I can tell by the look
in your eye
that I said something wrong
didn’t I?
Continue readingSongbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter III
CHAPTER III: The Rise
Jimmy B’s knee bounced nervously. He swallowed and swallowed again. His mouth felt dry. How was he going to sing with a dry mouth?
His new manager was looking over some forms and sat next to him on the couch. “Son, you need to stop that thing from shaking. I’m trying to read our agreement here. I need to focus.”
Jimmy put his hand on his knee to get it to stop moving but it didn’t work.
“Jimmy,” his mother said, “why don’t you get yourself some water?”
He nodded and stood up.
Continue readingCranky Like Me
A lot of time in my youth
was spent trying to please others
with age I changed my druthers
and to completely tell the truth
I don’t really try being couth.
Continue readingSongbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter II
CHAPTER II: Discovered
Jimmy swept the floor dutifully. He worked as a janitor for one of the small music studios that had opened during the disco fad and performed his duties with exactness and precision. In this instance, his methodical and precise ways helped him excel. Unlike when he went to school. He managed to graduate a year after the rest of his class but it was a struggle. The only way he made it was with his mom’s help. That first year of junior high was particularly rough. At least until his mom and him developed a coping system. Every day he came home and discussed some new social situation he was unfamiliar with and together they developed a plan. Armed with a memorized script of what to say if the situation arose again, he would go to school the following day. Of course, what was rehearsed the night before rarely occurred two days in a row but after several months, he had enough scripts and practiced scenarios he was able to navigate school.
Continue readingWatch your ary
Songbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter I
CHAPTER I: School
James Bernard Peternelli sat in the chair quietly. Just as his mother instructed him to do. Of course, everything James Bernard did was donequietly. That is why he was sitting outside the junior high school’s principal’s office. He could hear his mother’s raised voice as she spoke with the principal and guidance counselor. Did he understand the meeting concerned his fate at the school? The school officials didn’t think so but his mother certainly did. That was why the two of them were at the school. His mother was determined to prove he had every right to be taught in the public school.
Continue readingTomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be focused
and on the ball.
Tomorrow I’ll be ready
to give it my all.
Continue readingUsed to…
Last August I turned half a century. For those who are trying to figure that out, it means I turned 50. I hear you. Fifty used to be old to me, also. But now? I’m not going to lie to you. It is old. My body is constantly telling me it is. Let’s just say, the original parts are starting to show some wear and tear. And some are actually giving out completely. Which is totally not cool at all but as I say, it beats the alternative. So, in that spirit, here are some things I used to be able to do.
Continue readingComplete
The fall vs the rise
Guess what? You are going to fail. At some point, you are going to fall. If you are blessed to live long enough, you will probably have multiple falls. Some are going to be epic and hard. And some are going to hurt. But that is not the end of your story.
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ck's days 