Inspiration

In life, wonders just keep coming.  After I finished my workout at the gym today, I followed routine and headed to the locker room.  When inside I saw an old man in obvious distress; he was wincing a bit in pain.  I asked if I could be of assistance.  He politely declined, telling me he just had some cramps in his stomach.  One thing led to another with me telling him that I was 65 years old.  He smiled at me and said, "You are are young man with many years left before you get to my age - 92."  He didn't look it.  His voice was firm and his eyes and mind were clear.  He went on to tell me that he comes to the gym everyday, although his normal comings and goings were in the evening with this day being an exception.  Somewhere in our conversation he mentioned that going to the gym every day helped him to feel better.   

It's been a while since someone referred to me as a young man (picturing in my head my best Mr. Muscles imitation).  But the real message is clear :  Never Give Up.  That message is for all of us, regardless of what we wish to accomplish.  NGU - Never Give Up.  I forgot to mention that the older fellow had a great walker, one of those with a seat, wheels, and hand brakes.  

                                                        Copyright @2015 Terry Unger

My Amazing Electric Clock Radio

For my fourteenth birthday, I asked my parents to gift me with a clock radio, a specific model; it is pictured above.  I took a big chance in asking because you did not dare ask for too much from them. But come my birthday there it was.  That was almost 50 years ago.  It has been with me from house to house, city to city, and state to state and always is to my left on a bedside night table.  It's amazing because it still works, perfectly.   

My AM/FM clock radio is ancient technology - transistors.  But when I plug it in and turn it on, it works.  For almost 50 years, this antiquated radio has entertained me and always got me up and out of bed on time.  And, the mechanical on/off/alarm switch is just as firm today as when I first turned it on.  Of course the sound is not high definition or even simple stereo, but it is crystal clear, and loud when I want it to be.  This amazing radio just works and I truly expect it to work long after I am gone from this life; it will make a fine gift for one of my grandchildren after I pass on.  But this radio is not and cannot be the totality of my legacy.

The older I get, the more I strive to leave a lasting legacy that my family will be proud to inherit.  And it is not easy.  As you age, the tendency is to slack off and relax.  Constantly I remind and push myself to positively excel.  The big question, Terry have you done enough?  Will my words and deeds be praised by those left behind?  Will my words and deeds delight my Ancestors?  Or will I fail my living family and Ancestors?  I don't know; that's why I must keep moving forward and striving to be the best I can be.  So what about you?  Are you satisfied with yourself?

And you thought I was going to rant about some kid in Texas who ripped the guts out of a circa 70's Tandy radio, stuffed it in a pencil box and claimed it as his very own.  Nope.

                                               Copyright @2015 Terry Unger  






    

   

Megaphone Man

Social media can give us many things:  the football teams your face book friends favor, the latest dirt on someone you don't like (let alone never met), the best in gossip about the rich and famous plus so much more.  Then we have the cry babies who feel it necessary to tell the world about their problems. If life has treated you so bad, please seek professional help; the majority of your "friends" don't care, although there always is a handful who feel the need to dole out their advice.  But none are professional mental health care providers.  It is amazing how people will take to the social media center stage with metaphorical megaphone in hand and announce to their hundreds or even thousands of "friends" their deepest angst.  So what would compare to this angst ringing in real life?  Here is one far fetched thought.    

It is half-time during the Super Bowl.  A person runs out onto the stage, megaphone in hand, and begins to whine.  The lion's share of the people may not even notice; to busy watching the show to see who will be next to have a wardrobe malfunction.  But a handful out of the 100,000 plus people will hear,see, and whisper, "that poor man."  Then security wrestles megaphone man to the ground and hauls his ass of to jail.  At his arraignment hearing the judge determines that megaphone man needs a psychiatric evaluation and off he goes to the funny farm.  In cyber space the whiner is left to his or her own devices, normally more whining.  That raises these questions:  could a social media whiner, "Oh poor, poor me," be a megaphone man in real time? Are they "for real" or just looking for attention, some emotional strokes?  And finally, what makes people do this?  

From the  "for what it's worth department and my humble opinion," 95% of these folks are lonely and want someone to talk to; they need a real friend or two.  If they had a friend that they could trust and confide in, cyber space would be less bitchy.  What about the remaining 5% you ask?  They are the lunatics and should be avoided; the 95% will not do as above, but the 5% will.  So don't be a megaphone man - go out and find a good friend that you can trust or fork over the dough to see a shrink.  And let the rest of us in peace to watch who will have the next wardrobe malfunction.  

                                                Copyright @2015 Terry Unger 

    

        

My Latest Book Published

I am pleased to announce that my latest book, The View - Act II is now available.  Act II is a continuation of the work started in The View - One Man's Living Asatru With Help From The Havamal.  Both books look at the human condition through a Heathen/Asatru lens.  

As of this date, the 6 x 9 softcover is available on the CreateSpace e-store.  In 3 to 5 days it will be available on Amazon USA and Europe.  Expanded distribution will be available in 6 -8 weeks.  The Kindle version should be available in 3 days.  

                                                         Copyright 2015 Terry Unger