The Flag Lowered Again

One of my duties at the college where I work is the lowering and raising of the flag. It is an honor to raise the colors to full glory and the rays of sunshine lighting the flag up. However, in recent times, somber occasions require me to lower the flag to half staff, much of those instances due to mass shootings. It is a constant and increasing chore that has become far too much commonplace. It has gotton to the point I have lost track on when the flag has to be raised again, pending the next violent deaths that shook our nation again. I have the feeling that it should be a white flag instead, of truce or surrender (I wish I knew which).

An Old Book Revisited

While rummaging through a library where I work doing security, I cam across an a book entitled "Working" by Studs Terkel in 1973. In it he interviwed an array of people about their occupations, from jockey to actor, hotel clerk to bookbinder and so forth. It gives an insight to those working in fields about their frustrations, lost hopes, and getting by in a job that some don't like, fell into, and pending retirement amidst lost dreams that wer not fulfilled. It was this particular book I read numerous times in high school in 1984. A time for big dreams, ambition, and a world that was going to be taken on by all of us graduates.I couldn't wait to get out in the real world and find my place: a builder of skyscrapers and bridges, an artistof beautiful pictures, or a reporter writing about the issues of our day in a national news magazine. Alas, it was not meant to be, I bounced around from one job to another, and struggled to finish my college degree when others had already established their careers, Reading the book again has becoome bittersweet nostalgia: what I thought what might have been but was never meant to be in the first place. I like to pick that book up and reread the stories of those people incareers I thought I could participate in but never could for one reason or another. I see a young sixteen year old whith high ideals and big plans reading in a high school library, and me now reading the same book in a college library where I work, and wonder whatever happened to that young man, and not only am I a bit humbled, but I also miss him and wonder whatever happened.

Summer's End

On a warm Saturday night, I decided to attend a local festival as the last throes os summer were set to disappear into the chilly fall.I walked by the food stands of kettle corn, cotton candy, and funnel cake and enjoying their aroma. Walking through the crowd, families stroled by as found a lone place to smoke a cigar. Over the years, I have found I can enjoy the gathering of people as I watch from afar, and vicariously participating in the joy of the day. A rock oldies band started to play as everyone enjoyed the music and the day slowly turned into twilight as a harvest moon eventually appeared. Nestled in the heart of the Alleghenies, there was a feeling of warmth and safety around our loved ones and neighbors. Later, on a Sunday after an evening service as the days of August were winding down, our church gathered for a softball game. It was a day of fun, a gathering of families and friends enjoying the waning day before sunset, and knowing that fall lay ahead the days of summer warmth just a memory.

Loss of a Book Store, and loss of Discovery

Walking through a local mall, I looked forward to visiting the book store. As I approached, the sight of a dark and shutttered space greeted me. Another book store closed, and I feel the world of discovery and learning is poorer for it. A victim, perhaps, of the e-book, a portable screen costing $200.

While I won't dispute the efficiency of the e-book, I will miss the leisurely browsing and walking up and down the aisles checking out whatever book the struck my interest. Whatever book I looked at closely, by cover design, color, or title, I was free to pick it up, and read from it. You may never have heard of the author or title, but there was an allure of the book that drew you closer to inspect what the story wove.

Another missed pleasure is just being able to pick up a book, to open it up, and turn a page. The texture of the paper itself, and turning the page to see how the narritive continues was part of the experience of discovery. Each book had an identity of its own in size, color, or graphics.
I love e books however and the amount of information and books they carry, and I like to think digital and print can coexist.
The sliding a finger across a screen and swiping is fine, but can never take the place of turning the page to continue your literary journey of a story in a real book.

Appreciation

"What might have been", "live with no regrets", and other such sayings guided my thinking for years. Always pushing for some new opportunity, I was never satisfied, and yet never happy either. The Quakers call it living in simplicity, where a slower pace of life, work/life balance, not bound to the latest fashions and technology, and not spending your money on a lot of luxaries are desired goals. I am no longer seeking out a more expensive car and home, living in a bigger city with a higher cost of living and a long commute. Appreciate what you have. Life with family and friends, work life balance, money saved for stormy days, and working in a respectful and appreciative environment are the values that mean the most to me in my career and life.

There is Always Another Act in Life

Thomas Wolfe famously wrote that "You can't go home again." While many have disputed it, including me, I believe you can always find another home. Perhaps not literally, ut a new act in life. As in the show "Frasier", I have been struck as he always rebonds and set up new stakes. From Boston, to Portland, Chicago, and finally to Boston again (at last count). It reminded me how in my life, I did the same thing. Losing a job in 2005, I was defeated. I knew going to my usual haunts people would ask questions as to what happened. During this timeframe, a romantic relationship dissolved as well, compounding my sadness. Not wanting myself to go to seed, I started every day with a new purpose. Getting up, puttting on new clothes, getting a shave and a shower, I trudged on in life. One day, I decided to go to the next county, where I knew no one, to explore a job opportunity. While in town, I scouted out the downtown for a place to eat. I eventually became a regular and made some new friends. Being a private person, there were details about me I didn't divulfe, and no one asked. I became a familiar face around town, and enjoying going to the diner, coffee shop to read, and tavern.I eventually earned a bachelor's degree after I reapplied to complete my degree the same day I was let go from my job. It eventually lead to another career with good retirement benefits. You may not always be able to go home again per se, but you can always start a new act in life, a new adventure, find new friends, a new job, and enjpying new interests. It could be around the corner, or the next town, or a new career.Just never give up.

The Bonfire

We all gathered together after a swim in the icy river for a charity on New Year's Day. I was alone among the others, crowded together in friendship and camaraderie in their own little groups. It had become a New Year's tradition for me. Visit the bakery for some coffee, then to the river bank as people prepared to jump in the frozen river for a good cause, some in outlandish costumes to really get into the spirit of things, from the Blue's Brothers to a bee costume. After the event, it was to a loacal pub and diner, and enjoyed some more coffee and free sandwiches, and with a cigar out on the porch with nearby speakers blaring out some good rock tunes. Here I would make new friends, join conversations, and renew acquaintences from the year before. Finally, the night was capped at a nightclub owned by a friend named Buster, and enjoyed a celebratory Pilsner beer. The final one I attended was in 2020, just befor the Pandemic. Little did we all know that this celebration and others like it were to be put on indefinite hold. For some reason, I felt a sense of foreboding. As usual, I stood back and enjoyed seeing the people having fun and socializing around the bonfire, huddling close one another as a shelter agaiinst the cold air and river water, and taking it all in. Slowly, each of the circles of friends left for the bar until there was a small remanant of us around the bonfire, and it cracked as the embers blew in the wind until it was just small flame slowly dying. Then I was there alone, and pondering what the new year would bring, hope or despair. I then slowly walked up the hill alone and hoping to rejoin the others in the merriment of the day, and regardless of what the future would hold, I would embrace the happiness and friendship around me for that day.