Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Solution...
05/19/2012
The world is in crisis, on the brink of another World War. This one has the potential to bring total annihilation of the human race as nuclear devices are detonated by the countries that possess them. World leaders have assembled at the United Nations to see if there is any way possible to avoid this conflict that seemingly is unavoidable. There has to be a way out, but…
This is the computer age. The vast amount of the accumulated human knowledge and history is stored in the computers of the world. It is decided as a last-ditch resort to link them and search them for a solution. This is a monumental task. Time is of the essence and searching thousands of years of history on thousands of computers could take months, perhaps longer, and there may not be enough time before hostilities boil over. Tensions continue to mount as the computer experts link these super computers.
Finally, it is time to begin the search. The question is entered and the button is pushed and the machines begin to hum. The seconds begin to tick off when suddenly the linked computers stop the function. The computer gurus are stunned; the process ended as quickly as it started. Those gathered around the screens are totally mesmerized, the solution to allow the peoples of this world to live in peace lights up the screen. It is but twelve simple words.
“Do unto others what you would have them do to you.”
Back in 1963 I took a public speaking course at the University of Baltimore. One of my classmates was an older man (perhaps in his 40s) with a pleasant smile and a deep, baritone voice. The above is the short speech he made as a one of our class assignments. I do not recall what the assignment was or the theme or what we were to convey, but here I am forty-nine years later remembering the gist of an impactful two minute speech wondering if the ills of the world could be that simply cured, all the while knowing they could but won’t.
Rodney King asked this question in March 1991, “Can’t we all just get along?” Apparently we cannot, but the solution is as simple as those twelve little words.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Feeling Like A Working Stiff...
05/08/2012
Today I am traveling to Orange Beach, Alabama to cover a conference for my former company. It’s a “consulting” gig I have previously debunked as nothing more than a part time job that we older retired folks like to label as consulting because it sounds a thousand times better. The bottom line of this is simply that I get paid for doing this and it allows me to continue to purchase massive amounts of my favorite brewed beverages.
As this very moment I am holed up at the far end of the Orlando airport waiting to board my connection to Pensacola, Florida. The connection is delayed so I get to hang out here for another two hours, three totaled. I suppose I don’t mind the wait, but it does throw off my consumption plans by couple of hours (the conference doesn’t start until tomorrow morning). As it stands, I get to rent a car once we arrive in Pensacola and drive for 30 or 40 miles to my final destination, the Perdido Resort, where I will get to spend three glorious nights all by myself.
The “myself” point is the troublesome part. I have become so used to being near The Nancy 24/7, this alone thing bothers the hell out of me. I have, to come to the point, become a homebody, a momma’s boy of sorts. When I leave The Farm, in almost an instant I long to be back there. I miss it. I am now a farm boy. There is just something magical about that old house sitting a half-mile off the paved road in the middle of an old 120-acre farm. If West Virginia is “Almost Heaven” then The Farm must surely be Cloud 9. Perhaps I should add The Nancy is my angel, just in case she reads this.
I will muddle through the next three days and serve as eye candy for the masses. After all, that is what consulting is all about. Now all I need is a plane to get on and all will be cool.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
The Pub Tour...
05/02/2012
Back in mid-2001 The Nancy and I began to plan a trip to Ireland. We ordered travel guides and poured over them elevating our excitement to visit the Emerald Isle. Then “IT” happened.
September 11, 2001 put the kibosh on our plans, we felt terribly uneasy about air travel, so our plans were put on the back burner and the fire went out...almost. From time-to-time over the years The Nancy or I would mention it, but the trip plans were never really resurrected until about a month ago.
We were sitting at the bar in one of our favorite haunts in Winchester, VA. A couple sat beside us and as we chatted we learned they were from Ireland and had recently visited there. We got the bug again, in a fashion, but the plans kind of hung out there as I ruminated over the cost of such a venture. We are looking at about $7000 for an eight-day visit with all the trimmings.
That is a bunch of money, a huge expense considering I am a senior citizen living on a fixed income. I used it as an excuse to one of our daughters as the reason for my waffling. Said daughter quickly gave me hell for thinking that way. She actually shamed me into completing the plans, and once The Nancy cleared it with her boss, I did the appropriate “clicking” and the trip was planned, the flight was planned and all of it was paid for via American Express (the bill hits next month).
As daughter Meredith so aptly put it, if I didn’t make the trip I would regret the decision for the rest of my life. And, she is probably more than correct.
So, with just a little over 60 days until we depart the US on a 10pm flight to Dublin, I am already anxious to “git-er-done.” I can picture myself sitting on a stool in an Irish pub, a pint of Guinness firmly grasped, singing “Danny Boy” at the top of my lungs. A sight some of you can envision with a high degree of clarity. I am only hopeful there is enough Guinness brewed and safely stocked awaiting my arrival. Perhaps I should alert the media.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Men Crying...
04/18/2012
At the end of The Masters I watched Bubba Watson break into tears as it sunk in he had just won one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments. Just this past week he was on the Today Show and someone asked him about his new son. Bubba choked up and could barely get the words out as he said, “He’s awesome!” He admitted to be a crier and it was obvious he was not the least bit ashamed of it. I must admit I, too, am a crier, and very frankly it doesn’t take but almost any poignant moment to move me to the verge of tears.
Last week while mowing grass (which here on The Farm can take up to five hours) I had the earphones of my iPod on so I could drown out some of the noise of the mower’s engine. I was listening to “Romance for Violin” (Michael Hoppe – Solace), which I think is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard, and just listening to it – for probably the 100th time – I got a little glassy eyed. It happens a lot when I hear beautiful music, that is to say what I find to be beautiful music. I find it transports me to a happy place.
Just a month ago The Nancy and I attended the very beautiful and moving wedding of the daughter of one of my favorite people in Indiana. Weddings, for some reason, always bring me to the brink, and have for as long as I can remember. And then there are funerals. Let’s not even get into funerals.
Sunday The Nancy and I got to attend the Confirmation of a 13-year old nephew in Alexandria, Virginia. Part of the service was devoted to the Baptism of two really beautiful babies. I really have to hold it together when I get around babies, and these gorgeous ones really tugged at my emotions. Several times during this part of the service I had to battle back the moisture.
But, I have to admit nothing tugs at my emotions more than The Nancy. There are times when our eyes connect and I am overcome with her natural beauty and the realization of just what a lucky guy I am to have her as part of my life, and with that I always have reach for the handkerchief to dab my eyes.
I used to ask myself what the hell is wrong with me that I am unable to control my emotions, then I realized there is nothing wrong, it is just who I truly am, and that is more than okay.
And that is all I have to say about that…