|
[ Jim Hare classic posts Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
Better, good, worst…the older I get, those words just muddle into one word meaning “today”. I mean, really, compared to what?! We judge things, but upon aging the mind slides easier up and down the understanding/acceptance continuum of the judgment scale, softening disappointment and moderating elation.
As the outlook matures, every cloud has a silver lining, and every sunny day has clouds on the horizon. There is good in the bad and bad in the good at every turn. It is not only the hair that turns shades of grey, but judgment and outlook as well, and yadda, yadda, yadda. Platitudes, don’t you just love ‘em? They serve our youthful ends until the day comes that we see them as if for the first time, as if we have discovered them ourselves! We are amazed at the truth of it all, and then, of course, we are patronized for announcing them, patted on the head by the busy ones, or scorned and resented by the suffering ones.
The flowers are brilliant, but then you see them on a casket. Someone dies, but their family becomes closer. The front lines and uniforms of the armies of Good and Bad blur. Surrender is defeat and humiliation until one finds its road leads to love, whose own road leads back to surrender, a most lovely mobius. These are just airy fairy words to one who is in the midst of tragedy. For them, I have only compassion and the desire to serve in some way.
Yet the exigencies of life, our seeming enemies, are the gifts that keep on giving, though it may not seem so at the time. They are the alchemical opus in which the essential gold of our souls is brought forth. Do I hear groans? And it’s true what they say, “It’s always something!” We never “arrive”. There is always more BS to deal with. No wonder we have sayings like, “Shit happens!” and “Life’s a bitch, then you die!” Life is a somewhat fecally smeared training program with countless manuals, peddled like snake oil at every corner. Longevity is OJT.
So, I don’t know, do we go off to Heaven with an impressive resume, or reincarnate with a head start or just disappear with dignity (or with kicking and screaming)? We have always lived for profit, reward, or reason, so…
…well, just insert your ownfavorite cliché right about here.
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
don't fix what ain't broken :)
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Life: the most precious of all gifts, the highest of all prizes when we KNOW HOW IT CAN BE.
Heaven: why would anyone even try when we know what we love is HERE ON EARTH. (Some are headed that way for the job, not the location.)
Reward: God knows what works for humans and it's OK.
This Life: a learning experience, an opportunity to find out....EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
If at first you don't succeed....destroy all evidence that suggests you tried
If all else fails, manipulate the data
If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bullshit
If at first you don't succeed, redefine success
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
if at first you don't suceede, give up, but Not without trying till you fall over.
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Love them mousy feet...
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.
Robert Heinlein
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by ukchris [1400.2485] on April 12, 2006 at 11:54:42:
if you get lost on the way there, change your destination
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by lissa [2032.23] on April 12, 2006 at 12:58:22:
"hardly" anyone? That sounds like there are "some" who might. How can I be in the "some" category? hehe
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Carol [1362.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 14:25:36:
I wish I knew.
I haven't actually read the book that this quotation is from but in a Heinlein book there might be people who live forever.
Or even people who are forced to go on living when they don't want to (different book)
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Jim, very well written. :)
My favorite cliches:
-Life, in all its disappointments and glory, is a golden opportunity that only comes by once in a lifetime, so enjoy.
-Without rain there would be no rainbows.
-The sun shines behind the clouds always.
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
-Albert Einstein
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
"I think, therefore, I am"
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Hey Jim:
Of course it's always something. But I have to tell you, the Fates had it in for me last night on the way home from work. I thought I'd avoid a colossal traffic jam by taking a practically empty little street I had just passed. All I had to do was make a sort of U-turn, go around the museum (yeah, the one made famous by Rocky), down the Parkway and back to the little street which would lead me to I-95.
However, once I got to the little street, it had suddenly become a magnet for the entire Center City rush hour traffic. I glanced over in the direction of what was to have been my original turn off (the colossal jam) and saw that it was now smooth sailing...not a car in sight. How the heck did it clear so quickly, and why did my brilliant plan to take the "street less traveled" suddenly turn into such a dud? It was magic, I tell you, and not the good kind either. The Fates weren't just cruel last night. They were downright sadistic. I'm sure they knew about my unmanageable impatience in heavy traffic. Shucks, I never did anything to them...except maybe curse them out every now and then. But, gee, they should be able to take it. Those ancient crones are tougher than Thor's mighty hammer, while I'm the sensitive and delicate mortal.
Ah well, I got home safe and sound eventually, and with their help, perhaps. Was a terrible disaster avoided by my being delayed is such a bizarre manner? The romantic in me likes to think so:-)
One of my favorite cliches - This too shall pass.
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by you never know [2065.890] on April 12, 2006 at 17:53:40:
"Cogito, ergo sum" (Latin: "I am thinking, therefore I exist": René Descartes.
I have seen it written, ykn, that the intention of the quote was actually: "(AS) I think, therefore I am."...in other words, support for the Science of Mind viewpoint. Maybe more snake oil?
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Singye the ratter [591.786] on April 12, 2006 at 12:56:25:
...and chew they little toesies? Hmmm?
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by ANN [1003.516] on April 12, 2006 at 13:29:56:
Thanks, ukchris and ANN...these are classics of corporate survival!
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by PhillyLady [2051.1599] on April 12, 2006 at 20:24:53:
Yep, a poor man's success story, Philly: If we can convince ourselves that a disaster may have been avoided, it gives meaning to some of our foolish choices. Boy that's true. I think I have outwitted countless disasters in my life in this way!
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Thanks to all contributors I did not answer individually. I leave you with my favorite saying, not a cliché I guess, but a wonderfully profound and asinine pronouncement upon which a simpleton could build a house of cards: “I feel a lot more like I do now than I did a little while ago!”
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Jim,
Sometimes you scare me. One day you will just wander off into the woods and not be seen again. Be sure to let us know what's its like.
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Life...from the ratter's altitude posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 13, 2006 at 05:03:36:
I remember that one....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love to eat them mousies,
Mousies what I love to eat.
Bite they little heads off...
Nibble on they tiny feet.
-- B. Kliban
In Reply to: Re: Life...everyone has got something to sell posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 13, 2006 at 05:01:04:
Well, think of it this way. If you couldn't/didn't "think", than it wouldn't really matter if you existed or not, because you wouldn't be able to experience it anyway.
And on that note, snake oil be damned,"carpe diem"! That's the most and the best we can do...
In Reply to: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Jim H. [3221.1351] on April 12, 2006 at 09:01:40:
Of seperation between just a geezer and a OLD geezer. If you are just a geezer, then when do you become an OLD geezer? If I am an OLD geezer, but I meet someone older than I am, does that then make me a young geezer or is he just an OLDER geezer? I'm so confused, can you straighten me out?
Silver Fox!
P.S. How come they only call men geezers's? What do they call women? Geezet?
In Reply to: Re: Life...from the ratter's altitude posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 13, 2006 at 05:03:36:
Ooooh goodie...a morbid toesie joke?! Twisted humor keeps the world in healthy balance. Hmmm?
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by Steve [3019.1399] on April 13, 2006 at 13:23:24:
Women are called Jezebel, or "check out the rack of geezers on that one." A geezer is defined by leering at Jezebels and scratching his hiney. An old geezer drools and cackles while scratching his hiney, while maybe or maybe not simultaneously leering at Jezebels. Does that answer your most erudite question?
In Reply to: Re: Life...from the ratter's altitude posted by Sapphire [735.1584] on April 13, 2006 at 11:40:30:
Awesome website, Sapphire! Thanks for the full poem, too!
The Ratter
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by Singye the ratter [591.786] on April 13, 2006 at 13:44:41:
So it all get down to how we look at chicks. Wow you learn something new every day.
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Steve [3019.1399] on April 13, 2006 at 09:13:05:
Scare you? Get ahold of yourself, man. Fear is acid-forming. You
know what that means.
In Reply to: Re: Life...everyone has got something to sell posted by you never know [2065.890] on April 13, 2006 at 13:16:59:
AGREED!
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Steve [3019.1399] on April 13, 2006 at 09:13:05:
maybe you just don't get what he's trying to say? you comment as if he's a madman when he's made some of the wiser and more profound comments i've read here, whilst maintaining a poetic air. he has a knack of "hitting the nail on the head"!
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by Singye the ratter [591.786] on April 13, 2006 at 13:44:41:
Aren't old women referred to as "hags"?
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by Steve [3019.1399] on April 13, 2006 at 09:13:05:
He scares you? Good God man, it's guaranteed then that you'll be cringing under a table during the Rapture.
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by Steve [3019.1399] on April 13, 2006 at 13:23:24:
Hi Steve
I think "old geezer" is slightly redundant. a geezer is usually old.
In Reply to: Re: Life...from the ratter's altitude posted by Singye the ratter [591.786] on April 13, 2006 at 13:50:58:
You're welcome, Ratter. I'm trying to remember where I heard that poem... maybe English Lit in college, maybe highschool.. it's been a while though...
had forgotten about it till you posted....
Sapphire
In Reply to: Re: Life...everyone has got something to sell posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 13, 2006 at 05:01:04:
Remember, Jim.
Snake oil is very high in omega 3s!
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Life...from the ratter's altitude posted by Sapphire [735.1584] on April 13, 2006 at 23:46:39:
For many years, Sapphire, we had two decorative boxes of Kliban coffee table books sitting out in the living room for visitors to amuse themselves. We still have them up in the garage rafters somewhere. Thanks for the actual lyrics! I must go find the boxes. Kliban was a brilliant cat artist and feline comedian of the first order.
Jim
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by lissa [2032.23] on April 13, 2006 at 18:21:17:
Just a little slightly redundant, though...or, you might say redundundant.
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 14, 2006 at 09:16:08:
Just a teeny, tiny, little, bit redundant.
My dictionary says:
geezer: a queer, odd or eccentric person-used especially of elderly men.
Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary.
I think in the U.S. it almost always refers to old men, I don't know if that's the case in England.
In Reply to: Re: Where is the point.. posted by lissa [2032.23] on April 14, 2006 at 10:37:43:
You are quite the sleuth, lissa. That definition is not so far off,
though I bristle a little at the "q" word, but that's only because I was
raised at a time when that word was whispered, and "gay" meant
happy.
In Reply to: Re: Life, the gift that keeps on giving; ramblings from a geezer posted by ukchris [1400.2485] on April 13, 2006 at 17:34:01:
Thanks for the compliment, uk, but the dapper, white-haired one is just funnin' with me.
In Reply to: Re: Life...everyone has got something to sell posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on April 14, 2006 at 06:35:48:
lol! Right you are. And snake oil may even heal for reasons unrelated to its stated hype!
Might even be a good lubricant for one thing or another.
In Reply to: Re: Life... posted by Jim H. [1816.1351] on April 14, 2006 at 14:10:23:
"And snake oil may even heal for reasons unrelated to its stated hype!"
Power of suggestion or mind-body connection...
"Might even be a good lubricant for one thing or another."
Good for making baby snakes?
In Reply to: Re: Life..the good fortune in blunders. posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 13, 2006 at 05:32:23:
Hey Jim:
There's always two or more ways of looking at a situation. I guess thinking this way helps to avoid mental breakdowns...something to do with accepting a situation if all your attempts at changing it were unsuccessful:-)
P.S. Besides, tomorrow's another day. There is still a tomorrow, right?
In Reply to: Re: Life...cats are ratters too! posted by Jim H. [2924.1351] on April 14, 2006 at 09:12:48:
Hi Jim,
I just noticed the home page on this site I posted (thought it was just the Mousies song...) and saw all the cat photos. I see what you mean, brilliant indeed!
Sapphire
|
[ Jim Hare classic posts Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |