A little boy
Named Eliot
Hard shell
Various shades
Of green
Has parasites
Once a boy
Now a girl
Named Ellie
Quiet peaceful
No more anger
Identity crisis
Solved
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
My Father
He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, just slightly taller than I am. Even at the age of 60, gray hair is just beginning to encroach on his dirty blonde hair and a receding hairline is only slightly noticeable. He has this blond spot on the back of his head where he was hit in the head with a bottle as a teenager. As a kid I tried endlessly to mess up his hair but my efforts were useless. His hair was and still is in a permanent part to the side with a distinct wave on one side.
His muscle mass has decreased over the years and has been replaced with a slight protruding abdomen, nothing compared to his overweight brothers. Compared to them he is still the lean, muscular stick figure he was 30 years ago.
My father has always had distinct jowls but now that he is older his cheek pads have begun to sink. His eyes are blue and his skin is tight. Only minor wrinkles line his face. He never wore glasses until his 50’s. He now wears round aviator glasses that have left red nose pad imprints on the bridge of his nose.
Once, at a water park when I was just a young boy, I couldn’t find my dad. I wasn’t wearing my glasses and I was seeing nothing but blurred bodies. I walked up to a man and said, “I can’t find my dad.” The man looked around and then pointed, “I think that’s your dad.” Sure enough it was. I guess you could say that I am my father’s son.
If my father were to be a movie star he would have been James Dean. The hair and the build of James Dean match up to the image I have of my father when he was in his 30’s. There was a girl in high school that told me, “Boy, if you look as good as your father does when your 40…” Just imagine James Dean at the age of 60 and you’ve got my dad.
His muscle mass has decreased over the years and has been replaced with a slight protruding abdomen, nothing compared to his overweight brothers. Compared to them he is still the lean, muscular stick figure he was 30 years ago.
My father has always had distinct jowls but now that he is older his cheek pads have begun to sink. His eyes are blue and his skin is tight. Only minor wrinkles line his face. He never wore glasses until his 50’s. He now wears round aviator glasses that have left red nose pad imprints on the bridge of his nose.
Once, at a water park when I was just a young boy, I couldn’t find my dad. I wasn’t wearing my glasses and I was seeing nothing but blurred bodies. I walked up to a man and said, “I can’t find my dad.” The man looked around and then pointed, “I think that’s your dad.” Sure enough it was. I guess you could say that I am my father’s son.
If my father were to be a movie star he would have been James Dean. The hair and the build of James Dean match up to the image I have of my father when he was in his 30’s. There was a girl in high school that told me, “Boy, if you look as good as your father does when your 40…” Just imagine James Dean at the age of 60 and you’ve got my dad.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Color
How do you explain color to a blind person? I have been told that the blind can see color or at least can identify differences between varying color textures. But blind people can’t see exactly what people with vision can see. Even if they were to identify a color that doesn’t mean they can see the color how we see it. Let’s consider a person who is color blind. I can think of a time in elementary school in art class when a fellow classmate was making a sculpture of a baseball player. He began to paint the baseball bat black. We began to ask, “Why are you painting the bat black?”
“I’m not painting it black. This is brown,” the classmate responded. We told him that it wasn’t but he didn’t believe us. To him the color black was our brown. All color is, is what society defines it as. What if you and I both look at a color, I identify the color as red and you identify the color as red? Simple, we both see the same color and agree that the color is red. But now what if I saw blue but knew it as the color red? What if somehow my brain reversed colors? The only reason why we know color is because someone taught the colors to us. Parents point to something and say blue, red, yellow, black, and slowly we learn colors. Who’s to say we see the same thing. What we see is only interpreted by our brain. What if I see blue but know it as red? How would we ever know if what we saw was the same? I don’t think that color should come down to a cut and dry answer. When I consider my classmate from elementary school, I think that color can be considered subjective. Color can be based upon your perception. How many times have people debated, “What color is that?” “Is that black or blue?” Is that green or blue?” “Black or purple?” How do we explain color to a blind person when blind people see something different than our eyes can see? I’d love for a blind person to try and explain what they see. It’s like people communicating in two different languages.
“I’m not painting it black. This is brown,” the classmate responded. We told him that it wasn’t but he didn’t believe us. To him the color black was our brown. All color is, is what society defines it as. What if you and I both look at a color, I identify the color as red and you identify the color as red? Simple, we both see the same color and agree that the color is red. But now what if I saw blue but knew it as the color red? What if somehow my brain reversed colors? The only reason why we know color is because someone taught the colors to us. Parents point to something and say blue, red, yellow, black, and slowly we learn colors. Who’s to say we see the same thing. What we see is only interpreted by our brain. What if I see blue but know it as red? How would we ever know if what we saw was the same? I don’t think that color should come down to a cut and dry answer. When I consider my classmate from elementary school, I think that color can be considered subjective. Color can be based upon your perception. How many times have people debated, “What color is that?” “Is that black or blue?” Is that green or blue?” “Black or purple?” How do we explain color to a blind person when blind people see something different than our eyes can see? I’d love for a blind person to try and explain what they see. It’s like people communicating in two different languages.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Trolly
Who would have thought
Ten years ago
In study hall
He copied her Latin homework
They stood within ten feet
As photos were snapped
Of each other with someone else
He took her best friend to the prom
The college years flew by
But they stayed in touch
Reconnected by default
In a hometown
Where no one else lived
Halloween was their first kiss
And even though they drifted
Fate would have its way
Another first kiss on New Years
Soon a ring appeared
And of course she said yes
Suddenly a house emerged
Hammer and nail, sand and paint
The entire time, he wanted to faint
Trees falling over, sinkholes and smashed glass
More beads of sweat
He wiped from his brow
One thing was for sure
The house was made with love
From family and friends
Who helped along the way
They day quickly approaches
They would tie the knot and say I do
Who would have thought
Ten years ago
That these two
Would be husband and wife
Sometimes you find
What you’re looking for
Right in front of your eyes
Ten years ago
In study hall
He copied her Latin homework
They stood within ten feet
As photos were snapped
Of each other with someone else
He took her best friend to the prom
The college years flew by
But they stayed in touch
Reconnected by default
In a hometown
Where no one else lived
Halloween was their first kiss
And even though they drifted
Fate would have its way
Another first kiss on New Years
Soon a ring appeared
And of course she said yes
Suddenly a house emerged
Hammer and nail, sand and paint
The entire time, he wanted to faint
Trees falling over, sinkholes and smashed glass
More beads of sweat
He wiped from his brow
One thing was for sure
The house was made with love
From family and friends
Who helped along the way
They day quickly approaches
They would tie the knot and say I do
Who would have thought
Ten years ago
That these two
Would be husband and wife
Sometimes you find
What you’re looking for
Right in front of your eyes
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Uncle Mike
You can always find your way home. Sometimes the journey home takes longer than others. Mike made his way home about four months ago. I barely knew him four months ago but every notion that I had about him previously, vanished. Suddenly, I saw the true Mike Reeves. Loving, caring, gently, sweet. All words that I would use to describe him now. He displayed nothing but his pure strong heart inside of a body that was slowing falling apart.
His pure strong heart was what repaired relationships and made him a part of our family again. He came back at just the right time. He was with his family when his brother took his last motorcycle ride up to heaven. He was with his family when his mother’s body won the battle over her will to live. He came back home just in time. And we were there for him just at the time when he needed us most.
The last piece of home was Melissa. In the last hours of his life he was reunited across phone lines with his daughter. His timing was perfect. He made it back home just in time to touch our hearts.
His pure strong heart was what repaired relationships and made him a part of our family again. He came back at just the right time. He was with his family when his brother took his last motorcycle ride up to heaven. He was with his family when his mother’s body won the battle over her will to live. He came back home just in time. And we were there for him just at the time when he needed us most.
The last piece of home was Melissa. In the last hours of his life he was reunited across phone lines with his daughter. His timing was perfect. He made it back home just in time to touch our hearts.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Marriage
Most people think that marriage is a compilation of compromises but in actuality it’s just a compilation of yes dear’s.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Light Bulb Switched Neighbors
There is this light switch down in the basement. The switch is located underneath the stairs in this tucked away area that I never really go to unless there is water in the basement and I need to vacuum it. The switch is located on the wall at the front of the house. If you follow the electrical conduit the light switch is connected to a light bulb with a pull string. If you flip the switch, nothing happens. However, if I pull the pull string the light bulb turns on. I flip the switch again, nothing happens. I pull the string again, the light goes off. I try the switch one more time in wonderment, nothing. I stare in amazement at this light switch. What could it possibly be used for?
There is this pull string light bulb in the basement. The light bulb is located in the center of the unfinished section of the basement. If you follow the electrical conduit the light bulb is connected to an electrical box on the wall at the front of the house. The electrical conduit stops there and appears to go outside the house. I have pulled the pull string many times and nothing has happened. Randomly, I have walked into the basement to find the light on. When I attempt to shut the light off by pulling the string nothing happens. Weeks later I will find the light off. Once I was in the basement doing laundry and the light flickered on and off and now continuously stays on. It has been on for months now. I have flipped every circuit breaker in the house to try and shut it off but the light is still continuously on. How do I shut this damn light off?
There is this pull string light bulb in the basement. The light bulb is located in the center of the unfinished section of the basement. If you follow the electrical conduit the light bulb is connected to an electrical box on the wall at the front of the house. The electrical conduit stops there and appears to go outside the house. I have pulled the pull string many times and nothing has happened. Randomly, I have walked into the basement to find the light on. When I attempt to shut the light off by pulling the string nothing happens. Weeks later I will find the light off. Once I was in the basement doing laundry and the light flickered on and off and now continuously stays on. It has been on for months now. I have flipped every circuit breaker in the house to try and shut it off but the light is still continuously on. How do I shut this damn light off?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Russian Tortoise
I have a pet named Eliot that most people believe is a turtle. He is actually a Russian Tortoise but he’s not rushin’ anywhere!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Uncle Bill
Bill was my uncle. And he was the uncle that lived the furthest away. For some reason he always had this mysteriousness about him. I was for some reason drawn to him. I didn’t realize what it was until today. You see for some reason I can remember almost every conversation that we had ever had. He would call up from Florida and I would be so excited to talk to him. We talked about music and he sent me Ted Nugent CD’s. We talked about cars and he always said he was going to send me a mustang but I knew that mustangs didn’t travel through the mail. We talked about motorcycles and I remember when I told him that I got my motorcycle license, he wanted to send me on of those too but all of his motorcycles were way to big for a beginner.
One summer, I was in Fort Lauderdale with some friends. Picture this. Beaches full of girls in bikinis and all I wanted to do was have lunch with my uncle. We finally met up on the last day I was in Florida. I ditched my friends for him.
Bill didn’t visit Connecticut that often but when he did it was always a special occasion to me. He came up to visit about two years ago when my grandmother was sick in the hospital. We went down to the hospital café to get some food; we sat there, ate, and talked just the two of us. For some reason I felt very close to my Uncle Bill. Today I realized that he truly, genuinely cared about not just me, but also my interests and what mattered to me. Of course I will miss him but I know exactly where he is right now. He is riding his motorcycle as fast as he wants to on a cloud high above. The wind feeds crisp clean air into his lungs. I’m sure he stopped just for a few minutes to look down on us here today with a smile that fills the sky.
Go ahead Bill, Go ahead and ride. It is what you went to heaven to do.
One summer, I was in Fort Lauderdale with some friends. Picture this. Beaches full of girls in bikinis and all I wanted to do was have lunch with my uncle. We finally met up on the last day I was in Florida. I ditched my friends for him.
Bill didn’t visit Connecticut that often but when he did it was always a special occasion to me. He came up to visit about two years ago when my grandmother was sick in the hospital. We went down to the hospital café to get some food; we sat there, ate, and talked just the two of us. For some reason I felt very close to my Uncle Bill. Today I realized that he truly, genuinely cared about not just me, but also my interests and what mattered to me. Of course I will miss him but I know exactly where he is right now. He is riding his motorcycle as fast as he wants to on a cloud high above. The wind feeds crisp clean air into his lungs. I’m sure he stopped just for a few minutes to look down on us here today with a smile that fills the sky.
Go ahead Bill, Go ahead and ride. It is what you went to heaven to do.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Where Were You Last Night
“Where were you last night?” asked Billy.
I hesitated but replied, “Oh, I stayed home.”
“I tried to call your house last night,” he said.
“Well, I was kinda tired.”
“That’s not what your Mom said.”
I immediately cut him off, “Look! What are you getting at?” I said.
He just mumbled, “Never mind.”
We continued to walk down Broad Street. I mean I couldn’t tell him where I was. He wouldn’t understand. I did feel bad though. I sort of left him hanging last night at the movies. We were supposed to double date with our very cute girlfriends. I think he was just disappointed that I didn’t show up again. This was the fifth time this month that I ditched him. I knew he was sick of it but in a way he was getting used to it. I really did feel bad. I’m normally not like this. He just wouldn’t understand. Usually best friends can tell each other anything but this was different. I am absolutely positively sure he would not understand.
We reached the ice cream shop and when he opened the door I said, “I’m really sorry about all this.” Billy had no response.
We walked into the ice cream shop. Jessica and Amber were sitting in the far corner. These are the girls. Yes, the girls Billy and I had been after for the longest time. As soon as we laid eyes on these two sisters, we fell in love. They were twins but not identical. I really liked Jessica and Billy loved Amber so it all worked out. Best friends always compromise. We finally got dates with them two weeks ago. Amazingly enough we ended up becoming couples. We sat down with them. Billy leaned over and kissed Amber on the cheek. As soon as I sat down Jessica gave me the look. We all know what the look is. I knew she was mad. She asked, “Where were you last night?”
I said I was really sorry and leaned in to kiss her. It wasn’t good enough. She pulled away and I knew I was in trouble. I was sure that Billy was not going to help me out this time. I was in a bad jam now. All I needed was time to think of an excuse. Jessica pulled me close, looked deep into my eyes and said, “You know that I like you. Why aren’t you being honest with me? I’m honest with you.”
Oh no, I thought. There they were those puppy dog eyes. How can I lie to those clear blue eyes? So right then and there I decided to tell them. Those clear blue eyes can do wonders.
“Okay,” I said, “Here it goes. I’ll tell you where I was last night.” I hesitated for a moment then I spoke. “Last night I was…I was…I was at the Westbrook Retirement Home painting my Grandmother’s toe nails Tickle Me Pink and singing the I Love You Barney song. Are you happy now?”
I hesitated but replied, “Oh, I stayed home.”
“I tried to call your house last night,” he said.
“Well, I was kinda tired.”
“That’s not what your Mom said.”
I immediately cut him off, “Look! What are you getting at?” I said.
He just mumbled, “Never mind.”
We continued to walk down Broad Street. I mean I couldn’t tell him where I was. He wouldn’t understand. I did feel bad though. I sort of left him hanging last night at the movies. We were supposed to double date with our very cute girlfriends. I think he was just disappointed that I didn’t show up again. This was the fifth time this month that I ditched him. I knew he was sick of it but in a way he was getting used to it. I really did feel bad. I’m normally not like this. He just wouldn’t understand. Usually best friends can tell each other anything but this was different. I am absolutely positively sure he would not understand.
We reached the ice cream shop and when he opened the door I said, “I’m really sorry about all this.” Billy had no response.
We walked into the ice cream shop. Jessica and Amber were sitting in the far corner. These are the girls. Yes, the girls Billy and I had been after for the longest time. As soon as we laid eyes on these two sisters, we fell in love. They were twins but not identical. I really liked Jessica and Billy loved Amber so it all worked out. Best friends always compromise. We finally got dates with them two weeks ago. Amazingly enough we ended up becoming couples. We sat down with them. Billy leaned over and kissed Amber on the cheek. As soon as I sat down Jessica gave me the look. We all know what the look is. I knew she was mad. She asked, “Where were you last night?”
I said I was really sorry and leaned in to kiss her. It wasn’t good enough. She pulled away and I knew I was in trouble. I was sure that Billy was not going to help me out this time. I was in a bad jam now. All I needed was time to think of an excuse. Jessica pulled me close, looked deep into my eyes and said, “You know that I like you. Why aren’t you being honest with me? I’m honest with you.”
Oh no, I thought. There they were those puppy dog eyes. How can I lie to those clear blue eyes? So right then and there I decided to tell them. Those clear blue eyes can do wonders.
“Okay,” I said, “Here it goes. I’ll tell you where I was last night.” I hesitated for a moment then I spoke. “Last night I was…I was…I was at the Westbrook Retirement Home painting my Grandmother’s toe nails Tickle Me Pink and singing the I Love You Barney song. Are you happy now?”
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Both Sides of the Coin
I must decide
One or the other
Two sides of a coin
Both equal
What to choose
Here or there
A fork in the road
Left or right
Am I ready to choose
Where will it lead
Will I only have one chance
Will I decide in time
Or will it decide for me
I must decide
Heads or tails
One or the other
Two sides of a coin
Both equal
What to choose
Here or there
A fork in the road
Left or right
Am I ready to choose
Where will it lead
Will I only have one chance
Will I decide in time
Or will it decide for me
I must decide
Heads or tails
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Two Piece Puzzle (Dann)
Imagine this, a two piece puzzle amidst a thousand pieces. You search and search through these thousand pieces to find the two that match. Just as soon as you think the pieces line up there is something that just isn’t right. You try to force the pieces together because you think they should fit. Soon you bring yourself to the realization that the pieces really don’t fit and your search continues. You begin to feel hopeless. This two piece puzzle amidst a thousand pieces will never be found. You give up hope and think that it will never be possible. You push the puzzle pieces aside in frustration never to be finished.
Then one day soon something catches your eye and you glance at the thousand pieces. You fiddle with the pieces for a minute or two with no rhyme or reason and like magic you find a match. Suddenly, you realize that there just isn’t one two piece puzzle, there are many. Almost five hundred two piece puzzles suddenly emerge. In this box of a thousand pieces it turns out not every piece fits with another piece but in the end most find a match.
Then one day soon something catches your eye and you glance at the thousand pieces. You fiddle with the pieces for a minute or two with no rhyme or reason and like magic you find a match. Suddenly, you realize that there just isn’t one two piece puzzle, there are many. Almost five hundred two piece puzzles suddenly emerge. In this box of a thousand pieces it turns out not every piece fits with another piece but in the end most find a match.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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