Going Sane

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T16:44:00.002-06:00

As a college freshman, on February 12, 1960, I was manipulated into going on a blind date with another college freshman, who was also manipulated in the same way. Her name was Martha Longmire.

Arriving at Mynders Hall to meet my date, I immediately realized I had actually seen her a couple of times on campus and I liked what I saw!

We got along well enough on that "forced" Friday night outing that I invited her to go to church with me the following Sunday-- Valentine's Day. Picking her up at the dorm, I handed her one long-stem red rose that cost me a grand total of $.25.

Having been married to that woman for nearly 49 years, a "room full of roses" would not adequately express my admiration, appreciation, and affection.

I love you.

Still Thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-28T18:52:00.004-06:00

This piece was written and posted on January 1, 2010. But I think its worth repeatin and after all, it's my blog, right?!

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM... (A Very Personal Story)

Martha and I are extremely fortunate to have seven wonderful grandchildren who teach us more and more about life, living, and the pursuit of happiness. (Wish I had been much wiser when raising their parents! But that's another story.) Two of our grandkids are five-year-old twin boys who attend public school kindergarten in a racially mixed class.

A few nights ago as their dad was lying down with them before bed, Ty asks, "Dad, Wanda (an African American child,not her real name) says black and white people don't like each other, is that true?" Kelly not knowing replies, "Is Wanda black?" Colby replies, "No." Then Kelly asks, "Are there any black kids in your class?" Ty,answers "No." Then thinking about it he says, "There are some brown ones but no black ones." Kelly smiles from ear to ear and says "good night" to his twin boys who've never been taught any form of racial prejudice. He goes downstairs and tells Leanne and they cherish the moment.

Leanne knows Wanda's mother who is a nurse in another school where Leanne does psychotherapy with troubled children. So, she decides to tell the story to Wanda's mother, who laughs just as much as Leanne, and then replies in this awesome manner. "Leanne, Wanda doesn't know she's black. We've never told her!"

Later that evening, Leanne decides to follow-up with the boys and asks, "Remember that conversation you had with dad about black, white, and brown kids in your class? They nod. "Are there any white kids in your class?" Both reply, "No." Then she says, "Are you white?" Both say, "No." "What color are you?" Colby, pulls up the sleeve on his shirt and replies, "Tan."

On my God in heaven may they never learn that they are white and may Wanda never learn that she's black. And better yet, may we learn from these five-year-olds that all prejudices are LEARNED and then remember that everything that is LEARNED CAN BE UNLEARNED. Please God, please.

Dr. King would be proud.

Need a Good Chuckle?

2012-01-20T09:56:00.003-06:00

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one out of five enjoys it?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

If people from Poland are called Poles,
then why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP? ?

Do Lipton Tea employees take 'coffee breaks?'

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use. Toothpicks?

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

Is it true that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

Now, stop laughing long enough to forward this onto somebody else who could also use a good chuckle!!

Quote of the Day

2012-01-18T10:16:00.000-06:00

If you want something you've never had, then do something you've never done.

Niner Fever

2012-01-17T10:11:00.004-06:00

Thirty years ago this week, Matt and I went to see the Niners and the Giants at Candlestick Park in the second round of the NFL playoffs. Niners won that one and that game still stands out as a terrific memory for both Matt and me. At that time, we lived in the Bay Area and Candlestick was only a few miles from our home.

Come Sunday, a rematch will take place in the same location. But now our location is about 3,000 miles from The Stick. However, given the enthusiasm both of us have for this upcoming game, if I had a few thousand bucks that needed to be used I would gladly fly Matt from Wilmington, NC and me from Memphis to San Fran for a couple of days to revisit what was once our home and to watch the Niners put a hurting on the Giants.

Donations are welcome...

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T11:58:00.003-06:00

There is no way to measure the impact Dr. King had on America and the world. No way. But then that's the way it usually goes with those who stand above and take on challenges no one else would even try. There work is usually immeasureable at least in the short term. And it is amazingly predictable that we kill those who rise above. History is replete with such.

Dr. King was a prophet in the truest sense of the word. A Priest speaks from the people to God. A prophet speak from God to the people. And that's what he did. There are lot of wanna be prophets today who use television and the internet to try to be "prophet-like." They're always telling us what God told them to say and do and therefore we are to heed and follow. But by comparison, they are a paltry lot.

MLK wasn't perfect, he had his vices, like the rest of us. But he was (in my humble opinion) a real prophet who impacted our society more than any one person in my lifetime and he was Dead at 39 years of age.

May his memory and his work live on.

Selah

10 Mark Twain Zingers

2012-01-13T13:09:00.000-06:00

Truth is more of a stranger than fiction.

Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.

The report of my death was an exaggeration.

Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.

Good breeding consists of concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.

A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

NEW YEAR'S WISHES FOR SENIORS

2012-01-12T09:42:00.000-06:00

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends. May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.

And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God's love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.

"So, What Did You Learn?"

2012-01-08T13:46:00.002-06:00

That's a question that has been posed to me in some form or fashion since August 3, 2011. On July 29th, the exam in the cath lab by Dr. Brent Addington showed I had five blocked coronary arteries. Five days later, Dr. Ed Garrett and his team ran a buzz saw down my chest to perform cardiac by-pass surgery. Only two of the arteries were repairable. It was also discovered I was diabetic which I had no clue about and that I had sleep apnea, meaning during sleep, I stopped breathing every few minutes. With that dark trifecta, the aforementioned question has been quite common: So, what have you learned through this ordeal? That's also a question I've asked myself during these five months. So, here's my answer, at least up to this point.

Has it changed my view of life and death? Not at all. I already knew life was precious and short. And I already knew death awaits us all. And I already had accepted that philosophically, personally, intellectually, and emotionally. I did not go into the surgery with the slightest bit of (conscious) fear. Not because I was confident I would survive, nor comfortable that there was more life even if I died. I just viewed it and experienced it as an event that had to be addressed and the outcome would be– It is what it is.

Did it bring some great revelation or epiphany about life after death? Nope. Life after death either happens or doesn't happen. And I'm okay with that. I hope there's something beyond the grave but if I knew for absolute certain that death was the end, it would not change my life and living one bit. I don’t live life on fear and guilt about death. I released those two tenants of the faith when I recognized, and gave up very early in my adult life, that religious fundamentalism was a form of mental illness. I live life excited about the mystery of life of which religious fundamentalist does not embrace. Life is not filled with absolutes where everything is either black or white, right or wrong, good or bad, normal or abnormal. Life is full of grey and nearly everything is relative. So, no, this life threatening experience did not change my life and death view.

Did I decide to make major changes in my life as a result of this experience? Not really. I had been pondering semi-retirement for quite a while and this just gave me a good excuse to do less therapy and write more books. And it gave me a reason to change my life-style a bit which I already knew needed adjusting.

Did I decide to see my doctor more often? No. I already was doing that but there are some things that can be undetected even by the best docs (which I have in super doc, Kevin Merigian.)

If none of the above was learned during this experience, What, if anything, did I learn?

Did it make me more determined to take another look at my bucket list and mark some things off and add a few extras? Yes. For starters, I want to spend more time with my kids and grandkids and I’m into the process of making that happen. And before I cash in my chips, I won’t to do some things with Martha that we’d talked about for a long time and are now making plans to do them. I’ve also added to my bucket list a motorcycle ride to Alaska in 2013.

What did I learn? Memphis Baptist Hospital has an incredible, none-better, Cardiac Department. From Mary, my Surgery Prep Tech, to my CICU and step-down nurses and aids, including June, one of my Patient Care Tech’s, they were great. I liked them all– but truth be told one nurse just barely made it! From the excellent docs to the least likely care givers, they were exceptional. Then it was topped off by the extraordinary care of the Cardiac Rehab nurses, Shana Robinson and Veronica Robinson. I did 36 rehab sessions with them and I do not have adequate words to applaud how well they do their job.

So, what did I learn? I learned that I could be very sick and not know it or at least not admit it. Denial had done it’s job in making me blame my shortness of breath over the last several months on my asthma. It wasn’t, it was my heart. And I learned that getting healthy is a tough job with no real short cuts and that’s the path I’ve chosen to follow. This is by far the most important thing that I learned and re-learned– life is a mystery and I could be very sick and not know it. But I could learn to be more conscious of getting healthy and I will.

So, What Did I Learn from this experience? The simplest of revelations and epiphanies can be extremely profound.

One last thing. My last book entitled, Don’t Ever Stop Believing... The Best is Yet to Come, was released just six weeks before I discovered I was seriously ill. Five months down the road from the surgery, I’ve learned that I still believe, the best is yet to come. That’s what I learned.

Think About It

2012-01-05T12:08:00.003-06:00

One of the things I frequently see and hear in the therapy room is a person who continues to beat themselves up over issues from the past. Much of the time it is a benign experience of what they did or did not do. No matter how much they have asked for and prayed for forgiveness, they still punish themselves ad nauseum, ad infinitum. Hearing this over and over, several years ago, I composed the following maxim:
You can never feel forgiven for a sin you didn't commit.

That's Life

2011-12-30T10:41:00.003-06:00

As 2011 winds down, I've been doing what I do at this time of every year-- remembering, reviewing, reflecting. For me, this process will not end at mid-night of Dec 31, but I will be much closer to drawing some conclusions and concerns, and will commit to some new choices for 2012.

For me, 2011 was a paradigm of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. On the high side: I finished two new books that were released which included a very successful book signing tour in Florida and Georgia; knocked out a big-time "bucket list" item which was a 6500 mile motorcycle trip in 25 days with my long time best friend, Jerry Wagley; and then the topper which was the birth of our 8th grandchild--Reagan Emily Doyle, born to Chad and Joey Doyle on July 29th. There were many other highs but these were the biggies.

The lows? Will only mention two. (1)On our family beach trip in June, Chad & Joey were in an auto accident that put Joey in a Pensacola hospital with serious possibilities that she would give birth much too early. For 10 days, it was extremely scary and then it leveled out and they went home to Hilton Head where Joey was on bedrest for several weeks before delivering Little Peanut. (2) Totally unexpectedly, on July 29th (yes, the same day Reagan was born) I was in the cath lab where it was discovered that I had 5 blocked coronary arteries-- yes, that's 5 with blockage 80-90% in all of them. Five days later I had by-pass surgery and it was discovered that I was diabetic and had sleep apnea-- a trifecta of sorts!!! Before all of this was revealed, I had no history of high blood pressure, heart disease, nor diabetes. Since then I've been on a rigorous rehab program which will continue for a very long time, if not a lifetime.

Reflecting on all this means for me 2011 was a year with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. How do I explain such? It's called life.

5 Suggestions To Ponder

2011-12-19T18:02:00.001-06:00

1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.
2. Never go anywhere without WD-40 and Duct Tape.
3. The four most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship– "I'm sorrry" and "You’re right." Just make sure you don't get it in reverse and say-- "You're sorry" and "I'm right!"
4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
5. For Women (and Men, too!) Never make a big decision when you are hormonal!

Enough Already!

2011-12-15T16:09:00.003-06:00

For a very long time, I've been bothered by athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, as well as your everyday run of the mill folk, who make a public display of their personal piety. That includes Muhammad Ali (who started every interview by thanking Allah and his prophet Elijah Mohammad.) In today's world it includes Albert Pujols and numerous other baseball players who point skyward when they make a good play. And now we are bombarded with tebowing, as in Tim Tebow who kneels in the end zone in a prayerful position after scoring a touchdown.

An article appeared on Facebook last week asking, "Is God a fan of the Denver Broncos?" And then, "Is God a fan of Tim Tebow?" Are you kidding me-- God cares about the Broncos because Tebow is a devout Christian? What a travesty of faith, Christian or otherwise, and what a ludicrous example of what it means to be a genuine Christian.

Why are the Denver Broncos winning (at least now) and why is Tim Tebow getting the job done as an unorthodox quarterback? Because he is an exceptional athlete-- maybe even one of a kind in football for the last many years.

Knowing this offering will probably take a beating from those who disagree and may even protest "heresy," I will follow the advice of my old theology professor. Said he, "Always cover your heresy with scripture."

Matthew 6:5-6
And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

I end where I started: Be suspicious of anyone who makes a public display of their private piety.

The Cab Ride

2011-12-11T22:36:00.002-06:00

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drivethrough downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.'Nothing,' I said. 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then drove away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will alwasy remember how you made them feel.

Thoughts to Ponder

2011-12-07T16:35:00.002-06:00

1. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.
2. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every damn minute of it.
3. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
4. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
6. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
7. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
9. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck- is-the-room- spinning medicine.
12. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
13. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
14. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
15. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
16. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!
17. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
18. Procrastinate Now!
19. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?
20. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
21. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
22. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
23. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
24. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.
25. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.
26. Ham & eggs-- A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
27. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

WHY I LIKE THANKSGIVING THE BEST

2011-11-21T15:19:00.002-06:00

NOTE: The following is a repeat post from the past several years regarding Thanksgiving.

Of all the religious or secular hoidays that we celebrate, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. There are several reasons for this, of which I'll name a few.

1. Thanksgiving is the least commercialized-- we don't do gifts, or fireworks, or any elaborate decorations.

2. Thanksgiving is about family-- whether your literal family or one you've created.

3. Thanksgiving is about, well, it's about giving thanks. It's about gratitude, appreciation, acknowledgment of what is important in our lives.

4. Thanksgiving is about commemorating the past, and those who've gone before, and about enjoying the present, no matter the circumstances.

5. Thanksgiving is a good reminder that an attitude of gratitude is one of the best human traits any of us can acquire.

What about you? What do you like about Thanksgiving?

If You're Ever on Jeopardy...

2011-11-16T13:46:00.003-06:00

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.(Hardly seems worth it.)

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.(Wow!)

A pig's "orgasm" lasts 30 minutes. (O.M.G.!!!)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy, but I'm still not over that pig !!!)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
(Don't try this at home; maybe at work.)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
("Honey, I'm home. What the...?")

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (Now that would be a sight!)

Catfish have 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (So,how do you vote--pig or lion? Quality or quantity?)

Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Could have fooled me.)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Does that means talking is like pumping iron?)

Right-handed people, on average, live nine years longer than left-handed people.
(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Sounds good to me.)

A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder how that was discovered?)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.(I know some people like that.)

Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that, too.)

Polar bears are left-handed. (If they switch, they'll live a lot longer.)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(Does the pig know that?)

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to, maybe even a chuckle.

In other words, send it to everyone!
(God sure loved that pig!)

Christmas Gifts?

2011-11-15T15:01:00.003-06:00

Don Doyle's New Book

Don't Ever Stop Believing... The Best is Yet to Come

$19.95-- 192 pages-- S & H $4.05-- $24.00 total
Sales Tax-- 9.25%-- ($1.85) TN Residents Only

Order Options:
Phone 901/757-2347
Email: dfcc@earthlink.net
USPS-- 110 Timber Creek Dr. Memphis, TN 38018

Payment Options-- Check, VISA/Mastercard, PayPal

Order today for your signed copy(s)
Please indicate the names you want
on the autograph page.

This is a Great Read

2011-11-06T10:32:00.003-06:00

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this.

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'

It's easy to understand UP , meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends.And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.
When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP.
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.
When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP ,
so........it is time to shut UP !
Now it's UP to you what you do with this email.

World Series 2011

2011-10-30T21:54:00.003-05:00

I've always loved baseball. From the time I hit the first overthe fence homerun in the history of Decatur County Little League, I loved it even more. I saw my first Cardinal game when I was 10 years old. I still have the composite team picture and the souvenir bat Uncle Harrell Watson bought for me in old Sportsman Park stadium.

During my athletic career, I loved football more but I was better at baseball and wish I had followed the sport into college which was an option that I turned down.

Now, for the point of this rendering. The 2011 baseball season and the finale of the World Series is the reason baseball is such a great sport. The team (or individual) that refuses to quit-- no matter the odds, no matter the circumstances, no matter the challenge will in the end win at games, life, relationships, and life itself. The St. Louis Cardinals set an example this season that should (and will) be studied, analyzed, and hopefully mimiced by myself, my family, my friends, my country, and my world as the way to do life.

Can I Get a Witness?

2011-10-22T16:57:00.001-05:00

I'm only as happy as my unhappiest child. David Foster

Birthdays Keep On Coming

2011-10-20T11:28:00.001-05:00

You know you're growing older when you stop hiding your age and start being proud of it. dd

Your Opinion, Please

2011-09-30T21:43:00.002-05:00

Is it better to have failed at something you love or to have succeded at something you hated?

Honest Confession-- Good for the Soul

2011-09-07T06:37:00.002-05:00

I try to remember what I have long known, that I can change nothing. But, I really liked the days when I thought I could.
Faith Armstrong

Time for a Grin

2011-09-05T16:40:00.001-05:00

The guy who thinks he knows it all is especially annoying to those of us who do.

What do you think of this quote?

2011-09-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

"He had learned the worst lesson that life can teach - that it makes no sense."
— Philip Roth (American Pastoral)

Different Strokes for Different Folks

2011-08-27T13:27:00.000-05:00

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
Carl Jung

Crises

2011-08-26T09:03:00.000-05:00

Have I mentioned that crises never seem to come at a convenient time?!

Life

2011-08-24T16:59:00.001-05:00

In three words, I can sum up most of what I've learned about life-- IT GOES ON.

Still Brilliant Carole King

2011-08-08T22:49:00.001-05:00

When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

Impossible?

2011-08-02T14:53:00.002-05:00

Everyday we are faced with a series of opportunities that are cleverly disguised as impossible situations.

Now

2011-08-01T08:58:00.001-05:00

Seize the time. Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.

Contentment

2011-07-30T15:30:00.001-05:00

Contentment in life comes not from being dealt a good hand but in playing a bad hand well.

Musings

2011-07-28T11:11:00.001-05:00

It's better to be looked over than to be overlooked.

A day without sunshine is like night.

Two wrongs are only the beginning.

Experience

2011-07-27T17:39:00.001-05:00

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Trust

2011-07-26T12:44:00.001-05:00

You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough.

Thinking Aloud

2011-07-25T11:25:00.002-05:00

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.

If you find a job that you really love, you'll never have to work a day in your life.

The most wasted day of all is one in which you have not laughed.

Stress is like an ice cream cone-- you have to learn to lick it.

If you're gonna run with the big dogs, you've gotta get up off the porch.

Happiness Jump Start

2011-07-24T21:23:00.001-05:00

Restartng your life happily everafter starts now!

Thinking Aloud...

2011-07-22T13:54:00.003-05:00

Life is the sum of our sacrifices and the average of our successes.

He who lives without discipline dies without honor.

Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.

Never resist a temporary inconvenience if it results in permanent improvement.

Before you can experience the miracle of a sunrise, you must first stand a while in the darkness.

Little Known Facts

2011-07-21T21:52:00.002-05:00

Debra Winger was the voice of ET.

Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

Pearls melt in vinegar.

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not down strairs.

Barbie's full name is Barbara Milicent Roberts.

Five Thoughts to Ponder

2011-07-20T16:01:00.002-05:00

Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple.

The difficult we handle first, the impossible takes a little longer.

Don't waste time grieving over past mistakes. Learn from them and move on.

Never give up on what you really want to do.

The person with big dreams is more powerful than the one with all the facts.

Thoughts to Ponder

2011-07-08T13:43:00.002-05:00

Only dead fish swim with the stream.

Handle yourself with your head, handle others with your heart.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Happiness is not having what you want but in wanting what you have.

The Paradox of War-- from We Were Soldiers

2011-07-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

[Moore and Geoghegan a prayer before leaving for Vietnam]

Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: Our Father in Heaven, before we go into battle, every soldier among us will approach you each in his own way. Our enemies too, according to their own understanding, will ask for protection and for victory. And so, we bow before your infinite wisdom. We offer our prayers as best we can. I pray you watch over the young Jack Geoghegan. That I lead into battle. You use me as your instrument in this awful hell of war to watch over them. Especially if they're men like this one beside me, deserving of a future in your blessing and goodwill. Amen.

2nd Lieutenant Jack Geoghegan: Amen.

Lt. Colonel Hal Moore: Oh, yes, and one more thing, dear Lord, about our enemies, ignore their heathen prayers and help us blow those little bastards straight to Hell. Amen.

From Lt. Colonel Hal Moore before going into battle

2011-07-03T11:32:00.002-05:00

In the 7th cavalry, we've got a captain from the Ukraine; another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, Blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians. Jews and Gentiles. All Americans. Now here in the states, some of you in this unit may have experienced discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the valley of the shadow of death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is, or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. Now let us understand the situation. We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy.

I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.

More Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2011-07-02T22:40:00.002-05:00

Time just outran me Big Daddy, it got there first!

Brick to Big Daddy about not being able to play football any longer.

New Book Has Arrived-- Order Yours Today

2011-06-28T14:39:00.001-05:00

Don't Ever Stop Believing... The Best is Yet to Come

$19.95-- 192 pages-- S & H $4.05-- $24.00 total
Sales Tax-- 9.25%-- ($1.85) TN Residents Only

Order Options:
Phone 901/757-2347
FAX 901/751-4140
Email: dfcc@earthlink.net
USPS-- 110 Timber Creek Dr. Memphis, TN 38018

Payment Options-- Check, VISA/Mastercard, PayPal

Order today for your signed copy(s)
Please indicate the names you want
on the autograph page.

From Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2011-06-27T08:59:00.004-05:00

Time goes by so fast. Nothing can outrun it. Death commences too early-- almost before you're half acquainted with life, you meet the other.

Big Mama finally acknowledges Big Daddy is dying:

Endorsements for my new book: Don't Ever Stop Believing...

2011-06-26T10:28:00.000-05:00

One of the more difficult tasks for clinicians is to convey intricate therapeutic concepts in easily accepted and understood terms. Dr. Doyle is a master at this type of communication. Using personal stories, poetry, prose, and lyrics completely disarms the skeptic and allows one to grow effortlessly. Should be read by clinicians and clients who wish to understand that voice inside their heads that holds us back from realizing our dreams.
Doug Ginn, Exec. Vice President Strategic Behavioral Health

Broken, shattered dreams: we’ve all had them. Sadly, most of the self-help books in print do very little to change that harsh reality. Fortunately, Dr. Doyle newest gift to humanity, resurrects some of those beautiful, life changing dreams. He’s courageous enough to open up both himself and his family to us, giving the reader a warm and personal road-map on how to handle the storms of life. John Kent, Oral Surgeon

This book IS for you…and for me…and for my children, grandchildren, family and friends. Actually this book is for all who seek hope and joy in living each day. Coupled with personal and professional stories and practical methods, Dr. Don Doyle touches my heart and changes my life. Dr. Doyle gives concrete ways to recover our dreams and seize the day in a hopeful and positive way for the present and future, it’s a MUST read.
Rev. Martha Bowen Wagley, Pastor Emerita Memphis First Church
This book provides for great insight to those of us looking for the common sense answers. Dr. Doyle’s use of personal stories helps in the digesting of sometimes difficult topics and areas of our lives. He does an outstanding job at getting to the heart of the issues without beating yourself up over them. It’s one of the finest I’ve read in dealing with life issues head on.
Jim Shaheen, President Strategic Behavioral Health

“No matter where one is in life, we must keep growing. Don Doyle helps us understand that no matter how difficult or wonderful our experiences have been in the past, there are many great ones ahead for those who will trust and believe.”
Brad Martin, Former CEO Saks 5th Avenue

New Book to be Released June 27th

2011-06-16T15:26:00.003-05:00

Don't Ever Stop Believing... The Best is Yet to Come

$19.95-- 192 pages-- S & H $4.05-- $24.oo total
Sales Tax-- 9.25%-- ($1.85) TN Residents Only

Order Options:
Phone 901/757-2347
FAX 901/751-4140
Email: dfcc@earthlink.net

Payment Options-- Check, VISA/Mastercard, PayPal

Order today for your signed copy(s)
Please indicate the names you want
on the autograph page.

Another Quote From Cat On a Hot Tin Roof

2011-06-16T14:17:00.003-05:00

What's that smell in this room? Didn't you notice it Brick? Didn't you notice the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room? There ain't nothing more powerful than the odor of mendacity. You can smell it. It smells like death.

Big Daddy (Burl Ives) to Brick (Paul Newman)

Watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (again) Many quotes to follow

2011-06-15T10:51:00.001-05:00

You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it.

Maggie Pollitt-- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Depression/Sadness

2011-06-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

Depression is when nothing matters. Sadness is when everything matters.

THE COLOR PURPLE

2011-06-13T19:09:00.002-05:00

Introducing herself, she said, "I grew up in the color purple." She went on to explain that she had survived her childhood in a terrible ghetto in Mississippi and had scratched and clawed her way to a high ranking position as a military chaplain.

With advanced degrees in theology, psychology, and personnel management she had a very impressive resume. But she was not happy which is a gross understatement. Truth be told, she had been depressed all her adult life.

Later in an intensive therapy session, she cried out in deep despair, "Grandmama you told me with a good education, I could leave the ghetto behind. Grandmama, you were wrong. I got the good education but the ghetto is still living inside me." And that was the beginning of her journey toward wholeness.

When will we ever learn? You can never get enough of what you don't need. You can't fix internal problems with external solutions. She couldn't, neither can you. Neither can I. But if you're willing to pay the price, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, you can heal.

Change

2011-06-12T11:13:00.001-05:00

When you are determined to make someone change, try remembering how difficult it is to change yourself.

Oops

2011-06-11T08:27:00.003-05:00

Should have read-- Kindess is something you cannot give away-- it always comes back.

Kindness

2011-06-11T08:27:00.001-05:00

Kindness is something you can give away-- it always comes back.

Excerpt From My New Book

2011-06-09T21:13:00.002-05:00

What you’re about to read has been filtered through the crucible of my own life and living. It is my hope that you will read these words while fantasizing that we are having a conversation sitting in a roomful of people sharing our stories, and this one is mine. You will read the word dreams numerous times. Obviously, not by accident because I believe dreams are what life is all about. Yep, I’m a dreamer at heart. Always have been, always will be. So, beware you’re about to read some confessional conversational writing about dreams.

Don't Ever Stop Believing... The Best is Yet to Come

To Be Released in early July.

Pessimistic Creed

2011-06-08T16:48:00.001-05:00

Blessed are those who expect nothing from life, they shall not be disappointed.

Will That Dog Hunt?

2011-06-07T18:01:00.001-05:00

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

I Stand Convicted

2011-06-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin

Procrastinators Creed

2011-06-04T18:26:00.001-05:00

Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow.

Adult Heroes?

2011-06-03T23:08:00.002-05:00

One of my adult heroes died today-- Dr. Jack Kevorkian-- a man who went to prison for his convictions which was to relieve human suffering. Dr. Kevorkian was a highly misunderstood and maligned physician who was the butt of numerous comedic jokes as well as tabloid news. I highly recommend the made for television movie starring Al Pacino"You Don't Know Jack." Rest in peace Dr. K.

Good Perspective

2011-06-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

We're all on our individual journeys together. ~

Lynda Lasen

One of My Favorite Quotes

2011-06-03T11:28:00.001-05:00

I'm only as happy as my unhappiest child.
David Foster

Life and Death

2011-06-02T10:27:00.000-05:00

Death is move universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.

Just Saying...

2011-06-01T09:55:00.004-05:00

We are not humans with occasional divine experiences, but are divine creatures with occasional human experiences.

Just a Thought

2011-05-31T09:33:00.001-05:00

You know you're getting smarter but you realize who much you don't know.

Memorial Day Thoughts

2011-05-30T18:08:00.002-05:00

I stand at the front of the line to commemorate and pay homage to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice as defenders of our country. But I also grieve to the bone over the millions of lives that have been lost by our country and those of all those with whom we have engaged in war. What a horrible commentary on the human race.

In Memory of Our Fallen Troops

2011-05-27T15:54:00.002-05:00

The Nation Which Forgets Its Defenders Will Itself Be Forgotten.

Words of Wisdom from Coach John Wooden

2011-05-27T12:07:00.000-05:00

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

Mistakes

2011-05-26T07:23:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't it be good if we could sell our mistakes for what they cost us?

Recovering From Broken Dreams

2011-05-25T12:52:00.001-05:00

For nearly half a century, I have listened to an untold number of broken dreams, shattered lives, and sometimes unutterable life stories. At one and the same time, I am often appalled but never surprised at the tragic– much worse than any soap opera– horrific experiences of the human race. Yet, I am equally awe-struck by the resiliency and regenerative powers of so many to keep on keeping on in the face of such insufferable pain.

Excerpt from my new book-- to be released next month.

Taking Risks

2011-05-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

You can't make a three-point shot from under the net. ~ Steven Tyler

Experience

2011-05-23T22:30:00.002-05:00

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Rapture Afterthought

2011-05-22T15:48:00.002-05:00

All the hype about the second coming, just reminded me of the irony of heaven. Everybody exalts it but nobody wants to go there-- now.

Rapture Story From Long Ago

2011-05-21T20:47:00.001-05:00

Well, I'm off the bike and the roads looked about like normal. So, maybe the time zone was the problem.

As promised, here's a rapture story from long ago.

After a couple of years in the ministry in South Georgia, I had a lot of contact from other churches but the ones that wanted me did not interest me and the ones I was interested in were not interested in me. It's very much like high school and college dating.

After about 5 years in Georgia (we stayed ten) the University Baptist Church of Coral Gables, FL showed a lot of interest. The church was very close to the old Orange Bowl and the University of Miami. My strength at that time was working with youth and young adults so those factors contributed to my interest in that church. According to the chairman they were very impressed with my focus on youth, young adults, and broken families-- getting divorced people back in church, etc. which in those days was not an easy task.

They came to hear me preach a couple of times and pursued me hard enough that I flew down and spoke in a neutral church so a larger number of their key people could hear me, etc. I met a couple of times with the Pastor Selection Committe and I talked at length with the chairman and we hit it off real well. I was beginning to get very interested as was Marth except it was even further from our roots-- little did she or I know that a few years later we'd be moving to CA.

Anyway, we were getting down to crunch time and I flew back down for another preaching engagement and a full afternoon of talking with the ten members of the pastor selection committee. This is the time when they throw numerous questions at you about everything imaginable-- Biblically, theologically, and a lot of personal stuff-- exactly (except for content) like a job interview for an executive position.

The meeting had gone extremely well with some very serious stuff and some humor-- it was me, right! (And you also need to remember that in those days, I could sometimes be a smart-ass and as I'm now much older, I'm even worse.) Near the end of the meeting one of the committee members said, "There's an area we haven't covered. What is your position on The Second Coming?" My reply right off the cuff was, "I'm for it." Several members laughed and the chairman said, "I like that."

But the guy wasn't amused and retored, "What do you mean by that?" I said, "Well, I just believe that the one who started this whole thing can stop it anytime and it's fine with me." Looking stunned and strained, he replied with a slightly raised voice "But I want to know your position-- do you believe in pre-millennialism, post-millennialism, or a-millennialism." His tone didn't sit well with me to say the least. And the chairman could tell it, and he was squirming and trying to turn the ship and he said, "I think I'm for it, too." Others members laughed a one or two said, that's a tough subject so his reply sounds good to me, too.

The guy was not finished and he said, "What do you preach about the second comng?" Now, I really got smart-assed. "Well I haven't gotten around to preaching on the Second Coming, yet, not sure I ever will." He replied, "Why!" And I lite into him with a little arrogance to test is knowledge. "Well, I do a lot of preaching on ellipis, pistis, and agape and very little on eschatology and teleology." I got the reply I wanted, "What does all that mean?" I said, "That translates faith, hope, and love. That's what I preach on. I'm a lot more interested in the nasty hear and now than I am the sweet bye and bye. Furthemore, I've never had a church member to come to my office asking about the rapture, or the end of time, or my beliefs on such. What I do have coming to my office are people dealing with their kids on drugs, their spouses wanting a divorce, their grief over the loss of a loved one, the guilt over cheating in their marriages, and others trying to figure out what to do with their lives. So that being what my congregation is living with, that's what I preach on." The chairman said "I like that." And the others did also. The meeting closed and I flew back to Georgia.

Later that night, I got a call from the chairman, who said, "I am heart sick. Nine members of our committee is 100% in favor of offering you "a call." There's only one problem, we have a rule that we will not call anyone without 100% of our members being in favor. And the guy you would expect voted against you." I said, "Well, Mr. chairman, in my humble opinion, your first mistake was having that 100% rule. But don't let it bother you, if he was that upset with my answers about the Second Coming, he would really be upset with me after about a month or two. So, it's better that we nip this in the bud."

And that was the end of the possibility of us moving to Miami, FL somewhere around 1974. Five years later, we moved to Burlingame, CA for eight terrific years.

If you stayed with me through this whole thing, I thank you. If you didn't I don't blame you!

dd

Repture Observations

2011-05-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

I'm riding the bike today and will probably be on it about Rapture Time. So, here are a few observations:

1. I don't believe in it.

2. I don't expect to be "in the rapture" now or later.

3. If I see very few people on the road, I'll know I was wrong and right.

4. When I return tonight, for those of you who are still around, I'll tell a rapture story from long ago.

EDUCATION

2011-05-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

The Paradox of TIME

2011-05-18T07:42:00.000-05:00

Time is a great teacher, unfortunately, it kills all its students.

"Who, Who, Who Are You?"

2011-05-17T07:48:00.001-05:00

The hardest battle in life is to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else.

Simple but Profound

2011-05-16T10:32:00.001-05:00

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.
Bob Dylan

PERKS FOR BEING OVER 60

2011-05-15T17:51:00.001-05:00

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run-- anywhere.
4. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
5. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
6. Things you buy now won't wear out.
7. Your secrets are safe with friends because they can't remember them either.
8. Your joints are more accurate forecasters than the national weather service.
9. You can sing along with elevator music.
10.You can live without sex but not your glasses.

Words from Charles Darwin

2011-05-14T15:01:00.000-05:00

The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

We must, however, acknowledge as it seems to me, that a man with all his noble qualities...still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin.

More Funny Bones

2011-05-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

I'm tired of losing my mind and trying to find it.

Amy Cochran

Lost and Looking?

2011-05-11T11:25:00.000-05:00

Many people who come to see me for intensive therapy totally identify with this song. Written by Bono and released by U2 in 1987, it's still extremely relevant. After reading the lyrics, check out YouTube and listen to this haunting search for purpose and passion in life.

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

A Tribue to My Mother

2011-05-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

My 88-year-old mother is the most naturally optimistic person I have ever known. She would have no idea what you are talking about if you said she was a proponent of the power of positive thinking– she just lives it. One example illustrates my point. No matter the weather, she enjoys it. Good morning, I will say, how are things this fall morning? Well, I’m just loving watching the leaves fall. Or, there’s a nice gentle rain falling and we need it. Or, The sky is the bluest I’ve ever seen– just beautiful. If it’s snowing, she’s ecstatic, It’s snowing and I just love it. And I’m going out to get some snow to make snow cream.

These are minor issues for sure, but she’s that way about nearly everything. She plays the cards that are dealt her and she gets through the territory without whimpering, complaining, or making foolish choices. Oh, I forgot to mention, she’s dealt with colon cancer, kidney cancer, and breast cancer, including chemotherapy.

On the following day after her last chemo treatment, she was ready to get her life back. So, she got out on the property to do some walking and slipped on the morning dew and broke her ankle that was almost a compound fracture. There was a bright blood spot big as a quarter right on the surface of her ankle with the bone just underneath. She wasn’t found for well over an hour. Surgery followed and she wore a cast for several weeks. Did all of that keep her down and depressed? Nope. She even went to a grandson’s wedding in a beautiful dress with a cast that came up to just below her knee. All of these problems came in a period of about two years– all of which was nearly twenty years ago.

No matter the circumstances, if you ask how she’s doing, her reply is always the same, I think I’m a little better, which I’ve told her for years is going to be the epitaph on her grave stone. I Think I’m a Little Better

*****

Excerpt from my new book-- Don't Ever Top Believing... The Best is Yet to Come-- to be released in early July.

Operation Enough Already About My Ride (after this one for sure.)

2011-05-06T10:31:00.003-05:00

Origin of "The Dream Ride"

In January of 1988, with ten inches of snow on the ground, Martha and Jerry Wagley were having dinner with us. All of us were in our late 40's, and the conversation got around to things we had not done that we still wanted to do, achieve, or accomplish before cashing in our chips. Between us, there were some very honest, open, and vulnerable answers. One of my answers: Well, it’s not on the top of my list but one thing I still want to do is ride cross-country on a motorcycle. Jerry replied, When do you want to go? That is when the dream began again.

Along with Jerry as my riding buddy-- "Don't call me Bud"-- we’ve ridden the mountain states, Nova Scotia, Key West, Pensacola, Hilton Head, the entire length of The Natchez Trace Parkway, and numerous other rides of 250 miles or so. Then beginning April 9, we did the B.A.R– 6514 miles, as all of you have heard repeatedly!

Enhancing a dream that began in the summer of 1955 when I was 13 years old, and reignited in the winter of 1988 with a foot of snow on the ground, the dream has now officially become a reality. The slogan for our big ride of 2011 fit me to a T. Four Wheels Move the Body, Two Wheels Move the Soul.
So, here's a summation of the trip. It was for sure, the Ride of a Lifetime, with a 1000 awesome sights, some beautiful, some inspirational, some unbelievable, and some scary. Southern Utah blew us both away. Except for the mountain ride above the Pacific, Southern Utah was by far the most spectacular inland sights of all. I made several pictures in The Arches National Park at Moab, but after looking at them, they just did not and could not capture the vastness of an area that is 300 million years old. I'll try sending a few along so you can at least "get the picture."

Now, the other part. There were several days that we absolutely terrible, frightening, and for sure majorly challenging. We miscalculated the weather. Those folks in Eastern OR, ID, UT, and CO were still having winter- snow, rain, and cross-winds of 30-40 mph. At one point, we actually talked about renting a U-Haul truck and driving to Albuquerque but checking the forecast, they were having the same weather there, too. So, we just headed South as fast we could to get ahead of a snow storm that was just a few hours behind us. There were three places that set a low temperture reading for that day in April.

Yet, here's the "deep thoughts" part of this diatribe. There never was a day that we did not experience something really spectacular which verifies the maxim, Not everyday is a good day, but there's something good in everyday. Another verification of an old insight-- the parts of any trip that sometimes are the most memorable and most fun to tell, are those when things were not going well. As long as you keep the good and the bad in the right perspective, life is good, the USA is awesome, so please don't let me die until I'm dead. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!

Now, let me tell you about Jerry Wagley. In the fall of 1959-- somewhere I guess around say, August 15, with fear and trembling, I walked through the "Fraternity Rush Line" of Kappa Alpha Order at what was then MSU-- Memphis State U. Whereupon I shook hands with a guy named Jerry Wagley. From the get-go, we became fast friends-- fraternity brothers, room mates, sworn into the navy at the same time, and became naval officers within four months of each other. We don't shake hands anymore-- haven't for years-- we hug. So, come August, we will have been friends for 52 years! This again, is a life lesson about the mystery of life, which I love and celebrate, the unexplainable laws of coincidence, and the mind-boggling laws of probability-- better stated the laws of IM-probability.

Here's the funny part-- no two men could be any different than the two of us. Jerry is as quiet as I am loud, as calm as I am animated. He's totally organized, I'm very disorganized. He can return to a town and street that he visited 25 years ago without looking at a map, I could get lost in a round room with one door. He always operates between the borders (speed limits and such) I cross the border every chance I get. He's only had one speeding ticket in his life and I've filled up a shoe box. I've never seen him rattled-- he saw me have more than one "come apart" on this trip. In all these years, we've never had a real conflict-- except the time I put a disected cat from biology lab in our apartment sink.

Even on bike trips, none of his clothing is ever out of place, wrinkled, or shabby-- mine? Well, you get the picture. I tell numerous stories (and some of you are saying "what?") Jerry listens to my stories and the ones that are repeated over and over and never tells me "I've heard that one four times". We do have a hand signal he can flash to say "heard it." I'm sure I told 100 stories and that was before we got through Texas. When the four of us are together, he is the odd man out because both of our wives are talkers and story tellers, too, and he is the quiet one. But on our bike trips, he has to talk more because I get exhausted talking and need a breather. (Martha Wagley, you would be shocked!)

I could go on and on about the differences in our personalities but the question is how can two men who are so different be such great friends for 52 years? One word is at the top-- respect, loyalty, trust, and love-- I know that's more than one word but I'm verbose, too. And we have nearly the same life-view, values, political persuasion, and mostly religious views-- and that's pretty rare in Memphis, TN!

On this ride, Jerry was the pilot and navigator which with my ailments-- asthma, allergies, and arthritis-- the big three-- all I had to do was follow him at the exact speed limit, of course, and just enjoy the journey, which I did. I started out calling him Captain and me The Tailgunner, but since we never had any hostile fire from the rear, I was really more of the Caboose. I had several difficult health problems on this trip and I know he was very concerned about getting me back to the Bluff City in one piece. And he did.

Jerry Wagley is a good man, a good husband, a good father, a good grandfather, and my very good friend.

And that's it for sending emails about the trip... which you probably doubt.

dd

I LIKE IT!

2011-04-07T23:11:00.002-05:00

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!

From my nephew-- Brad Box, attorney at law.

The Essence of Rationalization

2011-04-06T10:34:00.002-05:00

There's always something to be thankful for. If you can't pay your bills, you can be thankful you are not one of your creditors.

Messing With Your Head

2011-04-05T09:37:00.002-05:00

1. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

2. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

3. If you eat pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

4. Women like silent men, they think they're listening.

5. Procastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

6. If you try to fail, yet succeed, which have you done?

Five Things You Can't Retrieve

2011-04-04T16:36:00.001-05:00

1) The Stone...........after it's thrown,
(2) The Word...............after it's said,
(3) The Occasion......after it's missed,
(4) The Time.............after it's gone,
(5) A Person..............after they're dead.

Thoughts to Consider

2011-04-03T17:30:00.002-05:00

1. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

2. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.

3. I doubt, therefore I might be.

4. To be intoxicated is to feel sophisticated but not be able to say it.

5. Never sweat the petty things and never pet the sweaty things.

Ask a Child...

2011-04-02T11:03:00.001-05:00

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusaleum with them? A little boy spoke up, "Because they couldn't get a baby sitter?"

Paradox

2011-04-01T14:27:00.001-05:00

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Greatness

2011-03-31T22:27:00.004-05:00

Most great men and women are not well-grounded personalities.
Instead they are people whose one driving enthusiasm is so great it makes
Their faults seem insignificant. (Charles A. Cerami.)a

Optimist/Pessimist

2011-03-30T18:25:00.001-05:00

An optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds.
A pessimist fears it's true.

This is a Bummer

2011-03-29T20:17:00.002-05:00

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its students!

Something to Ponder...

2011-03-28T18:05:00.000-05:00

Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

English Tongue Twisters

2011-03-27T10:42:00.001-05:00

We polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
A farm can produce produce.
The dump was so full it had to refuse refuse.
The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
The present is a good time to present the present.
At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum.
The dove dove into the bushes.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance for the invalid was invalid.
The bandage was wound around the wound.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
I shed a tear when I saw the tear in my clothes.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

Does This Make Sense?

2011-03-26T11:10:00.001-05:00

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial rates
And blamed it on the cost of living.