Pandora's Other Box

A Never Ending Story…

2012-02-09T17:49:00.002-05:00

Each day thatgoes by is becoming a little more difficult to find the time to sit andwrite… Other commitments are taking more and more time…

Actually,for the last 10 days, every minute spent on this computer, is being taken awayfrom something else that “just has to be done” and, sometimes, I truly wonderjust how crucial is that whichever "just has to be done" thing is… More than not, it isreally no more pressing than anything else that wants attention and iscompeting for the available time.

Eversince this blog was started, it was billed as a “Never Ending Story”, borrowingthe concept from the title of a science fiction/fantasy film of the same name,brought out not too long ago. I did see the film; in fact, I saw it a couple oftimes, coming to like Atreus, the unwilling young hero, quite a bit. Theconcept of something that never ends is, in itself, a concept that is veryattractive and somewhat daunting. It has haunted us mortals ever since thebeginning of remembered time. Especially, whenever someone dear has died, oris close to this passing time.

Thereare those who spouse the idea that this life is all there is; there are those,perhaps a majority, who feel this is but a passing stage in our spiritualgrowth, preparing us for either another go-round (sort of “do it again, until you get it right!”) or for thatpromised land of everlasting peace and joy. Yes, Promised Land, for Ipersonally do believe this promise not to refer to an actual piece of land onthis earth but, being a figure of speech, it refers to a better worldsomewhere, in another plane.

Recently,I was involved in a conversation with a couple of young people, one of whom isa Mormon; let’s call her Mary. We were talking about a probable realm in the“ether” somewhere, where spirits roam and where there may be points at which itmay be possible to cross from that (or those, for that matter) realm(s) tothis physical one. As the conversation progressed along these lines and thethird person and I were relating some experiences which truly defy logic orexplanation, based on our “logical” mind, Mary became agitated and started tosay that this is not possible for, according to her religion, spirits -once gone- are notempowered to come near this physical plane.

Now,I am more than willing to listen to rebuttals and to dissenting opinions towhichever thoughts I may be espousing at any given time. I am not saying that Iwill change my mind, mind you… but listen to them I will. If the opposingargument is coherent and well presented (andI am not saying mine necessarily are, by the way) my thoughts may beswayed… but not broken. I know… I know… very petty of me!!

What is very difficult to accept; in fact, isnot acceptable to me, is when someone tells me: “this is so because mypreacher, deacon, priest, rabbi, minister, imam… etc… said so”. That argument,to me, will hold not a drop of water. Everyone has the right of his/herconvictions, but if I base my own convictions solely on those of another humanbeing, I have to accept that these may well be flawed. By historicaldemonstration we, human beings, are flawed creatures.

TheMeakanbut, a nomadic people of

Papua New Guinea

live in caves, in a remote partof this mountainous, very unforgiving island country. They are known to have beencannibals somewhere along their history… Yet, their handed down sacred historyof their beginnings talks about how Api, the Earth Great Spirit who wanted to populate the earth, cracked thefloor of the sacred cave Kopao, allowing the people to come out from the darknessbelow. The people then lived in stone caves, hunting, fishing and living offthe land. Life was calm and beautiful. Menand women lived in separate caves until one day, one hunter hid and went intothe women’s cave, having sex with one of them. The others, on coming back to camp, sensed thatsomething was wrong. Feelings of hatred, jealousy, angerand sadness were felt for the first time, leading man to bad things… The story goes on… The reason I put ithere, is because it is incredibly close to what we are told by biblical stories were the beginningsof men, including Paradise and the fall fromgrace. Yet, these nomadic people were NOT discovered until the 1960’s, notreally allowing for outside influence in their handed down history.Coincidental? You tell me…

Ourinterpretation of sacred history is just that: interpretation. We are todaytenth… fortieth or perhaps further away generational witnesses, living our beliefs through a related history others have recorded and, at times, re-written along the way. And, PLEASE… I am not saying these beliefsare, or are not, true… if they are true to you, then they are. All I say isthat while we listen to whoever has been chosen to be our spiritual leader, wemust retain the ability to think, to question and to accept on our own terms ofunderstanding.

Thestory goes on and, indeed, it never ends.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Vertical Inertia…

2012-02-07T18:40:00.002-05:00

This is thestatus in which my mind is at the time… Not much going on, despite the effortsto the contrary.

Severalyears ago a friend of mine who lived in NYC owned a Citroen. Actually, he, hiswife and children lived in a little known enclave of the Bronx, called City Island.This was, back then, an almost bucolic like place with a main avenue,appropriately called City Island Avenue, going down the center of the island(yes, Virginia, it is an island!!), all the way to the end restaurant and flanked by a number of houses facing the small streets branching off eitherside of the avenue.

Well…that is just a mental picture of this place. His name was (I hope it is still…) Ira; a good Jewish name for a good Jewish man.I have not spoken with Ira in almost 40 years… In fact, one of the last times Isaw him was at my citizenship swearing in ceremony, where he was my sponsor andwitness. I remember him for this … and I remember Ira’s Citroen… Bertie. Forthose of you who do not know this French standard, it is a car which relied muchon a number of hydraulic systems within the frame… whenever the owner shut itdown for the night, the system would shut down and actually lower the caralmost to a sleeping position, with the snout almost resting on the ground. Weused to joke that it went to sleep faster then the owner, well known to be upuntil the wee hours of the morning. We also had a running joke that, wheneverthe car broke down, Ira had to call his mechanic … and also the plumber tocheck the car fluids.

Bertie, in White dress...

Iraloved his car; a 1970 or so Citroen berlina, and it was a badge of sorts; ittook him to and from New York (actually,being in NY already, I should say “took him to Manhattan”) where, in thosedays, you could still find parking spaces on the streets; not like today, whena parking garage will charge you $15-25 to put away your chariot for theday. That black car (very French back then… a black car) was,as far as Ira believed, a living, breathing thing. Certainly it was acantankerous item; wont to function as it would, not necessarily as the poorIra would want it to.

Everyso often, when we would come to drop off typewritten work (my first wife was a medical transcriptionist and all her work camethrough Ira’s wife) there would be poor Ira, staring down into the open mawof this creature, trying to figure out which one of the hundred hoses or sowithin the hydraulic system was the culprit for the car remaining in the “rest”position… And every time, he swore this would be the last day for the bloodycar (actually, the language used todepict the car was a lot more colorful…) to test his nerves and his wallet.The car, almost as if knowing this was pure bluff, remained quietly there withthe hood up, waiting for a dental inspection that never comes.

A Favorite Sunday Lunch

One summer Sunday, around 2 in the afternoon or so, we were heading out to theisland. Our plan was to drop off the work, chat for a while with Ira and hiswife and then head down to the restaurant at the end of the avenue in order tohave a favorite lunch: fried clams, fried scallops, French fries and a coldbeer. Oh yeah… and a good home made Bronx creamcheese pie for dessert, flushed with a nice big cup of coffee… Back in theearly 70’s we youngsters did not worry much about diet, you see…

Aswe approached the bridge that would bring us into the island (the only way in and out of the island, otherthan the ferry for people) we noticed there was some sort of a problem, fortraffic had stopped… As we seemed to be close to the source of the problem, Igot off the car and walked a few steps towards the bridge, to a place fromwhich I could see what was going on… and, there they were!!

The Bridge into City Island

Onthe right lane, sat big black Bertie, its maw wide open (an image I had grown accustomed to…) and poor Ira kicking the fronttire in a fit of fury, while holding auseless screwdriver in his hand… I saw this and had to laugh… doing so wellbefore I reached this tableau, for I was afraid Ira would try to puncture mewith the screwdriver if I did laugh out loud while next to him…

“ThisBloody G… Damn car…!!!” said he, not very quietly… “All it does is go up, down and sideways, but it won’t go forwardS ORBACKWARDS!!!” Seems that the infamous hydraulic system had caused theengine to stop, while retaining enough pressure to show some vestige of life ina manner that was not of much help to poor Ira…

Alongwith a couple of friendly neighbors, we managed to push the car out of the way,into a street parking lot. We then took Ira home and, as his wife lit into him(she was not a fan of that old car)we kind of snuck out and went on to fulfill our previously laid plans… And,yes… poor Bertie was put to rest after that Sunday afternoon.

Perhapssome of my internal hydraulic system is not working well… my mind (what’s leftof it…) seems to be going up, down and sideways but there is not much forward movement… I sathere and thought about Bertie and his master of sorts, Ira…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

2012-02-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

[Perception] “The process of using the senses to acquireinformation about the surrounding environment or situation”

Indeed! While every one of us is endowed withthis particular capability, it seems that each and every one of us istotally convinced that his/her perception of any situation is not only thecorrect one, but perhaps the only one.

While it seems that it would be virtuallyimpossible for the above statement to be true… Ask yourself... Have I talked to someonelately about something about which we do not agree? If the other person’s idea orperception of that given situation differs from your own, most likely you willassume that person to be wrong; funny thing, so will he/she thinkabout your perception or idea.

Perception...
In the eye of the "perceiver"

Whyis this? I am not really sure; to answer this would assume an understandingof the human race and that, friends, is far beyond my scope. And this goes onlyfor the male half, to which I belong. If we were to include the “other half”, Iwould have to echo Mr. Steve Hawkins’s (heof Black Holes and others fame) thoughts on the matter. When asked ifthere was a mystery he had not been able to unravel yet, he simply answered:“yes, women”. So there you have it… animpossible quest for a mere human like me.

Backto perceptions…

Areour senses truly able to perceive reality? There is a school of scientificthought that tells us this: Our eyes see only the reflection of light onsurfaces, creating an image of what is received. Our tactile sensors can only transmit a perceived feeling of solidity and texture when they touch a foreign body. Ourhearing only receives air waves which it processes and translates into sound… ditto for ournasal and gustatory perceptions. In effect, we hear from these studious mindsthat these perceptions are but mere reflections of that which might be real. On signals receipt and processing, our minds then give substance to these perceptions,creating the substitute reality which reflects that which is about us.

Bet if you were "up there"
the perception would not be as funny

Thepreceding is on the physical plane. What happens within the mind? Within thatarea which defines us as who we are?

Weseem to know even less about this. Perceptions allow two individuals who have,in essence, sprouted from the same womb and were reared by the same parents, tobe totally different. Where one perceives white or black, the other may perceivedifferent shades of gray. All coming from the same stimuli.

Thismorning, we had an interesting mini discussion in class. Nothing to do withEnglish, mind you… just with out of ordinary issues. We touched upon the subjectof the “paranormal” with a couple of us, including yours truly, relating acouple of the experiences had over the years; to a degree, I have shared withyou on these posts some of the ones I have lived. The absolute perception ofone person on one side of the discussion was that this “just did not exist”because “spirits are not allowed to be around us mortals”. Is her “perception”of these issues right? I don’t know, they were based on her religion; I, as didthe other person sharing her stories with us, could only express what I hadexperienced along the way and, most definitely, my own perceptions are verymuch colored by those moments lived.

Depending on who you are...
you may or not want to play again...

Whichperceptions are valid and which are not? I believe they all are. The fact theymay be different, will not disqualify any; it only reflects those years livedand experienced by each one; the ones we enjoyed and the ones we survived. Ihave been told at times that my memory fails me when I see others suffer.Apparently, while feeling bad for them, I seem to forget the bad moments Ilived. I perceive life as beautiful, no matter what the circumstances may be orwhat they may have been. If they are currently not the best, I firmly believethey will improve, and work to that end; if the difficult moments are in thepast, then they are gone and finished.

Perceptions…they are dangerously unique as is right, for we are each different and uniqueindividuals. Yet, perceptions, in their uniqueness and in our unfortunateinability to accept and respect those which are in disagreement with our own,may take us at times do and/or say hurting things.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Today is Wednesday…

2012-02-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

By the aboveheading, I guess I’m running out of working titles after some 250 entries…

Nomatter, a title is just a mini introduction to whatever comes behind… or below…as is the case here. It is the primary body of art that is important. Well, OK,the bunches of written lines that follow this shaky start.

Asusual, when there is a lacking start such as this, we (Royal “We”, remember?) just sit here and type away, often not eventruly looking at the page or what is there, so engrossed is the mind in what istrying to churn out. Then, at the end, I come back and read the black and whiterendering all over again; at times little is done to change it, at other times…it goes into the little virtual trash can ensconced on the upper left corner ofthe screen. My God… I just realized that if this can were real and not virtual,the crumpled paper heap would be way over my head… Not a flattering thought.

Iwonder if all the great writers (allright… I’m NOT including myself in this bunch… Please!!!) went throughperiods of blankness of mind. I guessthis is what is called “writer’s block”… I remember there was a time whenTruman Capote went on the Johnny Carson show to cry about being in the midst ofone of these periods. It must have lasted a long time, for he failed to writemuch after these confessions. Another great one who suffered from these blocksand tried to cure himself by drinking every ounce of alcohol in sight, was the late,great Papa Hemingway. To him we owe the“Mojito”, the rum-lemonade- sugar drink; he was quite a character, by allaccounts of those who professed to know him.

WheneverI read an interesting book or story, one of the admiring questions I always hadin mind… even as a child, was: “What would it feel to be able to conjure up awhole world, with flora, fauna and people (arewe sheltered under the concept of “fauna”?), sometimes to include a new anddifferent language (as in “The Lord ofthe Rings where there were several developed languages, to include a written version,or perhaps “Klingonese” from the Star Trek universe) just fascinates me… themind it takes to do these creations, must indeed be incredible!

Irealize that my mind flies –at the drop of a hat- in many directions, sometimesat once, managing to create a very confusing kaleidoscope of imagery whichactually makes sense only to the producer… that’s me. After reading some of theentries along the way, this somewhat cloudy vision has tried to come through onmore than one occasion, although this multiple direction imagery is verydifficult to put into words. At least words that can help the reader visualizewhat is being represented. And if I can’t help you visualize the image, thengoing there makes no sense at all.

So,we sit here and try to put some of these thoughts into words while reviewingdifferent happenings of the last three or four days. Some of which can beunderstood… some others, frankly, fall into that category under the heading “tobe looked at later… much later” and are thus filed away. Probably never to bedug up again… or so I think.

Whatmakes a story worth telling? Actually, it is my belief that all stories deservea chance, no matter how trivial they may seem at the time of their actualhappening. What is the old saying? Whatmay be trivial to one person, to another is the essence of life… or somethinglike this. I know, for a fact, thatwriting these entries is important for me. Yet, there are a few for whom thisis viewed as a total waste of time, for there is no money involved… for thesefolk, there is no gain to be perceived. Yet, for me, there is an incrediblegain. Thinking time… time which allows me to get into a thought process andleave all else behind, at least for the 45 or 60 minutes it may take tocomplete an entry. This is good time… for me, anyway.

Itis now time to put away the computer keys… in other, older times, we would havesaid “the pen and paper”… duty calls and so I must heed this call… At somepoint in the future we will follow this line, to see where it goes. It mayactually prove to be interesting. Then, there are other times when some morepostcards will be in the making… Hang in there with me!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The French Kiss…

2012-01-31T17:34:00.000-05:00

Caught yourattention with the above title…?

Well…I'm sorry to tell your overworked mind that this has nothing to do with theimage that may be occupying your imagination by now!! In fact, it really has nothing to do withmuch of anything that is overtaxing my own mind and imagination right now.

Thereis really little to add to what has not been said yet… Yesterday morning myappointment book showed a date with my urology MD, residing in Salisbury, NC,some 60 miles away from here. The reason being that my treatment will becontinued by the VA doctor instead of the outside MD who had been seeing me.Cut cutting measures, I assume. I hadsome misgivings, since the original MD had truly earned my trust, besideactually taking the measures which, most likely, saved my life. But… “Dondemanda Capitán… no manda soldado”… an old Spanish saying that says: “When theCaptain speaks, the soldier keeps quiet” or, something to that effect. And so, I boarded my car and headed out to Salisbury.

Oncethere, the Physician’s Assistant who received me, asked:

-“Whyare you here?”

-“Whatdo you mean?” and he proceeded to tell me…-“Don’t you live in Charlotte?”…

-“Yes,I do” said I, not really knowing where this was going…

-“Well,we have an urologist who works out of the Charlotteoutpatient center”…

-“Ohh?”“Is that so?” was my brilliant reply…

-“Yep”said Michael the PA. “Would you like to continue your treatment over there?” heasked…

-“OfCourse!!” was my reply… “after all,. It takes almost one and a half hours toget here…”

Theconversation continued on this vein, while he was taking and writing notes onthe computer. After we had some “shop” talk about Spain (turns out his grandmother had lived in Spain… not that it had anythingto do with my being there but…), he added: “As long as you are here, let’sget your blood for a PSA test”… then he said: “If you don’t hear from me in thenext 5 business days, then just make an appointment with the MD in Charlottefor 6 months from now”… “if there is anything wrong, I will contact you”

AsI turned to go out the door, I told him: “Mike… I like you a lot but don’treally want to hear from you again anytime soon” He just smiled and waved meoff… could almost swear I heard him say “next!”…

Justwanted to add a couple of thoughts:

Thereis much being said about the lack of services available to the veterans,alleged poor quality, etc. Perhaps in some cases there may be some cause tocomplain but, every time I go to the hospital or the clinic to get somethingdone, there are always a large number of veterans being helped in one way oranother. The doctors do their utmost and most everyone with whom I deal whilethere, are very helpful and courteous. Ican bet my bottom dollar that their pay scale is not comparable to equivalentjobs in the private sector. So, Thank You!

Theother thought is a little more “personal”, if this is possible. Back in thelate 60’s and early 70’s, when those of us who had been in the service cameback to civilian life, we were made to feel unwelcome by many, in far too manyinstances. We were in the middle of the “flower movement” and the “give peace achance” movement; these viewpoints did not allow much in the way of tolerancefor those who, according to them, had taken part in the “unmentionableconflict”: Viet Nam.However, most of those who went to VN, including several who did not make itback, did so in order to serve their country; most, before going there, did notprobably even know where this bloody peninsula was located.

Ithas taken almost 4 decades to put a zipper to many feelings which were notgood; in fact, for too many of the young people who came back, these memoriesand feelings overwhelmed their daily lives to the point of actually undoingthem emotionally for many years. It is right that every time we get a piecefrom veteran’s admin, even on the bills for the co-pays, there is always amessage that reads: “We give you the service you earned and thank you for yourservice on behalf of our country”. Perhaps this little gem is the result ofsome marketing guy’s brainstorm but, it feels good to read this.

Ifyou have a veteran in your family of circle of friends, let him or her knowthat you appreciate the time and the risks taken… the vet will understand. Andappreciate it highly.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

From Time To Time…

2012-01-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

This has beenan iffy week in which to write. The time seems to evaporate right before myeyes and then, tiredness sets in…

Thedays go by and the moments in which the time is available to sit and write,other priorities come up and the computer slips away from my sight, with thepromise made, looking over my shoulder as I walk away that… “Tomorrow I’ll getto you… for sure!”

But,tomorrow comes and it becomes another yesterday, full of little holes andlittle chunks of time which are taken up by the daily chores and problems;then, there are those problems which come from nowhere and go… nowhere! They just stay and lay siege to the mind andbody. On the other hand, these createtime for reflection and for making some internal, visceral decisions as totime, place and space…

Why? When? Where?... How? Questions that come and go, filling in the quiet momentswith a virtual cacophony which, if allowed, will bury all that surrounds insilence.

Anold friend that had not been around for a few years has come by to visit. No,it is not a he or a she… rather, it is an “it”. One of the vestiges of severalyears of smoke filled air and laboring lungs. It seems that it relishes to takea hold of my breathing system every few years, occupying my lungs for a coupleof days, just to remind me of how at one time I ravaged my own body… my breathbecomes short and a little labored, not unlike those times when a beautifulsight makes one gasp for air… except there is no beautiful sight… in sight. It isa bout of bronchitis… the added problem is that it usually irritates my throatto the point where my voice goes into a sultry, sexy whisper… but there is noaccompanying feeling of sexiness, just a headache.

Itis said that there is no worse fanatic than one who has been converted… If mynegative feelings towards tobacco smoking are an indication, then this is mostcertainly true. To me, there is no worse sight than someone who is voluntarilyfilling his/her chest cavity with smoke from the so called “cancer stick”, orany variant thereof.

Theimage which at some time in the past was sold in movies and ads (I am sure with a strong degree of backingfrom the tobacco companies) in which the hero and the heroine wereexchanging smoke filled breaths as their growing romance came to a breathless (pun intended!) kissing climax, is long gone.Today, if someone comes at me with that same smoke filled breath that years agomight have been considered “sexy”, I would most likely turn my head and startcoughing.

Well,it seems the thinking process is also somewhat clouded by this growing chest infection,so this will be a short entry today. Take care of yourself and of your body…until cryonic sciences take a giant leap forward, it is the only one youwill have!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The State of Dis-Union.

2012-01-25T14:53:00.000-05:00

Every year wehear how well we are doing as a nation, except none of us day to day hard working folk (well... those who do have jobs) seem to realize it…

Lastnight, as we do every year about this time, the President of these UnitedStates came on the tube and proceeded to tell us all about the perceived (by him and his supporters) good thisadministration had been able to achieve in the 3 years of stewardship they haveaccrued. Of course, the purpose of this is to begin the long trek which awaitsall involved in this upcoming election process (voters included).

Whenevermy tired ears listen to this type of speech, the brain begins a number ofgyrations, trying desperately to make some street, day-to-paying bills daysense out what is being heard and that which is being lived by those whom I know at the trench level.It seems that the different wars are over except for Afghanistanand, who knows, maybe

Iran

and/or whatever nation needs to survive a shelling in order to have some peer recognition…

Theeconomy is still in shambles but, when the “imagespeak” folk (those who are in charge of creating, nurturingand cleaning the President’s image at all times) get through with theirbrand of language cleansing and de-bugging, what finally comes out is a mixtureof googly gook and double speak… with a few recognizable words put in every sooften so as to have us think this is the actual topic of reference… whatever itmay be, because I already forgot.

Ouractual President, like all others before him, was quick to blame all perceivedand/or real ills on the previous administration. And, of course, any and allachievements were due exclusively to his foresight and cunning, as well as tothe incredible forte of his supporting cast. Why is it that We, The People,keep on swallowing this junk, when we full well know that words are easy andcheap (talk to me about it!!) and what should be judged are the actual results whichcan be fully attributable to the mandated POTUS. Fact is that a few of thepromises made were maintained while a majority was not.

Whenthis is questioned, then we are told that “The Other Party” folk have heldprogress in check. My question is simple: “The Other Party” in question hasonly had control of certain parts of the legislative body since the mid termelections (themselves a good indicator of the people’s not-so-good feelings at the time)…What happened during the first two years when not “The Other”, but The SameSide Party had control? Even these folk perceived that several of theinitiatives could easily get out of control. The POTUS own party blocked them,not “The Other Party”…

Then,of course, we had the follow up rebuttal from “The Other Party” and, again, nothing newhere. Except the focus was on those issues not attended and on those promisesnot kept. Otherwise, the same condescending lecture was heard. In the end, itcomes down to a “Vote For ME and Not For Him” spiel.

We,The People, have some strong issues to review and, once the primary rubble iscleared and we know who will be contending on behalf of “The Other Party” (since we already know who will do so for the“ruling” party) we have to take a hard look at what is being espoused onboth sides and also at the history of how much has been actually accomplished.We have already lived three years under the actual president. The question isthen… Do we want four more years of the same? Or, on the other hand… do we wantto try a course which has already been tried before and has its own littleunderwater rocks and shoals which could render the ship inoperable?

Isit a question of philosophy?... Is it a question of leanings?... Is it a question ofpreferences?... Is it a question of political knowledge?... Do we blindly go full speed ahead and “damn the torpedoes”?... Do we adjustand change course, accepting that these necessary changes may cause some shortterm hurting, but will help in the long term?

Noteasy questions and not easy, off the cuff answers here. We, as a nation, are ina delicate state at this time; more so than we have been in many years. Yet weare, despite all the shortcomings, still one of the world’s primary economies andbetter risks, but the overall picture of world economies is far from what itmay have been in the past. It went from rosy pretty to somewhat patched upgray. We could say that in a world of blindness, we are still one eyed…

Whoever may be leading this grand ship in the next few years will need to talk less and domore. And whichever “The Other Party” is, needs to antagonize less andcooperate more. The needs and wants of the “cronies” will have to be set asideso that the need and wants of We, The People, take a priority place. And we have to let them know what these are...

These,in effect, are the only issues that must occupy that priority place.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Facing Cancer…

2012-01-20T13:36:00.003-05:00

This piece wassometime in coming; the sinking feeling that overwhelms a person whenconfronted with the reality of this unwanted visitor, is really unfathomable.

Whywrite about this now? Not really sure; perhaps because there are some dear friendswho are now battling this illness and, no matter how “minor” (if any cancer could ever be called so)it may be, the potentially lethal attacker must be taken very seriously…

Accordingto the several conversations held with my medical advisors since the fatefuldiscovery, my understanding is that cancer apparently feeds on, amongst otherthings, the states of the mind and body of the victim. The morepressure and stress the person is under on a regular basis, the more batteredthe defense mechanism becomes. The more battered this vital function of thebody becomes, the easier it is to contract a number of diseases one of which being,apparently, cancer. This is not the only reason; in fact, our science guysstill have no real handle on all possible causes.

Abouttwo weeks after an insurance exam took place some four years ago, my wife (who also worked out of the same office)asked me to meet with her at the Director’s office. There, I found out that Ihad been turned down for the increased coverage requested. My PSA values wereright at the “possible” prostate cancer level… needless to say, it was a “coldwater in the gut” feeling.

Afollow up visit to a specialist was scheduled and the diagnosis wasconfirmed: the cancer had invaded 60% of my prostate and it was at level “3”. Afterthe initial shock had worn off, I actually had a strange, peaceful feeling. It has to beadded that at no time during the process did I ever have the thought, evenremotely, that this situation would either get worse or end my life. Due to financialand personal issues, actual treatment was not started until 16 months later,after a change of living venue and my acceptance into the Veteran’s Health caresystem.

Bythis time, the cancer had become an aggressive “Gleason 9” level invader. Butthanks to, I am sure, the guiding hand of The Father it never was able tospread, being totally contained in the prostate gland. I was very lucky; moreso than many others. Different treatments were discussed, and surgery was ruledout at that time. Instead, an aggressive radiation treatment was chosen, with60 sessions in the machine I eventually came to call “The Little EarthboundEnterprise”. All I could hear during the treatments were the zips and zaps ofthe laser beams going into my body, attacking the “Klingon Cells”. After thesetreatments the tumor had, literally, disappeared and to insure (as much as this could be "insured") a non-return, a twoyear testosterone suppressant implant was put into my arm; testosterone is themost accelerating multiplier factor to prostate cancer cells… anywhere in thebody these cells may be found. All subsequent tests have given a “0.0” result,telling me that, for the moment, I am free of this immediate threat.

Allthe above was the technical stuff. Oh, yes… also had three non-relatedsurgeries including a hip replacement in that span of time. Talk about a“makeover”… But, what about the non-technical, non medical stuff?

Ifyou read these posts regularly, you know I am a firm believer in the spiritual aspect oflife; religious specifics aside. I had met people before who on finding outthey had cancer, allowed their minds to shut down, bringing on a sometimesneedless, early death. I had also met, and continue to meet, people whose mindsrefuse to give up, even in the face of certain death. From the first I learned whatnot to do; from the second I learned that we, as functioning minds and spirits,have the choice to face adversity and fight for what we believe is our right tolife. We either give up and allow this insidious enemy an outright win, or westand and give our side all we are, giving ourselves the opportunity to win orperhaps even to draw, earning the right to stay on a while longer.

Noteven for a moment did I allow myself to feel like the fight might be lost; itjust was not in the cards. While waiting for my treatment sessions, I met manywho were in much worse shape than I; some were hopeful and positive, otherswere defeated and angry. Then, there was also the factor “Faith”. Not just onthe scientific methods, but on the Spiritual Hands I felt and received everyday, at every moment. So much so, that during the treatments I actually had avery restful and peaceful nap… to the surprise of the techs… In living thisprocess, I learned that there is strength in our hearts, just waiting to befound… also found and felt hope in the midst of the darkest moments; moments of near despairwhen our minds is all we have... we then know, when the mind refuses to give up, that we have a real chance to fight on.

Mostimportant, I also learned that there is indeed a Higher Entity who is willingto listen, to comfort us, to give us His love and to carry us in His arms… ifwe would only allow Him to. This is my belief; does not have to be yours… but Iam fully convinced of this, beyond any reasonable or unreasonable doubt.

Havethere been side effects from the different treatments? Of course there havebeen… Some discomfort remains in the lower abdomen from the Zapping attacks…and testosterone is the so-called “male hormone”; in suppressing it there areunwanted side effects which will last for two or three years… on the otherhand, I will be here at the end of those two or three years to fight on; a fact that mightnot be true otherwise. For us men, it is important not only to be able to hearour hearts and guts, but also to think with the head we carry on our shoulders…if you get my drift.

Ifyou have been diagnosed with cancer, get help. It should not necessarily become the end ofyour world. Believe in your own strength and in the strength of your mind andheart; also believe you are not alone, if you only allow Our Father and His SonJesus to accompany you and to hold your hands. If you have faith, do not loseit… on the contrary, make it stronger.

Onthe non-spiritual plane, get yourself the best doctor you can get. This doesnot mean someone who charges the most for services; it means a doctor whoinspires trust and confidence in you. This is an incredibly important aspect ofany kind of treatment, cancer included; if you have trust and confidence on thephysician who treats you, your mind will be much more at ease and thetreatments will have a much higher probability of succeeding. Ask questions ofyour medical support team and expect an answer, a complete answer.

Thisentry could go on but I think the message I wanted to get across has beenexplored: Your positive attitude and your faith, along with the treatments youphysician prescribes, will be your strongest allies in a fight and potential win against thismalignant, unwanted visitor...

If you have a friend who is in the midst of this fight,support him or her. You may be the one to give your friend the strength neededto succeed…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Some Feedback.

2012-01-19T14:24:00.003-05:00

Comments aboutyesterday’s note as well as some questions about what has been written.

Thankyou, once again, not only for reading the blog but for also taking the time toreact to it. Your comments, especially when you tell me about some similarexperiences or when you have a question, are truly well received. This blog as you knowby now, I’m sure, started as a way to put some memories together; memorieswhich were a bit of a collective dust room, a sample of what many who were thenchildren, like myself, lived through in leaving behind a lifetime and family,and coming –sometimes albeit reluctantly- to face a new life, a new world and avery uncertain future.

Whenyou ask me whether the people and experiences I write about are real, the answer is aresounding… Yes! From Rosie, my befriended young lady friend from a verydifferent world than the one from which I came, to el Tío Eusebio, my grandparents... friends from the neighborhood, to theladies from yesterday’s piece… the factory workers who were almost an extendedfamily… They were all real, flesh and blood people. Some were family, somewere friends and some have been acquaintances met over roads traveled.

Remember“Pata’e Plancha”, the man who came to the rum factory door to get his dailyfix? He was a very real person; a hard working, hard drinking man who came froma very low social strata and a very simple, good man. One factor does notpreclude the other, or vice versa; some of the most selfish, unthinking and worstbehaving people I have had the displeasure of meeting over the years have comefrom very rarified and, supposedly, well educated social circles.

Acouple of days ago I was on the phone with a friend who lives in Spain. We weretalking about the country and its very complex people make up. Although I havehad the chance to spend sometime in Spain,it has been mostly in Madrid, the central mesetaaround this city, and the area around Barcelona.My friend lives in Vigo, on the North West coast of Galicia. He asked me if I knew thearea and I answered: I have never personally been around there, but in my mindI know many of the nooks and crannies of Asturias,the principality just east of

Galicia

“Howcome you think you know these areas?” he asked, knowing I had never been upthere. “Because” I answered him, “my grandfather came from Asturias, and he used to tell me many detailed stories ofhis little piece of Spain”.To the point that, without having physically visited, I could probable describea good part of this area, including the culture… In a few of the earlierentries, Asturiashas indeed been the focus of the notes.

Iremember

Cuba

,as if it was only yesterday that we parted (wasn't it?) not 50 years ago. Ofcourse, the brighter memories relate to Cienfuegos, my hometown, as well asCruces, the little nearby town where my mother moved after re-marrying; a smallcountry town where I lived for some years and where I left many friends and also where my radio related lifelong love affair began inearnest, when I was about 13 years old. There are many other places vividlyremembered as well. My grandfather, who was my rearing father, saw to it that Ibecame acquainted with my country of birth. For this, and many other lovingreasons, I am indebted to him.

Thoseshared memories about séances and spiritual moments which to this day, from alogic perspective remain unexplained, are very real. It was a different worldthan the one in which we live today; many issues which were accepted as“normal”, are often shunned now. Mostly, I think, because we tend to be afraidof what we do not understand or cannot explain in regular terms; I did go tothose séances and I did participate in them. It was part of our society and ofour culture, and it wasn’t dangerous to me at any time.

Yet,those memories and the very personal moments and happenings I have experienced in this very esoteric area, in the intervening years , have helped me accept thatwe do not know everything that coexists with us on this, or one of severalpossible planes; and also, the fact that if we cannot explain something away inour human terms, does not make it any less possible. Or real.

Overthe years I have been blessed in many ways. Traveling around the world due tomy work, took me to many places that had been a dream of mine to visit. Manypeople whom I met, coming from myriads of walks of life, cultures and nations,strengthened my faith in the fact that man (and,yes, woman) is, in general terms, a good being. Also, in the fact (to me, anyway) that there is a guidinghand belonging to a higher entity; a hand attached (spiritually speaking) to a sentient being who guides us, nurturesus and helps us through those very difficult moments. If we, that is, allow Himto do so in faith.

So,to answer your notes and questions… yes, what you see in these entries isreally a part of myself and my life, which I share with you willingly formaybe, my experience may help you in a difficult moment, or make your day alittle better in some way. I hope you enjoy it in the same vein and also I hopethat when you read something which may sound a little “strange” to you, you may be willing to accept it at face value and in the same good faith it was offered.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Unforgettable Characters Gallery…

2012-01-18T17:07:00.001-05:00

Irma and Maria…The Booby Twins…

No,it wasn’t a “typo”… these were their call to fame. As mentioned elsewhere, andmore than once, my grandfather’s home –where I was raised- was in the olderpart of town; it was close to Parque Martí which was, in our town, theequivalent of Central Park. A bit smaller thanthe one in New York…by about 75%. Well, this was anon-capital city in the Third World, right?...OK, OK… a two square block space, nicely built up with trees, benches, walks,statues and all that stuff… But definitely older than the other one.

A partial view of the Park

Ourhome, a byproduct of the early 1920’s, maybe even from earlier times, was oneof those older, long homes; the kind that filled block after block of the oldersection of the inner cities of the then time and place. If you can visualizeit, there is (yes, it is still there; alittle down on its luck, but still useful as a home to, I think, two otherfamilies) a short entry way, about 18 feet long. To the right of this, sitswhat would be known as the “sala”, the formal receiving/living room where the“better” folk who came a’calling were received.

Then,the entryway opened into a big, square room. On the left, a library (we were introduced to books and reading at avery early age!!) covering the complete wall and to center and right, theopen area of the “saleta” (a colloquialdiminutive for “sala”, the more formal term) where everyone else would bereceived and where we, the children of the manse were allowed to play. These tworeceiving areas were divided by a center wall, which covered about 55% of thespace between the two; the remaining open space was covered by one of thosethings which opens up as a divider, creating the illusion of a more solid walland thus, in a manner of speaking, keeping that illusion of a well measured distancebetween any formal visitor and the riff-raff (that was me).

Beyond,it was our world, where we played during the time we were at the house. Picturea long rectangle and draw a dividing line down the centre of said rectangle; onthe right side, the space would be split into squares, representing bedrooms,dining area, bathroom, junk room and kitchen at the end. On the left side, along open space broken by trees, small canteros (planting areas) and not muchelse. That was the inner courtyard… well, OK, patio. Great for skating, makebelieve races, superheroes hanging from the mango trees and whatever else theimagination could muster. Overlooking this world of mine, and perching atop theliving room of the neighboring house like a lookout tower, was a small squarewhich contained a two bedroom apartment.

Thereinrested the object(s) of this entrée: two sisters, Irma and María. They were intheir mid twenties, but older looking due to the relatively harsh life paththey had chosen. María had come back from “El Norte” or, The North, which isthe name we gave to the US (It is north of Cuba, right?). She had lived inNew York for some time and through her Ilearned about Spanish Harlem long, long before it became a pass through on mydaily route to Mid Manhattan from Connecticut.

Shehad been a prostitute in the city (notyet “The Big Apple” then) for a few years, using her body to subsidizeliving the American Dream, whatever it may have been in those days. She wasdark haired and actually not bad looking. Her younger (by a couple of years) sister Irma had stayed behind, dying slowlyin the Cuban Dream, whatever that mayhave been in those days. The one thing in common with her older sister was thatshe also used her body to pursue her own goals. And in the venues she did, thewear and tear was much more apparent.

Inthe summertime, during the early afternoon hours, the windows overlooking ourlittle inner world opened up and they would each be filled with one of theladies in question. Being sunny and warm, they would be sporting what justmight be considered the absolute minimum necessary to cover their upper body,their breasts cascading over the lower window sill like four (yes, two each) flowing rivers of flesh… Inretrospect I could even understand the price they supposedly fetched… As theywould see me down below, their arms would wave… and so would the barely coveredbreasts hanging over their corresponding sills… Waving banners worth followinginto battle.

Bothsisters were actually funny/sad ladies, their daily trade notwithstanding… We did strike a neighborly friendship (yes…just that... wipe that smirk off your face!!) and would often sit by theirdoor stoop and talk about life in the US (most definitely a very different life than the one I have found here)and also about some of their encounters with some of their more unusual clients.They way in which they would tell the stories made them funny and also made meforget their origin and harshness, and we would laugh about these happenings…

Mygrandmother, poor soul… she wasn’t very happy about this door to door acquaintancebut curiosity won over rules and I think that in getting to know these twosisters, the way was opened to a bittersweet friendship that has already beenexplored in these entries, and which came to pass later on, when I went to workat the family factory.

Timewent on and, eventually, my moment to leave all these incredible, crediblepeople came to pass. They were all left behind... Irma, Maria, Rosie (the youngfriend from the latter days) and a bevy of others who, in one way or another populated my life during these rather scrambled times. Each one has a story to tell and was a story lived, some a bit closer to my heart than others butall real, flesh and blood people.

Thereare many occupants of this character gallery… most gave me something alongthe way which contributed, in one way or another, to the make up of who Iam today.

So,to the Booby Twins, wherever you are… keep those things covered and in check!!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter… @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Time Flies When You are Having Fun… …and even when you are not!!!

2012-01-17T14:21:00.000-05:00

Howoften do we hear this little gem!!! How indicative of a total lack ofsubject(s) about which to talk when this (and others like this little accepted“truism”) is put on the table as the topic of continued conversation… as itwere.

Thismorning my mind was wandering –nothing new there- about all the years that havecome and gone since the time my sister and I left our little (well, not solittle…) island country. The reason for the creeping thought? As my Facebookopened up, the first notation in it was the pre-advise, I guess this is what itwas, about the fact that the 50^th High School class reunion iscoming up in two short years. OMG!!! I can’t believe it is almost 50 yearssince that day, back in the mists of time, when the green bound diploma foundits way into my hands…

Togrumble and complain are very common and easy things to do. To realize that inliving 50 years plus those it took to get to the point of receiving thediploma, we have indeed achieved something remarkable. In a world where most ofus boys who graduated at that time were conscripted into the armed forces dueto being in the middle of a fast burgeoning war, just getting here is anachievement. Yes, several gave their lives up in that part of the world orduring another war like it, of those that followed... Some have succumbed toillness, or accidents along the way.

Allin all, yours truly will not complain… too much, anyway. After all, complaining never fixedanything that I know of and, in the end, the choices made have been for themost part taken with pretty much full knowledge of the options available(although not always, mind you!). Some have turned out well, other have turnedout… well… not so well. In this, we are par for the course with most fellow humans.

Overthe last few years, paths which once were companions have come to cross eachother again. Some I have found, others have found me. It is almost like ahoming pigeon that knows where the roost is and, in the face of all that maysurround it, the return path will be found. I have to be honest, not one singleone of the past reunions has been in my agenda. Yes, there were photos downloadedand perused; there was conversation with some of those who went to one or tworeunions, and the desire to go and participate was ignited. This ignited, butsomewhat dormant fire has now been kindled by reading about some friends whowill be there. Actually, going back to the PAC-NW is attractive to me; it is abeautiful part of the country and worth revisiting. Those two short, butincredibly important years of my life spent there bring me nothing but goodmemories and they want to be re-lived while the re-living is good!!

Iaccept that a constant barrage of complains about the social networks and theircreepy, creeping way of getting into our daily lives already has begun toaffect how we live. On the other hand, it is also true that this very samenetworking has brought many folk together in time defying reunions, includingwayward family members.

There!!! I’ve said it!!! These networks do have a use,besides letting us know about Aunt Mathilda’s rheumy back and droopy appendages.

Idon’t know… today is a long work day; this means there is little time in whichto get this unto the blog… sort of a cybernetic deadline, quickly approaching.

Actually,if the good Lord allows me to still be around in two years, I will do my utmostto be present at this 50^th reunion. But only if I drop those extra10 pounds I’m carrying around… and my hair stops falling… and my kneescreaking… and… oh hell!! We won’t probably be able to hear each other with allthe creaking going on, anyway. I guessthe only teens present will be the ones we will each carry inside our heartsand minds, alive and well.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

A Dream That Still Wants to be a Reality..

2012-01-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

Today thememory of a man who gave up his life for his ideals is commemorated.

Allof us who were alive at the time of the “Freedom Marches” remember this man…Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was bigger than his time and bigger than thelife which held him to an earthly role. Following the lead of M. Gandhi, a manDr. King often cited; he chose the path of reconciliation and peacefulconfrontation, in times when campus uprisings and take overs were becoming common, and terms like “Black Panthers” and “Burn Baby, Burn”were part of daily life.

We,as a nation, were slowly beginning what would be a long road to emotionalrecovery (some folk say that perhaps ithas not been fully attained yet), trying to understand the wounds self inflictedduring the Viet Nam “incident”; a non-declared war which a congress that wastoo afraid to act, allowed to go on under very restrictive conditions for ourguys. These conditions, like fighting with one arm tied behind your back, I amsure cost many additional lives for our side. The relatively new magic picture boxbrought this war and all its attending horror right into our living rooms; itwas the first televised war. Dinner theater for the hardy of heart and stomach.

Inthe middle of these rumblings, where going to study at most any university meantundergoing a course in civil disobedience, a voice trying to preach reason wasbeing heard. It was a voice that called for unity, for loving one another, forforgiveness, for working together to forge a new and better nation; a voicethat called for the equality of man, regardless of race or creed. It was avoice that talked about a dream, a dream of equality in truth, not words. Whenall is said and done, it was a voice that actually took the heart and soul ofthe written constitution of this country and brought it back looking to make ita living reality, not just a living document.

Itwas a time of fear for many; the world was not turning as it normally did.Society itself was upside down, there was the fear of civil unrest in ourcountry... something which had not been lived in several generations.

I,along with many others, heard his call. We believed that the social experimentthat started this great nation would not be complete until all within had thesame rights. Conversely, those rights carried responsibilities and all whowanted to enjoy the good side had to understand that these last had to berespected as well.

Dr.King Jr., as we know, was a preacher by training, calling and lifestyle. He wasgood, very good at communicating and at presenting a message with fire and joy.His call was convincing; even today, when I hear one of his speeches, it turnsmy heart. He believed in his message and so preached it with that innerconviction that only comes from absolute trust and confidence in what you are bringing forward for others to hear.

Asmany other who have gone against the grain of society in difficult times, Dr.King eventually paid the ultimate price: his life. As with the Kennedy assassination, manytheories were brought forward and none were proven beyond doubt. The end resultwas that a martyr was born but, as with most martyrs, the cause for which hedied lost steam. Until several years passed, additional riots took place, and more generalunrest was lived.

Eventually,his message began to be heard again and inroads were made in what was then a differentenvironment; one more willing to listen and to change. Those who, in the intervening years took up hiscry and tried to run with it, fell short. The shoes to be filled were just muchtoo big. Some came from the cloth, as was Dr. King and some came from thestreets. For the most part, they had too much baggage to be credible preaching a message of peaceand unity and failed miserably. For a while, not much was heard until his widow took the standard, albeit reluctantly at first. She did hangon to the remnants of a dream that was drifting in the winds of societal woesbut which, at the same time, had somehow managed to hold together its coremessage.

Avoice crying in the wilderness; a voice which forced a nation to stop and takenotice. Today this bit of American history is remembered in a holiday that, inits own approval process, created somewhat of a stir. Nothing, even in death, was easyfor the message or the messenger.

Rememberhim, for he was (and still is…) a social messenger. We may or not agree withsomeone’s call, but when a dedicated life is lead in honest accord with themessage being preached, even in the face of extreme hardship, the messenger hasto be respected and yes, admired.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The Way the Cookie Rumbles…

2012-01-13T13:27:00.000-05:00

Usually thesaying goes “crumbles” but, sometimes…

Iam not really sure where this old saying began, or to whom we owe theeverlasting comment but, in the time it has come to be with us, we have taken it to refer to that moment in life when something negative happens that is not inour control or in our plans… as if to say...that’s the way it goes… Or so it has come to beaccepted in the general and constant mentions this old standard gets.

Formost people, daily living is a continuum of repeated events: sleep, awake,wash, dress, work, go home, eat, watch TV or read or, if lucky, converse andthen sleep again… to be repeated tomorrow, in case you missed something important today.Of course, we have the weekends along the way, during which the most likely alterationto the routine is not to work and perhaps add an outside dinner or a couple ofdrinks and, if a practitioner of any given faith, a Sunday (or Saturdayafternoon) get together with the other members of a congregation.

Forsome reason, there are some of us for whom this accepted general routinebecomes an aberration to be shunned. I do not say this is right or wrong, justunacceptable for those who make up this group. When a person rebels, there isalways a number of others who immediately add up their efforts and, in anaggregate manner, do their utmost to convince the rogue to come “back tohis/her senses”.

“Push, but don’t break the envelope” is asaying often used by many who can’t even describe that somewhat mythical“envelope” to which it refers. But, since many do say it, it must be profound,right? In my sales and management career,over the course of a seeming lifetime, this little phrase has been thrown in mygeneral direction more times than I can remember. Yet, if rules or parameters arethe stuff of which the envelope of reference is made, then I say that it mustbe broken once in a while.

AndI do not mean this in a “civil disobedience/revolution” way but even agently or, at times not so gently made rupture is needed. Why? Because this isthe only possible way in which those rules and parameters will accept and include newideas and advance or evolve, in order to remain a viable controlling set ofapplicable rules. Those adapted rules that will be able to deal with the changes being experiencedat the core of that very society the “envelope” of reference is supposed tocontain within.

Societyitself, at large, is a funny and at times funky animal. Yes, a living,breathing animal. Maybe not in the way you and I live and breathe, but it doeslive and breathe a life of its own and will, through that group of fanatically avowed members whomake up its internal defense system, wreck havoc amongst those“insider-outsiders” who disagree with the status quo and would like to see itchange.

Likethe non-swimmer who has fallen into the water and doesn’t quite know what to do,these defenders will do what they think necessary to frantically wave their arms and handsin order to quell any disagreements with what is. Yet, those very folk who may at one time actlike an internal menace, are the ones who will bring on the changes needed sothat the very society that openly shuns them, can morph and go on living.Often, they are called Non-Conformists… and other names and epithets not worthrepeating. And it is indeed a good thing there is a group that does not,unquestioningly, conform to the existingnorms…

Imagine:A society in which groups of different people are put into a ghetto like placeor space and subjected to unimaginable harassment, with little hope of improvement; a society in which women do not vote or are not allowed equal pay forequal work; a society where religious freedom does not exist… A society where racial make up is an open mark for shunning someone. A society wherecivil laws do not exist or will not help the individual; a society where allthat is intellectually consumed by the average individual is censored so as notto allow or foment a thinking process… a society where no one is allowed toexpress their thoughts openly, especially if in disagreement with the powersthat be… A society where there are no internal “checks and balances” that will allow member or group of members to, from within, disagree and use the established structure and systemto improve it.

Believeit or not, the above described societal “envelope” was very real and very muchthe ruling thought pattern in many countries; including this one we live in…and not so long ago, as history goes. In fact, it could be argued successfully that there are societies where it still is the ruling pattern.

Thinkabout it, next time you see or hear someone disagreeing with the status quo andyour immediate reaction is to shun the voice that asks you to take a secondlook. The overall good is not always what we, as individuals, would considerour own very best option. But society, that funny animal, sometimes wants eachone of us to sacrifice a little so that others will have a chance to get ahead.That is a voice that cannot be ignored.

So…Sometimes… The Cookie will not Crumble, but will loudly Rumble!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Let’s Have a Meeting, Face to… Facebook?

2012-01-12T17:33:00.000-05:00

Used to be thatwhen two people met, it was a personal thing…

Now,with all the social networks around and a “data base” growing soon into thebillions, the concept of the personal contact is going the same route as thatof being able to buy milk in a bottle. Some people gloat about the amount of“friends” they have on Facebook. Often, they number into the hundreds, or eventhousands. But, if they were to really let you know how many of these arephysically known, the list would most likely shrink by a resounding 90-98%.

Someyears ago, in order to call someone a “friend” there was supposed to be actualcontact and somesort of mutual consent and knowledge about the other person and a direct exchangeonce in a while. Today… well, I guess this is why we call them “virtual”friends.

[Hi…lol… ++lmao…cn u cm hr 2 mt me?] No, this is not some sort of codex encodingwrung out of a spy by way of unimaginable torture; this is actually what a text(txt) message from a regular living, breathing person may look like. What does it say?After consulting several experts, mostly in the age range of 10-15 years andbeing looked at like some sort of ancient dinosaur, the following emerges: [Hi, “lots of laughs” … more yet, “laughingmy ass off”… Can you come here to meet me?] Experts tell us that theability of the coming generations to actually write complete sentences, letalone some sort of coherent paragraph, is in danger of being seriouslyimpaired.

Thenagain, language does evolve with new uses and applications. Terms like theabove mentioned “texting” have a different meaning than it might have had just15 years ago… Social networking has nothing to do with social places or evensocial graces, for that matter; and what about “vidcasting” or “netcasting”?This last one used to be a fishing term and, not to be outdone, we now have tocontend with a different kind of “phishing” altogether… this one will not putfood on your table, but may actually take it away…

OMG!!! … Shakespeare must be twisting in hisgrave…

FB( that’s Facebook, for you uninitiatedfolk) has become the window of the soul(less)… There really is a loweringof general standards when someone feels that he/she must let the world know atwhat time they go to the bathroom, or get dressed, or get drunk and spew outwhatever the content of their guts were at the moment… The pictures and the“Fwd…Fwd…Fwd…” that plaster the screen every time I open my FB (Yes, I do haveone) force me to erase half or more of the content… Not really worth it or the time spent going through it.

Lookslike most everyone who has retired from a productive working life, has found asecondary life and a way to occupy free time by writing all kinds of nonsenseevery time they open the computer… Little gems of household wisdom that,neither does it come from their household nor can it be considered to havemuch wisdom… just repetitious nonsense. This is now fast replacing the emailchain letters. Seems like less and less people are actually forwarding thesefoolish emails, usually coming through with a trail of no less than 100+ namesand addresses. So, in its stead, now we are getting the FB chain of“re-postings”, and they are just as obnoxious.

Andthen… we have the “Tweet” syndrome. Public figures use this as a way to stay infront of their “followers”; some of these people have well over one halfmillion followers… This following (alongwith You-Tube viewings) has become a measuring stick for the level ofpopularity of the individual. The only thing is that, when you get to thesefigures, then you are forced to write something every few minutes, or the fearof being “untweeted” borders on the paranoiac. So what we then have is, again,something that is done, not to inform, educate or even entertain, but only to occupy space andtime, keeping a name in front of my face… well, my phone. I have taken the timeto actually “follow” a few of these folk and a lot of what comes through isreally incredibly dumb. Sample posting from a TV personality… “My new posterjust arrived”… Huh??

Actually,what I do get from this, is that these people have learned to gainfullymanipulate the “social networks”, while I just sit here and complaint about it…well, free speech and all that… Just jealous really…

Anyway…the new social order, along with the new communication skills to go along withit, will most likely change the content and context of what future generationswill read… and how this will be done.

Theywill read “Gn wth th Wnd” and “Wr ‘n Ps”… or perhaps “Th Lrd f th Fls” and thiswill not be done by pushing paper pages, but by passing the electronic pages onthe “E-reader” (or, should it be “E-rdr”?)… I wonder if the electronic indexfinger has to be “wetted” to pass these pages… Hmm…

Changeis beautiful when done to improve our present status… although sometimeschange, for the sake of changing, is less meaningful. I guess this is what ourparents said at some point , right? About whom was it that was said: “he is abad influence… the way he moves his body and what he says in the songs… It’s INDECENT!!!”Choose: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, Run-D… or, all of theabove?” If you chose the last, “all of the above”, you win the prize. Goes toshow, the more we change, the more we remain the same. Every generation madethe one before suffer with their changes…

Nowit’s our turn…

“B Wll … B Bk!!!” ;-)

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

I Went Fishing and Caught a Dog!

2012-01-11T13:31:00.002-05:00

No, this is nota bad or strange dream as the result of having gone to sleep after too heavy a dinner…

Actually,I was perusing through the Yahoo News this morning and this came up, film andall. Seems that a gentleman was about one mile off the coast of Florida,quietly enjoying the moment while casting his lines… hoping, I’m sure, to getsome sort of finned swimming fella that could be cleaned and sautéed (or fried, baked or sushied) for a laterlunch.

Loand behold!! As he is looking around, here comes this non aquatic looking headbobbing on the (luckily!) tranquilwaters of the gulf, quickly approaching his kayak. As he looks in disbelief, itturns out to be a dog… not quite the trophy catch he might have expected. As heturns and, with some effort brings the animal on to the small floating kayak,he notices the poor four legged brute is shivering, hurt and quite upset (I would be upset also if I had to beswimming in the middle of the ocean…) as he allows the gent to lug him onthe little “boat”, then just standing there and refusing to budge one inch,once ensconced on the relative safety of this small platform.

Thegent (whose name escapes me now) keptrubbing the newly found four legged friend, not only to dry the animal, butalso to bring some warmth to a body that was shivering and trembling. As itturns out, the shivering was not only due to the cold but also to the verytraumatic –actually fatal- experience the animal and it’s (eventually identified) owner had just gone through.

Itseems the dog, property of a 53 year old lady, went for a walk with his lady; Iassume not only to enjoy the fresh air and the sunshine, but also to dowhatever dogs do outside because we humans prefer they do not do these inside our homes.Unfortunately, as life is wont to arrange at times, there was anotherindividual who was also going to be at the same spot the unsuspecting pair ofwalking dog and human would find themselves. A bloody, murdering drunken fool,as it turned out.

Mr.B. Talman, a 22 year old wonder, was on his way somewhere and actually -according tothe report- doing so fast trying toget away from a scene where he had already been involved in another accident. Aman certainly not to be called an underachiever, Mr. Talman then proceeded to again lose control, plowing his car into Barney (thepooch’s name, as it turns out) and his walking lady, a few road signals,fences and, finally, a telephone post. Barney was hurt but, unfortunately, hislady had the worst of it, dying as the result of this senseless sample oftotally reckless driving.

Whyreckless? It turns out that Mr. Talman was, allegedly, driving under theinfluence of our friendly alcohol. Barneywas physically hurt, totally traumatized and blown out of its canine wits bywhat happened, taking off and going into the gulf waters just to get away fromthe crazy humans. Luckily for him, the kayak and its fishing owner were in hispath; otherwise, there would have probably been two fatalities resulting fromthat event… when the dog was picked up, according to the gent who so did, itwas close to sheer exhaustion and about ready to go under. I cannot, and willnot say “accident” when referring to this particular happening. The word“accident” entails fate and the twisting of otherwise normal hapennings under luck, circumstanceand moment. This particular incident was the result of someone drinking andthen, without a care in the world, going out and attempting to drive. And then, even after one accident, continuing on.

Yes,the driver is being held for manslaughter, but this will not bring backBarney’s owner. Or the other thousands of people who are victims of these senseless acts. As is the case in many drunk driving accidents, the fool whocauses it walks away. The receiving party often either dies as a result of theinjuries received, or becomes paralyzed, or –in the very least- becomestraumatized.

I believe that the death penalty should be applicable in these cases, as it is applicable to willful homicide for that is what this is. Yet, inmost states, the charge will be manslaughter, which will be “paid off” with“time served”. Is the death penalty too extreme? Well, so is the unnecessary deathof an innocent bystander and the repercussions this death will bring to afamily. And that, believe me, no amount of “time served” will cure.

Howmany times will a death like this have to happen before we come to our senses?Then again, this question begs that we are dealing with intelligent life; asentient entity which will blot out all his/her senses and then go out anddrive a 2-4,000 pound weapon, being only the luck of the “Russian roulette”that which will determine who gets the final prize.

Pleasethink… if you drink… do not drive. If you drive, do not drink. Sounds simple,right? Even makes sense… Then... why is it so difficult to accept?

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

A Short Entry.

2012-01-10T21:50:00.002-05:00

It has been along day, covering for my own ESL classes as well as for those of two teachers… onewith the flu and one with issues to resolve.

Thereis little to really discuss today, but the habit of sitting at the computer andgrinding out even a little bit to post, has become ingrained. It is like doingphysical exercises. In the beginning, it hurts like hell but, after you get usedto it… then you can’t stop doing it. I understand it has to do with the same mechanismsthat create addiction, except this one has a natural high to go with it, not achemically induced one. This is what happens when I know there are a growingnumber of folk who will take the time and trouble to look these entries up andactually read them… Can’t let you down… Thanks!

Ihad several classes today; in fact, over 9 hours worth. Each group has its ownneeds, for the levels are all different. In fact, within each group there areusually at least two-three different levels. Even when this becomes a headachefor the teacher, we must accept the fact that those who come at 8am, aftergoing to bed at 2-3am due to late work hours, can and will get all the teachingthey can handle. It is the least we can do to respond to their determination to learn. Goes to show… there is work to be had and there areopportunities to get ahead. Just that these will not come served on a silverplatter, but have to be pursued with plain ol’ slippers. You want it?... Go getit!!

Primariesare taking the time of day, within the political news. Nothing new here, for itis that time of the quadrennial and we will be subjected to all the usualpromises and premises. Nothing new there either. In the end, it will come toeither voting for the in-house resident, or getting him out if you do notagree with what has been done, or not done. My only holdback is that I can’t vote against someone just for the sakeof voting against him (sorely tempted todo just this, though!!) when the options being given as the alternative(s)are not that great. Let’s see how the horizon shapes up between now andNovember but, one thing is sure: Vote I will.

Therehave been several responses to the Three Wise Men piece, as well as to the onewhich followed. Again: Thank You!! For your time; not only to read whatevergets plastered out here, but to actually take the time and send a note toeither of the e-mail addresses (TheEnglish lang. one or the Spanish Lang. one) The Spanish post is actuallyvery different in nature to the English one. I don’t really know why; but ithas taken a totally irreverent tone and approach. Its fun and I do enjoywriting it, as I do this one. So far there are some 11 posts and, for now, there is one added every 2-3days.

Avery dear friend is having some heart related work tomorrow… I pray for her andfor her life to continue to be full of interest and joy. As we all get on tothe latter years of our lives (no, I am not being either wistful or depressive)there are so many things that take on an urgency feeling… issues which are notquite resolved and should be; people with whom we may have lost contact andshouldn’t have; work to be done, and not necessarily that which we have done formany years; dreams to pursue… Yes, dreams. Everything in life begins with adream; sometimes it may turn into a nightmare, but those that do come throughwill make up for every one that failed.

Pointis: Never give up on your dreams and hopes. I have seen so many people who makeme think “How old they are!!” to then come and find out they are actuallyyounger in years than I am but much, much older and defeated in attitude. This,friends, will cause our demise faster than any illness that may come our way.These last we can defeat or manage to manage and still have a good life whilewe fight the good fight. A bad mental attitude is an unseen, unfeeling, devouring monster which eats away our will to live. And this, very often, will cause or demisemuch faster than any physical illness. Don’t allow this enemy into your mindand heart.

Ihave come to understand that life is indeed what we make of it… it has nothingto do with money, or with having the latest whatever, or with shining aboveeveryone else. It has to do with attitude, with inner peace, with belief andfaith… in yourself and in a guiding and caring Spiritual Being… It has to do withachieving the understanding that we are each unique, each special and each witha gift to share… if we choose to do so.

Whatwould your gift to share be? Who would benefit by this sharing of yourself?

Guesswhat…? The person who will most benefit is the giver of the gift, not the receiver... Indeed!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Morning Rolls Into Afternoon.

2012-01-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

Days come andgo… and we fail to note just how quickly and surreptitiously this happens…

Didyou realize that just “a few short days ago” we were celebrating the end of the oldyear? And now we are already well into the second week of the new one. Yes, Iknow, we are too busy trying to replace the money we spent over the holidaysbut, time marches on and this issue has to be noted and attended.

Areyou too busy to take a few minutes to give to yourself? Or to a loved one who,all he or she may need, is a show of affection? Takes but a few minutes, alittle longer perhaps if you are dealing with children who do not (nor should they have to) understand the “time is money” concept. Frankly, I disagree with this overused and badly misused falsetruism. Time is indeed a valuable commodity. But not only in terms of money; itis also an extremely valuable item when used to improve oneself or arelationship. And not with money as the immediate result of the activity.

Allmy adult life I have battled, in one way or another, the concept that everywaking moment of every day has to be used to generate funds. How aboutgenerating some inner peace, some contentment… perhaps even generating a lifestyle that, while lookingafter our needs, allows us to grow as individuals and to perhaps contribute tosociety at large in measures other than monetary?

In that society of ours, blinded by the “more is better” concept, I am viewed –even in my ownhome- as someone who is not willing to work 24/7 (hate that term!!) for I firmly spouse the idea that some of thattime is mine, and mine only; it will be better spent on those activities thatallow me to… well, simply, become a better me, although not necessarily in theway others would like to see me become. And yours truly is an extremely jealousguardian of that corner of his mind that refuses to keel over under pressure.

Yes,morning is indeed rolling into afternoon. So it is with our lifeline. Dawn goesinto morning and before we become aware of it, we are having lunch, so tospeak. Then we slowly roll into the afternoon of life, not really knowing wherethe hours were truly spent, or why.

Thinkabout it. Where are you in your own life at this moment…? What stage of thatday are you into…? Morning…? Noon…? Afternoon...? Or perhaps, you are nowlooking at the waning sunrays of a lazy, late afternoon soon to become evening…

NorI, nor anyone has the right or true understanding to be able to tell someone elsewhether the time spent and deeds done were good, bad or indifferent. That isfor each individual to look into, to reflect about and to finally determinewhether those hours were well spent, or simply misspent.

Themost important issue is that, no matter what went on before this moment of selfanalysis, there is always the opportunity to use those hours still left (of which we really never know how many thereare) and use them well; use them in a manner that will let you look backwhen that midnight moment comes, as it will for all of us, and be satisfiedthat the efforts were there. Perhaps not the results but, contrary to thecapital credo that repeats over and again that only results count, I firmly believe that intent and effort arevalid and valuable measures.

Itis never late, no matter what time of that day it may be, to become a betterperson and to use those hours left in a manner that will allow you to be at peace with yourself... and your lifeline.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The Three… Wise Men.

2012-01-08T12:55:00.001-05:00

I have stopped writing on the week-ends, sort of a mini vacation and a mind break. Butbeing Epiphany today… makes me remember this very special date as a child…

¡¡Rafo… levántate… llegaron los Reyes!!... From somewhere in the midst of my dreams Iheard my grandmother’s voice in a call to wake up, for the Three Kings (The Three Wise Men)had come the night before and had brought the gifts we, as children, lived foryear to year.

Inour cultures, throughout the Latin influenced countries, back then it was notSanta Claus, Kris Kringle or Father Christmas who brought our gifts, but these3 dear, oh so dear, camel riding men … No snow bound elks or elves; no sleigh (snow…? what was that?... something we onlynew from pictures and post cards)… just three guys riding on camels, makingtheir way around our world and dropping gifts through the front door or windowssince, for the most part, we had no chimneys either… Come to think of it, the mystery was evendeeper than with Santa… at least he had air travel which, as we all know, ismuch faster than three trundling desert “trucks”.

Butthose thoughts were no concerns of ours… the only thing I knew every January 7^th,when my grandmother would wake us up was to run to the tree which was usuallyplaced in the middle of the back living room wall, and look at all the presents that werepiled underneath. I have to add; they were not all mine… my sister was there,as well as my cousins. Although with this latter group we felt they werecheating... their aunt, who was educated in the US, gave them presents on Christmasmorning as well. Clashing of cultures… an unrecognized early indication ofthings to come later in the future…

Thisis a fast waning tradition, at least for the Hispanic community in the US or in theAnglo/German communities around the world. Yes, in some of these pocketcommunities there are still parades on the 6^th or 7^th ofJanuary; there are festivities held by the older generation, trying hard tohold on to these folkloric traditions, one of the cherished symbols of ourchildhood. The reality, however, is that the newer generations ofHispanic-American children prefer to be the same as their Anglo classmates andcelebrate Christmas with Santa… Besides, if you were a child, would you bewilling to wait an additional 10-12 days until you could get your hands on thecoveted presents?

Aswith many of the immigrant societies in our country (or around the world), we will lose most of ourfolklore and, as the older generations who actually lived these events andtraditions die off, there will be remembrance celebrations held of some of the moreingrained ones. The reality is that these will only be a memory lane like road;in the meantime, the grandchildren and such will be adopting the establishedtraditions of the new home country. Which, by the way, is the normal evolutionprocess of our wandering lives.

Tome, Three Kings Day is a memory. I do not really celebrate it nor have mychildren, for they were all born in this country. It is a memory of mygrandparent’s home (but then, most of mychildhood memories are through these two wonderful people) and especially of mygrandmother who, until the bitter end, did her best to be cheerful even whenconfronted with the harsh and cruel reality of her rapidly crumbling world. Shefelt that we, her “children”, should not be held to account for the mistakesmade by a generation that acted on impulse and emotion, rather than thinkingabout later repercussions or even making the effort of finding out if what was beingoffered as a promise by an incoming government, would be actually delivered.

Ourlast celebrated Three Kings Day was on January, 1962. It was, by previousstandards, a much more subdued celebration; part of the family had already left. A morning when many of the presentswe would have liked or for which we had asked in our “letters” (by then we had already outgrown the fantasypart of the celebration, but it was still a very special gift exchange day)had been impossible to obtain; the stores were already becoming bare. It wasdifficult to get even necessities; much more difficult to be able to get wants.In a country where all had been available before, we were already beginning toface the harshness of the realities to come.

SoThree Kings Day, as many other childhood especial dates are, is a memory. Abeautiful memory to be sure, but a memory nonetheless. It is right up therewith rice and beans with “ropavieja”, with club mornings in the pool… with a liquor factory where much time was spent... with aschool where I grew up along with a group of friends who would each latermeander around trying to find their collective and individual ways in theworld. A memory book which I have shared with you along the way; something in writing that will stay on for my own children and also perhaps to, alittle selfishly, help me in remembering these times of joy and of loss;times and cemented memories which have served as an anchor for me, an anchorthat has kept me bound to life, sanity and reality through many difficult moments alonglater roads.

Makeyour memories; if you, as I did, come from a different culture, remember thosetimes and the environment that fostered them. Remember, for they are your ownanchor to a later life. If you can, pass these memories to your children assnapshots of their ancestral culture… This is the continuum of life; acontinuum which will keep some of these past happenings alive in youngergenerations and which will also keep your own presence alive after you havegone on, through the memories you have fostered.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

“The Era of The Free Gift”

2012-01-06T16:39:00.002-05:00

There was atime during which, when a gift was offered, we could trustfully assume it was free.

Themarketing machinery which seems to control our daily lives in this, the Meccaof the Buyer (although somewhat tarnishedlately), can’t let a couple of days pass without creating some hyperbolethat puts to shame whatever older hyperbole was being proclaimed as the best,just a couple of days before. What really puts us all to shame is the fact thatwe buy it; “it” being whatever is promulgated as the very best… at least forthe immediate moment.

Afterhaving spent most of my adult life (andthose are a good number of years --- don’t ask how many!!) sellingtangibles and intangibles to thousands of buyers, and of also training severalthousand salespeople who were then sent on to conquer the insurance buyingpublic, it becomes fascinating to hear the different commercials and see orlisten to the very careful wording used to convey the same messages as before,but now in a different and fresher manner. Oh yes… “Fresher” can be understoodto mean “with more hidden and less easily decipherable messages” than before.

Someyears ago, the concept of the “Free Gift” started to show up on screamingoffers received during the midnight “infomercials” (Another term coined by the marketing and sales Gurus)… you know,those shows where all the stuff you wouldn’t buy if you had an honest chance tosee and examine it up close, is peddled off to trusting folk who cannot sleepand because of this, have half functioning minds with which to register themessages being received.

Didyou ever come to wonder how a product with an “original” price of $89.99 can besold for $19.99? With the usual follow up of: BUT WAIT!!! IF YOU CALL NOW WEWILL SEND YOU… NOT ONE… NOT TWO… BUT THREE (fillin the name of the product here) for just $19.99!!! … and, yes, just pay the “S&H” costs on each item…

NowFolks… what did it really cost to make this product and what kind of qualitywill it have, when they can sell it for less than 10% of the original cost and,we assume, still giving the seller enough to cover the show production costs and allowing for a decent profit? Yes, I know… the cost of the also infamous “S&H”,otherwise known as “shipping and handling” which gets tagged on will coversome, since these are usually jacked up considerably but, still…

Thetruth is that we love to buy in our society. We will buy what we want, longbefore we buy what we need. This is not me talking people… these are well knownfacts that anyone who has spent time in the sales world knows: create a want,your prospect will most likely buy; however, identify a need and they will turnaway in most instances. Logic does not enter the picture here…

Thosewho make a living in the marketing wars know this, and know it well. This iswhy over the years, these wants to buy have been almost genetically engineeredinto our subconscious through massive, constant campaigns which literally,begin at the cradle… the best school, the best clothes, the best toys (and these are getting very expensive lately);you want to always remain young, you always must have more than your neighbor,your house has to be the biggest, the best of the neighborhood; your car has tobe the newest and most expensive… you get it… you hear these messages everyday.

Perhaps, ironically, this is why one of the fastest rising businesses with which we now areconstantly being bombarded on the tube, is precisely that of how to eliminate excessive credit card debts… .

Butwe always want that “Free Gift”, Right? Recently, I called the number for one ofthose miracle collagen pills which are heavily advertised in the Hispanicmarket TV programs. In their pitch, the offer of a “free” 3 month supply (just pay the S&H…) is constantlymade so I called, as an exercise in marketing. The lady from the phone “war” roomanswered and immediately, without taking a breath, launched into a “marvelous”offer in which, for only $169.99, mywife and I would receive five a month supply of this wonderful miracle pill.So, immediately, the “free offer” became a probable $189.99 expense (including S&H, of course).

WhenI continued to ask for access to the pitched “free offer”, then the lady on thephone became somewhat agitated and started to say things like “Why don’t youwant to take advantage of this offer?” My answer... “Because I want to try the productfirst” Long and short: I was told I would be called back by the lady in chargeof these offers… I’m still waiting for the call. A while after this conversation tookplace I had a visit with my Doctor and asked her about this. Her answer: Theseare proteins and, as far as we know, proteins are not absorbed through thedigestive system. So… while there should be no adverse effects, I really can’t see how this can be useful… ‘nuff said??

Wewill continue to buy, no matter what… We will continue to believe what we seeon TV, presented by TV hucksters, no matter what… Perhaps this is why we also choosepolitical leaders based on their TV image, rather than on whatever substance(or lack of) they may bring to the table. We are, as a consumer nation, fastlosing the ability to question issues and to look beyond what appears to be.

Perhapsthe next great offer will be “Double Free Gift… with guaranteed refunds…” Who knows…

Just in case, watch out... in today's world we do have to open the equine's mouth and count the teeth... even when received as a "free" gift.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Dancing With Computer...

2012-01-05T18:29:00.002-05:00

Some days itjust doesn’t pay to sit in front of the computer and try to fill in a page.Today seems to be such a day.

Ihave danced around the computer now at least 4 or 5 times, looking at it anddeciding whether or not is worth the effort to sit and try to come up withanything that will fill in a page or two. There is a Turkish made movie inthe background, playing on the Sundance station; I believe before there was anItalian movie about a detective or something like this.

Ihave to say, however, that I am not really watching TV, it kind of keeps mecompany by making noises in the background and, since the idea is toconcentrate on writing something, it is better that the noises be made in alanguage I cannot understand; then, it keeps me company while not requiring myattention.

Therewas a class of ESL to start off the day; it is sometimes very frustrating forme to see how the folk who are hard trying to learn the language, keep holdingthemselves back by doing the absolute smallest modicum of practice once out ofclasses. There is little either I or any of the other teachers can do aboutthis…

The ability to learn and to remember is hampered by being exposed to theircoworkers (mostly immigrants themselves) and their brand of English. It usuallyis a chopped version of street learned language, one which will not do wondersto improve their communication skills within the at-large society. How can Iexplain this to them in a manner which will stick? I truly do not know, formany different ways have been tried, and none seem to really work. I guess, inthe end, it is really up to the individual student to do what needs to be done.

Receiveda call from Guatemalayesterday afternoon. It seems that a group of dear friends, all in theinsurance business, have decided that it has been too long since I was therelast, and they would like to have my company for a week or so; to accomplishthis, they are thinking of inviting me to come down and do a couple oflecture/seminars for the benefit (I hope) of their combined agency forcessometime in March/April. This was good news, for they are an intrinsic part ofmy good memories of those times, and being with them will be uplifting.Besides, Guatemalais one of those places which really got to me while traveling around; and thesepeople I met there with whom I shared much time, certainly have a lot to dowith this feeling.

Inthe meantime we (that’s the “Royal We”) are road testing a brand new locale forthe language school. The old one, while being in a more “upscale” center, didlittle for the walk in traffic and this particular brand of traffic isessential for the growth of this type of school; many, who will now see theschool sign from the street, will come in to ask about the classes and usuallyup to 30% of those will come back and enroll. In the just vacated place, beingon a second floor, no one knew that a school was there so… there were really nowalk-ins of any type. I hope all goes well, for the young lady who owns theschool is really trying hard and assuming some risks.

AsI sit here and write away, my alarm is sounding off. It wants to tell me thatsoon my tracks will take me back to the school where a one-on-one class ofSSL will be taking place, with me as the “Teach”… yes, we do wear both hats:ESL (English as a Second Language) and SSL (Spanish as a Second Language)… Sotonight, instead of telling the students to hold back their “RRRs”, I will betelling someone to “RRRoll their RRRs”… Each language to its own little quirks.

Onthe political front, not much to be told. The government continues to try andsocialize the country’s innards, and the opposing party is doing all it can tomake sure that it will not win the upcoming elections. So… we shall see whois finally put up front in order to lead the opposing party’s future, and totry and wrestle the government away from the current White House occupant inchief. In the end, all any one of us working stiffs will have, are the promises made duringcampaign time… and we know the value of those…

Somuch for now… I think we are getting ready to bring forward some memories fromthe past… probably tomorrow… Until then,

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Random Thoughts... 1-03-12

2012-01-04T21:07:00.002-05:00

It has been alonger than usual day. Not that it has had more than its allotment of the basic24 hours, just that the going has been slow and often tortuous.

Goinginto the Holidays, it was expected that the days would be somewhat long,bringing with them a sadder than usual feeling. The warrior face that everyoneexpected to see would be present in all its regalia, belittling the feelingsthat would be hiding behind it.

Alltoo true, the Holiday season is one which has oftenbrought up memories of years long past when my childhood family would betogether, celebrating these feasts in all splendor. The years, as they went by,did their job to bring me around to the beginning of a new celebration; acelebration of life to include my children and those around me.

Icame to find that my faith and beliefs were slowly strengthened and born anew;no, I cannot truly say I belong to those who proclaim having been born again,for I haven’t gone through that process. In fact, I am not sure I would knowwhat it would entail. Or that I would be worth the rebirth. Yes, I know, don’ttell me… we are all worth it. This was just a manner of speech, a way to ventfeelings of inadequacy perhaps. He understands… why would you not?

Thisyear’s Holidays however, had an added burden to carry: the absence of thepresence of my son. There is not much anyone of us can do about this; there isnot much anyone could say or do, that would even begin to fill the void hisgoing created. I do believe that, by choice, this void cannot or will not befilled in this life.

Asthere is strength in life, so there is in death. There is the survivingstrength passed on by the person who has gone, that helps those of us who haveremained in this world to go on; to go beyond the loss and the longing and, inmoving forward, not allow the life of the departed to become a mockery. No onehas said this process is an easy one; anyone who has interred a child –nomatter how old he or she may be at the time- knows this is probably the deepesthurt that one, as a parent, can feel. If the death occurs as a result of anillness winning a final battle, there has been some time in which to try toface the demons and acquire a degree of acceptance… not that it becomes easier, just better prepared. When thedeath occurs as a result of an unexpected event, such as an accident, then itis simply a freezing cold knife which suddenly slices the heart into smallpieces, each one pulsating on, clamoring and crying out in pain.

Ipromised myself that these ravings of an on and off grieving father would notfind their way unto these posts; not anymore than they already have. But Itrust you; this trust is one which, without really knowing most of you, allowsme to write this and to actually publish it on the blog. There are many of younow, many more than I envisioned at the beginning. Although most are in the US, a growingnumber of reading partners are joining me from some 12-14 other countriesaround the world. Thank you all for being there, for coming back, for reading on…often despite the less than easy to take topics offered at times.

ThisNew Year will see many folk continue to try and accomplish some of the goalsthat have eluded us for some time. I know there are several for me. These havebeen present for more than a decade; a decade which has brought its share ofdisjointed living, at times making sure that we did not know, literally, whichend was up. But inside this time warp, there is the lingering knowledge thatthese goals will be attained and that, perhaps, the death of Eric was apainful, but needed step towards understanding exactly what needs to be done,and why. The same can be said for the bout with cancer a couple of years ago; much waslearned then and much was learned now.

Lifegoes on; every day and every minute is an important achievement. All we can dois to live them, making every moment count and every goal an accomplishedachievement, even before it has actually become so. As the baseball movieexpressed: “If you build it (the park), they will come”… In other words:Believe and it will come to pass.

Ibelieve… in life, in goals met and in goals yet to be met, in the people aroundme, in the friendships that have helped me along these difficult times, in thepresence of my Father in my life, in every morning that brings a new dawn and anew day to be lived and enjoyed; I believe in the raindrops that bring water,and in the sun rays that dry them and give us warmth. I believe in the joy and laughter ofliving and in the painful tears of living; they are part of our core self and allow usto become and to grow; living and dying is the cycle of life itself and we mustaccept and even welcome it. There is joy and peace in understanding this…

Smilein your heart, for is this true smile the one which will lift your spirits…That “warrior face” I alluded to in the beginning is just a mask which, in theend, can’t hide anything more than what is seen at simple sight. What is insideis what counts; accept, live on, receive life in joyfulness and let the healingprocess begin.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Happy New Year… Cheíto Style…

2012-01-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

“¡Hola Mi Hermano… Merri Krismas!!... ¡Hapi Niu Yeear!!

Itwas the all too familiar voice that came over the limping phone wire… Well,limping transmission… phone wires are becoming a thing of the past!! My friendCheíto had come up for air again…

-“JuatsHapenin?”… “Jau’s ur Krismas?” Asked he of the proud Hialeah accent… “Great!” Ianswered… “We had a visit with some of the kids and spent some time in Miami…” “I called you but had no answer… wanted tosay hi to you and Cachita”.

-“Man,I’n sorry… Cachita and me, we went to visit cosin Pepe in Naples”... “Ju knoe… he has a big house with aninside pul, so we go with our swimming suts an’all”. “Princesita had a great time… we had lechón(pork) for krismas and sidra, an all kind o good stuf to eat…” "An me andCachita… cost us nuthin… dat’s the best part”

“Well,I suppose you gave your cousins a present or something, just to say thanks forbeing invited… right Cheíto?” I had to ask because Cheíto is really a good guy,but he can easily forget his P’s and Q’ when he gets excited… and he seemed tobe.

-“Whatelse did you do while at your cousin?” “Didyou take Princesita to one of the parks?”

-“Park?...juat park?” … he asked…

-“Well,like Disney… you know, the mickey mouse park?” I answered…

-“Ohyea… my cosin, he say sumtin about goin to visit a mouse but, ju knoe… we hav nuff ofthem thins runnin' round our block rite hear in Hialeah…” “we don’ need to pay no mony to gosee one more…”

-“Cheíto…this is not a real mouse, man…” “This is make believe, you know, a mouse thattalks to the kids… and they have a talking duck also”

-“Atolkin mouse an’ duk?” “Man, an thees people look at me laik I’n crazy when Itolk to Confucio”(Confucious)

-“Who,or what, is Confucio?” I asked, somehow being a little afraid of whateveranswer I might get…

-“Dat’smy perro sato (mongrel) I pik up fron the strit, man”… “Intelligen’ and costnuthin’”… “I tolk to hin an he jus hears me an he moves his teil al’over man”… “Ireeli love hin … he sleeps by my side of the bed… evry nite”.

-“Ididn’t know you had a dog… I guess he is a good friend, but it is verydifferent from what they have at the park, Cheíto”

-“Mebbeit be differen…” then he added… “But, ju knoe… if we go to one of this parks…well… everithin is espensive, no?”

-“Yes,everything costs money, and you can easily spend more than what you should,especially when you go with a child”, I had to admit.

-“Well,ju knoe… if I take Princesita to this mouse place, and she wan’s sumthin… I kan’tsay no Rafa… I hav to get for my Princesita juat she want”… “Man, there ain’tnuf money in this worl’”

Havingbeen to the talking mouse park myself with a child, I had to agree. “Yes, Iknow Cheíto… but the children are so happy at this place”

-“Mebbethey ar’” “but” he added “If I spen all my mony ther, jow can I buy juat sheneeds after? “Ju knoe… dresses, dancing class, piano class –she gonna be a good pianoplayer, ju knoe… and all the little stuff she ask for al’o the tine?”

“Well,Cheíto, many families just save money during the year and then they go for aweek to the park”

-WHAT,ju crazy man?” “Save mony for a hole jear an spen’ it ol on a talking mouse?” “Wecan go to New Yor’ an visit tía Consuelo… she feed us an’ everythin”… “An’ Igues we can visit the strit mouse that lives in a hole down the corner fron herjaus’”… “It don’ tolk… but it sur is beeg!”

Then,after a couple of seconds, he added:

“Noman, I cant for shur spen’ all that mony to visit a mouse…” “I haf tu many thins’to pay for and to many mor’ to buy for us, with to little mony already”

Afterthis little bit of basic roots reasoning, we said our good byes and each wenthis own way, to continue on with his daily routines. Perhaps because he was notbrought up in the mystique of the big MM, or Disney… perhaps because he simplylooks at the immediate life he leads and the responsibilities he has to hislittle Princess and to Cachita; the truth of the matter is that Cheíto has hisfeet firmly planted on the ground when it comes to spending money on thosethings he considers superfluous… and a big, talking mouse is –apparently- oneof them.

Idon’t know… He might have the right of it... we do spend our monies at the drop of a hatand not always in the most productive places. Then we complain when whatever isleft, is never enough.

Thinkabout it… next time you are shelling out your hard earned money for somethingthat is not really needed… Better yet, think about it before you do take your wallet out…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Just Imagine…

2012-01-02T17:24:00.006-05:00

This morning Iwas, along with millions of others I’m sure, watching the Rose Bowl Parade fromPasadena… thetitle tag for this entry was the theme for this year’s parade, and it sort of stuck in my busylittle mind…

Just imagine… what could be done if we donated 20% ofall the money spent on those needless “must-have-but-seldom-if-ever-use” things we all buy;

Just imagine… The incredible number of children who could be fed and given desperately needed health treatments with a portion of the money used on wars;

Just imagine… how many more youngsters could have achance at a better tomorrow if we would just increase the educational budget bya mere 15%;

Just imagine… what a much better place this would be ifwe would get along with our neighbors without regards to their accent, skincolor, or religious beliefs;

Just imagine… how many of our sons', daughters' andgrandchildren's lives will be saved if wars of convenience were not fought;

Just imagine… what a brighter place this would be if wetook the time to smile and say hi to our neighbors and to people we meet on a daily basis;

Just imagine… how much more our children would enjoytheir childhood if parents took the time to know them and to give them a littlemore attention;

Just imagine… how beautiful your life would be and howgood you would feel if you gave a little of your time and knowledge to helpthose in need;

Just imagine… how much more relaxing your daily livingcould be if your mind was directed to positive solutions instead than toconstantly rehashing every day problems... or worse yet, past problems…

Twolittle words, but what a profound impact they can have on the thinking processif allowed to run loose in our minds. Could you imagine a different world? Aworld that is truer to our wishes and desires and, yes, to the wishes anddesires of others as well? Believe it or not, there is actually room for all.

Imaginelife as you would have it; a life you would actually enjoy living, day inand day out… a life spent in harmony with your loved ones; yes, there will bemoments of disagreement and moments of hurt and of dealing with negative issuesbut, when there is love and trust at the core of a relationship (whether between two people or the members ofa family) there will always be the opportunity to work these out and cometo an understanding and agreement as to how to proceed. Sometimes one will “winout”, other times someone else will; just because one is “the parent’ or theolder one, does not mean one always necessarily has the right of it.

Listen…talk… understand… converse… accept… follow through… say you are sorry whenwrong; do not gloat when right… do not be afraid to love, to take a chance… treat every moment as the most important moment, don't be afraid to relax and truly enjoy the journey to your eventual destiny, whatever this might be, for you might not get there, you know... but how wonderful it will be to be able to say that you have enjoyed the way traveled, even if you do not arrive at that wanted destination.

Justimagine all we could do if we just put these concepts into practice as a matterof course…

JustImagine!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

M-I-C-K-E-Y -- M-O-U-S-E…

2011-12-30T13:10:00.001-05:00

It had beensome time since last I had a chance to visit the East coast version ofthis wondrous ode to a mouse…

Disneyland and Disney World (the east coast version)are an ode to all that is fantasy, imagination and a desire to dream and tobelieve this dream can and will come true…

Fora dreamer like myself, these thoughts and feelings are at the very core of whatliving is all about. I indeed believe and, as I see these childhood storiescome to life in all the parades, the rides and the general feeling thatemanates from the park’s heart (if it can be said this is possible) there is asense of inner peace and joy that lasts... well, until you go to any of the stores orkiosks and are asked to pay twice what the “outside” price is for anything youconsume within the Wonderful World of Disney… Hmmm!!... At $3.50 for a smallbottle of water, the illusion quickly fades to a grim reality.

Onwe go!!! Frontierland, Adventure Land, Main Street, Tomorrowland… and all othercombined lands!!... Walk on and explore the different areas of the park!!Always with the firm commitment that nothing will be bought unless there is alife or death need. Of course, after 4 hours of walking around, food and waterbecome such a dire necessity…

Happy New Year!!
Disney Style...

Thereare times of the year when visiting these parks is a pleasurable thought anddeed. The period going into the waning days of the year is no such time; thehordes of tourists that come in, the amount of yelling parents and cryingchildren… combine this with the people who believe it is their God given rightto push anyone around them (these folk usuallycome in two sizes: very large and much larger) and the experiencediminishes somehow. Yet, the spectacle is a grand example of what an extremelywell oiled machine can do… all employees wear the same smile, along with theirlittle mouse ears somewhere on their uniforms… imperturbable before all, muchlike the famed Royal Guards at Wimbledon… nothing moves them, except these overhere are allowed to interact with the people. And each one does his/her job well.Something to be said for good employee training and on the job supervision.

Yesterdaywas a long day; we had been invited by our children to accompany them in thisexcursion, and so we did. There is a 10 year old grandson who loves this parkand his ebullient attitude does influence our own. Yet, we decided not to go inuntil later in the day, about 2:30 pm… Our past experiences told us that aboutthis time, a good number of those who were present to open the park begin to leave,for their little tykes are about ready to drop off the face of the earth… andso are the parents. However, at this time of the year, this apparently does nothold too true, for we found ourselves swimming in a tide of people, everywherewe went.

This,in turn, allowed me to look, listen and observe the behavior of many of thesefolk… But you knew I was getting to thispoint… right??

Cinderella's Castle...
Ready for the new year

Themajority of people walking around were lugging little children; much likelittle dogs on leashes … These small folk were also being carted on backpacks,baby carriages and much any contraption that could hold anyone up to the age ofthree. Which brings me to point one: People, please pay attention… a 2 year oldwill not last much more than a couple of hours of this grueling pace, forgrueling it is… Yet, I witnessed parents yelling at their kids for the solereason that they were tired and not enjoying the visit anymore… For the sake ofGod, man!!! A small child cannot last longer than a couple of hours; it is not withintheir reasoning power to understand (actually, this is outside my own scope as well!) that every last penny paid must be somehowmilked by getting on as many rides as you possibly can, no matter if the verychildren who are supposed to be enjoying this madhouse, are screaming andtelling you they are TIRED AND WANNA GO HOME AND GO TOSLEEP!!!

Pointnumber Two: You do NOT always have the right of way… no matter what!! The factyou paid to get in does not give you any advantage over anyone else… they alsopaid the same money to get in!! Why does every one seem to lose the very spiritthis place is supposed to foster? Courtesy and kindness take a second place to“I’m going ahead first” syndrome. People jump lines ahead of others, push andshove to get to the doors before you… there really is room for all concerned!!Slow down and enjoy; this is what you paid for… not to be hassled, to feelpressured to get in that one more ride, and to fall to the stress that someoneelse may, by God, get in there before you do… But the mentality of the “freefor all” takes hold…

Relaxand enjoy… so what if you don’t get into one more mountain ride? What about if youwalk a little slower and enjoy the surroundings, the actors and the fantasiesthey represent…? Is this such a difficult thing to do? Imagine… if it cannot bedone in the very place built to foster these feelings, what do you think yourdaily life at home and work are like? What are you giving your family as adaily dose of peace and enjoyment?

Life is a continuum of little moments;whether at a specialty park or at the place we call home… It is up to each oneof us to make of it a better place and time. Slow down a little; look around,enjoy those who are walking along this path with you, let them enjoy you, and the journey you are all on a littlemore; spread your love and receive the same in kind. Take the time to be…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

NOTE: The radio broadcast forthis Sunday (1/1/2012) is cancelled; unfortunately, I will be on the road… butthe “cast” will return the following Sunday, at the usual 6:30pm slot)

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The Year Ends… And?

2011-12-29T12:14:00.001-05:00

The holidaysmarch on to, as we receive the new year, their fiery firework finish and manyresolutions are being made…

Infact, these are probably the same we have made year in and year out, hopingthat, somewhere along the way, we will actually be able to complete one or twoof them. According to those in the know (whoeverthey may be but, “those”, seem to be in the know about most everything!!)the most common one is that perennial one about losing the extra 10-15 poundsgained over the course of the year just ending. The only problem is that after several years of not actually working on this particular goal, weare probably more than 30 pounds overweight. And gaining…

Andthen there is the one about “Improving my lot”… don’t we all wish we could…Usually, when someone proclaims this as one of their goals, my immediatequestions are: “what lot?”… “What do you mean by improving?”… “How much do youactually plan to improve?”… “Is there a specific place you want to get to?”… NoI am not being a basic SOB; the real issue is that we set these lofty goalswhich sound good but have no meat, no defined something to accomplish.

Inlife, as we may be forced to do at work sometimes, we do have to set goals. Inthe same manner, these have to be defined and have to have an identifiableobjective, something we can actually measure as we go along. This is actually avery difficult thing to do as we plan our immediate future(s) over beers andtequila at the neighborhood bar.

Whatis this odd (and short) entry about? About our lives, as we tend to look it over at this time of the year... We often get up in the morning andlack a basic idea as to what we will be doing this day and why… other thangoing to work, of course. As time passes, we often look back and, infrustration, ask ourselves the age old question “Where has all the time gone?”... “All these years…” The point being that we get so wrapped up in our daily choresthat we forget these are not who we are, but what we do for a living. We walkaround with a job related label, putting aside the more realistic label thathas to do with our person.

Untilwe realize and accept this, our lives will continue to roll on as a continuumof daily vignettes, most of which will be dictated by others, not by our ownneeds and likes… and in the end, life will sooner or later exact all it deemsher due. She is an extremely harsh, demanding and jealous mistress. And, whenthis happens, we may think she is being awfully hard but… it turns out to be ajust toll due from these past long and winding roads we have travelled, withoutthinking much about where it was we were really going… or why.

Theoffshoot of the story is that each one of us has to be his or her own fatemaker; we all have to be aware of who we are and where we hope to go; thenactually delineate and work the plan which will help us get there. There are noguarantees and even if we don’t make it all the way, we will at least know thatour time was well spent, that we did our best to actually make a go of a lifethat belonged to us.

Asa very wise friend said to me once… “if you plan to get to the moon and make itonly halfway at least you will be able to look back, relive a wondrous journeyand see a beautiful image of the earth… just sitting there for youto enjoy it to the fullest… Imagine all you would have lost had you not tried”

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Catch as Catch Can...

2011-12-28T12:49:00.001-05:00

This week’spostings will be on a “catch as catch can” basis. Away from home and workingwith an iffy connection, it is not an easy task.

Therehas been reaction to the last posting, and this has been good. Most people whohave contacted me either through emails or by phone, just wanted to remind methat friendship and love will, in the end, win out over sadness and pain ofloss. And this is completely right, of course. I am now looking forward to afuture in which much will be accomplished, and some of it will be in memory ofEric, tackling those areas which were dear to his heart.

Throughmy step daughter I am now entering a phase of “grandparenthood” which I findsomewhat difficult to manage… mentally, that is. Through my own children, itseems that there will be few opportunities to experience this so, I willembrace my “step-grandson” (this nomenclature soundshorrible, no?) as just plain grandson, and dedicate whatever time I can tohim and aid in his growth… physically and mentally. He is a sharp boy, much intune to those things we, the (much) older generation(s), tend to look atsideways. Of course, his knowledge of things electronic is vast and fairly complete, withthe tendency to look askew at those of us lesser mortals who actually need anexplanation as to which knob or protrusion to push when playing the (in)famousX-Box. On the other hand, I can best him on the basketball court and this hashim vexed, for he strongly feels that the old man should not be able to do muchthere… so, every time I “swish” one by him, he looks up and says… “How did’u dothat?”… some small satisfaction there…

Weput up a movable basketball hoop on the driveway, one of those where the baseis filled with water; it actually works pretty well. The neighbor’s kids cameover and we played 2-on-2, with my grandson and I being one of the teams. He isa little overweight and a main purpose of the old man going out there andplaying, all prepped up with a couple of aspirins for the aching knees, is toget him into the game; enough so that when we leave he stays interested.

Whatis interesting in this scenario is that they live in a “closed” neighborhood.You know, one of those where a bored to death guard sits at the front booth andmakes it look like “he/she” is really tough and “on top of things” when, in reality,all they are on top of is the latest issue of their favorite magazine. Anyway,a must in every one of these is the dreaded “Association” with all the rulesand regulations its usually out of work officers can dream up. They seem to havelittle else to do (at least in this place) and one of the regulations is thatthere can be nothing that defaces the front of the living abode. You know, inthe pursuit of having everything look the same… pastel colored, two (not three or one) palm trees up front and all boringlyalike.

So,on putting this hoop up I did mention to the lady of the house that it would bea sore point with the association. Herresponse? “Sue me”… “thisis for my son and for the kids around, so they have something to do besidessitting in front of the bloody (mytranslation of her Spanish expletive) TV screen and playing with theXbox.” I have to add she is not one toshy away from confrontations when she firmly believes that she has the right ofit, even against regulations. “Besides” she added “there are 4 other houseswhere they have the same hoops… if they want mine down, they all have to comedown” I have to say here that she hasalready stared down the Association Director in a couple of other issues… theyhave a history and I’m betting on the lady of the house.

Ihave a strong background of going against this type of regulations when it ismy belief that they are totally out of sync with the reality of what is goingon at the moment. I hate the concept that someone else has, simply by his orher say, a controlling effect on what is my right to do and/or mylife to live. Of course, these are not issues where another person will be hurtin any manner of speaking. But just because someone does not like a color, oran accent or a way to do something does not give him or her, the right toimpose this dislike on others. And what amazes me all the time is how easilythis is done. And when an individual (inthe true sense of the word) actually stands up to the "junta" with intelligent arguments,there is no response other than to cite the regulation and make threats aboutgoing to court. That answer is pure… nonsense (I’m trying to keep the “G” rating so the word that is really on my mindwill not make it here) And in this case, when the lady of the house isherself a litigation attorney… well, their shaky grounds course will not be easy. And theyknow it.

Anyhow…things of Christmas present(s)… Basketballs, neighborhood associations anddriveways… children who should be allowed to be children and so-called adultswho have little to do and much time to do it in… An interesting mix…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Christmas 2011… The Day After.

2011-12-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

When thisparticular Christmas was fast approaching, my feelings were certainly notdefined…

Toomany happenings, too many bitter moments in much too short a time. And indeed,the day was bittersweet; one of those celebrations when the façade shows asmile that is just a little brighter than the feelings inside, a little moreconducive to shield one from any questions which a well meaning friend orrelative will always ask, releasing anew a delicately contained flood of feelings,from a widely reopened gate.

Acouple of weeks ago I had a chance to speak with my friend Marc (France) who, bynature, tends to be a bit negative at times. After I told him what had happenedto my son he went on a rampage, as I had expected. His feelings are true andhonest, there is a good friendship between us and I knew he would be deeplyaffected. Especially since his only child, a beautiful young lady, is openlygiven to her bike and to ride the French roads on it, feeling the flow of airand freedom, much like Eric did every time he rode.

Wetalked about this for a while; he reneging against all odds and against allthat could be considered a guiding hand, or a protecting entity. I had somewhatthought out most of these issues; not because I would be on the phone withMarc, whose reaction was as expected, but because I had needed to find someemotional answers, some way for me to understand a little bit and to be able toaccept, or not, what had happened.

Inmy internal discussions, many issues and many memories wererehashed, boiled down to the bone and gone over in much detail. On more than one occasion one of these sideswould ask the other that if, given the choice, I would be strong enough toforfeit my own life or some part of it, in order to bring Eric back. Theinitial answer was a resounding “yes”… then I would begin to think back.

Hislife had been anything but easy; every day was a struggle, as a recoveringalcoholic every waking moment claimed some emotional blood from him. Yes, hehad made huge strides in the last few years, but there had been a few reversesas well… each gauging an already vulnerable self image. We spoke on the phone,not as often as either one would have wished, but these were conversations inwhich he pretty much bared his feelings. Although he had learned to cover itwell, he was hurting inside; the kind of hurt only the person who suffers itcan understand… like a slow burning fire you can at times cover and try tosuffocate but can’t quite put completely out.

So,the end result of this fairly thorough compendium of exchanges within my mind,was that I would forfeit my own time but with one caveat: that he would be backas a normal individual, someone who could enjoy the simple things in life, whocould bask in the certainty of the love if his family and friends, of his realworth as a person; someone who would be able to look at the future (he was shyly beginning to do this)straight on and know of his capabilities for tackling it and making of his lifewhat he wished… that he would be back without the emotionally and physicallydraining load of being a recovering alcoholic.

Butto bring him back as he was, so he would continue to suffer and to always beuttering an inside cry for help, no; this would be an incredibly selfish act onmy part for, yes, I would give anything to have him back, but not to see himcontinue to constantly suffer, always being afraid of that one issue whichwould push him over to another reversal and thus a negation of his hard wonaccomplishments. He died as a clean man; in a very poignant way, we could saythis was his last triumph.

Bythe time Marc and I spoke, all this had been thought out. He asked me: “Do youstill believe in God?” I answered, without hesitation, “Yes, I do”. “How could you if He let this happen?” I wasable to tell him that, in thinking through these details, my mind was ascleanly at peace as possible; believing is a matter of faith, not of cognizantprocesses. I believe and continue to believe, having the faith to accept whathappened; to accept that, perhaps, therewas little more we could do for my son and that his spirit, soul or essence wasnow freer than ever it had been, enjoying a peace we could never give him. Doesthis relive my hurt? Not, not fully; nothing ever will. But it allows me toaccept his leaving us and to go on, in our daily living.

So,this Christmas was definitely bittersweet. For me and for the rest of hisfamily and friends who miss him very, very much. But in the end we, as humanbeings have little real power over what goes on around our lives, sometimesgiving us exultation and others handing us devastation. We learn to manage bothand I believe that in doing so, we also learn to know ourselves better and thusbecome a more serviceable cog in this constantly rolling wheel of life.

Yes,I believe in our Father and will never let go of the hand of His Son, Jesus andin celebrating His birth on this day of Christmas, we are simply continuing tobelieve in a message that was brought to us through his living… a message of peace, faith, and oflearning that love has many faces and guises; sometimes in bliss and others inpain… but love is, nonetheless.

Hopeyou had a very Merry Christmas; please think on the original message which goesbeyond the material gifts we can exchange. That gift of pure love we receivedsome 2000 years ago has no price tag, no ending.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Yuletide Rising…

2011-12-22T14:34:00.002-05:00

Every year,right about this time, the same cry is heard from all quarters…

Itdoesn’t make any difference whether one wishes to hear it, or partake of theoverall noise and cacophony. It will come. Like the proverbial fly of thelocust, the noise keeps on getting louder and louder, after the dishes are putaway following the Thanksgiving dinner… It is a noise that often becomesdeafening, a headache producing, collective cry and yell which, at times couldactually make one dizzy; very repetitious also.

Mostpeople don’t realize just how annoying it can be to have a total stranger comeup to you, smile a broad, teeth baring smile and, while pumping your hand withenough force to bring water out of a barren well, say it not once, but over andagain. ARRGHH!! How long will it take for an otherwise normal, quiet individualto put aside these lunatic like ravings and uncontrollable urges, and resume anormal life.

... ... ...

“…Oh My!!” … “I think I was asleep, dreaming about that old Mr. Scrooge again…” “Sometimes, when these dreams come on, I sortof talk … even write in my sleep … not very nice things either…"

Ohwell, it’s getting on that very special time of the year, when we commemoratethe birth of Jesus but, more than this, we commemorate the birth of hope and ofthe fact that we, as His children (no matter how we call The Father, in ourdifferent religions) will always be welcome into His arms, for His Son gave usthat choice.

Thiswill be the last post for this week since I, like millions of others this day, will be getting on the road but, fear not, my trusty computer goes with meand I should be able to come back and torment you early next week…

Whetheryou truly have and share the joy of Christmas, or call the joy of the love of Our Father byanother name… I hope this is a happy and fulfilling occasion for you and yours; that yourfamily remains always together at heart, knowing that this is the true core andreason of our lives here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

Another War Ended… Another “?” Raised.

2011-12-21T14:09:00.001-05:00

Every day, ouractions as humans continue to raise questions regarding our ability to functionon, with the billing as the top animal in the long bio feeding chain.

Usually,the political arena is one into which my thoughts and actions will notwillingly go. There are too many, and a constantly growing number of, existinginterests and too many mirrors and smoke screens in place; each is designed totake our prying eyes and our questioning attitude into a different direction,away from the realities of the games being played.

A couple of days ago,the war in

Iraq

was officially declared ended by governmental decree. The same type of decreethat started it some 10 years ago. And from the look of it all, there reallywas no coherent reason for the many years this particular war went on … and on.To my limited understanding, no major inroads were made against the Talibanfrom Iraqi soil and no stranger than normal weapons were found as a result of this prolonged and costly stay. I have not sufficientknowledge or insight to make determinant statements and I do not proclaim to beendowed with such enlightenment; but there is just enough life behind me,coupled with a fairly good memory, to be able to look at other times and otherplaces, and see only more of the same. There is no finger pointing to eitherside of the political spectrum either; both have been heavily involved in one ormore of these efforts along the way. Of course, while throwing guilt into theopposite camp whenever possible.

Theconcept of a “just” war has been bandied about for centuries. Of course, thewars were “just” based on the point of view of the ones who started the ballrolling. And, if these folk actually did achieve their goal, then it was not a war…the whole effort became an “Epic”, a pursuit of rightful justice... But, again, alwaysfrom the point of view of the pursuer. Humans will be able to, given a fewtools and enough time, create a myriad of reasons to justify whatever actionthey wish to pursue. Our imagination in this direction is simply limitless.

Howmany lives lost?… just on our side? How about on the other side? (let’s remember that to them, their effortwas as just… from their "misguided" point of view, of course) And how about the manywho have been lost on the ranks of the ever losing folk, the middle groundwhere the vast majority of people live?... Those who, while living in the theater of the ongoing war, are not directly involvedin the conflict, but lack the means to get away from it, to flee? I don’t have the numbers but if we look atthe last 3 major engagements, I bet you the numbers go well into the plus sideof the half million mark. Korea,Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan,Pakistan…not to mention losses in those many, smaller theaters where we "officially" donot exist. Or the thousands of returning, living bodies and half bodies, stillsearching for an answer that is not forthcoming, while their minds simplyinhabit the shell and refuse to partake of the world around it. They are stillhorrified by its inhumanness. We give them pills and send them on their way… Away no one but themselves know just how twisted and painful can be.

Ifthis entry, a paean to futility and frustration, can be called anything, mybest guess is that it might be called a “Plea for Sanity”. Sanity which mayallow us to see beyond our noses; to look behind into our own history and tounderstand we are doing nothing but playing the same tune, dancing the samedance and ending with the same outcome: Nothing. In exchange, we are giving upthe lives of thousands of young men and women who, given a chance, might havebeen instrumental in the building of a better society, a better place for our (andtheir) children.

Iguess the story of the Tower of Babel must be based ona real event. We are certainly different; we, the hundreds of different groupsof people who inhabit this planet of ours, refuse to even consider that anothergroup may be “righter” than us. It is backyard justice meted out, based only onpower and opportunity. He/She who has the bigger bat and the bigger balls (literally and figuratively) will rule the playground. There is money, much more than you or I could evenmuster in our wildest guesses, behind these moves. And, unfortunately, moneyrules at decision time.

Youwill now go on your way, I will go on my way… “they” will go on their way.Until the next time comes in which we, or someone else, must strut theirgoodies in order to establish or, to re-establish the pecking order.

Icould ask you to pray for those families who have lost a loved one in any oneof these wars but then, anytime one of our own dies, even when we do not knowhim or her, that person lost is a member of our extended family; especially thefamily made up of those of us who have served at one time or another. But, prayfor them; for all of them, no matter what side, color or creed. It is the onlysolace we can give these souls in their ethereal wandering.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

On the Way to Becoming a Salesman.

2011-12-20T14:05:00.001-05:00

Starting manyyears ago, more than I can remember, and creeping into my latter years, somenon thinking decisions … those that just happen along the way … changed thecourse of a life … mine.

Bythe time my Army discharge came around, I was already married to my first wife,had a child (from her first marriage) and responsibilities. She carried her endof the financial load by doing medical transcription, a field where she had 4years experience by then. In fact, she was very good at this; she was so fast at the typewriter that shewore out a couple of balls from the Selectric typewriter, IBM’s then brand newmodel. They could not believe this untilshe did a demo for them at a blazing speed of some 115 wpm. After seeing this,they gave us a supply of new balls …

Like many who find themselves in thesame situation, we had bills to be paid and money to be made. My salesexperience had begun at age 18 in Puerto Rico,when I was trained to go door to door to sell magazines, domestic appliances,etc… So, my first job out of the Army, was selling Clairol products. I learnedabout hair and color blending, about chemical damage, about product positioningand number of faces (number of rows yourproduct can have on the store shelves), about how to make your producteasier to see that the competition’s, about pricing and price wars; how to makeand end stall work… you name it, if it had to do with the sale ofnon-perishable in a pharmacy, department store or supermarket, I learned aboutit.

This,circa 1968, was the beginning of my on-the-job sales training. Clairol was andcontinues to be a good company in its field, but it was not really a fieldwhich generated constant interest for me. My tenure there lasted for some twoyears, when terminal boredom actually set in … and as a result my short, butwell equipped resume went out to a head hunter. It was a process of some 2 months; the eventual winner of my dedicatedservices was a pharmaceutical company by the name of G.D. (Initials which later on took a different meaning than recalling thename of the founding father) Searle. This was a mid-size pharma-company,with not much in the way of exciting products, but it was my doorway to a veryinteresting and different world in the sales universe.

Thecompany’s claim to fame at the time was a line of products which included oneto induce bowel movements and another to stop excessive movements… as a result,the old saying “when you lie down with ababy, you wake up rolling in s…”took on a whole new meaning. We did have some fun selling these productsthough, along with the other members of the product line … until… somebody atthe company’s R&D department hit the proverbial one out of the park and as a result ofthis product home run, we were the first to market the (in)famous birth controlpill.

Thiswas a revolution; Doctors’ offices where my products did not sell before (a sale is when the MD prescribes yourproduct) now were eager to receive me and to get samples of the new“miracle pill” … So, sales deals were struck and doctors now prescribed severalof my products instead of their old favorites, just to get those samples fortheir patients to take. My sales went up and everything was great… But, as manyfolk become a one track mind and therefore have a one track life, so does acompany when the money starts rolling in… GD basically became a one productcompany and their research (the true backboneof a pharma-company) suffered, the marketing of new products almost disappearing. Yes, I had enough birth control pill samplesin my house to keep a mid size city barren for a year, but nothing new on thehorizon…

Asa result of this, more than a few of us went looking for greener, moreinteresting pastures. My lot ended up with Pfizer, at the top of the feeding chain, aggressive company,with a varied line of products. My knowledge of the pure concept of professionalsales and marketing was increased tenfold, and so was my actual market; thecompany was excellent (and still is)at this end of the game. One of the decisions made in life which was regrettedfor quite some time, was my having to leave them due to very pressing and difficultpersonal issues with my first wife's health. As a result of this, my job market was reducedto the immediate area where we then lived, so I could be nearby at all times…So it was to the car lot, to sell used cars for the local Lincoln Mercurydealer; here, my sales learning took a unique turn and went into street levelfighting, so to speak.

Eventually,in 1975, the industry where my professional life would develop over the next30+ years opened its doors (in a manner of speaking) to me … Life Insurance. Most people who go intothis field never really dreamt about doing so as children. It is sort of acatch all, where many who come in do so because of an immediate need to make money while waiting for a “real job” to come along some time soon. Somehow, this businessof insurance will wrap itself around you, grab you by the short hairs and neverlet you go. It has been a good time, butit has also run its cycle. After almost 4 decades of dealing with alllevels of insurance sales and management, I became tired of the constant race and pressure to alwaysdo more than yesterday. Other issues have become more important and now havetop billing in the marquee of my life… but I am indeed grateful for these manyyears of learning, knowledge, meeting people, travels, opportunities at openingnew doors and markets and just general fun.

Onthese posts, we often touch upon the importance of the decision-making process in everyday life. What isalso true is that this includes those decisions made by default, by actuallynot doing anything. Whether due to inertia, lack of interest or lack ofunderstanding the importance of the decision, we do accept many issues tosimply happen, or to not happen. Then, we complain when the results do not meetour expectations. And just as it is with the consequences of making a decisionwe know is not correct, the consequences of a non-decision are also ourresponsibility and no one else’s.

Mylife changed for the long run because when younger I did nothing about goingback and completing my degree; my time was at a premium and I was too busy, etc ... you know the usual excuses … I know of at least three instances where my lotwould have ended at the helm of a good company and, while my experience surpassed that of the others, I was passed over due tothis lack.

Do not let even small details go unattended; these are often at thecore of our extended lives. Understand the decision process, and especially understandthat non-decisions are –by definition- decisions as well; you will be thebetter person for knowing this.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
“La Otra Caja de Pandora” … The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!

The Coming of The Season…

2011-12-19T11:49:00.001-05:00

This time ofthe year, with all the meanings it conveys and carries, is sometimes adifficult period to manage for me; especially when recent issues and happeningswill carry the emotions at fingertip level…

Ihave to go back to childhood years to understand the full meaning of thisseason; no, not the fact that we who call ourselves Christians profess tocelebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whose existence and passage in and intoour history was a rite of rebirth and understanding. My lack of current commitment perhaps goes more into what the history of the season has been forme.

Inposts written at other times, the usual get together in my grandparents’ homehas been alluded to. Yes, we had the big dinner (on the 24^th, not the 25^th) as well as themidnight mass and the celebrations. More than anything else, there was thisincredible spirit of family; that celebration which went beyond the palpableaspect… more the feeling of overabundant joy and kinship. Perhaps it wasbecause I witnessed the unraveling of this feeling; the unraveling of a familywhich had been kept together through the efforts of the older generation(grandparents) and their constant reminders of our being a nuclear family, nomatter if we lived apart.

Asan adult, I have come to realize these continued efforts do take a lot ofcommitment and time; they also create(d) a lot of risk taking on the part ofthe “keeper of the guard” … in my childhood, my grandmother definitely had theposition. And no one could have done abetter job than she did. It was one which was taken to heart, mind, body andsoul … she plunged into the role of matriarch on the fly (we would say in Spanish “matriarca sin cartera”), a very specialrole which to us grandchildren was that of a friend and funny “older lady” whoalways catered to us and who, most of all, was someone we could always count onto regale us with an interminable amount of patience, care and love. As far asthe adults went, she kept them on line … so to speak.

Inmy mind, she is the absolute image and figure of “Christmas Past”. All we didduring the Yule season went through her; perhaps some of the more telling andhappy moments of my childhood. Then, in the latter years of my life in

Cuba

,as the new system came in and as our family began to disintegrate, she alsobecame the image of that aspect of our lives; a period of time that signaledthe end of all we had known ... of all that we, as a family, had been able toaccomplish.

Althoughthe happy times were many, those last couple of years and, especially after onewhole side of the family left (the auntand cousins with whom my sister would later live in New Rochelle), her eyeschanged. A brave front was kept alive for those of us who were still there. Buther eyes changed… blue eyes which had always been alive and smiling, even whenreceiving the worst tantrums her oldest grandchild could muster (that’s me) … those very eyes whichinspired trust and peace by just looking at them began to look tired, reddishfrom private tears, and downcast.

Thelast two Christmases were telling. Not much could be found to have thetraditional meal and I do not really think the effort was put into the process…in 1961, our (my sister and I) last Christmas in

Cuba

, she already knew we wereleaving and her eyes and face expressed all that had to be said. I could notread her eyes at the time, as I can now read them from memory and personalexperiences lived along the way… as a young person without much experience, allI could think was that she was not feeling well.

WhenI am asked about my last memories of my country, the answer can go in severaldirections. If someone is asking on a superficial level, the answer will beequally superficial … we will talk about the house, the general memories and such… I f someone whom I know has a true interest and with whom I have a degree oftrust asks, then the answer is very different. The truth will win out… thosememories are not happy; they are memories of a family disunited, of folk whoafter working a lifetime to have their dreams come to fruition, see everythingdisappear in the blink of a moment in existence.

Theyare, in detail, memories of my grandmother’s eyes and how, as the last monthsof my stay I would see them less and less … and when I would, they wouldreflect a deep, inner sadness and hurt which I would only come to understandyears later and for other, my own issues and experiences lived. She was already withdrawing into that shellwhich would, eventually, wrap itself around her like a protective blanket so asnot to allow destructive events she could no longer control, to bother and hurther.

Ihave learned over the years to look at this season as one of regained joy andnew memories, those made along the way with new families and friends. Yet, atthe bottom of the toast well, there will always be those woven time memorieswhich created and then, when unraveled, took down the incredible familial meaning of theprocess and the season. We will, as a family, enjoy its bittersweet presencethis year; we will miss those who are no longer with us and raise a toast tothem, to their memory and with much love. Yes, to my son and his grandmotherwho recently died but, in my heart and not so secretly, also to those who gavethis man-child an opportunity to learn the meaning of joy and family at a veryearly age, for they will also be present … for, in my life ... they have never left.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
NOW … “La Otra Caja de Pandora” The Spanish Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”… Bienvenidos!!!

The First 3000... And counting...

2011-12-17T13:51:00.002-05:00

Today is a mark of some sort... Normally on the weekends I let you rest a bit from these uneven ravings but... last night we went over 3,000 "reads" ... several are repeat readers and my gratitude goes to you. Also my admiration for your patience and reticence... I realize that this is not a huge number as some more celebrated blogs go ... but for an idea that took shape because 4 friends wanted "something to read"... that is not a bad number...

To celebrate, we will double the pleasure. How? The new version of Pandora's Other Box will come to life this week, with a twist... It will be called "La Otra Caja de Pandora" and will be a Spanish version... Several requests have been received from friends in South America and Spain; friends who feel much more comfortable in this language than in English so... There will now be two versions of the blog for your pleasure!!!

Again, Thanks for your loyalty; your blog will continue on!!!

A Never Ending Story...

Be Well ... Be Back!!!

Thank God It’s Friday!!

2011-12-16T11:58:00.001-05:00

That one madefor a good name for a restaurant that cropped up sometime in the late 70’s… Then it became simply "T.G.I.F" ...

Eventuallythe name was shortened and became “Fridays”. That is how we now knowthis chapel to the gods of deep frying and cholesterol. Indeed, today is Friday. For most ofus, it signals the end of a work week and the beginning of an all too shortweekend. Sometimes it is “payday” and a time to relax, "drink" worries away and,in doing so, often create new and heavier ones…

Yeah…today is not a bad day… nor is it Monday, a poor fellow which has all the negativeimplications of the world … the beginning of a work week, the end of the“carefree” weekend, the renewal of those phone calls reminding us that thereare bills still unpaid… for parents of small children, the routine of the earlymornings, the in house rush hour just before going into the street version ofthe same, so that we can get to that place where the workweek begins anew. Forall these, and others I am sure you can come up with, poor Monday has becomethe black sheep day of the week.

Tuesdaysort of goes with the flow… neither here nor there … kind like the smallermiddle kid in a large family. Sort of gets lost in the crowd, only beingnoticed when a disaster happens… Then it’s Wednesday and now we begin to getserious. This is the “hump” day (no, notthat “hump”) this is the day that signals we are half way into the workweek and the week end is already looming closer… close enough to be tasted.

Thursdaysthen greet us in their morning splendor …. In several “sub-cultures” (especially the college crowds) this isthe day where practicing for the weekend actually begins. Some drinking –nottoo much mind you, tomorrow is still Friday and a work/study day- and some relaxing.After all, Saturday is just a day away. So I guess this qualifies Thursdays as“good days”.

Thenwe are back to Fridays and the glorious weekend … and the cycle starts all overagain.

Ifyou have read those random posts which often just express my thoughts and in the process havetruly understood some of the messages my sometimes convoluted (and often confused, Imust admit) mindset has tried to pass on, then the foreboding that the aboveis but a pre-set to something else to be added has already come to yourthoughts. You are right.

Indeed…here we go!! We are creatures of habit; we whittle away most of our lives going from day to day andhoping that we can just survive the next 24 hours, with maybe a few breaks in between periods. No, don’t jump all over me. I do realizethere is a life to be lived, bills to be paid, cars to be bought, mortgages tobe dealt with, children to be educated, food to be served, cell phones and the latest sundry toys to become dependent on, clothes (preferably with some name attached to them) to be bought and worn,and so on and on… we all live through these issues, most of us spending morethan we can possibly make and then look forward to the time we can “retire” so wecan sort of sit and wait for whenever we are called away from this life.

Thatis a very stylized and simplified outlook of a lifetime; could even describe itas “depressing”. Most likely there are many variants but, for a grand majorityof people, this somewhat drab picture does not fall too far from what reality is.Our world has become one in which our movements become dictated, our time ceasesto be ours, where we are told that if we dare differ from the norm we arewrong, where privacy is a thing of the past and trust and peace of mind are quickly going into thesame cyber-waste-bin, somewhere into a time and space continuum, not to befound again.

Thereare so many things each one of us can, and should, do to break this chain without stopping those established activities which are a part of ourday to day living. Doesn't take much time, according to the experts in thesefields, to be able to redirect some of our energies into a cleaner, better selfserving channel. Do something you like ... truly like… In the busy schedule ofyour life, spare some time for yourself; time which, when invested in what you reallylike to do, will bring you an incredibly positive return. After all, if you arenot important enough to yourself, to whom will you be important?

Dosome reading, topics and authors you do enjoy; perhaps do some writing... doesn't have to be considered Pulitzer material... (witness these posts!!!) some walking or other sport,take some time off on the weekends or, if your work schedule permits, do it duringthe week and get away for a few hours. No, not to places where it will cost tons of money. Itdoesn’t have to be a cruise to Alaska… this will just add to your headaches when the bills pile in… Share your time with someone you love…There are manyplaces where you can go for a day or two, without having to get a loan from thebank. Or you can just go to a river or lake bank or to a private place where you are comfortable…, sit and let your mind wander for a while, let itdream and let it become soothed by the surroundings. Thiswill be said over and again … the best things in life are often free and available forthe taking… or the asking.

Break that routine!!! Create your world, your universe… a "world space" where you rule and where only you will allow someone or something to enter andbe a part of it. Your universe (according to those who share “The Secret”)is that special place in which only you will grant a visa or passport to that which you want to come in. Yes, you will be a part of many other worlds in the process; some being more amenable than others ... this is an intrinsic aspect of everyday living but, your world is your refuge. It is conducive to maintainingmental and emotional sanity in an often increasingly insane environment.

Goahead … dare to be different! After all, there is only one of you and each one is special and precious … don't be afraid to be “you-nique”!!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

In the Swim of Things…

2011-12-15T16:06:00.002-05:00

The above titleopens up a plethora of directions which could be pursued … If only I knew whichto follow!!!

Thismorning my ESL class students were, as usual, late for the show. In a regularschool this would not be well received. However here, when each participant eventually“drags” in, their tired early morning faces tell the story. For the most partthey work jobs which keep them up until late (or, better yet, early) hours and their coming in to the early a.m.class is an effort. And it is an effort which makes me work a little bit harderto give them the basic understanding they need in order to get by in their dayto day struggles.

Afterclass, a little bit of talk time was spent with the owner-teacher; we have becomegood friends over time and, actually, at present it is just “she and I” facingthe ESL world, since the third teacher is on vacation. She is taking on an addedrisk: moving the school to a different locale come January. Where we are nowthere is little, if any, walk in traffic (secondfloor in a corporate office structure) these walk-ins create a flow of potentialcustomers which is imperative for the long term growth and survival of theschool. We have discussed this over some time now, for a decision had to bereached by mid December due to office contractual issues.

Iam sort of a “free lance-no charge” advisor and bouncing wall to her thoughts; she, a single mother to a 4 yr old girl and this is already a heavyresponsibility ... she also knows and accepts there are risks to be taken if herlot is to be improved. So here comes the new school with the attendinginvestment, in a spanking new strip mall at street level and in a very heavilytrafficked area of town with a high Hispanic percentile, exactly the targetmarket the school needs to tap in order to grow. We worked on some ideas forthe opening week, including a press cocktail to be held, as well as somepromotions and class “giveaways”. After I assured her that my help could becounted on, we said goodbye and each went his/her way. She to teach a class, Ito a meeting.

Onmy way to that meeting, a call came in through Skype, on my phone.It is amazing how these integrated services work to help in the dailymanagement of business. It wasn’t so long ago (well, to us older geese!!) thatif you were away from the house or office phone, you were out of touch. Anyway,this call came from my associate overseas and we discussed several issues onwhich we are currently working. After 25 minutes on the phone (no cost, thanks to Skype) we partedways not without before setting up a follow up schedule for the rest of the dayand for tomorrow, since we are still hoping to get at least one item completed before Christmas.

Bythis time, my car had found itself parked by the door of my next destination. Not quite sure how it was it managed to getthere… no, not really… The office of a potential on-and-off associate. This ladycreated and maintains a local foundation geared to the needs of a specificgroup of foreign nationals. In this case, services are for and not limitedto, Ecuadorians. These folk are for themost part from very humble origins, often lost in wanderings within thebureaucracy found in most areas which have to be faced in most facets of ourdaily undertakings. Add to this the lack language management and their problemsmultiply.

Her primary business is (or was), I think, a ticket agency. Now, you can justas easily buy a ticket, send a package or have your eyes checked, your feetmassaged or your computer upgraded. Of course, also insurance and otherassorted sundries. This office is a true paean to survival in rough times. Oneof the very real and sad issues facing these less financially able communities is the lack of funds topay for a funeral and/or for a repatriation of the body of the deceased.

Wehad a one hour meeting, delineating a new service to be offered to her“constituents” and all other members of the foundation: A complete burial or“processing and shipping” service for a very inexpensive amount, to be coveredby a small, low cost life insurance policy. A simple idea, right? When a persongets to know those who actually live within this needy segment of society, manyugly truths related to the sub-worlds that do exist come to the surface. Thesepeople are, for the most part, good and hard working folk who do not have theformal education to aspire to the better jobs and often, when they do have theeducation, cannot exercise their learned professions because their documents are notin full order…

Theylive in a mid grayish world, never really able to see the full daylight, only abit of the morning light of hope. Their goal is to try very hard to make abetter life for their children, perhaps so that generation and the followingones have a chance to live in a lighter, more open world. Then, for those whodo not make it, there is the family pain of not being able to pay for a funeralhere, or to have the embalmed body sent back to their country of origin, so they can be putat rest with their ancestors, a very personal and important issue within our culture. Often, the proverbial hat is passed around theirneighbors and members of their church, with the hope that there will be enoughmoney to do one or the other. When this insurance packet is put into effect, those who takepart in it will be able to rest in peace, at an abode of their choice. And so will their surviving family.

Now,as I sit here, there are several documents which need to be completed for myoverseas associate, as well as for my local associate to be. Then on to the late night ESL class, for thosewho work from early in the morning until late in the afternoon...

Whenthis post entry started to unravel from the title chosen, it seemed like a potentialwaste of time, but for some reason it just kept coming. Now, as it stares backat me the message it gives me is that we are all, as individuals, involved atmany levels and with more people than we could possibly imagine … in everything we do. What each one of us commits to or fails to do, will affect notonly our own lives, but the lives of many others … some of whom we do not evenknow. So, I guess, if we are going to dosomething, let’s do it right the first time, for it will impact someone elsedown the road; you will help that someone and will also understand that the jobto be done, was well done.

This will bring to your heart and mind a truefeeling of accomplishment, even when no one else knows about it…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

When the Time Comes to say Goodbye...

2011-12-14T16:02:00.001-05:00

For most of usthe above title will probably conjure up visions of dying or, at best adefinite good bye, whoever is parting never to be seen again.

Someyears ago, while in the midst of all the comings and goings generated by theelsewhere mentioned pursuit of our own version of the “holy grail”, there weresome instances when the above little phrase/statement was indeed the telling ofwhat should have been done. It has been an unforgiving road, but one which I amsure has prepared me for something that needs to be yet accomplished. This goalhas been known to me since the moment 13 years ago when the idea first cameinto my mind. Every time the thought of saying “goodbye” comes into play, a newindication that the fight must continue strongly materializes. So, my heart and mind are still trained on this goal and I have quietly come to realize that yourstruly does not easily give up.

Remembermy friend Chuck? From a couple of entries back…? He is but one of several folkwhom I have known through these meanderings and who have died along the way. Beforetheir time, to be sure, but not before they added their little grain of sand to confirmthe reason for the pursuit.

Thereare others who survive on, but who are no longer physically well; I wish therewas something I could do to help them. Sort of looking after a trench mate …much like an army buddy who, in the middle of a tight spot, watched your backand you his. After all, these wars fought in locales like Zurich,Geneva, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt and soon, have been every bit as bloody as any where bullets flew. At least in thelatter you had a chance to identify the enemy so as to defend yourself.

Whena road is chosen at some point in our lives, we often overlook thepotential pitfalls it presents. Perhaps we simply do not know them or, worse,choose to ignore the reality of their existence because the assumed potential gain isgreater than the presumed and unknown risk. When this choice comes along atsome point in life should we then as individuals retire into a cocoon and, inorder to minimize any and all risks, let life go by?

Thereare those who being sensible and cautious will say that perhaps, without goingthat far, steps should be small and careful. There are others for whom risktaking is the elixir of life, that which will bring the color and heat of excitementto their hearts and minds. Then, there are the rest of us. We will look to theadventure and changes it may bring about, but will also consider the extent (some, anyway) of the risk involved inwhatever it is we are about to engage.

Anapt description of individual rights and freedom goes something like this: “the rights of a person end where the rightsof his/her neighbor begin” How true!! It is not an uncommon situation tomake decisions about our lives and explaining them away as “Well… it is mylife, isn’t it?” Well, yes and no. Whendecisions made affect those who are around you, sharing their lives with yourown, then one will be infringing into their territory and also into theirrights as that invisible but very real line is crossed.

Howmany times have we actually crossed that line in our life? To be sure, we canprobably name those occasions when the offending party is another person; canwe be as clear as to the times when we have been that offending party? Probablynot.

Whatis the source of this post? Time and timing. As we choose the roads we travel,whether we endeavor to navigate these waters quietly or to constantly leave awake behind, we should try to identify just when it is that we may have brokenthat invisible line and stepped on the other person’s toes; this signals thepoint where that individual’s rights begin and our rights simply become wrongs.Many a good relationship has found its end because one (or both) of thepartners constantly ignores this fine line, expecting the other person toaccept and to support. This may actually happen for a while but, eventually,the weight of discontent will wear out the acquiescence generated by thefeelings that may be present.

Wedon’t travel life’s roads by ourselves, no matter how lonely we may choose tofeel in order to justify a drab stretch. Take the time to identify those youknow and who can be put in a circle of family members, a circle of friends, acircle of coworkers, and so on. Several may –and probably should- overlap. Aswe do this, we come to realize that every decision made will affect a number ofthose who appear on this overall picture. Obviously, priorities being what they shouldbe, family comes first. Whatever affects other family members should be discussedwith them; especially if this family member is the one defined as “spouse”.

Don’tbe afraid to “let your hair hang out” and to take the high road every so often.Life can be very boring otherwise; but, as you do this, be sure that you canhonestly go back to the moment when the decision was made and bring forward thefact that issues were a known factor and a joint (if there is a partner) decision was made. This willmake life, in the long run, a much more pleasant place to be.

So, as much as you might have your heart set on sailing around the world in a skiff made for two … you may have to accept it may not be the best idea after all ... for now, anyway!

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

The Dearth of an Empirical.

2011-12-13T16:36:00.002-05:00

(1) Empirical … Philosophy derived asknowledge from experience, especially sensory perception, not applied logic.

(2) Dearth … Lack of something

Justa figment of the imagination of this writer… the title, that is. Thinking aboutsome of the issues we have touched upon during posts along the way, this is asummation of what I believe is happening to forthcoming generations. We are letting go of the utilization of thosesenses which have really set us aside, over a number of lifetimes, from other species; in doing so, we aregiving up our sole animal advantage.

Whydo I believe this is so? Our new generations are more and more dependent oftechno equipment; computers in all possible iterations, “smart phones”, clouds,long distance communications, interfaces… you name it. Seems that all newinteractive structures take us more and more in a direction which gets us awayfrom social, communal growth. As in… we really do not need to actually “talk”eye to eye, when we can communicate through said computers, phones, etc.

Socialnetworking mega theaters have become the depository of a huge, gargantuan accumulation ofinformation about us … which we readily give up; already breaches of privacyhave made news and these are very likely to become commonplace, rather than betamed and controlled. The information which is contained in these data banks are justtoo attractive to those who make a living by stealthily entering them and usingwhatever is there for the taking. It never ceases to amaze me just how muchprivate information users plaster all over these so-called “walls”. Often,information the same individual would be reluctant to deliver to someone justmet. “Cyber” crime is more common; as a matter of fact, the very term was nonexistent just a few years ago.

Dowe give up on these grand discoveries? No, of course not. They are a part ofour own advances as intelligent human beings; just that we should not forgetthat last phrase and what it actually means: “intelligent human beings”. A bigpart of our cultural heritage, our ability to learn as itdeveloped over generations of exquisite human engineering, has been nurturedthrough exchanges between people. The cognitive ability to look at someone andhave a “gut feeling” about that person; the fact that we can interact with othermembers of our human club and define who we like and who we do not like; whatwe want and do not want… the ability to think through situations which involveothers, to survive without "techno help". That, and other sensorial abilities, has been a learnedprerogative which, as a base instinct, has been developed through thousands ofyears of this direct interaction and its consequential growth.

Iwonder what this very ability will be, or will fail to be, in a fewgenerations. This time is not too far away, as the crow flies. We have seensome potential advances in several movies and books that talk about that dreaded, to us old timers, concept of the “controlled society”. A society where peopleare usable entities within a social group, with defined rights and ceilings;predestined to be one thing or another from the moment of conception.

Theonly difference between these coming exercises and those of failed attemptsdone in the not too far past by control freaks, will be genetics knowledge,heretofore a fairly little developed science field. Genetics has already opened experimental theaters which will eventually allow the existence of anindividual whose make up is determined by whatever societal needs are deemed apriority at the time that particular entity is conceived. In a tube, of course.Is this too far a thought? Not really. Just look at the news and the almosteveryday exercises in genetic engineering are there to be found. In fact, newsof this sort has become so “old hat” in the last ten years or so, that theseexercises do not even make the front page anymore. Only if the results are somesort of hideous consequence, sort of like drinking a not well prepared witches’brew.

Ihave to admit my instincts and likes are of the old fashioned type. Mypreferences include direct interaction, touching, seeing, hearing –not througha dismembered, cold phone- but a whisper carried in the warm breath of a lovedone, tasting a fresh fruit or, better yet, delicate lips ... smelling the earth, flowers, the wetness of rain … If we are tobe the intermediate generations in a changing humanness which is slowly veeringto that impersonal state of being a “functional computer aided brain”, wherethe rest of the body becomes a useless appendix, then I am grateful to be herenow. My guess is that, as generations succeed, each will have its own dinosaurs(like me) and will eventually, as a whole, move on towards that homologatedstate of being.

Ohwell … ‘nuff for now about this nonsense … or is it “yes-sense”?

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

A Short Entry day...

2011-12-12T13:08:00.000-05:00

This may be ashort entry … or not … A head cold is not the best companion to think and tocreate a story line, no matter how limited it may be.

Ithad been a while since the last time I was visited by this very unwelcomecompanion; had forgotten just how miserable it could make you feel...

Asyou may be aware of, The Other Box has a weekly radio broadcast www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox(you can check all entries at thisaddress) which comes to life every Sunday night at 18:30hrs, Eastern US Time(Greenwich -5). The idea behind it is to do some readingsfrom the blog, have a little bit of music and some comments. Well… since thisis done through the computer, we are at the mercy of several hands of fate… theinternet connection, the telephone line and the computer itself. And when allthis is working, then I come down with a bad head cold… like last night; thelast couple of minutes were given over to some music because the dreaded“sneezes” came on … Well, as it is commonly said: “The Show Must Go On”. Weactually look forward to making it a 1-2 hour show starting in January… Checkin and listen, I think it will grow on you… More folk are listening; the numbergrows a little each week.

Likealways, there are those moments in which the mind is a total blank (no comments, please!!) and the thing todo is to just start the writing process and see what comes out. Well, as youcan probably tell, this is exactly what is going on at this moment. Almost likeone of those older gas engines, where the starting process had to be fueled bya hand operated choke pull … When it actually begins to cough and sputter, thechoke is eased back into a regular mixture position and the engine purrs on…Wish it was that easy to get this one going…

Lastnight I watched the Guadalupana for a while. This is the yearly pilgrimage to theBasilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico,which takes place every year during the eve of her apparition to a humbleIndian laborer by the name of Juan Diego. She has become the Patron Mother ofthe Mexican nation, and has been named as Mother to the Americas by Pope John Paul 3^rd in oneof his visits to Mexico.I had the opportunity to visit the Basilica in Mexico City some years ago. It was a quietmorning, mid week, and the place was relatively empty.

Usually,when one enters such a large empty space (itcan hold several thousand people) the feeling is that of being a littlelost. Yet, on entering this particular church, my eyes were immediately drawnto the far wall; the place where the original “sarape” or Indian cloth worn byJuan Diego over his own clothes, was resting. This is the cloth on which theimage of the Virgin Mother appeared; it is amazing that this piece of cloth,which normally would wear out within 20-35 years of being made, is still in analmost pristine way. It has been some 500 years since the event took place,according to historians; it happened in the year 1531. And we have to considerthat during the first 100 years, the cloth and image were not protected at all,it was in exhibition in a chapel where people could visit it and actually touchit.

Sincewe, smart and skeptic human beings we are, want to explain everything away in ascientific manner, many tests have been done to this piece and no actualanswers have been found … that is, answers which explain this in a way thatmight be acceptable to those science types. What have they found so far? It doesdate to the period in question, the pigments that color the figure are not recognizable and the starson the cape the Mother is wearing actually represent the skies as they were inthose days (December 1531). Then, there is the left eye. According to studiesdone by ophthalmologists there are some figure representations within it,impossible to have been made by human hand.

Religionis a very personal topic; each one of us will believe, or not, according to ourrearing and to our own experiences in life; in commonality, each religion has aset of Primary and one or more set(s) of Secondary Deities and within these, each individualfollower usually will choose one or two to whom his or her prayers are said. Noone can expect to impose his or her religious views and beliefs on someone else… even though this is exactly what we have been trying to do since thebeginning of modern times, to the detriment of peace and understanding. And atthe cost of a few lives along the way.

AllI can remember is that, much as I had felt during my visit to Our Lady ofFatima’s church in Portugal,a feeling of peace and calm came over me. It could only be described as a senseof “secure comfort”; I felt at home and when my turn came to kneel before theshroud and spend a few minutes in communion with the Mother, it was as if therewas no one else around; that nothing would be able to break this incrediblypeaceful and private feeling… Perhaps this was the result of my early schoolyears, when I was trained by Marian brothers; the love of the Virgin Mother wasinstilled in me; it is not easy to get away from your early training. And, to be honest, I am not sure I would want to be, for there is a large degree of comfort in thisfeeling.

Afterwhat I have traveled, seen, lived and shared during these 65 years (and, granted, others have a much richer andmore varied story to tell) I have come to accept and believe, by choice, inthe Holy Trinity and on the Virgin Mother; It would be impossible for me toexplain the far too many moments and periods of my life during which, had itnot been for Their presence in my heart and spirit, the end results would havebeen much more drastic and negative that they actually were. So, every day itis a prayer of Thanks I offer; for all we are and all we may have.

Headcold??? Bah! My eyes are about to close and the top of my forehead is gettingheavier and stuffier by the second so, I guess it is time to go…

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

Please Hold…

2011-12-09T14:24:00.001-05:00

In the courseof any given business day, most of us will have the unique and pleasurableopportunity to pick up the phone, dial a “1-800- DONTCALLUS” service line andhear the dreaded …

“Hold,please…” It doesn’t really matterwhether this request comes with a Far eastern accent or not; the point of the issueis that the old Army saying of “hurry up and wait” seems to have reincarnatedand actually become a living, thriving motto in today’s network of customerservice business … yes, business. The contracts that some specialized answeringcompanies do manage can be measured in Millions.

Aftermany years of managing and teaching sales and marketing, an area of businesswhich includes a heavy dose of phone management, it is almost funny to call into some corporate structured system and listen to what is said and how.Recently I have been dealing with a major life insurance company (seems to be the script of my life…);this is a type of business which is predicated on service and from the company’sown viewpoint, given to more than one market. One is the public market; theother, is the internal market comprised mostly of those who sell and servicetheir product: the agents.

“Good morning, Sir … and how are we today?”Tells me the syrupy and much too cheery voice after the seemingly never endingsequence of required punches into my quickly wearing out telephone number pad… “Well… I don’t know about “we” but my hand isgetting numb from holding this little phone…” Then, without missing a beat, I hear “I’m so sorry sir, and how’s the weather overthere?” Nonsensical repartee? Scripted conversation? Every time a call isplaced to the “service office” of this company, this is pretty much what goeson. I have tried to rattle their “cage” a bit but ... I could say that my neighborwas just shot three times in my front lawn, and back would come the facelessvoice asking about the weather … AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

Ourlives, much like these telephone calls, seem to be on “Hold Please” sometimes.At least it feels this way. More often than not, however, we are –withoutrealizing it perhaps- the creators of the very hold we then complain about.Tiredness, pressures, stress, hasty or overly studied decisions … the firsttaken without much thought and the latter so long in coming that in the end,they are never acted on. Sometimes we base our day to day living on emotionalissues, other times –almost like if we were having a rebound reaction- we wantto be as cerebral as possible … How many of us have made decisions with theexpress underlying purpose of impressing someone else? Or a group of folk who,for the most part, will just as soon turn their back on us than look at us?

Ashuman beings we are taking huge strides every day into the impersonal areas ofdeveloping society(ies) such as techno equipment, non physical contact, socialnetworks in which we may talk to a ghost of an imagined individual who may turnout to be someone totally opposite to what was originally presented… orimagined. Yet, as “communication” with this ethereal image takes place througha computer, our mind gives this perceived individual a patina of a realitywhich is closer to that which we would wish to see, than that which may actuallybe…

Weare becoming more and more used to this; there are growing “sub-cultures” (don’t know what else to call them) whichare composed of people so given over to their virtual, cybernetic worlds, thatthey become obsessive about this aspect of their lives and extremelyuncomfortable when actually having to deal directly with other human beings… Isthis our children’s children's future? A “bubbled” life made up of an infinitenumber of little virtual worlds? If so I, for one, am glad that I will not bearwitness to it.

PerhapsI am wrong… would not be the first or, I’m sure, the last time so being. On theother hand, perhaps this is the future of this world as we multiply like littlerabbits (in my lifetime, the worldpopulation has grown by a 300% factor, most of this explosion happening in thelast 25 years) and overpopulate the areas of the world which can provide afriendly environment in which to live. Unfortunately, these are also the areasof the planet which provide most of the food to us … Hmmm … food for thought,so to speak.

“Hold,Please…” What is the legacy you would like your children and their children tohave, coming from you? No… money is not necessarily the only or, even perhaps,the right answer… in fact, this is at times the worst legacy to leave, for itwill disunite families, create rifts and destroy years of dedicated familialefforts. And no, I do not mean to say that if you do have the money, that youshould “give it all to charity”… but do take the time to structure what youintend your family to accomplish and prepare them to do so. That, then, becomesa true legacy.

Whereis today's rambling going? Frankly, I am not sure. There are far too many issues goingthrough my head; I see so many people throwing themselves into such a headlongrush in order to have their 15 minutes in the limelight, that many don’t evenunderstand that life is happening around them as they push forward, withblinders on. Many I have met who, in the waning years of their earthly stay,question what is it they did accomplish? And these include many folk who wouldbe considered financially successful as measured by any standard. It often takes alifetime, unfortunately, to accept that what is a façade, when the chips aredown, just hides an empty lot behind… no matter how impressive the front maybe. It may be better to spend a little less money and time on the façade andmuch more on the substance behind it.

We will all be the better for it.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

“Tongo le Dio A Borondongo…”

2011-12-08T17:56:00.001-05:00

The title comes from an old rhythmictune from way back in Cuba…It tells about how one action will start a number of reactions down the line…

Ofcourse, the song takes the funny slant, how one hits another and the other doesthe same to someone else, etc… Sort of like falling dominoes, until thelast one in line ends up kicking the dog at the end. Just because it’s thedog and it happens to be there at the wrong time… and because it will continueto wag its tail no matter what.

Actionsand reactions; a lifetime of uninterrupted motion which sometimes goes forward… sometimes backwards and at other times it moves sideways while seeming to bemotionless. Suddenly we look up and we realize that it has been some six plusdecades that one has been facing whatever this life wants to hand out, whethergently or a bit more roughly, as it is wont to do. There are moments when onefeels slightly like that old dog, receiving a hard hit (at times physically and at other times emotionally) and wagging on.Then, there are other times when the world is at your feet, ready for yourbidding.

Lastnight was a beautiful night. By the time I finally finished and came home ataround 9pm, the winds had blown the all day cloud cover to kingdom come; when Istepped out of the car and tilted my face up, lo and behold … the firmament wasthere to be looked at in awe; an almost full moon, incredibly shiny, with allthe attending stars in tow… a gorgeous array of light points, trailing throughthe skies like a gigantic candle collection of many sizes, all flickeringbrightly. For a moment, it was enough to allow one to forget many issues,including tiredness of body and spirit.

Whenit is said that the best moments in life are free … this was certainly awonderful example of one of them!!

Thismorning, in my first class, there were a couple of young students in attendanceand I happened to mention last night’s skies… the reaction of one, echoed bythe other, was “I don’t have the time to look at the skies…” It was a greatopportunity to go into the “Take the time to smell the roses lecture” but Irealized this would not mean much to them. All that my mind could muster at themoment was a mild mannered “whatever fewprecious minutes you manage to give yourself, are priceless in what they can mean to you” and so I said to them. He looked back at me and with a somewhatsurprised look on his face, said: “Mygrandfather used to say that to us all the time … we just never paid too muchattention because all we could see was a poor old man, with nothing to show forhis life”.

Ilooked at him and, remembering there were other people in class and that this wasnot a private conversation, refrained from any further detailed comments but, a bit later managedto steer the class towards a light discussion of what an achievement is. It wasinteresting to listen to these young people give their own version ofachievement; usually centered on money and the things this could buy. Most, if notall, come from humble backgrounds, and all are desperately trying to eke out abetter living than what they had available in their own country. Finally, ayoung mother said: “my biggestachievement is my baby daughter” and the discussion began to veer towardsthe non-metallic side of the ledger.

Bythe end of the discussion, in their somewhat halting English (after all, it is an English class…) theycame to an overall agreement (includingone, somewhat grudgingly, from the young man with the original comment)that in reality, money is a tool, albeit a much needed tool, but its worth isits usefulness to obtain those services for which we have to pay. On the otherhand, they also agreed that those moments in life which bring warmth of heart,love, affection, peace of mind and inner happiness, do not really have buying price… as the card commercial aptly says: “They are priceless”.

SometimesI wonder whether my being in these classes as “The Teacher” is due to being inthe right place at the right time… For all of us … Many of these folk who comethrough these courses are not rich in economic terms but they are rich inculture and friendship, and all share an intense desire to improve their lot;to learn all they can, and to adapt to a new world while working their tailsoff. We talk about our country, the changes it has undergone over the years andthe people who inhabit it. Among the topics discussed are demographics,politics, opportunity and ways to improve the future of their lives and,especially, that of their children (Thosewho have them). I have met kids of 20 – 22 years of age who live alone andwork 18 hours a day so they can send some money back home, going to bed at 2amand getting up at 6 so they can be in class by 8. I have met adults who worktwo jobs while raising a family and look at these classes and the work involvedas another job to tackle.

Theycome to learn English and, in return, they teach me about never giving up. I amreminded daily that “where there is a will, there is a way” and also of the factthat there are no impossibilities, just some challenges which are a little moredifficult than others. In these classes we laugh, sometimes we yell and pokefun at each other; my daily goal is that they know a few more words when theyleave than they knew when they came into the classroom. There is pride in thisachievement for each one, and often they will report back as to how they cannow “communicate” better with their coworkers or neighbors.

Weall have something to learn … I am happy to share my experiences with them andthey share their lot with me. The offshoot is that we can all learn from eachother; there are no titles or positions in life, just the person who occupiesthem at any given time and often for a few, fleeting moments. Open the eyes of yourheart and mind, for these are the ones that will truly make you less blind; theeyes on our faces just show what appears to be … the inner eyes allow us to seewhat is.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.

Motion to Dismiss

2011-12-07T22:22:00.001-05:00

When the daysort of ambles on and not much happens, especially on those issues that shouldhave been resolved a long time ago and are still hanging on…

...Itgives the overwhelming feeling that from a business viewpoint the day was …well … pointless and "dismissable". Instead of talking about unaccomplished business, let’s goback to a couple of characters whom I met along the way to this day about whichI'm griping. This particular “way” to which we refer, mind you, has taken wellover one hundred thousand miles, given me much empty stomach time and provided many unglamorousstops in what otherwise might be considered sophisticated hidey-holes.

Onemorning, while time was being “whittled away” in Las Vegas (“somewhen” around 2004) waiting for somespecific resolution to be completed and sent in (a state of affairs all too common in this type of business) so thatanother one could be started … into my room comes this rather strange lookingfellow and, introducing himself in a rather loud voice, said: “I’m Chuck …consider me your personal Italian Leprechaun”

Truthfully,looking him over, this description was not too far from reality. A grayishwhite cowboy hat perched atop a balding round head, 5’4” tall, rather roundedat the middle and sharp green blue eyes which looked right through you; thisapparition was ensconced in a bright electric blue “I Love Vegas” t-shirt overa pair of beige Bermuda cargo shorts. However,what attracted the eyes immediately, were his lower extremities. Or, rather,the gigantic pair of cowboy boots which served him as a dual perch. These, Iwould later find out, were kind of a trademark with him. More than once I thought he took his showers with his boots on ... rather nasty mental image... After I had a chanceto take most of this in, he ambled over to where I was and sat on the chairfacing me. “Dale told me I ought to getto know you” he said. Dale being our common friend and attorney.

“Then I gather you are also waiting forsomeone else to do what they are supposed to do and have somehow managed not todo yet, right?” He looked at me and, in a softer than anticipated voice,said: “This is all a bunch of crap” …he then added … “Too many people runningaround and putting their hands out and too few doing what needs to be done”

Asit turns out, this Italian leprechaun and I actually hit it off and becamefriends, as friends can exist in this business, a business in which everyone islooking out for self. He was quite an interesting character.Indeed from an Irish Italian clan, a combination that generated a state of mindwhich was sort of a permanent internal conflict. His heart was bigger than hewas and as we got to know each other over a few years, he was always concerned that Iwas OK, and that our marriage was surviving (his did not and his estrangement from his then grown children was aconstant source of emotional pain) the constant struggles and the constantcircumstantial attacks generated by the denizens of the roads we had chosen totravel.

Chuckdid not make it to see his dream come through. Some 5 years ago a call came infrom Dale, letting me know he had been found in his hotel room, hisheart having given out as a result of bad eating habits … a constant diet of hot dogs was his only source of food and this was truly poisonous to his system,for he became an out of control diabetic. In the end, it was a diabetic comawhich took him. He was mourned, and he is remembered fondly, often with a smileon my lips. The idea of heavy hearts was not his cup’o tea, and hated thethought of being “down in the bloody dumps” as he would say sometimes. “That is for fools and for those who do nothave faith in the future” … “We haveto face life with a smile … and when it looks a little confused by this, thenscrew it royally”

SoI think of him and I smile … my “Italian Leprechaun” always remembered with asmile under the cowboy hat and some kind of shorts over the cowboy boots … Butdon’t let this mental image fool you … he was a structural engineer with manyyears experience and more than a couple of dozen patents to his credit. He hadsold them all to the company where he worked when he decided to pursue thishigher calling… Well, what would you name it when there is no money (yet!!),much work and much suffering … Must be a higher calling…

Theother individual who comes to mind, is the Argentinean fellow already broughtinto the light a couple of entries ago. He had been a taxi driver in Argentina,until one day he learnt about these shenanigans … he then proceeded to find anolder guy to bankroll (well, at least to bank step) his trip to Zurich and hispursuit of happiness. They lived in poverty, sharing a small room at theBasilea Hotel, a place favored then by all the fortune hunters on a tightbudget. All nationalities and all flavors; Italians, Russians, Arabs galore, someFrench, a few Germans and, of course, my two Argentinean friends.

Howcan I describe him? Not easy… hardheaded and overly sure of what he thought heknew (which turned out to be not much,when all was said and done). He could put on an act which would get himthrough the first line of defense but when faced with a more detailed review,then it was not so good a show. His best known achievement was to establish aromantic liaison with a cute Dominican table dancer, who worked at their hotelbar. He was really a good, basic guy … I say was, for I have not seen or heard from him inalmost a decade. Last I knew he was back in Buenos Aires driving a taxi.

Strangeroads and strange, fascinating places; interesting people to go along with themand to, somehow, soften the memories of so many difficult times lived.

Keepyour curiosity always on; be willing to take the less easy and more challenging roads alongthe way. These will give you the “willies” at times, but will also provideincredible stories and experiences… enough for a lifetime or two.

BeWell … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:

Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at 6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.