They aren't strangers any more.

Occasionally, I get advice. Don't cultivate strangers. Especially on the first meeting. But I hardly ever follow such advice. Because I wanna know something significant and personal about a stranger. Within the first 10 minutes. That's my nature. And I know how to go about it. I tell strangers something significant and personal about me. Right off the bat. And many strangers reciprocate. They volunteer stuff. And before long, we're talking significant things. Not mere small talk. But big stuff. Happens almost every time I travel. Because strangers abound. People I've never met before. Just the other day. My path crossed that of a total stranger. In Decorah, Iowa. Craig Newhouse. That's his name. He's an antique dealer. I stopped at his place. To ask for directions. Because I was lost. And before long, learned that Craig and I had a mutual acquaintance. In Forest Lake, Minnesota. And that Craig used to fish on my lake. The one I live on. Yes, it's a small and wonderful world. Getting to know strangers. And discovering, they really aren't strangers any more. --Jim Broede

Amazing. The power of love.

I know two Alzheimer care-givers. A married couple. Caring for her parents. In their home. For four years now. They are remarkable and amazing people. Maybe they try to do too much. To the point of becoming exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. But they've managed so far. And I know why. They are genuinely in love. With each other. They fall back on each other. For sustenance. Under similar circumstances, many a marriage would have broken up. But this marriage is full of love. That's the difference-maker. Can't say that this situation will go on forever. Because it's a daily test. But if ever there's a marriage that will last, this is the one. Amazing. The power of love. --Jim Broede

My dreams become real.

I want to live in a dream world. And I do. To some extent. In that I am genuinely in love. With someone. And with life. But I also know the harsh realities of life. They are unavoidable. And maybe the harshest reality happens to be dishonest and mean-spirited people. In virtually every walk of life. Fortunately, I also know of honest and kind people. And therefore, I have the option of looking at life as a half-full or a half-empty glass. I can choose to be an optimist. Or a pessimist. Maybe I waver between the two. Except when I am in love. Then I'm mostly the optimist. Willing and able to take on the challenge of being happy. That's my prime aim in life. The pursuit of happiness. And that's precisely what I find. Virtually every day. In my dream world. And the most amazing thing of all. My dreams become real. --Jim Broede

To each his/her own.

My neighbor has a lawn sign declaring, 'Vote yes. Marriage. One man. One woman.' I'll go to the polls. And cancel my neighbor's vote. Because I'm opposed to putting restrictions on marriage. Doesn't matter to me if a marriage is between one idiot and one genius. Or for that matter, between two idiots. In other words, marriage between two Republicans. My motto is to each his/her own. Everybody should be free to choose his/her own mate. --Jim Broede

Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.

The Republican national convention. It's scripted. On lies. On huge deceptions of the truth. On a make-believe fairy tale. Laced with evil intent. I know it. And most people must know it. People can't be so stupid, can they? Liars know they are liars. Of course, maybe that ain't true. If one is a Republican. One builds his/her political life/reality on deception. Even of one's self, I suppose. Republicans have become pathological liars. Many of 'em believe in creationism. That human beings were created merely 10,000 years ago. By god. And Darwin was wrong. No such thing as evolution. And women who have been raped. They never become pregnant. Because women are designed to shut down baby-making if they have unwanted sex. Yes, it's preposterous stuff. Zany. Outlandish. But Republicans are learning to march in lockstep. Devising a new reality. Their reality. And they expect all of us to fall in line. To believe as they believe. All the lies. All the deceptions. And call it truth. Indeed, the inmates want to capture the asylum. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. --Jim Broede

Makes us romantic idealists.

My Italian true love and I will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of our relationship. On Oct. 25. My how time passes. When one lives life one day at a time. Rarely, if ever, getting ahead of ourselves. We savor each other. Every day. Doesn't matter whether I'm living in Minnesota. And she in Sardinia. That's the case for about half of the year, when we have a daily audio-video connection on Skype. But we are living together in the flesh, too. Sometimes in Minnesota. Sometimes in Sardinia. And we travel together. To such exotic places as Scotland and Iceland and the Italian Alps. Anyway, our relationship is an indication that the world is both big and small. There's no separation, even when we are almost half a world apart. Couldn't have lived like this 100 years ago. My gosh, I'm becoming Italianized. And she's being Americanized. An interesting blend. Makes us romantic idealists. --Jim Broede

The sad truth: We've lost our way.

When it comes to politicians, I'm judgmental. Especially about Republicans. Many of 'em are the lowest form of life. Scumbags. Liars. Cheats. Yes, that's a pretty harsh judgment. And I may be unfair. Because there have to be some Republicans that are decent human beings. But there aren't very many in Congress. They all pretty much stick together. In obstructionist ways. Partisan as partisan can be. They really don't give a damn about what's best for America. Obama is the enemy. Because he ain't a Republican. And even fellow Republicans are enemies. Despising each other. Particularly, if they don't rigidly follow the party line. Objectivity isn't tolerated in the Republican ranks. But then, I suppose that's the inherent nature of politics. One rarely has a rational, fair-minded discussion about anything. And that ain't the right way to run a country. Little wonder that America is in trouble. In decline. I put the blame mosty on Republicans. But also on politicians in general. Doesn't matter the party. The Democrats are the lesser of the evils. And some of them are fair-minded, open-minded. A rarity in a politician of any stripe. Anyway, that's a serious dilemma. Because we invest politicians with significant power. Doesn't seem right. Allowing our lowest form of life to moreorless dictate the direction of the country. We need to put a fair-minded, non-political philosopher in charge. But that won't ever happen. Sad, isn't it? As a nation, we've lost our way. Our sense of fairness. Makes me wonder if we ever had it. --Jim Broede