ZEN OF APATHY

A passenger aircraft shot down in the Ukraine.

There is nothing I can do about it.

800 dead in the 18 day conflict between Israel and Hamas.

There is nothing I can do about it.

Fighting continues in Iraq and Pakistan.

There is nothing I can do about it.

Fighting in Syria, atrocities in Africa.

There is nothing I can do about it.

Russia, Cuba, China;

I am powerless.

A dysfunctional U.S. Congress

Prisoners inhumanely put to death in Oklahoma, Ohio and Arizona.

Obama Care is being challenged in court.

Bigotry, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia…

I vote but my vote is canceled by the Tea Party.

Beyond  my control.

In my mid-seventies, my days are limited, the grim reaper rides bitch on my bike.

It is what it is.

Today I am going to prepare the west side of my house for painting.    I painted the front (south side) first of the week.   I have one more cord of wood to order and stack for winter fuel; and I plan to replace the front storm door before winter sets in.   I haven’t meditated in a long time.   I need to take a few minutes this morning for Zen time.  It is suppose to be a beautiful day today – sunny with temps in the low seventies. 

Change what you can and accept what you can’t change: live in the moment: appreciate this day.

The Ol’Buzzard

GROWING OLD IS NOT FOR SISSIES.

 when I asked The Reaper what it was all about

he did the Hokey Pokey and he turned himself around

and grinned

 

Yorick, I knew him well.

Young people do not deal with the specter of death on a daily basis.  Their lives are filled with the day to day trivia that is the minutiae of existence.   Relationships and bills, and financial and personal security fill their moments of consciousness as they move through each day.   

I, on the other hand, find The Grim Reaper my personal companion.   He stands by my bed at night; sits in the room while I read; and keeps me company while I split and haul wood for the wood stove.  

Young people dreams of adventures they plans to have and the goals they would like to achieve. 

Since I have much more past than future, I dream of the adventures I have had and goals I have accomplished – my plans for the future are bland; and this is the main rub of growing old.  (As I have said before: I don’t buy Craftsman tools because they have a lifetime guarantee – and at this juncture of my life Harbor Freight tools will outlast me.) 

Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying the laidback life I had hoped for all the years I pulled in harness.  I enjoy my wife’s company (and sex); reading books; eating home cooked food; drinking good wine; and the lack of stress not having to work a job.   But is can be oh’ so boring.  

Keeping busy is now the job; and many would envy my position.

But, The Reaper just tapped on my shoulder and told me to hurry up with this post – He has plans for me down the line and doesn’t want me to be late. 

the Ol’Buzzard