I think that when I grow old I shall have few words. They say that nostalgia is a common malady for the elderly. My grandfather showed all of the common symptoms, far away eyes, a look that made the present seem like a passing dream. I suffer from it at thirty and the outlook of any kind of inflammation frightens me. I can stare at a picture for hours, remembering the smell of the air that day, the breeze on my face, and how her bottom lip stuck out so far that you thought a raven might find it an appropriate place to perch. “Ramona come closer, shut softly your watering eyes” not much of a sentence for terse old Papa Hem, but a damn good one for any old softy. Turning to me on the couch the other day, my son said, “I don’t ever want to die, I don’t want to grow old.” Who said that DNA doesn’t convey any more information than the color of your eyes, or when your ticker is finally going to give out.

This blog is coming to you live from the Rome campground. 7:00 AM, two beers down.

And now introducing... Mr. Walt Whitman

“There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now,
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.”

Ah, good old Uncle Walt, reminding me once again about the importance of the present. My blogs seem to trend towards plans for the future or nostalgia for the past. Everything having to do with the present is concerning waiting for the future. Sometimes, I just need to think about how good things are now. This is my Thanksgiving. I’m glad I’m alive, all of my organs are working sufficiently (keep it up little liver). I have food in my belly, ale in hand, a roof to sleep under, a woman to sleep with, a boy to cuddle, and people who can stand me. My problems are not life threatening (I have to remind myself of this frequently), nor are they permanent. Life is pretty damn good!

Things I want to do before I die

I think the title of this blog says everything about what is going to be listed herein. So, let's cut the dribble and get to the fat.
1. Hike the Appalation Trail
2. Float down the Mississippi in a canoe
3. Visit every state in the US
4. Spend three months in complete isolation
5. Write a book not full of bullshit and get it published
6. Run in and win an election
7. Ride a motorcycle through the US to the plains of Oaxacan Mexico
8. Attend Carivale in Rio De Jinero
9. Fall in love in Venice, Italy
10. Visit the Basque region of Spain
11. Cross the Atlantic via sail
12. Visit Iceland, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, and Argentina
13. Make cheese
14. Build my own house
15. Live in Ireland
That's all for now, if you have any good ones to add do so.