The Promise,Chapter 1~~A Short Story By Randy Mantovani

The Promise

Chapter 1

　
His family gathered around him and he could feel the sadness. After all these years his time had finally come and he was at peace. He had so much he wanted to say to them but he could not form the words. Age and illness had taken speech from him but his mind formed the words even if his mouth could not release them.

He had waited so many years for this day. The day he would fulfill his promise to her. A promise made twenty five years ago when it was she who laid upon a bed similar to this and slowly passed from his life. That day of profound pain that brought tears with every thought of her had lingered all these years.

His eyes closed and he felt his life slip away. His children saw his mouth form a smile as he passed. His first smile in years.

The fog had a soft quality to it. But with the coming sun rise he was having problems adjusting his eyes to the light of the coming day. He could hear music filling the air from some where. A love song. Nat King Cole's 'When I fall in love'. Their song.

 Then he saw her. Coming out of the fog. Like a ghost at first. Fog swirling around her. Softening her look. As she walked toward him it seemed she was floating above the fog. The sun rising behind her sending light in his direction.

“Was I meeting an angel? Am I dreaming? Is this the next life we had talked about?” So many questions invading his mind. And yet there she was, walking toward him. That smile. That glorious smile.

As she moved closer the fog parted exposing a path behind her. She stopped, and
without saying a word he knew that this path was there for him to follow. She reached out her hand and he took it. Her touch so soft and gentle. She was smiling, That smile that brings me pleasure and a sense of safety.

 Slowly they moved down the path. Not a word passing between them. But the look that came over her face spoke volumes of her love for him. He felt tears on his cheeks.

A love that does not need words. Affection and love passed between them through their eyes. As they moved down the path the fog was slowly lifting. On each side of the path flowers came into view. Their beloved tulips. So many colors. They seemed to be lighting their way with a warm glow.

The path meandered through fields of these brightly lit tulips. He could not see where it was leading them. He did not care where it lead him as long as they were together. He was being drawn along by the hand of his angel. That is the only reality that mattered.

After a short walk they came to a hill over looking the ocean. It seemed they floated on air down to the beach. At the waters edge lay the flowers they had passed to each other over the tides in their first lives. They still had the bright colors that were present the day that they had sent them to each other over the waves.

They stopped walking and faced each other. Their arms reaching for an embrace. A soft kiss passing between them. The words "I love you" being spoken.

They both realized. They both felt it. The promise they had made to each other. It was here. It had come into their lives at last.

They lived their First Lives. They shared their Second Lives together. And now! Yes now! They had found their next lives. Their Third Lives.

And the song kept playing. When I fall in love. I will love forever. The promise fulfilled.

The Dirt Road,Chapter 8~~A Short Story By Randy Mantovani

8

　

　

Almost two years to the day since I came to Ferry Road and it was moving day for me. I am not leaving Ferry Road because I want to but because I have no choice. The land has been sold and the trailer I rent is being torn down.

John Duffy has been busy all day helping me move my stuff to storage and Margaret Duffy is preparing what is being called My Last Supper.

I will miss this place. The dust, my constant companion, will be a fond memory when I move back into suburbia. My sadness of leaving this place is very much like when I first left my families home to start a life of my own. These past two years had made Ferry Road my family.

Dinner was a loud affair with everyone talking at once. It was a typical Margaret Duffy meal with everything I had ever told her I like to eat laid out before me. All through the meal neighbors arrived with covered dishes for me to take to my new home. I was getting the feeling that they thought I was never going to eat again if they did not provide me with food.

After dinner John Duffy and I walked down to the Farmers Club for a beer. There was a profound sense of sadness on both our parts. We sat in silence for a long time trying to find the words to say goodbye. I was only moving twenty miles away but for John twenty miles might as well been twenty thousand. Of course we would see each other again but never again on a daily basis.

We drank to much with well wishers putting beers on our table at a constant and quick clip. The walk home was more of a stagger than a walk.

Early the next morning I was putting the last few of my possessions in my car when a small crowd started to form near me. John and Margaret Duffy, Alex and Cheyenne Cummings with Alice, Carol Duffy and Anne Duffy, who was holding my dogs as they would not be coming with me, stood staring at me. Tears in the girls eyes.

After a round of hugs and a promise to spend the Thanksgiving with them I climbed into my car and started to drive away.

Through my teary eyes I could barely see the Duffy family through the dust as I drove off.

That dust! That glorious dust!
Randy

PS... The previous 7 chapters can be found in the blogs archives.

A Day Of Disinterest And Boredom

"There's no excuse to be bored. Sad, yes. Angry, yes. Depressed, yes. Crazy, yes. But there's no excuse for boredom, ever", Viggo Mortensen.

It's obvious that Viggo Mortensen has not seen the news being presented these days. I take much of my inspiration from the news but it always seems the same; bitching about the Affordable Care Act, defending the Affordable Care Act and the cold weather which I do not want to think about.

The only story I found interesting today is about how legal cannabis dealers in Colorado are running out of product because of the demand. But even that holds but a passing interest.

I need a challenge. Since my health has improved I have been antsy to get back to work. Don't get me wrong, retirement is wonderful but financially I can not really enjoy it and truthfully I miss the grind of work. I have been volunteering at a soup kitchen but I find it so boring. Yes it's rewarding and I enjoy it but there is no challenge there.

Writing is my outlet for channelling my boredom but lately my disinterest in what usually inspires me has been overwhelming.

Most likely my solitary living is finally starting to get to me. I have lived so many years with a house full of kids that this silence is deafening. It's a bit funny but I even miss being yelled at for being messy. My cat does not give a damn if I leave my socks on the floor; he thinks they are a play opportunity.

If I had a therapist they would say,"Hmmm he sounds suicidal". But I'm not. Believe me I love myself way to much for any of that nonsense. Boredom does not take away ego and my EGO is Big.

So I have decided to move away from searching the news and turn to original work. Tomorrow the last chapter of my short story, 'Ferry Road', will be posted.

The next day I will begin a new short story based on Second Life. It will be taken from my Second Life experiences but will not be about me. A totally fictitious story of loneliness, vulnerability, love and pain. Something many people will be able to relate.

Damn I feel better already, lol.

Randy

If Your Shoe Comes Untied Is It Operator Error?

If your shoe comes untied is it operator error? A question that needs an answer but a google search found that prior to me being asked that question, a mere 24 hours ago, no one has pondered this problem.

I know there are some who would say that this is a frivolous question without merit but this is a complicated issue. Untied shoelaces have been tied to many accidents with some being fatal. Untied shoelaces have been responsible for interfering with pushing on a cars brake causing a person to drive into a building and shoelaces have been caught in escalators causing potential tragedies.

Untied shoelaces seem to take on a life of there own. Think back to your past experiences with shoelaces. How many times have you tripped over your own untied or poorly tied shoelaces? Personally I can remember a few times when I narrowly escaped a shoelace related mishap.

My theory, as to how so many shoelaces become untied, is a two fold theory. I have eliminated small children's shoelace accidents from my theory as these innocent children are still in the 'learning to tie shoelaces' phase of their little lives.

The first part of my theory is based on the lack of education in developing critical thinking skills that is absent from our present educational environment. The second part of my theory pertains to physical fitness.

Educational Component:

A decreased emphasis on the sciences, in our educational system, has produced a society that is weak in critical thinking skills. The degradation of these skills have given rise to generations of people that are more interested in getting out the door to party than they are in preparing themselves for a safe journey to whatever activity they hope to enjoy.

When rushing off to 'party at the club' and dance away the night, with poorly tied shoelaces, they are laying the ground work for disaster.

Suppose this person, with improperly tied shoelaces, is dancing at a club when a fire breaks out. Human nature tells us that there will be a rush to the door to escape the fire. This person with the malfunctioning shoelaces could trip causing large numbers of people to trip over him. This could cause people to be trampled or lose time in escaping the fire and burn. It could happen!!!

I also want to point out that many young people seem to think it's 'cool' to go around with untied sneaker laces. When you combine untied sneaker laces with ill fitting low hanging pants it's a disaster in the making.  I believe this is also the basis for those 'stupid criminal videos'.

Physical Fitness Component:

The bulging of the American waistline has give rise to, what I call, 'fat feet syndrome'. I believe that our feet are trying to adapt to the added weight we are carrying causing extreme pressure on shoelaces.

When we combine improperly tied shoelaces with fat feet we develop a situation akin to a boiler exceeding maximum pressure. The result: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

This problem is running rampant throughout the country with no segment of our society immune.

I am calling on President Obama to appoint a 'blue ribbon committee' to oversee the establishment of remedies for this problem.

Be safe kiddies. Most accidents occur within 10 miles of home but in the case of 'shoelace mania' anyplace can become a potential disaster zone.

Tie them tight!!! Check them often!! Only you can prevent shoelace disasters!!

Randy

The Other Side Of The Coin~~Men's Magazines

Yesterdays attempt to discuss, what I believe to be the trashiness of women's magazines, I gave the impression that I felt that women were all gullible and quickly believed the tripe printed within the magazines pages. This was not my intention but I can see where that impression could be taken away from what I wrote.

In all fairness I thought I would look at men's magazines today. If you line up mans magazines side by side you would determine that men's minds are concentrated on 'big boobs and tight asses, car performance and engines, boats and hunting' and not particularly in that order.

The stereotype of the big strapping man, with his air brushed idealistic woman at his side, is perpetrated at very turn. The truth is most men are sitting alone at home crying in their own beer and wondering when the right girl will come along.

Articles like 'Get In Shape', Flat Belly Foods', 'Dress Like A Winner' and 'Grow Muscle Fast' abound. All aimed at trying to make, advertising executives and fashion designers, ideal man to match their idea of the ideal woman. Men eat this stuff up just knowing that one day Megan Fox or Christina Hendricks is going to come through their door and tell them how wonderful they are.

 

Parody Magazine Cover By Momstrosity

 

 

In this parody cover I particularly like the articles titled, 'Megan Fox~Air Brushed 8 Hours By A Photo Retoucher', 'Trash Talk:Help Around The House Will Get You Laid, 'Why You Should Pick Up Your Own Damn Socks' and 'How To Tell When You've Gone From Playa To Creepy, Dirty Old Man'.

 

Funny yes but a hint of truth in those titles.

 

I have never understood men's obsession with the 'ideal woman'. She only exists in the minds of 99% of men. That last 1% are staring in the 'Batchelor or Barchelorette' television shows and I am not sure that they have not been air brushed.

 

Men and are getting married later in life and it may well be that many of them are out there looking for the woman presented to them on magazine covers rather than seeking out women that real life presents to them. It's stupid and futile to believe that Miss Air Brushed will some how fall into our laps and you will live happily ever after.

 

Personally I believe that the girl next door is great, flaws make people interesting and love is where you find it.

 

Being idealistic is nice but at some point reality slaps us in the face and we grow up. When that happens the girl next door becomes our 'idealistic woman' and we actually find what we have been looking for all these years.

 

Randy



The Maze That Is Womens Magazines

Step into the world of magazines aimed at women and we find a web of  sex and relationship advice that seems a little out of touch with real women. Magazine covers promise women weight loss  in articles titled 'Sexy Abs and Butts', 'Bikini Body', 'Lose More Fat', 'Drop One Size' and 'Little Ways To Your Best Body' abound.

Turning from body image articles these magazines offer relationship fixes that range from molding your man into the person you want to promises of a better sex life. Hundreds of magazines offering the same tripe to women each month. Rarely do average women adorn the covers of these magazines. There are a few exceptions to that rule but not many.

Enter Brendan McGinley who spoofed a women's magazine cover back in 2010.

According to a Huffington Post article, "McGinley's parody cover features all-caps bold headlines like "Overanalyzing" and "The Shame & Guilt Issue," taking a not-so-subtle swipe at "trashy" women's magazines focused on sex and relationships.

The parody offers articles titled, 'Tone Your Butt~Until You Are Hot Enough To Be Offended When Guys Appreciate It', 'Sex, Your Doing It Wrong, Damnit', 'Mediocre Sex Now~3, 295,761 Tips', 'Sexy Touch~Tickle His Prostrate With An Egg Beater' and the ever popular 'Sex, No Joke~You Need It So Bad You'd Blow A Baboon'.

I am particularly fond of the article that is attached to the magazine covers picture. 'Gaze Upon The Epic Prow Of Christina Hendricks~The Woman Your Boyfriend Masturbates To'.

I appreciate good parody and this is an excellent example.

All these magazines prey on woman who want to look like the image being sold by fashion designers with there perfect little flawless models. Many woman, in their desire to have the lifestyle described by these published rags, pour millions of dollars into these magazines coffers.

In my opinion it is the flaws in a woman's look that make her interesting. Magazine cover perfection is a product of someones desire to sell magazines to a sometimes desperate female public and the photographer's ability to air brush.

My advice is to look in the mirror, see the beauty that is you, and save the money that you have been spending on these women's magazines to use on a nice vacation.

Oh! One more piece of advice. Do not come near me with an egg beater, lol.

Randy

I Am So Wrecked This Morning~~But I Feel So Good

Happy New Year Kiddies!!!

 

 

I had the more fun this New Years Eve than I have had in many years. CeeCee and I danced the night away, listened to wonderful music and laughed so hard the snorts were flowing freely.

 

A number of Second Life firsts were achieved in the wee hours of the morning. Naked tandem bicycle riding, naked greedy, naked paddle boat riding, naked scooter riding and the evenings top event naked ice skating. I can only describe my performance of naked ice skating as 'light in the loafers', lol. Seeing a naked man doing splits on ice skates, while skating on his patio, is a sight that would irreparably harm the psyche's of anyone who saw it. Thank God no one witnessed the event and hopefully there are no pictures, lol. Watching CeeCee skate around naked was a sight that made me smile though.

 

All this was accomplished without a single drop of alcohol. All was done on the power of sweet tea in the company of a good woman. Does not get any better than that!!

 

As I feel every one of my 65 Real Life years and 104 Second Life years this morning I do feel rejuvenated. To be able to act like a kid again doing all those silly things I can no longer do in Real Life lifts my spirits.

Every January 1st we have a chance to start anew. To toss aside the things that bogged us down and find a new and happier path for ourselves. The power of joy, being happy and especially laughing is rejuvenating to one's soul. To bring that new feeling into someone's life increases the benefits to our hearts and souls ten fold.

The new year will bring changes to our lives. CeeCee returns to singing with the church choir next week and I have started volunteering at a soup kitchen. I can hardly wait to travel up north to hear her sing.

We are both getting healthy. Especially now that the holidays are over and people will stop offering us things we should not eat.  My heart is ticking away nicely and I am feeling really good. CeeCee has given me the gift of feeling my youth again. Yeppers I am 65 going on 12 and loving it, lol.

Happy New Year to all the new friends I have made this year!

Happy New Year to all of the Flash Dancers!

And a very special Happy New Year to anyone I have offended in the past year!!

Randy