Happy Hanukkah. May your Hanukkah be as warm and bright as the lights on the Menorah.
Richard is attempting to be polite and respectable mostly because, though an agnostic, he leans toward the ancient Jewish concept of G---D. He does so because the old ways appear purer to the romance in his mind, just as the ancient shaman ways (and the ways of all religions where they are closer to the spiritual rather than the religious) also seem simpler and thus purer.
Basically, it is the polite tipping of my well-worn black beret towards the universal spiritual aspects of humankind. I say “Merry Christmas” and “Peace on Earth” in the same tonal word sense.
You don’t need to act apologetic, boy. You owe no one an explanation for your thoughts. Being polite and respectful need not be apologetic, particularly in this case. When you do you border on a disguised arrogance, boy. – Amorella
How does one know these things, Amorella?
Inner honesty is between yourself and myself as I see it. As long as you think these things as though you were looking directly into the eyes of an Angel the thought will remain in a purer center balance of heartansoulanmind. – Amorella
That is my wish.
At times last night the slap of the waves increased to the roar it is today – reminds me of the early cool morning roar of lions from about a mile away. This is in Mason, Ohio on the edge of the moraine of the great Wisconsin glacier not the Serengeti plain. Nearby, Kings Island used to have an African ‘sanctuary’ for such wild animals as lions. It was a fun exercise in extending imagination of being on the Serengeti and heading off to classes in the early morning. Male lions had a liking to roar at that time – probably hungry.
The Gulf is a gray-green this December morning with the white capping waves at one to two feet out of the southwest rather than the west. White wispy clouds easing in from the horizon giving the blue sky a run for its money – for some reason I think an art deco frieze – I don’t know why unless the thought is instituted by the classical jazz emanating from the speakers atop the bedroom dresser behind me. Carol is waiting for Linda, Jean and Jen and the four will be off shopping down Gulf Boulevard towards John’s Pass and Treasure Island Key. The weather is warmer but brisk with that southwestern wind – people on the beach wearing shorts, sweatshirts, and hats; unless they are northerners who will be damned if not wearing lightly clad swimwear to show off that tan they earned in a salon up more than a few degrees of latitude – try an average of above the fortieth parallel.
Here’s the marker on the Ohio State University campus
in Columbus, Ohio via Wikipedia – Fortieth Parallel North
Today it has a more ominous tone in Korea (38 degrees rather than 40) with the death of a dictator and the eventual rise of a young son or an old army. But, then what’s a degree or two? What’s is it worth in dead bodies on either side? Lions are always sleeping or hungry. The world awaits – eventually some crazy will want to go nuclear, some do already but without a weapon in their hands, some have one or two. As Kurt Vonnegut used to say in a famous novel of his: “So it goes.”
Carol just left with the girls leaving you to listen to jazz and the Gulf’s roar through an open balcony door – such a life, orndorff. Post. - Amorella
We had lunch at the Green Iguana, sitting on the deck looking at the docked boats – a very charming local restaurant with healthy portions of good food. Afterwards, to the pool for an hour of exercise. A bit later, Bill, Bob and Jean arrived and Bill’s choice was the Conch Republic which we always enjoy. Carol and I shared a dish and we each got a bowl of fish chowder, mine with a more New Orleans’ flavor of spices. A bit of ‘tongue in cheek’ history here:
From the Conch Republic website:
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A Short History
“The Conch Republic was established by secession of the Florida Keys from the United States of America, on April 23rd, 1982 in response to a United States Border Patrol Blockade setup on highway U.S.1 at Florida City just to the north of the Florida Keys. This heinous act effectively isolated Keys Citizens from the U.S. mainland since the blockade was on our only land artery to and from the mainland. This roadblock portrayed Keys residents as non-U.S. citizens who had to prove their citizenship in order to drive onto the Florida mainland! Hardly an American thing to do!
We protested! A totally American thing to do! Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow along with a few other 'key' Conchs, went to Federal court in Miami to seek an injunction to stop the federal blockade, but to no avail. Upon leaving the Federal Court House , on the court house steps , Mayor Wardlow announced to the world, by way of the assembled TV crews and reporters, that ; "Tomorrow at noon the Florida Keys will secede from the Union!"
At noon, on the day of secession, at Mallory Square in Key West Florida, Mayor Wardlow read the proclamation of secession and proclaimed aloud that the Conch Republic was an independent nation separate from the U.S. and then symbolically began the Conch Republic's Civil Rebellion by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. After one minute of rebellion, the now, Prime Minister Wardlow turned to the Admiral in charge of the Navy Base at Key West, and surrendered to the Union Forces, and demanded 1 Billion dollars in foreign aid and War Relief to rebuild our nation after the long Federal siege!
Thus began our Conch Republic journey which still continues today! We are both Conchs and we are Americans and we are proud to be both. By act of Congress we hold dual citizenship as Conchs and as Americans and will fight for the right to be both!
Contrary to recent reports, the name "Conch Republic" refers to "all"of the Florida Keys, or, that geographic apportionment of land that falls within the legally defined boundaries of Monroe County Florida, northward to "Skeeter's Last Chance Saloon" in Florida City , Dade County Florida, with Key West as the Nation's Capitol and all territories north of Key West being referred to as "The Northern Territories". Be it known that these boundaries were established by the U.S. Government when they set up "THE" Border Patrol blockade in front of "Skeeter's Last Chance Saloon", in April of 1982, thereby establishing a new United States border!
To enforce the validity of our secession, the Monroe County Commission, in 1994, by unanimous vote, did pass a County Resolution recognizing Mayor Wardlow's actions, on the 23rd of April in 1982, as by, of and for the people of the Florida Keys.
We celebrate our Independence every year with a week long celebration.”
From Wikipedia
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Later, that summer (1982), if I remember right, Kim, Carol and myself drove down to Key West mostly unaware until we arrived on Duval Street where we were filled in and bought ourselves a couple ‘Conch Republic’ flags which I still have on my basement desk. I think we stayed at the old Key Wester that year, it has since been torn down to make way for new condos. Back in the sixties the Beatles stayed at the Key Wester which boasted the largest swimming pool on Key West, that was their claim to fame. Here is an old postcard of the place:
Description: The Key Wester, on the ocean at Key West. Hotel, cottage colony, cabana club; 116 rooms with private bath; pool; shuffleboard; excellent fishing. Coffee shop
From: www.cardcow.com/197076/key-wester-florida/
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I get carried away from time to time. Thinking in a Key West mode has a tendency to do that.
Nothing wrong with ending on a bit of humor, orndorff. Linda is staying over; tomorrow morning the three of you are heading to the local Regal theatre to see the thriller: Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Enjoy, boy. Post. - Amorella
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