Marbles! (A Deadly Game...)

Not so long ago
In my feeble mind
We gambled

Kids in the streets of Pontiac, Michigan
We lived within bicycle distance of downtown
It was friendly and safe then
Not so now

Life was idyllic
Though we were poor
We lived in the back half
Of an old house rental

Cousin Phil and his family
Lived in the front of the house
Cousin Dennis and his family
In their own place behind us

Dads were all factory workers

It was that way for a couple of years
As I recall
And we kids gambled...
With marbles that is

And not just the old style game of "Ringer" either...

Turn an empty coffee can upside down
Poke a hole in it slightly larger than a marble
(Be careful!  The larger the hole, the easier the game.)
Set your odds based on how difficult you have made your can

Cruise the neighborhood with can and marbles
You know someone out there will take you on
Give'em the rules and play the game
"You gotta' hold your marble at least waist high."

"Drop it through the hole in the can on the ground.
If you miss I keep the marble.
If you hit, I give you back your marble plus two more.
C'mon.  You can't lose!"

Remember, if it is an easy can (large hole) you might set the odds at 2:1.
If it is a hard can you might set the odds at 3,4 or 5:1
If you make it too hard word'll get out and you
Might as well  "kick the can"...

In the marble gambler's lexicon: "Cats-eye, Purie,
Steelie, Shooter, Knuckle Down, Boulder..."
All part of talkin' tough
When you're in the game

Gambling.  Its what we did.
"A Deadly Game?"  Nah, just kidding.

Serenity

Tyler Thomas Campbell

To me, this song characterizes the "generation gap" angst we experienced between ourselves and our parents.  A gap that we, in turn, saw or will see between us and our children and one that is likely destined to recur between all generations:

Click here for the recorded studio version of "Serenity."***

The lyrics follow:

Verse:

Thank you for giving me what you've given me and I... 
Will take everything and make it quite worth your time

But, all I'm living for is some... some serenity and I... 
All I'm asking you for is some peace and quiet.

I know that you've lived more life and you've seen so many things, 
this time it's not the same and I see with 2 different eyes

Chorus:

Samantha Marie Campbell

The world is about to explode and I want to live it up

It's no perfect fairytale or some theme from a storybook

It's all about slaving the grind is that what were fighting for

A cold concrete paradise well I hope there is more in store for me... 

I hope there's more in store for me.

Verse:

Thank you for giving me opportunities and I... Know it took all your strength to swallow your pride

Each day has given to me... more of that inspiration and I 
Will channel it from deep down inside

I know that life is so hard, and we have come way too far, it's just another wall that I need to climb.

Chorus:

The world is about to explode and I want to live it up

It's no perfect fairytale or some theme from a storybook

It's all about slaving the grind is that what were fighting for

A cold concrete paradise well I know there is more in store for me... 

I know there's more in store for me.

Just my interpretation but I appreciate the soulful effort to explain conflict and gratitude followed by an expression of hope for the future in the first chorus, then certainty of the future in the second.

*** From the Album, No Regrets in the Garden of Weeden by Arden Park Roots,  copyright 2010 

Asides

Unrelated Photo by old pal Dave Evans included without permission
 because it is more exciting that way.

Well.  Today we have gathered to share our understanding of a phenomenon that has perplexed the best of us through good times and bad but then there are those who would contend that times would not be what they are if there were not a mixture of both; therefore, who among us is fit to judge whether there is merit in the thinking of the masses who would prefer to ponder the complexities of various approaches to the solution of problems that have plagued us since the last time man was face to face with anyone of significance and therein lies the proverbial rub?
(WTF?)


But then again. Tomorrow we will see that there are many forms of this sort of activity none of which assume a definable figure at least as far as we can see but then our vision is limited by our perspective borne out of background, study, experience and fundamental understanding of the per-mutable laws which define the essence of man from a truly unbiased standpoint as if there were such a thing as unbiased, unblemished or unvarnished for that matter.
(Ok... I am getting the point... there is no point.)

On the other hand. In the past, our experiences have been derived from a collection of known and unknown factors the unknown being the most confusing at least from the continuance of studies limited by literally having to lick ones fingers to gain purchase on the next page but then we now are able to turn those pages with a simple sweep of a finger across a screen therein unlocking the great literary works of mankind including some of the worst and, as is this, some of the best.
(Yup.. it is some of that cheap California wine at work here my Dear... just go with the flow...)

"Asides"... you gotta' love'em.