The Bird Ain't the Word...

In the early sixties, somebody wrote a fun, kickin' song called Surfin' Bird. The beginning lyrics to the song went something like this: "Well everybody's heard, about the bird! Bird bird bird, the bird is the word! The bird, bird, bird -- the bird is the word..."

So, where am I going with this bird stuff? I lost the post I composed last night. Not sure how that happened. Perhaps I hit the wrong key on the keyboard. Poof. In any event, my post wasn't about birds, but it was about words. Somehow, in reflecting on my loss, I recalled the Surfin' Bird song.

Now, contrary to the Surfin' Bird song, I don't think the bird is the word. I think we are the word. You, me, all of us. We're all the word. And, our words have great power. From the beginning of time it seems to have been that way. Oh well, I guess the Bird can be the word, too. I don't want to leave anybody out.

Although I won't try to recapture last night's words, I will allude to the general intent of my lost post. Specifically, in that post, I said it had dawned on me how important what we say - or even sing - to others can be. I composed a list of things people have said to me over the years that facilitated an actual change in my life. I listed those few life-changing comments line by line. Shortly after beginning my list, I realized those words were inconsequential in terms of dramatic meaning to anyone else. It was their timing that had been critically important. Each comment had its own individual power and carried an energy that - combined with my own - enabled me to move to the next plateau in my life. One of those comments saved my life. It was uttered by a rank stranger. He never knew what he had done. Unless, of course, angels actually exist and he knew specifically what he was doing.

Perhaps I will have more to say on this, but for now I'll leave it paused here. I am not Mr. Goody-Good-Guy. Most assuredly I am not. I wrestle daily with keeping my mouth under control, from saying things that should have been left unsaid.

There is such tremendous power in words, you'd think I'd use them more constructively. As I babble on daily about purposeful living, yet never seem to do anything in that direction, perhaps I can start small? Perhaps I can work towards saying encouraging things to everybody I meet.

What were the words that saved my life? "You look like a good guy." Simple, to the point. I'll never forget the moment.

By the way, the Surfin' Bird song is great upbeat song. The bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word... If you've never heard it, check it out!

G'night all.

Toe rings and grits

This little piggy went to hell on a toe ring...

Yesterday, I commented that I might talk about toe rings in today's post, but somehow that no longer motivates me. For the record, it is true that I recently saw a nice looking woman wearing toe rings. That particular visual started a whole trend of toe-ring thoughts on my part. I'm under control now, but I will go on record by saying I think toe rings look really great on some people.

Beyond that, I'm eating grits and eggs right now as a late night snack. Toe rings aren't suitable dinner conversation.

And what about my purposeful living today? I didn't do as well as I intended. In fact, I didn't do anything purposeful at all. I just drove my dull, reactionary ass to work, and spoke deeply resonated "good mornings" to the other denizens of my high rise office building. Two or three of them were able to utter even deeper and more resonant "good mornings" in return. It pissed me off in a way. My simple, purposeful act of speaking a well-resonated good morning somehow turned into a competition. Heh-heh-heh.

So be it. I'll return again to my choice of purposeful living tomorrow. At least I didn't flip anybody off on the drive to work, and I maintained a certain consciousness all day of needing to do the right thing in all my dealings with others.

G'night all.

Quality it is, then...

I'm a little slow. It has taken me years to realize that I, as an individual, have a substantial amount of control over the quality of my life, and a minimal amount of control over the quantity of my life.

Right now, this moment, I'm going to begin pursuing the quality aspects of my life. I've made up my mind...I'm going for quality over quantity.

And how will I do that? For starters, I have the choice of smiling or frowning, purposeful living or slacking, patience or rage, generosity or selfishness, encouraging harmony or generating disharmony. Gee, those are rather grand ambitions. Hmmmm?

I'd better start off slow here. Maybe I'll just let someone ahead of me in traffic tomorrow. As long as they don't look idiotic. Ever notice how bad drivers always look more idiotic than the ones who stay out of your way? Better yet, maybe I won't give any offending drivers the finger tomorrow.

At least I'm armed with the knowledge that I have control over my quality of life, and in the long run, I can extend that influence to those around me. Quantity of life issues are important when prioritized, but for me their place will always be secondary to my quality of life choices.

Back to the goodness. If you see a guy in traffic tomorrow with a facial tic, it's just me working on my quality of life issues. Don't worry, I'll wave you in the lane ahead of me and I'll keep my social finger under control.

Maybe tomorrow I'll talk about toe rings. That's gotta fall in the quality of life column!

Broadcasting in the Blind

At an earlier point in life while on military duty in the Pacific, I recall monitoring an occasional and rare communication from an aircraft that would suddenly and tersely transmit: "Transmitting in the blind, transmitting in the blind, this is Air Force 101XX. We are declaring an emergency. Our position is (coordinates carefully stated)."

And then, again and again, I would hear those same words repeated in my headset by the pilot of an aircraft whose radio was not receiving; who had no idea if anyone could hear his emergency broadcast, and who was in imminent danger of ditching in a black ocean ... "Transmitting in the blind, transmitting in the blind...this is Air Force 101XX. We are declaring an emergency...our coordinates are..."

I still get goosebumps remembering those radio transmissions.

Most of all, though, I remember the raw courage those persons who found themselves "transmitting in the blind" had to summon.

Stay tuned.