Acceptance | The Daily Post

On March 27, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Acceptance | The Daily Post, J Subway Train, L Subway Train, L Subway Train 14th Street, Serenity Prayer, Subway, Subway Icarus, Subway Station, Subway Suicide, Subway Train, Subway train cars, Taxes, Uncategorized2 Comments

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/acceptance/

Mar 22, 2017

Serenity Prayer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer

The Serenity Prayer is the common name for a prayer authored by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr^[1]^[2] (1892–1971). The best-known form is:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.

Acceptance

The Weather ~~ Something that is out of our control. We can only listen to the weather forecast and prepare ourselves either to go out or stay inside.

Death ~~ A sure thing. We are all gonna die sooner or later. Guaranteed. Another thing we have no control over but we prepare by taking out life insurance so our families will be able to carry on without us, making a will and making our Peace with God in whatever way we worship according to our belief systems.

Taxes ~~ Unavoidable especially in the United States where the working and middle class pay more and the rich and wealthy don’t pay at all!! Thirty percent of my salary goes to taxes which I would not mind if I could see some improvements being made in the American infrastructure but that is wishful thing!

The New York City Subway system ~~ Over 111 years old and gradually collapsing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis thanks to government neglect and incompetence. The recently opened 2nd Avenue subway took 100 years to complete!! This new line only benefits those who live on the Upper East Side!

The fares go up almost every year yet the service continues to deteriorate. The trains are often old and decrepit. Due to the massive increase in the homeless population people live and sleep inside the subway cars and on the platforms. The poor are always coming through the trains begging for money since the government has more or less given up on those less fortunate. Arguments and fights are commonplace. And as I related in a previous January post sometimes people commit suicide by jumping or walking in front of the fast moving trains knowing that the conductor and motorman cannot stop in time. Most times it’s like living and riding inside a Charles Dickens novel. The tracks need to be replaced and the signal and switching systems goes out on a regular basis. You may or may not reach your destination. I leave my house two hours ahead of time to get to work.

I suppose the only thing good that I can say about the subway system are the various subway buskers/entertainers that take your mind off the fact that your train is late (actually I’m not sure if the subways are running on any type of schedule at all!) and provide weary commuters with a few moments of happiness.

See the below link from my photography blog Roaming Urban Gypsy:

Repurpose | The Talking Drums

Final Destination | Game Over

On January 13, 2017January 11, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Death, L Subway Train, L Train, Subway, Subway Station, Subway Suicide, Subway Train, Subway train cars, Uncategorized

After that terrible train accident it’s gonna be a long time before I recover emotionally and mentally. Just being trapped underground. Smelling burning flesh.

I feel like a character in those Final Destination movies where the people think they’ve escaped death but the Grim Reaper catches up to them. Bad enough to contend with the rats both 2 legged and 4 legged. Deranged riders. Evil smells. Filth. Dirt.

Seeing homeless people who are badly in need of not only shelter but mental health services riding the subways has become a nightmare. Now every time I step onto the train to travel into the city I’m gonna be reliving that accident and wondering if I’ll make it to either home or work. The whole thing was so disturbing.

My Panic Attacks have returned and my Anxiety Levels are off the charts. Just when I thought I had conquered and that I would get better this set back happens. Now it will take weeks even months for my life to have some semblance of normalcy.

You never know when Fate will step in and say Game Over.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the MTA workers especially the Motor man and Conductor who were unable to stop the train before hitting the man. That’s a terrible thing to live with. Knowing you killed someone even though it was an accident.

Heroic Moments

A transit worker gently cradling a little boy and keeping the mother calm as we waited for rescue. The instructions of the Conductor who kept going back and forth letting us know what had happened and leading us to rescue and safety. The Transit worker who helped me cross a large gap as two of the subway cars had become unbuckled.

Also Again I can’t say this enough Hats off and a Military Salute to the NYPD and the New York Fire Dept for their care and assistance.

Thank you for saving our lives and getting us out from what could have been a worse disaster. Keep in mind that most Police Officers and Fire Fighters are good decent people who risk their lives to save others and who are there for us in all type of emergencies.

Please keep all MTA Transit Workers, the NYPD and the Fire Fighters in your prayers.

Last but not least I want to Thank My Fellow New Yorkers who remained calm and followed the directions of the MTA, Police and Fire Fighters. Despite that inner fear everyone worked together to help each other get to safe ground.

Rest in Peace David Godrey

On December 30, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Christmas, David Godfrey, Death, Uncategorized10 Comments

Earlier this week I got word that another one of my co-workers was found dead in his apartment on or around Christmas day. The Christmas holidays bring on more deaths than any other season of the year. That’s one major reason I loathe the Christmas time. David had apparently been deceased for a while.

Lately quite a few single people I know have died alone in their apartments. Single people are expendable. Yes he did have family. I will say no more about that.

Dying alone is quite common especially for single people. I just hope he went quickly and did not suffer. Once again he was only in his 50s. David was a good guy, a wonderful co-worker and a nice person. When I started at the museum David went out of his way to welcome me and make me feel comfortable. David was always cheerful, upbeat with a smile even when his life was not going so well.

As always the good people die young and the evil ones not only remain but prosper.

As a single person I shudder to think that one day this might happen to me also. But as my parents used to say, “Tomorrow is not promised to you.”

God speed David. Your suffering has ended and now you are with the Lord.

Manchild Reborn into the Void

On February 2, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn Bondage, Chain Gang, Hades, hell, Island of Lost Souls, Prison, Purgatory, slaves4 Comments

Manchild Reborn into the Void

Looking out my lonesome boxcar I see my brothers in bondage singing freedom songs. Wondering when their healing will come as I seek mine. Islands of Lost Souls sentenced to endless purgatory.

Lightning- Long John (Old song by a chain gang)

http://youtu.be/4G5KtQynWvc

American where is my traveling train? Darkness enters dawn diminishing shadows play havoc with sun, moon, and stars. Tuning Forks humming. When will I see my Rosie again? Overseer rifle gun trained on me.

Southern Prison Blues Rosie Chain Gang Blues YouTube

http://youtu.be/es-5VEFM49Q

Steamer Trunk moth riddled clothes. Ashes scattered into the Ganges. Speckled Watchmen screaming swing that pick boy. Keep that rhythm. Berta, Berta every day is Monday. I’ve fallen into a dark place with no sight of myself. Cleansing Monsoon wash me into dank sinister funeral sands.

Berta, Berta

http://youtu.be/sxC04N23U3o

Early morning every morning I rise on the wrong side. I cut myself on shards of volcanic ash but the boulders cannot crush my soul. Freedom is a lonesome word.

Prison Songs – Early In The Mornin’

http://youtu.be/zsiYfk5RV_Q

When that sun goes down then I escape in mind if not in body. In my dreams I see her beside me. A voice keeps calling me. Is it my honey sweet baby or an Angel fit to carry me home? Death Angel. Death Angel, holding the reapers sword.