Bob Boyer

author of

Slowing Down For Sanity

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1592864988/qid=1090168764/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-1124122-4276154?v=glance&s=books

Friends:

This is quite a subject to tackle in the week following a Pope's death. That is, the celebration of compassion vs. the virtues of a 'tough' society. And yet, it sort of/kind of makes sense. Only in contrast can we, perhaps, gain some valuable insights. Well, maybe...........

To the point. Have you noticed how noisy, tough and aggressive everyone and everything is today? I can't be the only one. Go stand out on the nearest street corner. The noise kills me. It's not just the normal rush and crush of traffic, it's actually the specific acts taken to accentuate it. Here's one: those awful Flowmaster mufflers sprouting from the tail of every other Jap racer driven by 20 somethings. Tell me: Why the need to attack my eardrums? Because, certainly, that's what is intended. Hold that thought for a minute.

Let's turn to current male fashion - if you can call it that: Shaved head; men-in-black shades; and steroid-assisted bulges. WHAT IS THIS??

I'll give you a third example: trucks. Trucks, trucks everywhere, largely empty without loads. Huge tires, massive exhausts, menacing presences. WHAT IS THIS????

My take on all this testosterone is a sad one. We've entered the age of The Bully, all with the tacit approval of George W. Bush. It's a trickle-down thing. He ran as a bully, and is shaping our society in that direction. His philosophy is simply one of beating the next guy into submission, and then taking what one wants. Softness?? A dirty word. Not only won't it get you anywhere, but show some, and you'll lose your privileges. Gotta be a Man, and be Tough. Compassion?? Hey, listen, if the other guy's weak, that's his fault.

I don't know about you, but I've just about reached my limit with this lunkhead school-of-thought. So, from now on, I'm ready to respond. But just how, in what way, is still a work in progress. We must respond. That's a given.

Like the infamous news anchor in that 'ole flick "Network" exclaimed from his balcony:

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!!"

Dear Friends:

As an oft repeated theme of late, I've become far more spiritual. It's been a rather gradual but indeed steady progression. And so the passing of John Paul II comes into play. In a very personal way.

In my view, beyond international politics and doctrinal matters, the Pope emphasized people. That is, the celebration and enjoyment of people...all without an agenda or means to an end.

Today I feel most serene and emotionally settled. In the months since my last relationship ended a year ago, my life has been like a rafter in whitewater. Alternating between smooth passages and sudden bounding about. Dreaming for a return to happier days or searching for a significant replacement has consumed me. Yet, at various interludes, I have enjoyed a connection with people - even strangers. Suddenly, I sense a clearer view of things.

Relationships with that someone special come when they come. We cannot force-feed intimacy. But we can relish the special relationship we share with humanity-at-large. For we do, indeed, live a communal life. To laugh with a stranger or to manage a twinkle in their eye....well, that's divine. Pebbles in a pond. Ripple effect. You can call it what you want. But: This is what life is all about, and I'm now convinced.

When I return to Barnes & Noble this evening for my late Sunday shift, I won't view the inquiries, the book look-ups, as an annoyance. I'll refrain from glancing at the watch every 15 minutes. Instead, I'll try to connect. And to commune!!

Thank you, Holy Father, for your example and your love of people.

Your Jewish brother celebrates.........

Friends:

I've come to the sad conclusion that internet dating is more an intrusion on Privacy (yes, that quaint old concept) rather than a means to find your elusive soul mate.  So, all you out there,  before I offer my final and hopefully humorous sermon on the subject, I'm taking the rather unusual step of soliciting your thoughts and insights.

Find a moment, and e-mail me your opinion.  Once I have a representative sampling, I'll let y'all know the consensus.

I'm waiting!

Bob

Bobboyer5@aol.com

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

 

Friends:
 
And so it's come to this......the emperor is dead, long live the emperor.
 
Johnny Carson has taken his final leave of this world, and it hurts.  There is a sense of personal loss only experienced a very few times in our collective lives.  Why personally, when the man never knew you?
 
Or perhaps he did.  Through some strange means of communication, Carson intuitively observed and related as if he were our surrogate and representative on the stage of celebrity.  We knew him and he us....because he WAS  'us'.  How strange, and at once, how comforting.
 
When Johnny took his leave of that collective stage in 1992,  he disappeared, never to feed our need for communal communication again until (and including) death.  He failed to sate  our desire for 'reunion'.  Death was merely the final nail in a coffin that was buried 13 years ago.  And now, the faint hope that we could again unite in the forum of late night banter is forever extinguished.  Letterman was right:  those who have come afterwards are mere 'pretenders', unable to summon up the town meeting.
 
So, we mourn not simply the passing of a reclusive comedic genius, but the life of our party.  It hurts.  That's good.  Maybe we'll learn something from all this.
 
Goodnight, Ed. Good night, Carnac. Goodnight, Johnny.
 
We miss you.

December 01, 2004

 

Friends......

 
Once again,  the 'ole calendar has flipped its pages and we're in countdown to another Christmas  (even sooner for Hanukkah, only a week away).  The adage of time going quicker as you age is absolutely true.  Seems like we were just here a moment ago.
 
It's been a hard year.  Not in the material sense, but spiritually.  I'm not alone in this, guys.  Everyone - Reds & Blues alike - is in post-election meltdown.  And here comes Christmas.  Too soon?  Not in the least.  You know that song, "Need a Little Christmas Now?"  I think it's from the show, Mame.  Crank up the holiday machine, folks.....we REALLY need some Christmas.
 
But we don't need the gifts,  Charlie Brown,  Rudolph,  Frosty or Winter Wonderland.  We need and crave a little 'Wonderful Life',  a word or two from John-Boy,  and, above all, the innocence of a certain little boy who could not walk without pain.  His name is known to all, but what he said is far more important.
 
I make no apologies for being corny or sentimental.  I wish there were more of that in this aggressive, survival-of-the-fittest world.  We've lost our ability to love our neighbor simply for the sake of love and commonality.  We detest the weak and downtrodden, blaming their sad state upon their own failings.  Likewise, we hate the rich and powerful - not realizing that they, too, share our fears and desires.  Somehow, over 150 years ago, Dickens saw this clearly.  He was no lightweight.
 
Point is, I'm trying to capture and explain a certain feeling.  I can't, for it's too elusive.  I can describe and define the afterglow.  I find it impossible to explain the phenomenon itself.  You just know it when you feel the warmth and love.  I guess the divine is beyond description.
 
My mind is a jumble of scenes from the movies......George running through town overjoyed to just see the train station covered with fresh snow;  Scrooge waking up Christmas morning and ordering the most expensive turkey in London;  the Grinch growing a heart when he hears the Who's singing joyfully, even when all accouterments of the holiday have been stolen from them.
 
Do you need Christmas?  Do you want some joy amidst the harshness of attitudes?  Do you want to enjoy the victory of 'soft' over 'hard',  at least once a year?
 
If so, turn on your radio now, and get in the mood.  Regardless of religious or non-religious persuasion,  we are all blessed.  We are all capable of love.  We all have a heart.
 
And let it be said,  that if ever a man knew how to keep Christmas,  it was Scrooge.  As Tiny Time exclaimed once again to all those gathered for the feast:
 
"God Bless Us,  Everyone!"

Back After a Break.......

August 18, 2004



Well...it's not that I planned it or put any thought into same, but somehow it's been nearly two months since my last blurbs. I kind of needed the time to put life back in stride and adjust.

Naturally, too much has happened in the interim to slam anything in particular, so here go the random thoughts:

1. The Dems botched their convention. Should've embraced the liberal moniker...not run away from it.

2. Bush has decided to resurrect 'softer, compassionate' conservatism. That's from the 2000 playbook. Seen the latest ads? This time, nobody's buying.

3. Remember all the grating about $2 gas? Really....only a couple of months ago. Now its acceptable. Fine. The public deserves what they get.

4. Bush (yeah, him again) rolled out a phony terror alert. Remember what I said back in May about his strategy to steal the election or, if impossible, soften us up for a postponed election? Here we go.

5. Paris Hilton is still......Paris Hilton.

6. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you'll learn something every day.


Yeah, the last item's been keeping me busy. We can't change the world....but we can try to be better people today and tomorrow.
I'm working at it.

Life is a gift.

All the best -

Bob

Time To Make Plans...

 

Yeah, and I'm not talking about vacations, bud.  Listen up;  this is serious stuff.

 

When you hear/see media reports, try to read between the lines.  This past week brought an alarming blurb.   Seems that members of congress are convening to discuss postponing the election.  Let me repeat, POSTPONING THE ELECTION!  The reported rationale (on the surface) has to do with a possible terrorist attack prior to November, ala Madrid.  All in an effort to manipulate the electorate on the Iraq issue.  Supposedly, if there were contingency plans to delay the election, the intended manipulation would fall flat.

 

Step back a second.  What's been reported is what we call a 'trial balloon.'  To see how the public reacts to the mere thought of a postponed election.  The Bush/Cheneys are watching closely.  They won't allow themselves to be voted out of office.  If they perceive that possibility, there ain't going to be any election come November.  But these neo-Nazis need a pretext. 

 

It's already in motion.  Here's the setup:

 

1.  Start early, and divide the electorate into two bitterly opposed flanks.  (Done.)

 

2.  Paint the other side as un-American.  (Done.  Just open your daily paper and read the letters-to-the-editor.  The Bushies are     

      now so angry, they call any dissent "un-American.")

 

3.  Announce imminent terror alerts every few weeks.  (Done.)

 

4.  Allow the vice-president to not only shout an expletive at a sitting U.S. senator, but have him affirm it with pride thereafter.

     (Done.)

 

5.  Orchestrate an actual terrorist attack.  (Coming.  Read: "October Surprise.")

 

6.  Postpone the election in the aftermath.  (No problem: 50% of Americans will support it strongly.)

 

7.  Await riots and grass-roots uprising.  (They're making preparations now.)

 

8.  Declare martial law, and suspend Constitutional rights in the name of national security. 

 

9.  In the ensuing domestic violence, perhaps even civil war, kill-off as many liberals as possible.  (Their real objective.)

 

10.  Install their version of a new, Stepford America.

 

Think I'm crazy?

 

I'm not.

 

It's time to make your survival plans.  Gather your family and friends.  Hoard some cash, food, water and gasoline.  Find a refuge.  Learn how to be self-sufficient.

 

What we got here is a script for T-4.  Only we're not talking about fighting the machines.  Rather, a human enemy.

 

Get ready.  To the barricades!!

 

Bob Boyer

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

July 13, 2004