the electron won't admit it only went where the current took it examining the evidence through a lens of morality and a microscope of backdraft wisdom
as the sand on this beach so we ended up here (wherever "here" is) the illusion of choice being the last and strongest superstition
it isn't your fault and it isn't mine, it's just that trying to prevent recurring traumas in our children by inflicting new ones continues to fail
knowing cannot replace feeling remembering cannot replace doing and the young are more rafts than motorboats more kites than airplanes and more to be pitied then censored
I have led a life of failure, but I console myself with the fact that I’m too obscure for anyone to have noticed.
Even the small wins in life count.
Failure is the subject of great fascination in our culture. In American sports, every “season” has only one winner, so every league is made up of failures, as defined in this way: “not a winner = failure”.
Sports is an interesting window on the world: we hate and villify failure, but we know that our teams will fail more often than not. Sports fandom is moments of elation surrounded by long spans of frustration. People are hopelessly irrational about their sports teams, which I appreciate.
When my son was in high school, he played in the marching band. I went to all their team’s football games: in four years, they won something like 3 games. So they were “failures”, but played out on a very obscure stage.
Oddly enough, the longer I watched the team, the more I admired them: they did all the preparation, all the work, and brought all the emotion to every game. They were were often overmatched, but they kept showing up.
And that kind of courage can never be characterized as failure.
A morning gray, a two-day rain, A mind wrapped up in here and now, A half-day passed, a needed a break, Surprised to find the world now blue And full of early flowers in bloom His car took him (it seemed) down to A place of stones, and flowers, and rest And words and dates and silences -- A hand upon my shoulder now With no one there, with no one there.
"I Am The One Who Was" it said, Or they all said, in different words; A living presence grown and gone Now missing in the hearts of those Who once took shape and came alive In feeling skin and hearing voice In ways no others ever could For what is known and felt is kept Inside the vault we can't unlock For someone took the key and left, For someone took the key
Reach out and feel what should be yours by right; The cadence of a song that none have heard, The measure of a breath that's full and light Along a shore: a lonely boat, a bird --
And how you came to be where you are not: The fuller you become a passing ghost That all have seen and equal all, forgot, A missing sign atop a broken post --
But you remember hope -- it was your claim When everything you didn't know still glowed, And so much seemed in reach, both love and fame, While paying back much more than ever owed --
Our slipping grasp on all that missing peace, Midst waves that ever lessen, never cease
Sorry, just muttering to myself. So these are the lockers?
Yes, just store your stuff in here and follow the directions as to the combination. Feel free to use the sauna or steamroom or whirlpool or any of the other facilities. Your technician will meet you in the relaxation room in 20 minutes.
Thank you.
…
{ Dude, what are you doing here? }
Right now I’m taking a shower. After that I put on a robe and wait out in the relaxation room.
{ What is this supposed to accomplish? }
Release some tension. I have been doing more working out.
{ Yes, I know, I am you. I mean you haven’t gone off for a massage without her in what — fourteen years? }
Well there is no her right now, is there? I —
Mister Servant? —
Right here.
…
It says here that you have the 50 minute service with CBD oil. Is that correct?
That sounds like what I signed up for, yes.
Is this your first time here?
Yes.
…
…
What is that water sound? Not the music, but the actual water.
We have a fountain system. Water sounds are very good for us.
Yes, I can feel that. How complicated is one of those to put in?
I took them about two weeks to put this one in. It goes through all the rooms; a simpler one would probably take a couple of days. The water bill is something you want to be ready for, though.
Hmmm.
…
What do you do for a living?
I am a mathematician. My wife is an artist.
Why didn’t she come today? We have couples’ packages.
She’s… working out of town.
…
Your neck and shoulders are very tense.
I am sure.
Do you work long hours?
I guess you could call them that.
…
What did you say your name was?
Tricia.
Thank you, Tricia, that was wonderful.
Your welcome. If you get chosen to do a review, five stars wouldn’t hurt.
Consider it done.
…
{ She didn’t ask you what your wife did for a living. What were you trying to do, ward off evil spirits? }
