BACKING UP AND ADDING ON

Backing up into a parking space is normal?

It’s getting that way, but there’re still holdouts.

 

The best was, “Just backed into a parking space. Now I’m thinking about tinkering around the garage, drink a beer, maybe watch a documentary on WWII tanks.”

Why the best? Because it has the elements of a direct action creating a plan.

 

Just finished reading the current New Yorker before the next one arrived, thinking about picking up an MFA, writing a novel, and starring in the movie.

 

Just went to Costco, thinking about a wheel of shrimp, a new hammock, maybe upgrade my laptop.

 

Drove nine hundred miles in England, might apply for a NASCAR license, practice my drift, and find a dirt track for my Highlander.

 

There are real things that pump us up, and unreal things that make us feel pumped up.

Big difference, just ask any former cocaine fan with one nostril.

There’s real talk, and there’s shit talk.

If you find people who know the difference between the two, can mix both and have confidence that you know the difference, then you’ve found your group.

 

I took shop in eighth grade, learned how to build a sand board. My next project is a boat. I have room in the basement.

Watch Your Front While Backing Up

Most accidents happen close to home, so I’ll use ‘leg day’ to push my car out of the danger zone before starting it.

 

The forest fires filled the air with smoke, might use it for marathon training so I can run in the 2028 LA Olympics without coughing.

 

Just spent a half hour in a 210° sauna, thinking of moving to Death Valley to save money and slim down.

 

Whether you’re backing up, down, or sideways, stay sharp. Not paranoid, just sharp.

If you’re anything like me, a baby boomer born during the Cold War, or want to know what it felt like, watch Three Days Of The Condor.

 

Putting yourself back to 1975 you have to remember that everyone was talking about, and reacting to, Watergate, and a U.S. president who had to resign from office because of it.

Watergate, more than anything, started the current public roar (blossoming on the internet) about government conspiracy.

 

I joined the Army for the haircut, polishing brass is fun, my bunkmate’s tooth brush really comes in handy for cleaning toilet caulk.

 

If you’ve never been watched closely don’t join organized sports, any military, or get married. The scrutiny is constant, improvement is demanded.

The difference between volunteering for inspection, and having it demanded, is compliance. Some you can quit on, some you can’t.

 

Just got my REAL ID, thinking about using it instead of a passport because ‘don’t you know who I am?’ Might try it out in North Korea.

 

Keeping It Calm

There’s not a day goes by where you see something, or hear something, and think, ‘That’s not right.’

Someone is getting away with something somewhere?

Of course they are. Sometimes it works out for them, sometimes not.

It’s not the job of some random person to comment one way or the other, but social media makes it possible.

 

I’m a history major and understand education. Making a list of books to ban, might start a fire.

 

The one-night-stand got pregnant, wants to keep the baby. Thinking of moving to Idaho.

 

Too often people get turned sideways by something they read. They deserve credit for reading, but not much for taking it all to heart.

Every book isn’t The Bible and every writer isn’t a prophet.

People who look like someone you admire and trust are not that person.

‘That person’ has earned your admiration and trust, not just said ‘trust me on that.’

If you know what it takes to gain trust and admiration, spread it around.

 

You know, sometimes we’re not prepared for adversity.

When it happens sometimes we’re caught short.

We don’t know exactly how to handle it when it comes up.

Sometimes we don’t know just what to do when adversity takes over.

And I have advice for all of us.

 

Advice?

Just learned G and C, working on D. Might rent a van and go on tour.

 

My wife likes to say, “If you steal, you’re a thief; if you lie, you’re a liar.”

These were some of the things we shared as parents.

What the kids have learned on their own: If you do what you say you’re going to do, you gain trust; If you help others who’ve been wronged, you gain honor.

People you’ll never meet admire your trust and honor.

Some people dress in the uniform of trust and honor.

From police uniforms to firemen, from Army to Navy, Marine to Air Force, we see men and women in uniform and give them benefit of the doubt.

Are they all trustworthy and honorable?

You can be sure they’re all working toward the same goal, whether it’s to serve and protect America, or travel overseas to serve and protect in places important to America.

Do things always turn out the way planned? Do your plans always turn out?

If you take the time to assess and review, things have a better chance of working out.

But, poor planning, little forethought, and no experience dealing with real consequences are not the credentials anyone looks for in serious, responsible, people.

 

Ran a casino into the ground, might start a college, create a charity.

 

Got married a few times, some for better, some for worse, might date an actress.

 

Love the nightlife, love the party, might ask for the evangelicals’ opinion of me.

 

Law is my path, order is my guiding light, so it’s lawful if you follow my orders to storm the Capitol.

 

Thank you for stopping by. See you tomorrow.