YESTERDAY

 

It has been an amazingly Sunny November, until this Morning that is, the clouds have returned. It is still a nice day with temperatures well above freezing. Anything can happen here, in November, we could have two feet of snow.

Yesterday, was an odd day. Do you ever have a day when it seems that the planets are not aligned in your favor? It all started in the Morning when I went to get the paper in Ogilvie. I filled up the gas tank on my little truck and purchased the paper; when I went to leave my truck wouldn't start. I tried several times and it seemed that only the solenoid would click, as if the battery was weak or had a bad connection. When I went to open up the hood it wouldn't release. After several tries, I realized I was yanking on the brake release. I have only owned this truck since 1998, it takes a little time to get used to everything. When I got the hood raised. I examined the battery connection. It looked good.

I decided that I couldn't leave the truck sitting at the gas pumps on a busy Sunday Morning, I had to call a tow truck. The folks, that supply the towing service here, are the same people who service my vehicles, that's good. I went into the store to use their phone. The young man, who is the clerk, hands me a cell phone and says, “You have to dial one first.” I have the phone in my hand and I don't even know how to turn it on. I communicate my distress and he dials the number for me. I tell Jamie my dilemma and ask her to call the tow truck and come and get me.

I go back out to the truck to await the tow truck or Jamie [whoever gets there first]. I wait. The guy next to me says, “How are things going?” I say, “Not so good. I can't get my truck started.” I tell him I think it is the switch on the clutch. The clutch needs to be engaged for the starter to work. I mention, it will just click. He tells me if it clicks the clutch switch must be working. Well that makes sense. He says he will short across the solenoid to see what happens. I get in the truck, turn on the ignition, and before he can do anything, I turn it to start and it starts right up. I thanked him and he assured me he didn't do anything. He said, “Maybe I scared it.”

I went into the store to use the phone, again, to cancel the tow truck. This time it was a lady clerk who handed me the phone. After some clumsy negotiations, I got her to call the number [they were very busy]. The line was busy for several minutes. I finally got through to Jamie and asked her to cancel the tow truck. Thankfully it took a while to get a hold of them, so nobody was inconvenienced. During this process I did learn to use a cell phone.

When I got home I tried starting the truck a couple times; no trouble. I wonder what the problem was. I hope I never find out. I mean, the only way I could find out is if it happens again.

This adventure didn't spoil my mood. I was grateful it had a good outcome. When I got home I contemplated watching the Vikings and reading the paper. But then I did have things to do. I wanted to get the top off an oil drum and use it for a burn barrel. I couldn't find the needed chisels. I looked every where I thought they might be, going up and down the basement stairs twice, not a pleasant trip for an old codger. I went out to the garage to look at the drum, I turned it over to see what the other end looked like, The top was already removed. Then I remembered, I asked the guy, I got it from, to cut the top off for me. A nice surprise. Then, I look for a drill, to cut some drain holes in the bottom. I find the drill and can't find the chuck key. I start to search the work area, when I remember to check the cord; of course the key is there by the plug. I have used a cordless, drill the last several times, I used a drill. I don't know, if that is sufficient excuse, for this mind fart.

Things kept happening. Little things. Clumsy little things. Spilling a waste basket. Knocking things off the coffee table with my feet. There seemed to be a succession of things. I can't remember them all. At the end of the day, when it was time to relax, I reached for a crystal carafe, a beauty, with a glass stopper. I bumped it, just gently; it fell just four inches, hit the back of the liquor cabinet and the top broke off. We knew it had a little crack right at the top, so it wasn't as devastating as it might have been. But what a way to end an error filled day.

But then that isn't all. The rest of the Evening was pleasant and uneventful, but I have one more thing to report. The rest of this narrative is not for the more sensitive. For several years, I have been taking an ounce or so of wheat bran, mixed in tomato juice, every Morning, to aid a certain body function. Yesterday, bizarre day that it was, I forgot. When I remembered, in the Afternoon, I thought I will just take some Inner Clean {a mild herbal remedy} before I go to bed. You guessed it. I awoke in the middle of the night and remembered what I had forgotten. I wasn't going to get up and go down stairs to the kitchen, in the middle of the Night, to remedy my forgetfulness. I laid there for awhile wondering what the consequences would be. I had no intention of giving in to my inclination to get up. I was cozy in bed and it probably would be okay. I wasn't facing the clock, I really didn't know what time it was. I rolled over, it was 3:15AM. Well, it was easier to get up than ponder an uncertain future. Now you know more than you wanted to know. Getting old is great fun.

Today, let the planets be aligned differently.

It was actually a good day and it is great to be alive.

Love and Peace, Gregg

NO NEED FOR BLAME

 

Wow! Yes, it did take a day and half to get over the shock and of course, we are disappointed but whoa- what is all the anger about? It is easy to turn disappointment into anger, condemnation and all other judgement related feelings, but hey, that doesn't help. I have identified as a Democrat all my life. That doesn't mean I always, or even usually, agreed with the party establishment. We need to look at ourselves. Blaming the voters is pointless; especially when there is something to learn.

Remember, here in Minnesota we are the DFL- Democrat- Farmer-Labor. Labor, that is those folks who used to be upwardly mobile. They used to be able to send their kids to college so they could be teachers, nurses, social workers and some became lawyers and doctors. The American Dream was their dream. As this dream, was gradually torn away from them, what have we, the Democrats, done?

What did we do when the unions were demonized, then destroyed? What did we do when college tuition became unaffordable, for all but the wealthy? What did we do when factories first went South, then to Mexico and then overseas?

My first real job was a knitting machine mechanic for Munsingwear, they went South along time ago, and if they still exist, I am sure they are making their underwear in Viet Nam or some such place.

I didn't think my life path was all that easy, but it was duck soup compared, to my children and grand children. I entered the Air Force as a HS-nongrad in 1954. When I was discharged in 1958 I entered the University of Minnesota. I received my BA in 1962. It didn't cost me one penny-GI Bill. I returned to school for my Masters in 1964 and received it in 1966, again it didn't cost me one penny, and besides I received a stipend which was enough to live on so I didn't need to work; a Federal Grant program.

My children have it much rougher. Three of my children were in the Air Force and their GI Bill was nowhere as good as mine. One of my daughters had school loans in excess of $20,000. And that is probably below average for today's students.

What have we, the Democrats, been doing to help the middle class? What did Bill Clinton do? He oversaw the abolishment of the Glass-Seigle act which kept banks [ordinary savings] from gambling with depositors money. When that turned Wall Street, into a greater casino, than it already was and banks pushed money, into the hands of people who couldn't pay it back, and the banks went bust, what happened? The banks got bailed out. Working people by the thousands lost their homes. Many lost their jobs; where were the programs to help them?

I could go on and on in this vein. We might protest, we tried to help but the Republicans stopped us at every turn, that is partly true, but the Clintons had close ties to Wall Street, very little was done to help the ordinary people and the poor. Welfare reform was a disgrace.

Let us pretend the Democrats are blameless and they couldn't do anything about the endless war, the growing poverty, the escalating healthcare, the loss of manufacturing jobs, the economic stagnation, and the end of upward mobility for most of our population. Let us pretend, that there were forces, we were helpless to deal with. We could have, at least, sympathized! We could have addressed it! We could have told the people we wanted to do something about it!

I only heard Bernie talk about it. Do you think Hillary looked good with her ties to Wall Street? She promised, no end, to the senseless war in the middle East. She, even, threatened to escalate the war in Syria. I know she was just trying to be tough, but we don't need anymore of that.

So this huge part of the population, that was left out of the candy store, is mad. Can you blame them? Their standard of living has been going down since the seventies. Two people, in the family, have to work just to keep their head above water. They can't afford to send their kids to college. If they don't have company health insurance they can't afford it.

Don't underestimate these people's intelligence. They are not necessarily fooled by this conman, they just wanted to register a protest against a party that abandoned them.

We are supposedly the wealthiest people on the Earth. Where is our guaranteed minimum income, where is our free higher education, where is our free heath care? We are supposed to be the liberal party, the one that cares for people, the one that believes in equality, perhaps this is the wake up call we need.

Or, perhaps, we should stop thinking of ourselves as Democrats or Republicans and start thinking of ourselves as people who want to love and care for each other. We can do it, you know.

Happy Friday!

Love and Peace, Gregg

THE MORNING AFTER

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER...................................... but I went outside, to let my broilers out, when the Sun just broke over the horizon. There was lots of frost and a web of ice trying to form on the birdbath. The world was sparkling new and beautiful. Had anything really changed?

The political structure at the top of our oligarchy is in upheaval. Faces change. Did anything really change? When Obama was elected we all had hope of change. We wanted an end to the continuos war. We wanted an end to racial discrimination. We wanted an end to the exploitation of the vulnerable and weak by those who would enrich themselves. How much change happened? Did the wars stop? Did we stop killing innocent people with drones? Did we stop invading other countries for the empire's self interest? Let us think about that.

Whenever we have a presidential election, there is a big ballyhoo about, what a change it can make. Most of us get on the bandwagon. It is our nature to be hopeful. We don't like what is happening in the World now. Bernie gave us hope, that he could lead us in the right direction. That scared people in the power structure. The oligarchy doesn't want change. They just want the illusion of change. They don't want anything to threaten their grasp on control.

As long as we have elections where divisiveness is used to gain support, there will be no real change. The technique of divide and conquer, is well developed, by those who really run things.

As long as the Corporatacracy remains in power, its tentacles reach deeply in the political process of this country as well as the rest of the world. It is difficult for Americans to realize we have an empire that has maintained control, everywhere. The British were fond of their empire, it was very visible and the ordinary citizen filled the various bureaucratic positions to maintain it. The American empire is hidden behind corporate boardrooms. Where do these mega-corporations have their satellite offices? Who runs them? They are all over the world, how come we know nothing about them? Part of our ignorance is because they are merged and hidden in government structures. The state department does the bidding of the Corporatacracy.

All our presidents, since F.D.R. Have ended up being puppets, no matter how well meaning they were. Eisenhower discovered it and he warned us with his Military/Industrial Complex speech prior to leaving office. Look it up. I loved Carter and still do. He, like Obama, was a disappointment, he wasn't allowed to do anything and he ended up siding with the manipulators. He thought if he gave a little here, they would let him do a little there. He was wrong. The Bushes were unapologetic tools of the dark. Bill C. caved in immediately, he talked a good game, but was in the pocket of the oligarchy. I still see greatness in Obama, but his presidency is a testament to how little power the office has.

This guy, we just elected, plays the buffoon, and a pretty horrible one at that, I don't know if he is really. I admit it is a bit scary; but, he is not likely to have more power than the others. Of course, that depends on what the real powers want to accomplish. That is frightening to contemplate. Well lets not contemplate it. Let us not judge the voters. A large segment of the population was sick and tired of not being heard. Their unions were destroyed. Their standard of living was greatly reduced. Their standing in the community was diminished. Where were the Democrats when this was happening? How come they didn't speak to them? Their vote was a large middle finger to the establishment. Their vote doesn't reflect support for this man's opinions.

We have to quit thinking that meaningful change is going to happen from the top down. It can't! As long as the dark are still calling the shots, the persons presented as candidates for us to choose from, will be puppets. It is a testimony to the waning power of these dark forces that they presented two such unattractive people.

The change we want is going to begin in our relationships with each other; our families; our communities. There are only two forces at work, love and fear. When we choose love, we create what we want. When we choose fear, we create what our manipulators want.

The good news is that despite how dark this election looks, the consciousness is rising. This very chaos, we seem to be experiencing, is evidence of power of the dark diminishing. We will begin to see some bright light shining through soon. The media can't hold out truth much longer.

Let us tend our gardens, cherish our families and neighbors, make sure all are taken care of in our vicinity. Let us love ourselves and everybody we meet. It will be okay.

Love and Peace, Gregg

AFTER TOMORROW

This is the time of the year when I look at the clock and add or subtract an hour. I personally adjust to the time change, with hardly a notice. Last night I went to bed around 12:30. I wasn't anymore tired than usual, even though, it was actually an hour later Sun-Time. However, my sheep, and especially my chickens, want things on their schedule. Unfortunately, those chickens don't have our watches, they let me know when I am fifteen minutes late. An hour would not be tolerated. The old biddies don't mind, their flexible, but those broilers are agitating, to get out of that coop, ½ hour after Sunrise. I was letting them out at 8:30AM. I got up between 7 and 7:30 so that gave me time to have a cup or two of coffee and do the crossword puzzle, before launching into the days chores [not that there's much]. Now I will have to get out there, and let them out, without even much of a sit-down. Well sure, I could go to bed earlier and get up earlier................no.......uh uh.

Well tomorrow, it will be finally over. I haven't said too much about my views of this election, and I won't, perhaps I will have something say, after the dust settles down, in a few weeks. It has been a real circus. It has been almost theatrical, as if it is a staged event, to keep our minds off of what is really happening. I don't really believe that. But it is difficult to see how these two candidates could represent what is supposed to be the best of our leaders. How could this happen? It has been painful.

There have been many people, that have expressed my views, of this election debacle. The latest one [I read] is by Barbara Ehreneich, one of the more insightful commentators, on the world stage. It was posted by Molly Strong on Facebook.

What the World needs is a leader who will bring peace. We need leaders who emanate peace and love from their being. There is a great deal to be done, in this World, to bring equality and abundance to all the people. None of this can be accomplished by leaders that use divisiveness to attract supporters. None of this can be done by leaders that support the present Corporate Empire. None of this can be done by leaders that support the present version of capitalism.

People are waking up. Many people are in agony about this election. They see clearly that neither candidate can further the goals of a sane world, yet they are afraid to vote for a third candidate, for fear, that the worse of the two will get elected. What a horrible dilemma!

We will get over this craziness one way or another and we will continue the creation of a sane world.

It is as if all the craziness in the world has risen to the top for us to observe. It is a scum for all to see. Everything that has been absolutely nutty about our World is right there; all the intolerance, violence, greed, divisiveness of every kind. Perhaps, it so we can see it and give it up.

We know that underneath this skim [I will use a nicer term] most of us reside. We see people who love each other and want to live in peace. We see people who want everyone to be happy. We see people that want everyone to be well fed, well housed and educated properly. Sure there are a few cranks, that's okay, every family needs them. They enrich the community. We don't want to be all the same. There are enough people, who see that love is the only solution, in every community, that we can create a sane world around us. Let us not expect it to come from above. The 'above' is collapsing. We will create a new structure.

Just imagine, that everything that isn't love, is an illusion, and we will soon see reality.

Love and Peace, Gregg

P.S. I note that Barbara Ehreneich's comments are under views on Common Dreams

KEEP DREAMING

It is another beautiful day on Planet Earth. I am a little tired though. Last evening I got a call from Noah that he was having car trouble [overheating]. He was in Minneapolis and I was concerned that I might have to go get him. The problem wasn't resolved by late evening; he was in an acting class and couldn't communicate with me. By my bedtime, 12:30, I could only assume he would make it home okay. I don't know, that, that concern, was part of my restless sleep. I kept dreaming about a Power Ball ticket that was in the glove compartment of my little truck.

On Wednesday when I went to pick up the paper, I decided on impulse to buy a Power Ball. The owner seemed to be having a bad day, when I offered to split my winnings with her, she perked up. I went to bed on Wednesday night, without knowing, who won the World Series. When I learned Thursday Morning, that the Cubs won, I thought, “Wow that is a good sign.” We went out to brunch [cleaning lady day]; I was looking at the paper, I noted the winning numbers were printed. The power ball was a 5. I was sure I had a five for the power ball. We had taken the van, so I couldn't check, anyway why not be a millionaire for a little longer. Pretty much forgot about it when we got home, but remembered it, last night, when Jamie began talking about, the Opera House, she wanted to build in Ogilvie, I couldn't get her to fetch the ticket from the truck. Well, I was just teasing, as I knew it was something she wouldn't do. I didn't want to do it in case it may break the spell.

So I set myself up to have some crazy dreams. The dreams are hazy now, but they had to do with finding the ticket, not being able to find the ticket, struggling to read the numbers- all kinds of nonsense.

This Morning, when I went out to do the chores, I retrieved the ticket. I won't keep you in suspense …................................ no winner. Nothing! The 5, I thought I saw as the power ball, was the first number- not the last.

I probably won't have another impulse to buy a ticket for quite awhile. But then, who knows; there is learning in all our experiences and sometimes we don't know what it is.

Oh ya ! Noah did make it home okay, about 2:30AM. He added water and the engine seems to be cooling properly. Needs checking out, of course.

Life on Planet Earth doesn't always come to us smoothly or predictably. We are painfully aware of our parts as actors, but only dimly aware, of how we write and direct the script. However, it is all a learning process; sometimes not pleasant, but it always carries us along, in the direction we want to go.

Let us be peaceful, but keep focusing on our dreams. We are creators. Our dreams will bear fruit.

We are having absolutely beautiful weather here! I am going to go out and bask in the Autumnal Sun. Well, I got to do dishes first and have a little brunch.

Have a great Friday! Celebrate!

Love and Peace, Gregg

THE DREAM

 

Yesterday, was one of the most beautiful days I have ever experienced; perhaps because it hadn't been Sunny for awhile. However, it seemed to be a spectacular day, standing on its own. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Today, is cloudy again, but the promise is for Sunny weather the rest of this week.

This world is getting so old and tired. Since I have paid, as little attention to this election cycle, as I could, I am no expert on what has been going on. But I couldn't put my head in the sand and I am inundated by politics on Facebook, and every time I turn on the TV, I am blasted with commercials and the news ahhhhhh...................... It doesn't matter that I keep the mute on. It gets to me.

What happened to our dream of a government that serves the people? Maybe, it has never happened, but at least, we dreamed it. Where are the conversations about bringing everybody out of poverty? Where are the conversations about extending, state of the art health care, to all? Where are the conversations about ending exploitation of the third world? Where are the conversations about ending the continuous war? Where are the conversations about creating a society where nobody is treated as unequal? Where are the conversations about ending the poisoning of the Earth, our food, our air, our water? Did I miss these conversations? I don't mean a casual mention in passing, I mean a seeking of solutions.

Oh yes! This is a tired old world. It reminds me of that piece of furniture that may be in your garage, or basement, maybe the attic; you know the one, that piece that has been handed down for several generations. No one wanted to throw it away because they said it was solid wood; perhaps walnut, or oak, maybe maple, something really good. Great, great grandpa is said to have made it in his shop. It was meant to be restored but instead it was tucked away where it wouldn't offend anyone.

Lets drag it out! Wow it has layers and layers of paint. It is cracked so badly in some places, one can almost see the wood, peeking through, the layers of time. One can see how people have tried to freshen it up with shiny paint, bright colors, dull colors, pastels, all depending on the fashion of the time. Did anybody ever consider removing the finish and exposing the original wood?

Just like our world, there was an original idea. It was like good solid wood, wasn't it? All about freedom and equality, didn't it hint at loving your neighbor? Wasn't there promise of a loving world? What happened? When the original idea started to wear, instead of redoing it properly, it was covered with a glossy coat. When that coat was beginning to show wear [corruption, venality and all its friends] somebody came along and put on a new color to fit the fashion of the day. There have been too many coats. It can't be refurbished without stripping it bear of all the layers of corruption and deceit. The lies, the distortion, the false direction, the fakery; it all has to be removed.

Some might say, “There in no hope of saving this, lets throw it on the trash heap, burn it.” Others might say,”No no, there is something worth saving, we can remove these awful layers and get back to the original idea” We don't have to have that debate. Creation exist, extant of time. The original idea is always there. Whether you strip the piece of furniture so the wonderful wood shines or rebuild it, it matters not. It is an idea. Ideas don't die.

We know what the original idea was; a government that served the people, a government that guaranteed the equality of humankind. Equality means equality; all essentials of life guaranteed. No human being on this planet needs to suffer any lack. No one needs to be afraid. All need to know their loved and valued. This need not be a dream, it can be easily reached.

Let us talk about it!

Love and Peace, Gregg

TWELVE

I hope the Sun will come out. It was shining bright when I awoke. For reason, unknown to me, I didn't wake up until almost 8:30. That is at least an hour later than my usual arousal time.

When I laid down, in bed, last night, the thought went through my mind, “How did this twelve year old kid get to be eighty-two?” Well my 82^nd birthday isn't until January, but I am in my 82^nd year. I remember that twelve year old boy. He had the dream of growing up to be the philosopher, that would teach, that all learning pursuits were the same. It didn't matter whether you were studying mathematics, psychology, physics, whatever, it was the same subject from a different point of view.

I remember when, I saw what I saw. I was laying in bed looking up at the springs above me. {I slept in an army surplus bunk bed- my brother slept above me.} I was convinced, I was seeing a truth, that folks needed to understand. I wish I could remember it now. I was smarter when I was twelve.

Thinking about my brother, who slept above me; he is the one who left us, this past year, shortly before his eightieth birthday. He always asked me questions, and got me to expound on things. Some time, during my discourse, I would realize he had fallen asleep. It wasn't until we were grown up, that he admitted that, when he had a hard time sleeping, he would get me to talk, because that would always help him fall asleep. Is that the way to treat a 12 year old philosopher?

I continued my love of philosophy, but when I was a teenager {16?} I read Freud's “Introduction To Psychoanalysis”. I fell in love, with the subject, and read what came my way. I read some of the works of Adler and Jung and as a young man realized truth did not lie in the works of one person.

Since then my learning has been attempting to answer, “Who are we?” “Why are we here?”

Now, I just want to grow up. Whatever that means.

I think it means, who we are, divested of all the learning that was based on fear. Most of what we were programmed to believe, about ourselves, is nonsense. We have learned limitation and judgement about ourselves. Yes, I believe we are loving beings of light.

We may need to listen to our twelve year olds.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Love and Peace, Gregg