Transverse L train tracks. His momentum stopped by 3rd rail and oncoming train.
Leftover burnt parts carefully wrapped in a shroud encased in pine box. Neatly packaged and wrapped in time for the holidays. A gift his mother could not accept.
Dance of the Dead.
Fears are paper tigers. (Amelia Earhart)
Sometimes you should be afraid. Fear can protect you from doing something possibly fatal to your existence!!
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Banquet of the Starved by James Ensor (Belgian, Ostend 1860–1949 Ostend)
I cannot remember one specific New Years Celebration that stood out however when I was a young woman in my 20s I can recall going to Watch Night Service on New Year’s Eve. Watch Night Service is a special church service where you pray in the New Year.
Then after the church service was over I would just hang out with my friends probably going to somebody’s home. Transportation was no problem as during this time period in the 1980s I remember the Mayor of New York and the MTA offered Free Rides on the subways and buses. I suppose that was to protect inebriated New Yorkers who had over done their New Year’s Eve Celebrations.
I was brought up as a Baptist but attended other Christian denominations where I had the opportunity to enjoy various celebrations. Whether I went out or not when the Ball dropped in Times Square and Guy Lombardo played Auld Lang Syne my family would have a small toast, kiss and wish each other Happy New Year!
In recent years I’ve had the pleasure of attending my Japanese girlfriend New Years Day service at her Buddhist Temple located in White Plains, NY. At the Temple I saw and heard powerful performances of the Taiko Drums. Also I’ve gone to Asian (what many call Chinese New Year but most Asians use the same zodiac calendar) New Year Celebrations. I’ve seen the Dragon Dance, eaten traditional Japanese foods which are delicious and the Buddhist ministers acknowledge those born in the year of the goat, horse, or whatever animal is represented for that particular year. I was born in the Year of the Boar and when that year comes I will make it a point to take off and attend as many services as I can get to. I am a Member of Shinnyo-en Buddhism but due to work concerns I can’t get out to services as much as I would like. And No you are not required to convert to Buddhism. I’m still a Christian and still acknowledge Jesus as My Lord and Savior but I’m open to benefits from other faiths. Actually I find Buddhism more of a philosophy than a religion as the Buddha never said that he was God. As my Japanese girlfriend puts it, Shinnyo-en is where Jesus and Buddha shake hands. Many Americans of all faiths, races and backgrounds go to the Temple for meditation and uplift. So no different from a Christian church.
“Auld Lang Syne” (Scots pronunciation: [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsəin]: note “s” rather than “z”)[1] is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788[2][3] and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world, its traditional use being to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight.
As I’ve gotten older I no longer attend Church on a regular basis and it’s way too dangerous to be out on the streets late at night I spend my New Year’s Eve’s with my cat Sylvester. I’m not even certain if Church’s still have Watch Night Service but as both Christmas and New Years fell on a Sunday this holiday season I’m certain many church goers just attended their regular day time church services.
Taiko Drumming
The following song by Dan Fogelberg has nothing to do with the traditional Auld Lang Syne but I like the song.
Dan Fogelberg – Same Old Lang Syne (from Live: Greetings from the West)
My Generation
My parents Generation Auld Lang Syne
Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians — Auld Lang Syne (VintageMusic.es)
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions and haven’t in years because I know I’m not going to keep them. Resolutions for me are not only a waste of time but an exercise in futility.
Kinda like giving up stuff for Lent. It’s a nice thought but I know I don’t have the will to deny myself anything for 40 days.
Sooner or later probably the former I’ll mess up defeating the purpose of the blank slate new year or Lent.
Like many people change is forced upon me. Meaning I don’t change my habits until a drastic emergency. This in regards to my personal health and wellness. Last year 2016 was the first year I was not incarcerated in a hospital or a prisoner in an Emergency Room.
In the case of caring for my brother Stephen I am meticulous. For him I plan in advance and prepare. I want life for him to be perfect.
“The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.” – Pope Paul VI
“I’ve been hearing fiddle music since I was in the womb, I’m sure.” – Natalie MacMaster
“The trick to playing second fiddle is to play it like second Stradivarius.” – Robert Breault
“I still play the fiddle every day. I’m afraid if I don’t, it won’t know who I am.” – Johnny Gimble
“The rude beginnings of every art acquire a greater celebrity than the art in perfection; he who first played the fiddle was looked upon as a demigod.” – Voltaire
“The music comes from the fiddler’s heart, through his strings and straight into your heart.” – Father John Angus Rankin, Cape Breton musician
“I found it really hard for a couple of years to do any writing because all…
We all come to a Crossing/Crossroads in Life where we face the realization of what Life is as opposed to what we would like or want our Lives to be.
Just when you think Okay I’m in a position to improve or when things are about to get better that’s when the Cosmos laughs and you experience a reversal of fortune. Previously I had blogged about my vacation goals for 2017. Well when I came home from work there was the wonderful monthly Con Edison (New York’s electric company) bill waiting for me.
Last month was lucky and the bill was None!! Hooray!! But alas celebrated too soon. When I opened the most recent bill the amount was over $400.00!!! OMG!! How in the world can the bill be that much when my room-mate and I are out working most of the time?!! I know Sylvester is not turning on lights unless my cat develops opposable thumbs when I leave the house!
Then there is the ongoing matter of trying to get Pro Bono Legal services so I can get Guardianship over my brother Stephen. A few weeks ago I saw a Legal referral phone number in the newspaper and called it yesterday trying to find a Guardianship lawyer. So I called the number which resulted in calling other phone numbers with the only result in being told that I must go to Surrogates Court in Queens (cause Queens is the borough Stephen lives) and hire a lawyer. As you all know lawyers cost big bucks so you know that in order to afford a lawyer and pay the electric bill I must put in extra hours of overtime.
Someone had said to me about feeding the soul and feeding the body. Feeding the Soul for me would be taking a vacation up to Saratoga Springs. I could use the change of scenery, rest and relaxation but as you all well know rest and sleep does not pay the rent, utility bills or pay lawyers.
As for vacation I can now easily get the time off since the Evening/Night Shifts are much more flexible. My new bosses are very nice and as long as you have time accrued you get take it. So now I can get days off work but I can’t afford to go anywhere!! Hmmm… What’s wrong with this picture? The money I was gonna put to my trip will now go to Con Edison and the lawyer once I locate one. In fact I will be spending my vacation in Surrogates Court as opposed to being in the nice, peaceful, relaxing atmosphere of upstate New York.
I will allow myself Feb. 27th which is my Birthday to relax and rest for that day then it’s back to the grind. Pisces ~~ The two fishes swimming in opposite directions. Maybe that means I’m caught in an endless revolving circle. Moving but going nowhere. I suppose once again as always I will accept and adjust.
I think that whenever you make plans the Universe plays a Cosmic joke on you. So much for 2017 Vacation Plans! Up in Smoke! Well that’s Life!
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 