Life On A B-I7

A Skier’s Prayer

In addition to honoring each day with a prayer to the Creator, I have also written a prayer to honor the mountains. After all, the Creator is responsible for the mountains and the blessings they bestow on us…

A Skier’s Prayer”

I acknowledge the Creator and give thanks for the opportunity to ski another powder day. It is my intention to honor this day on the mountain by presenting as much of my skis to the snow as possible. I will strive to present my skis to the mountain through all three phases of my turns. I will honor this day by remaining in an athletic stance. I will show respect to the mountain by always looking ahead. This will allow me to choose the path the mountain wants me to take.

Brahama Muhtra

One of my intentions for 2025 is to take time each morning to welcome the new day. In Hindi, the 48 minute period before sunrise is a “Muhtra.” Brahama Muhtra literally means “The Creator’s Time.” This is when the world as we know it was created. This is the best time of day to honor the Creator and to receive knowledge. Meditation, reading, writing, creating a plan for the day, reflecting, and remembering your parents and the Creator are the best ways to honor the new day. My intention is to start each day with a prayer that I wrote. This prayer honors the Creator and provides me with inspiration and guidance for the day ahead.

Brahama Muhtra

I acknowledge the Creator and give thanks for the opportunity to greet another day.

It is my intention to honor this day by presenting my best self to the world.

It is my goal for today to be kind to everyone I meet. I will look for the best in everyone and treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect.

I will share a smile whenever I can because I believe a smile has the power to make lives better.

Welcome to 2025

It’s the start of a new year. I can’t recall feeling more excited about the year ahead than I do now. Invigorated is a good description. Who would have thought that at age 71, one could look back on their life with some pride and also look forward with an expectation that even greater things are in store, but that is how I feel. Another wonderful thing about this year is I feel I have some powerful intentions that are not only worthwhile but are attainable. I’m excited about putting in the work to get there. All of this while we are facing a trying time as a nation.

America is changing before our eyes. Sometimes it feels like no one is aware of what is going on. Democracy is dying and is being replace with rule by the rich. Whatever benefits the wealthy is the new political policy. The irony is that this change was made possible by the people that will benefit the least from this transformation. I’m not going to dwell too much on this reality going forward for two reasons. The first is there is nothing I can do about it in the short term. The second is because we will come out of this, it will take time, maybe even more time than I have left, but we will come out of this.

Perhaps that is the reason I feel optimistic about my own future. This national crisis has given me the freedom to focus on myself. My future is up to me and no one else.

Turn Dammit!

Yes, “dammit” is spelled correctly. Look it up if you don’t believe me. My Bro-in-Law… Fuck-it, my Bro… Gave me that advice. I will be eternally indebted to him for that. Yes that implies something akin to a “here-after.” I’m okay with that. If there is a “here-after” and he is there to give me skiing tips, I’m down with that.

Hunter is Pardoned

I was disappointed to hear this. While the charges against Hunter probably would not have been brought against someone of “lower profile,” and he pled guilty to the charges despite their dubious nature, excusing his actions with a Presidential Pardon just gives Republicans more ammunition for their “deep state/conspiracy” artillery.

Hunter chose to plead guilty. Good for him. Both Hunter and his father should have accepted the consequences of that decision. Joe’s decision to place family over the law once again demonstrates his infirmity and gives those fence-sitters that voted against him another reason to feel like they made the right choice.

Asleep and Awake, A Bit of Both

What did I learn from my sleep last night, my dream sleep…

It was revealed to me (more reinforcement than revelation) that I will do my best to satisfy people’s expectations of me, but when those expectations become unrealistic, I have the capacity to declare my independence. While doing so in an angry way is within the scope of my ability, I prefer not to use that response.

A compliment (unrelated to sleep).

I was chatting with someone important to me yesterday as we were skiing. He told me something and asked me not to repeat it. I laughed and said he needn’t worry because a big part of my ethos is to be as noncontroversial as possible (also non-confrontational). He said that was one of the first things he noticed about me. He also mentioned that he appreciated that about me. The first real compliment of the day. I don’t look for compliments, but…

The second compliment of the day (also unrelated to sleep).

I had a good day skiing. I bit-it once, total yard-sale (no one saw it so it didn’t really happen) besides that brief moment that was only witnessed by me and the stranger that brought me one of my skis, I skied well. I’m getting better, not worse. That’s something to be proud of at my age. Both my daughter and her husband told me I was a good skier, as did their two friends that were skiing with us. None of them added, “for an old man” to the end of their compliment.

Back to my sleep story.

When Pope Francis had a question that was troubling him, he would write it down on a piece of paper and place it under a statue of Saint Joseph, then go to bed and allow his sleep to work on the answer overnight. It doesn’t matter to me if God provided answers to his sleep questions or if his subconscious did, or if those are the same thing, I think that is a good technique. The real point of that story and the message I’m trying to give myself is: Get good sleep. Sleep is an opportunity to get to know myself a little better and also to learn something that perhaps I need to know.

I Held My Nose and Voted for Joe Biden

I would never in a million years have voted for Donald Trump. Period. I’m not going to talk about the good work that Biden did for the working class and the economy. I think his loss came down to one word perception.

No one wanted Joe Biden for a second term, not even Democrats like myself. When he lost the debate to Trump the hand writing was all over the wall and no amount of Formula 409 was going to scrub it off. Refusing to bow out immediately, heck, refusing to keep his promise not to stand for a second term threw the party into chaos and was the key to losing democratic fence sitters to Trump. I think it comes down to the fact that (unanticipated by the Harris campaign) there was a significant number of “demographically democratic” voters that did the opposite of what I did — they held their nose and voted for Trump…

DOGE

DOGE/Coin, DOGE/Department of Government Efficiency.

Seriously? It doesn’t get any more immature than that.

Dog Shit Day

I’m at a loss for words and I don’t know what to say. I’m having a dog shit day, so I’m headed to the “M Cafe” where the cappuccino is hot and the pastry rocks and my life slips away…

Occasionally you have to steal words from someone immensely more talented than you are, in my case, that is Eric Lindell. “I’m tired and feeling blue,” so listen up, you may be able help me through…

“Bruce Cafe” by Eric Lindell

What I Don’t Know Can’t Hurt Me (I’m not Speaking For You…)

I should not write about things I don’t understand, but here goes…

Trump’s Tariffs are a bluff. He knows what that will do to the economy and its impact on the American consumer, and more importantly, he knows what that will do to corporate profits when it comes to American exports. He needs business on his side, for his political support and for his own personal wealth. That means what he is saying about tariffs is probably just bluster intended to extort concessions from foreign suppliers.

His goal may be to dismantle the civil service infrastructure of the Federal Government, we’ll see how that goes. Looking at the long game, I don’t think he has any interest in destroying the American economy. Of course, what I don’t know could hurt me, and you.

What is Going On?

Someone please explain to me like I’m a young child or a golden retriever what is going on in America…

I couldn’t resist saying that.

The trans movement hasn’t crossed the species barrier yet, but when it does, I’m going to go all-In and become a black lab. That way I’ll be fed and walked and frankly, have no real care in the world… As long as my owner isn’t RFK Jr.

The Far Right v. Tech

Various motivated individuals with big agendas have been planning and plotting for decades to subvert and bend American democracy to their will. From the repression of voting rights, to the take-over of the judicial system, they have followed a careful and methodical plan. The ironic part of this whole mess is that in the 11th hour, it is the use of tech-media and financing provided by tech-bros that is implementing the agenda. Now instead of a far right oligarchy, we are entering the age of the Tech Broligarchy.

Democracy Dies in Oligarchy

Democracy dies when cowardly billionaires own newspapers. For that matter, you could say the same regarding billionaires that buy their way into government with only one agenda, to enrich themselves. Welcome to the age of the Broligarchy.

Both Ways

I went both ways in high school. I never pumped a fist or danced when I got a sack. When I opened a hole on offense for a nice gain, I returned to the huddle without histrionics. I wasn’t better than today’s athletes, that’s not the point, but there is a difference between then and now. I will leave it to you to determine how that reflects on our current social norms. For myself, I think we all could use a bit more humility. I think it would help us all get along a good bit better.

Social Media

Social Media is corrupting America. I suppose that’s a bit of a stretch. There is always some influence that corrupts. That much doesn’t change.

It is remarkable how much today resembles the America of 60 years ago. Same prejudices, same lust for power. The difference of course is the delivery of the message. Today the forces of greed and intolerance are much more subtle and efficient in that delivery. No less subversive, no less detrimental. When you step back and look at where we are, It’s difficult to say humans are evolving with respect to their care for each other.

Another Crossing

I’m going to ride my bike across the country again next year. I’m not sure why. It could simply be a matter of something I have to do and there is no better reason than that. Three times is a charm. I think this crossing will be the best yet. How many people age 71 can say they are going to do a trans-continental bicycle tour for the third time? Maybe a few. That’s not why I’m going to do it. It’s more like I have to do it, it has become part of my soul. The journey makes me happy, in a very real way, it completes me.

Magic

What is the best part of a relationship, a special relationship. The magic of course. I’m not just talking here about the magic that flows between two people that have a special bond, I’m also talking about the magic that can be found around them.

It’s hard to describe how special this can be, but you know it when you see it. Here’s an example. When you live alone and are not fortunate to have a special someone that is part of your life, you miss the small things. I marvel at the small things, like all the little special touches that I wouldn’t provide myself if I were living a solo life. Of course, I’m talking about the jar of Q-Tips on the bathroom counter. Every time I take one out of the jar, I realize how lucky I am. Of course, I also know the real reason they are there is to make me a better listener. I’m not stupid, I can take a hint.

Fear

Rule by consent has been replaced with rule by fear. Thank you Drumph.

(Drumph is Donald’s real surname. The spelling was Americanized by his ancestors so that it would appear to be less Germanic.)

Changing the Subject Slightly

I don’t want to live in the past. I want to live in the future.

I am finding that hard at this particular point in time.

The song “Believe These Blues” by Christopher “Kingfish” Ingram comes to mind at this moment. It’s not a happy song. In an odd way however, I take solace from it.

What’s Wrong With America?

My apologies for over simplifying.

Too many white men,
Too many guns,
Too little education
…as a result…
Too many stupid people.

You could look at this as a failure of our education system. That could be in a large part the case, but eduction is the responsibility of more than just our schools, it is our job as parents to instill in our children the importance and the desire to participate and especially to work together to preserve the best parts of America. Money and special interests cannot (and should not) be relied upon (or allowed) to take up those reigns.

Wale Up America

I’m tired of fuzzy thinking and empty promises. One of the platforms Trump ran on was lowering food prices. Three quarters of the American population are worried about the cost of food. Understandable.

The devil is in the details. American farming depends on undocumented workers, lots of them. Between 30 and 40 percent of farm labor is undocumented. Deporting undocumented persons as Trump has promised, will cause an increase in food prices. Add to that the promise by Trump to place tariffs on imports, food items included, and you have a clear recipe for an increase in food prices not a lowering of food prices.

This is the point where I have to bite my tongue. I will have to live in the economy that the majority of Americans wanted. Am I complaining? Not really. I will survive even if all I can afford to eat is Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes.

Container Living

I wouldn’t mind living in a surplus shipping container… There might be one in my future, you never know.

The older I get the less I care about my “container” and the more I like the idea of communism (small c, perhaps communalism is a better term, less loaded) as long as there are good schools, freedom of thought, honesty in politics, lots of libraries and no guns…

Ski Season Has Begun!

Today is November 15th (I tend to get a little ahead of myself in my writing.) Today was also the first day of skiing at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. The is the earliest start to a ski season at Mt. Bachelor in 26 years!

Live Intentionally

I often find that song lyrics provide me with inspiration for writing. There is a deep seated part of me that would love to play a musical instrument. I did in fact, in Jr. High. I played the French Horn in the school band. I wanted to play the trumpet but the band instructor switched me to French Horn. I think the likely reason was that I was not good enough to play the trumpet. It might have been because there were too many trumpets and he thought I could pick up the horn, but I doubt it.

”If you don’t do nothin’ you’re gonna live to regret, you won’t have to live with what you can’t forget.” —?

I love that line. It’s a good reminder to live intentionally. Always listen before speaking. More importantly, listen with the goal of choosing a response that will enlighten rather than frighten (or produce any other negative response). If there is no appropriate response, or you need more time to consider what to say, silence is okay. If you are asked directly for your opinion but you are uncomfortable giving it, give it carefully and with consideration for the other’s feelings. If that goal can’t be met just say you have to give your answer some thought. If all this sounds complicated, it is. My experience has taught me it is worth the effort. The most difficult part of this is simply remembering it in the moment. It might be simpler to remember your goal should always be to give others reason to respect you.

Where We Need to Be

Every day is a new day.
Every day brings with it,
A chance to learn something new.
There is only one thing that stands
Between us and learning… Ourselves.

All we need to remember,
Is that everything
We do and see,
Leads us…
To where we need to be.

I wrote this while sitting in a Walmart parking lot. Go figure…