The Thomas Merton Prayer

Thomas MertonThe honesty, uncertainty, and ensuing faith expressed in this prayer are attributes that I can align myself with.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Quieter Cinco

Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, and Dallas have canceled their Cinco de Mayo parades this year.  According to Newsweek, “organizers [are] citing concerns about immigration enforcement.”  I guess you can’t have ICE raids and eat your tacos too.

Happy Star Wars Day!

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

Perspective

frog in a well

Good Friday Covers


A couple of weeks ago my favorite DJ, Marisa, played ‘One’ by Electric Six on her KKFI show, The Mixtape.  One was originally made famous by Three Dog Night in 1968-69.  The 21st century metal version brought a smile to my face.  I texted Marisa my appreciation for her music, and she responded that she was glad to hear from me a few minutes later.  Once I got set up at my desk I discovered another cover that was less raucus, but just as cool.  This version of Wichita Lineman by Flea featuring Nick Cave makes perfect sense to me.

The Trifecta

ROTARY_PHONEFirst there was Callin’ Oates. Then there was Phil Call-Ins.  Just in case you’re wondering– anyone who dials these numbers can hear a telephone quality version of their favorite Hall and Oates and/or Phil Collins song.  Recently, I discovered that calling a THIRD number will do the same thing as dropping a quarter in the jukebox to hear a Tommy Tutone classic WITH THE SAME NUMBER!!! Voices on the phone already sound like they are coming from a transistor radio, so these songs are just as good now as they were when I first heard them! Just pick up your phone and call:
Callin’ Oates: 719-266-2837 (719-26-OATES)
Phil Call-Ins: 424-888-7445 (424-888-PHIL)
567-867-5309

When The Pasta Sticks

ET_fingerThe sky clears, the voices stop, and ET’s finger glows when healthy word pasta sticks to the brain wall.  A patient asked me where his clinic was earlier today.  I looked him up in the system & pointed toward a green extension we could both see outside (his eyes followed in that direction), then I told him the name of the building (he nodded knowingly, not in a blank way) I watched as he walked away from me and went right to it.  The number of times this DOESN’T happen would astound you, but when I throw that pasta at someone’s brain wall, and it sticks, it is truly gratifying.

Cloudy, Chuck E, and Steely


There’s something about certain overcast days that take me back to a laundromat in Seneca where Mom is loading a washer, and a jukebox is playing Chuck E’s in Love or any song by Steely Dan. If I let my eyes roll back, I can see the wood grain, smell the detergent, and hear the music coming from a tinny jukebox. Hello March.

Nirvanna The Band…

NIRVANNABefore he was old enough to drive, I took Ian to see the movie Bladerunner.  Fast forward a few years – Ian returned the favor and took me to see an equally strange and awesome movie this weekend that is still working itself into my subconscious.  He warned me about shaky handheld camera, but I threw caution to the wind and met him at the theater to see Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.  It felt like I was watching Chris (Ian’s dad) and myself living out our craziest delusions– and I loved it.

“…To Dust You Shall Return”

ash wednesday