Tuesday, October 31, 2017

A little autobiography, anyone?

If you are thinking about what, exactly, your legacy might consist of, one of the first things you probably should consider is what, exactly, do you know about your great-grandmothers and your great-grandfathers?  Think about that for a minute or two and then read on.

Now, if you’re like me, you will answer this question with a definite, “not very much.”  And, if you’re like most of us, today, that is what your great-grandchildren will have to say about you if anyone might ask them the question after they have put on a few years themselves.  OK by you?  Well, it wasn’t OK by me, and that is the reason for this brief discussion.  You see, I couldn’t even tell you the names of any of my great-grandfathers or great-grandmothers other than one, “Bappy” Benham, was her name, and that “Bappy,” or so I was told, came from 4 year old great-grandson Steve when he visited her in Princeton, Indiana, many, many long years ago.  (How he came up with that name is a mystery to me.) 

And maybe, just maybe, that is exactly why I am sitting here, in my living room, at four in the morning, adding key stroke after key stroke to a desktop file called “SVGeddesAutobiography.IN-PROCESS.”  I’ve been working on this file for about 16 months, and what I thought would be a done deal in about four months is stretching out just a bit.  And, you know what?  That’s just fine with me.  So far I have about 180 pages.  I expect what I thought would be done after about 100 to 150 pages when I began probably will end up as a 200 to 250 page work.  In any case, we will see about that, whenever, and I will have filled in a few blanks for anyone who can claim me as one of his or her forefathers should they care to take the time to read the book.  And, you know what?  They just might learn a thing or two about themselves while they learn a thing or two about me.  And that, in my book, if in no one else’s, could be a good thing.

Well, I guess it's time to stop.  Wife wanders in, dog in tow, saying:  "He wants to go out."  So, it’s “up, up, and away!”  (Remember that?)  And out to the front yard we two go (for about two minutes or so) to dewater.  Then back inside.  Then to bed (both of us—he’s gotten his relief, and the valarian I took a short while after I awoke has finally kicked in, which is to say I, too, will soon find some relief.)

Bye for now.

Well, a couple more hours sleep and I’m back at it—this autobiography thing, that is.  You know, I like what I’m doing.  You might too, if you give it a try.  And, do you think your great, great grandchildren might appreciate it too?  You won’t really know, but I think an educated guess might be made:  Damn right they will!

SVG

31 October 2017

And, for what it's worth, if you think you might like to follow me down this path, the easiest thing to do would be to start with a short how-to-do at Amazon.com.  Try clicking here:  https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B01LA5IZUU/  You just might find it to be the best $2.99 you have spent in a long, long time.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Friends are as friends do

Well, it’s 5:30, Monday morning.  Great time to get up and write a bit—right?  Well it is for me:   Morningbrain attacks like this are something I have learned to live with.  Sometime they are very productive.

This time, I awoke thinking of someone.  This someone is a person who has been very special in my life, and it is time I recognized that fact, and passed it on to him.  (A copy of this will be delivered to his address sometime soon.)

Now, my friend would not want the publicity—he’s just not that type of guy.  He is, though, one of the best friends any person would ever want to have.

My friend (who, for purposes of this work, shall remain anonymous,) is someone I have known for many years, since childhood.  Still, if I had just met him a short while ago, I suspect the following would ring true to me and to anyone else who might have a close relationship with him.

He is the kind of guy who always seems to have a smile on his face, and a twinkle in his eye, and a friendly thing to say whenever I meet him.  Do I like him because of this?

He is the kind of guy who never forces an opinion on me, but who always is able to bring a meaningful comment to any conversation, regardless of the topic.  Do I like him because of this?

He is the kind of guy who tends to be quiet, one who lets others talk, one who is a good listener, always.  Do I like him because of this?

He is the kind of guy who will go out of his way to help you, if he thinks you need it.  Would anyone like him because of this?

To have friends, you have to be a friend, right?  Well, he has ‘em, by the bushel.

Would you like to have a friend like this?  You bet you would (if you said “no,” you would be lying, I’m sure.) 

And you know the crazy thing?  My friend doesn’t seem to think much of himself.  You know what, though?  He’s the only one who thinks that way.  This guy is loved.  All he needs to do is accept that as a fact, (“and acceptance is the answer to all my problems today”) and realize regardless of whatever he thinks he may have done or been in the past that makes him doubt himself today, that is all immaterial, long since forgotten and forgiven, no doubt.  And, if that problem has to do with someone else, a father, a brother, maybe even an ex-wife, whatever, “acceptance” works there, too.  No sense in having anyone else’s opinions, or whatever, continue to eat your lunch today. 

He is my friend, and I am just one of many who love him just the way he is.



SVG  24 October 2017