The Cruise
A Brooks Tale
‘Order another appetizer if you want one, they will bring you as many as you like,’ Jack said as he lustily consumed his second order of escargot.
When Jack had completed his appetizers and began his lobster, dipped in drawn butter, he periodically reached over to his wife, Jill’s, escargot plate and helped himself.
Mary Jane told Jack and Jill that we had visited the Vatican and had experienced a private tour.
Jack responded that he had been in both St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel…when they were completely empty…right after the war.
‘I toured the Colosseum, alone,’ said Jack.
‘During my first marriage…we went out to eat every night, in Manhattan, and attended Broadway shows, weekly,’ Jack informed me.
‘Would you care for more wine,’ asked the dinner steward?
‘I would, indeed,’ I solemnly intoned.
‘Where are you from,’ asked the former Disney artist, wife?
‘We are from Carbondale, Illinois…in the Southern part of the state, nearer St. Louis than Chicago,’ Mary Jane answered.
The artist’s wife…enthusiastically spoke of her family and her children and that she had home schooled…as we had.
As we all enjoyed the complimentary wine…the artist looked our way often and smiled approvingly.
The artist had been the lead person at Disney, for many years, in drawing all of the background scenes for the animation…prior to digital.
His paintings were beautiful.
Two women from North Carolina sat with us. One was friendly…and the other was drunk.
They had been good friends for years, and could not have been more different. The friendly one was shy and retiring and quiet. The boisterous one was, loud and drunk and flirted with the art auctioneer.
At another dinner we were accompanied by two, seemingly, very religious people. The woman began the conversation by announcing what art that they had purchased and then commanded that each couple do the same.
The wife then proceeded to tell us that she and her, devout, husband had not attended two thirds or more of the art events but rather had chosen to take in the evening theatre performances and to pursue their own interests…although their cruise had been paid for by the art company.
Their piety…proceeded them.
‘I was with two protestant soldiers that were from rural areas…probably like where you are from…Jay,’ said Jack.
‘I think that they may have been Presbyterian…or one of the protestant sects,, Jack continued.
‘They had no experience with sex…while I, being from Manhattan, was well versed in the subject,’ Jack went on to say.
‘I arranged for a prostitute to initiate one them into the club, and my buddy was so taken with the experience…that he soon married her, laughed Jack!
The Russian artist came over and knelt down by Mary Jane and I and spoke to us for several minutes.
He told us of the deprivation and suffering and hunger that he had known in Russia as he was attempting to paint and become a successful artist.
‘More red wine, sir,’ asked the sommelier?
‘Yes, please…fill it up…fill it up,’ I implored much as the uncle who was flying to Paris, along with the parents and siblings of Macaulay Culkin’s character…who they left home alone, in the movie ‘Home Alone’.
The financial planner was taking computer courses during the cruise to obtain his college degree. He reflected that someone had remarked that they had a series of ‘old masters’ etchings in their home but that they drove a 1990 Chevy. He said, ‘I like driving my Jaguar.’
‘This if food to die for,’ my buddy said.
On the first evening of our journey the steward had offered us a wine package of three bottles of fine wine, for $150.00. These luscious and extravagant wines were to be distributed, one per evening to our dinner table.
My buddy was enjoying the ‘food to die for’ and the plush ambiance and the excitement of a journey…just beginning…and he said, I want to purchase one of those offers, as well!’
Now we knew…at this early point…that the cruise was going to be a success for our first time cruise mate!
Note: Some Sistine Chapel and Colosseum photos are courtesy of Google Search.
Already Seen
Danny and Paulie were great friends.
We loved to play cops and robbers or cowboys and indians…and we had the cowboy hats and toy guns and tomahawks to make it authentic.
Our street was tree lined and and sedate with neighbors going back and forth from house to house and we kids playing with abandon and no thought of danger or fear of strangers.
George and Ethel, a retired couple, lived next door to us, and we all sat out in our yards…between rounds of badminton, which mom loved, and beer drinking for George and Ethel and mom and dad.
During these lazy Sunday afternoons, George would call me Doc and request a back rub. He often said that I gave the best back rubs…although I was three years old and did little more than pat him on the shoulder.
Everyone smoked cigarettes. I thought that it must be a right of passage, when you officially became an adult, that you began smoking…at least a little?
Steve, had marionettes and he brought them over to my house, from time to time, for a puppet show. I thought that they were fascinating!
Susie was Steve’s sister and I had a crush on her. Susie was 10 years old. Every-time that she saw me…she gave me a hug.
Ivy was moms buddy. She lit the next cigarette off or the one that she was completing. She was tanned…too much…she had prune like features and a husky voice.
Ivy, was one of those women that was tough and had seen the world and did not tolerate fools gladly. She was always nice to me.
Ivy’s husband was Jim. He was a mechanic. Ivy was short and thin and brown from the sun…and Jim was tall and thin and brown from the sun. Jim said little…Ivy did the talking for them both.
Dad enjoyed playing Jai alai. This is a game where the player takes a long slender scoop like device and hurls a ball, at a high rate of speed, at a wall.
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Mom enjoyed dancing and especially the ‘Twist.’ She danced away many hours to Chubby Checkers crooning of his hit song.
Moms favorite drink was a slow gin fizz.
Dad enjoyed wearing his motorcycle jacket and his motorcycle hat and he often carried a gun. His pride and joy was his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The three of us rode on the Harley, with me in the middle. I recall being a bit afraid of falling off.
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My first memory of Sauk Village was my thinking that…this is where I was living now…and it was a nice house on a nice street and that mom and dad seemed pleasant…and I was comparing my residence and family and surroundings…and thinking very old thoughts…and I was between two and three years old.
So, I visited Oxford, England. We were with our good friends, Jeff and Margo, and stayed in a hotel where the shower would run out onto the floor of the restroom and there was no air conditioning.
I borrowed the last fan from the, friendly, hotel proprietor.
I had wanted to visit Oxford since our friends, Jo Ann and Peter, had told us about the university and their visits to it. They had brought back a watercolor of the campus, as a gift for us.
They had lectured at Oxford in their Discipline of History. Jo Ann told us that Peter had lectured from the High Table…while her lecture was from the Low Table.
We toured Oxford…and much of the tour was of the university. As we sat in the library…I had the overwhelming sensation…that I had been there before.
I not only felt comfortable…I felt like that I was at home…and that, at some time, I had studied there.
I am not a person that is given to ephemeral fancies, or ‘hair raising’ beliefs…but I can not deny these two unusual occurrences.
Life is, ‘a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.’
Following God…or Follow The Leader?
The other night I watched the movie ‘Novitiate’ and I found it mesmerizing.
‘Set in the early 1950s through the mid-60s and during the era of Vatican II, a young woman in training to become a nun struggles with issues of faith, the changing church and sexuality.’ Rotten Tomatoes
The movie gave a fascinating portrayal of what women had to endure to become nuns, prior to Vatican II in the early 1960s.
Their restrictions included, not being able to speak for several hours per day, which was termed the the ‘Great Silence’ where they only communicated by sign language. Also the encouragement by the Reverend Mother to flagellate themselves with what was termed the ‘Discipline’ which was a a binding of several small, knotted ropes, that they beat their backs with as a penance for their sins.
Also, there was extreme psychological abuse and public castigation and shaming. One young woman starved herself, as penance, and the Reverend Mother told her how proud that she was of her.
Now, I do not think that the Catholic church has a monopoly on persecuting parishioners. On the contrary…often you find churches that follow the leader…rather than follow God.
If you are a member of a church where the pastor or priest tells you that they speak for God…and that he does not bother or have the time to speak to common people…like you…you are following the leader.
If you are a parishioner in a church that you are giving of your finances, until it hurts, and the minister is driving a luxury automobile and live in a McMansion…you are following the leader.
If you are in a church that insists that they review your finances in order to determine how much you should be contributing to the organization…you are following the leader.
If you are being told how to dress or how to wear you hair or you have to ask permission of the faith leader as to life decisions that you should be making on your own….you are following the leader.
If you are trusting in the piety and holiness of your minister or priest and their direct connection to God…you are setting yourself up for a miserable disappointment and you are following the leader…not following God.
If you faith leader tells who you can love and who you can not…you are following the leader…not following God.
For christians…a relationship with your creator…does not require an intermediary.
If you dread going to church or mass or any faith gathering, because of what you anticipate the leader is going to say to you or require of you…it is time for a change.
‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’ II Timothy 1:7 KJV
‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ Hebrews 11:1 KJV
‘Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
Faith is designed to bring you peace. Gods love opens your heart and makes you unafraid of what others think of you as well as you own fears regarding your perceived shortcomings.
A life of faith is not the conforming to the rigid restrictions that flawed men of the cloth have designed and that illustrate their own demons.
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.’ Luke 4:18 KJV
Faith Is a Comfort
The world is a scary place.
First, you are in search of a job and a career. You known little about how to get along in the world and less about what it takes to be a success in it?
Your first job is at a factory making wire harnesses for Chrysler Trucks, and you succeed by drinking coffee from the coffee vending machine and, subsequently, becoming hyped up, to enable you to perform the assembly line function that you have been assigned.
The Time Study man comes to see you perform you duties…faster than they have ever been preformed…previously.
Your next job is a furniture store where your position is delivery of furniture and warehouse duties and the cleaning of the store.
The weight of many of the furniture and carpet rolls that you are asked to lift…is beyond you muscular capacity…yet you lift them.
You have a friend as well as your minister…who have succeed in sales. You want desperately to follow in their footsteps. You begin selling World Book Encyclopedias in Herrin, Illinois…door to door. It is a difficult way to make a living.
You work, building your church, for nine months…without pay and almost no food. You are hungry 24/7.
Your friend asks you to assist him in his carpet laying business. He tells you that he will train you in order that you will be able to have your own carpet laying business. You love working with, Brent, he is a great boss!
You get a letter from Southern Illinois University that tells you that in view of your test score, that you are eligible for an interview with the Physical Plant, Building Services.
A month after the interview, that you felt very good about, you are hired as a Building Service Worker I.
You are able to pay the bills for your, four room house, that you recently purchased…and you buy a new Ford LTD two door automobile.
Over the years…you are promoted to a crew leader and then a foreman and then the Assistant Superintendent and finally the Superintendent of the department….that you had been hired into…so many years ago.
Your were passed over….and insulted…and looked down upon…and you never gave up.
‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ Hebrews 11:1 KJV
I recall when I was asked to be the Superintendent of Building Service..that the director told me what a fan of mine, Brad Dillard, had said that I would be a hero. I have never forgotten such a great vote of confidence.
So, is life handing you more than your share of lemons?
Do you wonder if anyone cares….or if anyone is watching?
Throughout my life I have experienced the hand of God and his guardian angels watching me and helping me through my most difficult moments.
I have also been surprised by the concern that my fellow humans had for me and their recognition of my struggles and the mountains that I was climbing.
My lifelong friend, Steve, and I were available for every church job that needed to be done…for many years. At times, we commiserated as to what it was all for…and did anyone care…or notice.
There are always people watching what you are doing. There is always someone noticing your sacrifice and your dedication…to your job…to your family….to your faith….and to your fellow man.
Do not loose hope! Rather, take heart!
God is watching…and so are many likeminded people of goodwill!
Authenticity…Or…No More Mr. Nice Guy?
How often have you been spoken to by a supervisor or manager or politician or preacher…in a carefully scripted, word soup, of platitudes and rhetoric that was meant to leave you feeling good about the encounter…and understanding nothing?
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It is possible to be a kind and benevolent manager or leader and still be a candid communicator.
I had a chancellor, with whom I had met with on several occasions and for whom I was fond, speak to me in administrative double-speak and platitudes and I realized that he was lying to me…and he thought that I did not know it.
Suddenly, I responded to the chancellor and his assistant, that I was going to leave the meeting if they did not cease insulting my intelligence. They both began to profusely proclaim that they thought me to be very intelligent!
There is an old saying, ‘do not pee on me and tell me that it is raining!’
Many times I have been spoken to, by my leaders, in illogical concepts and unrealistic expectations and lies, regarding simple policy issues…when the truth would have been so much easier.
I realized, very early in my supervisory/management tenure, that the staff that I had been asked to lead…were smarter than I and certainly could sniff out the malodor of a lie to them!
I had a supervisor, that I had to admonish to decide what statement on policy that he wanted me to communicate, from him, as he had told me two or more contradicting proclamations regarding the same issue.
I am convinced that one of the reasons that Donald Trump won the presidency was the perception that he was speaking plainly to the American people.
This is something, so rare, in political speak, that many voters, voted for the president…in a desperate cry for change, from the soothing words of the political elite, of both parties, that consistently resulted in nothing more than a balm that was never applied to the wound.
In the, electorates’ thirst for a different political rhetoric…many voted for change…but it was change that hurt them economically.
Voters, looked the other way on the issues of morality and misogyny and xenophobia believing the candidate understood them and was going to address their needs. This being a billionaire that, often, failed to pay the sub-contractors, and others, that worked for him…middle class people.
Now, the reality of Trumps promises of help for the middle class and the juxtaposition of his policies…such as the tax plan and tariffs and, even, the erosion of Obama Care…have all hurt the very voters that selected him for their champion.
But, the hunger was so great for a politician that spoke differently than the crowd of candidates…Trump was elected.
In the workplace I have witnessed supervisors and managers and administrators who wanted to be Mr. Nice Guy to everyone and appeared to be running for a popularity contest.
It is impossible to ‘please all of the people…all of the time’.
It is imperative that a leader must be a good communicator. The members of your staff must know what you expect and your plan for implementing and delivering those expectations.
I have often witnessed leaders who made management decisions by peer review. In other words…a manager that disciplined a team member according to what their peers had criticized.
I experienced, during my twenty-five years of management that it was a person’s co-workers, much more often that their supervisors, that sought disciplinary actions for what they decided were infractions…but they never reported on their own breaking of the rules of the organization.
However, management that is done properly will result in private constructive criticism and disciplinary actions and, finally, terminations when all else fails.
A leader must be able to ensure that they understand the facts of poor job performance properly and that the evidence is clear.
For effective leadership, it is paramount that a leader addresses poor job performance in an authentic and forthright manner.
I found that, when I had a supervisor, who was a poor leader, that the morale of their entire crew was diminished.
It was my experience that, many times, a private meeting with a person who needed counseling, was all that was required and the problem was rectified. Most of your colleagues want to produce an excellent work product if they are spoken to honestly and the expectations of the manager are clear and concise.
Always constructively criticize in private and praise in public.
However…nothing is more demoralizing than two people…and one is working faithfully…while the other is faithfully not working. This problem is compounded, by the number of staff who report to a manager or supervisor…who leads by favoritism or emotional whims.
My old friend and mentor, Jerry R., told me, close, to the conclusion of my career at SIU, that I had always been fair.
I believe that whether you have a person who reports to you or hundreds…they are looking for one attribute of your character…above all others….fairness.
My management philosophy was that if I ere in disciplinary actions…that I wanted to err on the side of mercy….
However, negative, corrective, and disciplinary actions are a vital component of positive management.
Respect
After many years in both union and supervisory and management positions, I learned one, primary, lesson, and that is we all crave respect.
From the janitor to the chancellor to the president…all of our work has value.
I was asked, recently, if I thought that I had the answers to a dysfunctional department. I responded that I did have the answers and that I was confident of the basic precepts that should be implemented to enliven hope…where there is despair.
First, all staff must be treated fairly. For instance, if temporary promotional upgrades are distributed…they should be distributed, only, on the basis of demonstrated ability. If you have never given a candidate a chance to demonstrate their ability…how do you know how to evaluate them?
Second, a, valued member of the staff, must must be consulted as to the needs of their shop and the challenges that they are facing in implementing the unfunded mandate that management has given them to fulfill.
I have been saying, for over thirty years, that issues, both large and small, including the critical issue of the recruitment and retention of students, at SIUC, by and large, can be alleviated by administration consulting with the civil service staff of the campus.
For instance, the Building Services organization is broken into many crews that are headed by a crew leader and who have on that crew both Building Service Workers and student custodial staff.
If you want to know and understand what works in the buildings that a housekeeping crew is assigned…ask them?
Third, an unequal treatment by management, of staff…can be seen a hundred miles away. When two employees are both working hard and dedicated to the cause of the organization…and one has great voice and influence while the other has none…you have problem of unfairness.
Fourth, is the all to human, mistake of favoring those who seem to like the boss.
When I was working and my foreman would bring me stories regarding the criticisms that members of their crews had leveled against me…I asked them to not disclose any negative comments that were heard about me…unless they were attempting to get me fired or murdered.
I took great pride in promoting people who I knew were critical of me. Often, I received the criticisms as constructive and I endeavored to change.
When you have favorites…you can not hide it!
One of my foreman told me, many years ago, that she could not tell who was my friend and who was my enemy…by the manner that I treated them…and that it appeared to her…that I treated my enemies a little better.
Fifth, resources from administration is not only important…it is imperative!
Once administration has decided what level of service that they can afford to deliver to the campus…they must be dedicated to providing the appropriate resources to accomplish their goal.
Support and backing and ‘being there for a department’ equates to two things. The first is financial resources. If an administrator supports a department they will provide the money to ensure that the department does not disintegrate into chaos. Also, an administrator will spend the time that is necessary to learn what is going on in the, troubled, department and will hear the opinion of the majority of the participants.
‘The best management takes place where the work is being done.’
If a department is to be effectively run…the manger of that department should be a frequent visitor to the various job sites.
Many years ago, there was a saying that was posted in the Old Fire House…which was the offices of Building Services…that said…’We must inspect…what we expect.’
If your management philosophy is developed and implemented…behind your desk…you will be a failure!
Sixth, communicate….communicate….and….communicate!
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If you do not communicate a clear and consistent vision of what you want the department that you have been selected to lead…no one will identify with you…or connect to your plan.
Seventh, learn and believe and know….from you heart…that it is an honor to be asked to lead a department…and if you are humble…you will learn much more than you will ever impart….to your dedicated and professional colleagues.
Your staffs; faith, personal views and life, politics, and all other matters that are not directly job related…are none of the managers business.
A managers bias and prejudice and judgements that are based on paranoia or lack of self confidence…must be left at home!
A manager must understand that some of their colleagues are not going to like them…that is human.
A manager must understand that some of their colleagues are going to criticize them…that is human.
A manager must understand that not only do they not have all of the answers…but that they have staff who are smarter than they are and who have abilities that they do not posses…learn from your staff!
A leader inspires confidence by being a member of the team.
Autumn Delights!
My favorite time of the year is fast approaching…and you can already feel it in the air!
The Fall Equinox begins, Saturday, September 22 at 8:54 PM, Central Standard Time.
The Fall of the year is a time of renewal for me…and it always has been.
I was hired at Southern Illinois University on October 10, 1978…and it was a great day in the lives of the Brooks family.
I, vividly recall, the crisp and cool afternoon that I began working at the University. I could not believe my good fortune…and I realized…on the first evening that I worked…that my life had changed…for the better.
I always suffered from some trepidation, when promotions came my way.
I cold see an opportunity to become a crew leader, which in those days was titled a Building Custodian. and my ultimate goal was to become a Building Service Worker III…which was a, foreman, or the manager of several Building Custodians and their housekeeping crews.
However, when the Assistant Superintendent position was offered to me…I initially refused it…but finally accepted due to my respect for, Ray P., the Superintendent…at the time.
I had been interviewed for the Assistant position, by the Assistant Director of the Physical Plant and the Superintendent of Building Services and the bulk of the interview consisted of the Assistant Director criticizing my job performance as a foreman. The criticisms of my performance were trumped up charges and actually belonged to my colleague, who was a friend of the Superintendent.
Now, it would seem that I was not a real candidate for the position…but in reality…I was the candidate for the position…if I wanted it.
I arrived at home in the early morning hours…and remained awake through out the night until my wife arose the following morning. She told me that if I did not want the position…I should decline it.
I did just that…but I acquiesced
when I saw the pained look on Ray’s face…and I knew that the position was one that I should endeavor to succeed in.
I am glad that I did.
We moved to Eldorado, Illinois in the Fall and the air was chilly and soon cold. Dad had to lay fire in the four or five fire places that were throughout the house.
When I was getting ready for first grade at Hillcrest School…it was cold enough to see your breath.
We sat on the front porch, on Friday nights, and watched the Eldorado Eagles, high school football team, play…with, the legendary, Boz Adams, as their coach.
I dropped my pencil in Mr. Adams Health class…and he assigned me 250 lines to write…many years later.
My birthday, along with my lifelong friend Steve, is on the 24th of October. Close to Halloween…which might explain my love for monster and scary movies.
Thanksgiving is a big event in our home. It is Mary Jane’s favorite holiday of the year.
When I was a child…I watched the Macy’s Day parade…and that was about it…as Mom was focused on preparing for Christmas.
For the past 30 years, Mary Jane, has prepared Thanksgiving Dinner at our house and we have our family attend…to enjoy the fellowship and the joy of the holiday season with us.
I retired, after 32 years and 2 months and 3 weeks…at the conclusion of 2010…close to Christmas…which is my favorite holiday.
Ultimately I became the superintendent of the department, that I had first entered as a janitor, and the job was offered to me as a take it or leave it proposition…or perhaps, the administration indicated, that they would…just…contract the housekeeping department…which would result in all of us loosing our good jobs.
Once again, I took the challenge…and was determined to not allow an administrators lack of confidence in me…be the flag that I flew!
I am glad that I did.
I love Autumn and all of the rich memories that it stirs up…much as an inviting campfire.
Avoid Detours on the Road to Beauty
An important message from my son, Jonathon.
Life is a magnificently beautiful ride. I have so much to live for and to enjoy. I live for stories, my wonderful friends and family, a rich social life, a good job and so much more. The beauty of life is all around us each every new day.
But do we all see the beauty? Honestly, there are many detours in this world that can obstruct one’s eyes from seeing the beautiful stuff. The two deadliest diseases I’ve ever battled are sin and bipolar disorder. These are the worst detours I’ve experienced that stole beauty from my eyes and soul.
I was reading earlier today that it’s National Suicide Prevention Week. In the past I’ve read that thirty to forty percent of people with bipolar commit suicide. In a perfect world there would be no sin and no mental illness. Since I don’t live in a world like that I’ve…
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Do Leaders Understand…How Hard Their Staffs Work For Them?
I have been a follower…all of my life.
I have been a leader…much of my life.
Often I have observed the caviler attitude that leaders have toward their followers or their staffs.
I enjoy and am confident in the many improvements that Building Services was able to facilitate, during my tenure as a manager for twenty-five years, and I know that nothing would have been gained without the yeoman like work of my colleagues in the department.
I have know many people…and I know people…that are dedicated to the betterment of Southern Illinois University…on a 24/7 basis.
Do you realize how extraordinary this is…in this world that is often marked by cynicism and narcissism?
Prior to my retirement, I had dedicated staff that would work around the clock, if I called on them to ensure that our department was able to perform its mission in an excellent manner.
This is an awesome and weighty responsibility!
I have said for forty years…that SIUC has the most dedicated staff in the state and, most likely, the nation!
When I sat in meetings and when I received compliments regarding our service to the University…I always said that it was my unparalleled colleagues that enabled our department to reach the heights of proficiency that we were able to obtain.
When I heard supervisors or administrators or union leaders…disparage or cast aspersion on the staff of our department…I rebuked them…and told them that the dedication of our staff was the only reason that we still had a job and that we were vital to the recruitment and retention of our students….because of our totally committed colleagues!
I wonder do administrators and managers and supervisors and chancellors and presidents…understand the…total immersion and dedication and life sacrifice…that the civil service staff have for the success of our precious students and our University?
It is so easy…to say…what a good boy or good girl am I…but you must not forget the countless dedicated and striving colleagues that are working around the clock…to ensure the success of the University…and your success!
Mind the Gap!
On my first trip to London I was intrigued with the signage and recoded warnings, on the underground rail, commonly referred to as the ‘Tube’, to ‘mind the gap.’
There really is a significant gap between the train and the loading platform, a foot or more, and to slip into the gap…could be very troublesome and perhaps deadly.
Having not grown up with subways or ‘tubes’ I find them a little disconcerting.
When we traveled, throughout the United Kingdom and France I regularly felt ill at ease in the underground waiting areas.
The idea of standing directly next to the wide chasm that is the tracks for the locomotive and my fear that some, poor soul, might topple over…was real.
Also, I found the popular means of conveyance a little spooky…late at night…when there were few people waiting for their ride…and they were staring at my party of holiday revelers.
I remember, when we were riding with our friends, Margo and Jeff, in Paris, and a gentleman, who had a violin on his back, became angry when he thought one of us had pushed him.
I wondered if I was going to have to fight to defend my friends honor?
Life is somewhat like the ‘Tube’!
First, there is a labyrinth of confusing directions, posted, as to what train will take you to the stop that you desire…and you need an interpreter to decipher them for you.
Second, there is a wide and dangerous chasm that you must stand next to and remain aware of what danger that the next step could bring to you and your life and limb.
Third, once your train has arrived…you must ‘mind the gap’ or you still could be injured…badly.
Fourth, you must be in constant vigilance as to who your fellow riders are…while at the same time…being open and accepting to all people.
Fifth, you must do your best to not disturb anyone else’s violin!
‘Small, crafty, cowering, timorous little beast,
Oh, what a panic is in your breast!
You need not start away so hasty
With your hurrying scamper
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion
Has broken Nature’s social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes you startle
At me, your poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!
I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;
What then? Poor little beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.
Your small house, too, in ruin!
Its feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of course grass green!
And bleak December’s winds coming,
Both bitter and piercing!
You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought to dwell,
Till crash! The cruel plough passed
Out through your cell.
That small bit of heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a wary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter’s sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!
Still you are blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye.
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!’
To a Mouse by Robert Burns
Mary Jane and I met a friend at the grocery store, yesterday, and we commiserated on the vagaries of life.
Our friend commented that Life was interesting.
I said that you never know what is coming next…as Forest Gump said…’Life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what your are going to get.’
And, so, boredom is not the problem…rather the challenge is to be prepared to address the curve balls that life throws at you…and believe that it is part of Gods master plan.
There is a saying that is often quoted regarding the uncertainty of life, ‘man makes plans…and God laughs’.
I have often found the idea the God is laughing at my struggle in the darkness of life and its mission and my purpose in it…to be a little insulting.
I prefer to think that each of us have a guardian angel and that our angel is with us, daily, and is keeping us…from the gap.
