Marino On My Mind

 

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How do you best handle being at a funeral proceeding?

“Success is not delivering a good punchline. It’s living a good story.” (Dan Marino) 

At the funeral service I attended yesterday, everything surrounding me seemed pretty much expected for this sad occasion. Guests entered in orderly fashion mostly dressed in formal attire.The family of our late, dear friend Lesley next entered together and took their seats in the front of the gathering area.The rabbi at the podium up front along with Lesley’s sister, niece, and two sons would likewise follow by offering heartwarming words about Lesley’s meaningful life.Yet while I also felt the strong need to be there then for Lesley, the somber service itself made me noticeably “ill at ease”. 

But then it happened! Miami Dolphin ex-quarterback legend Dan Marino suddenly appeared in the room and quietly took his seat a few feet next to me. Appearing humbled yet attentive to the proceedings, Dan’s unspoken presence over this short time seemed to powerfully counteract such unease I felt in witnessing this ceremony of Lesley’s passing. For I’d made an emotional connection to Dan being here as both a leader of men in football and one whose presence I valued today in real life. Such an “aura” of hopefulness and determination I saw in him then (which Lesley portrayed as well) will likely help me to better cope with handling “loved ones” remembrances at any future funeral proceedings I attend as well. 

Tropical Fruit Passions

List your top 5 favorite fruits.

“Good thoughts bear good fruit.”
(Tim Sanders)

Whenever I’ve visited the Caribbean region on vacation, I’ve enjoyed the freedom to sample the profusion of tropical fruits growing in these exotic lands. Some of my most favorite fruits like coconuts, bananas and mangos can be easily enjoyed in this region as a tasty and nutritious delicacy as part of a snack or meal. While others with unfamiliar names and/or unusual shapes when I’m “out and about” often capture my strong sensory attention as well. So I must add to my favorite fruit list such locally grown delicacies relatively unknown to me such as lychees, starfruit, and ackees.

I might add that I’m curious to learn about such lesser known tropical fruits on those occasions when I strike up a conversation with a tour guide host or employee at a local store. For, I’m likely to hear about then the preventative health benefits provided from such unique tropical fruits that I notice hanging from surrounding trees.  

  But as a word of caution, I’m aware as well that it’s generally considered unwise to eat raw or uncooked food bought on or off the streets during my visits to these islands. So when hesitancy strikes me about cleanliness concerns for any tasty tropical fruit which stimulates my palate, I find it’s better to be safe than sorry and refrain from buying it. 

 

Self Awareness Learnings

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?


“Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” 
(Aesop)
 

For the second time in a month, Jonathan left the house before work on Monday with his wife’s phone sitting on the kitchen table. He obviously knew better for his own phone would precisely be placed in the familiar kitchen basket every night before he went to bed. Instead he just took off that day in “grab and go” fashion.

So why then did this mistake happen ? Very simply, Jonathan had overbooked his schedule which clouded his mind with such “back to back” time events he needed to accomplish ahead that day.

So it seems that one small improvement that Jonathan could make in his busy life might require him to slow down and just concentrate more mindfully on each present moment of his life. In doing so, his speedy performing phone itself packed with emails, texts, and daily appointments would not solve the problem. Skip the morning caffeine as well.

 

 

Traveling With A Monumental Mindset

What historic monuments do you find interesting to visit?


“Monuments are the milestones that define a nation’s journey.”(Kashish Verma)

One of the more challenging aspects of our travels involves searching for landmarks where events in the past of major significance took place. Such historic adventures often focus on public monuments honoring the notable accomplishments  of a person etched in either metal or stone. Putting such a search in proper perspective, I might notice that hundreds of historic markers along our road trip itinerary are often heavily  concentrated in a particular area.

So in addition to obvious time allotment and daily distances to travel, what other considerations might most matter to me in deciding which monuments  to visit?

As a first requirement, I might prioritize beforehand visiting only those monuments that depict truthful  representations of a place or person in memorialized fashion. In doing so, I would look for various wordings on these markers that contain obvious signs of politicized opinion bias or blatant fact omission. Consider for example that during our travels through the U.S. Southern region, I often questioned why so many public monuments of Civil War generals  like Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Nathan Bedford Forest remained  standing. For it seemed wrongfully prejudicial to showcase each of them as revered military heroes while disregarding  any written evidence on these  memorials that they also led the Confederacy in the Civil War down the dangerous path of slavery’s wrath via white supremacist” dogma.

On a related matter, I would consider it important to visit only those monuments that offer redeeming values of optimism to our present times. So in our country so drastically afflicted by social and political disharmony now,  I cringed on those occasions of observing those monuments praising Christopher Columbus in front of  prominent public buildings in various urban settings in America.  For of what societal value with respect to lawful treatment of immigrants in our country today would it make to conspicuously showcase this Spanish conquistador where accumulated evidence indicates he enacted policies of cruel forced labor to subjugate Native American tribes he encountered many centuries ago.

Lastly, I’d use good sense and try to visit those monuments at which the surrounding environs enhances the visitor’s curiosity (with minimal distraction) to obtain an authentic “feel” of past historic understanding.Consider in this regard that I’ve been “turned off” in interest by (1) 9/11 monuments placed along busy state and interstate highways 2)  important Gettysburg Battlefield plaques standing nearby fast food “heavy districts and (3) road access to Mount Rushmore lined with “tacky” tourist shops. 

So examine below a brief photo sample of several monuments taken during our recent travels. Which of them do you find least and most worthy to visit on an upcoming vacation? Please free to explain your evaluation. 

Book Source:

What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong , By James W. Loewen

Emperor’s Tomb Entrance – New Delhi, India 

Transcontinental Railroad Plaque – Salt Lake City, Utah

World War I Memorial – Kansas City, Missouri

Matrimandir Monument – Auroville, India

African American Freedom Monument – Savannah, Georgia

World War II Memorial – Washington D.C.

Jefferson Memorial- Washington D.C.

Abraham Lincoln’s Tomb Landmark – Springfield, Illinois 

Union Army Soldier Dedication – Vicksburg, Mississippi

Cuban Air Crash Sculpture – Beach Highway 1 – Barbados

Equator Line Marker – Quito, Ecuador

Tobacco District Smoke Stack – Durham, North Carolina

Statehood Wall of History – Austin, Texas

Students “Put Out The Fire”

What’s your reaction to the widespread student protests going on at college campuses now?

“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plain of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.” (Dr.Martin Luther King)

THE FOLLOWING BLOG ENTRY IS STRICTLY A WORK OF FICTION. ANY REFERENCE TO ACTUAL PEOPLE, PLACES, OR EVENTS AS A RESULT OF MY FACTUAL RESEARCH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED OF IMAGINARY INTENT AS WELL.

During final exam week, four full time students enrolled at a large urban university held a short panel discussion as part of a live, public television broadcast. During this segment, they would be expressing their views about serious episodes of student protest on campus related to the current Israeli/Hamas conflict. All of them were in various stages of completing their Bachelor’s degree, lived in the dorms on campus and were not on scholarship. The PBS moderator asked several questions alternately to one student at a time, which gave  the others sufficient opportunity to listen and respond afterward. For those who chose to participate  in the scenario below, here’s what they had to say?

Question #1  How do you view the student protests  on campus which are escalating into lawlessness at this time? 

“I’m really stressed right now about passing my classes. I need to study right now and can’t handle all these distractions.”

“Yes, it’s all business during class times.There’s nobody I know of in my courses who would jeopardize their grades to do this.”

“Actually, my grades are meaningless unless I see the relevancy of the college experience to my whole life. I definitely see these protesters waking me up to take some strong legal  action to doing something about unfair treatment that others face.”

One student remained silent. 

Question # 2 – How do you feel about the likely presence of State Police and National Guard units on campus to deal with this crisis?

“My parents taught me to abide by the law and the presence of a police officer on campus me feel safer.”

“I can make my own decisions about safety. I don’t need the police to tell me what to do.”

“Since when does the military actually care about those they are trained to kill? So it makes me nervous that they carry a gun!”

One student remained silent.

Question #3 – Who or what influences your attitude the most about the Middle East protest that’s causing so much uproar on your campus?”

“My friends are always on  their iPhones sending texts or social media commentary about what’s happening on campus. I would usually accept what they have to say.”

“I don’t  have time to wait for a beep or ring on my phone. And I also do not like too much chatter in general. I’m smart enough to know that our campus has probably been infiltrated by dangerous outsiders making trouble. Maybe I’ll just buy a gun.”

“You’re wrong on your reasoning. I believe that violence  breeds violence The only way to stop “putting gas on the fire” would be to find peace within ourselves and then make an effort to share it with all we meet.”

Student Four – “Namaste, brother.”

CONCLUSION:

So in the Q&A scenario described above, these four university students chose to seriously “speak their mind” without actually joining the chaotic mayhem surrounding them on campus. Instead, they acknowledged several related challenges concerning completion of their academic coursework, while also spouting off strongly a variety of philosophical viewpoints about how such highly politicized scenes of protests seriously impacted their personal lives. Thus, I hope there’s such a new generation of college education entrants that will continue promoting such non violent assertiveness by turning out in mass to vote for the best qualified candidate in the upcoming Presidential election. 

Source:

https://weeklysift.com/2024/04/29/what-to-make-of-student-protests/

No More Foolish Voting!

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”

(Zora Neale Hurston)

 

What question do you most desire to be answered about this year’s Presidential Election?  

 

Since 2016 and the strange rise of Donald Trump to the Presidency, I’ve pondered when his brand name of glorified, reality show fakeness impacting our country will end. To answer this question fully, however, it’s important that we now know that he gathered  many co-conspirators to his devious plot to rule as an all powerful king. For it appears that voters have been “played such as a fool” too long by Mr. Trump and his sycophant puppets. 

Consider as a shocking sample, the recent testimony under oath of former National Enquirer Publisher David Pecker at the ongoing Stormy Daniels Hush Money Trial targeting Mr. Trump for felonies in the state of New York. We now know from Mr. Pecker’s testimony under oath that he regularly approved printing sensationalist articles of questionable fact accuracy to favor his friend Donald’s election chances in 2016 while further agreeing to omit use of scandalous stories in his magazine that made Mr. Trump look bad then. Mr. Pecker’s court statements during  prosecution questioning also confirmed evidence that he produced  “shock and awe” stories  to negatively portray Donald’s political opponents running against him then.

 So take a look for yourself in the photos below how the National Enquirer used language to bias its readers to support or oppose candidates running for President during the 2016 election voting cycle.

Thus, the real news about Election year 2024 should be how strongly we can change perceptions of the current voting populace to rise up and make a more informed choice for President in November. For those values we should portray with respect to truthful engagement about critical issues we face in lieu of slander and gossip will largely determine in my view whether America’s longstanding experiment with Representative Democracy can survive. Otherwise, our country will continue to be threatened by extremist madness fueled by senseless cult and conspiracy behavior.        

Have a listen to this classic “The Who” tune from my generation.  For it definitely “fires me up” to see the need to make a big societal shift  now as I once aspired to do in my early adult years. Click on the link below.

https://youtu.be/9G7jZg0wSkk?si=vGxaeotd6HB-QOkQ

Trusting The Universe

What signs from  the universe most impact how you go about your daily life?

“ One way to boost your curiosity is to assume that everything in life is a clue left from the universe for further investigation. Follow the clues the universe drops for you and you will always learn something interesting.” (Austin Kleon)

I’m sitting on the catwalk stairs at the second floor of our apartment building two nights ago as I normally do before taking out a bag of trash to the dumpster. I suddenly notice in the distance two young male strangers dressed neatly in white shirts and slacks waving frantically at me to get my attention. The taller of the two men yells out, “Can I take out your garbage”? I firmly say no but they both continue to approach me anyway. I soon notice a pin lapel on their shirts stating they are member of the “Church of Latter – Day Saints.”  

A friendly conversation now begins as each of them asks me “do I believe in God.? I answer somewhat differently than they probably expected with the statement that I put  the bulk of my trust in Darwin’s “Theory of Life Evolution” and proof seeking efforts of scientific thinking. In response, they ask for my name. After telling them I’m Jim, they ask my permission to read a scripture from a handheld Bible they are carrying. So showing silent respect, I hear but do not listen to the content of the passage they speak. They then invite me to join them at their church on Sunday. Of course, I politely decline and move on to complete my garbage task as intended. As I walk away, I hear them say “we love you Jim”.

So why did this coincidental encounter with two Mormon solicitors happen to me? More specifically, what could I learn from this experience here with respect to finding greater spiritual enjoyment of travel? Perhaps I should  reason that it’s “due time” for me to “let go” of overthinking what I’m seeing at a time and place. Simply allow the natural “powers of the universe” that impact earth’s land, air, and sea to take “center stage” and capture my pure impulse of emotion. Take for example the strong sense of calm and peace I surprisingly felt for almost thirty minutes as I experienced the dim light effects of the total solar eclipse at a Texas  Senior Citizen Center on our recent road trip journey.

In the following photo collection primarily compiled from my recent travels, I would thus invite you to simply gaze into the sky depicted in each image presented. Do you observe any intuitive messages that the “powers of the universe” might be sending you  at these  momentary times? If so, do you also notice any spiritual significance that these feelings provide in better coping with life’s mortal existence? Does this spectacular act of nature bring you closer to a God or other higher being as well?

Article Source:

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/signs-from-the-universe

Total Eclipse Opportunity Arises

What  memories do you recall of a solar eclipse? 

“The sun has no audience unless it starts to disappear.” (Seneca The Younger)

Have you ever experienced a “calling” in your life that arises suddenly as a “must to do now?” Let me say I felt exactly this way as Ruth and I took a long sidetrack of 160 miles south today on our road trip from Oklahoma City to a Denton, Texas Senior Center to watch Monday’s solar eclipse in its entirety. 

Under the circumstances presented above, it does seem strange on the days leading up to the eclipse, that I did not really want to be there or anywhere else really to watch it. For I felt end of trip weary for return to our South Florida home. But when I woke up Monday, I felt positively energized by the thought of just being where I could watch the eclipse unfold on our road trip when it happened. It seemed additionally important then to share the sheer awe of the experience with other people in a “low key”, social setting  away from the “maddening crowds.

As far as the event itself, at around 1:30 pm, I was sitting at a park bench outside the Senior Center when daylight surrounding me obscured in a brownish dark hue. I next put on my special eclipse glasses for use on several successive occasions whereupon I noticed the sun slowly fade away into a tiny orb of darkness. Amid the dimmed light, I felt very peaceful  and content in such a rare moment in my life. Perhaps there’s a broader spiritual message that this eclipse event might be sending me to further pursue. 

How about you? Did you get a chance to see the eclipse and if so, how did it make you feel?

Winslow Weather Weary

How do you advise driving in winter like conditions? 


“My focus is never on the storm, Rather, my focus is on the next step I will take into the storm.” (Craig D. Lounsbrough)

Never take the weather lightly no matter what season I’ve learned on those long cross country journeys. A prime example of this credo  happened to us in early April on our road trip when we encountered a sudden snow burst without warning driving along Interstate 40 into the higher elevations of Flagstaff. Know then as the road quickly slickened into an icy mush with the temperatures dipping below freezing, my car proceeded to wobble sideways  Slowing down to 25 mph thus seemed the best way to handle such little traction on the road as I tightly grabbed the steering wheel with both hands to level off while gingerly moving behind a line of semi trucks. When the skies gradually began to clear in our descent from Flagstaff, I hoped that we had escaped the full wrath of the storm.

A new weather issue however soon developed as I began to notice strong cross winds kicking up dust and whistling through my car windows on the treeless high plateau. As these strong gusts proceeded to shift my vehicle to the left curb, I again placed a firm double grip on the steering wheel all the way to Winslow. So given the chance to find relief from such hazardous weather, this small town seemed to be an excellent choice for an early afternoon motel stop that night.. Enjoy this latest side trip collection of photos I took as we cruised along Route 66 on a later tour of this legendary town that “The Eagles” band  song “Take It Easy” arguably made famous. It’s linked below. 

https://youtu.be/32Oc2d_3yEk?si=N6Vbdxuk-FAnNMun

“Get Out There” in Vegas

What’s the  enduring charm of Las Vegas to you?


“Vegas is the most extreme and allegorical of American settlements; bizarre and beautiful in its venality and in its devotion to immediate gratification.” (Joan Didion)

I’m not a gambler, drinker or lover of nightly hedonism in my normal life. So why do I continue to book some extended time on our road trip vacations to enjoy Las Vegas with its attention deficit  pursuit of “gold and bold”. Actually I enjoy accepting  the challenge of “getting out there” in Vegas to find something new or interesting in the right moment at an affordable cost.

But don’t get me wrong! I have no desire to drag Ruth and myself on foot along the strip tirelessly from one resort to another to exact my hedonistic pleasures at this stage of my life. But I’m in a city where everything seems to continually change. So I might simply do some “window shopping” around the grounds of the casino during our three day stay at the Rio Resort Hotel to discover some interesting visual impressions. Or I can just take a long gaze out of our hotel room window located several stories over glitzy Las Vegas Boulevard to discover a striking architectural innovation. Scanning the street activity around my vehicle location while idling at a red light or a curiously looking around while I await my breakfast at a local diner might also yield some revealing images of human interest as well. 

Of course, we’ve scheduled at least one of these days visiting some desirable locations along this world famous Las Vegas Boulevard strip. Such places will include the Bellagio Hotel with its outdoor fountain displays and indoor botanical gardens, the elegant Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian resort and a concert featuring Foreigner at the Venetian Theater. Sadly, one historic landmark of interest, the Tropicana Hotel, will be closing its doors permanently during our visit to soon undergo demolition for the scheduled move of the Oakland A’s to a new stadium on this site in the foreseeable future. 

So check out my latest photos compiled after we completed this latest road trip stopover in Vegas. Do you notice anything that might “shake up” any current thoughts and actions pertaining to your daily routine?