7th Day Surprise: SHOW TIME

CURTAIN CALLS

Who doesn't love to be entertained?
One of the things we miss in Manhattan
is the theater, movies, opera, symphony, or ballet.

Nothing beats enjoying the arts in a group setting.
So whatever it takes, go see something, anything.
All you have to do is buy a ticket, 

and away you go...

SPECIAL DELIVERY

First class
In theory we're all rather jaded. Hence it's rare
if/when any of us are surprised. And yet, isn't
that what life is all about? Inevitably just when
we think we've got it all figured out something
happens to alter such a misconception. Along
with the good comes the bad. Both occurring
under capricious circumstances. Thus it's best
to be ready for anything. Facile enough to be
able to adapt to whatever, whenever, however,
whomever. Fortunately the odds are often in
our favor. Even in the worst of crisis we gain
from the challenge. Whether we want to or not.
So why not expect the best no matter what?!

Transcontinental service
Living in central Montana offers pros and cons.
On the upside one simply has to look around to
know we live in a beautiful place. However
getting from here to there can be a circuitous
experience at best. Which is why I've learned
to leverage every opportunity. Recently I sold
two large sculptures to a client in Spokane.
Days later I got notice that some chairs I'd
purchased in Cincinnati were on their way.
Hoping against hope, I queried the carrier as
to whether he might be able to transport my
treasures. And as luck would have it... he was
going on to Spokane. Small world isn't it?

Double indemnity
Soon thereafter he delivered my chairs and
picked up the sculptures. Then drove them
to their final destination. Post dropping them
off he sat down to look at his next stop. And
realized that the original reason he was going
to Spokane was a delivery to the same place,
same customer. And what are the chances of
that? Just when you think nothing ever goes
right, we all connected in a miraculous way.
One that not only proves that this is a VERY
small world. But also confirms that once in
awhile the stars align. Now if only we could
be guaranteed just that on a daily basis!

Package tracking
While there are no guarantees that life will go
smoothly it frequently does. However few of
us really savor said smooth sailing. Instead we
take things for granted. Assuming that we're
entitled to an easy time. Such delusion fueling
resentment if something goes wrong. Given
things are out of our control, it's usually best
to graciously adapt to both the good and bad.
In the end, we all end up in a better place no
matter how we get there. And maybe... we had
it coming. Is caprice in fact karmic payback for
all that we have and haven't done? Or could all
that happens ultimately our own doing?!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Perceived reality
Complacency is if nothing else a set
of veritable blinders. Sans a fresh
perspective we all tend to see things
through anything but rose colored
glasses. Continuity equals banality
in that the same old becomes rather
tiresome as the years go by. That
may be the only explanation as to
why many here in Lewistown seem
unable to view our community from
an optimistic vantage point. The fact
is that any newcomer instantly sees
this place for what it is. Good or bad.

Short sighted
I'll admit that I'm as guilty as the next.
While living in Manhattan I truly did
not appreciate all that it had to offer.
Surrounded by world class museums,
music, culture, dining, and shopping -
I was bored. Putting it another way
I was more than jaded. Having been
there and done that I didn't consider
anything very special or unique. Thus
I glided through said magical world
in anything but a state of bliss. In fact,
I complained of being bored. If only
I'd known then what I know now...

Limited visibility
Imagine that. Every evening we had
an array of restaurants to select from.
And yet, we tended to stay close to
home in our own neighborhood. I.e.
about a mile square radius. The same
applied to shopping. Barney's and
Sak's defined both our northern and
southern borders respectively. While
we occasionally ventured to the West
Village or Soho, said forays were of
a random nature at best. Proof that
most humans are lazy, myopic or
both. When will we see the light?!

World vision
Once one finds their comfort zone
leaving rare indeed. Everything
and anything looks better with
a fresh set of eyes. Hence post
exiting one's natural habitat one
finds all sorts of new and magical
things. Most of which the locals
rarely acknowledge exist. Which
brings me to the subject of today's
blog. Simply put - it's time to look
around and appreciate what you
have. While some take umbrage
with that assumption, they're blind.

View finder
Every morning I still marvel at the
beautiful home we inhabit. Part of
that gratitude is due to the fact that
it took years and much commitment
to transform then into now. Oddly
I've always been able to see both
the forest and the trees. That could
be due to the fact that at times, I've
already lost it all only to regain
something even better. Losing it
is if nothing else traumatic. Yet
ultimately it's transformative. What's
here today could be gone tomorrow.

See for yourself
Do yourself a favor. Stop, look, listen.
Do whatever it takes to remove any
and all preconceived notions. Who
knows? That old friend could become
a new lover. Or you may find a way
out of what until now you assumed
was a dead end. What limits your
options is you. Therefore the only
reason our community can't be more
is also... YOU. Why sit alone in the
dark? Open your eyes and see the
light. And then... do whatever it
takes to make our world even better!

WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE

Caught in the act
Few cannot pause and view when passing an
auto accident. Apparently the thrill of carnage
is so alluring that few can resist a sneak peek.
As also is the case when somebody makes a
scene. While such an outburst is embarrassing
it is equally appealing. After all, who wouldn't
stop to indulge in a live theater performance?
Hence the spectacle over the last few days in
Washington has kept many of us in suspense.
While the evidence is shocking, the reactions
of President Trump have been beyond bizarre.
Causing many to think that he's finally lost it.
Or is lost in the fact of being caught in the act.

Been there, done that
Karma is if nothing else reciprocal. Therefore
if you push anything or anyone to the extreme
inevitably there is pushback. At times such a
repercussion can be delayed much more than
we might like. However ultimately what goes
around, comes around. Which appears to be
what is happening to Donald Trump. Often it
only takes one victim to unleash a tsunami of
retribution. The end result being judgment
that few if any are capable of escaping. Thus
nasty begets even nastier. Lies morph into
evidence. And those most evil shift from the
dark side to a moral equivalent of a black hole.

Garbage in... garbage out
Excrement swirls all the more on the way out.
Which may explain why President Trump is
spinning out of control. Like Linda Blair in
the Exorcist he can't control what comes out
of his mouth. Yet his prior defense strategies
seem now ineffective against the truth. Few
if any of his cohorts are willing to discuss the
issue itself. Instead they spread conspiracy
theories based on rumor and innuendo. All
anything but the truth. While said approach
worked in the past, many Americans seem
to be ready to finally face the facts. Which
is that Mr. Trump is NOT up to his role.

Cause and effect
Ultimately the golden rule tends to also be a
prudent precautionary tactic. Hence it makes
sense to treat all others in a positive way that
benefits involved. No wonder abused victims
ultimately turn on their aggressor. Or that one
can only push the envelope for so long before
it finally returns to sender. Anybody can drive
everyone else out of their way. Only to find
they're left behind to face the consequences
Finally rules can only be bent so far until they
are rebound in full force. Thus Donald Trump
is now faced with a crisis of his own making.
And trust me it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN...

Please say it isn't so...
Have you seen that insurance commercial
where the guy worries he's becoming his
mother? Stranger things have happened.
At this point in life I frequently freak out
when I emulate my parent's quirks. Yet for
many reasons I know that I am not alone.
Thus it seems that at least for most of us -
we all become a reflection of who and how
we were raised. That doesn't mean that soon
I'll be wearing an organdy apron and pearls.
Rather it's indication that all of us are in the
midst of endless recycling. A full circle ride
where we all come to the same conclusion.

Parental guidance
While I deeply respect my dearly departed
parents - it's highly doubtful that they were
much smarter from the rest. Nor that in truth
they came to any illumination dramatically
different than the balance of their peers. In
truth experience is a group effort. Thus each
generation goes through the same collective
cycle together. And as said subset ages - they
finally put the pieces together. And then... die.
During said process those who immediately
follow suddenly discover that their parents
are as human as they are. The fact of which
can be either redemptive, punitive, or both.

Time and time again
Far into adult education, my parents had me
later in life. Like any tot I considered all that
they said gospel. Post coming into my own
I shifted to skepticism. Questioning any and
all advice ever given. In part because I now
knew that they weren't perfect. A fact which
frankly pissed me off. Obviously embracing
one's elder's weaknesses can ultimately be
empowering. However only when one finds
they are doing exactly the same things their
folks did for exactly the same reasons. Thus
deja vu not karma is a bitch slap of reality.
And we all know how that story will end...

Deferred engagement
If nothing else - facing the prospect of one's
imminent demise is a wake up call. As we
Boomers age, it's obvious we're not willing
to go down easily. And yet - are we all that
different from our parents? My father retired
"early" at age sixty two. Way back then he
seemed ancient to me. Yet in truth Dad was
about to embark on the best years of his life.
The next decade was filled with satisfaction.
A respite that was more than deserved given
he was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's and
literally "lost it." All of which causes me to
wonder exactly what I'm waiting for?!

Like father, like son
All of which leads me to the conclusion that
I've become my Father. Which given who he
was and how he lived his life is perfectly fine
with me. History repeats itself. Thus my hope
is that I will somehow influence others in a
positive light. Ultimately the little things are
what matters. Subtle nuances - off handed
compliments - random advice - unsolicited
observations - all of which unintentionally
fuel our individual legacies. As obsolescence
is our ultimate destination, we might as well
enjoy this round trip. And if we end up half as
smart as our parents - then all the BETTER!

WAITING GAME

Just you wait...
I've never been very good at sitting
still. Hence my ability to passively
participate in any form of purgatory
is rather limited. When one travels,
almost any pleasure that awaits is
subjugated by the process of getting
from here... to there. For reasons only
God knows, it seems that the laziest
of individuals are often given the task
of herding the rest of us. No wonder
that by the time we're finally off and
running, I'm ready to run away. One
has to ask, "isn't there a better way?"

Terrorist threat
Why is anybody surprised that when
the government is involved it's even
worse. What can I say about airport
security except that the experience if
nothing else makes me feel insecure?!
I find it shocking that the glazed over
zombies who nonsensically rant about
large electronic devices are actually
responsible for my safety. Given it's
more than apparent that they could
care less about anything except their
impending coffee break... it's a miracle
we all don't get blown up. God help us!

What's the hold up?
Maybe the terrorists are actually not
the people we should be worried about.
Instead I'm starting to think that they
are those employed by our government,
airports, and airlines. What's more than
obvious is that none of them are happy.
What I worry most about is the latent
hostility that must be bubbling beneath
their polyester uniforms. After all, if
you had to constantly remind people
to take off shoes and empty pockets,
wouldn't you go off the edge? All just
because you want to get out of Dodge!

Going through the paces
What galls me is their inability to act
like human beings. I'm sure they're
nice people at home with families to
feed and lawns to mow. Much like
my Dad I'm a fairly nice guy. As I
move through life I try to make it
easier for everyone. After standing
on a "premiere" line for eons, my
natural inclination is to interact. Yet
why is it that they never smile, never
wink, or never truly acknowledge any
kindness extended their way?! What
is behind the mask - a robot or idiot?

Above it all
It used to be that once you got on
a plane everything changed. Sadly
that no longer seems to happen.
Attendants rarely attend. Instead
they go through the motions as if
they really cared. Even in First
Class few do anything more than
the absolute minimum. I'm not sure
why they seem beleaguered. Is this
their third leg or are they worried
about contract negotiations? What's
obvious is that they're over their jobs
and unfortunately... also over US.

Patience please
And so we wait. Mediocrity makes nobody
happy. Given most spend the majority of
their waking hours working, isn't it time to
wake up? One thing is certain - few in our
modern world seem willing to compromise.
Hence the only way the tortured can survive
the pain is to share it. If they have to wait a
few more years till retirement... you're going
to have to bide your time until they're ready
to serve you. And if you don't like it, don't
push them too far. They might make you step
to the back of the line. You see, misery loves
company or whoever is in their range of fire!