In this episode I would like to share some of the poems I have written. Well, I call them poems, not sure what others may call them.  These are a reflections of the impact that events and people have had on me through the years.  In some way this is my way of sharing my gratitude and hope in the brightest and darkest hours, realizing it is the love of those that cross our paths than makes us who we are.  

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In a day and age when the truth is becoming  a novelty and our leaders can say what ever they want without consequences, we are indeed walking on thin ice.  Those that question the message and check it for accuracy are the called fake and presented as the liar.  The speed of the internet, social media propels a lie at the speed of sound.  This manipulation, false messaging will eventually yield severe consequences, as we sift through the results of this rhetorical wreckage.    

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After a long cold snowy winter in the Northeastern part of the United States, there is nothing better than the aroma of fresh cut grass to let you know spring has arrived.  This magical fragrance transforms me into a different time, memories of my youth in the yard, summer approaching, about to break free from the shackles of the classroom.  Just a whiff of this grass brings loved ones long gone back to life as their memories embrace me.  A bouquet of warmth, peace, love and energy. All this from a lawnmower.  

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As a week of celebration for an extraordinary  leader and pastor, Pope Francis, the peoples Pope comes to an end, I am once again overwhelmed with the power and peace for faith.  Not faith defined by a certain denomination or particular religion but just faith.  When faith it truly lived and taught by those that live it, then there is not fear, well except if you are being chased by a grizzly bear.  All the power of faith and love, over shadows ego and its by product fear.  Faith in each other, not faith in power.  As they said in the 60's,"keep the faith." 

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Unlike Santa Clause the Easter Bunny is an animal.  While growing up and still to this day when I see Santa in the mall, at brunch, or ringing a bell on the street I can make the connection, he is a nice plump man with a beard.  The Easter Bunny however is a completely different animal.  First of all, he is an animal!  So when I'm  at the mall or Easter Brunch and some dude in a bunny costume with eyes and a mouth that do not move starts waving, I get freaked out.  It looks more like a character from a slasher movie with those bulging eyes and frozen grin. This is not a bunny, it's a nightmare come to life!!  Where's the real Bunny not some freak show!!  Happy Easter. 

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In our current day, I can run errands, go to work, and visit the doctor without any real interpersonal interaction.  I get gas with my card at the pump, bank at the ATM, groceries at the self checkout line, telemedicine with the doctor, Zoom my ass off!  There was a time where a day like that I would find myself interacting with people, who I had come to know.  The guy at Hess gas pumping my gas, the bank teller, the check-out person, the doctor in person, and the sounds and smells of an in person meeting. Our community has become smaller, our interactions less in a transactional sense. What's the cost?  Look around. 

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Well, let me tell you back in my younger days if there was a rule to be broken, I broke it.  Tell me to go right and I go left.  Now that I am in the Autumn of my life, (ok early autumn like Labor Day) I find myself obsessed with certain rules.  Fifteen items or less the check-out sign reads a that grocery store.  Yet people cruise through with 20, 30, 35 items.  I find myself counting the items of the people in front of me.  Parking!  what is it with this parking in front of the building, and as long as your flashers are on, it's alright no matter how you back up traffic.  We are in a middle finger society!  

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Our society seems to be obsessed with who or what is the GOAT, greatest of all time, in what ever category you want to pick.  Greatest, band, basketball player, quarterback, late night host, it goes on and on.  These discussions  transcend into arguments in the blink of an eye. My stance is, there are not GOATS.  There is greatness in any category you select and there can me multiple greats.  I just don't go down the GOAT path.  

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As I find myself rushing from point A to point B, there are times I think I'll just stop at a drive-thru and grab something to eat.   As I approach the drive-thru I see a long line of car just waiting and herding through.  It then dawned on me that the drive-thru for fast food, is slow!  People just do not want to get out of their cars. Our car, the communication, center, racing machine, information palace and restaurant.  We don't have time to get out, even when waiting in a line of 20 cars for a burger, and fries.  The car has become our cocoon, and the butterfly appears after risking life and limb speeding to our important destination. 

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Five years ago we went into lock down.  All except for the "essential workers".  Those selfless heroes at times taken for granted until a crisis occurs and they rise to the occasion.  In this case, nurses, doctors, truck drivers, grocery store employees and first responders, police, and on and on...  Individuals' who make our lives possible.  I just found the term "essential worker" so powerful.  They are essential, yet at times just a part of the fabric.  These workers are not a part of the fabric, they are the fabric!  Thank you always!

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