The Final Chapter

 

My wife got me a book for Christmas.  It's the book that inspired the movie I have already seen and loved. And, I love the book. 

There is one section of the book though, where I felt the writer went off the tracks just a bit. Have you ever listened to a song that went on one too many lyrical clusters?  A movie that had a scene or two that was unnecessary?  A book that veered off path for too long? 

What's too long?  When do you come up with the final note, chapter, or verse? 

Writing anything is subjective to the author so there's no right answer. But, there's a feel.  Hemmingway once said "If I started to write elaboratively...I found I could cut that scrollwork or ornament out and throw it away." 

Far from it for me to judge someone else's pacing, flow, or rhythm...or when they direct us to the final chapter. I only go here for my own growth. 

Thought it was interesting. 

Is a Scoreboard Black & White?

Does the scoreboard tell the whole story? 

Absolutely not (Disclaimer; we aren't talking about the t-ball mentality where everyone gets a medal.  At the end of the day, wins count). 

In sports, business, or life, losing is inherent to winning.  You have to fall short so you aim higher.  The step backward is critical to the two steps forward.  

You have to dig deeper into what the scoreboard tells you. Did you learn something?  Did you make mistakes that led to the loss?  Did you grow? 

Can you make a case for moral victories?  When you are looking at the microscope, absolutely.  The telescope is a much different view. Many moral victories eventually lead to a scoreboard win.  

What you can't do is accept the losses without growth.  What you can't do is continue to do the same things without changing (Einstein said something about this). What you can't do is become complacent with the L.  You have to turn these losses into building blocks to become better.  

When the clock strikes zero, there is a winner or loser.  The scoreboard is the headline.  The byline though decides what happens next. 

Fireside Randomness

As the clock ticks down on 2024, it's time to drink deep from the randomness bottle and spew some musings and thoughts. 

No matter the time of day, or season, a wood burning fire is a true delight. 

Going to therapy or counseling is a good thing only when you truly give them permission to call you on your bullshit. 

Red sauce is so much better than white sauce. 

12 personnel is so much damn fun when you have the players. 

Reading actual paper books is therapy on its own.

"Sideways" and  "Swingers" are the consummate dude friend flicks.  

Day drinking and afternoon delights are healthy choices when used in moderation. 

If you truly live your life like Kerouac, Hemmingway, Shackleton, and Buffett did, you'd be the best version of yourself. 

There is nothing sexier than a tall beautiful blonde in tall boots. 

You should hate to lose more than you love to win. 

Dive bar bartenders are the best people to take advice from (and cheaper than doctors or lawyers). 

You are never too busy to take in a sunset or sunrise, go for a walk, talk with an old friend, read a book, sit quietly, write, appreciate art, listen to music, dance for no reason, or take a 20 minute nap. 

I challenge you to find a better all purpose word that carries such a diversity of emotions than "fuck." 

Dave Brubeck is still the definition of "cool." 

Don't confuse goals with dreams.  And, don't stop working on both. 

And...once you find your "happy place," go back to it, often. 

The Waiting Game

 

An uncomfortable quietness mixed with a feeling of helplessness. Uneasy anticipation. Impatiently waiting for the news.  

The hospital waiting room. 

Unlike in days of yore, when expectant fathers waited in the waiting room, today's waiting room is usually filled with a thick haze of despair.  

Hoping to hear that "everything went well" or "she is going to be okay." 

The minutes go by and it feels like a lifetime. 

You wonder what others are there for.  What are their stories? 

You could stretch your legs and get coffee to pass the time. Maybe, you read. Maybe, you watch TV mindlessly while you wait for the doors to open and call your name.  Whatever you can do to keep your mind going where you don't want it to go. 

Tom Petty said it best. "The waiting is the hardest part."  You are in limbo as your and your loved one's fates are in someone else's hands but the next time you find yourself in the waiting room, be kind to yourself, hold onto hope, and give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling.  It's Ok to be frightened of the "what if" and be excited about the "what could be." 

"The doctor will see you now."

Let's Get Physical

 

Before we discuss my latest physical, I need to give a prologue about Olivia Newton-John. 

It was a dream. Probably nine...maybe ten years old.  I still remember it like it was yesterday. 

Apparently, in my dream, Olivia was not only good friends with my sister but also an ex-girlfriend of mine (yes, the sleepover my sister had was awkward).  She drove me to my grade school (on a motorcycle of course) as we said our last goodbyes. She dropped me off, we hugged and kissed each other goodbye and that was it.  My first love...over, and there was no Danny Zuko comeback.  I was hopelessly devoted to her. 

Now, onto the real meat of tonight's diatribe.  My annual physical. I started seeing my new Doc last year when I moved and it was really just about who was seeing new patients.  Last year, high cholesterol.  Low blood pressure, triglycerides, and weight.  This year, low cholesterol and blood pressure and higher triglycerides and weight.  It's always something when you're getting older (I still can't figure out how I got this old).  The good news is that there is no bad news about the prostate, liver, or kidneys. 

A check-up is important. Both physically and mentally.  Your body and mind work together to get through this thing called life. Your soul then, follows. Take care of yourself.  Cleanse the brain and the bod every once in a while. 

Cheat sometimes, but don't cheat yourself.  Treat yourself, but not always with treats.  Care and be cared. Moderate and indulge. Live the teeter-totter to the fullest. 

Here's the thing...I've known way too many people who have died young (yes, anything under 70 is young).  I don't want to lose another. 

Time for some Xanadu. 

Pain

 Traveling for work and decided to catch a movie.  A Real Pain. 

Afterward, my wife asked me if it was good. 

It was.  I also said it was interesting.  She thought that might be akin to saying a blind date you met "had a good personality."  But that wasn't the case.  It truly was both.  

There was sadness mixed with joy.  Playfulness muddled with dread.  Innocence blended with scars. 

I tried to find the meaning and I came away with the feeling that through pain, we feel.  Through pain, we endure.  Through pain, we connect.  Real pain makes you feel alive. 

Recently, I was feeling pain.  It was because a series of seemingly unrelated circumstances that were all thrown into the pot and simmered until it reached a boil.  After some tears, honest talks, and  reconnections, I felt the healing salve. 

Ironically, in an empty theater, I felt connected.  Calm and at peace.  Maybe it was the pain before.  Maybe it was the cocktail before.  Maybe it was the story I was watching.  Maybe...it's just a part of healing. 

Maybe...

I Vote For...

 

We just experienced one of the more controversial elections in our history. I tip my hat to those who voted and had their voice heard. Whether you are blue or red, we move on and turn another chapter. 

Every day, we make a choice.  Every day, we vote. 

I vote for capturing every sunrise and sunset.

I vote for lazy Sunday mornings with breakfast in bed. 

I vote for hugs, kisses, and laughter. 

I vote for warm fires and blankets on cold, winter nights. 

I vote to stay naked after sex. 

I vote to love our children. 

I vote to walk away from people who drain you. 

I vote to travel. 

I vote to dance.  Where ever and whenever. 

I vote to read. 

I vote for being kind. 

I vote for the little things in life. 

I vote to always try and live my life to the fullest. 

I vote for the sport of football. 

We do our duty every four years to elect our leader, and, sometimes it doesn't work out the way we want...but we still vote. 

Just like life.  We don't always succeed, but we still need to choose. We still need to vote. 

Always...until the polls close.