Unshakable Faith…

With respect to enterprise, faith describes the assent of mind to one’s own intuition as truth.

First Venture…

I offer the following true tale of young entrepreneurship run amok with the reasonable belief that there does exist some relevant statute of limitations that has surely run its course…

The quintessential “latchkey” kid, growing up in a small apartment complex in Connecticut, I enjoyed nearly everything a kid could want—my own apartment key, friends more akin to siblings, a playground with a limited but more than adequate number of instruments of torture, a bike, a neighborhood bully and even a local “bogeyman”, oh… and no parents ‘till dinner.  Nonetheless, we all considered ourselves desperately deprived as, in Connecticut, that consummate brass ring of every borderline-delinquent child remained illegal and nearly impossible to come by—the Firework.

We had all seen them with their brightly colored paper wrapping, bizarrely translated instructions always ending in, “Get away!”, and ever present, precariously, protruding fuse sticking out the side.  Some of us had even been lucky enough to light one to cheers and delight.  Like fish, however, everyone told stories of deafening booms! and other clandestine pyrotechnic plans and plunders.  No doubt, few were true but nobody ever seemed to care.

I would be lying to say I set out to altruistically meet the demand of this particularly “starved” gang of younglings more than willing to blow off their fingers—the impetus behind this, my first true venture, began purely selfishly.

One day, while perusing the classifieds of an old Popular Mechanics magazine—daydreaming of constructing some sort of flying machine—I came across a very small ad for fireworks.  I’m sure I’d seen the ad many time before but for reasons unknown, this time I noticed some very small type across the bottom of the ad, “Free catalog.” Now in those days, catalog sales were far less common and were always accompanied by those dreaded words, “Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.”—a deal-breaking eternity for anyone under twelve year old.

In a fleeting moment of maturity, I sent for the catalog.

Fifty-two and one-half years later—or at least what seemed that long—and after I had long-forgotten ever requesting that catalog, it arrived.  I tell you today, its arrival was almost as good as getting the actual fireworks.  I memorized every one of that catalog’s 12 pages of brightly colored contraband.  I snuck it into school and shared it with a few select friends like it was a magazine filled with, well… I digress.

One fall afternoon, after school, I got up the nerve to call the “order number” on the catalog.  I’m not even sure why.  I knew I couldn’t order anything if for no other reason that I hadn’t any money.  They answered and, in my most adult voice, I began to learn.  That 5-minute call changed everything.

Without going into the details of my first lesson in logistics, FOB costs and DOT Hazmat regulations, I will share with you the single most important and amazing fact I learned throughout my entire 6^th grade… fireworks were illegal to “set off” in Connecticut but LEGAL to order and own.

Enlisting the help of a friend, we spend the next week putting the incredible resources of my father’s architectural firm to good use as we literally cut and pasted that fireworks catalog into a new (slightly higher priced) one.

{Disclaimer: We did consider well the potential dangers associated with selling small explosive devices to young children and decided, at this point, that it was probably not a good idea.}

This did present a slight problem.  As 12-years-olds, we simply didn’t know very many “old” people.  You know, people over twenty.  The solution we finally came upon was to “visit” our parent’s offices and “sell” to their employees and colleagues.  This was a bit tricky, as we still had not informed our parents of the “master plan.”  As it turns out, at least from a business perspective, this was a fantastic idea.  We very quickly realized that the appeal (and demand) for the forbidden firework spanned multiple generations.

Breaking bad, we had become true dealers.  We collected more cash than we had ever even seen and walked the halls of our parent’s companies like we owned them.  So far, so good.  All we had to do was place an industrial sized order for enough fireworks to power the next Macy’s fireworks display and have them delivered to, ur…  this turned out to be our first seemingly insurmountable problem.

Not only were hundreds of pounds of fireworks going to be delivered by truck, at a time we were supposed to be in school, to a facility we did not have BUT… the freight company required an ADULT SIGNATURE!

Would we finally have to come clean?  We were in uncharted waters and the sheer scale of the project, even at 12 years old, weighed heavily upon us.  After much debate and destruction of most of the ancillary “evidence”, we informed my father that we were having a large delivery sent to his office, that it was for a project, that he should sign for it and call me at school when it arrived.  To this day, I’m not exactly sure why my father didn’t ask too many questions.

My father’s architectural firm was small but frenetic with a constant stream of clients and officials meeting in the large conference room just across from the main entrance to the office.  This seemingly innocuous floor plan was not only about to become significant but nearabout resulted in a nexus of events that could have brought down not only our fledgling dealership but my father’s firm as well.

{I relay the following account as shared with me by my father.}

About a week after we placed our order, a large 18-wheeled truck pulled up in front of my father’s firm.  The gruff driver came up to the office with clipboard in hand and said he had a large delivery.  The secretary, knowing nothing of this misadventure, peeked her head into the conference room where my father had just begun a meeting seeking approval for new construction from the city Fire Marshal.  Still not knowing what was in the shipment, my father signed for the delivery.

Apparently, what happened next, was nothing less than a scene taken right from John Cleese’s character, Basil, in Fawlty Towers.  You see, each of the 6 giant boxes—brought awkwardly into the front door of the office, next to the conference room, one by one—was marked in huge, red, stenciled letters, “FLAMMABLE EXPLOSIVES.”

With his back to the open conference room door, the Fire Marshal did not notice that first box before my father (and his nearly panicked partner) managed to get the door closed and offer some thinly veiled excuse for all the commotion.  My father eventually told me all he could think about for the rest of the meeting was what message he was going to leave with the school secretary when he called to inform me, my “shipment” had arrived.

In the end, after we had covertly distributed, in plain brown grocery bags, each and every order, we made absolutely no profit but had fireworks that would last us years into the future.

A few years later, in high school, we were still reaping the rewards of that bounty.  After a particularly “celebratory” summer evening, a local policeman pulled up in his car beside us and, in a very stern and accusatory voice, asked, “Any of you guys ever been busted for fireworks?”

To this day, I clearly remember my response.  “No sir.  We have never been busted.”

—–

Cleaning out my garage, yesterday, I came across a single item of that childhood contraband.  Not exactly an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle but, then, I’d probably have shot my eye out. No, this item was, perhaps, even more likely to permanently physically maim—a firework.  As I carefully considered what to immediately do with this item, whether it could be put to some creative use or disarmed, and whether the “use by” date had any real meaning in this context, my eyes (remember no BB gun), once again, fell upon the instructions…

“Light fuse and get away.”

More than a mere display, it seems to me the firework—a paradigm for life—is not like a box of chocolates. With chocolates, you may never know what your going to get but if your chocolate is vomitous, you can simply spit it out and return it to the box. Personally, I stick my finger in the bottom so that when returned, the confectionary at least looks unsampled (terrible, I know).

Likewise with fireworks, you never really know what your going to get… but whether or not you are successful in ‘getting away’, once that fuse is lit, something is going to happen. With fireworks, there is no directly obvious way to return them ‘to the box’ once you’ve chosen to sample. That is their beauty. That is life’s.

We light fuses every day, in ourselves and others, intentionally and unintentionally. Ultimately, it may be more risky to stick around but whether you do or don’t, look out!

Kaboom!

To all the adventures yet to come!

Mark Evan Strauss

Since that summer, I have fixed many flashlights…

I had an interesting experience as a teenager in my first summer job as a salesperson for a retail electronics chain (company name deliberately withheld).  The following experience has stayed with me the rest of my life.  In light of what so many have shared above, I consider myself lucky to have learned what I believe is such an important lesson, so early.

A woman in her, I’m guessing, sixties entered the store with what appeared to be old flashlight.  I approached her, offered my name and asked if I could help her in any way.

She told me her flashlight was no longer working and that she needed a new one.  I told her we had a variety of flashlights for sale and that I would be delighted to show them to her.  As I directed her across the store, I asked if I could see her old flashlight.  A “tinkerer” from a very early age, it was almost second nature to open her flashlight, check the bulb, batteries and electrical contacts.  In the days of unsealed batteries, corrosion was quite commonplace (does anyone else remember those days? I hope so).

Upon opening her flashlight, the problem was easy to identify.  Corrosion had fouled the battery contacts.  I asked her to wait a moment as I scraped the contacts clean with a letter opener we had in a jar next to the register.  I replaced the batteries and screwed the flashlight back together.  Lo and behold, the flashlight now worked perfectly.  I explained what I had done and returned the old, now-working flashing to the woman.  She was elated… and I felt pretty good too.

After what seemed like an embarrassing number of “thank yous”, at least to a young teen, the woman left the store with her working flashlight in hand.

Proudly I turned, only to immediately be approached by my, visibly upset, manager.  She had, of course, witnessed the previous events.  Quite firmly, she explained that we were in business to sell flashlights… not fix them.  She continued, that had I not fixed the flashlight, the woman would not only have purchased a new flashlight, but most probably batteries as well.  Finally, the manager reminded me that, as a result of my actions, a sale was “lost.”  Her comments made a big impression on me—particularly juxtaposed so closely with the delight experienced just minutes before.

There were no more “incidents” that summer and I left with the manager’s blessing that I was the best employee, of any age, she ever had.

Today, decades after I fixed that flashlight, I hold the lessons of that summer very dear—at least one of them, however, I don’t think that store manager, from so many years ago, would endorse.

Since that summer, I have fixed many “flashlights.”  Looking back, not one of them EVER failed to ultimately generate returns far in excess of the costs of the “parts.”

Zombie Strippers…

Tonight’s television movie choices are particularly compelling…

Snakes on a Plane
“An FBI agent must contend with a swarm of deadly serpents that have been released aboard an airliner to kill the witness he is escorting to trial.”

or

Zombie Strippers
“The proprietor of a strip club rakes in the dough when a top-secret government virus turns a beautiful dancer into the undead star attraction.”

Please understand I do not get HBO, SHO, MAX, HBO2, HBO3 or any of the myriad other movie and nudie channels I’m quite sure are currently being piped into my home in some scrambled form that rivals the encryption used by the NSA. Gone are the wondrous days of sticking a nail into just the right hole in the bottom of the cable box to reveal the partially unscrambled naked bodies of the evening’s latest soft porn. So what if nine out of ten times resulted in an electrical shock strong enough to cause heart arrhythmia? The result was the same… la petite mort.

So, tonight, I write instead with the knowledge and appreciation that at least the titles of these films are brilliant.

Ah, la petite mort… if only it was that easy. Has anyone got a nail?

Becoming…

The becoming brought by experience is balanced by the onset of insanity.

Giving thanks in over 1200 languages, dialects and variations…

(Transliterated where appropriate.)

Can you find yours? (Hint: the originating language or people are in alphabetical order.)

Wliwni ni, Wliwni, Oliwni, Mantiox chawe, Maketai, Yuuminsame, Wapsaw, Thawerapsaw, Gadda ge, Dankie, Baie dankie, Ntyox teru’, Seé, Tsin’aen, Iyayraykere, Hioy’oy, Gui lah hui te ha, Gui lah hui mi a de, Gui lah hui dui dui ma, Ghu long khu me-ah, Gu lah hu ma de , Saeamat kimo, Alíila, Kano, Kanobi, Tá, Alíilamoolo, Kanoomoolo, Kanopalammoolo, Ju falem nderit, Faleminderit, Faleminderit shumë, Bïyan bolzïn, Ondapandula unene, Amesegënallô, Amesegunalhun, Betam amesegënallô, Quialva’, Ashoge, Áshood, Ihe edn, Ahíyi’ee, Mvto, Ahoo, Ahó, Ahókacira, Shukran, Shukran gazilan, Mamnuun, SaHHa, El-hamdullah, Barak llahu fik, Grazias, Shnorhagallem, Shterakravetsun, Shenorhagal em, Shad shenorhagal em, Sh’norhakal em, Shnorhakalutjun, Merci, Multsãnjescu, Meda w’asé, Meda wo ase, Meda wo ase paa paa paa, Basima, Basimta, Basimeh, Mesi, Hawit basima chim raba, Taudi, Gracies, Muhuway su, Mhuway su’, Mhuway su’ balay, Hway, Eyalama, Juspajaraña, Juspajarkätam, Juspaxar, Yuspagara, Dios pagarakátam, Yusulupay, Yuspagarkàtam, Yuspagaràtam, Sayol, Sag olun, Tæshækkür elæyiræm, Chokh sag olun, Masuma, Na somi saisai, Tiang matur suksama, Matu suksama, Matur suksme, Tai merbani, I ni ce, Aw ni ce, Nba, Nse, Rekhmet, Eskerrik asko, Mila esker, Esker mila , Esker aunitz, Eskerrik anitx, Mauliate, Dziakuju, Dziákuj, Tsikomo, Twa to te la, Dhanyabad, Ozasro dhanyabad, Tangkiu, Tangkyu, Tangkiu tumas, Ta, Ang hmèn yá, Nitsíniiyi’taki, Baraka, Hvala, Hvala vam, Trugarez, Trugarez deoc’h, Trugarez dit, Mersi dit, Ho trugarekaat, Boche’, Sa-aun, Nasima, Orio muno, Webaale, Wanyala, Blagodarya , Mersi, Mnogo blagodarya, Akeva, Uninang, Maraba, Chezu ba, Chezu tinbade, Amyaji chezu tinbade, Juu na, Juu goor maniSh, Shukria, Bakhshish, ‘Ácha-ma, Matiosh chawe, Gràsce, Doh je, M goi, Doh je sin, M goi nei sin, Dzãkujã, Dzãczi, Bóg zaplac, Gràcies, Moltes gràcies, Mercès, Uan tabuan, Si yuus maasi, Si yu’os ma’ase’, Ngua tsaa xlay’be hii, Barkal, Barkalla, Wa’-do, Néá’eshe, Néá’êshemeno, Hahóo, Zikomo, Zikomo kwambiri, Zikomo kwambili, Zikomo, Zikomo kwambili, Zikomo, Masiem, Mahsie, Zikomo , Zikomo kwambiri, Ndatenda, Ndinotenda, Tatenda, Tinotenda, Mazviita, Maita basa, Maita zvenyu, Yewo , Yewo chemene, Twalumba, Yewo, Yewo chemene, Yewo chomene, Sikomo, Asante, Sikomo kwejinji, Asante sana, Yokoke, Yakoke, Wokolix awölö, Wokol a wala, Ch’ahp’ei’x ta’p'a, Yuj wal dios, Kili so, Kili so chapur, Kini so, Kini so chapur, Tavtapuch, Tav, Tavssi, Limlemtsch, Ura, Urako, Marahaba, Marahabha, Dew re-dallo dheugh-why, Durdala dywy, Durdaladawhy, Gwra’massi, Merastawhy, Meur ras, Meur ras dhis, Grazia, À ringraziè vi, À ringraziavvi, Kinanâskomitin, Kinanâskomitinawaw, E’kosi, Têniki, Mikwec, Nunasko’mowin keya, Mîkwêc, Kitatamihin, Mese, Obrigado, Hvala, Puno hvala, Hvala lijepa, Dêkuji, Dik’, Barka, Puorra bebe la, Pidamayado, Pidamaya yedo, Pidamaya ye, Tak, Mange tak, Lac jak, Lac jak ko ih lu, Dogedinh, Xisrigidisddhinh, Musi, Musicho, Snachailya, Snachalhuya, Nahnachailya, Nahnachalhuya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhuya , Snachailya, Snachalhya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhya, Snachailya, Snachalhuya, Nahnachailya, Nahnachalhuya, Nenachailya, Nenachalhuya, Shukuriyyaa, Varah bodah shukriyyaa, Yin acaa muoc, Mersi, Emitekati, Daarim, Pounsikou, Dank u, Dank je, Dank u wel, Dank je wel, Bedankt, I ni che, Kadinche, Kadinche la, Ù rú èsé, Dua Netjer en ek, Dua Netjer en etj, Imbuya mono, Tángeyoo, Thank you, Thanks, Ta, Cheers, Thenks, Enks, Ic þancas do, Ic þancie þe, Ic sæcge eow þancas, Thank ya, Dankon, Dankon al vi, Tänan, Aitäh, Ole meheks, Aitih, Aiteh, Tehnän, Abumgang, Abuimgang, Mudo, Akpe, Mudu, epenau, Abui ngan, ‘Awa’ahdah, Abora, Medagse, Medawagse, Takk, Takk fyri, Merci, Tashakkur, Motehshakeram, Mamnoon, Vinaka, Vinaka vakalevu, Vinaka sara vakalevu, Kiitos, Kiitoksia, Paljon kiitoksia, Kiitti, Ablo, A houanu, A houanu ka ka, E na ce nu we, Merci, Merci beaucoup, Tanke, Tanke wol, Tankje, Tankje wol, Graciis, Jaaraama, A jaaraama, On jaaraama, Malo, Fafetai, Jinisa, Ogiwadong, Áwdém áalò, Àayyá, Saa olsun, Gracias, Mèrczi, Téngi nían bún, Merci, Mahd-lob, Gmadlob, Mahd-lobt, Gmadlobt, Danke, Danke schön, Vielen Dank, Dank dir, Dankschen, Danksche, Dank schön, Dankë, Dank schön, Merci, Merci villmahl, Ang kêun, Efcharisto, Sas efharisto, Efharisto poli, Sas efharisto poli, Kali’ sso’rta-ssu, Aguije, Aguyje, Ha’evete, Aabhar, Dhanyawaad , Ga’, Yaddung jee, Syaabaas, Dxanyaa’baad, Mahsi’, Mahsi’ choo, !kaen se !tau, Kaen se !tau, Háw’aa, Mahsi’, Gaza yagabzal yushen, Alla magah, Shukram, Na gode, Yauwa, Mahalo, Mahalo nui loa, Toda, Toda raba, Nodan mamomamo, Shukriya, Danyavad, Dhanyawaad, Tanikiu, Ua tsaug, Ua koj tsaug, Ua tsaug ntau, Ua koj tsaug ntau, Ô chò, Ua tsaug, Ua tsaug ntau ntau, Zoo sab muab, Jamadi, U de, Gum xia, Kam sia, Kwakwhá, Askwali, Hevé, Is kwakwhá, Is askwali, Ei, See, Maake, Ewa ra, Jalbinchi yaan, C’ac’naamal yaan, Dios mangüy ic , Pan parius, Pam parios, Köszönöm, Köszi, Nagyon köszönöm, Köszönöm szépen, Yontonwe, Ti-jiawen, Takk, Takk fyrir, Ilakasugotia, Danko, Imena, Imela, Yâuwá, Dalu, Dios ti agngina, Agyamanac, Agyamanac unay, Salamat, Daghang salamat, Terima kasih, Makasih, Thanks ya , Trims, Barkal, Barkl, Barkal xalda hwa, Saagha xalda hwa, Deala reaza xalda hwuona, Tshinashkumitan, Gratias, Qujannamiik, Qujanaq, Qujanarssuaq, Mutna, Nakorami, Taikkuu, Quyanaq, Quyanaqpaq, Taku, Qujanaq, Aho, Aha, Go raibh maith agat, Go raibh maith agaibh, Go raibh maith ‘ad, Go raibh mile maith agat, Go raibh mile maith agaibh, Dios mamajes dinio, Grazie, Ah Dios mamexes, Ah Dios mamexes dimo, Dios mamexes dimo, Rakux u kapamaxemaxes namen dimo, Dios mamajes dimo, Mamajemajes kami dimo su racuj, D’yos b’ot’ik ti’ij, D’yos b’o'tik, D’yos b’o'tikil, Skanaa-ri, Ta’n tiz, Nich’an tiox, Arigato, Domo arigato , Arigato gozaimasu, Arigato gozaimashita, Dan san, Ookini, Ookini arigatou, Kora doshi, Ohkini, Ookini, Oshoshina, Nihwee-deebiru, Jilatyi, Matur nuwun, Kesuwun, Mèrci bein des fais, Obrigadu, Tamemmirt, Chyeju kaba sai, Chyeju gaba sai, Kotohuadan, Eso, Khanganav, Niawen, Yujwal Dios, Yuj wal tyoxh, Yuj wal ch’an tyoxh, Dhanyawaadagalu, Vandane, Vandanegalu, Ardeneskin, Salamat, Salamat pu, Tabu, Rahmet, Spassibo, Passibo, Da blu, Da blu do ma law, Yo-twa, De N lei, A ke lei naa, Shukria, Danawad, Eso, Ngaityalya, Rahmet, Rahmet sizge, Bantiox, B’antiox, Khuu’a, Da-waa-ee, Aalghïstapcham, Ispasiba, Ar kun, /Aise, Shukria, Mehrbani, Tazim, Haika, Chavucha, Ni waro, Kazaare, Webare, Mwebare, Yebare, Otyo, Osyo, Ni oseo, Ntôndili kwami, Merci mingi, Ndondele, Ntandele, Wuanka, Nkimandi, Manbote, Ni wega, Thengiu, Niwega muno, Wafwa ko, Wabeeja, Murakoze, Urakoze, Aahóow, Kongoi, Rakhmat, Chong rakhmat, Ko rabwa, Murakoze, Tua santa, Asante, Aksante, Ahsante, Asanteni, Asante sana, Shukrani, Nashukuru, Melesí, Há’neng cen, Há?neng cen, naschá?che, Há?neng cen, nescháye?che, Neschá?che cxw, Há?neng cen ?a? ce n’s?éngateng, Tâ, Alí:la mó, Shukria, Maigo, Maiteka, Atto, Attö, Dhanyawaada, Dev borem korum, Komapsumnida, Kamsahamnida, Komawoyo, Kulo, Kulo maluhlap, Kulo na maluhlap, Baasee’, Anaa basee, Tenki ya, Tenkey, Dot nuet, Keyi tapon, Shukur, Sipas, Sipas dikim, Murromboo, Gilakas’la, Ah gilakas’la, Nda pandula, Mèsi, Mèsi plen, Mèsi anpil, Granmèsi, Od dju, Jule, De gra, Dilan, Detelpai, Develpai, Gracias, Munchas gracias, Ah bo, Ah bo u ja, Aw bon uija, Da ja, Òboi jâ, Pilamaya ye, Pilamaya yelo, Pilamaya aloh, Khawp jai, Khawp jai lai lai, Gratia, Gratias, Gratias tibi ago, Gratiam habeo, Paldies, Liels paldies, Wanìshi, Trok chi, Melesí, Matóndo, Natondi yo, Gratzia, Mouchou gratzia, Xual mu wa, Dut zoil, Atkel bboxmu, Ahku bumu, Achiu, Dekoju, Labai achiu, Dekui, Labai dekoju, Nuoširdziai dekoju , Tienu, Tenu, Sia, Dank, Danke, Ek dank auk schoin, Sind auk viellmaols bedankt, Moducué, Webale, Webale nyo, No$un looviq, Hy’shqe siam, Kusakililaku, Webale, Webale, Erokamano, Ck’wálidxw, Helí’dubshewx, Gunasakulila, Merci, Aske, Ashi, Ashi oleng, Ashi naling, Eso, Blagodaram, Asantte, Kooshukhuru, Marahaba, Misaotra, Misaotra tompoko, Misaotra indrindra, Terima kasih, Terima kasih banyak-banyak, Nandi, Valarey nanhi, Nanni, Sabkaa, Ni ke, Grazzi, Grazzi hafna, Chjóonte, Chjoonta, Chjónta tey, Chjónta che, Sanco, Mossi, Baniha, Xie xie, Toa chie, Abaraka, I ning bara, Al ning bara, Gura mie ayd, Gura mie eu, Gura mie mooar ayd, Mauruuru, Tika hoki, Ka pai, Meitaki, Meitaki ma’ata, Krasia may, Chaltu, Chaltu may, Traeltu, Manumeimi, Abhari ahi, Dhanyawaadh, Dhanyawaatha, Tau, Koutai, Kommol, Kommol tata, Kwölukkuun emmol, Koko, Pöjö, Natejchiri, Nkhi k’a ninashitechino, Baiika, Bisse, Baika, Eswau, Laengz zingh, Laengz zingh meih, Laengz zingh camv, Tö’ dun, Welálin, Weláliek, Akpe, Akpe ka ka, Tarimo kasih, Makasi yo, Tingki, Tengkiju, Kúta’ùná, Kúta’ùrí, Kúta’ù shãàrí nuùro, Niku tab’i, Niku tab’o, Ta xa’u zin, Cutahvixieensa, Cacutahvixensa, Tyáhvi nyóò, Nihedebil, Wneeweh, Oneowe, Multumesc, Tang kun, Merçì, Bayarlalaa, Gyalailaa, Tand ikh bayarlalaa, Saikhan zochluullaa, Ta ikh tus bolloo, Wenatase, Barka, Mpuusda barka, Barka wusgo, B’o'tic, Syukprya, Mersi, Tanikiu, Mèu mèu, Kewa, Mvto, Henka, Ka, Akvsv’mkv, Tlazohcamati, Icnelia, Tlazohcamati huel miac, Tlazohcamatzin, Tlazocama, Tlazocamatl, Tlazocamati, Nictlazohcamati, Pinamaya, Aio, Kongoi, Kaigai, Asai, Gràzzie, Tobotonoque, Ttaubotneanauayean, Kuttabotomish, Tsuba kor, Ahéhee’, Jjef bei seiq, Ngeyabonga, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyathokaza, Ngeyabonga kakulu, Ngiyabonga kakulu, Siyabonga, Siyabonga kakulu, Gaantangi fi ye, Gaantangi, A bigi ba, Nyarya bada, Dhanyabaad, Su-bhaay, Qe’ci’yew’yew’, Xoasi, Nägê, Dé kãã, Ná goodoota-ngaa naa ci, Zikomo, Sauha gölö, Söwö gölö , Thank yu, Well done, Fakaaue, Ha ia, Fakaaue lahi mahaki, Takk, Tusen takk, Takk, Ebóto, Ewata, Miigwech, Lim limt, Danna waat, Ulfaad’d'a, Waaqni sii haa kennu, Maharaba, Galatoomii, Galatomaa, Fayyaa ta’aa, Fayyaa ta’i, We’-a-hnon, Thla-ho, Arfö, Buznyg, Losaka, Hihuri, Namasmasuk, Kibeiné, ‘Ara’ya:ikm, ‘Ara’yai:km, ‘Ara’ye:km, Malimali, Masalu, Sulang, Msuulaang, Ke kmal mesaul, Tingkih, Danki, Tashakkur, Sta na shukria, Hambadiahana, Hsà khawn hsá ta má’ lâw, Tanggio, Paampa diyúx, Padiux, Dankscheen, Rin dios awe, Kalangan, Kalangen en Komwi, Dziekuje, Dziekujemy, Dzieki, Dziynki, Dziynkuja, Auw’e, Kelangan, Ni’ctíyus, Obrigado, Obrigada, Iwgwien, Migwe’c, Kcumigwe’c, Mercé, Gramaci, Mercé plan, Da-wah-eh, Kilissow, Dhannvaad, Dannaba, Shukria, Miharbaanee, Tuhaadee kirpaa hai, Tayu’an, Paylla, Yuspagrasunki, Dyuspagrasunki, Diyus pagapusonqa, Diyus pagapusonqacheh, Anchata agradisiyki, Anchata agradisiykicheh, Diuspagarasunki, Diuspagarapusunki, Pachi, Pachis, Yusulpayki, Yusulpaykinsunki, Yuspagarasunki, Yuspagarasunkichis, Añay, Añachaykin, Grasias, Urpi sonqo, Sinchitan añaychayki , Rasyas, Maltiox, Maltiox tat, Maltiox nan, Sibälaj maltiox, Cheri cha ai, Pagui , Pagui shungulla, Diusulupagui, Yupaichani, Chyee zu thon ree, Maururu, Kashoonopihku, Shukuria, Gestena, Nais, Nais tuke, Najis tuke, Multumesc, Grazia, Grazie, Grazcha, Noa’ia, Filo’montou, Maulanenga, Spasibo, Giitit itt, Giittus, Giitus, Giitus eanat , Giihtu, Gaejtho, Giitu, Takkâ, Spässep, Spä’sseb, Hay sxw q’a, Hay sxw q’e, Muhuway su, Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai tele, Birepo, Mèrèsi, Anugurihiitosumi, Angen, Gaantángí fii , F&uacteu;únu, Grassias, Dhanbaad, Dhanjabaab, Sukriya, Soekoeria, Matur tampiasih, Tampi asiq, Miigwech, Kiitoksija, Tapadh leat, Tapadh leibh, Moran taing , Gun robh math agaibh, Gun robh math agad, Thenk ye, Thank ye, Thenks, Minkari, Minmonchar, Ke a leboga, Hvala, Hvala lepa, Yooz ma samsisíinxo, Dioka ndjiale, Mersi, Gran mersi, Ke a leboha, Ke itumtese, Ke itumela, Ke a leboga, Aiteh, Tà byu’ dô law, Dah bluet, Sha ja non, Sha sha, Sha ja, Djeelsha grawsta, Thuchi chea, Thuchi che, Marahaba, Shukria, Bakhshish, Iráque, Ichabires iráque, Grazzii, Ni itumezi, Litumezi, Nitumezi, Mehrbani, Istuti, Bohoma istuti, Ngiyabonga, Siyabonga, Dakujem, Dakujem vám, Dakujem ti, Hvala, Hvala vam, Hvala ti, Hvala lepa, Sol Ti, Mahad sanid, Nawari, Dz’akuju so, Z’e'kujom se, Gracias, Muchas gracias, Chn lm-s-cút, Grantangi, Tangi, Danki, Denkâ, Denkauja, Quyanaa, Hatur nuhun, Engraziel, Tawdi, Tawdi sagi, Inwali, Dankeschee, Dankschee, Tack, Jag tackar, Tack så mycket, Tackar så mycket, Stort tack, Salamat, Salamat po, Salamat sa iyo, Maraming salamat, Mauruuru, Mauruuru roa, Oáan, Bo matum, Tashakur, Rakhmat, Ganta, Tanumert, Nandri, Nangreeih, Romba nanringa, Rumba nandri, Rumba thanks, Chin’an, Basee choo, Maasee’, Tsen’ii, Matéterabá, Matétera, Natérarabá, Rahmat türi, Rekhmet, Day fon, Dhanyavaadaalu, Tamara krutagntha, Obrigado, Obrigadu, Obrigada, Obrigado barak, Obrigadu barak, Obrigada barak, Kuunda, Khawp khun, Khawp khun khrap, Khawp khun kha, Khrap, Kha, Khawp khun makh, Sewa, Tujechhe, Yrunyli, Yaqhanyelay, Yeqniyeley, Yekanyelay, Guneshcheesh, Gunalchéesh, Gunalchéesh hó hó, Atlein gunalchéesh, Tzachatal, Yuj, Tenkiu, Tenkyu, Tenkyu tru, Malo, Malo ‘aupito, Kurre sumange, Paxkatkatzinil, Twasakadila, Way dankoo, I nkomu, Salamot, Tarima kasi, Mast upakara, Azéharamopa, Azéharamo kui, Azéharmo kui, Azéharamo aypopa, Ipopa, Ipo, Azéharamo aypo-mia, Tesekkür ederim, Tesekkurler, Mersi, Sagol, Sagolun, Çok tesekkür ederim, Çok sagolun, Sag bol, Sag bolung, Tangur, Nyeahweh, Fakafetai, Chettirdim, Jocolawal, Wokolawal, Kolaval, Kolawal, Batz’i kolaval, Ois botik, Nihei deebiru, Ippe nihei deebiru, Nifee deebiru, Tau, Dyakooyu, Spasibi, Qagaasakung, Qaqaasakuq, Shukriya, Danyavad, Merbani, Towayak, Tog’oyak , Tograyock, Tokhoyak, Malo, Malo te ofa, Rakhmat, Rähmät sizgä, Rakhmat, Tashakkur, Gracies, Moltes gracies, Ndi a livhuha, Ndo livhuwa, Ukhani, Spasibo, Cám ơn, Cám ơn ông, Cám ơn bà, Cám ơn cô, Cám ơn anh, Cám ơn chị, Cám ơn em, Cám ơn quý vị rât nhiều, Ông quá tử tế với tôi, Salamat, Gracia, Passibo, Antagoo Jumal tervüt teilee, Shukria, Shobosh, Bareka, Merci, Mercè, Gråces, Taubut, Wiyarrparlunpaju-yungu, Diolch yn fawr, Diolch yn fawr iawn, Diolch, Depelda mat doyut, Depelda cala da mat doyut, Cala da mat doyut, Djere dief, Jerejef, Ndiyabulela, Enkosi, Enkosi kakhulu, Kam sia, Balika, Koloombo, Ayoi, Kam magar, Dank, A dank aych, E se é, Oshe, A dupe, E seun, O seun, O se, E se, Dios bo’otik, Dyos bo’otik, Dios bootiki’, Hach dyos bo’otik, Yum bo’otik, Ki’ bolal, Mis tatk, Sagha &ccedi;owattï, Çowattï, Yo manymak, Eso po yu, Quyana, Quyanaghhalek, Igamsiqanaghhalek, Dishkleno, Dishklenle, Choshcwleno’, Choshcwlentio’, Choshcwlen chele, Choshcwleno’ de’e zan las, Choshkleno’, Choshklenteco, Choshklenle, Guishepeli, Fofo, Yuscotoya, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyabonga ka khulu, Siyabonga.

Rage, rage against the dying of the meat…

Tweet: Bought new sneakers today.

No, you really shouldn’t care and fear I more each day that with the great ease and transparency of communication this online wild has brought has come some great loss. “Where’s the beef?” and has the cow indeed left the building?

 

“Do not go gentle into that good tweet,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the meat.”

——————–

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

(~Dylan Thomas)

A Coveted Truth…

I think, perhaps, this is a good time to offer a coveted truth. The name of this blog is Promiscuity—I am not.

While the more perceptual among you have, no doubt, figured this out for yourselves, I did want to at least say it. Private and sensual, my few trusted friends and lovers are gifts who have openly shared so much of themselves with me and with whom I’ve been lucky enough to share, in the most private, personal spheres, their touch and myself. The specific details of these shared experiences do not (and will not) appear here.

It is my sincere hope that everything else will. That said I invite you all, once again to come in! Come in! so we can explore each other, touch each other, excite each other and sooth each other. Welcome.

A Love Letter…

Dearest Love,

I’ve felt the pressure of time this week—a dimension which used to exert a great force upon me and my direction. Perhaps simply aftershocks of last week’s demarcations, perhaps a premonition of your immanent voyage or adventures yet to come, it is a more rarified experience for me these days and one that overcame me a bit unexpectedly. I’m excited for you and look forward to the sharing sure to come. Please stay safe and enjoy the gift of this time with your closest loved-ones all the while knowing there is another with you in mind.

And so we dance the most wonderful dance in and around each other—a very old dance while at once with unknown steps. We learn a language or, perhaps, to even just speak a few words. In those first few steps and words, our experience, our love, our fear, our shyness, our frailness, our strength, our history, becomes each of us. That is what I love. So, my dear, don’t clean your apartment; don’t make the bed; don’t brush your hair; don’t change your dress. Just come in sandals or flip-flops, famished or full, pensive or passionate, aroused or ablated, just bring yourself and come. I will be waiting for you.

Like a whimper in silent ecstasy, tonight in the evening silence, I find you. I hope you close your eyes and find me too.

No surprises my love. Just my hopes and feelings for you and a short note to let you know I look forward to touching you and to you touching me.

Have a wonderful trip and find in it’s discovery, as well as in ours, all those things you never find until you close your eyes and stop looking. You really never know where those will lead.

So very warmly,

???

The Big Rocks…

Stephen Covey, in the book First Things First recalls the following story that one of his associates experienced in a seminar. The original presenter of the story remains unknown. While some of you may already be familiar with its lessons, I’ve found it valuable to return to it now and then over my years. I hope you find the same.

—–

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz” and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”
Everyone in the class yelled, “Yes.”

The time management expert replied, “Really?”

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered.

“Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life — time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.” So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.”