Whopee Were All Gunna Die..country joe mccdonald

Frankfort, Kentucky...August 12, 2006. The quiet of the house as we reorganize, clean, mow and all the normal things people do...this time however people are in their own heads pondering whatever people ponder when the storm and emotion of a funeral for a person to young to die is over. What is the age where death is considered just a normal part of lifes rhythum? For me I think the normal age to die is al least one year older than I am.

Tribes in America

I continue to write, my thoughts now belong to more than just me. If nobody but my children read this I will be fulfilled. I often wonder how different we humans percieve the same event....with all the polarization between the right and left, jews and muslims, east and west I am reminded of the story of the blind men and the elephant...perception becomes reality. We base what is normal on ourselves, we know what we have been taught, ethics are relative to the culture or what has become the many sub-cultures. Who do we believe? Who do we trust? Who do we emulate? We are no longer a nation but a land of tribes. Tell me, to which tribe do you belong?

Jesus was a capricorn who ate organic food
He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes
Long hair, beard and sandals and a funky bunch of friends
Reckon we'ed just nail him up if he came back again... Kris Kristopherson

Would todays fundamental christians want Jesus as a neighbor? What would they think when the imfirmed and prostitutes stopped by for a visit? Would they think he drank to much wine? Would they invite him over for a cook out and a swim? This tribe may be the most powerful tribe in America...

I guess I am still searching for a tribe, I used to think I needed to be the chief, simple membership is okay with me now.....

Recycled Ideas

I have been thinking....Plastic - who developed this stuff? When I was a kid the only thing plastic were my toy weapons and stuff from Japan. Does it grow somewhere in South America or in one of those states who have lots of land and only a few people? Remember when you didn't have to decide between paper and plastic at the market....I still opt for paper especially if they have the little handles....I tried plastic but they gave me too many bags, I mean, one gallon of milk in its own bag? Come on, the one gallon milk jug is also made of plastic and it has its own handle...could we possibly be more wastful than to wrap a plastic container with handles inside another plastic container with handles that are not even as reliable as the milk jugs.....

Anyway, back to plastic. I visualized strolling through one of those "nothing over a dollar" type stores....I'll bet 50% of what the store sells is plastic merchandise (not even counting the plastic bags, no paper here) with 98% of it made in China. Now, how do you secure the raw material (has anyone ever really seen plastic in it's natural form?), make something with it, pay the person who makes it, package it in plastic, ship it across the ocean, wearhouse it, truck it to the store, pay someone to put it on the shelf and later collect the 99 cents or $1 and make a profit?

I know the manufacturer is making a profit (paying your worker $3/week helps, don't look for the union lable), the shipping and trucking company's are making a profit, the wearhouse is making money and the person that owns the $1 store is at least making payroll (minimum wage) and paying rent...... There is only one logical conclusion.....plastic is free.

I also read and heard that plastic does not degrade like other natural materials in the landfills. Does this mean I am doing my part for the enviornment by using paper bags? I like to think so...... I know, I should be recycling our aluminum cans..... my ability to rationalize has led me to the conclusion that I would be taking needed revenue from the people who do sort our trash...do they sort it? Does putting cardboard into the "cardboard only" bins really help or do they just mix it all together at the end...someone research this and make sure it's getting done right...

Now, let me address the next issue (isn't amazing what we think about in those precious moments waiting to fall asleep?), what will archaeologists conclude about who we were based on what they find in the landfills? Now, I am hopeful that all those millions of water bottles and plastic containers are recycled somehow to make new ones.....but what about on the diapers (especially the type made with gelatin to absorb all the pee)?? Number one, I kind of hope they are not recycling them, especially into water bottles....but the amount of plastic diapers we use.....(yes, we used them for all three of my kids) it must be millions every day around the world! Forget NASA getting us to the moon, how about figuring out how to make these things disappear differently....

Finally, what is the deal with the thick clear plastic that seems to be the container for everything that possibly could be shoplifted or given to a child as a gift? Ever try to open up one of those things? I think we need the guy with the pocket fisherman, colored hair spray for men and the fruit dehydrator to work on the new "Popiel Plastic Melter/Sealer Back Upper". I don't know, are you supposed to cut the plastic with scissors or rip it open at the seams.....neither way really works... the resealing feature makes it easier to return if not 100% happy.... "Be one of the first 50 callers and we will include nine AA batteries"

My son said that at birth every person should be assigned a cup, plate, bowl and utensils...works for me.... "I'll do the dishes, honey".

Off to Kentucky in the a.m. for the funeral....

Rest In Peace, Dear Janet

Janet Baker Rogers died today. She was Pam's only sister and Sara's other daughter. She was Don's bonus daughter and the sister to his kids. She was the one person Kemper included in her prayers everyday. She loved and asked about my kids everytime she called. I didn't really know her that well, we never found the right time to connect and talk, I also didn't give her the time she deserved. I know we had many things in common, we both really love the aformentioned people.....we both have struggled in the meaning of life.

Janet was a hard worker, when it was time to clean something you could be sure whatever it was could be used in surgery. She never had the glamourous job, it was usually the work others didn't want. She normally worked with the public...you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat a retail clerk or waitress....

Janet was always smiling. She had way too many aches, pains, chronic illness and reasons not to smile.....but Janet was always smiling, at least at those times I saw her.

Janet had no children, but was the mother to every stray animal that crossed her path.... According to Pam they lived with not only the normal dogs and cats, but with reptiles, amphibans, wild mammals and an ocassional insect. She would have been well suited with a career in veternairy medicine...

Janet never had much money, she rarely had anything tangible that was worth much, she didn't get to eat in the fine restaruants or travel to exotic destinations. I don't know if she ever even got to fly in an airplane. Janet didn't have any designer jeans or fancy shoes. She never owned a home. She never got to smell that new car smell in a one that belonged to her. When she shopped it was always with how much she could afford, not with what she wanted. I find one of the real puzzles in life is that people like Janet would give what little they did have to you if you asked..... all you had to do was ask....

Janet loved writing poetry, it was always gramatically incorrect (much like my writing) but always positive. She never sent a letter without some type of a poem or saying, usually written with crayons and in several colors....people like Janet could only afford to give you their time... and I know she put time in on these things.

Janet liked crafts. She got that from her mother. When we would get a letter in the mail, it would always include some small handmade object, one for each kid....she never left anyone out. There was usually a note attached with "I love you Courtney"....people like Janet don't have the resources to go by Macy's, charge it, have it wrapped and shipped. Instead, she used her hands and her heart to make these tiny gifts.

Janet loved her neices and nephews. Everytime she would call, it was with inquiry about the kids. She never wanted to disappoint the kids.... The few times she was able to attend family holiday gatherings, I was amazed at how the children loved and related to her....They were drawn to her by some magic spell....I guess she just never lost the little girl inside of her....kids can sense that in a person.

Janet loved motorcycles. I think she must have felt the freedom associated with having your hair whipping in the wind while riding down a country road. You never need to roll the window down on a motorcycle to feel life around you. I think she traveled with Bobby McGee...you know........freedom is just another word for, nothing left to lose...

I have learned alot by Janets transistion to the next adventure. I learned that regardless of our social status, our economic status, our athletic ability, our gender or our race; we will all die. Nothing we can do about it.....we can postpone with medical intervention, but we can't aviod it. My friend Dick tells the story about the people in the first class cabin of an airliner bound for Hawaii.....the side of the plane just opened up and out they went....when it's our time, it's our time.

I also learned that my judgemental nature is one of my truely sad character traits. I always had an opinion about what she should be doing differently....what is the saying about someone elses moccassins? I used to totally take for granted the little macrame trinkets she made for my children...I will never look at a gift the same way.

I also learned that not only should we not go to bed mad with someone, we should not leave the house without an "I love you". I used to think Pam told me she loved me to often....I don't think I could hear it enough now.

I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better Janet...I'm sorry I judged you. I do thank you for how you loved the people I love. I also thank you for peeling off another layer of the onion that helps me continue on my path.

Janet loved God. She had a connection to her higher power. We all know there is one God but many paths to that God. I'm happy tonight knowing that Janets path has lead to a peace she was never able to attain in this physical world and that heaven is a better place with her spirit continuing it's life. You made it home for the holidays Girl.

By the way....how come I never got one of those key chains you made?

Tis Better to Give......

I know I have been rather tough on our current American lifestyles, ethics and way of life. I wanted to spend some time on what I see as our good qualities. You know, I tend to be a pessimest.... Okay, at least I admit it.... When asked if they see the glass half full or half empty, have you ever heard someone say "half empty"? Let me be the first. I would obviously prefer to see the half full glass, but , because I see it half empty, it doesn't mean I don't see and appreciate all the wonderful blessings I have..... seeing the half empty glass makes me want to do things and support a direction of our country that fills the glass to at least where it was when my generation started. I want this for our great-grandchildren.....

The American way of life is philanthropic. We give away more on a weekend than the average European or Asian gives away in a year.... Go to any European or Japanese community (I am not putting the poor emerging nations in this diatribe) and see how many non-profit centers have been set up for children, seniors or the disadvantaged.... I was in Europe in 2004 and looked. While in Japan I even spoke with my tomodachi (friend) at the inn, I asked about Boys and Girls Club/YMCA type places for kids and only got a blank stare. The education system in Japan excludes the children with special needs, they are dealt with like it was when I was a kid.....segregation, I never heard of "special education" until I was an adult. I must say however, I never saw any homeless or beggers in Japan.

I'm sure our foreign aid is more annually than the rest of the world combined... No matter where in the world the disaster occurs, we are the first country to step up....always have, always will. Nobody does it better than America, we compare and can compete with anyone, if we put our mind to it. Even though we are currently so divided, it's kind of like our kids.....we can fight amongst ourselves and talk badly about each other.....but if an outsuder tries it, watch out...we are bonded by liberty and the pursuit of happiness......

The American way of life is still the model, we so need to keep the memories of our forefathers (and mothers...) alive so the world we will pass to future generations is intact....

The Land of Opportunity

I am proud to report that I took no nap today, nada, zip.... I got up at 9:00 (hey, I'm still on vacation) and it is now past midnight. I am thankful that the test for Denge Fever came back negative and the poison Pam administered was for offing bad children so I didn't get the full dose...

I am swimming in emotions. Went to my Tuesday men's meeting...reconnected. I have nothing I care more about than meeting with these guys, I always leave a better man.... Finally got on the phone to family, more calls to make, but there is time for everything.....

Pam, Kemper and I went to the mall today, Kemper needed some soccer stuff. I had such mixed feelings. I saw the Hummers and Escalades instead of the tiny cars and tuk-tuks. Harley Davidsons have replaced Honda 60's. The food court with it's huge portions of food replace the quiet murmers of the noodle vendors as their patrons sit on tiny stools with them on the sidewalk. The sheer size and glitz of the mall have replaced the temporary plastic ceilings and tables covered with $19 Rolex watches. The technology of cash registers and credit cards have replaced the wad of dong/baht in the vendors pocket. The excesses have replaced the hungry faces of the children. I saw women wearing outfits with shoes and a purse that cost more than a third world worker makes in a year. I became ashamed by my own consumption. Do we just not know any better as a nation? Have we become so isolated that we have lost touch with the rest of the world? The world is watching us even though we don't watch them. Do we care about the opinions of others? Has our "super-power" status made us believe we can do anything without consequence? Dear friends, they used to look to us as the nation of hope, a nation of optomism, a nation that came to another countries aid without an expectation of return. We have detoured from the America our parents and grandparents built and sacraficed for..... I think what speaks loudest is under 6% of Americans have passports..... The main travel we have when we are young is via a duty station in a foreign country or as a fighter in yet another war. Whew, sorry, sometimes I just go on a rant... Did you know that Jack Kerouac wrote On The Road on one continous roll of paper, now that's a rant.... Bye until tomorrow....

Denge Fever

Sunday evening..... I slept fitfully with weird dreams last night, the kind of sleep where you are dreaming but wake up frequently and wonder where the dreams came from... Woke up at 10:00 am (eyes burning and blurry)to a beautiful breakfast and off to church by 11:00.... Home from church and in need of a nap, bit of a headache. I just woke up, 8:30 pm... exhausted...

I have come to the conclusion that I have either have a strange tropical diease or that Pam has poisoned me for the life insurance money.... I can't wake up and every part of me hurts....Is this the end of the peaceful warrior? Can I sleep tonight? Will I ever have the ability to get back on Pacific time? Will I have the only wealth management practice that opens at 10:00 pm and has appointments with clients at 4:00 am? I can't think to really write... will try tomorrow.

Home Sweet Home

I arrived in San Francisco, I am so happy to be back... I was in packed airplanes from both Bangkok to Tokyo and again from Tokyo to San Francisco, I had the window seat with a female sumo wrestler in the middle seatnext to me. She won the armrest. They had the same movies on JAL from my trip earlier in the month, they give you headsets and the screen is in the back of the seat in front of you.... I was watching Japanese movies with French subtitles by the end of the journey.

US Customs, when you have a backpack, beard, guitar and long hair; expect line A..... I told them they were 35 years late.... Found Pam and after a long embrace we headed for Scoma's on the wharf for lunch, $65 USD for lunch, take me back Mr. Wizard.... We forgot it was Friday and it took us four hours to get home. Unpacked and ate again, Kemper became my shadow (isn't love grand?) made it until 11:00 pm... Wow, I made it, I beat jetlag! Woke up on Saturday and headed to my men's group. Beating jet-lag was so easy this time...

Bye Bye Bangkok Bye Bye...

Well, final night in Asia. Wanted to get a posting in before I take off for the 21 hours of travel tomorrow. I leave for the airport at 2:00 pm Thursday, California time. Put me into San Francisco at 11:00 am Friday. What a trip....I'm glad I have lots of pictures and a journal, this is a trip I will share with my grandchildren someday.... Thanks again Pam and the kids for allowing me this time....

I will post once or twice more after I get home. I think writing my "Peaceful Warrior" chronicles has allowed me a catharsis and a loving audience that has made me feel like I have been traveling with all of you.... Your comments and emails always brightened my day. Thank you.....

Okay, top 10 experiencesnot in order:

10. Train ride and hike to Itsu Kaichi waterfalls. Jonny's Garden.
9. Talking with Pam on the phone.
8. Riding around Ha Noi with Ton on his motorcycle.
7. Dinner with Paul, Suzy, Turid and Bjorn.
6. The peaceful experience on Ko Samet Island.
5. The room and bath at the Japanese Ryokan.
4. Meeting David and Pan on Ko Si Chang Island.
3. Writing my blog.
2. Getting a better understanding of cultures in Asia and how different we all are, and how much the same.
1. Realizing that it is possible to live in the now with no plans for the next day and be okay.

I also realize that the ownership of a Honda 100 or it's equilivant is a sign of affluence in emerging Asia. I would say their are at least as many cell phones here as in America and the kids text message just like ours. Emerging Asia vs Japan, the entrapenure vs to company employee. Also in emerging Asia, anyone who has money does not flaunt it, nobody puts on any aires. I also better understand the investment arena with global equities (but am not able to discuss that on this blog) so I am going to write off this trip.... I now can reaffirm that America is the best country, Auburn is it's greatest city and that I have wonderful friends. Yo Earley's, kids, sis, Sac-Men and Bills Buddies.....

I have accomplished my mission. I talked with so many people, from so many countries. I always smiled. I found that even attempting a few words in anothers native tongue will lead to kindness and their speaking english. I learned not to ask directions from well meaning people. I also now smell the breath of cab drivers and never seem to be in a hurry. I learned that I am getting older and have a much better appreciation for things I so took for granted. I learned that 24 days is the maximum amount of time I can be away from Pam and the kids.