Something that doesn't seem to follow a proscribed pattern or path, such as life to this point.
There is no such thing as a straight, narrow and easy way through life. A more apt description of my path at least would bring back memories of old roller coasters, two in particular. First the Virginia Reel, where some genius created a round car that spun in circles as it careened up and down the track at break neck speed and secondly, the Wild Mouse, where an individual car for two ran madly around a narrow gauge track trying to flip you out into the world at high speed.
When I entered the Navy at age seventeen it was because there did not appear to a future in front of me. Of course now I am seventy-one and the same logic applies. There isn't a twist or a turn along the way that doesn't remind me of those old "coasters" or was any more comfortable or any more direct. But, here I am now thousands of miles from where I live, which in turn is thousands of miles from where I grew up and thousands of miles from my birthplace. Roots? Perhaps not, wonderful memories regardless.
So for me a GPS is simply a gizmo with an atlas crunched onto a silicon chip and a voice to tell me where to go. Not the first to try and tell me where to go, but my reaction to them has always been, "if you know the way, you lead...I'm turning here!" In one week a stewardess will have the dubious pleasure of showing me my seat as I once more leave Rome to return stateside. I am never at my best on those days, but at least I am quiet Dougie.
Then, like the new year, I'll start anew, another path and another wait until I write the next yearly episode of this adventure. I must give thanks that money is not my driving force, because obviously my prayers were answered.
The "driven ones" are the ones I feel saddest about, perhaps even pity, because what they want, desire and seek is unattainable...more. More of this, more of that...just more. Once they get more, they want more. It's a self-perpetuating panic driven dream. What about people, after all, you are here because of them and without them you can't even gloat!
Off for the next turn on my own "Wild Reel" of a ride...ciao!
This is my on line "Collector's Cabinet". It is non-profit and haphazard at best. I leave it to you to sort through and make sense of.The views are mine. The collection reflects some of my interests. But the material must be credited to the vast internet. Otherwise, I never would have been able to amass such a treasure trove. The purpose of this exercise is entertainment, naturally mine, but even more so yours. So, please let me know if anything strikes a chord with you.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
2015
Day one; shiver and shake. Rome is more like Boston than Florida in that there is a real winter here. Perhaps more-so than usual. That being said, I am exactly where I want to be to start the new year.
It is certainly cold, but it's a "warm" cold. What? If it was climate I was looking for I would have stayed in Ft. Myers. Warm and open hearted, kind friends that are happy to see me and put up with me being an American are what describes the warm cold I am writing about. I am surrounded by friends and lots of hot coffee.
last night's noise is gone and many are awakening to their own internal din and clamor of last night. Not for me a wine induced hangover. I intend to travel back and forth from this site to the coffee bar today. This message the only effort to be put forth.
To catch this city in the bright early hours sans people is a wonderful experience. The few that are up and about are on the way to work and can't understand why on earth I am so happy. I have my camera, splendid blue skylight, reflections and photos to take. Make my day!
Reflection is a large aspect of my photo taking and a smaller part of life. Just for this moment I bask in the times that I have been able to spend here with a family chosen, not just by me, but by Grace and more importantly the ones I spend so much time talking about. While we in the states grouse about how bad things are it only takes a few minutes of observation and conversation to see just how well off we still are. Read an European newspaper as opposed to one of our doom-slinging American rags just for a different slant.
Despite their horrible economy and political mish-mash of characters the thing I admire most about my friends is their ever-positive approach to life...as if Bill Belichick quoted their life mantra, "It is, what it it!" Hopefully that mantra is what I will utilize and follow this year. I am positive about one thing, the universal disdain of politicians is well earned and well deserved. In a country where any job is respected, the politician is the exception to the rule...also well deserved.
It is certainly cold, but it's a "warm" cold. What? If it was climate I was looking for I would have stayed in Ft. Myers. Warm and open hearted, kind friends that are happy to see me and put up with me being an American are what describes the warm cold I am writing about. I am surrounded by friends and lots of hot coffee.
last night's noise is gone and many are awakening to their own internal din and clamor of last night. Not for me a wine induced hangover. I intend to travel back and forth from this site to the coffee bar today. This message the only effort to be put forth.
To catch this city in the bright early hours sans people is a wonderful experience. The few that are up and about are on the way to work and can't understand why on earth I am so happy. I have my camera, splendid blue skylight, reflections and photos to take. Make my day!
Reflection is a large aspect of my photo taking and a smaller part of life. Just for this moment I bask in the times that I have been able to spend here with a family chosen, not just by me, but by Grace and more importantly the ones I spend so much time talking about. While we in the states grouse about how bad things are it only takes a few minutes of observation and conversation to see just how well off we still are. Read an European newspaper as opposed to one of our doom-slinging American rags just for a different slant.
Despite their horrible economy and political mish-mash of characters the thing I admire most about my friends is their ever-positive approach to life...as if Bill Belichick quoted their life mantra, "It is, what it it!" Hopefully that mantra is what I will utilize and follow this year. I am positive about one thing, the universal disdain of politicians is well earned and well deserved. In a country where any job is respected, the politician is the exception to the rule...also well deserved.
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