Greetings,

Welcome to my writing.com blog. I hope you enjoy this collection of several of the most random pieces of my writing. Some of what you will read may be things I have written in one of the five to seven journals I routinely keep.

My favorite of those is my Ah-Ha Journal, a small pocket sized journal I keep with me at all times. I first learned about Ah-Ha Journals from my eldest son when he presented me with my first one as a gift some time ago. I use it to record those blinding flashes of brilliance I have from time to time, though these flashes come all too rarely. An Ah-ha is where I'll be involved in a totally unrelated activity and all of a sudden "I get it" as clarity hits me seemingly out of nowhere. Usually it's about something I was thinking or talking about days, weeks or even months ago. Sometimes I might even hear something from someone else I think is worth remembering and I'll put that in there too.

Occasionally, I might actually have a deep philosophical discussion with someone and I'll journal that as well. Often that someone is me. Yes, I do talk to myself on a fairly frequent basis...surprised? No you're not and neither am I. In short, it's just like the description says, "pure self-indulgence."

For those of you reading these pages who don’t know me personally; I am a man in my early fifties, a father of four children and grandfather of one. I am also a survivor of two failed marriages; although in truth I don't consider either of them failures as I learned my greatest lessons in life by going through the grieving and letting go process that is inevitable when dealing with death, any death, including the death of a marriage.

Hopefully, what you find here, at the very least, will cause you to pause and think about things for a minute. Having said that, I leave you with this one caution, it has almost become my personal motto, "I am definitely long on opinion and short on answers!"

Enjoy!
Obleo
"There is no point!"

Sri Bhagavan makes an excellent observation there.

It is amazing and wonderful for a person to have such a passionate and supportive father as you. Keith is fortunate as well.

I am so very grateful you raised your children to be such loving, wonderful people! Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3

Beautiful! Even I cried! Again, this would make a wonderful story in your port. VERY POWERFUL. I am so touched that your grandpa had the courage and strength to step outside of his life-long ways like that. Clearly he had a huge heart and loved you very much.

What a great story! It makes me cry.

I like your courage, and admire it very much. Your grandpa did not have to leave the earth without seeing a true demonstration of guts and manliness!

My parents loved and hugged and kissed their three boys and a girl. I have always believed that crying is a mark of male courage and compassion.

God bless,

Bob

I was raised in much the same manner as you, it would seem. I too, vowed that my sons would know I loved them and I never miss a chance to tell them so, and hug and kiss them.

I enjoyed the read, and welcome to Blogville. I look forward to reading more of your blog in the future.

My yellow brick road lead to Kansas back in '72. I abandoned it for many years when I moved back home and then it took me to Oklahoma in '03, then Colorado and finally back to Kansas where I was a resident at the Wicked Witch of Wherever for 4 years. Now it has taken me to Montana. We never quite know to where or when the winds will blow us.

I am soooooo not an open book. But, I'm working on it.

I have managed to keep a journal going for almost 5 years (somehow) but have difficulty keeping focused enough to finsh most of what I began.

At least if you don't draw ... you have photos.

This is beautiful, my friend, poignant and so well-written. I am touched by your expressiveness.

I admire your spirit. You will find new ways to enjoy your traditions... and they will be meaningful to you in that moment, for what that moment conveys to you.