I think it is a miracle that I laugh every day and walk through my life with pride.
Camryn Manheim
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It is indeed a miracle that I can laugh. I carry sorrows with me every day. The recent loss of my only brother and sister, leaving me the only remaining member of my immediate family. The loss of beloved pets. A career cut off too soon by sickness. Living in a strange place with no friends. In serious debt. Partially crippled. What have I got to laugh about? And yet I laugh.
Indeed it is a miracle that I can walk with pride. I can think of all the rotten things I've done, the people I have betrayed, the good things I didn't do, the selfishness, the laziness, the failures, the scorn and ridicule I've given out toward those who didn't deserve it. What have I got to be proud of? And yet I walk with pride.
I was hobbling down the street today with my cane and thinking that I am never going to make it through another winter here. But I have to, because I won't be out of debt until next year. So I will. And I will laugh at myself.
I spent the week wrestling with Facebook, and it turns out to be a lemon. Like bringing home a TV that won't work. I didn't grow up in one place so I have no childhood buddies to find. I have no old friends except the ones I'm still in touch with. I hoped it would help me find my only child, but it failed to do that. I hoped it would get me readers who shared similar interests, ideas and issues, to open a discussion with them, but every time I post something it disappears only to show up on my own page, so I can read it. Oh good!
I hear the various pontiffs of America sounding off with remarks that make no sense at all. There are a lot of opinions but no one seems to have the facts. The news network the advertises just the facts has fewer facts and more opinions than the others. The others ask silly questions like "What went through your mind..."(when your parachute didn't open, when you found the gold bricks in your basement, when you were crossing the finish line)? Why not ask "What went in one ear and out the other?"
Has the world gone crazy, or has it always been crazy and I am just realizing it more? Why are we returning to racism, sexism and exclusivity. Why do people want to throw more rocks into hornets nests? Why are pornography and illegal drugs the most lucrative enterprises in the country? Why are more and more of our trusted elected officials being found in bed with the wrong girls or boys?
In the 1960's we had a revolution of gentle people. In spite of the fire hoses and tear gas and a few other heinous acts of subhuman atrocity, we remained gentle. And we pointed out what was wrong with the country and what was right about it. We did it with reason and persistence. It is the gentleness that ends wars and prevents them. And we changed things. That was 50 years ago. A half a century. Now why are people trying to turn back the improvements made. Where are the gentle revolutionaries of today. The rock and rap singers? Hardly. The Tea Party? That's a joke. The DNC? Another joke. The Wall Street Yuppies who let their kids throw food on the restaurant floor and ram into people on the sidewalk with their tricycles? The future road ragers? Is it the entitlement to be obnoxious and antagonistic to anyone else's welfare, to kidnap children, to hack into your computer, to produce unhealthy products and then recall them when someone finds out, to plunder the poor and middle class through excessive interest charges, to create violence in sports, to disrupt air travel, to start wars, to lie, to hate, to put the reasoning mind to sleep?
I'm only 71 years old. I will walk through the garbage strewn alley and hold my head up anyway. And no matter what trash life throws at me I will laugh.
Maybe I should post this on Facebook. I might get a response. Nah.
DB
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6 comments:
Hello DB. It is indeed very sad contemplating what went wrong with our society, in our community, in our country and in the world at large.
Sometimes I ponder and wonder why 50 years ago was so much better and I can recall the abundance in those days until 1960's arrived with lots of gloom to follow.
I share your sentiments. It's great to hear your humbling tone realising the unpleasant history. I guess life is life and they meant to happen the way they did.
Lastly, please do accept my sincere sympathy for the loss of your only brother.
Yes, even in the midst of the doom, there is always a reason to laugh.
Laughter is the best medicine. I remain your friend even in spirit.
Take care.
Hi DB, I hope you continue to hold your head up, my friend. You deserve to!
When you post on facebook, it does go to your page, but it also goes to all of your friends pages as well, so they are seeing it, if they are looking past their own profile. Click on "home" and you can see a compilation of all the postings of your friends. I get them in emails, too. So, many are reading in emails and not commenting.
My hope is that you can communicate with your son someday. It is in my prayers.
Hugs, DB... Val xox
Keep laughing DB, will get you thru anything. You've been thru some tough times,just seems part of life for all of us, but it will get better dear, just hang in there. Life was indeed better years ago....what I see going on daily, just makes me want to shake everyone and say wake-up before it's too late.
I don't remember
you saying that
you had a child
I might've missed it
I haven't read
all of your entries
Pride is the element that keeps our chin elevated and our sight towards the horizon. Without Pride, all you will see is the dirt road.
Having your head raised, you will see the sun, not its shadows,you will find a direction and not walk aimlessly.
When your head is raised, you can look back, see the good, see the bad, and then face forward with a better knowledge of what you are walking into.
Most importantly, when your head is raised you can look around and see....you are not alone!
Peace & Blessings...Marc :)
Fortunately, pride comes from within and we all can have it if we desire. Glad you still walk with your head up.
Ditto on the comment about you having a child. Don't stop looking.
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