For all my shipmates. For all of the salts who tolerated me in my youth. For all the non-qualified pukes who were dumber than a bag of hammers. For all the skippers I sailed under. For all the submarine sailors who proved again and again what it was that saved my rotten ass from leading … More Gratitude
Does anyone else get to this point of frustration? The commissioner of the Boston Police Department is under investigation and today’s paper has this headline, “11 disturbing revelations in the investigative report on suspended BPD commissioner Dennis White”. I pulled it up and suddenly a rush of disgust flooded my body. I couldn’t make myself … More One of Those Final Straws
JOE STASZEWSKI Joe was a shipmate. In fact, he was more than a shipmate, he was a close friend and we often went ashore together during those few years we were aboard Sirago. Our most memorable liberties were in Philadelphia during a shipyard overhaul. We were both underage for bars but Joe never got carded … More Joe Staszewski Was My Friend on My First Submarine (an encore post)
Posted on May 4, 2020 by Gentle George IT’S NEVER TOO LATE It’s never too late but it can be too little. Perhaps, “it’s the thought that counts”, is more fitting here. I did something in 1971 that has bugged me all these years. Last week I found myself in a situation where I could make an amends … More It’s Never Too Late. (an encore post)
Lashing out and killing is easy; a no brainer. Just do it and move on to another phase of lower self-expectation. Fists and back-hands are swift and to the point but only if the point is buried in resentments, fears, doubts. Warriors claim it is an acquired skill. Not everyone can do it. It just … More Thoughts Behind This Blog’s Title
I just spotted a Cardinal. A beautiful speciman! He is perched in one ot those trees not more than a few years old that have sprung up from acorns that roll across the road from Claudia’s yard by the cove. He is planning his day, I am sure. I wish for him success in whatever … More Kamikaze Cardinal
This one needs another viewing, in my humble opinion… MEN’S GROUP A gathering – like an assemblage of wary and watchful Bison, Large forms – studied movement, An economy of motion and comment, A language not too vague Or too obvious, We speak with silence – side Looks – talk of heating oil, Stove pellets, … More Men’s Group
THE SUN WAS LATE TODAY March winds are one thing but today was quite the exception. March 2nd. The winds began in earnest last night before midnight. Paul Cousins had announced it during his weather report. The forecast from Paul called for an increase in wind during the night and becoming a major force before … More The Sun Was Late Today
I recall a story, as many stories are, told in various forms this morning. I was reminded because I took a poem, my own, that I was sure was finished and tweaked the last line. It is included in this post. While tweaking I remembered the story mentioned above. An art museum guard was observing … More It’s Never Finished
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS(is not a disorder. It’s a natural response.) Memory has a clawNot its own,A fear filled hookOf the past,Crawling nearer,Fully equipped to clenchThe exposed heart,Shoving its nails into andSpreadingGriefThroughThe chambers,Annihilating whatJoyIs sheltered there. G. M. GoodwinMay 13, 2013
Playing Fair and Being Kind 