I stopped at the 7-eleven on the way home from work today to pick up a 6-pack of Coors Light in honor of my friend's dad. I'm not really a huge fan myself, but it is the adult beverage of his choice and it seemed fitting. He has always been a kind and fun person to be around. I remember one night he decided to take a few people bar hopping to his favorite watering holes. I don't remember the occasion, but it doesn't really matter, he never needed an occasion to live life - the fact that we were all there would have been just as good of a reason as anything else to him.
It was probably only the second or third time I had met him so I didn't really know him very well , but that never mattered to him. He had met me once! That was enough for him to invite me to join the fun. I don't remember all that we did, or even every place that we went. All I really remember was there was never a time when I didn't feel like I belonged there and that had everything to do with him.
Earlier this week he lost his battle with cancer and today was his funeral. I haven't been to too many funerals, but I have already figured out that I am a train wreck at them. But I don't mind. He was a good person, and I will miss him - surely it is appropriate for me to express this even though I know he is at peace now and feels no more pain.
I made the silly decision to go back to work afterward. I was worn out and spent, my head was hurting progressively more and more, and I really had no desire to be there. So I left.
. . . and now I am home writing this and remembering the man he was and remembering the short time that I was privileged enough to know him. A long time ago a letter was printed in a very wise book that stated that we should 'count it all joy'. That is something I hope I can glean from the life of my friend's father. Through the good and the bad, he was truly happy each and every day and I believe that was because he knew he had one more day to live and whatever trial he would have to face that day was worth that opportunity - to love and be loved.
So this Silver Bullet is for you, my good friend's father! I will probably switch back to Miller Light after this, but anytime I am offered a Coors Light, I will no doubt think of you and remember the joy for life that you treasured!
. . . until next we meet.
Sandalmarks
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
What's the Point of BLOG
Quite a while ago I created a profile on a website I rarely go to anymore. It was on this site that I was first introduced to the concept of doing my own blog. But I really didn't get why I should even want to do such a thing . . . Fast forward a few years and I got a hair up my butt and decided I would actually put something in that section of my profile. Of course, I couldn't take it seriously and made a joke of it, but the following is the first post I ever put in a blog. Enjoy!
11/11/2006
Blog, blog, blog, blog, blog. So I guess I just don't get the whole concept. What's the point of writing all this if nobody knows about it or reads it? I guess it kind of reminds me of Bingo. I mean who really has time to read all this useless information. I'll tell you, people who play bingo. And old people. Although they are the same people. And everybody knows that old people never go on the internet. They are too busy playing bingo. So then who will read this? See, it's just a vicious cycle. Oh well.
Until next we meet,
Sandalmarks
11/11/2006
Blog, blog, blog, blog, blog. So I guess I just don't get the whole concept. What's the point of writing all this if nobody knows about it or reads it? I guess it kind of reminds me of Bingo. I mean who really has time to read all this useless information. I'll tell you, people who play bingo. And old people. Although they are the same people. And everybody knows that old people never go on the internet. They are too busy playing bingo. So then who will read this? See, it's just a vicious cycle. Oh well.
Until next we meet,
Sandalmarks
Friday, May 13, 2011
My Writer's Pen
Tonight I was at an Andy Hersey show at Shooters when my mind started wandering, as it usually does. Tonight's main focus? Blogs.
I've thought a lot about starting a blog on several occasions, but never could get myself to make a decision. What would I call the blog? What would I blog about? Why would anyone read my blog? What is my stance on the price of tea in China? Clearly I had a lot of formulating to do before I should even attempt such an endeavor.
Well tonight, while listening to Andy put his spin on many classic songs, my mind wandered to what I should call my blog. It is pretty interesting the way my mind works sometimes. Andy has a line in one of his songs that states, 'If I could write song lines like Roger Clyne, I'd have a saving grace.' I'm not sure why but that line popped into my head (I'm pretty sure he didn't even play that song tonight), but I started thinking, 'well heck, if I could write song lines like Andy Hersey . . .'
Okay, fine well what song lines have you written that you do like?
Fast forward past numerous thoughts (many incoherent) and I finally figured out what I would call my blog! It comes from a line from one of my favorite songs that I have written: 'This guy told me that he was a writer, who never could pick up a pen. It's sad when you know who you are, but your thoughts are to far to help you pull out of this spin.'
A writer's pen. It is his (or her) greatest friend when words are flowing from his brain at an uncontrollable rate and it is his worst enemy when there are no words that can describe what is going through his head. I also like the title for the double meaning of the term 'pen' (n. A fenced enclosure) for those times when a writer's brain cannot express the things that are running through their head into words. No matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to pick up that pen (writing utensil) . . . and therefore, your mind becomes your own pen (enclosure - prison).
Fast forward a couple hours and I am at home on my computer trying to figure out where one would even create a blog and whether I could even use that title. Well it turns out that my original idea for a blog title had, in fact, already been taken. A Writer's Pen. The Writer's Pen, Writer's Pen. All taken! Well, under normal circumstances I would have told myself that this is clearly a sign that I need to find another idea for my blog name. Clearly it is an overused thought.
But then I started looking at those blogs - none of them have posted since 2010, 2007 and 2006 respectively . . . and two of them barely have two or three posts. Clearly these other people have not put as much thought into their name as I have, otherwise they would have been more diligent in their upkeep of the blog. So I tried My Writer's Pen - Lo and behold! It was available.
I was going to do this after all!
But what should my blog be about anyway?! Why does it have to be about a specific theme anyway? How many blogs are really themed? And even if they are, how many of those blogs methodically stick to that theme? So screw you all! I don't want a theme! My current idea is for it to be a gathering place of previously stated musings on other sites or buried in notebooks, tucked away in my shed for who knows how long, supplemented with current thoughts as I am inspired. When I am able to pick up a pen (writing utensil) I will write something new . . . but when my mind is a pen (enclosure) I will reach into my archives of musings.
Until next we meet!
Sandalmarks
I've thought a lot about starting a blog on several occasions, but never could get myself to make a decision. What would I call the blog? What would I blog about? Why would anyone read my blog? What is my stance on the price of tea in China? Clearly I had a lot of formulating to do before I should even attempt such an endeavor.
Well tonight, while listening to Andy put his spin on many classic songs, my mind wandered to what I should call my blog. It is pretty interesting the way my mind works sometimes. Andy has a line in one of his songs that states, 'If I could write song lines like Roger Clyne, I'd have a saving grace.' I'm not sure why but that line popped into my head (I'm pretty sure he didn't even play that song tonight), but I started thinking, 'well heck, if I could write song lines like Andy Hersey . . .'
Okay, fine well what song lines have you written that you do like?
Fast forward past numerous thoughts (many incoherent) and I finally figured out what I would call my blog! It comes from a line from one of my favorite songs that I have written: 'This guy told me that he was a writer, who never could pick up a pen. It's sad when you know who you are, but your thoughts are to far to help you pull out of this spin.'
A writer's pen. It is his (or her) greatest friend when words are flowing from his brain at an uncontrollable rate and it is his worst enemy when there are no words that can describe what is going through his head. I also like the title for the double meaning of the term 'pen' (n. A fenced enclosure) for those times when a writer's brain cannot express the things that are running through their head into words. No matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to pick up that pen (writing utensil) . . . and therefore, your mind becomes your own pen (enclosure - prison).
Fast forward a couple hours and I am at home on my computer trying to figure out where one would even create a blog and whether I could even use that title. Well it turns out that my original idea for a blog title had, in fact, already been taken. A Writer's Pen. The Writer's Pen, Writer's Pen. All taken! Well, under normal circumstances I would have told myself that this is clearly a sign that I need to find another idea for my blog name. Clearly it is an overused thought.
But then I started looking at those blogs - none of them have posted since 2010, 2007 and 2006 respectively . . . and two of them barely have two or three posts. Clearly these other people have not put as much thought into their name as I have, otherwise they would have been more diligent in their upkeep of the blog. So I tried My Writer's Pen - Lo and behold! It was available.
I was going to do this after all!
But what should my blog be about anyway?! Why does it have to be about a specific theme anyway? How many blogs are really themed? And even if they are, how many of those blogs methodically stick to that theme? So screw you all! I don't want a theme! My current idea is for it to be a gathering place of previously stated musings on other sites or buried in notebooks, tucked away in my shed for who knows how long, supplemented with current thoughts as I am inspired. When I am able to pick up a pen (writing utensil) I will write something new . . . but when my mind is a pen (enclosure) I will reach into my archives of musings.
Until next we meet!
Sandalmarks
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