Keep A Fire Burning

I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion –
I have shudder’d at it.
I shudder no more.
I could be martyr’d for my religion
Love is my religion
And I could die for that.
I could die for you.
~ by John Keats ~

Listening to For A Dancer by Jackson Browne thinking of my grandfather, Percy Silver who would have turned 107 today if he were still around.

Sometimes people asked me how I ended up with an Irish grandfather and I said he was a Canadian who became an American.

Occasionally I’d add that I had Irish relatives and perhaps still do, not entirely sure one way or another. Given that I have reconnected with the British relatives I keep meaning to ask them if any of our kin moved that way.

I know a bunch made their way from the UK to Israel and that it appears we still have representation in South Africa and can speak for Taiwan but not so sure about elsewhere.

Pretty sure the Nazis got whomever didn’t leave our hometown in Lithuania but that is one part of one side so there might be others I haven’t thought of or found yet.

So we keep a fire burning for those who might not be lost and those who have intentionally walked away but might choose to wander back again.

If I Am Around

Got word today that family members will begin traveling in the not so distant future and questions from friends about where I might be this summer.

“Can we see you?”

“If I am around.”

“Does this mean you are going to begin to travel?”

“Looks like those who pay me are going to want me to pack my bags in the not so distant future and I might choose to go. Might take the time to get out of Dodge and rejoin the world. Look for me upon the morrow.”

I don’t tell another not to bother looking because they won’t find me because I am already gone. They’ll figure it out…one day.

Stretching Muscles

Been throwing words upon the pages because writing is about stretching muscles and stretching muscles is about writing.

Every time I fail to follow my self proscribed regimen I lose a little bit and have to work a bit harder to get some  things back and I don’t want to rely upon muscle memory.

Been doing that more than I care to admit because of pandemic fatigue and it leads to bad habits.

Got hit with three questions today that made me look for help from others and when no one answered the call I took a breath and realized I knew how to answer each one.

It was a slap yourself in the forehead moment and I was glad no one had answered because I like figuring things out myself.

Which is another way of saying that I don’t like asking for help unless I really need it. I feel more relaxed when I know I can do whatever is required or hand it off.

Besides, when I don’t have to stop for others I can produce a significant amount of work in a short time. It suits my nature to be able to pump it out and then look back at what needs to be polished, adjusted and or refined.

Told the kids a while back the secret to being successful with that tactic is based upon the quality of the quantity. If you have to keep stopping to fix things you need to slow down.

But if you can roll hard and fast with minimal correction, well that might work.

Final Word

Going to have to sit someone down and say I am not kidding when I say “Get out of my way.”

There are times in life when you have to put your head down and go around, over, under or through the obstacles in front of you.

Moments when your heart and soul cannot rest without taking action because inaction due to fear of consequences is worse than finding out if you are right.