Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people. You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together. Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly. People crave your praise and complements.

H'mmmm. This's some strange quiz results for a natural born agitator like me.

    Today another convict was executed. In some ways capitol punishment seems like having intercourse in the name of virginity. That's not to make light of a dilemna that's haunted me for a very long time. The short, easy answer is this: Taking the life of another is a direct contradiction of my spiritual beliefs.
    Unfortunately it's not that simple. What about self-defense? Do I not have a right to defend my life and the lives of those I love? And what if I profess to love everyone? Does that mean I have a right to take the life of ANYONE who threatens another? What if someone I love is raped or killed or both? What then?
    I do believe there are those in our society who thirst for vengeance. They profess to support the death penalty as a means of deterrence. We have executed many people in this country since it's inception, yet there continue to be those who commit murder and other heinous crimes. Apparently the fear of execution isn't great enough to stop someone with malice in their heart and a gun in their hand.
    Many years ago I made a vow to the gods I worship that I would never bring harm to another human. Now as I grow older I realize it may not be possible to always obey that solemn promise. I wonder occassionally what I would do if someone were to rape or kill Mrs Morgan or one of my family members. I would surely give my own life in an instant to prevent it, but what if I couldn't? Would I hunt the person down who committed the crime and take their life myself? Would I allow the law to run it's course? Would I insist the legal system execute the perpetrator?
    Perhaps I would do this instead: Look the perpetrator in the eyes and express my forgiveness. Then as that person walked away, take aim at the back of the head and pull the trigger.
    Justice or . . . . . . revenge?  

    Yes, it's another blue Monday come'n at ya. Oh! And yes I DO know it's Tuesday. Now before you go think'n the old captain's caught in some sort of time warp . . . not so! It might be Tuesday, but Blue Mondays don't always follow the calender. Especially when it was a real tough night at the foundry and your's truly's too used up to do a post, which is what happened yesterday.
    Slide down into your favorite chair, sip on somethin' cold (or warm if it's your preference) and let the blues wash down all over ya. Me? I'm gonna fall into bed and get some much-needed downtime.
    I've got a couple've vacation days come'n my way this week, no work at the foundry for this raggedy maverick until Saturday night! Ain't life grand? Tomorrow I'll be hang'n out with Mrs Morgan, diggin' in the dirt, whack'n weeds and communing with nature bigtime!

    Over the years my work's provided me with a bunch of fond memories and more than a few embarrassing moments. One that deserves a place in the "Roadhand's Hall of Fame" happened at a brass foundry.
    My crew and I were installing a new melt furnace. Part of the job involved installing hundreds of feet of piping for gas, air and water. The building was old and it was difficult to determine  where all the existing pipes went and what they're function was. I spent an entire day tracing out pipes trying to figure out which ones did what. At the end of the day I was absolutely sure I'd planned everything correctly.
    The next morning we began threading and installing pipes, first the gas, then the water lines and finally the air lines. I had a brilliant plan.  I figured if an occasional stream of air could be blown through the water pipe it'd gaurantee nothing would plug up  and cause the customer difficulty.
    Anxious to test my design, we charged the air line and opened the vent valve dumping a burst of air into the pipes. Just as we did, I heard a scream from the office floor above. I assumed someone in the office was just making noise for no good reason.
    A few minutes later a man approached me with an odd expression on his face. He seemed distressed, but thoroughly amused. He explained that whatever we'd done, the water in the toilet bowl erupted with incredible force . . . and the office secretary was on the toilet when it happened. One of the guy's on the crew suggested I take her a towel. I decided to stay in the basement. Until well past closing time. 

    The lyrics in a long-forgotten Janis Joplin tune say "freedom's just another way to say there's nothing left to lose". When I first heard that phrase I didn't except it. When I was young freedom meant everything to me. I lived for the day when I'd be free to do what I wanted, go where I chose and live as I saw fit. That day finally came and I did what I set out to do. I did what I wished to do, went where my spirit moved me and lived life as I thought I wanted to.
    It was a lonely and hollow existence. I left those I loved behind. I left too many friends behind. The romantic life of a modern-day drifter is nothing but a mirage. Perpetual motion and walls around the soul wore on me more than I wanted to admit. I wanted to slow down. I wanted to let others inside my walls. It's a long reach from wanting to doing. It's scary as hell.
    I don't really know if it was a fear of commitment or a fear of rejection or both. I do know the process is gradual and ongoing. The good news? It's worth the risk. Learn to trust. Allow yourself to be vulnerable to another now and then. Develop the courage to share your deepest fear and your fondest dreams with another.
    And when you hear that long, lonesome train whistle while you're dreaming, don't be concerned. Don't let the noise and fury of that sleek, black locomotive frighten you. Don't let the thought of climbing aboard the waiting railcar frighten you. There's a table in the dining car waiting just for you. There's a view of the world just outside the window. It's your portal, a view of the future. A taste of magic. Magic that's born with each new sunrise. Magic that slowly dissolves in a peaceful, easy sunset and rides the tide of moonlight through the night to a morning filled with simple pleasures like a lover's smile and a good morning kiss.