Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 07:06:02 -0700
From: "bronax"
Subject: Sunday in May
To: John
Reply-to: bronax
My current take on politics and
religion, which had me voted for president by one of the local wags: 80% of
the world's problems would be solved if people kept their religious, sexual,
and excretory practices secret at home, and never mentioned them in public.
Next week is Indy Race. Speed
increasing each year. Its 231 now. Half
my family moves to sub urb of Portland Oregon June 1. End of family era for me. Parenting over. I
need another project. I am concentrating
on exercising, cleaning out my house, alnd learning math, another language, and
will eventually concentrate on my chinese and arabic, the other two important
world languages beside english.
Maybe I should begin dating again.
I never was much good at it. Get along better with children and animals, who
are more honestly needy and transparent. I never understood adults except that
they are more frightened than the children. And, very dishonest.
> [Original Message]
> From: John
> To: bronax
> Date: 5/21/2006 6:02:58 AM
> Subject: George: Sunday in May
>
> Hi George,
>
> Been a very sociable weekend. Some friends from Long
Island came to
> town to celebrate their daughters graduation this
weekend-- folks I
> went to high school with!
Only people I have long term
relationship with are my HS buds, Pete, Oregon, Lyman, N. California, and Jeffry, Mass. We
all shared adventures getting away from the family, learning about peers,
and the big life out there.
I graduated in 1954, which I
thought was a very big deal, at the Opera House in San Francisco. Had
my first bash of social pressure, staying out all night for the senior prom.
My date and I finally made it, tired, bored, sleepy, but determined, and I drove her and me home as the sun came
up. What a waste of time. I must have not liked it as any overnight procedure I
have engaged in, has turned out badly.
>
> There is something about people that go way back to
high school with
> you that has a powerful impact. They know you and
you've experienced
> some of the same influences. There's a great comfort in
being around
> them. They asked about a "40th high school
reunion" and I was in
> total denial that I've been out of high school for four
decades! Not
> me--can't be... I'm still that kid cruising around the
halls of the
> high school building... or maybe just a few years older
than the
> college students I advise... oh well, I don't mind
being a lot older
> than the students I see every day. What choice is
there?
Well, you could spend your life in violence and in talking to imaginary people, or you
could just have had an early death, and missed adult aging. I have
managed to survive all these. My biggest success, surviving. Sounds
like a kudo in there somewhere.
I went to the 80th
birthday and retirement party for our old boss, Barry. We all looked fatter,
greyer, and more worn. Slow decay makes itself felt. As we lose energy and
strength, at least we become wiser.
>
> How are things in LA? Are you into the Da Vinci code
controversy? I
> don't think it's going to change too much about how we
see the world.
> People love conspiracy, controversy, scandal and rumor
and so it
> sounds like the book hits on a number of hot spots. Not
to mention
> politics and religion and sex... subjects not
appropriate for polite
> conversation but great for bestseller books and
blockbuster movies. I
> haven't read the book or seen the movie! I'm more
likely to see it
> than the Passion of the Christ. I am interested in
learning more
> about Christ but sounded like Mel Gibson made a bloody,
painful
> presentation. Actually I should see both movies.
For my birthday, kids came and gave
me two neato gifts. Wind up radio and flashlight for my
emergency supplies, and tiny George Foreman grilling machine so I can cook some
meat. Fun stuff. Dan, the mechanical engineer son in law man, hooked up my DVD player so it now works, and
I can watch DVDs I got for my birthday, and now rent them to watch. Good as my
income is plummeting.
Funny, but when I was young,
poverty didn't bother me, as the surrounding adults took care of purchasing the
basics: food, clothing, slelter, transportation.
Now I have to attend to securing
these things plus the ubiquitous meds, its
becoming worrisome. Just don't feel like working those long hours as I
did when I was younger. I would rather
take walks, look at the people, and curl up with a good book or movie. I am
working on my project of getting three close male friends, and one female occasional playmate,where we can get down and
get infantile and have good scratches of our inner needs, and another $ 6,000 in the current bank
account, for emergencies. Have about $
10,000 worth of upgrades and repairs to do on the house. That should keep me busy for
the next several years.
Next July I pay off my house, and
will virtually have an instant raise, as I
no longer will be sending my monthly check to the bank, which now is
Washingon Mutual.
I didn't see Mel Gibson's new flic
either. Saw the previous one with Wilhem
DeFoe, the Last Temptation of Christ, which I liked. I never got over
listening to those untrue scare stories told us by the Nuns,those bio absented
women who hide from sex and men in
religious institutions.
People, including youngest school
teacher daughter, Laurie, and new friend
lawyer buddy Jim, have told me the book DiVinci Code is a good read,
and better than the movie. Other law
buddy friend Richard and his wife Therese
the school teacher will see it today.
I like the satire of Brunnel (
movie of people sitting around table shitting but talking and visiting, while they occasionally
sneak out in private like we do now at the toilet, to secretely eat), and
Swift's portrait of people writ large in
Gullilver's Travels.
I think the only real mystery about
the universe is sought as knowledge by the physics people, studying cosmology,
and the rest is between everyone's ears,
and they pretend it’s out there' in the world outside their heads. The whole idea of scriptures as
the 'Word of God' is to me an oxymoron. God, ie. The fabric of the universe,
doesn't need words, nor any
communication with we accidental primates.
It's we that apparently need an
imaginary set of continuing parents.
>
> I've been a bit busy lately. Mona and I went to Florida
and that kept
Happy for you. More socializing you
do , more healthy you become.
TV ad notes Roy Romer, past 6
years' School Superintendent, instrumental in building 154 new schools, raising test scores of students, retires
soon, and search is on for new Superintendent.
I would volunteer, but I don't think I would like the process required
for the job. He is now 77, and deserves a rest from growing up in a one room
school house, ranching and becoming gov.
of Colorado, and head of Democratic Campaign association, before being hired at
$ 250,000 a year as LA's School Superintendent.
> me away from the keyboard.
Opening one's self up to new social
experiences and adventures is the best
form of mental health, in my view. I agree with Freud, who said about
the secrets of happiness, that its love and work. These satisfy us and
create meaning for our lives, and give
structure to living between the table and the toilet.
>
> Have a good Sunday!
You too. Next sunday will be the Indy Memorial Day race.
Started to watch NASCAR race last night, but got bored and switched to Mystery
on the School channel (local school district here, LAUSD, has its own PBS tv
station, KLCS, and has great British programs on it) and watched most of two
Inspector Linley and Inspector Morse, adventures before I just passed out and
dove into the darkness of bed.
From,
George Bronax
Stillness promotes acceptance of
change, and learning.
>
> John
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