This Morning December 6th, 2010 I awake to find my poem Special Angel on Long Story Shorts Poetry page on their web site, Please feel free to read it, you have to scroll down the page to find it. Enjoy http://lsspoetry.blogspot.com/

Today is Monday December 7th it is 5am here and the first snow on the roads of the Holiday Season is upon us. People will have accidents todays because they always forget what it is like in the snow the first few times it comes and they still try to rush about not leaving themselves more time and driving a little slower like they should. But yes even here in New England where we claim to be the masters of snow driving people still do silly things like rush in the first snow storm or sign of snow.

Well, for me most of my shopping for Christmas has come to an end, a few odds and ends is all that is left. I spent Sunday the 6th in the Stores rushing to and fro to get what I needed for my kids and grandkids, ah a parent  or grandparent is never finished are we?  The most irritating thing about Christmas or Holiday Shopping is simple, ask people what they would like for it and you get the dreaded I Don’t Know! So in the end you struggle to find what to get them anyway. Funny though it usually ends up all right!.

Next up will be the wrapping and packing part of this procedure, cause you have to make things look pretty , then you  have to box them right for shipping if your relatives are not with you as I do, then allow the time to actually ship them to where they are going. It all seems like a mad rush to do this, but once I get through it each year, it always seems worth it when they arrive for those who get them and me too.

With the first snow fall of the year which does not amount to anything but a dusting, I still have to make sure ye ole snow thrower is ready too, gas and oil is needed and is the spark plug ok. In my case I have one with electric start, and a four speed transmission so it is almost like a car when I do it all up. But I would never give up my snow thrower, it does my 300 foot driveway and more.

Today is going to be sit at the car shop day for me, brakes need done on my pick-up and an oil change too. If I don’t stay with the truck the dealer will make it last two days or better and charge more, it is just a natural for them to do. But brakes and normal maintenance on any vehicle  is normal process these days, it you do it right your car can last a long time. So get them done folks!

Today is Saturday of course and it is indeed the beginning of the Christmas Season it seems. decorations are around the area and starting to light up homes and malls and stores. The snow has yet to come but like most Connecticut winters I am sure it shall arrive soon enough. The rushing to and fro has begun as people search the stores and more for gifts for their loved ones, families and friends. The hustle and bustle of this time of year gets silly in many ways.  But what mother, father or grandparent wants to tell their little ones they can’t get what they want from Santa because they can’t find it or it is priced too high, none I am sure. Christmas Lists should be flowing from person to person this time of year, but ask one person what they want and they get indecisive or need time to think about it. You all had all year !

On a personal note, I bought myself an E-reader a Nook to be precise. It does e-books and more, games and even the web as needed. What I can’t get used to is touch screen stuff. I am used to having real keyboards on a computer to do things. But as a friend told me it may take a little time but you will grow to get it and like it. So I march forward readings and searching and learning, it is what life is all about is it not?

As a writer I love reading and investigating and getting data collected so I can write on a subject. So having a Nook gives me access to Government documents, Barnes and Noble Books and other sources to review and gather from. So for me it is a convenient piece of equipment and entertaining too. But to each their own is all I can say. As a avid reader of history, Biographies and Sci-fi and even magazine I also get access to some free ones with my Nook. Nice enough in my mind and heart I love reading. But that is life these days.

Last note is called my mortality note or thoughts for the day, thinking of my age now 54 soon to be 55 I stop and review my family background and wonder how long I have left on the planet and in this life I live. My parents each died in their fifties, my father went at 55 years old, my mother at 58 years old both victims of cancer. My grandparents all died in their 60s on both sides with one except of my grandfather on my moms side he went to 71. My oldest living relative is now 72 and doing fine last I knew, so time shall tell. So I try to pack all I can into each day, event and period of time I am awake these days.

Friday’s is a day we all look forward to if we work in anyway. We bust our asses all week long to get a paycheck on Thursday after work and then spend it on Friday through Sunday. The money mysteriously vanishes from out wallets and purses and into someone else’s in such a way that by Monday we are kicking ourselves in the ass for spending it. Funny how that works out!. It’s like the men and women who man the bars and clubs on Friday nights, they rush through work and getting their pay checks cashed to spending it so fast they end up, on their knees worshipping the porcelain  throne in the bathroom of every bar. Lord I wish I didn’t drink lol. Then like I said by Monday, they are searching their their pockets and jackets and coats and everything else wondering where did all my money go?

For me Friday’s are not a day I really look forward to, because it means the breach of silence and quiet in my world. It starts on Friday night when people get out of work for the weekend and my home fills with people coming and going and bustling about. During the week all are at work and I get peace and quiet , so I prefer Monday through Friday more then Friday through Sunday, silly right but that’s just me.

As this Friday starts my mind wanders back in time and I think of those that passed before me, mostly due to my age these days. I will turn 55 years old in January 2011. As I stop and think of my age and my grey hair and beard and failing eyes, I wonder how much longer I can go on? I face my own mortality in this way because I know my family history and I know to buck it would be great but,  can mankind overcome what is meant to be.?

My eldest relative as far as age goes is now on my mother’s side and she has lived now to 72 years old. My Grandfather on my moms side went to only 71 and her mother to only 64. Then on my father’s side they both died in their early 60s. So I am closing in I think, but who can predict when?  My father died when he was 55 years old cancer took his life he smoked like a demon and went due to lung cancer. My mother died at 58 years old again a smoker right till her death, cancer riddled.  My family history is riddled with cancer, heart failure, seizures and more, yet I keep on ticking thanks to modern medicine and it’s advances so far. I take pills daily to control blood pressure and stop strokes and heart attacks only experiencing a TIA about 5 years ago. SO I thank god I am blessed to still be here.

On this note I add one more thing to my rants and raves and stories and poems, before I go or die and leave this earth there is only one thing I wish for. I wish and hope that when I pass, I am remembered as a good man, person in some folks past. I hope people will look back and say I helped them, or made them laugh, or that they will miss me somewhat in someway, because I did well by them. I never  claimed to be perfect, nor did I ever try to be, all I ever asked was the world to accept me, for being me.

 

 

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What is to become of America in the near future? The republicans have taken over the House as the democrats continue to control the Senate and now Americans have to face the fact they divided their Congress between the two parties and caused their own gridlock. HealthCare Reform is one thing no President ever managed to get through before although, Clinton tried, then Financial reform is moved through also making some advances for the people of the USA. 

We are stumbling now through hard times and may well go down the tube financially. If the USA fall out of the top and into financial ruin, the world may never be the same that’s for sure. Yet we get immediate fillibusters from the Republicans on all issues, this sucks. America deserves better that’s for sure. The Bush tax cuts have to be kept in a while longer or poor Americans and the middle class will be the ones to suffer and that is already happening so Congress push through an extension soon.  While your at it add another 20 weeks to Unemployment and extend it too, too many people are losing jobs and having nothing to fall back on any more. When will Congress get the message, when China overcomes our economy and takes over as the world leader?

So many different problems face the American people and Congress that it isn’t funny and the Republicans want to hold it all off till after the turn over in January so they can get credit for what ever happens? Stupid thinking if you ask me, Americans need help now you should put it through now and make people happier and healthier and able to stand on their own again. The welfare rolls are going to  grow and so are the homeless roll and hungry rolls. Sadly more Americans then ever before and since the Great Depression are hurting. Lets do something to fix it! We can do two things Congress, 1) we can sit on our hands until January and watch more folks lose their way of life, jobs and homes and go hungry, or you can act now and save Americans from ruin and hunger and homelessness, your choice of course. But if you don’t act, don’t expect election results you want in the near or far flung future.

All of that said, America faces a Christmas and Holiday Season of poorer economic outlook then since the Great Depression. The stores of course retailers countrywide opened their stores and sales earlier this year hoping to make for a better shopping season. The truth is no middle americans, or lower, really care or have the money now or later in December, so the shopping season is going to  be a poor one this year. WHile I wish all a Happy Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas too, I hope our government can turn things around and help all in someway soon.

I remember Christmas as a kid as a holiday when my parents blew their lid, I know it sounds strange and it sounds so silly, but it was always the time of year when things seemed to go wrong. As other families were gathering in abundance and groups, our family was preparing for stress, tension and what came to be expected the usual screaming yelling and fighting times. Guess my parents were not the normal at all, although for me it seemed they were, it was what I learned to expect, and they never failed at giving us.

Well, this is about one Christmas I can remember when things were slightly different than normal and the holiday was really a holiday instead of a battle ground. The Holiday Season began for me that year with my seeing the lights and trees lit up in the stores and the snow falling lightly on us all. It was the first year I had money to buy my siblings and parents presents on my own. And I was determined that it would turn out to be a happy holiday.

I remember buying small presents for my siblings first and hiding them away one at a time, then came the bigger presents of course, for my parents and they were always hard to figure out as to what to get them. As the snowy season began I, searched in earnest for special gifts for each one. Knowing my time was going to run short if I didn’t hurry along I rushed through the mall searching store by store. Not finding much I really thought they would like I stopped and a light went on. I knew what dad needed, and figured out the cost and bought it anyway. I wandered into Lazy Boys showroom one winter day and saw it. A lazy Boy recliner all brown leather and shiny and new. I sat in it once that day while shopping for it. Then I ordered it to be delivered on Christmas Eve, the price was well over 200 bucks back then and I shelled it out no problem.

Then I had to figure out the hardest one to get anything for, mom. What do you get a mom who tells you, I don’t want anything, don’t bother? Well, I searched and searched through malls and stores and I looked and looked. When I was almost out of time I came upon it in a Michael’s Jewelry store. I stared through the window at the shiny ring and knew what I had to do. I rushed in and talked to the sales person, I gave him five birthdates of all of us kids. I had him assemble a silver ring with five birthstones, one for each of the birthdays of us kids. From left to right the ring carried the stones for December, January, September, June and July. It costs me over 300 bucks but I got it anyway.

Christmas Eve approached, and my parents were working, I ran down and got mom’s ring and waited for Dad’s chair to arrive. When his chair came in I had them set it in place by the fireplace, it would stay there for the next 25 years. I hid mom’s ring under the tree in the living room, just so I knew where it was and no one else and wrapped a red ribbon around Dad’s new chair before I went to bed. Amazingly for the first time in my life, that Christmas Eve was the only one I slept through till morning with no noisy fights awaking me; it just seems to be that memory for me. I slept soundly that night and it is the only Christmas Eve I think I ever did.

Christmas Morning was all white and snowy when I awoke. I looked at my bedroom window and smiled at it all. I dressed and ran down stairs and grabbed a shovel and dug the walkways clear. Then I came back in to await everyone waking up. I grabbed a bowl of cereal and waited.

By, 8; 30am everyone had awakened one by one and my siblings rushed down to see what they were getting. Dad stood by the Christmas tree and handed out the gifts and winked at me. He came over and gave me a big bear hug and said thank you for his chair. He then handed all the presents out to everyone slowly. When he finished he found the little box in back under the tree stand where I hid it and handed it to mom. I watched her take it in her hand and smile suddenly. She sat back on the couch and opened it slowly finding the dark blue velvet box inside, she looked up and smiled at dad, who looked back and shrugged his shoulders. Mom looked at him and said you shouldn’t have, Dad looked back and said I didn’t, someone else did.

Finally, after a brief pause, Dad points to me and said it’s from him. Mom paused a look of misunderstanding crossed her face and she just shook her head slightly. Then she looked down and opened the little blue velvet box. Inside bursting in silver and colors, she found her mother’s ring with five stones one for each of us. Her eyes teared up and she put it on and thanked me for the gift. The year was 1974, I remember it well indeed. I was a whole 18 years old.

The years passed and time flew by since then and it was then 1990, when I came home from the military. I came home to a situation of my dad dying of cancer with months to live and finding out before he died that mom was dying of the same too. I spent time with Dad that summer watching the Red Sox on TV, when he stopped me one day as he lay in bed, and looked me dead in the eye. He said son that Lazy Boy Recliner has always been the best present I got from any of you kids, thanks. And he never said another word about it till then, or after that moment, when he died that October his recliner was still in place by the fireplace.

One year and a day after dad died, mom was lying dying in bed at my sister’s home, and the cancer had ravaged her. As I stopped in to see her I knew she would die soon. Mom couldn’t talk anymore she had no strength left that day. But in her own way she said thank you for her ring too, as I reached out to hold her hand as she died; there on her finger was only one ring. Her wedding band was gone so was her engagement ring, but one ring remained. There shinning on her finger was the mother’s ring I gave her so many years before. She died wearing it proudly.

So, as Christmas now approaches again and the chill starts to blow in, I stop and look out my window at it all, and feel warmth deep inside. The warmth comes from knowing that for one bright, snowy Christmas morning in 1974, I reached and touched the hearts of my parents and it stayed with them till their dying days. I tell everyone today each Christmas that goes by, it is not what you receive for Christmas that counts, it’s what you give that lasts. That’s the importance of Christmas!

As November 2010 comes to a close today I stop and think about some issues that involve the american people. We are still straddled with the Bush Tax Cuts for the rich and no action has been taken by Congress. If they don’t do something middle America will be looking at the biggest tax increase in history. Call you Senator or Congressman folks get them to move their asses on this.

Also Unemployment Insurance is running out for thousands of Americans each day now, people are hungry and homeless in America. Tell Congress to extend the benefits so people can survive longer.

 

Next a note to all News Angencies on Television and radio and anywhere else, stop being idiots and pointing out to the enemy how to attack America or it’s bases. Why do you all insist on telling terrioist how to attack us, and show them how to make bombs and more right on your news casts? Are you stupid or what?  Like they need any help in inventing how to blow up people or places in the world, it happens everyday, try to catch them, but don’t give them info on how to do it all ok!

Finally for the final day of November 2010, a shout out to Congress and The President of the United States, lets get together and compromise please. If you don’t compromise, it isn’t  congress  or you Mr. President who gets hurt it’s the american people!. Stop bickering like children in kindergarten or old ladies in the laundry room, and lets compromise and agree to disagree, but still help the people please!

A new day begins as a new week begins also, and we come closer to December. Hard to believe 11 months of the year will have passed by on Wednesday. Christmas is now 30 days or less away. The buying will begin soon for presents and money will fly that many do not have. Amazingly Americans will find a way to beg, steal or borrow to buy christmas  decorations and presents for one another, even though the unemployment numbers are high as hell.

Jobs are hard to find and many americans struggle to pay their rents and utilities and to eat. Sadly the economy has not perked back up as suggested it would by many people. What is the key to the American Economy?

Well, I don’t know for sure across the broad spectrum of America exactly if it is like here in Connecticut or not. Here in Connecticut we have a over abundance of blue collar factory workers and no factory jobs. When you have this problem of so many blue collar types out of work and all you bring in for jobs are white collar jobs well, it won’t work folks.

To solve this problem we need to rebuild our manufacturing base and find the positions to employ the blue collar workers or  we need to reeducate the blue collar workers and make them white collar employees. But even if that is possible, there will never be enough white collar jobs to support this many out of work blue collar people.

We need innovative, intelligent, inventive people to create new products, so we can build new factories to make new blue collar jobs. You can’t let so much blue collar talent just die out, can you?

 

As we close in on December and the Holiday Season begins all over again, I only wish and hope things will change. Although I must admit I have a doubt it shall change because Americans pulled the rug out from under the current administration by elected back into office the opposing political party and giving them control of the house. All you have done America is now create gridlock in Washington and nothing more shall be done to make any progress now. But like one person said long ago, you can only lead a horse to water you can’t force it to drink!.

As Sunday begins, there is always one more thing to do before the Holiday weekend ends. A Visit to the little twins for the holiday is always a treat to do. SO they be next on the schedule for this Sunday.

Thanksgiving always seems to be a long Holiday time, since it usually starts the Wednesday before with cooking and goes on thru to Sunday with final visits and such. But each moment seems special in it own unique way.

The NFL will be back today, and I won’t be watching it much, due to not being home. BUt it shall be there come Monday night and next week too so, family first always.

With the Holiday Season now upon us we have plenty to be thankful for for Turkey Day and the coming Christmas too. Grandchildren abound all around it seems and many have none I hear.  I am lucky indeed for I have been blessed with seven of them and each is unique and different in a good way. All smile and laugh and play and live happy lives, thank god. The greatest pleasure a grandparent gets is watching their grandchild show skills they know came from their own family. And it is always a pleasure when a grandchild gets what they wanted most for Christmas and says thank you with a simple kiss and hug. Ah the joy of Christmas about to come is not the receiving but the giving and seeing the happiness and smiles. As the Christmas Season starts folks, lets be thankful for all we have, for where we live, the freedoms we have and to be alive and with family and friends. Remember it’s never what you get, it’s what you give that counts. Give love, give caring, give understanding and use patience too. In the end the love you give will come back to you.

When you stand back and watch a boiler man work the burners during a drill or a deployment, the intensity and tension can build. The heat level in a fire room aboard a naval ship is intense at times, in warmer climates, it can reach 120 degrees, yet that burner man must sit and stare at those fires, in case they do go out. He sweats as he stares through that glass view port, hoping the fires will continue to burn, the front of that boiler a few feet from his face, the air register flapper valve stands in the open position and the fuel valve is wide open. On a 1200 pound- D-type boiler six burners can blaze at once. In the background he can hear the pumps and blowers whine and the steam reducers hiss. He stands under the fluorescent lights as they stay bright, his feet in his boots hot, and against the metal deck plates, with diamond shapes in them. His hands and body become a blur of motion if the boiler fires should go out. His job is to secure the boiler front as fast as possible, I know I lived it. The call for more steam by the bridge to feed the engines can come at any time, and he must stand at the ready.

He stares at the burners or he read his manuals of operations and emergency procedures. He has to know all the reasons a boiler may go out and why and what to do. Where is the emergency fuel cutout, the upper level man watches the blowers and pumps and water levels if they go low, emergency shutdown can commence. The burner man must be ready. What do you do for high water, low water, ruptured tube, loss of feed pumps or any other vital equipment. Ruptured fuel lines , loss of fuel pressure and so many more. The men on the deck plates must be ready. These Boiler Technicians are vital to the ships the Navy has, and they are the blood and strength of the Navy in more ways than one. They are the primary Engineers without whom no steam driven ship can move, nor can the Navy fight without.

As a burner goes out this burner man reacts quickly pulling emergency fuel stops, closing registers and fuel valves and stopping the oil from flowing into the firebox of the boiler. His body and forehead soaked in sweat as the heat rises in the fire room, because there is no steam to power the generators now and the air vents go dead. By the time the burner man finishes and drops the six burner barrels on the deck plates, his body aches and the sweat drenches him. Yet, as soon as the reason for the shutdown is found and fixed he stands ready to do it all again. Yes sailors do complain and yes they get angry when things go wrong, but, in the end it is the man on the deck plates, that burner man who makes sure no one dies in a fuel explosion or worse. He makes sure his ship does not stay dead at sea as a target for an enemy, missile or torpedo.

I know this burner man, this man who did this and kept his ships moving and did the job well. He paid his price in the end, due to a fall down a ladder of 24 steel rungs. But he survives each day knowing he did what was right, with 6 bad discs that make it hard to sleep at night. And if you see him, walking through a store or down the street one day, and he is stooped or walking funny, don’t laugh at him, he is a Disabled Veteran today and proud he served the USA.

The End