Grrr. Can’t sleeping bitc… er, dogs just lie?

This Sunday’s local newspaper headline. I guess the header is now the editorial section and/or there is just a misguided idea of who defenders of freedom are in this community. Shame on you, Tri-City Herald.

Mourning Dove

me. 1st draft.  Today.                                          

I read that the dove is closely related to the pigeon… I just don’t see it

Another beautiful morning in the Mid-Columbidae Basin.

Hey little friend

Joining my daybreak route?

You’ve landed in my path six times now.

Please watch out!

 

Four feathery ounces again lead the way.

Good morning to you! What are you trying to say?

I see another pair on the lawn across the street

Why are you alone? Is that why you don’t tweet?

You’re solo, I’m on my own…

Hey baby… funny we should meet.

 

My mind

On more mystical days

Seeks a message

In this avian display.

A Christian dove?

(please no, tiny bird-

you are not so unworthy a muse).

Or a wild Ishtar, playing a pawn in a mischievous ruse?

 

If there’s a message you are sending, it hasn’t been received

but maybe things are less and more than otherwise perceived.

 

For now I’ll just thank you for the company

worth more than a sign towards path or track.

The seas of pavement are easier to navigate

simply knowing that fauna has ‘got my back.’

In Memory of…

Lest you read my last article regarding Arlene’s Flowers and think that the Tri-Cities is a backwater of ignorance, I feel that this obituary from our daily newspaper is beautiful and full of honesty. I’m not sure if it is poetry or prose but it is art.

 

GILBERT JAY ‘GJ’ PITKOFF, Jr.

3-21-90 / 2-27-13

A kaleidoscope of sounds. Hard to contain with door or fence.

He was a rocker and a head banger. From below he was dangerous. Cats disappeared in his presence and dogs respected him to survive. He was a wanderer and a kitchen’s worst nightmare. A daredevil who turned the ordinary into extreme. A Stunt man that liked to bounce and crash through.

He was antischedule. He was a sleep fighter and a nonarouser. He was juicy. He liked looking out the window at the leaves in the breeze. He loved movement. He went through life unafraid. His guardian angels often worked overtime. 

G was liked by a bunch that “got it” and he touched quite a few. He was a special kindred spirit hard for a body to contain. At best he was the “Budster.” A unique brew.  I feel lucky that I knew him.

He taught me unconditional love. He never spoke a word but I will miss our conversations. I thank the many who cared for and cared about him. I know we will meet up again in a better place. But until then, Gj, you will surely be missed.

The Dad

—————-

Thank you, ‘The Dad,’ for this.  I hope I’m not out of line for transcribing an obituary; I just think this is the type of expression that should be shared.

Shunned with a Self-Righteous Smile

Petal to the Mettle, perhaps?

by Me. 3/6/13

 

    At ‘Arlene’s flowers’ of Richland, Washington, you can buy a PREMIUM RED ROSE Bouquet for $74.95. You should expect a ‘mixed dozen,’ however, as shop owner Baronelle Stutzman has recently shown she is wary of homogenous displays of love.

    On Friday, March 1^st Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed walked into this ‘Little Shop of Hatred’ expecting to order wedding flowers for their upcoming union.  After all, they had patronized this shop for special occasions (such as Valentine’s day and the Tony Awards) throughout the 9-year span of their romantic relationship.   When Ms. Stutzman learned that this particular order would be for an officially-recognized event, however, she decided that she wouldn’t be able to help them this time.

    “Though we have been amiable for the past 9 years and I personally have nothing against you,” I imagine her saying to the couple, “I have to defer to a higher and decidedly less personal method of judgment.” Glancing to the heavens while leaning across the counter she might also add in a hushed tone “He tells me you were a mistake and he doesn’t want to encourage you.”

    According to the Tri-City Herald, what Stutzman actually said was much less interesting.  As if quoting from a Zealots’ Handbook of Talking Points, “(she) told him because of (her) relationship with Jesus Christ that (she) couldn’t do his wedding.”

   Even her later attempt to display understanding was disingenuous and circuitous. As also quoted by the Herald, she claims “I’m not against gays. If they want to believe they should be married, that’s certainly their conviction and belief.”

    This roughly translates to “if that is what they believe, then that is their belief.”  How magnanimous.

    (I ran that disjointed quote through my Antebellum-izer and this is what popped out: “Miiister Crow.  While I realize that you have the right to believe you have the right to vote, if you try and act upon it I will be right there holding the noose” (this must be read in a sticky southern drawl for full effect)).

   Fiiiine.  Maybe too many liberties are taken with the interpretation, but whichever ‘arrangement’ of events pleases your sensitivities, the message is the same:  ‘I do not respect you enough to engage in the fundamental human act of commerce with you.’ She is attempting to alienate another human being from her community by denying service.   Baronelle is shunning with a self-righteous smile.

    Fortunately for the betrothed, people who feel alienated from their fellow humans typically become shining members of society.  Do you remember ‘Lanza the Lawyer?’  How about ‘Homes by Holmes’ or ‘Hoagies by Harris and Klebold? No, you don’t.  To these men, life became about death and hatred and loneliness. I’m not claiming that withholding the pistil leads to buying a pistol but when you meet enough people who don’t respect humanity, it will weigh down your soul. In fact, it is a wonder that more people don’t take to violence as the spree shooters did- we are surrounded by humans who believe that we are born imperfect and in need of repair.

    “I’m not to judge them on that, and they shouldn’t judge me” states the proprietor in the interview. Judge, however, is exactly what she has done and her verdict is one of abstraction and ideology that removes her from the truth to be learned from her fellow man.