Monday Morning Mark • 92

Stopping Time • Unending • Rubber Trees And Ships • You're Not Lost, You're In Hugsville

One Minute Wit

Stopping Time

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Don’t you hate it when you finally figure out how to freeze time with your mind,

and then your Mom puts a new battery in the clock.

Poem

Unending

Painting by Sian Butler • Photo by David Clode

Today I caught a glimpse
The reflection of light on the rippling water
A cool breeze on my skin
The call of birds

Time ceased
Only for a moment
But it was enough

Beyond nature

It was not my first glimpse
I pray it is not my last

There have been many when I cared to look
The laughter of a baby
The embrace of a loved one when my heart couldn’t wait a second longer
The swell of emotion in song
A child running to hug a parent
The appearance of a friend
A need fulfilled
A quiet moment when no words were needed
to hear

These tear down the veil
Revealing rare treasures man chose to bury and forget
in his hurry to embrace the tattered clothes of self

Time is a construct of the mortal
A means to measure the end of things
My soul yearns to escape its greedy clutches
To sail free on the winds of eternity

My body betrays me
It mocks a heart that remembers youth
Slowly I concede, accept, embrace, the final act
For it is but a play
The actor remains after the curtain falls

The end of time
is where my hope now rests
Longing to chart courses unknown
To experience the unimaginable
To be finally free

Unending

Sayings Of Renown by Captain Peanut Butter

Rubber Trees And Ships

Some things just don’t make sense.

Story

You’re Not Lost, You’re In Hugsville

Sebastien Gabriel

The GPS navigation (map) apps on our phones are great for not getting lost. But is getting lost always such a bad thing?

I remember the time I was driving through the desert on my way to Denver, and I got hopelessly lost. As my gas gauge got low and I began to get panicky, I noticed a diner.

I pulled in. I went inside and saw a lone waitress. I told her I was lost and almost out of gas.

She said, “You’re not lost. You’re in Hugsville.”
Then she gave me a hug.
“My name’s Shelly. Sit down and have a nice slice of cherry pie and let’s figure this out.”

So I sat down and had a slice of the best cherry pie I could remember. I explained I was going to Denver and she said, “Oh, that’s easy. Bill, come over here.”

A guy in mechanic overalls with huge glasses came over and said, “Hi, I’m Bill.”
Then he gave me a hug. He said I was going the wrong direction but not to worry. “Come out back,” he said.

We went around back, and I saw a massive semi-truck.

“Drive your car up in the back, and I’ll take you to Denver. I know a shortcut.”

So I drove the car into the trailer, and we both hopped up in the cab of his impressive new semi. As we started driving, he said, “I need to make one quick stop. Is that a problem? It’ll only take a couple of minutes.”

I said, “Sure, no problem.”

A few minutes later, we pulled into a bank.

“Want to come in?” Bill asked.

“Why not?” I replied.

So we went into the bank, and the bank teller came around the counter and gave us both hugs.

Then she said, “Another deposit came in today. How much would you like?”
Bill said, “Double the regular amount. Thanks.”
She smiled and handed him a stack of cash, and we left.

We got back in the truck and headed down the road.

Bill said, “It’s the craziest thing. My Granny bought me a lottery ticket a few years back, and it was a big winner. Now every month, I get a huge deposit. I bought a truck, some tools, paid off the mortgage on Shelly’s diner, and bought some land. Then a house, and a house for my Granny, and an engagement ring for Shelly — we’re sweethearts — but now I’m plum out of things to spend the money on. I mainly give it away to charities and friends.”
He paused for a moment then said, “I noticed you had a guitar in the back of your car. You play music?”

“Yes. I am a musician.” I replied.

“I like musicians. I bet there is a really expensive guitar you would like to own but couldn’t ever afford.”

I said, “Sure. A Gibson L-5 hollowbody jazz guitar.”

“How much do those things go for.”

“About $9000 brand new.”

He chuckled and said, “I guessed right. I took out $10,000 today. I had a feeling I might need it. We’re going to the guitar store.”

I said, “You can’t be serious. I couldn’t accept that kind of gift.”

“You’d be crazy not to. Honestly, I got more money than I can ever spend. I enjoy buying stuff for people. It makes me happy.”

About two hours later, we arrived in Denver, and I drove away with two new friends and my dream guitar.

Or maybe I just made that up.

Either way, that will never happen if you use a GPS app all the time.

Happy Monday.

Mark