Tuesday, June 30, 2009

He's funny...and a liberal, too.

Took a while. But finally, the U.S. Senate has a professional comedian. Satirist Al Franken. Really, many of the senators are comedians. Amateurs. They're funny without even trying to be funny. Franken will be sworn in next week as the junior senator from Minnesota, eight months after the election. The election was so darn close it took all that time to recount and for loser Norm Coleman to exhaust the multiple appeals process. Finally, today the Minnesota Supreme Court declared Franken the winner by 312 votes, out of about 3 million votes cast. I'm happy over the outcome. Not only because Franken is funny. He's a liberal, too. And the author of a book titled, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." -Jim Broede

Monday, June 29, 2009

...the earth/dirt feels clean.

I've been gardening with my bare hands. Pulling weeds. Planting. And the dirt on my hands feels so good. I'm touching Mother Earth. And I'm kneeling in the dirt, too. My knees are black. I'm connected to the ground. From which springs so much life. I used to wear gloves. Didn't want to get my hands dirty. But I've discovered that the earth/dirt feels clean. And oh, so soothing. --Jim Broede

I'm tired of spoiled ballplayers.

If I was running the show in the Chicago Cubs organization, I'd bench three of my highest paid players. Actually, the entire starting outfield. Soriano in left. Fukudome in center. And Bradley in right. And I'd play two rookies in the outfield. Fox and Hoffpauir. And I'd play unassuming veteran Johnson in center. And I'd get rid of our so-called ace pitcher, Zambrano. Trade him. His attitude is terrible. He's an angry prima donna. And if it's possible to trade Soriano, Fukudome and Bradley, despite their high salaries, I'd do that, too. And I'd bring up young, promising ballplayers from the minor leagues to fill out the roster. Yes, I'm tired of spoiled, over-paid ballplayers. --Jim Broede

I wonder, is god sleep-deprived?

I don't always have the luxury of escaping to the seaside or to a dinner out or to a live concert, but I have the opportunity to get a little extra sleep. Sleep can be a wonderful luxury. A way to indulge one's self. Too often I deprive myself of a good night's sleep. I'll go through streaks of getting only 5 or 6 hours of sleep. Because I'm preoccupied with this and that. And eventually it catches up with me. And I even feel as if I'm gonna fall asleep when I'm walking. And I may get a bit out of sorts, mentally and physically. Oh, stress probably has something to do with it, too. Anyway, if I were my own doctor, I'd prescribe more sleep. A night or two each week. Yes, play catch-up. Allow myself to enjoy the pleasure of falling asleep. And the pleasure of waking up. And the pleasure of a sweet dream. A way to relax. To rejuvenate my body and spirit. I wonder if god sleeps. Takes naps. Maybe that's when bad things happen. But then, even god needs to rejuvenate. With blessed sleep. Could be that god makes his bad decisions when he's tired. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sad. To see the Cubs disintegrate.

One of the worst things to watch is to see baseball players disintegrate. Individually. Or as a team, as in the case of the Chicago Cubs. The players are losing confidence. The Cubs are a good team. Talent-wise. They could be winners. If only they believed in themselves. But they don't. They have a defeatist attitude. Didn't start that way. They were picked by most sportswriters as the overwhelming favorite in the National League's Central Division. Chances are, the Cubs believed it, too. They read the press clippings. And assumed, I'm guessing, that all they had to do is take to the field and go through the motions. Yes, that's what they did. And soon they discovered that wasn't good enough. And so they tried to turn the level of play up a notch. Then two notches. Three notches. And still they lost too many games. Frittered 'em away. And before long, they began to doubt themselves. They questioned whether they had talent and get up and go. But mostly, I think, it's a matter of confidence. The lack of it. No swagger. A bad mental outlook. They lose their tempers. Too easily. They smash water coolers in the dugout. They shout at umpires. Get thrown out of games. All this in lieu of playing hard and smart baseball. In lieu of playing as a functional team. It's sad. Especially for Cubs fans. To see their team disintegrate. --Jim Broede

Doing something I enjoy.

I could have been a sportswriter. In fact, I was. For a while. In my younger days. But decided to get out if it. Maybe because it seemed too much like a fantasy world. But then again, maybe I traded one fantasy world for another fantasy world. Almost any kind of writing is fantasy. To some degree. Exercising the imagination. In order to tell a story. Often, a true story. Told interestingly. So many lives, it seems to me, are fantasies. The pursuit of dreams. Take professional athletes, for instance. They decide to make a living by playing games. Baseball. Football. Basketball. Hundreds of sports. Team sports. Individual sports. I think of it as a glorious pastime. A fun way to make a living. And to achieve satisfaction in life. And every game is a drama, of sorts. Often a combination of skill and chance/luck. If I had the skills, I might have played professional sports. Instead, I did the next best thing for a while. Writing about it. Yes, I could have been happy as a sportswriter. Writing about the Chicago Cubs. Wow! Doing something I enjoy. And getting paid for it. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Here's to you, Jeanne.

I treat myself nice. But I try not to baby myself. To not feel sorry for myself. Maybe that's how I avoid depression. I really don't know. It's a mystery. Maybe I'm lucky. Blessed. When Jeanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and I had to become the primary care-giver, maybe I felt sorry for myself for a little while. But I rallied. When I contemplated I'd rather be the care-giver than the patient. And I clearly understood that I loved Jeanne. Very much. And I felt bad for Jeanne. Oh, Jeanne went through a period of belligerence. Negativity. Who wouldn't? Maybe it was Jeanne sensing that I wasn't taking the situation too well. Maybe I exuded some bad vibes. But the turn around came when I understood that. And I began to exude good vibes. No matter what happened. I was going to counter Jeanne's belligerence and my doldrums with an upbeat attitude. With good vibes. Positive vibes. I was gonna take charge. Of myself. And of Jeanne's care. I was gonna become a lover in the unconditional sense. And it's lasted. Two and a half years after Jeanne's death. When I'm down. I find ways to get up. That's what Jeanne would want. For me to treat myself nice. Without being a baby. So here's to you, Jeanne. While you were dying, you taught me how to live. --Jim Broede

Friday, June 26, 2009

The importance of team play.

I'd like to be running the Chicago Cubs baseball team. With an iron-fist. I'd cajole two of the team's most talented hitters, outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley, into voluntarily spending two weeks in the minor leagues. Trying to get their acts together. For the benefit of the Cubs team. Both are in horrific batting slumps. In the minors, they'd escape the stress of major league baseball. And they'd be able to more easily relax. To find a rhythm again. And confidence. Now they are playing uptight. They have big contracts. Making millions. And maybe that's part of the problem. The pressure. They're supposed to be producing. And so they press. And go from bad to worse. But both players have big egos. They'd consider it an insult, a punishment, to go down to the minors. Even though it probably would be good for the team. Maybe that's why the Cubs won't have a successful season. They have forgotten how to play team baseball. --Jim Broede

On the matter of believing.

I know what I'm supposed to believe and what I want to believe. They pretty much coincide. Overlap. For instance. Loving one's enemies. I want to believe in that credo. And I think I'm supposed to. But it's easier said than done. At times, I really do come to love an enemy, so to speak. At least to a significant degree. But hey, there are all sorts of people in my life that I don't love. And they aren't even enemies. Just mere acquaintances. People I can take or leave. I also want to believe in god or gods. And I guess I do. But it's difficult to say. Because I really can't define god. So I'm believing in something indefinable. That's sort of risky. I could be accused of not knowing what I purport to believe in. I do believe in love. Albeit, that's hard to define, too. All I know is that I'm in love. So there must be love. I also want to believe that I can walk on water. In other words, do the impossible. Because an ancient philosopher named Jesus tells me it's possible. And he seems rather knowledgeable. So I'm inclined to believe him. But I haven't yet accomplished the feat. So maybe I don't believe. Even though I want to. I also want to believe in ever-lasting life. Because I've liked life so far. And I have no desire for it to end. Maybe I'll change my mind about that some day. I fantasize about living as a spirit. In another dimension. Outside my physical being. Seems like it would be a pleasant experience. Maybe it would allow me to explore the entire cosmos. All of creation. Far beyond Earth. Maybe it would bring me closer to the god/gods that I can't define. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 25, 2009

We learned acceptance...and love.

Really, I think the baseball gods are doing me a favor. Giving me a gentle reminder and a refresher course in acceptance. I'm supposed to have already learned to accept the downsides of life. I have no problem embracing the upsides. Such as, when the Cubs win. But I have a hard time accepting Cubs losses. Life consists of ups and downs. And if I don't learn to deal with the big picture -- well, that's gonna make me unhappy. The baseball gods are saying, "Jim, learn to deal with it all. Especially when something relatively trivial happens. Like the outcome of a baseball game. After all, it's not a life and death matter." I suppose that's good advice. I'm learning to accept twists and turns and even life and death. For instance, my Jeanne had Alzheimer's. And for 13 years, we battled the disease. Together. And rather despairingly at first. But eventually, we learned to cope. By practicing the art of acceptance. Making the best of the situation. The inevitability of death. The price one pays for the gift of life. One also pays a steep price for deep love. The hurt and sadness that comes with a loss. But we learned ultimately to truly savor the time we had left. Making the most of each day. Rather than lamenting what we wouldn't have tomorrow. --Jim Broede

I'm a lover. But no Don Juan.

I can be what I want to be. That makes me blessed. In other words, I am what I am. I announced it here. When I started this blog. A romantic idealist. A free thinker. A political and social liberal. A lover. Oh, I could choose other pursuits. But hey, I'm comfortable with me. And I have time to be what I am. Because I'm retired. I don't have to play the game of having a career. I write. I made my living by being a writer. But now I strictly write what I want to write. This blog, for instance. And I pretty much say what I want to say. Within reason, of course. I occasionally piss off conservatives and religious fanatics. Which is all right. Can't please everyone. And I wouldn't want to. I have no desire to change 'em. But they'd like to change me. That's where we have a parting of ways. I'm a live and let-live guy. I suppose that above all else, I want to be a lover. Not only of life. But of someone special. That one-on-one relationship. Because it's real. No longer abstract. If I can't love one other in a special and unconditional way -- well, then love would be a sham. This idea that one must love everyone, even one's enemies, is pure poppycock. It's impossible. But I can and have fallen in love with one other. Yes, one at a time. I can't have two lovers at once. That would split me in half. Divide my very being. My loyalty. I can like multiple human beings. And even say I 'love' them to some abstract degree, I suppose. But I can be totally committed to only one at a time. I have to be focused. I'm no Don Juan. That would spread me far too thin. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

I'm amazed I got this far.

When I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s, it was hard for me to imagine ever being 73. And if I did make it that far, I thought maybe it would be a fearful time. Knowing that time was running out. At least when I was younger, I assumed the odds were with me. I'd survive indefinitely. And no reason to worry about it. And I had time to waste. Well, now that I've arrived in my 70s, I'm not as worried as I thought I'd be. And I appreciate each day far more now than when I was younger. Maybe that's the advantage of growing old, so to speak. I've also had time to better understand the concept of love. And that gives more meaning to life. Once upon a time, I couldn't imagine writing a love letter or two every night. I would have perceived it as a waste of time. Mush. Now here I am, pleasantly preoccupied with loving thoughts. And I'm living happily. One day at a time. Savoring so many moments. Sure, I know that the odds of living for a long time yet, are diminished. Only so many make it into their 80s. And fewer into their 90s. And it's an oddity, a rarity to reach 100. But hey, I've got today. And good prospects for tomorrow and next week and next month. And maybe even for a few more years. Guess that's good enough for me. I'm amazed I got this far. --Jim Broede

We'll sit on our fat asses.

Iranians are braver than Americans. Or so it seems to me. I’m impressed that they take to the streets to protest their elections. We Americans remained rather placid when George Bush and the U.S. Supreme Court stole the 2000 presidential election. And when Bush and the neo-conservatives, with a few Democrats mixed in, took us into an obscene war, there was little more than token protest. No taking to the streets. And it’s quite possible that we Americans will be denied universal health care again later this year. Because insurance companies have the financial and political clout to scuttle a public health care plan. But we Americans will continue to sit on our fat asses rather than take to the streets. Seems we left our revolutionary days behind in 1776. –Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The gods keep me humble.

More and more, I am understanding that the gods givith and the gods taketh. That nothing is permanent. For instance, the gods gave me Jeanne. And I had Jeanne for many years. But the gods also took Jeanne. And then the gods gave me another love. The gods gave me life 73 years ago, too. And sooner or later, the gods will take my life. The gods have given me much joy and happiness. And some sadness, too. Even the baseball gods toy with me. They givith and they taketh. I don’t know from one moment to the next whether it will be give or take. Tonight the baseball gods taketh. But it makes me philosophical. Reflective. And that’s inherently good. The gods want me to think. To appreciate what I have. More so than mourn what I don’t have. Maybe that’s the difference between sadness and happiness. I’m happy when I contemplate all that I have. But when I lament about what I don’t have, I’m something less than happy. Less than appreciative. I guess I get what I deserve. An abundance of happiness, really. With doses of sadness and unhappiness mixed in -- the gods' way of keeping me humble. --Jim Broede

My greatest discovery so far.

I wasn’t born conscious. When I was pulled from the womb, I wasn’t a thinking being. I wasn’t yet aware of myself. Maybe it took two or three years before I was even aware that I was in a strange world. Inhabited by other beings. Or that I even had the ability or potential to think. I’m still trying to grasp what this world is all about. By becoming more conscious. More aware. Maybe that’s my mission in life. I suspect I have only so much time. That I am mortal. That I might not have this opportunity forever. But I can’t be sure about that. Because I still have a very limited amount of awareness and consciousness. I know much more than when I left the safety of my mother’s womb. But still, I surmise I know so very, very little. I need time if I am to learn more. If I am to have a clue of why I am here at this particular moment. My best guess is that I am to be a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a political and social liberal and, above all else, a lover. Maybe if I had another 1,000 years to reflect, I’d change my mind about that. Experience tends to broaden my scope. I’m still evolving. Feeling my way. I’ve learned a language. A way to speak. And to write. To record my thoughts. That, in itself, is an accomplishment. An indication that I am alive. And conscious. Because I can retrieve my thoughts. By thinking. By recalling. By remembering. Lately, I’ve taken to traveling. To exploring the world. This place called Earth. I’ve met someone living thousands of miles away. But I’ve bridged the gap. The distance. Doesn’t matter that she lives in another country. On an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Because I live in a highly technical world. I find ways to connect daily. With audio. With video. I also can be physically half the way across the world in a few hours. The same day. That wasn’t possible in 1935. The day I emerged in a place called Chicago. Oh, I’ve been in so many places since then. I’ve survived. And I’m thriving. I’m becoming more conscious. More aware. And today I’m thinking that my greatest discovery so far is love. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 22, 2009

Out of mutual respect.

Iranians don't trust us. And I understand why. We Americans interfered in Iranian affairs often. Even to the point of overthrowing a legitimate government in 1953. And putting the Shah in charge. And we even provided some of the chemicals when Saddam Hussein used poison gas against Iranians in a war, in which we supported Hussein and Iraq. And it was only months ago that Republican presidential candidate John McCain was chanting, 'Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.' And George Bush labeled Iran as part of a three-nation 'axis of evil.' Of course, Barack Obama knows all this. And so it makes sense for him to encourage a relatively 'hands off' approach to recent events in Iran. An uprising or protest, of sorts, over the outcome of what some see as a rigged election. We really don't know exactly what's going on in Iran. In part, because we don't even recognize the government. We don't have a consulate or embassy there. And we've got our share of politicians (especially conservatives) bad-mouthing Iran. Bad-mouthing Obama, too, for not bad-mouthing Iran enough. They'd have Obama condemning Iran in no uncertain terms. But Obama seems to want events to unfold naturally in Iran. Without the usual interference from the U.S. Because that could be counter-productive. But our nation's conservatives specialize in counter-productivity. That's why they lost the last election, and remain in the minority. Thank gawd. Meanwhile, I'll put my faith and trust in Obama. Could be the Iranians will do the same some day. Out of long overdue mutual respect. Despite our differences. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Maybe I'd run a marathon at 98.

I saw a feature story on a Chicago TV station tonight that intrigued me. A man celebrated his 98th birthday by sky-diving from a plane at 10,000 feet. And George Bush's father recently sky-dived on his 85th birthday. Now, wouldn't it be nice to live to 98, and do something equivalent to that? I wouldn't go skydiving. But I'd consider running a marathon at 98. --Jim Broede

A sweet & wonderful revolution.

To bring about real change in the politics and social fabric of a country, I think it often takes the kind of revolution in which people take to the streets. They march. They demonstrate. They protest. Might be they have to take risks. Actually put their lives on the line. The civil rights movement in the U.S. didn't succeed until we became militant about it. And civil rights workers got killed. People were willing to die for the cause. If significant change is to come in Iran, it'll be because Iranians took to the streets. And because workers went on strike. And businesses closed. And no doubt, there'll be bloodshed. But that's what it takes to bring about real change. Because the entrenched ruling class doesn't want to give up power. The white power structure in the U.S. wasn't going to be fair-minded and give in on civil rights unless it was forced to. By a revolution. In the streets. A mass movement had to take place. Had to overthrow the foul system. Maybe a mass movement is underway in Iran. Maybe it's only supported by a minority. A minority that feels it has been denied certain inalienable rights and freedoms. But if the revolutionaries are to win, they need to persist. They need to protest. Time and time again. The movement must become contagious. Must attract increasing amounts of popular support. From within. From the masses. Only then will it succeed. Meanwhile, I tell a friend in Italy that Italy's corrupt Berlusconi-type politics won't change unless there's a revolution. People taking to the streets in Italy. Saying they've had enough. Or I guess, if Berlusconi dies. And then the politics still may not change much. It may be the same thing over and over again. Another Berlusconi. Only by another name. Of course, that's the Italian nightmare. But a revolution -- well, that's a sweet and wonderful dream. --Jim Broede

On discipline.

I discipline myself. In two ways in particular. On a daily basis. I exercise. Physically. Usually by walking, jogging or running. I also exercise mentally. By writing. Often, I don't know what I'm going to write. I just sit down at my computer, and write. Whatever's on my mind. And if nothing is on my mind, I force myself to think. To bring something into my consciousness. Usually, it's a loving thought. Because I'm in love. That makes it easy. Anyway, this is a wonderful way to live. Another thing. I exercise my mouth. I talk. If nobody is around, I talk to myself. Out loud. But often, I talk to my cats. Loverboy and Chenuska. They seem to understand me. I understrand them, too. Also, my mouth spends a goodly amount of time chewing. Food. I like food. But I eat in moderation. Because I like to look good. I don't wanna be fat. I'd rather be svelte. Another reason to get plenty of aerobic exercise. And when it comes to eating, I dine mostly on salads, fish, chicken, vegetables, fruit. And I give thought to becoming a vegetarian. Maybe someday. I don't watch much television. When I do, it's mostly news programs. Especially those with liberal slants. I also listen to music. Mostly classical. But a blend of other kinds, too. And I'm always reading a book or two or three. And, oh yes, I have a blog. Called broodings. And I try to post something. Daily. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 20, 2009

I'd rather be a cool & loving cat.

I recommend writing a journal or a blog or a diary. Whatever you want to call it. Makes one sit down and reflect. On what's on one's mind. To see it in writing. In print. Seems to give it more substance. I can later go back to it. And remind myself what I was thinking. Not so long ago. Or long ago, for that matter. It's too easy to forget one's thoughts. To just file the thought away. And it becomes lost. Also, I share much of what I write and have on my mind. And I get helpful advice. Or criticism. It's all good. Because that gets me to think in broader terms. With an open mind. Albeit, I also receive stupid, and even mean-spirited comments. But that's all right, too. Some of the stuff makes me laugh. I hardly ever become angry any more. Because I've learned that anger is counter-productive. I know that occasionally some of my comments alienate people. And opens me to criticism. But hey, if someone becomes alienated or angry, that's really his/her problem. We have choices. We can dictate our own reactions. That's why I don't become angry. I'd rather be a cool and loving cat. --Jim Broede

I accomplished my mission.

I like to fill a vacuum. Empty space. In a classroom, for instance. If a teacher wants discussion. And the class tends to be quiet. I'll come to the forefront. I'll take over. And ignite discussion. Lots of it. And I'm not afraid to dominate the discussion. Even to the point of becoming a rabble-rouser. Becoming argumentative. Of course, I think that's good for the class. I've occasionally had a teacher tell me to shut up. Politely enough. But I think I accomplished my mission. To make my classmates want to talk. Yes, to fill the vacuum. --Jim Broede

The gods have been good to me.

One can look at life as theater. As entertainment. As living in a story. As not knowing what's to come next. I know what's happening now. At this very moment. And generally, I know what's gonna happen in the next moment or two around me. In my immediate environs. But the further ahead I project, the less I know with absolute certainty. That makes life interesting. Because often it's unpredictable. And the cast of characters I encounter. Daily. Wow! Fantastic. Even crazy people. Especially people in power. Politicians. Yesterday, I had an unexpected thrill. For the second day in a row. From an unlikely source. The Chicago Cubs. They were trailing 7-0. But at least, I rationalized, it's easier taking a sound beating than a close loss, in which I see so many opportunities to win. If only... So many ifs. Frustrating. But lo and behold, the Cubs rallied late. In the 8th, 9th and 10th innings. And won, 8-7. The day before, they rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the 8th inning to a dramatic 6-5 win in the 9th. Little events over which I have no control in the engaging story of life. Chance. Happenstance. Things went the way I wanted 'em to go. Makes me feel the gods are on my side. Albeit, that's just wild speculation. No solid basis to think that's true. But I do often feel blessed. As if there are many gods. Like the ancient Greek gods. And I can implore them to play positive roles in my life. I've been blessed, especially by the god of love. And now by the baseball gods. Several days ago, I was thinking wretched things about the baseball gods. I'm ashamed of myself. They've really been good to me over the years. Especially the last two days. --Jim Broede

Friday, June 19, 2009

No safe landing for me.

Looking more and more like that Air France plane from Brazil to Paris broke up in mid-flight. Maybe at 35,000 feet. If not a horrible way to die. It certainly must have been frightening. For a few seconds. Until death came. Maybe because of the pressurization. Bodies were mutilated. Even stripped of clothing. And there were multiple bone fractures. The kind that occur from falling great distances. Guess if I had a choice, I'd still pick dying of Alzheimer's at a ripe old age than on a plane that breaks up 7 miles high. Thing is, I'd die of fright if I had to parachute from a plane. No such thing as safe landing for me. --Jim Broede

Surviving a rigged election.

Sounds like there's political turmoil in Iran. And I see that some conservatives in America want our government to choose up sides. But I'm with Barack Obama on this one. Just let it play out. And leave the Iranians straighten things out on their own. It's their business. Their politics. Not our business. Not our politics. I have no idea whether the recent election in Iran was or wasn't legitimate. That's for the Iranians to decide. Of course, I'd like to cultivate good relations with Iran. No matter who's in power. It's called mutual respect. Doesn't surprise me that politicians in Iran are feuding with each other. Accusing each other of dirty tricks. Even rigging elections. And that's what we have in common with each other. Look at America. We've got Democrats and Republicans disrespecting each other. As if they were mortal enemies. And there's still a question of whether our 2000 presidential election was rigged. Anyway, we've survived that. And the Iranians can survive a rigged election, too. --Jim Broede

I'd rather know too much.

I like the way personalities blend. Or don't blend. Interesting, isn't it? Some personalities are more dominating than others. And we have a mix of introverts and extroverts. A mish-mash. And we reveal ourselves in different ways. I think it's exciting. Discovering people. I'm intrigued by the different personalities. I like to draw 'em out. That's been my nature. Maybe because I'm a writer. And most of my life, I've written about people. And their opinions. And motives. People really do fascinate me. I like to learn what makes them tick. That can be scary for some people. Because that makes me something of a detective. And some people tend to be not very revealing. Almost secretive. But others are very open. At least with me. Others, of course, get a bit annoyed. They want me to be more restrained. To follow their rules. Often enough, I do. But not always. Because it's difficult for me to stifle my curiosity. I like to know. All sorts of things. Maybe that means I want to know too much. But hey, I'd rather know too much than too little. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 18, 2009

A story without an ending.

I'm living a love story. I don't need to write it. Because I'm living it. And I'm turning a new page every day. Don't know exactly what's gonna happen. Until I turn the page. A good story is supposed to be savored. And I like the kind of story that goes on forever. If I were writing a novel, I'd want it to be the longest novel ever written. A story without an ending. --Jim Broede

All it takes to lift my spirits.

There's a saying that it's darkest just before dawn. That happened with the Cubs today. They were losing 5-1 late in the game. They were their usual listless and uninspired selves. Only had 4 hits. And seemed headed for certain defeat again. But the Cubs erupted for 4 runs in the 8th inning to tie the score. And then scored in the bottom of the 9th, to win, 6-5. An improbable win. But maybe this was the moment that turned the season around. Let's hope so. I was in the doldrums. Thinking here we go again. Another loss. Because of the inability to score more than a run or two in a game. But just like that. Almost with a snap of the fingers. The gloom lifts. The sun is shining. And all is well with the world again. That's all it takes to lift my spirits. A Cubs dramatic comeback win. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

On happiness.

I know people that are unhappy. They just trudge through life. Not sure if they really want to live. But apparently they do. Because they don't have the gumption to do away with themselves. I take that as a good sign. Maybe they think if they wait around, happiness will come. Maybe out of the clear blue. Could be, too, that some unhappy people rather enjoy being unhappy. Sort of a masochistic thing. Seems a bit weird to me. But to each his own. Also, seems to me that some people don't consciously know they are unhappy. They think they're happy, when they aren't. They deceive themselves. And they avoid defining happiness. Because it's too hard. And if they did, they'd become aware that they are unhappy. As for me, I'm happy only when I'm in love. And it seems to me that I've been in love forever. With something or someone. But mostly with life. --Jim Broede

I'm laughing at myself.

I'm funny. When I start to get too abstract. Trying to play down the past and the future. And focusing on now. It's really silly. Because what I do now is affected, in part, by my past. And I might make my decision now based on what I expect to happen in the future. But there are times when I can best enjoy now by blanking out the past and the future. And sometimes, it's best to blank out everything. And just go to sleep. Anyway, it's fun. Acting like an idiot. Like a crazy man. I'm laughing at myself tonight. --Jim Broede

This one ain't very nice.

I am amused by an anonymous woman who keeps writing to me. And wants me to be somebody else. She keeps asking, why don't you do this and that? Well, the simple answer is, that wouldn't be me. She told me she thinks I am vain. Well, aren't we all? Doesn't bother me. I'm a bit of lots of things. But believe me, I am me. I'm not gonna change because some anonymous woman wants me to change. To suit her whims. Actually, the woman must be crazy. To even think that she has hopes of changing me. Of making me into her own image. It's absurd. Ridiculous. My guess is that she's obsessed with me. Unable to leave me alone. Maybe I should take that as a compliment. But she's not my kind of crazy woman. I can go for a crazy woman. But hey, I like a nice crazy. This one ain't very nice. --Jim Broede

I have better things to do.

Maybe it's time for me to abandon the Chicago Cubs. To become less than a loyal, devoted fan. Because I want them to play mindful baseball. And they insist on playing stupid baseball. I don't dispute that the Cubs have talented baseball players. But generally, they don't play smart baseball. They don't get their heads into the game. Of course, that's from my perspective. I could be wrong. The game today. With the Chicago White Sox. It's an example of the entire season. The Cubs had runners on first and second and nobody out in the second inning. And failed to score. In the fourth inning, again, runners on first and third and nobody out. They don't score. Little wonder that the Cubs are second from last this season in runs scored. So many missed opportunities. Because of stupid play. Stupid at-bats. Last season, they led the league in scoring. It's pretty much the same team. But last year, they played smart, team baseball. They had their heads together. In the game. Now they play like idiots. They seem to ignore the mindful aspects of baseball. They disrespect the game. Anyway, after listening to the first four innings of today's game, I decided to turn it off. To renounce the Cubs. If not forever, at least for the rest of the day. I have better things to do. --Jim Broede

...a sense of foreverness.

When I have moments that feel like full consciousness, I am most alive. I am truly living. I am aware. And I try to remain in that state for as long as I can. To just savor the moment. To retain this piece of euphoria for an extra moment. And it's as if time has stopped. Certainly, time has slowed. If not stopped. Gives me a sense of foreverness. The eternal. --Jim Broede

Now.

I guess there is something real about living in the moment. In the now. Some spiritualists tell me that's all there is. Now. We're always living in the now. Never in the past. Never in the future. The only time we ever experience anything is now. There is no past. No future. So they tell us capture the moment. Capture now. I often do that. By writing. That allows me to recreate the now. Many, many, many times. Above all else, I like to capture a love moment. I was born to feel love. Now. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. But now. There's no greater thrill than to feel love. Now. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

...makes life a pleasure.

I don't fret too much over what's happening in the world. Because there ain't much I can do about it. Wouldn't matter whether I was alive or dead. It's gonna happen anyway. So, why lose sleep over it? Maybe I have influence over a handful of people. Real close friends. Or acquaintances. So that's where I put my efforts. Yes, I have my little niche. A cocoon, of sorts. I happen to be in love. And that, more than anything, gives meaning to my life. That's my primary focus. Of course, I like to think. About lots of things. World events, included. Even though I have no power to reshape the world, I at least take advantage of opportunities to express my opinions. Often, in writing. Like in this blog. Maybe I'm a lone voice in the wilderness. Virtually nobody around to hear. But still, this outlet gives me satisfaction. Some degree of pleasure. A sense of being free. Also, it puts me on record. Shows, I suppose, that I care about something. Even the stuff over which I have no control. But now and then, I find other souls wandering in the wilderness. And we connect. That makes life a pleasure. --Jim Broede

An exuberantly happy being.

Imagination. That may be my most prized possession. It's the last thing I'd want to lose. Because my imagination opens boundless possibilities. Helps me be creative. Helps me feel alive. Oh, it takes skills to be creative. Physical and mental skills. But without imagination, it would all go for naught. I'd be a robot if I didn't have an imagination. I suspect it's imagination, too, that brings one closest to god. God, the creator, must have first imagined everything he created. Without imagination, there would be no god. There would be no creation. There would be nothing. The same goes for love. One has to imagine love. And then implement it. In so very many ways. I have discovered limitless ways to love. Through my imagination. But then I implement love. Through concrete actions. That's my art form. As a writer, I've recently specialized in love letters. It's just one of those boundless ways to express love. I've learned to express love physically, mentally, spiritually, soulfully, emotionally. Every which way. Because I've allowed my imagination to run rampant. Maybe I'm not yet the perfect lover. Maybe never will be. But by golly, if I spend forever imagining and learning the intricacies of love, I'll be an exuberantly happy being. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 15, 2009

My forever: A life of love.

Give me time. Free time. Time to do what I want. If I have time, I'll make my own opportunities. I'll put the time to good use. Even if I don't have much money to spend, I can always find cheap or free things to do. Fortunately, I lived long enough to retire. That gave me more time. More freedom. I know people who have time. But they're bored. They don't know what to do with themselves. Sad, isn't it? I have time to love. Time for pleasure. Time to live. Time to think. Time to write. Time to experience a gamut of wonderful emotions. But nothing feels nicer than being in love. That offsets all the pitfalls of life. I suppose I'm blessed. Because I don't know how not to be in love. If I'm not in love with someone, I'm in love with something. With nature. With the written word. With consciousness. But the nicest love is to be in love with someone. Oh, that's ecstasy. Anyway, come to think of it. I've probably been in love forever. For my whole life. Yes, that's my forever. A life of love. From beginning to end. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 14, 2009

This team needs a psychologist.

The Chicago Cubs fired their hitting coach this morning. And hired a new one. I would rather the Cubs hired a psychologist. To delve into the heads of the Cubs' lacklustre hitters. Baseball is a game of skill. But also, a game of the mind. One has to play with confidence. If hitters, and players in general, begin to doubt themselves, they are in big trouble. That has happened to Cubs hitters. Last season they led the league in batting average. And in runs scored. This season, they rank 13th. Pathetic. They have players with essentially the same level of skills as last season. But the hitters are in a funk because they lack confidence. They're pressing. They're uptight. Their minds aren't in the game. Yesterday, the Cubs rightfielder caught a ball for the second out of the inning. But he thought it was the third out. So he tossed the ball to a fan in the stands. Meanwhile, the two base runners advanced. On the error. One scored. Yes, it was a bonehead play. Because the outfielder didn't have his mind in the game. Today, when the Cubs were in the field, a runner stole third base. The third baseman didn't notice, so he didn't cover third base to take a throw. Again, his mind wasn't in the game. It's typical of the Cubs play all season. The Cubs were the pre-season favorite to win their division handily. But the Cubs are trailing two or three other teams. And if they don't get their heads straight, they'll continue to flounder. For a Cubs fan, it's maddening. Especially since a new hitting coach won't make much of a difference. Not with these players. Unless he's also a superb psychologist. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 13, 2009

I'm an optimist...if not a king.

When I become king, certain basic services will be provided to all people. At cost. Without profit built in. Especially, obscene profit. That’s why in the USA we have the most expensive health care system in the world. Virtually everybody that is running it, rakes in immense profits. The providers, the insurance companies, the drug makers. You name it. It’s a big capitalist scam. A way to make money off an essential service. Every citizen, and even those who aren’t citizens, should be entitled to decent health care. I want to live in a nation where we, the people, think of health care as a human right. Yes, we’re all entitled to it. Not just the rich. But the poor, the destitute, as well. Everyone. It’s the right thing to do. And European countries and Canada come much closer than the USA in achieving this goal. We all come up short to some degree. But we Americans come up trailing the pack when ranked with other industrialized nations. It’s a dirty shame. The Barack Obama administration wants to change all that. By providing a public option for health care. And polls show that Americans are swinging in favor of a single-payer system provided by the government. One similar to Medicare. People would still be allowed to choose. To keep their private plans, if that’s what they want. Fine. That sounds like a decent compromise. But you and I know that the vast majority will choose the public option. Because it’s gonna aim at making health care affordable. For everyone. Private plans won’t do that. They’ll stay affordable only for the relatively rich and healthy people. That’s why we have 45 million uninsured Americans today. Most can't afford the existing private plans. They’re so expensive because obscene profits have been built in. That ain’t right. It’s downright immoral. Yes, obscene. Of course, private interests will fight the Obama plan. Because they like profits. They like the rich to keep getting richer. Even if it’s at the expense of the poor and middle classes. They’d sacrifice the common good at the blink of an eye. Because they are the worst kind of capitalists. Greedy. Greedy. Greedy. With very little conscience, if any. They’ll be busy in Washington trying to defeat the Obama plan. By bribing our elected officials. That strategy has worked in the past. And it may work again. But ultimately, we’re gonna have a revolution. And the majority of us will get our way. Yes, that makes me an optimist. If not a king. –Jim Broede

Friday, June 12, 2009

Time to put up with Obama.

The wacko element on the far, far right in America want it their way. Only thing is, a majority doesn’t want it the wacko way. Time has passed the wackos by. No longer does extreme conservatism prevail. If it ever did. But yes, it was a stronger movement than it is now. But conservatism didn’t work. So, at the last election, most voters went in a new direction. Evidenced by the election of Barack Husein Obama, a black man whose father happened to be a Muslim. Indeed, that really riles the wackos. Some of ‘em even talk up the idea of seceding from the USA. Well, I’d be happy to see ‘em go. That is, if they can muster a majority in any state. But that won’t happen. The wackos want minority rule. They want to foist their ways on all of us. Because they think god almighty is on their side. Yes, they’re religious zealots. Fanatics. Almost on par with the most extreme Muslims. Listen, you wackos, we had to put up with eight years of your beloved George Bush. Now it’s time for you to put up with our beloved Obama. –Jim Broede

Time to turn things around.

I'm telling myself to be an optimist. The Chicago Cubs are playing bad baseball. They've split their first 58 games. In other words, 29 wins, and 29 losses. But they're only 2 1/2 games out of first place. Because every team in their division isn't exactly playing spectacular baseball. The Cubs still have 104 games to play. It's been a frustrating season. For a Cubs fan. Because the team has good pitching. But the hitting has gone into a funk. Terrible. Terrible. Terrible. The Cubs rank 13th in the National League in runs scored. The Cubs lose lots of low-scoring games. They come up a run or two short. Time after time. Of course, their best hitter (third baseman Aramis Ramiriz) has been out with an injury, and won't return until July. And so many players who were expected to hit well, just aren't doing it. But hey, there's nothing wrong with the Cubs that a 10-game winning streak won't cure. So I'm not gonna give up. The nice thing about the baseball season. It's long. There's time to turn things around. --Jim Broede

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

I had a dream this morning. An unsettling one. I lost my job. And I didn't have prospects of finding another one. But when I awakened, I reminded myself that I'm retired. I'm fortunate. I don't need a job. I've reached that point in life when I can coast, so to speak. It's a nice feeling. Not having to go to work every day. Instead, I sit down and write. For pleasure. Thoughts. So-called broodings. And love letters. That's my specialty. Letters with poetic qualities. Makes me feel like I'm living inside a poem. That's the true nature of love. Feeling alive. Being alive. Knowing it's far more than a dream. It's real. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. --Jim Broede

An American nightmare.

I'm fearful. To a degree. That we have a society peppered by lunatics. The guy that shot the abortion doctor. The white supremacist that opened fire at the Holocaust Museum. Rush Limbaugh. Bill O'Reilly. Maybe even Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich. They feed upon each other. They seem to think America is going awry. Because they imagine that we're being taken over by leftists. Socialists. A black president. A Muslim sympathizer, if not a secret Muslim himself. And they spew hate. Mostly, verbal hate harangues. But some of the loonies are starting to go on killing sprees. Aimed at the perceived hated and despised enemy. Maybe a little reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Maybe many of them are lone wolves. They snap. And do gawd awful things. But surveys indicate that there are almost 1,000 hate-mongering organizations formed by and of elements on the extreme right wing. Too many of 'em are even elected officials. That's the scariest part. Yes, a little like it was in Nazi Germany. They are race-baiters. White supremists seeing their power on the wane. And they are becoming desperate. Scary thought, isn't it? An American nightmare. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 11, 2009

What's important in life...and isn't.

I'm trying to set a good example. By staying a nice guy. And by not becoming ornery if things don't go the way I want 'em to go. To take life pretty much as it comes. And I didn't do that 20 years ago. Twenty years ago I would have become ornery instead of my happy self if the Cubs lost two games in a row the way they have done in the last 2 days. They lost 2-1 last night. And again, 2-1, in 13 innings today. But now I take little things in stride. And that's all it is. A little thing. Because I keep psychoanalyzing myself. And I've learned that things that used to get me upset are little things. Often, things over which I have no control. Or that I can't change. Instead, I focus on what's going right in my life. I remind myself that I'm in love. And so I have reason to be thankful. Grateful. And I feel blessed. For this day. I guess I finally know what's important in life...and isn't. --Jim Broede

The concept of love.

We’re supposed to enjoy life, aren’t we? No matter our circumstances. And how do we do that? We each have to ask ourselves that question. And come up with a suitable answer. For me, it’s to fall in love. With somebody. Or something. That’s when I’m most at peace. And happy. Maybe initially I didn’t consciously recognize that I was in love. When I was young. Because I was in love with writing. And with thought. Not the usual romantic kind of love. Fact of the matter, love can be pursued in so many ways. Intellectually. Emotionally. One evolves. Begins to understand the nature of love. It starts out shallow. On the surface. And then it slowly penetrates/permeates one’s being. Maybe as a youngster I thought of love as a sissy kind of thing. The thing is, I had a misconception of love. I had no idea what it was. Because I had not yet experienced enough of life. Maybe I’ll never understand love. Because there’s always something more to learn. I just sense that I’m in love. And that it’s difficult to define. Almost as difficult as defining god. I have a notion that love and god are one and the same. Abstract, in a sense. But so very real. It’s something I have to do. To feel alive. I have to believe in god. And in love. I want to. I have to. I think I was created to be a lover. That’s my mission in life. And it’s a constant learning process. That’s why I have been granted consciousness. Life. The ability to think. So that I can begin to grasp the concept of love. –Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Life always, and forever.

I like the notion/theory that intelligent life abounds in the cosmos. That there are billions of earth-like planets. Maybe even in our own galaxy. Yet alone, the billions of other galaxies. That means we aren't alone. Yes, all sorts of civilizations. If this is true, imagine the impact on our thought. About religion. About life. About everything. We'd think of Earth as one of billions of communities. And it may be that humans are just one of many, many forms of intelligent life. Some more or less intelligent and advanced than others. Even though we have no absolute proof that this is all true, I'm inclined to believe it. Because I want to. It fits into my idea of the romantic nature and unlimiting prospects of life. I want to believe in the transmigration of souls. That after our souls leave our human bodies, they can move on to any of the other billions of worlds. That life goes on and on. Endlessly. Life always, and forever. --Jim Broede

Beware of rich white males.

I could be construed as a racist, of sorts. Because I’d discriminate against white males. But then consider, I am a white male. Does that make me a racist? I don’t know. Maybe it’s a matter of semantics. I’d try to give preferential treatment to black people or African-Americans or whatever the current correct political tag happens to be. Hard to keep track. Anyway, I’m for affirmative action. Meeting certain quotas to see that people discriminated against in the past sometimes get preference over a technically better qualified candidate. Yes, I want to correct the errors of the past. Even if that looks like a form of reverse discrimination. If that makes me a racist, so be it. I’m in good company, I suppose. Because the founders of our country were mostly racists. Politicians and statesmen that thought that blacks were inferior. Yes, these white males even perceived women as inferior. There’s no denying. We’ve had a racist society from the very beginning. The power was in the hands of white males. Blacks and white women didn’t have equal rights. And society is still racist in many ways. And still run largely by white males, especially rich white males. I admit it. Much of my racism is aimed at rich white males. –Jim Broede

...decent & affordable health care.

If what I'm reading is true, Americans are going in droves to foreign countries for medical treatment. Including major surgery. For two reasons. The treatment is equal or better than what they can get in the U.S. And it's far cheaper. Often two or three times less that what they'd pay here. Yes, the health care system in the U.S. isn't necessarily the best in the world. In many instances, far from it. One thing for sure, it's the most expensive system in the world. When my Jeanne broke her wrist in Germany in 2002, the doctor and hospital bill combined was about $500. That included delicate surgery to put three pins in the wrist to hold the bone together. Jeanne had the pins removed in America. And it cost several thousand dollars. Fortunately, it was covered by our insurance. But little wonder that insurance premiums are sky-high. Maybe that's another reason why 45 million Americans don't have health insurance. They can't afford it. Let's face it, folks. We Americans are being shortchanged by the people who run our health care system. Namely, the private insurers. The private entrepeneurs. They're bilking us. They're stealing money right out of our pockets. So they can walk away with obscene profits. That's true American-style capitalism. Rob from the poor so the rich can become richer. And we Americans are idiots. For letting it happen. We sit on our fat asses. And die of heart disease and strokes and diabetes. Our infant mortality rate is worse than in some so-called second rate countries. We're fast-becoming second-rate and third-rate when it comes to health care. Nations with socialized medicine do much better than us. But we've resisted socialized medicine. Because we've been told by the private insurers that it's bad, bad, bad. And we're so gullible, we believe it. You won't find countries with socialized medicine getting rid of it. Nope. They like it. Smart Americans are wising up. That's why they are off to foreign countries -- to get decent and affordable health care. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Newt sounds a bit arrogant to me.

Newt the Gingrich says he has no desire to be a citizen of the world. In fact, he looks askance at Americans who consider themselves world citizens. Such as Barack Obama. And Ronald Reagan. Newt the Gingrich thinks Americans should be proud that they are different. That they are special. And he suggests they'd be watered-down or diluted if they mixed in with the rest of the world. I guess he advocates America going it alone. Similar to George Bush's approach to fighting a war in Iraq. In other words, America knows what's best for the world. And the rest of the world should follow America's lead. Newt the Gingrich sounds a bit arrogant to me. --Jim Broede

No desire to go to the cat doctor.

Loverboy is all curled up. Sleeping. Contentedly. On the cushion atop my desk. I think he appreciates being home. He doesn't like to go out. To the doctor. It makes him uneasy. Maybe he remembers being brought in to the animal shelter several years ago. And having to live there. For 3 months. In a cage. In a roomful of cages with other cats. Little opportunity to move about. And nobody was adopting him. Until the day I came. Maybe that's why he's such a Loverboy. He found a home. And a girlfriend. Namely, Chenuska. And he gets fed every day. By this giant cat that looks a little like Boris Yeltsin. And so to stay on the good side of the giant cat, he grooms him daily. And he sleeps next to the big cat. That is, when he isn't cuddling with Chenuska. Meanwhile, Loverboy really has no desire to roam about. And especially no desire to go to the cat doctor. Even though it's for his own good. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 8, 2009

Let the GOP go to hell.

I'd tell Republicans to go to hell if they oppose health care reform. Most Republicans argue that the government-run option favored by President Obama would destroy the private system. Well, so be it. If private insurers find it difficult or impossible to compete with the government, that means the government has the better plan. Probably because the government is more interested in serving the common good than in making obscene profits. Or possibly no profit at all. I tend to trust government far more than I trust private entrepeneurs under American-style capitalism. Many of 'em are out to screw the public. That's why we have such high health care costs now. The highest in the world. Obama would allow private insurers to continue to offer insurance. And he'd leave it up to individual Americans to choose either public or private plans. That sounds fair to me. But Republicans want private plans only. No choice. That's ridiculous. But then, that's the nature of modern-day Republicans. They favor the rich first and foremost. At the expense of the poor and the middle class. Obama would prefer passing health care reform with bipartisan support. But if that proves impossible, it's fine with me if Democrats pass the plan without a single Republican vote. --Jim Broede

I'll write a love letter.

Today I have scented candles burning in every room of the house. So nice to have a nicely-scented house. Makes me feel good. Maybe a bit romantic. I'll put on some soft music, too. Classical adagios. Slow. Melodic. Outdoors, it's a bit cool. Especially for this time of year. Maybe 20 degrees below normal. And it looks like rain. But that's all right. It's been awfully dry this year. The trees, the shrubs, the flowers. They all need a drink. I'll also sit down at the computer. I'm in a mood to write a love letter. --Jim Broede

I'm a biased white male.

I sure hope that Sonia Sotomayor would make better decisions on the Supreme Court than many, many white males. And Sotomayor believes it. She's said it. Many times. And that doesn't make her a racist. I have no problem with her comment. She ain't any more a racist than Newt Gingrich, who castigated her for being a racist. Albeit, he's backed off a little bit. Anyway, everybody brings some bias to the Supreme Court. You can't tell me that the other justices aren't biased, one way or another. Gingrich doesn't like Sotomayor because she doesn't think like him. Thank gawd. I think he's a stupid white male. And Sotomayor is an intelligent Latina. Much smarter and more savvy than Gingrich. Sotomayor would make a great justice. Gingrich would be a buffoon. Of course, I'm a biased white male. --Jim Broede

Sunday, June 7, 2009

I walked extra miles to celebrate.

My Chicago Cubs went into extra innings this afternoon. And I was listening to the game. And getting a little uptight. So, I decided to go for a walk. And I returned after each mile. To check on the score. After one-mile, still tied. After 2 miles, after 3, after 4 miles, still tied. But the fifth mile was the charm. The Cubs scored 3 runs in the 14th inning to beat Cincinnati. Made me feel good. So I walked two extra miles to celebrate. --Jim Broede

Good luck, pragmatic Obama.

Maybe we need in this topsy-turvy world more pragmatic liberals and more pragmatic conservatives. They are the sort of 'extremists' that come together in the middle in order to get things done. For the sake of humanity. For the common good. Sure beats doggedly sticking to one's entrenched liberal or conservative positions, doesn't it? Makes one think that maybe Obama is a pragmatic liberal. Asking conservatives to be pragmatic, too. Good luck, pragmatic Obama. --Jim Broede

Is it to be hate or love?

Barack Obama wants to bring all sides together. Which means, he'd like to achieve the impossible. The lion and the lamb living in harmony with each other. Would be nice to see it happen. Thing is, Obama is a blend of so many things. Even his name. Barack Hussein Obama. A white mother. A black father, who happened to be Muslim. He's a Christian. And a master politician. A natural born one. He'd even like to make strange bedfellows of far right conservatives and far left liberals. Of Palestinians and Jews. Of believers and atheists. By focusing on what we all have in common. I think he's a marvel. A phenomenon. Yes, a believer in the impossible. He'd bring Jesus and Muhammed together. Make them friends. Buddies. Probably could do it. But the problem is their followers. Christians and Muslims. The fanatics. They'll have no part of it. Because they prefer to pursue the gospel of hate. Rather than love. --Jim Broede

Saturday, June 6, 2009

For the good of America.

Think about it, folks. The main stream media are biased against the left wing politicians. They pretty much ignore the left wing. In favor of the right wing. Blowhards on the right such as Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh get the overwhelming amounts of publicity. Because that sets up a debate between President Obama and the far right. In the process, that makes Obama seem as if he’s on the left. Instead of in the middle. Really, Obama is very much at odds with the left wing of his party. But that fact is virtually ignored by the mainstream media. And that results in a distortion in the truth/reality. Obama, for instance, is something of a war-monger. He’s doubled the number of troops in Afghanistan. Where half of the troops are mercenaries. Hired private brigades which cost far more than regular army troops. Much to the disenchantment of the left wing. Also, when it comes to health care, Obama wants a system which keeps some private insurers in the mix. A blend of public and private options. The left wing, and a steadily increasing number of Americans, prefer a single payer system. Run entirely by the government. No private insurers anymore. Once again, the mainstream media makes short shrift of this. Yes, an indication of biased media. Biased against the left. I happen to like Obama. Even though I’m a liberal. Very much a left-winger. I don’t even mind being called a socialist. But believe me, Obama is no socialist. He’s in the middle of the road. Trying to fashion one compromise after another. He’s somewhere between the left and the right. A true politician. Really, trying to get something done. For the good of America. –Jim Broede

Friday, June 5, 2009

I'm a dreamer.

I had a tendency once to wear myself out. If I felt good, physically and mentally, I pushed. Until I was tired. Even exhausted. Like that was the thing to do. Because I felt so good. But then, after a while, I didn't feel so good any more. Because I pushed myself beyond reasonable limits. I'd write the extra story at the newspaper. Even though I didn't have to. Or I'd run a half-marathon. Even though a 5-mile run would have sufficed. Or maybe I should have just sat in a rocking chair and read a book. Or dozed off. Into sweet dreamland. Well, if I learned anything as I grow older, it's been to slow down. To savor the moment. To relax. To think good and positive thoughts. Yes, to focus on what I am. A dreamer. --Jim Broede

Let's learn to be reasonable.

By golly, Barack Obama sounds like a reasonable man. I listened to much of his speech yesterday at Cairo University. And I thought to myself, 'Our president is saying much of what needs to be said. To paraphrase, he's saying the world is in trouble because we have extremist on all sides. In the Middle East. In America. Everywhere.' Yes, he's saying that if the vast majority, the reasonable people of the world, come together and talk and respect each other, we'll find ways to solve our problems. And get along. In large part, by following the Golden Rule. Do upon others what you would have others do upon you. Simple. It's a rule that permeates the heart of all religions. But first, we have to recognize the extremists among us. The relative handful of Muslims who would kill to get their way. Rather than be accommodating. Rather than trying to reach accord. Rather than learning to love and understand one's enemy. Rather than using diplomacy. Yes, we have to recognize that, just like in the Middle East, we have extremists, too. Right here in America. A far, far right wing. Fanatical people who would wage war and berate Obama for trying to be reasonable. Let's face it, fellow Americans, Obama got elected because he sounds reasonable. He wants to get to the core of our problems. And find reasonable solutions. Now tell me, do Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh sound reasonable? Maybe about as reasonable as Osama bin Laden. --Jim Broede

Thursday, June 4, 2009

...a single-payer health plan.

When it comes to health insurance, I want the government to provide it. Not private insurers. The private sector wants to screw me. Make me pay for their obscene profits. Government doesn't want to make a profit off me. Health insurance is a necessity of life. Something that should be provided to everyone. Regardless of income. The private insurers are interested only in making a profit. Not in seeing that everyone is covered. Government, meanwhile, has an interest, or should have an interest, in serving the common good. I'll feel comfortable when we have a single-payer plan operated through the government. If rich folks want an even better plan -- well, they can contract with private insurers to get it. That's all right with me. As long as government provides the rest of us with the basics. --Jim Broede

Butterflies set a nice example.

I think it's sad that so many people lack confidence. In themselves. They don't believe in themselves. They think of themselves as failures. Or under-achievers. That's my impression. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe my sense of reality is warped. I know there are other people who appear to be over-confident. With inflated egos. But even some of 'em could be putting on an act. They may lack confidence, too. As for me, I need confidence to a large degree. I have to believe in what I believe. In the goodness of life. In the romantic. In liberalism. In my kind of god. Yes, and most of all, in my sweet love. I think that somewhere along the line in my life I came to conclusions about what I really wanted to believe. So I resolved, believe it. And I'm not being any more crazy than religious zealots. Only thing is, I'm not a religious zealot. I'm a live and let live sort of guy. People don't have to think like me. I want 'em all to be free. Free as butterflies. The nice thing about butterflies -- they don't seem to cause harm to anyone. They just go about their business. And make the most of their short lives. Many live only a few weeks. The long-lived ones reach 6 months. But still, they go about their lives rather confidently. Butterflies set a nice example for the rest of us. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

...a far better option.

Dying of Alzheimer's is not the best way to die. Actually, maybe there's no nice way. But I'm thinking that it must have been a horrible way for the 228 passengers on the Air France plane over the Atlantic the other night. Apparently, the plane fell apart in a severe storm. Imagine that happening. Pretty scary. I suppose one dies quite fast. Maybe even of fright. Dying of Alzheimer's at a ripe old age would be a far better option, it seems to me. --Jim Broede

We want our own little privacy.

I know this is a controversial subject. Suicide. I'm of the opinion that most suicides can be prevented. The problem is that too often we don't see a suicide coming. We're blind. And even if we see it coming, we are reluctant to intervene. Because then we're getting too personal. And how do we know if someone is bent on taking his/her own life? So, we steer clear. Sick people make us uncomfortable. Especially the mentally ill. For instance, I used to avoid going to nursing homes. Especially into the memory care units, where Alzheimer patients reside. Seemed a little too depressing for me. But then my Jeanne went into the nursing home. With dementia. And I began to see sick people close up. Daily. They were real people. And I was able to reach many of 'em. And many reached me. I put forth some time and effort. And emotional energy. I learned to care. I think that's the problem in dealing with sick people. Many of us don't really care enough. And above all else, we don't want to be uncomfortable. Maybe that's why we give mentally and physically sick people their privacy. They'd impose too much on us. We want our own little privacy. So that we don't become overly concerned about others. --Jim Broede

Is it beyond our control?

I know people in depression. And often, I'm told, leave them alone. Respect their privacy. They'll find their own way out. But let's face it. Some don't find their way. Or to put it another way, they find a destructive way. Then it's too late to intervene. Too late to help. Of course, we can assume that all people are inherently strong. And that they'll find constructive ways out of their funks. Or maybe they aren't even in a funk. And all this is a figment of an outsider's imagination. But depressed people do commit suicide. From time to time. That's a proven fact. But then, what do I know? I didn't think my dad was suicidal. I know other people, too, that did themselves in. Sometimes, to my surprise. All I know is that people tend to do strange things when they are in depression. Do we just steer clear? As outsiders, is it something beyond our control? --Jim Broede

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

...the mistaken notion.

Imagine that. A political party spearheaded by the likes of Rush Limberger (Limbaugh), Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich. Sounds to me like the Republicans are being self-destructive. Allowing ultra-conservative fanatics to take charge. By default, moreorless. The far right is losing on virtually every issue. So now they outlandishly talk secession from the U.S., forming their own country. And their ilk are even becoming domestic terrorists. Going into church to kill people they don't like. Little wonder that only 22 percent of Americans now identify themselves as Republicans. Many of 'em don't believe in majorty rule any more. They want the conservative minority to rule. Because they have the mistaken notion that god is on their side. --Jim Broede

I like my chances of succeeding.

If one's life is dictated, in large part, by chance -- well, then maybe I can to some degree manipulate chance. Like when I met my true love 19 months ago. Just chance maybe. A whole bunch of coincidences coming together. Our paths finally crossed. Now it's up to us to decide what to do about it. For instance, we can both go our own ways. And part company. Or we can cultivate a nice relationship. Yes, a loving relationship. I guess I've decided that I don't want to bungle this opportunity. This chance. At this point, I'm taking it one day at a time. Trying to make the most of every day. Because our lives are still dictated to some degree by chance. I can more easily control today than I can the future. So, I'm trying to fully live in the now. Because the more I project into the future, the less control I have. Anyway, I like my chances of succeeding. Today. --Jim Broede

Maybe god doesn't know.

I'm an optimist. Because it seems to me that in life I've been in the right place at the right time far more than I've been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sure, things occasionally go awry. In rather big ways. But still, I've survived 73 years, and counting. An example of being in the wrong place, I suppose, would be for anyone aboard the Air France flight from Brazil to Paris. I can imagine the horror of that experience. And I lament for the passengers. But I get on with my life because these sad and cataclysmic events are totally out of my control. I'm a mere human being. Not god. It must be awful being god. The ultimate manipulator. Presumably able to effect and control everything. But then, maybe not. Maybe god has chosen to leave everything to chance. Maybe god doesn't know what's gonna happen next. --Jim Broede

Monday, June 1, 2009

I do some things in moderation.

I have trees in my yard. Hundreds of trees. Huge trees. Big trees. Medium trees. Small trees. Spruce. Ash. Pine. Maples. Oaks. Cedar. Locust. Aspen. Basswood. Tamarack. Willow. Cottonwood. Gingko. Arbovitae. Birch. Even a Chinese rose tree. Many of my neighbors have expansive green lawns. Well-manicured. Chemically-treated to keep out dandelions and weeds. And very few trees. I have very little grass. Because it's so shady. Grass won't grow. But I have all kinds of ground-cover that thrive in the shade. Some of which tends to creep over to my neighbors. And I have about 200 birdhouses, too. And rock gardens. And all sorts of shrubs. When I married Jeanne back in 1969, our yard was typical of the neighborhood. We had a rolling lawn, too. But Jeanne gave me permission to plant trees. And lo and behold, I never stopped. And now, 40 years later, I'm reaping the benefits of the plantings. Some people think I overdo lots of things. Like my book collection. I must have 5,000 books. At least. Book shelves in every room of the house. Including the bathroom, the kitchen, the laundry room, the hallways. Even in the garage. And music galore. Thousands of compact discs and casette tapes. And maybe 100 clocks. And 30 or 40 radios. And 200 coffee cups. And 100 beer mugs and steins and glasses. And 100 sweaters. And I have a vast autograph collection of major league baseball players from the late 1940s and the 1950s. On penny postcards the players sent me (upon my request) when I was a teen-ager. But I do some things in moderation. I've been in love with only two women in my entire life. One woman at a time. That's all I can handle. And they're worth far more than everything else I have. Combined. --Jim Broede