OLD HAUNTS (PART EIGHT)

I RETURNED TO MY HOME ON ROSEMARY AFTER MY TRIP TO MARK KEPPEL SCHOOL.  I FELT REGENERATED, IN FACT, I BECAME AWARE THAT THERE WERE OTHER GROWING PASSIONS ABOUT RETURNS, THAT WERE RUNNING STRONG COMPETITION WITH WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR.  PERHAPS, THIS WAS GOD'S PLAN.  I FIND MYSELF ROBBING MYSELF OF SLEEP DUE TO A RACING MIND.  I HAD A PLAN, MY PARENTS WENT TO A NUMBER OF CHURCHES, AND I BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH A NUMBER OF MY PARENT'S FRIENDS AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN.  BUT, THE EMERGING MOUNT EVEREST IN MY THOUGHTS WAS OF ONE BONNIE WILLIAMS.   WE MOVED TO A SECTION OF GLENDALE KNOWN AS SPARR HEIGHTS.  WE LIVED AT 3509 ROSEMARY...THE STREET WHERE I NOW LIVE..FOR AWHILE!   I WENT TO A CLARK JR HIGH WHICH WAS ABOUT FOUR MILES UP THE HILL.  I WAS IN A TRANSITION PERIOD FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESENCE.  I WAS NOT TAUGHT ABOUT PUBERTY AS KIDS ARE NOW. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT.  I DID NOTICE SOME STRANGE CURLY HAIRS GROWING DOWN THERE,  I WONDERED IF I HAD CANCER.  I TOLD MY MOM ABOUT IT AND SHE TOLD ME TO TELL MY FATHER.  MY WORD, HE HAD ADVANCED CANCER..HE HAD A FOREST DOWN THERE.  THERE WAS A GIRL AT CLARK WHO MESMORIZED ME...SHE WAS TOO CUTE TO BE LEGAL.   HER NAME WAS BONNIE WILLIAMS AND I FOUND OUT WHERE SHE LIVED.  ONE NIGHT, I HAD ALREADY GONE TO BED, BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT BONNIE....I DRESSED AND PEDALED MY BIKE UP TO HER HOUSE...I JUST WANTED TO BE NEAR HER, BUT NOT CLOSE, I STOPPED AND JUST SAT ON MY BIKE AWAYS FROM HER HOUSE...AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, SHE WAS OUT ON THE SIDEWALK AND SAW ME..."BOB"...SHE CAME RUNNING. I WAS SO EMBARRASSED AT BEING CAUGHT....SHOWING ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF CANCER, THAT I MANUFACTURED A DEFENSE MECHANISM....I SAID  "I BET YOU THINK I CAME UP HERE TO SEE YOU."  SHE HUNG HER HEAD AND WALKED AWAY..CRUSHED.   I NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.  I ASKED MISS HALL, THE V.P. OF CLARK WHAT HAPPENED TO BONNIE WILLIAMS.....SHE RAISED HER EYEBROWS AND SIMPLY SAID  "YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO"   I RECALL JIMMY DURANTE AND HIS TROUPE STOPPED IN CALABASH, N.C.   THEY ATE AT A RESTAURANT AND WERE WAITED ON BY A WAITRESS WHO SO IMPACTED MR. DURANTE....THAT HE CLOSED HIS PROGRAM BY SAYING:  :GOOD NIGHT, MISS CALABASH, WHEREVER YOU ARE"  FEW KNOW THIS STORY,   SO...GOOD NIGHT BONNIE WILLIAMS WHEREVER YOU ARE....YES, I CAME UP TO SEE YOU.  TOMORROW, I AM GOING TO MONTROSE BAPTIST CHURCH TO SEE .....OTHERS....MY FOLKS WENT (GO) THERE....(TO BE CONTINUED)

OLD HAUNTS (PART SEVEN)

I DROVE AROUND MOST OF THAT SATURDAY.  SEEING MY FATHER MOWING THE LAWN AND THE FLOOD OF MEMORIES OVERWHELMED ME.  I WAS BEGINNING TO DOUBT WHETHER I COULD EVEN MEET THEM WITHOUT BREAKING DOWN.I REPEAT, TIME TRAVEL IS EXTREMELY FRAUGHT WITH MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES.  THERE WERE NO LIMITS AS TO WHO I COULD CONTACT AS LONG AS I DID NOT REVEAL WHO I REALLY WAS.  I MADE A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE AND PLACES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS THEY WERE BACK THEN, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE MY RIGHT NOW.  AS I MENTIONED, MARK KEPPEL GRADE SCHOOL HAD A TON OF EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.  YOU MIGHT REFRESH YOUR SELF WITH THAT BY READING THE POST THAT TELLS ABOUT THAT.  SATURDAY... IT WAS..BRIGHT AND CLEAR..SPARKLING, IN FACT.  I DEDICED TO GET THE MARK KEPPEL THING OVER WITH.  THERE IT WAS...THAT OLD RED BRICK BUILDING....TWO STORY WITH SPANISH TILE ROOF. I PARKED ON VIRGINIA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BLDG...THERE WAS THE LONG CHAIN LINK FENCE RUNNING DOWN THE WEST SIDE OF THE PLAYGOUND WHICH WAS THE BETTER PART OF HALF A CITY BLOCK...TOLL JR HIGH NEXT DOOR TOOK UP THE OTHER HALF.  THERE WERE THE SEVERAL WOOD BUNGALOWS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN LATER TO ACCOMODATE A GROWING NUMBER OF KIDS.  I WALKED AROUND THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND JUST "CASED THE JOINT" I WANTED TO LOOK INSIDE FRONT DOORS, BUT WONDERED IF I WOULD BE SPOTTED.  SPOTTED? THIS WAS 1952.  I WALKED UP THE WIDE ENTANCE WALK AND PASSED THROUGH THE DOUBLE ARCHED ENTRANCE.  THE ARCHES WERE A PART OF THE FACADE AND SUPPORTED IN THE MIDDLE BY A STONE COLUMN.  I PRESSED MY NOSE AGAINST THE GLASS AND IT ALL LOOKED SO HAUNTINGLY FAMILIAR.  THE OFFICE TO THE RIGHT....AND THE INTERIOR WALL BEYOND THE EAST WEST HALL.  I SAW THE DOORS TO THE CLASS ROOMS. I WALKED FURTHER EAST TO THE BORDER BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND THEN WALKED SOUTH TO THE FENCE.  THERE WAS THE LITTLE FENCED IN PLAY GROUND FOR THE KINDERGARDEN KIDS.  THERE WAS NO WAY TO THE INSIDE AS ALL GATES WERE CHAINED.  I HAD TO TAKE A CHANCE.  I SCALED THE FENCE AND WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL.  SO QUIET.  I TRIED  THE DOORS INTO SCHOOL FROM THE BACK..ALL LOCKED.  I TOOK A DRINK FROM THE OLD DRINKING FOUNTAIN THAT I REMEMERED SO WELL.  STILL THE SAME WATER...SAFE, BUT REMINDED THE DRINKER THAT THE WATER HAD COME THROUGH MILES OF OLD PIPE!  I SENSED A GROWING SPIRIT OF HAVING TO GET INSIDE.  I JUST HAD TO.  NONE OF MY INSTRUCTIONS FORBADE ME FROM BREAKING INTO A SCHOOL!!    I TRIED A SMALL WINDOW ON THE EAST END AND PUSHED UP....IT WENT UP.  I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY FORTUNE.  I LOOKED AROUND AND THEN SHIMMIED MY WAY IN.  I WAS IN THE KINDERGARTEN RESTROOM.  FROM THEN ON, IT WAS EASY GOING.  I WENT INTO THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS ROOM.....MRS PLATE AND MRS DIVEN....OH, HOW I WOULD LOVE TO MEET THEM.  OLDER LADIES AND SO VERY KIND,  THERE WERE THE BIG PAINT EASELS AND THE BIG JARS OF PAINT...LOTS OF VERY LITTLE CHAIRS IN A CIRCLE....WHEN I THINK OF THAT ROOM AGO, I THINK OF OIL CLOTH, BIG WOODEN BLOCKS, AND THOSE PAINT POTS .  I SAT  DOWN IN ONE OF THE LITTLE CHAIRS AND REMEMBERED LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.  THE WAR WAS STILL ON AS IT WAS 1944.  WE KNEW SOMETHING REALLY HORRIBLE WAS GOING ON SOME WHERE.  THE SKY WAS ALIVE WITH FORMATIONS OF FIGHTER PLANES AND BOMBERS BEING FERRIED FROM LOCKHEED AND OTHER AIR CONCERNS.  THERE WAS CAMAFLAUGE NETTING OVER SAN FERNANDO ROAD.  THE SOUND OF ENGINES BEING RUN ON TEST BLOCKS AT GRAND CENTRAL...NIGHT AND DAY.  FAMILIES GATHERED AROUND THE RADIO AT NIGHT TO HEAR THE LASTEST REPORTS ABOUT OUR BOYS....I REMEMBERED THE LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD TAKEN A SPILL ON THE PLAYGROUND, AND RAN TO HER TEACHER, CRYING. WHEN WE CAME IN FROM OUR RECESS, SHE WAS STILL CRYING..BEING BOUNCED ON THE KNEE OF MRS PLATE.  WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM?  I WALKED AROUND THE INSIDE AND REMEMBERED.  IT WAS ABOUT HERE, I THOUGHT, THAT I GAVE JEANETTE A NOTE THAT TOLD HER I LOVED HER TOO.  IT WAS ABOUT HERE THAT MRS WHITE CAME OUT TO MEET ME FOR SOME REASON, I THINK I HAD BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO SICKNESS, AND I HAD MY WORK TO DO AT HOME.  I HAD PASTED THE STRIPES ON OUR FLAG ON THE PAGE BACKWARDS, AND SHE CUT OUT A NEW FLAG FOR ME TO PASTE ON RIGHT..IT WAS A VERY MAGICAL DAY, AND THE BEST THING WAS, I WAS MORE PREPARED TO MEET MY FATHER, MY MOTHER, AND ME...(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIRST DAYS PART SIX

THE WIND LASTED ALL NIGHT...SUBSIDING FOR A MINUTE,AND THEN COMING ON STRONG FOR A FEW MINUTES.  IN THE MORNING, THE WIND WAS JUST AN OCASSIONAL BREEZE, AND THE AIR WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR.....I NEEDED TO GO TO THE BANK IN MONTROSE AND GET SOME CASH.  I OPENED THE CHECKBOOK AND FOUND THE BALANCE WAS TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.  I ALSO FOUND MY NEW NAME SELECTED FOR  ME...ROBERT E. KEY.  I ALSO FOUND MY CALIFORNIA DRIVERS LICENSE.  HOW MY ANGEL DID THAT, ONLY HE KNOWS.  IN  THE GARAGE WAS A 1951 HUDSON....BLACK AND STICK SHIFT. THE KEY WAS IN IGNITION AND I DROVE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO GO TO BANK.  I WITHDREW FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  IT WAS A SATURDAY AND THAT MEANT I WOULD GET TO SEE THE FISHBACKS AT 3509 OUT AND AROUND.  WHILE IN MONTROSE, I BOUGHT A PAIR OF BINOCULARS AT THE ARMY AND NAVY.  I FOUND AN EXCUSE TO GO GET A HAIRCUT AT STAN'S BARBER SHOP WHERE I HAD WORKED AS A SHOE SHINE BOY. STANLEY WIEMAN.....HE LIKED ME AND HIRED ME EVEN THOUGH HE MUST HAVE HAD DOUBTS.  I HAD TRIED TO PLEASE HIM AND ONE DAY A MAN WAS GETTING A HAIRCUT AND HE WAS SMOKING A CIGAR AS HIS HAIR WAS BEING CUT.  HE ASKED ME TO SHINE HIS SHOES.  IN THE PROCESS, I NOTICED CLOUDS OF CIGAR SMOKE DRIFTING AROUND STAN'S HEAD, AND WANTING TO LET STAN KNOW I SYMPATHIZED WITH HIM, I STOOD UP AND WALKED AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE CHAIR, POINTED AT THE CUSTOMER, AND WAVED MY HAND AS IF FANNING THE AIR.   SORT OF A "PHEW" EXPRESSION.  I THEN NOTICED THE SMOKER WAS TAKING ALL OF THIS IN FROM THE MIRROR ON THE WALL ACROSS FROM HIM.  STAN CUT MY HAIR AND I HAD TO BIGHT MY TONGUE TO KEEP FROM ASKING ABOUT BOBBY FISHBACK....THE SHOPPING BAG WAS FULL FROM SATURDAY GROCERY SHOPPERS.  I WENT BACK HOME AND PARKED THE HUDSON IN THE DRIVE WAY.  SURE ENOUGH....OH MY....OH GOD...THERE WAS MY DADDY  MOWING THE FRONT LAWN...HOW YOUNG HE LOOKED.  I REMEMBERED HE NEVER PUT ME TO WORK MOWING.  MAYBE HE WANTED IT DONE RIGHT.  I WANTED TO RUN TO HIM AND HUG HIM AND SPILL THE BEANS.  I THEN REMEBERED HIS LAST DAYS HERE IN TULSA.  HE WAS GREATLY AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA....MOTHER WAS SUFFERING FROM CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND SPENT MOST OF HER TIME IN HER EASY CHAIR WATCHING TV OR DOZING.  SHE TRIED TO MONITOR MY DAD'S DRINKING AND METERED HIS DRINKS TO HIM.  I THINK HE DRANK OUT OF BOREDOM.  ONE NIGHT HE CALLED ME AND SAID "THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MOM"   I RUSHED OVER...WALKED DOWN THE HALL, AND PREPARED MYSELF FOR WHAT I MIGHT SEE WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER INTO HER BEDROOM.  SHE WAS LYING IN BED WITH HER EYES CLOSED AND HER MOUTH HANGING OPEN.  SHE WAS DEAD.  I WENT TO HER AND SAW SOME LITTLE CHICKEN NOODLES ON THE PILLOWS,  I HAD FIXED NOODLE SOUP FOR HER JUST AN HOUR EARLIER.  AND SHE HAD THROWN THEM UP.  I TRIED CPR AND I HEARD HER LUNGS GURGLING...TOO LATE...GOD WANTED HER.  I PICKED HER UP AND LAYED HER ON FLOOR..WEEPING...I CLOSED HER MOUTH AND WHEN HER LIPS CAME TOGETHER, SHE SMILED.  PROBABLY FROM THE LAST THING SHE WOULD SEE ON THIS EARTH..AN ANGEL TO CARRY HER HOME.  I TALKED TO HER WHILE WEEPING AND OF ALL THINGS I RECALL SAYING, I THANKED HER FOR ALL THE SCHOOL LUNCHES SHE HAD MADE FOR ME.  THE AMBULANCE AND EVEN A FIRE TRUCK CAME.  SHE  WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.   THE FUNERAL HOME SENT A PERSON TO PICK HER UP AND WHEEL HER AWAY.  DAD'S SENILITY WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE....HE JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY EDITH WAS BEING WHEELED OUT WITH A BLANKET OVER HER.  I THINK IT BROKE THROUGH A LITTLE NOW AND THEN AS HE WOULD CRY A LITTLE, FOLLOWED WITH  "WHERE IS MOM?"  DADDY'S END CAME ONE YEAR LATER.  I HAD TO PUT HIM IN A VERY GOOD NURSING HOME WHERE HE ENJOYED ALL OF THE OTHER OLD ONES.  ONE MORNING  I  GOT A CALL AND THE NURSE TOLD ME MY FATHER HAD PASSED AWAY.  SHE TOLD ME HIS LAST LIVING MOMENTS....HE HAD ASKED FOR A GLASS OF MILK AND THEN TOLD NURSE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE ALONE.  WHEN THE NURSE CAME BACK, HE WAS GONE.  SUCH A TYPICAL LAST REQUEST..A GLASS OF MILK...HE WAS SUCH A GENEROUS MAN...GIVING SO MUCH OF HIMSELF AND THINGS TO OTHERS.  BOTH OF THEM HAD A TREASURE CHEST OF LIFETIME FRIENDS.  AND, THERE HE WAS..MOWING THE YARD...SO HAPPY TO BE AWAY FROM HIS DESK...I KNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO NEXT,  HE LOVED TO WASH OUT THE GARAGE FLOOR WITH A HIGH POWERED NOZZLE....HE LIKED TO WEAR TALL RUBBER BOOTS AND JUST HAVE A BALL DOING THAT.  I JUST HAD TO SEE AND TALK TO MAMMA AND DADDY.....WHILE I STILL COULD...I WANTED TO BE WITH BOBBY IN HIS ROOM....I FELT IMPULSIVENESS BECOMING THE DIRECTOR OF MY ORCHESTRA...REALLY, I NEEDED TO GO FOR A LONG DRIVE AND CALM DOWN....(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIRST DAYS..PART FIVE

WHEN ANGEL DANIEL LEFT ME HERE. HE DID NOT LEAVE ORKIE.  ORKIE WENT BACK TO BOPFF.   WHAT A NIGHT MARE THAT ISLAND WAS....I JUST HAPPENED TO BE OUT WATERING THE LAWN WHEN BOBBY CAME BY TO THROW MY PAPER.  HE STOPPED TO TALK.  HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS BEDROOM...HOW IT WAS HIS PACE TO BE ALONE AND TO HAVE HIS THINGS ALL TO HIMSELF.  HE TOLD ME OF HIS SECRET PLACES.  THE LATHE HOUSE NEXT TO THE GARAGE WHEN HE GREW HIS PLANTS....HE WAS FASCINATED WITH SUCCULANTS...A JADE GREEN ...AND HE HAD HIS PARAKEETS THERE IN A CAGE.  HE TOLD ME ABOUT COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND FINDING THE FIFTY GALLON BARREL BROKEN THE METAL BANDS HOLDING THE STAVES TOGETHER BROKE AND ALL OF HIS MINNOWS WERE DEAD ON THE GROUND.  OF COURSE, I KNEW ALL OF THIS.  I KNEW HE MIGHT QUALIFY AS THE WORLD'S FIRST NEW AGER.  HE LIKED INCENSE BURNERS, CANDLES, OLD MARBLE CLOCKS, AND MAPS OF THE WESTERN STATES ALL OVER THE WALL. IN FACT, HE WRAPPED HIS SCHOOL BOOKS WITH MAPS.  AFTER HE WAS THROUGH, HE SAID:  "WOULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN AND SEE MY ROOM....  I WANT TO SHOW YOU MY OLD FIVE BAND RADIO....I CAN PICK UP HAM RADIO OVER IT,,,FROM ALL OVER.."  I TOLD HIM TO ASK HIS PARENTS FIRST, AND IF THEY SAID IT WAS ALRIGHT, I WOULD BE HONORED TO SEE HIS ROOM.   HE HAD THROWN HIS PAPERS FOR THE DAY....AND RODE HIS BIKE AROUND CORNER ONTO SUNVIEW AND DISAPPEARED....IT HAD BEEN A VERY SMOGGY DAY...HAZY SUNSHINE,  NO BREEZE...MY EYES BURNED FROM THE POLLUTION.  I WENT BACK INSIDE AND WASHED SOME CLOTHES AND PUTTERED AROUND.   IT HAD GOTTEN DARK, AND I HEARD SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL....THE NEIGHBOR'S TRASH CAN LID CAME LOOSE AND FELL WITH A CLANK TO THE DRIVEWAY...I HEARD A RUSH OF WIND...THE SANTA ANA WAS BACK...THAT GREAT SWEEPER OF THE SKY....I STEPPED ONTO FRONT PORCH.  THE BIG DEODAR ACROSS THE STREET  WAS WAVING ITS LIMBS...LEAVES FLYING DOWN THE STREET..VERDUGO HILLS SHARP AND ETCHED IN BLACK...STARS....I KNEW BOBBY WAS HAPPY....(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIRST DAYS..PART FOUR

AFTER MEETING MYSELF!, I REALIZED THERE WAS NO NEED TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF 3509 AND ASK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY TO START.  I REALLY WANTED TO TALK TO MY OWN PARENTS BACK THEN, BUT THAT PREMISE WAS GONE.  I HAD TO DO MUCH COUNSELING OF MYSELF IN ORDER TO NOT BLOW IT AND BE RETURNED TO THE HORRIBLE TIME IN 2012.  THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN WAS 3509....I HAD TO FIND OTHER INTERESTS AND LET THINGS DEVELOPE.  IT HIT ME LIKE A JOLT...THIS WAS APRIL OF 1952.....A FEW MONTHS LATER, A GREAT QUAKE.  THE TEHACHIPI QUAKE WHICH WOULD KILL A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE UP IN THE VALLEY....I REMEBERED MY CHARGE...."YOUR ONLY CONCERN IS YOURSELF...DON'T MEDDLE"   OF ALL PLACES THAT PLAYED A VERY GREAT EMOTIONAL ROLE IN MY LIFE WAS MARK KEPPEL EMENTERY SCHOOL DOWN ON GLENWOOD ROAD.  THAT SCHOOL DID MORE TO SHAPE ME THAN JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER THING.  IT WAS A GREAT OLD SCHOOL SCHOOL.  KIDS LEARNED FROM EXCELLENT TEACHERS AND CHALK ON BOARD, PLUS MANY BOOKS SUCH AS 'MAC AND MUFF' AND "HOW MANY HOW MUCH"   TO THIS DAY, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK FROM FIRST GRADE UNTIL ABOUT THE FOURTH GRADE.  AT THAT AGE, I HAD NO TOOLS TO WORK WITH IN TERMS OF PUTTING THINGS INTO CONTEXT.  THE BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT IS THIS:  HOW WE DID WOULD DETERMINE IF WE LIVED OR DIED !   THE TEACHERS WERE GOOD, UNDERSTANDING, BUT DEMANDING OF EXCELLENCE.  I REMEMBER MANY TIMES STARING AT THE CLOCK....LOOKING LONGILY OUT THE WINDOWS AND LONGING FOR HOME AND MOTHER. SOMETHING ABOUT THE LUNCHES MAMMA FIXED AND WHERE WE ATE THEM...UNDER A SHELTER WITH ALL SORTS OF KIDS..EATING THEIR LUNCHES.  HOW  HAPPY AND SO TOGETHER THEY SEEMED..AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE EMBRYO OF MY THOUGHTS THAT I WAS DIFFERENT..NOT ONE OF THEM....I CAME OUT OF THIS IN FOURTH GRADE, AND BECAME VERY POPULAR..INVITED TO MANY BIRTHDAY PARTIES....AND....HAD MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF INTENSE EMOTIONS TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE SEX.  MY FIRST GIRL FRIEND!  SHE MUST HAVE BEEN THE AGRESSOR, I DID NOT HAVE IT IN ME TO BE.  HER NAME WAS JEANETTE...SHE MUST HAVE PASSED ME A NOTE..AND I PASSED ONE BACK..  SHE WAS VERY CUTE, BUT NOT BEAUTIFUL....SHE HAD AN AIR ABOUT HER THAT SEEMED TO SAY SHE KNEW THINGS NOBODY ELSE KNEW.  SHE MADE ME NERVOUS.  ONE DAY AFTER SCHOOL, SHE INVITED ME TO HER HOUSE WHICH WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.  FROM THERE, WE WENT TO HER BEST FRIENDS HOUSE AND BOTH  SANG FOR ME.  JEANETTE WENT FIRST WITH BUTTONS AND BOWS.  MARY JEAN WENT SECOND WITH ANOTHER SONG.  I CHEERED WILDLY FOR JEANETTE. AND WHEN MARY JEAN WAS THROUGH WITN HER SONG....TOTAL SILENCE, I CAN STILL SEE HER DROP HER HEAD AND POUT.  ACTUALLY. SHE SANG WONDERFULLY, I JUST DIDNT WANT TO MAKE JEANETTE MAD.  TO THIS DAY, I REGRET MY RUDENESS.    (MORE TO COME)

FIRST DAYS PART THREE (MEETING BOB)

EVEN AS A LITTLE BOY, I LOVED WATERING THE FLOWERS WITH A GARDEN HOSE.  MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME NOT SPRAY THEM INTO THE GROUND BUT LET A GENTLE STREAM FLOW AROUND THE ROOTS.  ONE TIME WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13, A NEIGHBOR HIRED ME TO RUN THE SPRINKLERS ON HIS FRONT YARD EVERY SEVERAL DAYS AS HE WAS GOING TO GONE FOR A WEEK.  HE WORSHIPPED HIS GRASS....IT HAD TO BE THE BEST LAWN ON THE BLOCK OR HE WAS NOT HAPPY.  I FORGOT TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEY RAN FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE DAYS.  WHEN HE CAME HOME AND SAW SUCH A MAGNIFICANT BLUE-GREEN EMERALD  OFA LAWN, HE GAVE ME A NICE TIP. SO, HERE I WAS AT EIGHTY YEARS OF AGE BACK IN 1952 WHERE I WAS 12.  I FOUND A WATER HOSE AT MY PLACE UP THE STREET AND BEGAN TO USE WATERING THE FRONT LAWN AS AN EXCUSE TO BE LOOKING .  I ALSO BEGAN TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LAWN . MY HEART BEGAN TO BEAT FAST WHEN I SAW BOBBY (ME) COMING UP THE STREET THROWING THE PAPER.  HE WAS SHORT, WIRY,  AND HAD A REAL MOP OF HAIR WHICH WAS A REAL SORE POINT WITH DAD.  WHEN HE APPROACHED MY HOUSE, I WAVED HIM OVER AND ASKED IF HE WOULD START THROWING MY PAPER.  HE SAID SURE AND HANDED ME A PAPER.  I COULDNT HELP BUT STARE AT HIM....REALLY A CUTE LITTLE GUY...LOOKED LIKE HE WAS PRETTY FAST AND STRONG...I ASKED HIM HOW HE LIKED THROWING PAPERS AND HE TOLD ME HE LIKED EVERY THING BUT COLLECTING.  HE TOLD ME HE LIKED TO THROW THINGS AND THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME ABOUT STICKING A PAPER IN BETWEEN THE SLOTS OF A LOUVERED WINDOW PANEL BESIDES A WINDOW.  HE DID NOT SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN ME BUT DELIGHTED IN TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF.  (EUREKA!)  HE TOLD ME HOW HIS FATHER BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BICYCLE FOR HIM DOWN AT MATTHEW'S BIKE SHOP, BUT HE DIDN'T LIKE IT.  HE WENT ON AND ON ABOUT THE "OLD HAG" WHO LIVED BEHIND HIS HOUSE AND GIVEN HIM AN OLD BICYCLE AND HOW HE MADE IT INTO HIS OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS.  HE TOOK THE FENDERS OFF, REVERSED THE HANDLE BARS, BOUGHT SOME SHINY NEW WHEELS FROM MR SORTINO UP THE STREET FOR EIGHT DOLLARS, AND PAINTED THE BIKE MANDARIN ORANGE USING SOME PAINT HE FOUND IN GARAGE.  HE ALSO TOLD ME HOW HE HAD PAINTED HIS FATHER'S "FIDDLE" MANDARIN ORANGE.  HE SAID "I FOUND HIS FIDDLE IN GARAGE..HE NEVER PLAYED IT"   AND, JUST LIKE THAT, THE INTERVIEW WAS OVER.  HE DID SAY THANK YOU FOR THE NEW SUBSCRIPTION AND WAS ON HIS WAY UP ROSEMARY.  PEDDLES PUMPING.  PAPERS FLYING TO EXACT TARGETS..HAIR FLYING...LOST IN HIS WORLD.   I FELT RELIEVED THE ICE HAD BEEN BROKEN....I REALLY LOVED THE LITTLE GUY...(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIRST DAYS..PART TWO

I WAS TIRED AT THE END OF THE DAY FROM ALL MY WALKING. I FELT GOOD..TOOK A HOT SHOWER, DRESSED, AND MIXED A GOOD SCOTCH AND SODA WHICH I HAD BOUGHT ON MY TRIP TO MONTROSE...HILL'S LIQUOR..JUST TO THE WEST OF SHOPPING BAG STORE.  SO MANY THINGS I WANTED TO DO ALL AT ONCE.  IMPULSIVENESS WAS ONE OF MY GREATEST OF ENEMIES...I MUST MEASURE MY ACTIVITIES IN ORDER OF WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE REASON I WAS HERE....ME!  I CONTINUED TO ENJOY MY SCOTCH, AND NOTICED THE TELEVISION SET.  A LITTLE SCREEN ABOUT 14 INCHES WIDE.  I TURNED IT ON AND WATCHED WITH GREAT FASCINATION......SO NON VIOLENT...SO SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS.  I FOUND THAT THERE WERE ONLY THREE CHANNELS!  TIME FOR BEANY WAS ON....A PROGRAM USING PUPPETS....THERE WAS CECIL, THE SEA SICK SEA SERPENT AND UNCLE CAPTAIN.  I SEEMED  VERY RESTLESS, BUT TOO TIRED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.  I TURNED THE TV OFF. AND STROLLED AROUND THE BACK YARD.   A WELL MANICURED YARD WITH A DICHONDRA LAWN.  MANY CAMELLIAS AND ROSE BUSHES...ALSO, SOME NIGHT BLOOMING JASMINE...THERE WAS A CHINESE ELM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YARD.  THE SAN RAPHAEL HILLS TO THE EAST WERE PAINTED WITH THE ORANGE LIGHT OF THE SETTING SUN.  I WALKED OUT TO THE FRONT YARD TO LOOK AROUND.  I FELT A MOMENTARY TINGE OF FEAR THAT I WOULD BE DISCOVERED, BUT REALIZED I WAS EIGHTY YEARS OLD AND NO ONE WOULD RECOGNIZE ME.....THIS WAS MY HOME.  ROSEMARY AVENUE!  MY HOME......I SAT IN A CHAIR ON FRONT PORCH AND JUST WATCHED.  I COULD NOT KEEP MY EYES OFF OF 3509 ROSEMARY, WHERE I WAS !  NO ACTIVITY...YET.  THE ORANGE LIGHT ON THE SAN RAPHAELS FADED AND ALL WAS BECOMING DARK.  THE NIGHT TIME...THE VERDUGO HILLS TO THE WEST BECAME ETCHED IN BLACK AGAINST THE LIGHT FROM THE CITY ON THE OTHER SIDE.  NOT A GREAT LIGHT, BUT IT WAS THERE.  I PONDERED THE FACT THAT I KNEW A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEM.  I WAS NOT THERE TO TELL THEM WHAT NOT TO DO, I WAS THERE FOR ONLY ONE LITTLE BOY.  I FELL ASLEEP ON THE PORCH AND AWAKENED ABOUT TEN PM.  A FULL MOON WAS RISING, AND I HEARD THE COYOTES BEGINING TO HOWL AT THE MOON.  VERY FAINT, BUT I HEARD THEM...ONE BY ONE, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN THE HOMES UP AND DOWN THE STREET.  I SAW A LIGHT GO OUT IN MY PARENT'S BEDROOM.  MOM AND DAD GOING TO BED.  DAD HAD SPENT A LONG DAY AS AN ACCOUNTANT WITH AMERADA PETROLEUM IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.  EVERY WORK DAY FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, HE HAD RIDDEN EITHER A BUS OR A STREET CAR TO WORK,,,THEN, HOME AGAIN.  MOM HAD FINSIHED HER WORK DAY AT PENNY'S AND PREPARING OUR MEALS,  DOING SOME WASHING, AND WORRYING ABOUT ME...I FELT SO OVER COME WITH ALL OF THIS, THAT I TALKED TO GOD: "OH GOD, YOU ARE A GREAT MYSTERY....YOUR CREATION AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ARE A GREAT MYSTERY...SOMEHOW, I FEEL YOU KNOW LONLINESS....A SADNESS...I FEEL YOU MADE ALL THINGS AND THINGS TO HAPPEN SO WE MIGHT KNOW A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU HAVE FELT.IT IS SO CLEAR TO ME...YOU ARE NOT A MACHINE...YOU KNOW..YOU FEEL..AND YOU LOVE...AND, PERHAPS, YOU LONG TO GET OUR ATTENTION".....(TO BE CONTINUED)

FIRST DAYS BACK IN 1952

I SLEPT WELL THAT FIRST NIGHT, PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS BACK "HOME"  WHERE EVERY THING WAS SANE AND SLOW.  I WALKED UP TO MONTROSE WHICH WAS NOT ONLY A LITTLE TOWN IN THE MIDST OF A VAST METRO AREA, BUT  THREE BLOCKS OF SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE SHOPPING BAG FOOD STORE WHICH STILL HAD AN OPEN FRONT BACK THEN, AND WOODEN FLOORS.  THE PRODUCE DEPT STILL HAD THE LITTLE SPRINKLER HEADS SPRAYING A FINE MIST OVER THE PRODUCE.  THE MEAT DEPT HAD AN OLD FASHIONED SCALE THAT ROLLED OUT THE WEIGHT BEHIND A GLASS AND.  NO LEDS JUST NUMBERS BLACK ON A WHITE BACK GROUND.   THE CHECKERS USED OLD CASH REGISTERS....NO SCANNERS!  EVERY THING SEEMED TO MOVE IN SLOW MOTION...WELL DRESSED PEOPLE,  WELL BEHAVED CHILDREN WHO DID NOT WHINE AND PESTER FOR SOME PLASTIC TOY.  IT WAS THE SAME ON THE STREET....WELL DRESSED AND MANNERLY FOLKS JUST AMBLING ALONG...STOPPING TO LOOK IN WINDOWS.  I STROLLED INTO J.C. PENNEY AND WHAT A REMINDER.....I HAD FORGOTTEN  MY MOTHER WORKED THERE!  BACK THEN, THE CLERKS  PRICED THE PURCHASES, COLLECTED THE MONEY, AND PUT IT IN A CAN WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO A TWO ROPE RELAY THAT WENT UPSTAIRS OVER THE FRONT OF STORE. IT WAS ALL OPEN AND THERE SHE WAS..MY OWN MOTHER.  I JUST STARED AT THIS PETITE LITTLE LADY WITH A TINKLE FOR A LAUGH.  LIKE A WIND CHIME.  SHE LOOKED SO YOUNG...I THEN REMEMBERED LOOKING AT HER IN HER CASKET...SO PEACEFUL AND WORN FROM THE WINDS OF TIME.  SHE IS WITH GOD....WAIT,  I AM HERE AND SHE IS HERE,  OH MY GOD, I WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE IT. I LEFT IN A HURRY AND FOUND A PLACE WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE ME, AND COLLAPSED IN WEEPING FOR SORROW AND WEEPING FOR JOY. IT IS A CHALLENGE BEYOND BELIEF TO TIME TRAVEL.  YOU ARE WITNESSING THINGS AS THEY HAPPENED, WHEN THEY HAPPEND, AND YET HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF KNOWING ALL THAT WOULD HAPPEN...AND..NOT INTERFERE.  WALKING IS CONDUCIVE TO THOUGHT AND IS GOOD EXERCISE.  I REALIZED ONE THING; WITH THE RAPID CHANGE OF EVENTS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I NEEDED TO STABILIZE BEFORE I DID ANY THING ELSE.I WALKED ALL DAY.  I RAN INTO A VERY STRANGE FELLOW THE KIDS CALLED LOCKWASHER.  HE WAS OF SLIGHT BUILD, ABOUT 50 YRS OLD, HAD GLASSES WITH LENSES THE SIZE OF COKE BOTTLE GLASS.  HE WALKED EVERY WHERE AND SAID TO HIM SELF, OVER AND OVER,,"YES, THAT'S RIGHT"  I WALKED THE LONG UPHILL WALK TO CLARK JR HIGH.  ABOUT THREE MILES.  THE ROAD WHERE BOBBY STILL WALKED, DID WALK SIXTY YEARS AGO,  AND WHERE I NOW WALK AT 80 YEARS OF AGE.  IT DOES GET CONFUSING, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.  (TO BE CONTINUED)

GOING HOME

THE DAYS FLEW BY ON THE ISLAND....I PAMPERED MY SELF WITH DRIED FISH AND SWIMS IN THE THERMAL WATERS.  THE MYSTERIES OF THE CAVE HAD NO INTRIGUE ANYMORE.  I WAS OLD AND TIRED AND DIDNT GIVE A HOOT ABOUT EVEN MORE BIZARRE THINGS....I LONGED FOR SOMETHING WHOLESOME AND THAT MADE SENSE.  THE LAST MONTHS OF MY LIFE WAS AN EXACERBATION OF MY WORLD..JUST CRAZY AND NON-CONNECTED.  DANIEL FINALLY CAME TO TAKE ME HOME...AND HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.  HE SAID.."EVERY THING IS READY FOR YOU...COME!    HE SILENTLY SET THE SHIP DOWN ON ROSEMARY AVENUE IN THE WEE HOURS...ALL ASLEEP AND QUIET. HE ESCORTED ME INTO MY NEW HOME...IT WAS PERFECT...FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 26 YEARS, I FELT WHOLE...HE SHOWED ME AROUND THE HOUSE..EXPLAINED THINGS...ASKED ME IF I FELT WELL.....AND LEFT..JUST LIKE THAT...AFTER A CURIOUS EXAMINATION OF MY HOUSE AND THE OUTSIDE,  I FELT SO SLEEPY....WENT TO BED..TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS...AND...TOOK A SHORT STROLL TO LOOK AT MY HOUSE OF LONG AGO.  IT WAS VISIBLE IN THE DIM STREET LIGHT FROM ACROSS THE STREET...MOM AND DAD ASLEEP IN THEIR FRONT BEDROOM....ME, ASLEEP IN THE BACK BEDROOM...I COULD NOT HELP IT..I WALKED BAREFOOTED TO MY HOME...WENT TO BACK YARD...WALKED ACROSS DEWY GRASS...SAW THE TREES....SAW THE PLASTER DUCKS UNDER THE AVOCADO TREE...SAW THE LATHE HOUSE WHERE I HAD MY SECRET PLACES...SMELLED THE JASMINE,,,,SAW THE MOON SETTING BEHIND THE VERDUGO HILLS...SAW THE STARS...AND STARED AT MY BEDROOM WINDOW WHERE I, AS A TWELVE YEAR OLD WAS ASLEEP.....OH, GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL FAVOR YOU HAVE GRANTED...MAY I DO WELL AND BE A FREIND TO A VERY TROUBLED LITTLE BOY......ME.  (TO BE CONTINUED)

PREPARING FOR TIME TRAVEL

I WALKED WITH DANIEL BACK TO HIS SHIP, AND HE BRIEFED ME ALL THE WAY.   "THERE IS A HOUSE FOR SALE ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROSEMARY AVE..ABOUT SIX DOORS NORTH OF YOUR HOME BACK THEN.  I AM GOING TO HAVE ONE OF MY AGENTS BUY THE HOUSE FOR YOU TO LIVE IN.  IT WILL BE FULLY FURNISHED WITH EVERY THING INCLUDING CLOTHING AND FOOD.  THERE IS A CAR IN THE GARAGE WITH KEY.  WE WILL OPEN A CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR YOU  AND DEPOSIT 25.000 DOLLARS IN IT.  THERE IS A LIST OF INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOU WILL FIND, BUT I WILL GO OVER SOME OF THEM NOW. THERE ARE SOME CARDINAL RULES, WHICH IF YOU BREAK, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY BE RETURNED TO THE LOCATION WHERE YOU CAME FROM.... THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER CONTACTS WITH YOU FROM ME OR ANY OTHER ANGEL.  THAT CARDINAL RULE IS YOU ARE TO NEVER REVEAL WHO YOU ARE AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A NEW NAME.  BE VERY CARFEFUL TO ACT THE STRANGER...NO FAMILIARTY WITH EITHER BOBBY NOR HIS PARENTS.  NEVER MENTION ANY THING THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM OR ANY PERSON THEY  KNOW.  COME ON VERY SLOWLY AT FIRST, TRY TO GAIN BOBBY'S PARENT'S TRUST.  LET BOBBY BECOME INTERESTED IN YOU RATHER THAN YOU INTERESTED IN BOBBY.  BOBBY DELIVERS PAPERS, AND THIS WOULD BE A FIRST CONTACT.  IT WOULD BE OK IF YOU WENT TO THEIR DOOR AND EXPLAINED YOU ARE NEW ON THE BLOCK AND UNDERSTOOD BOBBY DELIVERED THE PAPER.  ASK FOR HIM TO START DELIVERING YOUR PAPER.  IT WOULD BE OK TO ENGAGE HIM IN CONVERSATION...DO SHOW SOME INTEREST IN HIM AS TO WHAT HIS HOBBIES ARE AND ASK ABOUT HOW HE LIKES SCHOOL.  SO, IT IS A FINE LINE TO WALK. I THINK YOU WILL DO JUST FINE.  SPEND YOUR DAYS DOING WHAT YOU LIKE...GO TO OLD FAMILIAR PLACES..WALK ALLOT,,DRIVE ALLOT...MAKE FRIENDS...AND ABOVE ALL....CHANGE YOUR NAME.  I WILL COME FOR YOU WHEN ALL IS READY FOR YOU."   (TO BE CONTINUED)

A CHANGE OF PLANS

DANIEL SPENT THE NIGHT IN HIS CRAFT AND I WENT TO THE CABIN...ORKIE WAS WAITING FOR ME AND LOOKED A LITTLE HURT.  HE RESENTED THAT I GOT TO FLY AND HE WAS NOT INVITED.   BOTH OF US SETTLED DOWN TO A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.  WE BREAKFASTED TOGETHER AND I SAW DANIEL APPROACHING US.  HE SAT WITH US AND WE HAD SOME FRIENDLY CHAT, AND THEN DANIEL CALLED ME ASIDE AND TOLD ME HE WANTED TO TALK WITH ME.  WE SAT DOWN ON A NICE LOG AND HE BEGAN TO PROBE:  "BOB, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT HERE?"   "I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL....ITS JUST TOO FOREIGN TO NORMAL HUMAN EXHISTANCE....NOT MUCH I CAN RELATE TO...BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING, YES.  BUT THERE IS A GREAT VACUUM.....NO LOVED ONES....NO FAMILAR HOME....MY PASSED IS GONE...STRANGE NEW WORLD THAT I NEVER KNEW."  HE ASKED "DO YOU MEAN THE MAINLAND TOO?"   "YES, I MEAN THE MAINLAND TOO.....MY CHILDHOOD JUST VANISHED INTO A WORLD OF RESPONSIBILITY...BEING SUBJECT TO SO MANY THINGS OF POWER.....I LOST CONTROL OF WHAT I LIKED AND LOST THE ONE I LOVED.....I FEEL DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHERS...HERE I AM AN OLD MAN, AND I THINK OF OTHERS AS ADULTS....SOMETHING IN ME STOPPED GROWING....MY BODY GREW...MY KNOWLEDGE GREW....SOMETHING IN ME STOPPED GROWING....I FEEL DEFECTIVE....LIKE A PERSON WHO WAS BORN WITHOUT ARMS...I WAS BORN WITHOUT SOMETHING...I LONG FOR MY PASSED...MY CHILDHOOD....I TOOK MANY TRIPS BACK TO MY CHILD HOOD HOME AND WALKED THE HEELS OFF OF MY SHOES...LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, AND I NEVER FOUND IT."  HE SMILED AND NODDED HIS HEAD.    THEN HE ASKED "HAVE YOU EVER FOUND THE ANSWER AS TO WHY YOU WANT TO GO BACK"  "NO, I HAVE NOT...IT ELUDES ME...IT IS SO VERY ALL CONSUMING"  HE THEN LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND ASKED "MAY I TELL YOU WHAT DRIVES YOU?"  "PLEASE DO."   HE SAID  "IN A FEW WAYS, YOU HAD A VERY TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD, YOU HAD WONDERFUL PARENTS WHO WANTED THE BEST FOR YOU, BUT SOMEHOW YOU READ BETWEEN THEIR LINES THAT YOU WERE NEVER ENOUGH...YOU HAD TO PERFORM...EVEN YOUR FIRST GRADE TEACHER NOTICED IT AND WROTE ON YOUR REPORT CARD THAT YOU WERE TOO SERIOUS AND THAT YOU NEEDED TO BE PRAISED FOR WHAT YOU COULD DO.   BOB, THIS ISLAND IS ACTUALLY RUN BY US...IT IS A TRAINING GROUND FOR POTENTIAL TIME TRAVELLERS....WE HAVE TO FIND OUT EXPERIENTIALLY WHAT  MAKES YOU TICK....REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT OMNISCIENT.   THIS ISLAND IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU NEED IN THE LONG RUN......LET ME ASK YOU....HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO BACK TO 1952 AND LIVE ON THE SAME STREET THAT YOU DID AND TO MEET YOURSELF AS A 12 YEAR OLD AND TO BE A MENTOR TO HIM?"   "OH GOD..IF I COULD ONLY DO THAT..I LOVE THAT LITTLE BOY"      (TO BE CONTINUED)

HELLO BRAZIL AND GERMANY

STAY WITH ME FOR WHILE.....BOB

CHAIN OF COMMAND

AGAIN I SAY, DEAR READER, THAT THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX TRUE STORY AND A SEQUENTIAL READING IS NECESSARY.    ORKIE AND I HAD NOURISHMENT OF FISH, AND A FEW OF THE FRUITS GATHERED FROM HERE AND THERE.  IT WAS SO GOOD TO HAVE A FRIEND.   HE SAID...."THANK YOU FOR GOOD FOOD....I MISS VEGETABLES....MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME GOING HERE".  HE THEN ADDRESSED ME PERSONALLY,  "BOB,  IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.  ONLY GOD IS SUPREME,  HE MADE EVERYTHING AND EVERY ONE.  THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE MADE THEM THE WAY THEY ARE.  EVERYTHING WOULD BE PERFECT IF HE HAD NOT GIVEN MANY OF HIS CREATURES A SELF WILL.  ALL OF THIS (HE SWEPT HIS HAND OUT TOWARDS THE MAINLAND) IS AN OBJECT LESSON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PEOPLE FORSAKE GOD AND TURN TO THEIR OWN PASSIONS.  THE STORY OF THE WORLD WILL BE TOLD THROUGH ALL ETERNITY....TOLD TO FUTURE CREATIONS.  GOD IS THE TOP, ALL DIRECTIONS COME FROM HIM.  GOD IS THE QUEEN'S COMMANDER, THE QUEEN IS WHIRLY'S COMMANDER, WHIRLY IS MY COMMANDER.  I AM YOUR FRIEND.  THAT CAVE UP ABOVE....IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EVIL POWERS..FOR NOW.  THOSE PEOPLE LOCKED IN STONE ARE VICTIMS OF A HIGHER POWER THAN JUST EVIL MEN.  THE EVIL MAN HAS HIS COMMANDER..LUCIFER.  GOD ALWAYS TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL, THOUGH IT MAY TAKE A THOUSAND YEARS.  THE PEOPLE LOCKED IN STONE WILL BE FREED AND LIVE AGAIN, BUT ONLY GOD KNOWS WHEN.  BUT, WITH THE BRINGING OF US TOGETHER, I THINK THE STAGE IS BEING SET FOR THE FINAL ACT.  GOD'S WRATH IS ALIKENED TO A MAN AWAKENING FROM HIS WINE.  WHAT TAKES A THOUSAND YEARS TO MAKE HIM ANGRY, CAN BE SETTLED IN TEN MINUTES....THIS IS ALOT TO ASK OF YOU TO BE SUBJECTED TO SUCH UNEARTHLY EVENTS.  BUT, IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US....OH, EARTHLY TRAVELLER,  BE NOT DISMAYED....HELP IS ON THE WAY......(TO BE CONTINUED)

WHEN OLD CLOCKS EXPLODE !

THIS HINGES ON SOME BACKGROUND INFO.  I DO NOT THINK THAT GIRLS EVER CUT SCHOOL.  NEVER HEARD OF ONE CASE. I DITCHED SCHOOL TWICE..ONCE IN JR HIGH, AND ONCE IN HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I "DITCHED" GRADE SCHOOL A FEW TIMES BE PRETENDING TO BE SICK.  FIRST, I HAD TO COMPLAIN OF FEELING SICK, THEN HAD TO BACK IT UP BY PUTTING A LITTLE WATER UP NOSE WHERE  IT WOULD RUN.  WHEN MAMMA SHOOK THE THERMOMETER DOWN AND STUCK IT IN MY MOUTH AND LEFT ROOM, I SHOOK IT UP TO 102 DEGREES.  I WAS SENTENCED TO BED. COULD NOT GO OUT AND CLIMB TREES.  SO, I HAD TO INVENT ENTERTAINMENTS IN BED.  I READ BOOKS, GOT MY CRAYONS AND COLORED PICTURES....HEAD ON PILLOW, LOOKING STRAIGHT UP AT LIGHT BULB IN MY READING LAMP ON WALL.  WHAT A MYSTERY THE GLOWING BULB WAS...IT WAS HOT AND I THOUGHT I WOULD COOL IT OFF WITH A SPLASH OF WATER,  LOUD POP AND I COULD NOT FIND THE BULB.  I SAW AN OLD WIND UP MANTEL CLOCK THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE IT DID NOT WORK.  I HAD A TOOL KIT AND I TOOK THE BACK OFF OF CLOCK.  WOW...ALL SORTS OF WHEELS, BUT A GOLDEN COLORED PLATE HID WHAT WAS BEHIND ALL OF THIS.  SO, I TOOK ALL THE SCREWS OUT OF PLATE AND PULLED THE PLATE OFF. THERE WAS A GREAT SOUND AND LITTLE GOLDEN WHEELS FLEW OUT WITH GREAT FORCE.  THEY WENT EVERY WHERE...SOME OF THE GEARS WERE STRIPPED AND THE LITTLE COGS EMBEDDED IN MY FACE.  I WAS PICKING THOSE COGS OUT OF MY FACE FOR WEEKS...THEY FESTERED TO THE SURFACE....IT WAS A GREAT EXCITEMENT FOR ABOUT A SECOND.......HOW WAS I TO KNOW IT WAS WOUND UP TIGHT....

THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD

I WAS A YOUNG TEEN AND ATTENDED CHURCH.  THE PASTOR HAD JUST  STARTED TO READ HIS TEXT FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS.  THE PEWS WERE LONG WOODEN BENCHES ..QUITE NICE, IN FACT.  THERE WAS NO JUNIOR CHURCH FOR KIDS, SO THEY ALSO ATTENDED THE PREACHING SERVICE.  ONE KID BROKE WIND...PASSED GAS,,,,AND IT JUST THUNDERED.  THOSE BENCHES MADE WONDERFUL SOUNDING BOARDS !  TOTAL SILENCE, YOU  COULD HEAR A PIN DROP. WHEN THE REALITY OF THIS FINALLY SUNK IN, EVERY BODY INCLUDING THE PASTOR JUST ROARED WITH LAUGHTER.  IT TOOK TEN MINUTES FOR EVERY ONE TO RECOVER.  THE PASTOR HAD JUST READ FROM ACTS..."AND THERE CAME FROM HEAVEN THE SOUND OF A MIGHTY RUSHING WIND"

PASSING NOTES IN SCHOOL

WE ALL DID IT.  EVERY THING FROM I LOVE YOU TO "WHAT DID YOU GET FOR ANSWER NUMBER 4.   TROUBLE IS, I DID PASS SUCH A NOTE AND THE ANSWER CAME BACK..BUT, I FORGOT TO ERASE MY QUESTION, AND MY TEST PAPER CAME BACK WITH A BIG RED CIRCLE AROUND IT.   IN  GRADE SCHOOL IN THE 1940'S.  BALL POINT PENS WERE NOT OUT YET.  WE LEARNED TO WRITE INK USING LONG WOODEN HOLDERS WITH THE PEN POINTS STUCK IN THE HOLDER AT END OF PEN.  IN OUR SCHOOL EACH ROW WAS GIVEN A SHOE BOX FILLED WITH PENS.  THE BOX WAS GIVEN TO THE FIRST STUDENT IN EACH ROW, AND THE BEST PEN WAS TAKEN, THEN, THE BOX PASSED BACK AND THE NEXT BEST PEN TAKEN.  BY THE TIME IT GOT TOWARDS THE BACK...THE PENS WERE JUNK...THE PEN POINTS WERE CROSSED LIKE A GIRL SITTING WITH CROSSED LEGS.  YOU PUT THE POINT DOWN TO WRITE AND THE POINT STUCK IN THE PAPER ONLY TO BREAK LOOSE AND LEAVE LITTLE SPECKS OF INK EVERY WHERE.  IN OUR SCHOOL, THE ELECTRIC CLOCK IN THE ROOM WAS CONTROLLED BY A MASTER CLOCK IN THE OFFICE.  THE HANDS MOVED IN THREE MINUTE INTERVALS....THE MINUTE HAND WOULD STAND STILL FOR THREE MINUTES AND THEN A CLICK AND TIME REALLY FLEW.  OTHER THAN THE LONG BELL TO CHANGE CLASSES OR GO TO RECESS, THERE WERE TWO OTHER BELL SIGNALS..  THREE RINGS WAS A CALL FOR THE JANITOR..A CONTINUOUS SEQUENCE OF SHORT RINGS WAS A FIRE DRILL. I CANT HELP BUT THINK KIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD HAD LIKE EXPERIENCES,,,INCLUDING, PASSING NOTES,,,,,DO YOU LOVE ME?   DA!!

GOING TO CHURCH

MY PARENTS WENT TO CHURCH..THEREFORE, I DID TOO.  WHEN I WAS A YOUNG TEEN, I REALLY LIKED SUNDAY SCHOOL.  WE HAD A GENERAL MEETING IN A BIG ROOM WHERE WE SANG SONGS.  SO MANY CUTE GIRLS...I PROMISE, THAT IS NOT WHY I LIKED SUNDAY SCHOOL !   WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I HATED GOING TO CHURCH BECAUSE MY WOOL SUIT ITCHED...I WORE MY PAJAMAS UNDER MY SUIT TO STOP THAT.  THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN GETTING THE GIGGLES WHEN IN CHURCH.  ONE NIGHT, SOME JUNE BUGS WERE FLYING AIMLESSLY AROUND AS THE PASTOR WAS PREACHING,  THEY WOULD FLY RIGHT INTO A WALL AND FALL TO THE GROUND..THAT LOOKED SO FUNNY TO ME.  LATER WHEN WE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, JUNE BUGS NOT THERE, BUT YOUNG BOYS WERE, AND THE PEWS WERE LONG WOODEN BENCHES.  ONCE IN A WHILE, SOME KID WOULD PASS GAS AND THE BENCH ACTED AS A SOUNDING BOARD....IT JUST ECHOED ALL OVER THE AUDITORIUM.  ALL OF THE KIDS HID THEIR HEADS IN THEIR HANDS AND JUST SHOOK WITH LAUGHTER.  IT DID NOT HELP THAT THE PASTOR HAD JUST A READ A VERSE IN THE BIBLE..."THERE CAME A GREAT AND MIGHTY WIND."  I LOVED MISS HENRY, MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE WAS AN OLD OLD MAID SCHOOL TEACHER AND HOMELY AS A MUD PUDDLE, BUT SHE WAS SO VERY SWEET.  ONE LITTLE BOY CAME HOME FROM CHURCH AND HAD ALLOT OF CHANGE IN HIS POCKET.  HIS MOM WANTED TO KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT AND HE TOLD HER AT CHURCH.."THEY HAD BOWLS OF IT"  HE SAID...

A CHILD'S NOSE

I THINK I LEARNED MORE THROUGH MY NOSE THAN ANY OTHER ORGAN....SMELLS OF NEW MOWN HAY...FLOWERS WITH BEES AROUND THEM...DRY EARTH AFTER A SUMMER SHOWER...SHOCKING SMELLS LIKE AMMONIA...HEALING SMELLS LIKE VICKS VAP-O-RUB.  ALL OF THESE,,AND THEN WHEN I GOT SMART IN 2ND GRADE...JUST PUT SOME WATER UP YOUR NOSE AND TELL MOMMY YOU DIDNT FEEL GOOD...OH BOY,  A DAY OUT OF SCHOOL.....I ALSO LEARNED TO SHAKE THE ORAL THERMOMETER UP TO 102 DEG.....MOMMY ALWAYS SHOOK IT DOWN WHEN SHE TOOK MY TEMP....WHY NOT SHAKE IT UP....

NOSTALGIA

LOOKING BACK....LONGING FOR GOOD OLD DAYS....SOME NEVER HAD THE GOOD OLD DAYS.  I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE BORN IN 1939, SO I RECALL A SIMPLER TIME.  AS I WAS ENJOYING THE SIMPLER TIME, OTHERS WERE DYING IN WARS, BEING PERSECUTED, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEN.  SO, I WAS PLEASANTLY IGNORANT OF THE REAL WORLD.  MY WORLD WAS VERY SMALL....IGNORANCE IS BLISS, AND LIVING IN A PEACEFUL BUBBLE OF FARM FIELDS,  VEGETABLE GARDENS, THE SMELL OF A SUMMER SHOWER ON A TOMATO GARDEN...MOMMY AND DADDY...AUNT NORA AND HER LEMON PIES.  BUT, I HAD A CHILDHOOD ALL OF MY OWN.   IN A WAY I WAS VERY BLESSED BY THAT FALSE PRESENTATION OF WHAT THE WORLD REALLY WAS.....THE DOWN SIDE IS THAT THIS GAVE BIRTH TO A HAUNTING DISEASE.....NOSTALGIA....A HORRIBLE DISEASE...WANTING SOME THING YOU CAN NEVER HAVE AGAIN...LIKE A CHILD PRESSING HIS NOSE AGAINST A STORE WINDOW PANE....LOOKING AT AN ELECTRIC TRAIN THAT HE WILL NEVER HAVE...

THE UNITED STATES....WHAT HAPPENED?

ONE THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT MAN KIND FOUND THAT HE   CANNOT SURVIVE PROSPERITY,....RISING FROM MEAGER BEGINNINGS,  CENTERS OF POWER COME TO LIGHT...INNOVATIONS ALLOW PROGRESS....INDUSTRY IS BORN.. THE WORD IS OUT..MANY COME TO U.S FOR A BETTER LIFE, AND THEY BRING WITH THEM MANY TALENTS AND GENIOUS...WORLD WAR TWO BRINGS A HUGE SURGE IN MILITARY INDUSTRY...WEAPONS ARE INVENTED...THE WAR ENDS, THE SOLDIERS COME HOME....THE AUTO INDUSTRY INVENTS BIGGER, FASTER, AND BETTER CARS....ENTERTAINMENTS FLOURISH...THE ECONOMY GROWS...THE ZENITH OF QUALITY OF LIFE WAS PROBABLY THE 1950'S.  ALONG WITH NEW FOUND WEALTH, AN EXPLOSION IN THE PLEASANTRY OF LIFE....A FORSAKING OF GOD....MATERIALISM AND PLEASURE BECOME THE TWIN GODS.  THE DEMANDS OF MORE AND INFLATION TAKES THE MOTHERS AND HOUSEWIVES FROM HOME TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH LIVING COSTS...NOW, SELDOM DOES A FAMILY EAT TOGETHER. THEY EAT ON THE RUN..FAST FOOD PLACES ARE THE LIFE PRESEREVERS..SOUND TEACHING IN THE HOME DIS-APPEARS...MORALS ARE AN UNKNOWN...RUNNING WILD..A MACHINE PROGRAMMED TO IMPLODE...GREAT TRAUMA, GREAT IN-SECURITY....NO IDEAS ON LIFE...JUST LIVE FOR THE MOMENT...DRUGS..ALCOHOL....NO NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD HAS EVER SURVIVED ITS HIGH TIMES FOR MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED YEARS....THE WORD OF GOD IN ISAIAH 19:14 TELLS OF A CURSE UPON EGYPT WHERE GOD SENT A PERVERSE SPIRIT INTO THE LAND THAT CAUSED THE LEADERS TO STAGGER AS A DRUNK MAN STAGGERS IN HIS OWN VOMIT.  ALL DECISIONS AND PLANS  MADE WERE INSANE AND FOOLISH.  IT ALSO RECORDS...."NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY WORK TO DO"   JOBS, JOBS JOBS  !!!!.

DEAR RUSSIAN PEOPLE...THE BIBLE

FAITH DEMANDS A SOUND FOUNDATION UPON WHICH TO BUILD.  OUR FAITH IS BUILT UPON WHAT GOD SAYS AND NOT ON WHAT MAN THINKS.  THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN  PIECE MEAL OVER A PERIOD OF 1500 YEARS, BY 40 DIFFERENT AUTHORS AND WHO LIVED ON THREE CONTINENTS.  WHEN GOD HAD FINISHED USING MANS HAND TO WRITE, GOD DIRECTED THROUGH PROVIDENCE THAT THE 66 BOOKS BE ASSEMBLED INTO ONE BOOK, THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE.  EACH BOOK IS A COMPLETE STORY AND YET BUT A PART OF THE WHOLE STORY.  THE WORLD CANNOT PRODUCE SUCH A SYSTEMATIC AND HARMONIOUS GROUP OF LIARS.  EVIL POWERS HATE THE BOOK AND HAVE DESTROYED, BANNED, AND PUNISHED THOSE WHO DEPEND UPON GOD'S WRITTEN WORD.  IT IS THE ANVIL THAT HAS WORN OUT MANY HAMMERS...IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, GOD HAS AN ANSWER, IF YOU HURT, GOD HAS A COMFORT.....JESUS SAID:  WHOSEVER BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.  THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL NEVER DIE.  WHAT IT MEANS IF YOU DIE HERE, YOU WILL INSTANTY BE ALIVE THERE...WITH HIM.  HEAVEN IS A PLACE..FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND MIGHT....AND GOD DWELLS THERE IN LIGHT UN-APPROACHABLE....TRUST JESUS TODAY..BOW YOUR HEAD AND JUST ASK HIM INTO YOUR HEART. CONFESS YOUR SIN AND HE FORGIVES AND FORGETS ALL..HE LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.  JESUS SAID:  THE THIEF COMES TO KILL AND STEAL AND DESTROY, I AM COME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY..MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS

THE HOUSE PARTY 1950'S

NO ONE REALLY KNEW HOW WE FOUND OUT WHERE SOME GIRL HAD GOTTEN PERMISSION FROM HER PARENTS TO THROW A PARTY......WHILE PARENTS WERE GONE!     MAYBE THEY HAD WIKI LEAKS THEN........BUT, WE FOUND THE PARTIES AND WE WENT TO THE PARTIES....ME AND MY BUDDIES, THAT IS.  ONE FRIDAY NIGHT WE FOUND IT.  EASY TO FIND, MANY HOT RODS PARKED AT CURB AND MUSIC COMING FROM INSIDE.  NEVER MIND WE HAD NOT BEEN INVITED.  WE WERE SHY IN SOCIAL GRACES BUT KNEW WE SHOULD APOPOGIZE IF WE RAN OVER SOMEONE WITH OUR CAR.  WE WERE INSECURE..AND SO A SIX PACK HELPED.  A KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND IT OPENED TO A ROOM FULL OF CHICKS AND BAD BOYS WITH DUCKTAILS.  THEY MUST HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SLOSHED TOO AS THEY THOUGHT THEY KNEW US..NO MATTER,,,COME ON IN.  I FELT SO INSECURE, GIRLS DANCING WITH GUYS, GIRLS MAKING OUT WITH BOYS...MUSIC WAS SLOW DANCING STUFF AND IT WAS SOOO ROMANTIC.  I SAT DOWN ALONE ON COUCH AND WAS PRETTY MUCH IGNORED,,JUST SITTING THERE IN ENVY OF THE GUYS.  A VERY CUTE GIRL SUDDENLY CAME OVER AND JUST SAT DOWN ON MY LAP.....HOLY  SMOKES...WHAT DO I DO?  I SCRAMBLED FOR A WAY TO KEEP MY PRIZE SO I TOLD HER I WAS A MAN EATING PLANT AND GRABBED HER TIGHT.  SHE STARTED LAUGHING AND ASKED ME TO DANCE.   DONT KNOW HOW, I SAID.  SHE PULLED ,ME TO THE FLOOR AND SOMEONE PUT ON A RECORD OF THE STROLL.  MAN, THAT IS ONE SEDUCTIVE SONG.  SHE PULLED ME CLOSE TO HER AND I FOUND I COULD DANCE....IT WAS LIKE I WAS LIFTED UP INTO A CLOUD AS WE MOVED TOGETHER.  AT THE END, SHE KISSED ME ON THE LIPS.  I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER KISSED A GIRL.  IT WAS A TENDER AND SOFT KISS...NOT RECKLESS  ...SHE UNDERSTOOD MY SHYNESS.  WHEN WE FINALLY LEFT TO GO HOME, MY HEAD WAS FILLED WITH RAINBOWS.  THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP, THAT PARTY AND THE GIRL FILLED MY MIND...I WONDERED IF IT REALLY HAPPENED..JUST A DREAM.  THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER ABOUT HER WAS HER LAST NAME WAS KERR...NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.....WHAT A TIME IT WAS, BACK IN THE FIFTIES.

THE AURA OF GLENDALE AIR

ACTUALLY, I SHOULD SAY VALLEY AIR..MAYBE THE WHOLE WORKS.  I HAVE FLOWN INTO BOB HOPE A NUMBER OF TIMES.  MY FIRST FLUSH OF THE MAGIC AIR COMES WHEN I STEP OFF OF THE PLANE.  A STERILE AIR IN PLANE,  A SUDDEN CHANGE...IT MAKES ONE REALIZE THAT THIS IS NO ORDINARY PLACE.  A SLIGHT TINGE OF A SULPHUROUS ODOR TINGED WITH FLOWER''S SCENT.  A FEELING..A CERTAIN FEELING...GETTING MY RENTAL CAR, I DRIVE TO OLD HAUNTS.....SEEMS SO QUIET NOW,  NO KIDS PLAYING ON FRONT YARDS....EVERY ONE SO LEGAL AND NON-EXPRESSIVE.... VERY WONDERFUL STREETS....EVERYTHING MANICURED...CASCADES OF PASTEL FLOWERS ADORNING MANY HOMES....SUCH AN AMAZING CO=ORDINATION OF KEEPING IT ALL IN SYNC......BUT....WHERE ARE THE REAL PEOPLE?

HELEN !

I THINK THAT IN WRITNG STORIES ABOUT A LIFE, HONESTY IS PARAMOUNT.  GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH HELEN.   AFTER A RATHER SAD LIFE....HELEN IS MY THIRD WIFE.  ONE DIVORCED ME, ONE DIED, AND THEN THERE IS HELEN.  EIGHTY-SEVEN YEARS OLD, SOMEWHAT OF AN INVALID,, HAD A STROKE AND HAS CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.  SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN,,,I LOVE HER MORE EACH DAY....ALLOT OF WORK, YES, BUT THE REWARDS ARE INFINITE.  IT SEEMS GODS GAVE ME THE GIFT AFTER A LIFE MOSTLY LIVED.  SHE HAS SOME QULAITIES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT MAGIC..LITTLE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED.  FIRST, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ABSENCE OF SOUND WHEN SHE WALKS WITH HER WALKER.  LITTLE STEPS DOWN THE HALL AND THERE IS NOT ONLY NO SOUND, THERE IS ANTI SOUND.  SHE REMINDS ME OF A LITTLE SPIDER AS SHE STEPS ALONG HER WAY.  BEING SOMEWHAT SENILE, I RESPOND TO HER WISHES.  A SUDDEN DESIRE TO GO INTO HER WALK IN CLOSET, WHERE SHE SURVEYS HER WARD ROBE...,EXAMINING AND TOUCHING ALL OF HER CLOTHING.  I UNDERSTAND.  DENIED A PLEASANT CHILD HOOD FROM A POOR AND NEGLECTFUL HOME WHERE SHE MADE HER OWN CLOTHING SO SHE COULD DRESS FOR SCHOOL.  NEVER GIVEN A BIRTHDAY PARTY....A SMILE THAT ANGELS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE....A CLEVERNESS THAT CAN SPRING OUT OF THE DARKNESS THAT AMAZES ME....SUCH AN ELEGANT WAY OF SAYING BASIC THINGS....." I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM"     SHE MAKES HER OWN RULES WHEN WE PLAY CHINESE CHECKERS....WITH MARBLES.. SOME TIMES SHE TAKES THREE TURNS AT A TIME.   I LOVE IT....I PRAY EVERY NIGHT  "LORD, TAKE US BOTH TOGETHER"    WHEN SHE DIES, I DIE, SO, HE MIGHT AS WELL....I LOVE MY HELEN.....  

FUNNIEST THING I EVER SAW

I WAS JUST A CHILD THEN, BUT REMEMBER SO WELL UNCLE LEMUAL MAUZY....HE LIVED ON A FARM AND HAD A PECULIAR AFFECTION FOR A VERY OLD CAR.  IT HAD THE SPARK RETARD ON STEERING WHEEL AND HAD TO CRANK IT TO GET IT STARTED.  DEEP SNOW ON GROUND AND HE HAD PARKED THIS OLD CAR UP AGAINST BARN.  HE WANTED TO BACK UP AND THE TIRES JUST SPUN IN THE SNOW.  FINALLY THEY TOOK HOLD AND THE CAR RACED BACKWARDS...HE BECAME CONFUSED AND PANIC SET IN  HE PULLED ON THE STEERING WHILE, THINKING OF REIGNS ON A HORSE..THE WHEEL CAME OFF IN HIS HANDS AND HE THREW IT OUT INTO THE SNOW.  FINALLY, THE CAR CAME TO REST AGAINST A TREE.   IT TOOK HOURS TO FIND THE STEERING WHEEL BURIED IN THE SNOW...

DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON

I THINK HEMINGWAY WROTE A BOOK WITH THAT TITLE..BUT I THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A BULL IN THE ARENA; I AM TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS, MY FRIENDS.  I WENT TO WORK FOR A MAJOR OIL COMPANY AS A RESERACH TECH HERE IN TULSA.  THIS COMPANY HAD A TEST SITE CALLED BIRD CREEK.  THAT AFTERNOON, A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES WENT TO BIRD CREEK TO ASSESS ANOTHER COMPANY'S DEMONSTRATION  OF AN EXPLOSIVE TO BE LOWERED INTO A WELL AND SET OFF IN ORDER TO FRACTURE THE STRATA DOWN BELOW.  THE EXPLOSIVE CYLINDER WAS POSITIONED CAREFULLY OVER THE TEST WELL AND THEN LOWERED.  SCARCELY AFTER THE CYLINDER HAD ENTERED THE WELL, IT WENT OFF.   THE FIRST REALIZATION OF SOMETHING WRONG CAME FROM THE POWER COMPANY.  THE ELECTRICITY HAD GONE OFF IN A CERTAIN SECTION OF TOWN.  THE CREWS WERE SENT OUT TO SEARCH FOR THE TROUBLE. THEY FOUND IT AT BIRD CREEK.. A LARGE TRUCK HAD BEEN BLOWN INTO THE AIR AND CAME DOWN ON SOME POWER LINES....SHREDS OF FLESH WERE EVERY WHERE.  ONE PERSON SURVIVED FOR AHILE, AND THEN DIED.  THE GROUND WAS MARKED OFF IN SQUARES AND NOTES TAKEN ON WHAT WAS FOUND WHERE....SEVEN WONDERFUL AND BRIGHT PEOPLE WERE LAID TO REST..IN PARTS...ALL CLOSED CASKET SERVICES.  I REMEMBER ONE OF THE YOUNGER ONES SAID 'HI, BOB' AS HE GOT ONTO THE ELEVATOR THAT MORNING....NOT SURE THERE IS A POINT TO ALL OF THIS.....IT SURE MADE A DENT IN A FEW FAMILES.....KIDS WITHOUT FATHERS, WIVES WITHOUT HUSBANDS...MOTHERS WITHOUT SONS....LIKE A POET SAID ONCE ABOUT GHOST TOWNS:  "ONE BY ONE, THEY BECAME SHADES'

THE DESERT

THE MANY DESERTS ARE THERE FOR US !   DESERT AND DESERTED ARE COMPANIONS.   THE DESERTS HAVE BEEN DESERTED FROM THE BLESSINGS OF RAIN.  THE DESERTED HAVE BEEN DENIED THE BLESSINGS OF EVERY THING FROM CHIDREN, FAMILY, TO NEIGHBORS.   STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE DESERT HAS A MYSTERIOUS BEAUTY AT TIMES...FEAST TO FAMINE...DRY AND CLOUDBURSTS.....THE FLOWERING CACTI,  THE CARVINGS OF THE WIND IN SAND....IT COMES AND IT GOES....THE SURVIVORS,,, THEY KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE.  SMALL CREATURES, RESTING IN A CAVE.  THEY DO COME OUT IN THE WINTER OR THEIR DIS-CONTENT.   THEY ARE SMART, OR THEY WOULD BE DEAD. THE DESERT WAS THEIR TEACHER, JUST AS YOUR DESERT IS YOUR TEACHER !

THE MAGIC OF THE FOREST

I HAVE CAMPED ALONE IN THE THICK OF THE FOREST MANY TIMES.  I CHOSE TO GO ALONE.  IN LATE AFTERNOON, THE SHADOWS GROW LONG....THE DAY TIME WIND IS SUBSIDING...I LOVE THE WAY THE WIND ANNOUNCES ITS COMING. FROM ACROSS THE WAY,  THE WHISPERS OF THE PINES...WAVING THEIR BRANCHES.  THE APPROACHING ROAR SUBSIDES AND JUST A LITTLE WHISPER....A SQUIRREL STANDS UP AND NIBBLES A NUT.  SHADOWS GROWING AND THE SUN DISAPPEARS BEHIND YONDER MOUNTAIN.....I LOVE THE DAY AS WELL AS THE NIGHT, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT SUNSET THAT BRINGS A SORT OF SADNESS AND ALSO FEAR.  IT GETS SO DARK OUT THERE.  NOW, ONLY THE VERY TOPS OF THE TREES SHOW THE DEATH OF A DAY..A FADING ORANGE GLOW THAT MOVES UP THE TREE UNTIL IT IS NO MORE...NIGHT COMES QUICKLY...FADING DAY...FIRST STARS COME INTO VIEW....NOW, TOTAL DARKNESS.  SOUNDS OF SCURRYING CREATURES OUT THERE SOMEWHERE...I STOKE THE FIRE AND IT BECOMES A MINIATURE SUN OF SORTS.  DANCING SHADOWS,,, FLICKERING LIGHT...THE RISING OF SMOKE..THE SWEETEST OF SMELLS.  THE TEMP IS FALLING FAST..ALREADY GETTING COLD..I PUT ON MY JACKET AND SIT ON A ROCK.  THE FIRE HAS BECOME A BED OF COALS....SOMETHING HOWLS OUT THERE....IT SENDS COLD CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE....TIME TO GO TO BED.  I CRAWL INTO TWO MAN TENT. WILL LEAVE MY CLOTHES ON TONIGHT..JUST GETTING TOO COLD.  THROUGH OUT THE NIGHT...THE POPPING OF BRANCHES FROM A STEPPING ON...THEY ARE OUT THERE AND I AM AN INTRUDER....I COWER DOWN IN MY SLEEPING BAG AND PULL IT OVER MY HEAD...MAYBE THEY WON'T SEE ME !   I WAKE UP IN THE NIGHT....POKE MY HEAD OUT OF TENT, AND LOOK UP.....THE SKY IS WHITE WASHED WITH STARS..THE MILKY WAY...ERRANT METEORS LEAVE THEIR SIGNATURE AND ARE GONE....I WANT MY MOTHER !!   FINALLY, MORNING COMES....IT IS LIKE A GRAND PRODUCTION...A HINT OF DAWN....THEN, THE TOPS OF THE PINES ARE SHOWING A SOFT WARM LIGHT WHILE THE FOREST FLOOR IS DARK AND ASLEEP.  THE ORANGE GLOW MOVES DOWN THE TREES UNTIL THE FOREST FLOOR WARMS TO A NEW DAY....

THE CASE OF THE MISSING DOLLAR

THREE MEN CHECKED INTO A HOTEL AND THE CLERK TOLD THEM IT WOULD BE 30 DOLLARS, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. EACH MAN GAVE THE CLERK 10 DOLLARS AND WENT TO THEIR ROOM. REALIZING HE HAD OVERCHARGED TO MEN BY 5 DOLLARS, HE GIVES THE BELL HOP FIVE DOLLARS AND TELLS HIM TO GIVE IT TO THE MEN.  REALIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME MONEY, THE HOP KEEPS TWO DOLLARS FOR HIMSELF AND GIVES THE MEN BACK THREE DOLLARS.  THIS MEANS THE MEN SPENT 27 DOLLARS FOR THE ROOM.  THE BELL HOP HAS TWO DOLLARS.  27 AND 2 MAKES 29 DOLLARS.  THE MEN PAID 30 AT THE DESK.  WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONE DOLLAR MISSING?

THE RED LIGHT BANDIT

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SUCH A MONSTER RESIDED AND FED HIS MURDEROUS INSANITY IN GLENDALE?  QUIET STREETS,  PEOPLE ENVOLVED IN RESPONSIBLE DUTIES.  YET, THE NIGHT TIME, THE DARKNESS, THE WARM AIR, FED A CERTAIN ILLNESS INTO HORROR AND BLOOD CURDLING SCREAMS. ALL THE AMENITIES OF THAT TOWN...THE CHURCHES, THE LIBRARIES,  GREAT SCHOOLS ...NO EFFECT.....THE VIRUS GREW.  WHEN THE SUN WAS DOWN AND THE FULL MOON WAS UP....PEOPLE ASLEEP...AND THE DEATH ANGEL WAS COMING TO LIFE.  HE WAS QUICK AND THOROUGH...THE FAIR LADY COMING HOME FROM MIDNIGHT SHIFT..TIRED AND LOOKING FOREWARD TO BED.. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT....VAMPIRE STOPPED RIGHT BEHIND HER.   HE LOOKED AROUND, STREETS EMPTY...TIME TO STRIKE.  THE SMASHING OF GLASS.  THE CUPPING OF MOUTH...DRAGGED FROM HER CAR....RAPED, KILLED...ANOTHER DAY.  IT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT THE KILLER WAS CAUGHT, IMPRISONED, AND PUT TO DEATH AT SAN QUENTEN....STRAPPED IN HIS CHAIR, HE HEARD THE LITTLE PLOPS OF CYANIDE PELLETS DROPPING INTO ACID....HIS HEAD LURCHED BACK...THEN SAGGED FOREWARD...DEAD.  THE THIN BLUE LINE..THE POLICE WHO STAND BETWEEN DEATH AND LIFE.   NEXT TIME YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP AND VISIT WITH A POLICE OFFICER; PAT HIM ON THE BACK AND PRAY FOR HIS SAFETY.  MANY OFFICERS NOW LIE COLD IN THEIR GRAVES FOR TRYING TO PROTECT YOU.

PAST, PRESENT,AND FUTURE

NO BETTER PLACE TO THINK ABOUT THIS, THAN WHEN ON THE ROAD.   THE RUSH OF THE WIND...COMING...I SEE IT....PAST, I SAW IT.  A DISTANT BARN..SO SMALL...SO LITTLE..BARELY POKING ITS WAY INTO AN ENDLESS BLUE SKY....SOME MAN'S WORK...SWEAT AND LABOR...JUST A LITTLE POKE INTO THE SKY.  THE CLOSER I GET, THE BIGGER IT GROWS...MAYBE THAT PERSON'S WORK WAS GREATER THAN I THOUGHT...BESIDE ME NOW...JUST A FLASH OF REALITY....MY WORD, HOW GREAT THAT BARN IS....THE DETAIL, THE CARE....WHY DID I NOT REALIZE THAT BEFORE?   GOING NOW, THE BARN FADES,  THE DETAIL, THE CARE, THE SWEAT...GOING NOW...BECOMING JUST ANOTHER POKE INTO AN ENDLESS BLUE SKY...MAYBE.....WE ARE GOING TOO FAST TO NOTICE,,,,SPECIAL THINGS,,,,THE DINNER SERVED,  THE BEDS MADE...THE GREETING AT THE DOOR...FACES,,,SONGS AT CHRISTMAS...MEMORIES,,,,THE RUSH OF TIME AND DISTANCE TAKES IT ALL AWAY.....REAR VIEW MIRROR....I STILL SEE YOU, BUT YOU LOOK SO SMALL.....BYE BYE NOW...