That's The Way It Is......

     I read the news online everyday. I do this for several reasons. First, I do not like the American news system. It is too sensationalized. Do you think I really care which teen star has been arrested for drugs and drinking this week? My answer is NO! There are much more important things in the world than knowing the intimate details of someones love life. If we are lucky, that person will be a has-been in a few short years. I prefer to read the news that comes from the international press. It gives me an unglamourous view of world events. There are times I have watched the news and expect a cabaret show to start. I am sure that there are times that the producers have toyed with the idea of adding magicians and strippers to do the news. I can see the weatherman now, "Hey Rocky, you wanna see me pull a forecast outta my hat?" Okay, I stole that from Bullwinkle. That doesn't matter, I feel that dense after watching some news reports. You can tell they are simply reading a script. Ill bet they couldn't tell you what it was that had been read. There are some of them I doubt know the difference between Kosovo and Costa Rica.
     More and more of the Anchor People remind me of entertainers. The studios have added buff tanned men to the position. They have a practiced smile that says Used Car Salesman to me. How can I trust someone to tell me the truth that gives me the creeps? The female anchors are no better. They become younger and more curvaceous each year. They are dressed to tease and encourage adolescent males to watch the shows. I'm sure the men are paying a lot of attention to what is really being said. How long before the burlesque shows start? Hold it! I think some networks are already there.
     What happened to the days when you had that stately old gentleman, or tough grand dam? I would rather watch my news from someone that had lived enough life to know about the news. They reported the facts about news worthy events. I want to know why we might be going to war, not what the best dressed couple is wearing to the local gala. Give me one of those tough individuals that literally came up through the trenches. Id prefer someone that knew who Vladimir Putin, over knowing who Justin Bieber is. Where are Barbara Walters and Walter Cronkite when you need them?

     O! I did say there was a second reason. That one is simple. It is children. Any parent can tell you that it is impossible to watch any news when the children are around. I have yet to sit down watch it without a fight, emergency, or an impromptu concert occurring with them. There are times I think that my little darlings have battle plans drawn up to distract me whenever I try to catch up on daily events. Plan A1A I am certain is have one of them go into the other room and scream like they are hurt. Dad goes sprinting in to check out the boo-boo. By the time I calm the child and return to my seat, there are the other two watching another cartoon. You weren't watching anything, were you Dad? is always the response when I return.
     Like I said before, it is easier and better for me to read my news online. There is far less drama and acting going on. Once the children and the newscasters mature, I will start watching the network news again. I'm betting on my children to get there first.

                                  

To Be, Or Not

     It amazes me how much some people seek to be famous and rich. I know that is backwards from the way it is normally said. However, I believe that people want to be famous more than anything. They want everyone to recognize them wherever they go. Rich was placed second. This is due to the fact that many of the people that become famous blow their money. These people are continuously trying to be what they think people want. Ergo, they may stay famous but not rich. This mentality has given rise to the Reality TV craze. Don't deny it. We feed into their vanity. You have watched some form of reality television. We all have at some point in the last few years. It seems that this is the main focus for the networks these days. Don't shake your head and say No, I haven't. I will say you are a liar. There is almost no way to watch television, without seeing at least one of these shows. Gone are the wonderful comedies of my youth. The price on production for one of these must far cheaper than paying for actors and studio time. There are enough individuals that will act like fools for the notoriety they gain.

     One of my old professors once equated the television to the gladiatorial games of ancient Rome. The games were used placate and pacify the masses of Roman citizens that had become unruly, during certain periods of the different emperors. The games had to morph into grand elaborate affairs to keep the interest of the common citizen. Each had to be bigger and better than the last one. Otherwise, riots were likely to occur. What would happen if the satellite and cable went out for a month in this country? Would people survive on books and news papers, or would hysteria reign. I can see where he compared the games to the "Boob Tube." If you think that that name come from all the well endowed women on it, you are way too young. Ask someone that had to turn a dial instead of use a remote.

     Think about it. The majority of Americans would prefer to sit at home watching other people experience life. We buy television sets that are as large as the wall they are mounted on. Our neighbors could watch the programs we are watching, from their windows across the street. All this allows the watcher to see it unfold in life-sized high definition, while listening in surround sound. A show just cant be enjoyed properly without all that. Can it?
     There isn't a viewer out there that cant survive without this technology to watch their favorite reality star. God knows it would lower the experience watching your favorite male, or female, on a normal television. You wouldn't be able to see them flex or bounce properly across the screen. The gratuitous skin shots of the artificially enhanced individuals can be topped only by one thing. That is their unnatural ability to prove their breast, or pectoral size exceeds their IQ. Okay, some of them it is their guts or beards that are larger. I cant discriminate against the less pretty reality stars.
     To be fair not all of them are dense individuals, willing to debase themselves for their moment in the sun. Some of the people are smart about it. They take the money and fame and use it to their advantages; building businesses and a future for their families. This does not include those beautiful people that used it for a springboard for their adult entertainment endeavors. That is something that a person should have been able to accomplish without doing prime time. Sorry, that is another form of mindless visual stimulant. I am getting my mind out of the gutter now.
     My professor might have been right about a majority of television shows. However, the television has brought us many wonderful moments. Who can say that they didn't love Lucille Ball? Did you not weep watching a wife and child crying over the flag draped casket of an American soldier? It all isn't bad. We have the ability to see wondrous moments, as they happen. World events are at our finger tips. These are things that were not available that long ago. As people, we just have to be smarter than the networks and the television. Use the OFF button and try to live life. Or, you can star in your own reality show.

"He Sat and Wept"

    I have been told that, "If you don't change your ways, you're going to hell." Comments like that never affected me as a young man, I was certain I was immortal. I preferred the one preacher who told me, "son, you are on a highway to Hell. But, I lay odds you will be the first selling lemonade there." I was thinking the beer tent was more my style.
     Some religious leaders are quick to condemn you, if your beliefs are different. This has lead to more strife and death than any other reason in history. Even today, people hurt each other in the name of religion. The major religions seem to be the worst offenders. Christians, Muslims, and Jews are all locked together in a cycle filled with hate and distrust. Sure there are historic reasons that support the fear and distrust. The Crusades and The Spanish Inquisition are things that are ingrained in the psyche of the people.
     I do not claim to be a follower of any of these faiths. I have read the holy books of each. It is interesting that they all worship the same God. Many of their ideas and beliefs are intermingled. All three paths begin at the same doorstep. Slowly the paths diverge and twist along separate routes, only to return to the same home in the end. It is like three young men going out to make their fortunes in life. One chooses the life of a soldier, the other a career as a lawyer, and the third becomes teacher. All have different lives, but eventually return home in the end.
     I know this is an over simplification of religion. But, I believe in the KISS method. That stands for "Keep It Simple Stupid." We have complicated so much in life. Why should we make things more difficult? There is no need for me to hate a man because he seeks a different path to enlightenment than I do. I prefer to hate that person because they are a jerk, or just plain mean. That is why I cant understand the hatred of someone I never met. To me, it is the same as hating Billy Bob because he wore a red shirt when the rest of us wore a blue one. "How dare he be different?"
     My military career has taken me all around the world. I have worked with people of all these different beliefs. They have stood across the field from me at other times. Despite this, I never hated one of them because of how he believed in God. So what if he worshipped a tree and I whispered to the wind, it doesnt change the type of people we are on the inside.  

     I wonder what God thinks sitting there watching this mess. Does he weep at the idiocy of it all, brother destroying brother in his name? Maybe he laughs because we have jacked it all up. We have twisted things so badly that none of us have a chance at going to heaven. If that is the case, remember me. Ill be the bald guy trying to set up a beer tent. Someone else bring the ice. 

  

A Little Goes a Long Way

     Happiness. That is a huge word. It has so many different meanings to a wide variety of people. I have read about the Buddhist versions, metaphysical perspectives, and modern-day views. They all have different idea's on what makes a person happy. Guess what? I have my own take on it.
   Today I see so many people that the word has nothing but monetary and selfish meaning to the word. People seem to not be happy unless they have the biggest and best toys. One neighbor must have everything that the guy across the street has. I believe that some people are so bad that I believe they would go to ridiculous lengths to satisfy their superior ‘happiness.’ This can be seen in the vehicles we have on our roads today. The Hummer is the best example. Even a civilian version of the vehicle is not a luxury vehicle. It is an oversized, gas guzzling, show piece. It says, “I have more money than sense.” Especially, when I see them with pimp paint job and gold spinning hubcaps.
    I am for a more simple definition of happiness. When I was a child, it meant that I had the necessities in life. There was always food in my belly. It may not have been the food I wanted. Liver and onions are still a bane for me to this day. There was always a warm bed. Sometimes, that meant I had to share it with my brother. If you are old enough to remember heating your home with coal or wood, you will understand. There was many a night I can remember sharing a bred with my brother to conserve heat. I may have been sore from the elbows and knees. However, we were warm and cozy with half the blankets in the house piled on us.
    There was also plenty of love to make us happy. I was not always certain that it was love. Mom was a tough lady. She could reach out and touch you with a belt or any thing she had handy, when you were breaking the rules. Her house shoes were the worst. Those rubber things hurt like crazy. My brother and I took turns hiding them, preferably at the bottom of the trash can. I never understood she loved us so much until I became a parent. You have to punish your children to make them better people and to teach them to respect rules. I just Mom had not loved quite so much, or so hard.
    When I became a young man happiness was defined differently for me. It was less the comfort of life, but more the pleasures of life. The first thing you are thinking is X-rated I am sure. Shame on you! I was going to say a good book, a cold beer, and a good smoke. Sometimes it is better to talk about the smaller things that mean a great deal to us, than those larger aspects of our lives.
    My books have given me great pleasure and comfort at times when there was nothing else to give me escape when I needed it. The places and events were light years from the pain and fear that were part of my life at times. I can remember a time when I, and my fellow soldiers, relied on books for our only form of entertainment. We would cut a book into separate chapters and pass them around. I know there are a lot of book lovers that cringe at that idea. However, that is the only way we all could enjoy the few we had.
    Anyone that has enjoyed a cold beer on a hot day, after working hard, can understand why I included it. There were times when I tried to brew my own. This was when I was serving in countries where alcohol was not allowed. There were other times when I sat sipping some of the finest brew in the world, watching the world walk by. Like many others, I even used to drown out the darkness that I had known in life. That never worked. All I got was the ‘Mother of All Hangovers,’ and stories I can never tell my children.
    I know it is not politically correct to say that smoking has given me comfort. But, it has. You finish a mission where you are not certain where you will live or die, that cigarette will seem real nice too you. I have seen men who have never smoked before, beg a smoke after surviving a nasty situation. I also had some of my best conversations while sharing a cigar under a dark night sky. Some of those conversations included a nice shot of scotch, and were debates over books. Ha, you can have all three at once.
    Now, I find happiness in small things. My family is the main thing. I am not saying they are small. I am saying it is the little things that are so important. Everyone seems so busy these days, most forget to stop and enjoy what they have. My wife and children give me moments that I draw on when times are tough. These small moments make me a wealthy and happy man.
    All parents know that wonderful quiet time when the children are all in bed and you have a few moments alone. There is seldom silence or time to relax in house full of children. You usually want to go to bed after they do, or finish some chore you couldn’t while they are awake because they wanted to help. When the moon shines right and the stars are aligned both parents can sit down and relax together. It is one of the few times that my wife and I can sit on the couch together and watch shows that do not involve muppets, puppets, or cartoons. When we are lucky we can both stay awake and finish the show.
    I have three very different daughters. My Oldest tells me she is going to be an actress/rock star. She treats me too impromptu concerts and plays regularly. My middle daughter is a tomboy who will a gamer/veterinarian. She loves to have me tell her bedtime stories, choosing the oddest subjects for our tales. My baby girl is too young to choose a career. I would have to say now she is a monkey/princess. She tries to climb everything while wearing her dress and crown. Despite the differences, they are all very loving children. They will all pile on me while we watch television. I call it the ‘puppy pile.’ It is warm and cozy, except for the elbow in the ribs and the knee in the groin. Yet, there is nothing better.
    Happiness is different things to different people at different times. To one person it could be a mansion on the hill. To another individual it is the salad from the vegetables they grew themselves. We can not be happy all the time. However, we can be most of the time. A person just needs to find those things that are truly important and focus on them. Everything else is background noise.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut.....

         I posted on my Facebook page today that I sometimes felt like Clint Eastwood in 'Heartbreak Ridge.' At other times, I felt like Danny Kaye in 'A Court Jester.' Many of the 'ancients' understood my references. I even had a friend tell me he felt more like Warren Beatty in 'Deliverance.' That makes me certain that I prefer my life to his, at least for the moment. It just goes to show you, things can always be worse.
     Many of you may be confused, or just not understand my references. There are many of you out there that were born after 8-tracks and cassettes had gone the way of the dinosaurs. I doubt you would recognize the theatrical references that I had made. Not that either of those movies will go down in history as great cinema. They were simply good entertainment that caught my attention and allowed me a few moments escape from normalcy.
     I do not feel like 'Gunny' in the movie because I am as tough and mean as he is. Although, I am certain that there are some soldiers out there that still think I am the Antichrist. You can not be loving and nurturing when training soldiers for combat. These young men and women have to be hard as nails to survive, both the physical and mental challenges they have to face. Gunny Highway fought officers and soldiers alike trying to prepare his men and leadership for the dangers they were to face.
     I can relate to his pain. The military has become a place where the individuals feelings are more important than preparing for the evil ahead. These brave souls are heading into a world that the movies and video games never prepared them for. We, as leaders, do them a great disservice by not preparing them for the horrors to come. Not everyone is meant for combat. It would be better to eliminate them before they see the battlefield. They are a danger to themselves and others.
     I feel like I am the 'Gunny' at the end of the movie. There is nothing more I can do for the young troops. It is time for them to find their paths and 'Lead the Way,' now. My wars have been fought. The knowledge I had has been passed on to that next generation. The time for old 'War Horses' is past. It is my time to sit down, light that stogies, and smile as they succeed.
     When I don't feel like an ancient warrior awaiting the Valkyrie's cry, I feel much like the 'Court Jester' That was a wonderful movie filled with humour and fun. There are moments in that movie that are priceless. Danny standing there showing the exposing the baby's bottom, so that the soldiers may see the royal birthmark, is humour at its best. It seems to be such a 'Parent' moment.There was embarrassment and pride both in his characters face.
     I have three little girls. I have gotten past the embarrassed stage. I have had children trow up all over me, run naked through the house at the most odd times, found food and other presents left for me well past the expiration date. I could rant and rave or laugh and enjoy their childish antics. I would love to say I laugh all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes I forget they are children and get upset.
     There are times and events I will never forget, or stop smiling about. There is the pink boa that the girls used as hair, so they could do my hair. The night spent cramped up in a tent designed for 2 little girls, not 2 girls and a Dad. My baby running through the house in her pink dress with her banana screaming "I'm a Princess. I'm a Princess" will melt any heart. I guess I am the jester, showing the princesses off to the world.
     Too bad there is no evil night for me to slay.Then again, I have been lead around the house to beat up the 'monsters' that were hiding in the dark places. All I need are the tights and a funny hat with a feather. I had better be quiet. I am sure the girls would find me some, if they thought they could get me in them...... Who am I kidding? All they would have to do is ask.

Lost Time

          Time is a Fickled mistress. None of us may escape her attentions. It is what we choose to do with her affections that matters. The majority of people fall into three categories, that I have noticed. The first group are the 'Kickers and Screamers.' these are the people who refuse to accept the fact that they are no longer in their twenties, and have not been for at least two decades. I know you know at least one of these people. There is that mother that raids her teenage daughter's closet. She tries to squeeze into an outfit that would not have fit her in her prime. Mom also tries to stay hip by learning, and using the latest trends and slang. Men aren't any better. They get hair implants, buy a new sports car, and squeeze into jeans two sizes too small. Then, they try and date girls that are closer to their children's ages than their own. This would not be so bad if they chose intelligent women they could commune with. However, they do not. The chose tends to swing closer to the erotic dancer type. Women who have more implants than a cyborg and who could care less about conversation than material things.
      Group two I will call the 'Rockers.' These are not people that keep playing 'Rock Music,' into their senior years. These are the people that give up on life after they retire. There seems to be nothing left for them to enjoy. I have seen too many of these people. They feel that they have outlived their usefulness. The only thing they have left is waiting on 'Jeopardy' to come on each night. Or, they prefer to sit on the front porch watching the world and time pass them by. They slowly count the passing of time with each rock of the rocking chair. All they have is the moment and the past.

     The final major group is the one I fall into when I reach that point. These are the people that find something to do to be productive well into their eighties, or longer. These people try to maintain a fun active life up until their final days. This is the group I want to belong to. My Grandfather and Father were members of this club as well. There is a part of me that wants to write and ride motorcycles, until I am in my eighties. By then, I may be on a trike with a rack for my walker. Life will be so enjoyable being that embarrassing older member of the family. I will be happy to leave my family with good memories and experiences in life. There can be nothing better than showing your loved ones how to live and love up until the end.

Memories

It is amazing how time and perspective changes our views on events in our lives. If you don’t believe me, think back. There is one of those extremely stupid events in your life. It may have been either embarrassing or life threatening. You may have thought you would never have survived the moment. Now, you can look back and laugh. It was one of the more amusing segments of your life.

                As I get older, I have started reflecting on events of my life. I realize that I had forgotten many of those special times. Like many others, I had become too engrossed in, “Living my own life.” There was no room to reflect on what had been.  Instead, it was all about living in the moment. There was so much life out there to live and I wanted to be part of it all. Little did I realize that I had been exposed to a lot of life and traveled to faraway lands as a young land.

                I had crossed the Amazon River when I was only five. At least, I saw it as a grand trek into that deep jungle.  The reality was that it was my first trip across a swinging bridge. It didn’t span the real Amazon, but the slow moving Clinch River. To an adult it was a simple task. To a five year old boy, it was a long arduous journey which took me to a new world. The destination wasn’t as cool as hungry cannibals with filed teeth. But, II had fun. My Father didn’t even have to encourage me to cross the bridge the second time around.

                Later, that same year, I was a lone soldier. I fought of wave after wave of Japanese soldiers from a hilltop on Iowa Jima. I crouched in my foxhole shooting the enemy as they crested the hill. All the rest of my fellows had fled or died. It was up to me to hold the enemy at bay. You can’t tell I watched too many John Wayne and war movies, can you?

                The battle was going great. I stopped the enemy horde from passing. I thought I would when the war single handed. Unfortunately, they had secret weapons. It was my Grandfather and Dad. They weren’t too happy that I had dug my position in their freshly plowed garden. Take my word on it. You don’t want to set up a fighting position in a man’s freshly plowed garden. It can be painful on your backside. Not to mention, it takes a five year old a long time to fill a hole with a toy tin shovel.

                Two short years later I was a lone trapper trying to survive a blizzard in a crude made shelter.  The Rockies are a harsh environment. Snow blew through the cracks in the logs, making life miserable. All I could do was huddle close to the dying fire. The cold seeped into my body. I knew I didn’t have long left. The final sleep would over take me eventually. My eyes shut despite my best effort. I was only saved by the sound of my Father’s voice. It announced that it was time for dinner, as he chuckled at me. My horrible death would have to wait until the next day, if there was no school.

                The choices I’ve made, since becoming a real adult, have allowed me to travel the world. I’ve seen those sites that I pretended to visit as a child.  I’ve walked paths where historic figures have tread and created history. Yet, as I look back, none of those places were as magical as the places I created and shared with my father. At times I amused him, other instances weren’t so happy. They never should have left the matches where I could find them. Hopefully my children will have lovely memories like this that they can recall later in life.