More Than Just A Pond
New Houses • Celebrity Endorsements (1-5)
Thoughts While Walking
New Houses
If you are going to go to all the trouble of building a three-story house,
not putting in a circular slide is just a huge wasted opportunity.
Life
More Than Just A Pond
This pond has been part of my life for several years now. Like a friend.
When my job was contracted out, and we were forced to sell our house and move into an apartment, it was waiting for me outside our apartment window.
It was my view every day while having lunch, reminding me that birds don’t worry about jobs or food or tomorrow. Their needs are met daily. As were mine.
It was there when I watched my young Grandson in the mornings while my daughter and son-in-law worked. There when I took my Grandson down to see the fish, and ducks, and geese after lunch.
The fish in the pond were there also when my Grandson threw pieces of bread to them because, “Fish need lunch too, Grandpa.”
The pond wasn’t always there. It was man-made to control the flow of a stream passing under a nearby road.
What started as a plain mound of Earth designed to hold back water became a beautiful pond. Over time it was decorated by nature. Improved upon and beautified.
Birds and fish came to live.
For a while, two swans made it their home. They left a couple of years ago after having babies.
A crane lives there now. And turtles.
Ducks and geese are regular visitors also.
Trees and vegetation live here in abundance. Never worrying about rain. The pond feeds them.
Nature thrives at the pond. In my eyes, nature is the fingerprint of God.
Years passed, and we rented a house across the street from the pond. But the pond and I are still connected by a greenway path. A path that was extended a couple of years ago to go around the pond. While I miss the pond being the view outside my window, it now gives me a good excuse to go for a walk. I can walk around my old friend and remember when we first met all those years ago.
I have taken four Grandsons to the pond. A fifth lives in New York City and is walking now. I will take him walking around the pond also.
The pond will likely be here long after I’m gone. But by then it will have many new friends.
Because it is more than just a pond.
Writing
Celebrity Endorsements (1-5)
Of Me
Have you ever noticed that famous authors often have their famous author buddies write reviews of their books? I usually wonder if they actually read the books? How can they read all those novels and still have time to write their own? Anyway, it is no secret that celebrity endorsements work.
I just looked at my Substack stats and realized it has been almost three years, and I am still not a famous writer. So I figured I better step up my game. And what better way to gain attention than some celebrity endorsements?*
*That I might have made up.
So I have gathered a sampling of the celebrity endorsements I have received over the years to jump-start my career as a famous writer. These are not endorsements of my writing skill. We all know celebrities only read Twitter and scripts, which I don’t write.
[Note to self: write some movie and TV scripts.]
Most are just about me being awesome. But hey, “Any endorsement is a good endorsement.” As they say in the endorsement business. And fame is the goal anyway. Once I’m famous, getting a book deal will be easy.
Celebrity Endorsements of Mark Starlin 1-5:
That pesky email size limit is forcing me to do this story in two parts. I will post five more celebrity endorsements next Monday. Until then, you can bask in my partial fame.
Happy Monday. Thanks for reading and responding. You make it fun.
Mark
“More than Just a Pond” is a touching story, and your celebrity endorsements are hilarious! But just in case you’re an alien, I’ll be treading lightly moving forward. 🤣
"I just looked at my Substack stats and realized it has been almost three years, and I am still not a famous writer. " As Scarlett O'Hara would say, "Fiddle-dee-dee!" You are famous - very famous at my house. And no doubt at some other houses. Be patient. With Forrest Gump endorsing you in such a hilarious manner, can fame and fortune be far behind? I think not, my friend.