The Strong Ones

Some people strengthen society just by being the kind of people they are.

John Gardner
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Hello Jen
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Doing the right thing by someone they've badly hurt is beyond the ability of drug users..

To man up or woman up to take joyous responsibility for the society they live in is beyond the ability of the sluggards of the world.

To provide genuine welfare for the society they live in is impossible for the sub-human parasites of life.

To feed the hungry, heal the sick and help the poor is out of bounds for the stupid.

To face the challenge of doing an honest day's work is anathema to the crooked.

And to rely on the gratification of the senses to solve the difficult problems of living is prurient, self righteous suicide.

In a flippant mood I've said that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who leave a mess and those who clean it up. Maybe, since I just had another birthday, I am finally becoming an old curmudgeon. I don't think so though. I'm not running out of compassion, I'm just running out of patience. The worst and most difficult kind of mess to clean up is one who has made a mess out of their lives. If someone wants to really be a member of the low life, antisocial, human trash, let them. And if someone really wants to ally themselves with those weaklings, let them. Who am I to try to take a mop to those unfortunate souls?

I want to continue to be the kind of man who can strengthen society in whatever way I can, which in these days is fairly limited to Vagabond Journeys. And I want to continue to admire and support others who are doing the same strengthening.

I have no patience with the selfish, self serving, self gratifying, self indulgent wastes who seem to people the planet. If someone wants to grow up to be a perpetual adolescent, with no purpose except self destructive behavior and no strength of character what can one person do except to keep pointing out the way and preaching the sermon to those who aren't listening One can always hope that an awaking will come. But for some hopeless people the awakening comes too late in life. Then there is desperation, a fear so deep and suffocating it kills.

Fortunately for us who live there are people who keep civilization from toppling just by nature of who they are. I wish to know only those people and to be one of them in my humble way.

DB - Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
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Alpha - Omega

I feel like my life is coming to an end, and so it is I guess. It began with a trip from New York after I had just cleaned out my room in the Henry Hudson Hotel on 57th Street. I had lived there for 20 years, including some romances and many visits to theatres around the country. I headed for Bristol PA for no other reason than the playhouse here where I had performed off and on for 14 years.

I moved into this house 2 days before the World Trade Center came down. That was 11 and a half years ago and now that life is ending. But this time. Instead of going toward something I'm going away from something, namely the chamber of horrors this house has become. It is very sad. What had once been my small aerie attic hideout by the river has become a way station for human trash.

And yet this isn't the end of my life, it only feels that way tonight, and probably tomorrow night. My intelligence, my sense of adventure and my love were invested here, one by one. They have all been violated.

I have a new rock to shade me from the scorching sun, a new hideout from the trash, a new set of adventures, a new life.

Bring a bedroll, a bottle, some good conversation and come visit me.

I still am
DB - The Vagabond
Never, never give up.
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