Pandora's Other Box

Not much to say on this one, except that it follows the other one... Some thoughts about growing up and older.  I definitely know that the best of my life is the rest of my life. I love learning, reading, doing. I like to also do my own thinking, a habit that is also losing ground amongst the following generations. And I use “following” as a specific term: not only the generations that follow ours, but also generations which have become followers of mandates dictated by public opinion and by the media marketing campaigns. Every time there is a member of the “older” generation who chooses not to sit down and let time simply take over he or she is usually seen as “cute or amazing”… the oldest grad, the oldest swimmer, the oldest runner in a marathon. Etc… The reality is that we are living much longer than our grandparents did; back in '74 when I started selling life insurance, tables would usually allow us to sell based on a mortality rate that said, unequivocally, that a normal ...

While exchanging mails with a dear person who came back into my life after 45 years (or so) we have touched on as many subjects as there may be. In the middle of one exchange, I came to realize we spent most of the available space talking about the past, and this triggered an internal response on my part. We have come to be who we are by going forward, mistakes and all, and not backwards. While our past is indeed the gist of our present, we (of the "third" age) cannot even begin to think or allow others to think that our lives are over. Far from it. I feel, and I know from discussing this not only with my friend, but others as well, that our best is yet to come. This generation of silver hairs (those who still have some hair, that is) is a far cry from other generations past.     Recently I was talking with a dearest person, with whom I have had the opportunity to communicate again after some 44 years of not having known the whereabouts of each other. Actually, we were...

You know I seldom write on political issues. However, it truly bothers me when we act as if the release of some poor folks jailed for simply trying to express their thoughts becomes a political celebratory circus, forgetting many other issues that we should be airing and questioning. We allow the sun to be covered by a well placed thumb and proceed to applaud and wistfully ignore the dirt that is convenient not to show or question. A few days ago, the Cuban government announced that it would free 52 of 75 people it jailed a couple of years back. This was the result of a joint effort of the Catholic Church leadership in Cuba, the Spanish Government and the Cuban Government. The news was, of course, very well received by many; especially those who still insist in saying that the Cuban government is a democratic government. I personally believe that in freeing these people, the government is revving up the marketing machinery to further its own cause, but also understand that 52 people...

There have been several comments on the last "cheat" entry, so I went back to the manuscript and picked up another entry, following the one previously published from this "work-in-progress". I hope you enjoy it. Next entry will be a little more up to date... :) “…There was a real interest on my part to try to help improve the insurance related corporate structures in that overall market. Most companies are owned by private stockholders, especially in the smaller countries. These are owner families whose primary interest is to make money. This is OK. However, there has to be an investment in human development in order to continue to make more money, and do so in a manner that allows those non-owners who work with the companies, to have a shot at a decent life. This holds true, especially with the continuing education of those who manage the day to day business end. This message and the delivery of all its related structures, was my mission. However, I am digress...

Life is a Yellow Brick Road of sorts. Much like the "chocklits" where you never know what the next one will be, the YBR brings you around and around, through all the little side trips of life. At the end, Who Knows What Will Be There? This title just fell from thin air unto the virtual page... :) Don’t ask me why as to the title above… I really have no idea, it just came to mind when this page opened up in its clean, empty glory. As usual, there are no concrete thoughts as to where I will be going in here, or why. I wonder, is it better to have a defined “content guide” when doing this, or is it better to simply sit at the computer and let the mind roam?. There are many issues floating in the air around my life at this time and doing this is almost like a scape from that reality, to be submerged into a different reality, sort of… What kind of “reality” should I create for this blog? I truly admire and envy those writers who can actually create worlds of fantasy, the people ...