Debt. It's the American Way.

The good news is...you're not the only one in debt. And, your personal debt seems meager by comparison.

The bad news is...this is your debt too! (Your share = $28,506.23)

Today's National Debt

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Autumn Scenes

I took a few photos of autumn scenery today. Several of them are posted here. I didn't finish uploading them because I ran out of time. Maybe later...

Coolidge Corner

I took some photos at Coolidge Corner in Brookline this past week. Some of them are here.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the area, this is next to Boston, very close to Fenway Park where the Red Sox baseball team plays.

So, Here's the Problem...

These days I'm neglecting everyone (including myself, I suppose.) I don't mean to do this. In fact, it's making me miserable. There are circumstances in my life that are holding me back right now. Not to worry, I expect things to change any time now. This is a temporary situation that has only lasted 46 years.

Aw, I'm just joking. Except that I really have been neglecting people. And about that, I really don't even know why. I'm in a rut. I go to work, then I, well...that's it, I go to work. I'm not motivated to do much of anything these days (These weeks. These months. These years. Did the word laziness just pop into your head? Lie. Say no.)

I sound depressed, but I'm not. But this is not why I came here just now. I'm sitting here tonight to write about why I don't write about stuff.

So, here's the problem...

When driving in my car, I think about a lot of things. I suppose this is common. I have time alone to ponder about life, specifically my life. I often pass by sights that bring to mind moments from my past. Or I make plans for things that I want to accomplish (I really MUST start saving money to travel.) I sometimes recall recent conversations that I've had with another person where we found something funny to laugh about, then I'd find myself laughing all over again. (Do other drivers notice this and question this strange lady who is laughing while she is alone in her car?)

While I'm doing all this thinking, I make a mental note that I will absolutely share some of this on my website, so that all the people I've been neglecting will know that I'm still alive. And of course, this incredibly interesting stuff that has been created by my brilliant mind will be wasted if not shared with others. Can't have that.

My worries are that I'll forget it all. I feel compelled to write this amazing stuff down, but well, that's a bit difficult and a lot foolish to attempt while driving. This crazy lady might be laughing while she's alone in her car, but some amount of sensibility still exists within her.

I arrive home and take a bath. Again, I find myself doing a lot of thinking while I'm listening to music and relaxing in the tub. And again, well, let's just say that paper and water don't get along real well together.

You do know where I'm going with this.

I sit at the computer. I sign onto this website. It's time to share all the funny, insightful, provocative, inspiring, emotionally-moving, and of course, extraordinarily intelligent thoughts that have been competing for my attention throughout the course of my day.

Blink, blink. Nothing. Blank. Empty.

Where did they go?

Surely they are lurking in the back somewhere, probably having a good laugh at me. Is this fun for them? (Now I'm truly scaring myself in questioning my thoughts having a fun little party back there. Evidence mounts against the crazy lady who laughs while alone in her car. )

Here's what I do know. Tomorrow in that car, as sure as I'll have Dave Matthews' music playing in my stereo, those interesting (to me, anyways) thoughts will once again visit. My eyes will spot something in passing; perhaps it will be a sign advertising "soda", and I'll try to recall at what point we stopped referring to it as "tonic"--the ONLY word we used for it during my childhood.

I might drive by Indian Ranch (an outdoor country music venue) and remember when. Dad loved country music. He took us to Indian Ranch when we were young. Mac Wiseman was singing.

When I was a kid, I hated Dad's "cowboy music", but when I hear it now, it's so nostalgic, so bittersweet. Isn't it something how hearing a song can abruptly interrupt your thoughts, can immediately affect your feelings? What power a song can have, considering its sudden appearance can, in an instant, bring you back to a lifetime ago.

Did you see it? Did you see what just happened?

So, Here's the solution...

When I sit down to write and...blink, blink--defy it! Put my fingers on the keyboard and start typing. The words will appear. They might not be the same ones that were with me in the car, but something will eventually show up. (Okay, something NOT funny, not insightful, not provocative, not inspiring, not emotionally-moving, and definitely NOT extraordinarily, nor even mildly intelligent).

But hey everybody, I just wanted to let you know, I'm still alive.