we take charge and by force of will and relentlessly hammering away at problems, either solve them or make them irrelevant. Neither of us can fix this…Dammit all to hell….It is sometimes said real men don’t cry…let me tell you, warriors do…privately yes, but they do….Time passes and I regain my composer, sucking in a large lungful of air and gritting my teeth. I can hear Buff doing the same, and in a gravel filled voice I say,

      “My damn nose hurts.”

     His reply is simple. “Cry-baby.” I can’t help but grin…looking up and meeting his gaze I tell him,

       “You’re an ***.” My legs and feet have gone numb from being in the uncomfortable kneeling position so long. I don’t let on as I struggle to my feet and feel the hot, tingling daggers pin*** my entire lower body. Looking down At Buff, I can tell he’s in the same condition. Grimacing, he says,

     “You’re gonna have to help me up, my legs are asleep.” As he reaches up to take my outstretched hand, I tell him,

     “You big sissy! Serves you right sucker punching me!” As he comes to his feet I can tell he’s in far more pain than the legs account for. He pales a bit and I reach to steady him. He accepts my help; as he will come to do often in the coming months.

     “This sucks.” He says quietly. Looking in my eyes and giving me an awkward quick hug, he slaps my back and stands back continuing, “I’m glad you’re with me.”

      “All the way.” I tell him hoarsely.

     Over the next few months, Buff finishes his doctorate and we copy- write and publish our first tiny run of books. (100 copies) The outreaches grow exactly as he predicts, but his health deteriorates quickly. The cancer has spread beyond the ability of healing and he is now on constant pain medication. He can no longer teach his classes, (We get a senior student to do so.) and in his pain and frustration, he becomes short tempered and depressed.

He is frantic to complete the “mission” and we scramble to get organized. I ask him often during our talks if he’s taking time to talk to his children and wife, and he assures me he’s handling it. I only find out much later that “handling it” meant his life insurance policies and all the million other mundane details of his impending death were attended too. Like me, (most men) he found it nearly impossible to express what he really wanted to for those closest to him.

None of us are saints…we all strive to do our best…rarely is our best good enough for everyone……faster than I would have imagined; he is unable to work and is bed-ridden. His unit promotes him to W5, (a newly adjusted rank) and gets him retired with full benefits. His pain has become so great that hospice is called in and the medications keep him unconscious most of the time…. Ten days before his death, we have our last coherent conversation together…he is racked with pain and dripping sweat…struggling to hide it and focus at the same time… his voice is a raspy growl being held in check by sheer will from becoming a scream of agony…

     “Sorry I haven’t been seeing you.” He tells me.

     “Not a problem. Hey, we sold out our first run.” I see just a wisp of a smile ghost across his features.

     “Can I get you anything?” As usual, his wife is nearby and we both know I simply don’t know what else to say. He shakes his head slightly.

     “I just wanted to thank you for always being there.” He lifts his hand from his chest and I reach out and clasp it. His eyes go to his wife.

     “I know my family appreciates it too.” His wife is stroking his head and trying very hard to stay composed.

     “Never a problem.” I squeeze his hand. I can see the pain in his eyes. It’s stretching his face tight with the effort it takes to suppress it.

      “I can’t do this long…we did it right, didn’t we?” He asks. My tears stream down my face, but I manage to keep my voice nearly steady.

     “YOU did it right Buff.” The hand I’m holding is quivering like a high voltage wire. He looks at his wife and ask,

      “Can I rest now?”

 She kisses his forehead and looks at the hospice nurse, who injects the medication to allow him to sleep. In a few moments his breathing shallows out and he’s as comfortable as is possible. I release his limp hand and quietly leave the room. I really didn’t think at the time that, that would be our last time together. His wife comes out a few minutes later and strong as she is, she cry’s and I hold her until the sobs taper off. After all the years in her home, we’ve become (and still are) friends. She thanks me and I go back out into the world as it continues to turn, oblivious to the heartache unfolding inside.

On my drive home I am struck with the realization that while I have a great many acquaintances, Buff is one of three real close friends that I have. The other two are (at that time) still actively military and I see them rarely. Scant days later, on my way to work; I get the call that he’s nearly gone and time is very short. I immediately head that direction, knowing in my heart, I won’t make it. I arrive 15 minutes after he’s passed and the hospice team is just finishing loading the bed and preparing to leave. His wife and children are tearfully gathered at the front door.

I’ve lost comrades before. I’ve seen more bodies than I wish to remember, but the site of his sheet covered form chills me deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced. I stop briefly by his side and offer a kenpo salute and bow my head, lightly touching his shoulder; before turning to face his family. We huddle together as people the world over do at times of loss…..

I give his eulogy to an over-flowing ceremony. All of my out-reach families make the 85 + mile trip even though most have never meet him. Our kids program had made him a video and demonstrated in front of the packed church several weeks before. I am moved to see many of these solemn young people comforting their peers and the adults in attendance. His graveside service is of course military in style, befitting his lifelong commitment. I shed no tears that day..Instead I feel hollow and tired….

I return home at the end of a long day and am shocked and honored to have many of the outreach folks bring food and personal condolences to my door. This is on a Tuesday. The training schedule for classes is Tuesday, Thursday, (evenings) and Saturday mornings, held in the churches “recreational building.”  Arriving there as usual 30 minutes prior to class time, I am met by one of the senior board members to inform me that our program has been cancelled and they will only allow us to finish the week out.

 When I ask why, I am told “It isn’t generating the new membership we’d hoped for.”

I’m beyond enraged…. It takes all my control to nod and walk away, looking for the pastor. Honey is angry and teary eyed…she is the “rock of faith” in our household. I find the man in his office, looking sad and waving me in, he shrugs and tells me he’s sorry, the board over-ruled him and he knows the timing is terrible….. I’m stunned...

”This is about membership for the church?” I demand angrily. He blushes and continues,

‘That…and some of the senior members think it’s unchristian to teach people how to hurt others. I don’t agree, and I’ll tell you because I know it will come out, that some also think that yoga and martial arts meditation is a “cult” teaching.”

I freely admit that “military me” came to the forefront,

     “You gotta be F***ing kidding me! None of those people have EVER come to our classes or events and they were ALWAYS invited! Several HAVE come to yoga and praised my wife for their increased mobility and strength, but NOW it’s a damn CULT!” I jab my finger at him and point,

     “You or those board members are going to explain to those children exactly WHY they don’t have a place to train anymore!”

 To his credit, he sighs deeply and replies,

     “That sad task has already been given to me. I will tell the parents and field the questions. Again, I’m very sorry.”

And so over the protest and testimonies of all the outreach families, the program was ended. I tried and failed to find another facility to keep it rolling… Honey was my rock during this trial, she was deeply hurt; but her faith remained intact. Mine didn’t.

I heard sometime later that the pastor resigned and moved to another church. It didn’t do much to comfort me. Honey has tried several other churches over the last few years..small, large, mega and tiny, it doesn’t seem to matter, the leadership seems more concerned with money and membership than anything else. No, I never approached any of them for another outreach…Buff’s outreach suffered the same fate a few months after his passing. Not because the church (his family attended there) shut it down, but just because the instructional staff were re-deployed.

Honey now studies @ home or with a group outside of “organized religion.” She (to me) embodies what a “Christian” person should be.  With her horrid childhood, she “knows” there’s a God. Oddly enough, Buff’s wife is now a pastor and working toward her doctorate. They both are still working on me….If there is (A God), I’m still mightily pissed at him….

I know and have experience true evil and goodness in the world…can I say there are opposing outside forces? No. ALL of BOTH characteristics are perpetrated by men, no demons, no angles……I have my Yin, my balance and soul- mate. I still teach, though not on as large a scale…so I often ponder (as many folks I think do) what’s the point of it all? Where indeed is the master plan?

Have I learned anything by rehashing what I consider to be one of my greatest accomplishments and failures? I dunno…. Do I believe life is meant to be lived to the fullest? YES. For each of us, this day could be our last…love fully, embrace and realize your “closet dreams.” I do believe if you never try because you’re afraid of falling down, then you set limits for yourself and your happiness.

Are there bigger tragedies in the world? Of course..Japan, Haiti, Somalia, just watch the news…locally and internationally; people are suffering and experiencing tremendous trials. Do these things change the scale or scope of our own personal baggage? Not one bit. The press rarely gives the good news as much air time, but it’s there too..every day..if you look.

For me, the greatest challenge is to forgive when I feel I’ve been done wrong. The outreach program ending the way it did soured my children on religion; period. They are now adults, and absolutely refuse to step foot in a church. I am, for the most part; a very closed person..I rarely share personal pain with anyone…even honey. I guess the point of all this is that we all have things and events in our lives that we carry with us and that we harbor from the world for various reasons. I’m not advocating we all hold hands and sing “Coome-by-yaw” (ICK!) only that we use our varied life experience to help each other on the journey. No matter who you are, or what you do, each of us has valuable knowledge to share, along with perspectives those closest to you might not have.

Face your demons…agree to disagree, without it dissolving into a personal peeing contest. Will you like everyone? Hell no. Is religion the answer? For some, just not me at the moment. Be afraid only of hiding from yourself…I truly believe each of us CAN BE a beacon to others if we’re willing to reach out and accept the risk of being hurt.

As for me, I’m going to make an effort to be more open and to unveil my own light a bit more…do I like it? Hell no.(Honey grins and smacks my head.)

 Buff, I miss you brother...I’m Charlie Mike’n…