Fire is an element that represents many things to many different people. To me, it has a symbol of purification. This is because when I looked into the fire, I saw the future ahead of me and the past was left behind.
The Significance of the Fire
There needs to be a bit more explanation than that I suppose. In life, there are people who come into your life and cause only a ripple in the large tangle of life’s experience. Then there are those that are destined to leave a deep emotional crater, that you are destined to carry in your life. How much and how long you carry it is up to you.
I started the fire for purification purposes. It needed to be done, a weeding out of cluttered possessions that served no purpose other than to remind me of things that were gone. As long as I held these things, there was the hope in the back of my mind that they would somehow summon those ghosts from the deathly slumber of their existence. It was time for a funeral, it was time for purification.
A Picture is Worth…………….
Pictures burned as memories drift into the sky, never to be seen again.
The pyre I started was solely for me to observe and as the preparatory flames burned I said a silent goodbye and started to cleanse my existence of those memories. It was the pictures that went first. Each happy moment of fake smiles and skin deep beauty were at first singed and then ever so slowly erased from existence. As they went all of the lies, jealousy and foolishness went with them. Watching them go one by one was fascinating. Playing back entire years of events. Then wiping them and their cursed impact away. As the last fake image of yesterday disappeared into the either, candy swirled emotions of relief and fear engulfed me.
Possessions Mean Little to Me
Then it was time for the things. Things that at one time held a vat of feelings and memories of special moments that will never be lived again. Knowing that there was a beauty in the world was great, but knowing that beauty can cut you deep and leave you with nothing but scars and disappointment. Onto the fire went the every single thing that had ever been given or held any attachment whatsoever. Some of them burned well and caused the fire to burn ever higher. Some did not, there was a bottle from a special occasion, that only the label disappeared in the wall of flame.
Your Words Showed Their Value
Last and not least were the words. Words are empty when the emotions that once supported them. Now they are like the crack of a whip every time you read them and realize that they are no more. Let them go, place them in the fire. Read one final time and destroyed forever. That is the way of relationships that are born in the fire. They are often ended by the fire. How else could it possibly be?
The cleansing was over, the end had come. The fire went out, the past was gone with its last searing growing ember. Never to be mentioned again in conversation, but the scars remain, not only from the past but from the first moment I looked into the fire.
The Steve Miller Band has provided the soundtrack for the lives of anyone our age. They put out some of the most iconic songs of the 70’s but then never really recaptured that magic. As they tried to switch from cool rock band to whatever they thought the 1980’s were looking for they lost their identity and their mojo. But this is a focus on the mojo they had in their prime. The music transcends time and generations and will help you through life whether you are a picker, grinner, lover or a sinner. I have known many a Joker, smoker or midnight toker and none of them wanted to hurt no one. Let’s forget the Abracadabra era and focus on the music that transcends time.
Fly Like an Eagle– This is one of the songs that even today, I have to listen to whenever it comes on the radio. I think I have always identified with the theme because freedom seems to be the most important thing to me. When you look at the world and all of its problems. It seems that there should be easier solutions for societies problems. Feed those who don’t have enough to eat. Give clothes to those who need it. It all gets so complicated somehow. And Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future. I think that if, as a society, we ever focused on providing for the greater good of all people we could fly like an eagle to the sea. Great song and great thought. Feed the babies, Who don’t have enough to eat Shoe the children, With no shoes on their feet, House the people, Livin’ in the street. Oh, oh, there’s a solution.
Take the Money and Run– On the other end of the spectrum is this little ditty. A story about theft and murder and apparently how to get away with it. I don’t think that Billy Joe and Bobby Sue would have been able to escape justice from Billy Mack. He knows exactly what the facts is. I don’t think that this crime spree would have worked out for them in the long run. I mean how much money could they get from that man in his castle? I think they would have to commit quite a few more crimes before they found real financial security. They would have been better served to go to college, build two successful careers and then they wouldn’t have to run so much. It is a good song though and probably inspired many marathon runners over the years. Bobbie Sue, whoa, whoa, she slipped away. Billy Joe caught up to her the very next day. They got the money, hey. You know they got away. They headed down south and they’re still running today.
Serenade– I think we all need to wake up. The world is running in an unconscious whirl of activity. There are so many things in front of us every day that are beautiful and breathtaking but we only see the time we are behind and the hurry that we have to chase. Get it done, achieve the goal, but there is a time to appreciate the things that nature provides. We are only here for a short time and should appreciate the sunrises and sunsets we are fortunate enough to experience. This song always makes me stop for a moment and appreciate these moments and the value that they provide. Did you feel the wind, As it blew all around you? Did you feel the love That was in the air? Wake up, wake up, Wake up and look around you. We’re lost in space. And the time is our own.
Jet Airliner– One of the best songs about traveling through life. There are big jet airliners that carry us anywhere in the world that we want to go. The world is a much smaller place than it used to be. Home is a thought that continually enters my mind. I know it is not really a place physically but more of a spiritual destination. Where you are accepted, loved and where you belong. We have all felt like we are far away from that in life. Sometimes doing what we think we need to take us away from this. That is the thought that “you’ve got to go through hell before you get to heaven.” Keep clear of all the funky s–t going down in the city and you will hopefully return home in one piece and find happiness. Goodbye to all my friends at home. Goodbye to people I’ve trusted. I’ve got to go out and make my way. I might get rich you know I might get busted But my heart keeps calling me backwards.As I get on the 707 Ridin’ high I got tears in my eyes. You know you got to go through hell Before you get to heaven.
Rock’n’Me – I learned some valuable lessons from this song. You need to work hard and make money to please my sweet baby. But if she was a real friend of mine, would the amount of money I made matter? It wouldn’t no matter how much she kept on rocking me. I also learned that it is a lot of travel from Phoenix Arizona all the way to Tacoma, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and L.A. I also learned that girls are warm in Northern California. Must be something about the weather. All I know is that I want my baby to keep on rockin’ me and to not be suspicious about what I am up to. In the end, I am not sure this song contributes anything other than a catchy phrase. But it is a great catchy phrase. Don’t get suspicious, now don’t be suspicious. Babe, you know you are a friend of mine. And you know that it’s true that all the things that I do, Are gonna come back to you in your sweet time.
U2 by Mike Martin
October 22, 2017- Nostalgic Music Month: U2
I all to say today, day 22, for #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth is Sunday Bloody Sunday. I hope that understand!
Yeah
I can’t believe the news today
Oh, I can’t close my eyes
And make it go away
How long
How long must we sing this song
How long, how long
‘Cause tonight, we can be as one
Tonight
Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall
And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
How long
How long must we sing this song
How long, how long
‘Cause tonight, we can be as one
Tonight, tonight
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
Oh, wipe your blood shot eyes
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)
And it’s true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won
On
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2 is an Irish rock band from Dublin, Ireland formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion).
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
I read a great article last week about finding out what is happening on the inside. To make this more clear to get in touch with your subconscious mind, through art. This blog is called the Creative Guru, and she really is creative and a guru. I saw the very beautiful and talented artwork the author created and loved it. She is an artist and rendered paintings, which are just wonderful.
The author suggested that you need to have no artistic ability to do this yourself. Lacking any ability to draw at all, I wanted to accept the challenge and see what was happening inside myself that perhaps I wasn’t aware of, if that is possible. She also has promised to evaluate the deep meaning behind my picture. She also gives links to help your do it your self. Click Here for these
The process is quite simple, don’t think, just draw. Whatever you feel like just do it. Well not thinking was easy, drawing was not. I did three images to give a really clear example of both my artistic failings and my unresolved issues. I am no expert but this is what I found with each picture.
This is the short basic list of what you should look for:
Rounded shapes and curves indicate a need for harmony in your life.
Straight lines & square: indicates a down-to-earth personality
Arrows: signify some goal that you have in mind.
Intricate patterns: indicate an introverted and obsessive nature.
I even had a name for this, but I crossed it out. Didn’t want to reveal too much. Can you guess what it was?
This was the first one that sprung to mind if you can’t tell they are balloons tied to a fence. I am not sure why this is hidden in my mind but it was. My interpretation: I really like balloons, they are very happy things, securely tied to a fence post where their strings will be cut someday and they will fly free through the atmosphere. Lots of rounded shapes and straight lines, I am a down to Earth person with a need for harmony in my life. Whew! I was really worried there that I might want to join a circus or a carnival or something.
Picture number 2
Not sure I need Freud to interpret this one.
This was the second one I did and I am not sure if the person getting rained on is me or not, but I have definitely felt this way some days. The interesting thing was the giant head of a duck was the last thing I added for no apparent reason. I would like to know why?
We are all duplicitous, I think
This was the third one I did and it is what it is. I would explain it but really have no idea. It is the picture of a room. The thing in the middle is a mirror. The rest of the stuff I just drew and am not sure about but I am open to suggestions.
So there you have it. I spent some time on this day, trying to find out what is on the inside. These three drawings have shown that I really don’t have much talent. However, to be honest, there was a great feeling of release in creating them. I felt happy when I was done and poor artistic ability aside, I like looking at them. I could have made a few more but wanted to keep my intense artistic abilities to myself.
What I learned so far is that it is fun to stretch yourself and try new things, without question. Trying something new is fun and I encourage you to try it. I may not be able to interpret these but I respect and admire those that read these pages, so please feel free to give me a title for each picture!! Thank you very much for reading to this point you deserve a prize.
Pouring over my daily dose of inspiration I was looking for a great idea to write about, and most great ideas come from other bloggers who know much more than me.
I didn’t have to look very far to find one that hit me right where I live. It was on the site called Creative Guru , which features great ideas, fantastic writing and a tale of self discovery.
Today there was a post about what color she is, not literally, but here personality. That she was once a yellow but over time has become more of a blue. She started to have blue infiltrate her life, to fill it up. Blue just started to show up in clothing and household items.
I was intrigued because I was trying to see if there was a color that had infiltrated my life. I enjoyed the writing so much I commented and stated that I didn’t particularly notice any color all over my life. She suggested to start by noticing the color of the shirt I was wearing today.
I didn’t touch nothin’ Wonka! Peter is blue too.
I looked down at my blue jacket I had on, and unzipped the coat. Revealing a shirt the exact shade of blue as the jacket. “That is kind of strange” I thought to myself, then noticed further the blue pants I had on. I looked like a giant walking blueberry. I even had blue socks on!
It was absolutely true that I put no thought into what I was going to wear today, I just picked what jumped out at me and that was blue. How accurate could this color business be? Well here is what blue is said to reveal about your personality:
” Lovers of blue have a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs without having to change their inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others.”
This was kind of a strange thing because without looking very hard I found the following pieces I have written in the past year about living my life by my own ideals.
A Path to Inner Peace , Everything You Do Matters, Forgive and move on,
Then I learned that those who favor Indigo:
“have a need to feel in harmony and at one with the Universe and to be accepted by others as the aware and intuitive spiritual beings that they are.”
Which I wrote about in a post called My Biggest Fear, which happens to be the fear of what others think about me. Much of what I write is from a spiritual perspective or has been influenced by my journey of self discovery. Then I was totally psyched up because there is definitely something to this color business. You can pick almost any of the posts I have written and they come from this base. Read any of the Thirty Question Project posts and they will reveal the truth, that yes, I am blue, but in a good way!
I feel this blue! Thanks Tobias.
Then I started to think about how blue I really am, how I own other color shirts but I like blue the best, from my trusty superman shirt to any and all New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox paraphernalia I wear on a semi-regular basis. Blue, blue, blue, there is no escaping it I am a blue man. I should move to Vegas and join the Blue Man Group.
In all seriousness I enjoy learning about new things so much, and to find out things that are signs of why I think the way I do, act the way I do, and wear what I wear.
This was so much fun and such a great experience that I decided to post it immediately so if you are interested in seeing where your personality type lies then follow the link below! You may be blue, red, yellow, or some other color. No matter what where you fit in on the spectrum of color. It is OK because that is who you are! Wear you colors proudly.
In the mid 80’s I really discovered the music of the Moody Blues. It was more thought-provoking and interesting. The songs are both musically beautiful and supply a great message about life if you take the time to listen. As I have grown over the years my philosophy of life has allowed me to find even more connections to the music and to the days of my youth. Life is a gift and we are all trying to live it in the best way we can. Sometimes you are up and everything goes your way, and other times you are faced with challenges that serve to test us. Either we learn lessons and move forward a better equipt person. Or we might be destroyed by them. The music of the Moody Blues brings hope that the results of all your challenges will be to be successful in life.
Tuesday Afternoon– Whenever I hear this song, I immediately think of the 16-year-old me. I used to spend about 30 minutes every morning before I would go to school, drinking coffee and listening to music I liked. This song reminds me of those times. As I began to develop self-reflective skills that helped me look at what was happening in life and try to understand the emotions I was experiencing because of them. This is a skill with a lot of value today. There are still moments of anger, frustration, embarrassment, etc. This song reminds me that it is OK and there is a beauty in each day to enjoy. I’m looking at myself reflections of my mind. It’s just the kind of day to leave myself behind. So gently swaying through the fairyland of love. If you’ll just come with me you’ll see the beauty of TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
Nights in White Satin– I was talking about this song the other day and it just may be one of the greatest love songs ever written. Love is a confusing emotion that makes you react from hormones and operate from a more emotional and be less pragmatic about things. At least in my experience that has been the case. Love has the power to make your life more intense, more vital and provide each day with a unique flavor. Unfortunately, most people are never taught the problem with something so powerful is that we are in constant fear of losing it. That fear leads to jealousy, envy, cruelty, neglect, and downright meanness. All of this could be solved just by clearer communication and trust. But we are only human after all and the lessons will continue until the game is up. Gazing at people, some hand in hand. Just what I’m going through they can’t understand. Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend. Just what you want to be, you will be in the end.
Question– One of the most powerful tools we possess in life is the ability to question. Not only what others are doing and how it affects our lives. Also, we have the ability to question ourselves, our lives and the situations we find ourselves in. All change and self-reflection come from the asking of questions about things. There is a philosophy called Access Consciousness which is based totally on developing your question asking tools. Once a question is asked there is no choice but to find the answer. The secret, I think, is to make sure you are asking the right questions. And when you stop and think about it. You won’t believe it’s true. That all the love you’ve been giving. Has all been meant for you.
Lovely to See You Again– People leave a mark. No matter who they are, when you deal with someone they change you in some way. The ones who change us in a positive way and share in good times are the ones we really value. When you are young and just learning, the potential for influencing your life is greater. Those are the people who you can see today after many years and no years have passed. It makes you wonder that people are so similar to each other but totally unique in the effect they have had on you and your life. People will not remember your accomplishments or your intellect but they will always remember how you made them feel. In all of our interactions, we should be aware that we are leaving a mark on someone else’s life. These marks will define your life.
Lovely to see you again my friend. Walk along with me to the next bend. Dark cloud of fear is blowing away. Now that you’re here, you’re going to stay, ’cause it’s Lovely to see you again my friend.
Never Comes the Day– We tend to be working our lives away looking forward to the next step. A kid goes to elementary school looking forward to middle school. A kid in middle school looks forward to high school, high school to college, college to career, career to retirement. Then what? As people, I think we do not do a very good job of living in the moment and enjoying the part of your life that you are in. This day is all that you are guaranteed in life, this moment right now. As a young man, I didn’t really get this. This funny game of life can end in an instant. Better not to spend those instances with the people we enjoy, doing the things we like best. Give just a little bit more. Take a little bit less, From each other tonight. Admit what you’re feeling, And see what’s in front of you, It’s never out of your sight. You know it’s true, We all know that it’s true.
Kenny Loggins by Mike Martin
I remember the first time I ever heard, “Do something for 21 days in a row and it becomes a habit.”
Working as an Account Executive for an investment banking firm in La Jolla, California, Larry Isen was a top producer and full of wisdom. He was also under investigation by the SEC for insider trading but a good guy none the less.
I once played Torey Pines, North- a famous municipal golf course, owned by San Diego, California-and two other stockbrokers from the firm. We played skins, and I won nine dollars. Larry won the rest of the pool. This was my first sales job.
The founder of the firm was a high energy former member of the US Ski Team, Sandy Greenberg. His morning motivational calls were both educational and a little weird. I just found him on LinkedIn.
His profile says he is the Founder at SDG CONSULTING and still lives in the Denver, Colorado area. I sent him an invitation to connect along with a note explaining that I started working for his firm the day that I was discharged from the Navy, November 28, 1991.
My “office” at the investment banking firm was similar to the setup of the sales floor in the movie, Boiler Room- a 2000 American crime drama film written and directed by Ben Younger, and starring Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Ben Affleck, Nicky Katt, Scott Caan, Tom Everett Scott, Ron Rifkin and Jamie Kennedy.
It had all the bells and whistles: a conference room, motivational posters, and other persuasions tools, and it overlooked the now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Miramar and Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar. They view was incredible, and we got to watch Navy and Marine’s aviators fly their supersonic jets daily.
Top Gun is the soundtrack from the film of the same name, released in 1986 by Columbia Records. The film stars Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and Tom Skerritt. Cruise plays Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a young renegade Naval pilot aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise CV-65- the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
I served aboard the USS Independence CV-62 from 1988-1991 along with my lifelong friend and fellow altar boy and Boy Scout, Joe Audette
Listening to Danger Zone – one of the hit singles from the soundtrack for the movie Top Gun, which was the bestselling soundtrack of 1986, and one of the bestselling of all time—recorded and release by Kenny Loggins- an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who performed with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from 1972 to 1977-gives you a little glimpse into the risk that Joe took on the flight deck of the Indy in the Support of your Freedom.
Thank you brother, no worries- I still think you’re an AssHat (smiley face) But, #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth is all about sharing the love!
You’ll never say hello to you
Until you get it on the red line overload
You’ll never know what you can do
Until you get it up as high as you can go
Out along the edges
Always where I burn to be
The further on the edge
The hotter the intensity
Highway to the danger zone
Gonna take you
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
I am not sure what other people do with their thoughts. I mean the one’s that make you adjust in your seat and know that there is power boiling there.
The potential seed that could grow into some potentially awesome writing, or a gadget the world has never seen before and may never experience if I don’t record it quickly and accurately. I often get hit with ideas from sources I experience every day and spend my time trying to record them in my almost magical, brightly colored, deep thought notebook.
Why I carry My Notebook
I have been carrying around a notebook for most of the past two years to catch these wonderful thoughts before they can escape me. I call it my notebook of deep thoughts and ideas. More of a hopeful title than descriptive because it captures all ideas both good and bad.
As a learner throughout life, writing things down allowed me to internalize them, ingest them and work them around inside which allows me to decide if the idea is a good one or if it needs a bit more work. My notebook allows me to place an idea off to the side, safe and sound. Then return to it in the future and find my subconscious has found the value of that writing.
Looking for a “great Idea” in my notebook. Find them all the time
Some are from reading I do, and note taking of unique points and thought provoking phrases that highlight a feeling or spark a unique thought. Some come from the great blogs I read online. I fill my notebook with quotes and descriptions that are just inspiring. Like a blog I read yesterday for the first time. There were so many great writings, I filled up many pages, with quotes like:“In your shadow, I became a child. In your light, I became a bird, and learned how to fly.” – Purnimodo
This quote and many others, I place into the book and refer back to as often as I have to, in order to let it spawn a great expression of my own. These are easy to do, because the words speak a story. In a few short words, a story is spawned in my mind. It is then just a matter of letting it flow out through my fingers onto the keyboard.
Some times during meditation, I think of those words and they allow me to encompass and cover the entire world.
Get Yourself a Thought Book
I highly suggest that you have a thought collection process for all great ideas that come your way, be they deal with spiritual things, action plans or just great information about life. I am sure that people look at my colorful notebook and have pangs of jealousy, but they are going to have to find their own.
The great thing is that the actual book, means nothing without some substantial substance located on the pages inside. Any old notebook can provide any person with a vehicle to catch their ideas and manufacture them into greatness. Mine cost a dollar but I have made it priceless.
I think that the Grinch might have had it right. If we took away the ribbons, tags, packages, boxes or bags, I don’t think that Christmas would actually come at all.
We would not find people singing in a circle being positive and loving. There would be chaos. People would be in fear for the economy, (by the way, holiday buying should not be an indicator of the health of the economy), angry about their loss of new gadgets, and I think it might lead to a national emergency. The media would have a field day, proclaiming the end of the world or blaming it all on a terrorist plot to end the United States as we know it.
When I was a kid I always felt bad for the Who’s down in Whoville, but now I am not so sure that I was rooting for the wrong side. The Grinch might have had the right idea all the time.
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
It is my observation that this simply isn’t true in our society. I would love to believe that we ,as a people, are more capable of love than we are of being greedy and judgmental, but the facts do not favor this.
People get depressed, angry and upset far more than they give, love and understand others. If you want to be brave and spend some time in any retail store this year you will find far more faces of worry, anger and crying. There are a lot of reasons people feel badly. If people can’t buy all of the things that they feel they want to, they feel bad. If they don’t get enough useless stuff, they feel bad. Here is what we should be happy about this time of year.
You are healthy
You are loved
You are able to grow and work toward goals
Your loved ones are healthy and happy
We are relatively free to live our lives
Each new day is filled with possibility and promise, that it is up to you to fulfill.
None of these things costs a cent and all people can be happy about them. Wrap that up and put it under a tree this year. I think that if we removed the stores from Christmas, people would protest in the street.
Christmas Doesn’t Come From A Store
In the end, the feeling surrounding Christmas can not be bought, and it is simply valuing people over material things. If that were popular more people would have a merrier Christmas.
No matter how much money we spend, or material things we receive, it will
Magic in your Heart
not make you a better person in any way. Giving should be our motto, accepting the love from others, and being grateful for all that we have in our lives will make the Christmas Season special. Give the gift of your time, your humor, your intellect or your kindness to someone and that will build a cheer that will last all year long.
So even if I decide to root for the Grinch and take away Christmas, I know that should not really happen because somewhere, there is a child who feels the magic that this season can bring. Christmas is for children and I wish there was a way to keep the magic and get rid of the commercialism. That would truly be a Christmas miracle. Neither the Grinch or myself could be upset about that.
Almost all of the people who grew up during the 70’s and 80’s had their life touched by the music of Billy Joel. His music was popular for decades and the songs have become iconic to me. It was January 30, 1987. A friend of a friend was going to see Billy Joel in Portland, Maine. We were going to meet them after the concert, I had no intention of going. Arriving early, on a snowy, cold Maine night, we decided to duck into the Cumberland County Civic Center to get warm. We stepped through the door, there was nobody there. Only an opening into the concert and Billy Joel singing. Sometimes opportunities are just handed to you and that day I got to see Billy Joel for free. It was a great day.
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant– Life is nothing but a series of choices made. The choices come in all forms, easy, hard, good, bad, short-term or lifelong. Relationship choices are some of the most important we make because it is the relationship choices that really define the direction that our soul is going to go. Your needs and those of another dictate the activities and priorities of the life that you live. In this song, it is a simple choice between a bottle of red or a bottle of white. When I see young people who are in love, I always think about Brenda and Eddie and wish them good luck. A bottle of white, a bottle of red. Perhaps a bottle of rose instead. We’ll get a table near the street. In our old familiar place. You and I, face to face.
The Stranger-I believe we all have many sides and people wear masks depending on which side they want to reveal on that day. This song describes the fact that people really keep their true self to themselves. Is it because we lack a faith that our true identities will be accepted by others. I once heard that 99% of what we really think about life and people is hidden kept to ourselves and nobody knows except for us. We all fall in love but we disregard the danger……. There is always a danger in falling in love because you are risking a rejection, and romantic love brings with it attached emotions like jealousy and fear of losing what you have that makes people behave in strange ways like possessivness and other crazy stuff. All good things come with an equal danger of bad, communication and honesty is the cure. You may never understand How the stranger is inspired, But he isn’t always evil. And he is not always wrong. Though you drown in good intentions. You will never quench the fire. You’ll give in to your desire. When the stranger comes along.
Just the Way You Are– All of the positive memories I have about relationships have stemmed from the feeling that both parties are accepted just as they are. There is no desire to change them or make someone into something that they are not. It seems that the older you get all the people you meet have spent their lives building a relatonship coat. This coat contains all of the things they ideally want and don’t want in a relationship partner. So they are continually looking for someone who can wear that relationship coat and be that ideal person. This puts expectations on people and causes ultimate disappointment. I know I don’t have any desire to wear someone else’s relationship coat because it would dim who I am. that person should be enough. What relationship coat have you built? I said I love you and that’s forever. And this I promise from the heart. I could not love you any better. I love you just the way you are.
You May be Right-When it comes to being wrong, I have a particular friend who is a master at it. One of his favorite pasttimes is arguing with people over silly things. In most cases, he is just arguing for the sake of arguing. I contend that he can’t help it because of his family and upbringing. He will argue about things with questionable factual information but always with conviction. I don’t pretend to understand why he gets all worked up about things you can’t control. All I know is that the best use of Google is to fact check his sources and make sure that all arguments are coming from a factual location. This song really reminds me of him. You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for. Turn out the light. Don’t try to save me. You may be wrong for all I know. You may be right. You may be wrong but you may be right.
Vienna– Our lives are driven by dreams. Life is a constant jouney to try to build dreams and to work to achieve them. In that journey there is going to be fear and doubt to overcome. Nothing worthwhile comes without a cost. We should all create dreams of accomplishment and achievement no matter how old we are. These are the things that give life meaning and allow us to move forward with passion and adventure. There are going to be doubts, get out of your own head and focus on the goal. This will make you create a life that is certainly worth living. In that pursuit it is important to enjoy the journey, because it is in the journey that all the memories are created and the interesting story is written. But you know that when the truth is told. That you can get what you want or you get old. You’re gonna kick off before you even. Get halfway through. When will you realize, Vienna waits for you.
Downeaster Alexa, Good Night Saigon, A Matter of Trust, Don’t Ask Me Why, your My Home, Tell Her About It, Say Goodbye to Hollywood, Ballad of Billy the Kid, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Piano Man, The Longest Time, New York State of Mind, Honesty, You May be Right, Only the Good Die Young, River of Dreams, It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me, Movin’ Out, And So It Goes, She’s Always a Woman, Allentown, Big Shot
Terry Jacks by Mike Martin
The 1973-74 school year was the last time that Jon Hilton and I were in the same class. Mrs. Thornquist, our 2nd-grade teacher, was an absolute sweetheart. The highlight of the week was always a visit from her husband Bill, who like his wife, was very much respected in the small remote village of Greenville, Maine.
She was so sweet that she tolerated way too much of our misbehaviors, and I am not saying that Jon and I took advantage of her kindness, but we did earn what I call the “Hilton Rule”-a new policy in the Greenville School System that Jon and I were not to be in the same class ever again.
The school did modify the “Hilton Rule” policy once for a short time. In 5th grade, circumstances dedicated that I move classroom and was in Hilton’s class for what amounted to two days. The duration of the stay was brief because the 5th-grade teacher was a pervert. He made a pass at
Season in the Sun
me and I stopped short of punching him in the nose. I went directly to the VP office Mr. Keenan, asked and was granted a transfer back to Mr. Pooler’s room.
When I hear Seasons in the Sun , an English-language adaptation of the song Le Moribond by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel- a song that became a worldwide hit in 1974 for Terry Jacks-a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and environmentalist, I immediately think of the bus ride from my house on MacAfee Street to Greenville Elementary School anticipating another great day in Mrs. Thronquist’s class.
The song was originally intended for the Beach Boys, with Jacks serving as producer for the recording; however, after the group decided not to release it, Jacks recorded it himself in late 1973 on his own record label, Goldfish
A different season in the sun
Records. The song became the largest-selling international single by a Canadian artist at that time, eventually selling 14 million copies worldwide.
Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We’ve known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we’ve climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC’s
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I’ll be there
We had joy, we had fun
we had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time
Goodbye Papa please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye Papa it’s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you…
And, when riding a school bus in Greenville, Maine back in the mid 70’s, you listened to the girls sing Season In the Sun by Terry Jacks, over and over again. I admit they sounded pretty good, but of course, I was more interested in playing kickball and making slime.
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
I was very shy about letting anyone know what I wrote.
by Jonathan Hilton
I was scared to death! Petrified! White knuckle, grab a hold of something, close your eyes and scream scared of what other people would think of my writing. So much so, I really hesitated to ever show it to anyone. I had one friend who I would “let” read what I thought. They were very safe and supportive.
Finally after a bit of coaxing, I started to take a few tentative steps out into the world of blogging. It was a world that is very strange to me, I just never realized how many other people write and share their work. What an amazing discovery this world has been. It is a world of dynamic personalities, interesting thoughts and great knowledge.
I was pensive at first because I am careful by nature I guess, and looked at a few blogs, and finally got up my courage to leave a couple of comments. I was amazed that not only did most of the blogs I commented on read my comments but they replied back!
I read another bloggers account of reading spam and pretending that it was real interaction, because at least it felt like someone had read my thoughts. That was me for sure. So getting actual feedback from real people was like winning the Super Bowl!
Thank you so much for following one of my blogs in any way!!
Other people actually read what I wrote. What a great feeling! Now even though I have never met in person any of these people, their stories and writing is a vital part of my daily life.
Finish a job at work, sneak over and see what is happening in the blog world. See a story that inspires, a video that puts me in awe, or a picture that makes me scared of reptiles. What ever it is generally, specifically I am inspired. Creativity comes from this inspiration and I want to express my gratitude for those who have followed me in as special a way as I can!!!
Thank you so much for making my life a richer experience. I placed each person in a random order because I love all of you so very much. If I forgot anyone it is not because you are not in my heart, because you are, it is because I somehow missed you!
One of my constant companions, as I grew up and became an “adult” in the 1980’s, was John Cougar Mellencamp. His music was easy for a rural kid from Maine to relate to. The themes of small towns and simple stories seemed to be something that was easily emulated. As I navigated my way through the turbulent waters of high school and then enjoyed the free years of college, this music was there. Along with the songs are a raft of people and experiences that have helped form my view of the world today.
Small Town– this song spoke to me the first time I heard it, just like it does today. I was definitely born in a small town and my earliest
My small town
memories were all formed from that experience. That you treat people the way you want to be treated. You practice kindness every day and help your neighbor out. You do this and ask nothing in return because being in a position to help another is reward enough. When you need help others are there for you. The big lesson is that we are all in this together and each of us contributes to that community in one way or another. Good or bad. I am eternally grateful for the learning I received in my small town of Greenville, Maine. No, I cannot forget where it is that I come from, I cannot forget the people who love me. Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town. And people let me be just what I want to be.
Lonely Old Night– In life the good memories stand out and shout to you as you grow older and the bad ones tend to fade into the background. This song brings some of the best ones to mind. Times spent drinking wine and dreaming of a future that could have existed if I wasn’t so scared of it. Sometimes we learn lessons and move forward and use them. Unfortunately sometimes the lessons we learn come too late to change a situation or yourself. All you are left with are positive memories of people that mattered to you so much then. The images can seem as real today as they were then but then you realize that they are as much ancient history as the pyramids in Egypt. But they are your history. Radio playin’ softly Some singer’s sad sad song. He’s singing about. Standing in the shadows of love. I guess it feels awfully alone. She says I know Exactly what he means………….
Jack and Diane– A song which came out while I was in high school. I think there is a generation of people who created a fantasy of being in a relationship like Jack and Diane. All Jacks are looking for their Dianes and vice versa. Each relationship we have from the beginning of our existence until today is meant to teach you something. It may be a lesson about love, life, selfishness or something else but most often they teach you something about yourself. If you are paying attention, then the next relationship should be better. Or more likely the one you are in will be more vital and valuable. This song reminds me to learn those lessons. I am a slow student. Oh, let it rock, let it roll. Let the bible belt come and save my soul. Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can. Change is coming ’round real soon. Make us woman and man. Oh yeah, life goes on.
Authority Song– One of the constant experiences that I have had in my life is that I do NOT like anyone telling me what to do. Especially when the narrative states how you should feel about certain things. There is no one path that is more acceptable than another. As long as nobody else is being negatively affected by your behavior, then do what you want to do. Don’t let anyone else tell you what career you are supposed to follow, or what hobbies you want to create from. Creativity is a vital part of knowing yourself and what message you have to share with the world. Be your true self and let everyone else do the same. So I call up my preacher I say, “Give me strength for Round 5.” He said , “You don’t need no strength, you need to grow up son.” I said, “Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying”And dying to me don’t sound like all that much fun.”
Check It Out– Another song which speaks about life and the desire to have your true song heard. It actually is urging the world to “Check it Out” and see what the words and thoughts that people posses. It would lead to a better understanding if people listened to those of different political views, rather than carry preconceived judgments of others. Most of which are created and promoted by the mainstream media on both sides. Keep the people fighting and fearing and they are easy to control. Look at yourself and those you are opposed to. What is the real issue? Justice? Patriotism? Healthcare? Terrorism? Check it out, we are the same a lot more than we are different. Most people just want to have a life that is fulfilling. Seems like we should be able to put aside the petty differences and allow this for everyone. So check it out. Where does our time go? Check it out. Got a brand new house in escrow. Check it out. Sleepin’ with your back to your loved one. This is all, we have learned about happiness.
Pink Houses, Hurts So Good, Cherry Bomb, R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., Rain on the Scarecrow, Crumblin’ Down, Minutes to Memories, Hand to Hold on to, Just Another Day, Jackie Brown, Rumble Seat, Between a Laugh and a Tear, Ain’t Even Done with the Night.
Jack Johnson by Mike Martin
Is it ok to throw trash in the oceans?
I once helped start a nonprofit with a Biddeford, Maine lobster tank manufacture. Touch Tanks for Kids was formed to bring awareness to the damages that human activity brings to the Earth’s biospheres-the program included a strong focus on Ocean education.
Jack Hody Johnson is a singer-songwriter, musician, actor, record producer, documentary filmmaker and a former professional surfer born in the USA. I was once referred to as the “Surfer Dude” when I worked for a furniture repossession and extortion company. ( FYI-I don’t surf and have only tried on a few times. I do have blonde hair though.)
Johnson is active in the ecology and sustainability movement and has an ocean-centric focus. Johnson, with help from, Kim, his wife, created the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation and the Kōkua Hawaii Foundation.
Dirty Oceans that need to be cleaned
The Johnsons have dedicated a great deal of resources, time and money, promoting “positive and lasting change within communities by supporting organizations that focus on environmental, art, and music education.”
With the help of several sympathetic organization and people, Touch Tanks for Kids shared its message at festivals, conventions and other gathers including two lobster festivals. The San Pedro Lobster Festival in California and The Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine.
Thank you, Cecil Knight for all your help! And, thank you Jack Johnson for the use of your use of your song, Talk of the Town, used in the video as a way to promote one of Touch Tanks for Kids fundraising systems when The Lobster Claw Invade(d) The Maine Lobster Festival
I know a game using live lobsters may seem a bit morbid, but the lobsters who participated got to live as they were set free to swim another day. And, many great educational organization benefit from the fund raiser including the Coastal Children’s Museum 75 Mechanic Street Rockland, Maine
Thank you everyone for your participation and think we did a great job motivating people to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
If you’re going to the market to buy some juice
You’ve got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste
And if your brother or your sister’s got some cool clothes
You could try them on before you buy some more of those
Reuse, we’ve got to learn to reuse
And if the first two R’s don’t work out
And if you’ve got to make some trash
Don’t throw it out
Recycle, we’ve got to learn to recycle,
We’ve got to learn to
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Please, have a great day, and if you have any questions, drop us a line and please partake in #OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth and while you are at it take a trip to Greenville, Maine-I understand the foliage is majestic this time of year! #visitGreenville
#OctoberNostalgicMusicMonth #visitGreenville
Fire is an element that represents many things to many different people. To me, it has a symbol of purification. This is because when I looked into the fire, I saw the future ahead of me and the past was left behind.
Then it was time for the things. Things that at one time held a vat of feelings and memories of special moments that will never be lived again. Knowing that there was a beauty in the world was great, but knowing that beauty can cut you deep and leave you with nothing but scars and disappointment. Onto the fire went the every single thing that had ever been given or held any attachment whatsoever. Some of them burned well and caused the fire to burn ever higher. Some did not, there was a bottle from a special occasion, that only the label disappeared in the wall of flame.
Last and not least were the words. Words are empty when the emotions that once supported them. Now they are like the crack of a whip every time you read them and realize that they are no more. Let them go, place them in the fire. Read one final time and destroyed forever. That is the way of relationships that are born in the fire. They are often ended by the fire. How else could it possibly be?
Fire and Emotions
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Awards and Gratitude
