Wow! Today is the Last Day of the Blogging Challenge.

Frankly, I cannot believe that I made it to the end of the 2023 #RRBC 30-Day Blogging Challenge. I confess that each day I began with the same question: What the heck am I going to write about today? We have been asked to share our thoughts on this experience, so here goes:

Thinking back on my words, I am most surprised that I shared so much about my younger days. For some reason, it just came out of my mind and onto the screen. I do not regret any of it, although it was very different from my typical interpersonal behavior. Much of what I shared has rarely been told to anyone before (perhaps with Aida, but that is it). I suppose my reliance on faith has been made pretty obvious these thirty days as well. Perhaps, I was urged from above to let it out, and therefore my choice to share so much is a good thing. All of us have been wounded in our lives, and the psychological scars are deeper than the physical ones. I have had a few surgeries and a broken arm. I have no fear or animus about those incidents. The mental wounds to my mind and heart remained hidden. The wounds continued to bleed. I now see my posts as remedies for those injuries. Once spoken, their power to keep injuring me decreases a bit.

Some of my posts were more whimsical, like the last one about music and my thoughts on comedy. What I said was true for me, but it does not expose any deeper thoughts or troubles. My desire for quiet or music just changed. My taste in comedy has not. I still watch old Monty Python programs. I will scroll through Netflix looking for older comedies. In my opinion, they were the best! That reminds me. I need to watch Back To School and Spaceballs again soon. Any Rodney Dangerfield or Mel Brooks movie is worth the time. Incidentally, when I wrote about my LP and CD collections, I should have mentioned that I also have a large selection of DVD movies. Mental note: I have to check them out today.

We are all complicated people. We are living separate lives doing lots of different things, and yet, today we are all authors and proud to be members of the Rave Reviews Book Club. Our greatness comes from our differences and similarities. It is amazing how often that happens in our lives. In each job I held, I met new people and did interesting things, even creating lifelong friendships along the way. Never forget that life is an adventure. It may not always be happy and amazing, but we still grow, learn, and meet new people. In the end, our ability to share and especially to care for one another matters most.

We were also asked if we would continue blogging. My answer is yes, but probably not everyday. I do not know who will read my words, but as I said before, I write for myself and for God. I let Him handle the rest. Finally, we were asked if this experience improved our writing. I do not know that answer. I have been writing (for work and my stories) a really long time. I always had bosses review my written projects and make revisions. I now have an editor who does the same for my books. While these thirty days may not have changed my writing style, they certainly changed me. I have always been a closed book to most people. My past was my past. That has now changed completely. I do not know if any of those experiences will find their way into print. In the case of my earliest memories, many are buried, turning a story into a few scattered flashes.

So many of you have written kind comments about my posts. I have appreciated and responded to them all. I have also tried to return the favor for many of you. My hope is that we remain friends, fellow authors, and enjoy this life to the fullest. All the best to each and every one of you. Today is a new beginning, and I hope you make the most of every moment. We are all truly blessed.

What Happened to All the Music?

Please do not worry. I am not going to say anything about music today. Since I rarely listen to music anymore, my opinion is irrelevant. But what ever happened to all of my music?

As a person who prefers quiet to having music in the background, you probably would not know that this is a fairly recent change for me. During semester break one year in college, I took a job at the Rock Island Arsenal near Rock Island, Illinois. Actually, the arsenal is on an island (Rock Island obviously) in the Mississippi River separating Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. That summer I lived with my father’s parents in Davenport. I know that my dad being in the service and my uncle being a high end civil servant at the arsenal helped me get that job for a massive $2,73/hour. Hey, it was the early 1970s, and that is what they paid. I spent a good portion of my net to buy a nice stereo system for my dorm room.

As an aside, my job was to take project change reports to the mail room, where they would make 26 copies of each page. I am certain each copy went to someone important. My imagination told me it was one copy to file, one to forward, and 24 to throw away. It is our government after all.

I had a lot of LPs in those days. The music was always playing when I was there. Today, I am not sure where many of those records are. As time passed, I ended up with a large collection of CDs too. Of course, the music changed along with the times. I probably have fifty or sixty CDs today. Then, time changed again. I got iTunes on my first iPhone. Then I loaded it up. Aida loves Latin music, so my iTunes is filled with lots of that as well. Some of the artists I really like, especially Juan Luis Guerra. As you likely recall, you used to have to buy music. Wow! Times have really changed.

Today, I sit here on my reclining couch, with only the rain outside for accompaniment, and my dog Akiva of course. It is quiet now, but I am not rushing to listen to anything, even though I do love the music I have. For example, I have the Christmas album (CDs) from the Three Tenors. Did I play it over the holidays this year or last? No.

I am not certain when this change occurred. I do not recall making any conscious decision to cut music from my life. Somehow, I just am not interested anymore. When I consider my past, the change seems odd. From time to time, I will see a music video online from George Strait and watch it. There was also a music video online featuring Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison’s son playing one of George’s biggest hits. I watch that over and again.

Still, my LPs, CDs, and iTunes remain silent. Maybe my brain told me the sound was distracting. Too bad my brain did not share that decision with me. I suppose we all change over time. I am not complaining. It is just odd that something I loved for so long no longer matters. Perhaps it is a good thing. My mind is free from distraction as I write this or my next novel. It may be that simple. Or I am just becoming an old grumpy Gus. If you love music, I hope you enjoy every song. Just keep the volume down. Gee, maybe I am a grumpy Gus after all. I wish you all the best.

My Thoughts with Three Days to Go

The 2023 #RRBC 30-Day Blogging Challenge has been a real eye opener for me. While I have loved all the posts by my fellow bloggers, what has amazed me most is that I have not run out of things to talk about. As I have said in earlier posts, I am very much an introvert, so one might expect me to be quiet and reserved. Or I least I would have just written a few words about my day. But no. I have opined and shared my life with you all every day. You might consider me a big blabber-mouth by this point. Actually, it uncovers something we should all know about ourselves.

Each of us have life experiences that changed us forever. Some seem minor at the time, like moving every few years as a military brat. Others are major events like broken bones, illnesses, the birth of children, marriage, divorces, and the death of people we have known and loved. All of these experiences have left marks on us and changed us in ways we never imagined. At the time, we move past the event and keep going. The changes to our souls are more everlasting, even if the event has faded to a distant memory.

As I review my words here, perhaps my words seem dark and dreary. Actually, it is quite the contrary. As a student in school, I was expected to learn, if not memorize, many facts and figures. Most of us studied our multiplication tables until we knew them forward and backward. All of our experiences have had a similar impact. For me, I think the net result was wonderful. I have experienced some bad and a lot of good. Mostly, I have become happy with the person I am today. That is a real blessing.

Of course, my life is not perfect. There are memories I regret and others I cherish and hold close to my heart. However, I know the happiness I have experienced in my life far outweighs the negative. One of my great joys is writing my stories. As you have discovered this month, I have a lot on my mind. My stories allow me to lay all my beliefs on the table for anyone to see. Sure, I hope people will read and enjoy my books. Making a bit more money in retirement is a good thing. Mainly, I write for me and God. I am not saying He reads any of my books, but He knows what I believe, even if the story lines vary greatly from tale to tale.

That is the main reason the hero ends up winning in all my books (or series). I believe good is stronger than evil, and I need to demonstrate that in my stories. Other writers have different views or genres, and that is okay. My focus is set and will not change. I know who I am and what I believe. Frankly, that is good enough for me. I wish you health, great success, and happiness all the days of your lives.

The Awesome Advantage of Living Through the Past

Have you noticed that every new generation feels they know the absolute best way for everyone to live? I remember I felt that way when I graduated from college in 1976. The world was my oyster, and I was going to conquer it in a few years. Such hope. Such audacity. Such confidence. Such silliness. We all know that life has a different perspective than a twenty-one year old.

It is true that the new generation leaves a mark on humanity that can last for a very long time. Those accomplishments astound the world. Then, the world moves on and those miraculous happenings are relegated to history. Many of us remember Jack Kennedy’s presidency with great admiration, although he was not a perfect person. No one is. He put us on track to land on the moon. He stopped the Soviet attempt to put missiles in Cuba. Then his life was cut short by an assassin. Our government still has those records sealed. It was sixty years ago, so one might wonder why the facts are buried. I do not want to speculate, but the circumstance is interesting.

Then there was Richard Nixon. That presidency failed when he famously said, “I am not a crook.” He paid for his actions by resigning. Speaking of crooks, it is helpful to note that our National Debt was $475 billion when Nixon left office. Compare that to today’s $31 trillion. I guess we know there were bigger crooks out there waiting for us.

My favorite modern president was Ronald Reagan. He was conservative like me. However, he also caused the collapse of the Soviet Union by convincing the Soviets that we were far ahead of them in nuclear warfare capability. Then they overspent in order to catch up. They ran out of money first, and freedom reigned in Eastern Europe for the first time in decades.

My point is that even these presidents did not change America forever. They did great things and bad things. They affected the world greatly for a time. Then, time went on. Some improvements stuck. Others faltered. The massive machine that is the United States moved forward.

A similar analogy is music. Most of my favorite artists were from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. Much of that music has faded from the spotlight. Young people today probably never heard of my favorite bands, like Blue Oyster Cult, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and The Moody Blues. Some artists have passed the test of time. The rest did not.

The point of all this is simple. Times change. Tastes change. Leadership changes. The only constant is the passage of time.

I relish my past. America was and is a fabulous country. Sure, bad things happen. That has always been the case. The key is to remember the old newspaper adage: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Almost no one prints good news, yet it surrounds us every day. That is one reason I almost never watch the news. The media is solely focused on the negative. Yuck! Of course there are bad incidents all the time. With over three hundred million people, no bail reforms, and an open border, what else should we expect? Still, in the grand scope of things, most of what is happening is wonderful.

Children play with their friends. People fall in love. Couples get married and start a new life together. People meet with friends and family to share memories and laughs. Neighbors help their neighbors and foster friendships. We celebrate birthdays and holidays together. Those who believe pray for guidance from above. Those good things are what fill my mind. Sure, bad stuff happens. In the grand sweep of our lives, those are just blips (hopefully), and we move on to the next celebration. Enjoy every minute you can. All the best.

When Did Comedy Become a Naughty Word?

I cannot believe I have almost completed this challenge. Muse: don’t fail me now!

I often look for comedies to watch on television. Where did they go? Humor used to be a mainstay of American entertainment. Recently, humor has been replaced by political correctness, which while hilarious, was not intended to be so.

I know some will think I am crazy. Perhaps that is somewhat accurate, but not enough to make up for the stuff that I see all too frequently. I love stand-up comedy. I try to watch those shows and get barraged by some formerly funny person sharing his political views. What? With the nation thirty-one trillion dollars in debt, politics is definitely not funny, regardless of your party preference. It is likely a ruse. Each side of the political class gets us angry at the other side so we neglect what truly matters: The government continues to spend money they do not have. Meanwhile, all the politicians get rich.

I am not here to bash the political class, although they deserve it (both sides). Instead, I want to recall some of the incredible comedy that used to entertain us. I know we have different tastes. I do not expect anyone to agree on every program I grew up with. I imagine you could come up with your own list. Go for it. It is tons of fun to remember the laughter and happiness comedy brought us.

Some of my favorites (in no particular order): The Carol Burnett Show; F Troop, McHale’s Navy; The Jeffersons; Gilligan’s Island; Three’s Company; The Big Bang Theory; Mork and Mindy; all Hanna-Barbera cartoons; Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in; That Girl; Friends; The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; All in the Family; Married with Children; The Office; The Red Skelton Show; any comedy routines/ programs with Rodney Dangerfield, Robin Williams, or Steve Martin; and Saturday Night Live (with the original cast). I know there are many more that I will recall later.

From my English comedy years: Monty Python’s Flying Circus; Are You Being Served; Keeping Up Appearances; and Waiting for God.

Through most of my life, comedy has been everywhere. I know some great stuff is still out there (anything with Ricky Gervais, for example). I never had to look for it before. There still are a few comedians who refuse to surrender to what is happening now, probably none more capable than Dave Chappelle.

I really wish the great age of comedy could start again. Trust me, with our political class, we need something to make us laugh.