Tag Archives: writing

Yesterday Was Something Else, Gang

It was allegedly my day off.

Allegedly, I was going to drop the Honda off early at the dealership, then have the rest of the day to get ready to work with Sandra yesterday afternoon.

The Honda did get done — and it looks great and it’s ready for our little road trip to see my birth mom next week.

However — because they were short-staffed with drivers yesterday, it took THREE trips to the dealership, before it was all over. (30 miles, each way). A total of 7 hours when it was all said & done.

But the day started off like I was on some other planet.

I woke at my usual 4AM and I was in a very strange headspace. Even though, physically, I felt totally fine, I had the distinct impression that I was going to die. Meaning, right then; yesterday morning; before even getting out of bed.

I was even talking to God. You know: “Please. I know that most of my life is behind me, and I don’t have a lot left to stick around for these days, other than all the cats, but I am NOT ready to die yet. Please.” The feeling of imminent death was so profound.

The strange feeling lingered through breakfast, right up until I was getting ready to walk out the door and head to town — when the Agency called to tell me that my wonderful client, the one who lives in that really enormous, love-filled split-level home in the hills behind the Bryn Du mansion…

She died. Early yesterday morning.

While it was not totally unexpected, I was sad to hear it, but at least it explained the feelings and, after that , the feeling of imminent death went away.

But it is so intense — how connected I am to my clients.

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Well, during the interim when I was not at the Honda dealership, I decided to just quickly vacuum the kitchen floor… (which turned into vacuuming the family room, the dining room, the stairs, the upstairs hallway, the upstairs bathroom, my bedroom, the guestroom….)

And then I also did a couple of “quick” loads of laundry (blankets and throws that were covered in cat hair).

And then I decided to “just quickly” switch out the old TV for the new flat-screen one in the family room…

I got it done, but it took forever. And it turned out the new HD TV wouldn’t recognize the VCR at all, so I wound up keeping the 25-year-old TV set, but moving it up to the guest room.

WOW, that fucker was heavy. And I know one thing for certain — that old TV is never coming back down those stairs, unless someone else moves it.

But the old TV looks rather cool up in the guestroom, because the guestroom has really old furniture in it (mid-century wedding furniture that I inherited from relatives 20 years ago). Now the guest room looks sort of like a hotel room circa 1992 or something.

I have decidedly fond memories of hotel rooms from that era!! So I am looking forward to hanging out in my guestroom and watching old movies on the old TV set and getting lost in some sort of distant halcyon swoon. (And if you’re among the many who spent time in hotel rooms with me back then, please feel free to come visit!!)

Upcoming halcyon days in my guestroom…

Anyway. It was a ton of physical work, dealing with those TVs and moving stuff around. And cleaning the house and doing laundry. I was exhausted by the time Honda called and said that my car was ready (sort of, as it turned out)…

And in the super brief interim of getting my car back and then taking the car BACK to Honda, because the maintenance light came on, saying the front tire pressure was low (again) — I decided to make a “really quick” dash into the grocery store…

By this time, I had already texted Sandra and we agreed that the phone conversation was not going to happen until Monday. So I have an additional 3 and a 1/2 days to get my creative brain in gear and pull those notes together for our new project.

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By the time the day was over and the evening was approaching, I was so fucking exhausted, gang. But I was in a sort of beautiful headspace, thinking about my now-deceased client, her incredibly loving family, that love-filled home. I truly felt honored to have spent time with them at all.

Oh, and when I was with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man on Wednesday, my supervisor once again stopped in unannounced. This time, to give me a pin — and chocolates! — for having done over 1000 hours of caregiving service. (And although it probably feels like it to you, the entire 1000 hours was not spent with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man…)

And I’m heading back out there today, but it is very cold and rainy, with those super high winds that I just adore, so we won’t be going out for sashimi and sake until tomorrow…

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Meanwhile.

I did not take advantage of having my new TV in the family room last night, because I was just too worn out.

Instead, I went upstairs shortly after dinner, lit some votives, got in bed and resumed listening to an audio version of St. Augustine’s On the City of God

And I thought about my beautiful client, the wonderful life she had, and how strange it had felt that morning when I was certain that I was dying…

And I slept for seven solid hours. And I’m still really tired, but every time I walk past my guestroom now, I get a little thrill just thinking about how fun it’s going to be to hang out in there and watch old movies!! You know, when I have some free time…

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Okay.

While there was some cool footage of Keith playing at a benefit last night for FTD awareness (Frontotemporal Degeneration Dementia), I couldn’t find any photos. Just videos.

So I have nothing to share from Instagram today!!

But here’s this! My all-time favorite photo of Keith. So “all-time-favorite-y”, that I have it on my wall twice! (2 different sizes.)

Keith in Los Angeles, in 1969:

I don’t know if this is my “all-time favorite” photo of Nick Cave, but I also have this photo on my wall twice!! (2 different sizes.)

And that’s it, gang.

I’m gonna head down to the kitchen now and just try to get some energy before heading to town, hoping like heck that my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man is still, you know, with us.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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In honor of the many hotel rooms I have known–

I woke up singing THIS this morning.

I absolutely LOVED this song when I was 14. And this exact version, too — by Shirley Bassey! (I know. I have always had eclectic tastes in music.)

And now that I listen to this song as an oldster — I haven’t been 14 in over 50 years — I am a little blown away by that girl I used to be. (Which is why it gets so hard for me to write that darned memoir of my life in the 1970s!)

Anyway, enjoy, gang!! In spite of all things, I sure did.

Shirley Bassey, 1970, “Yesterday When I Was Young”.

“Yesterday When I Was Young”

Yesterday, when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame

The thousand dreams I dreamed
The splendid things I planned
I always built, alas, on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
And only now I see how the years ran away

Yesterday, when I was young
So many lovely songs were waiting to be sung
So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see

I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all

Yesterday, the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do
I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond

The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died
The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play

There are so many songs in me that won’t be sung
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
The time has come for me to pay for yesterday
… when I was young

Yesterday, when I was young
So many lovely songs were waiting to be sung
So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see…

c – 1964 Charles Aznavour, Georges Garvarentz

Fake Everything, Today!

Yes!! I am going to pretend to feel as happy as my coffee shop alter ego above and hope that today actually turns out a whole lot better than I feel about it right now…

We shall see.

I have decided — after about 4 hours of thinking about it — to not really say anything about yesterday’s psyop election results. (Although here in the Hinterlands, things went splendidly.)

I have decided to focus on what our Founding Fathers (and my ancestors) fought so hard for, and I know the White Hats are moving that forward. So even though I don’t have a FUCKING CLUE when all this fucking stuff is going to fucking stop being a psyop —

Anyway. Here’s this to focus on instead:

From DJT late last night:

“…AND SO IT BEGINS!”

And from Sara Hopps early this morning:

And on we go.

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Okay.

Before I go into any details about why I am so exhausted, I first want to mention that my post will probably be late tomorrow, because I have to take the Honda in early and drop it off at the dealership for an oil change, tire rotation, etc., to get it ready for our little road trip to see my birth mom next week.

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And here’s this.

Raul Malo, incredible singer, songwriter, musician of the Mavericks, has been fighting cancer for over a year now, and he now has LMD, and a Go Fund Me account has been set up by his wife if you want to donate.

Visit HERE.

They have already raised $226,425 of their $230K goal!!

“As Raul undergoes radiation and prepares for the next stage of treatment, our goal is to make sure he has access to the newest and most effective options available. With medical bills quickly surmounting, every donation will go directly toward covering his healthcare costs and any new treatments that arise.

Your kindness will help Raul, Betty, and the boys get through this moment of crisis. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with our family.”

Raul Malo

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One of my favorite vocals by Raul, on the Mavericks’ version of Springsteen’s “All that Heaven Will Allow”, 1993, from their great album, What A Crying Shame.

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And here’s this!

Although I haven’t been able to find out which theaters will be showing it here in the US (or if it will be streaming), last night, “Modi: Three Days On The Wing Of Madness” had its US premiere at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles! The full cast was there, but here’s Johnny:

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And here’s this!!

I don’t know exactly where or when, but I love this photo!!

Nick Cave somewhere, smoking

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Well, okay.

I’m a little pressed for time here. I have to head out to see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man soon, and, gang, I have no clue what I will find when I get there these days, so I’m a little stressed about that.

And yesterday — my Terrible Tuesday 10-hour shift actually went very well, but it was a busy shift for me, I didn’t stop the whole time I was there.

HOWEVER, when it was getting time for me to go home, I was told in great detail about what a great caregiver I was and how much I was appreciated and could I possibly fit more hours with them into my schedule each week?

This kind of stuff breaks my heart. It matters a lot to me that I am so appreciated. It really does. And it makes me so happy to see how much progress is being made by this particular client. But as you know, it wears me out. And I hate it when I have to say no.

Oh, and the training for caring for veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, on Monday, was INTENSE, gang. Jesus. It wore me the fuck out. But what a great class it was. I learned SO MUCH. I’m glad I attended.

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Okay!

Well, as predicted, my phone chat with Sandra on Monday morning yielded a TON of work (for both of us).

A TON!! I mean that. Really. A TON!!

I have so much to at least get notes down on paper for by tomorrow afternoon — not sure how I think I’m going to do this, but I will do my very best.

And as soon as I can tell you more details here on the blog, I will. But I can at least tell you that I’m very excited, and it is going to take a zillion-trillion percent of my concentration to make this thing happen.

But as God is my witness (watch this, it’s so cool. About 1 minute)–

I am going to do it.

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Oh! And my new TV is here. And my new Fire Stick is also here. The only thing I can’t decide on now is: should I keep the old TV in case the videos look awful on the HD flat screen???

If I do keep it, where should I put the darn thing? Perhaps in the guest room??

I just don’t know. That old TV is huge. And the VCR is kinda huge, too. I guess we’ll just have to find out.

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Here’s this:

A segment from James Tabor’s private zoom meeting with his Patreon Group on Saturday:

Did Jesus Expect to Regather the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel? (25 mins):

And Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School class from this past Sunday–

Sunday School: The Predicted Prophet (1 hr):

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And I’m thinking that’s it for now, gang.

I really gotta scoot.

Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

Driving-around-town music from the last couple of days!!

This song really helps me calm the fuck down!

Also from that incredible album by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Boatman’s Call, 1997– “Brompton Oratory.” Enjoy, gang!!

“Brompton Oratory”

Up those stone steps I climb
Hail this joyful day’s return
Into its great shadowed vault I go
Hail the Pentecostal morn

The reading is from Luke 24
Where Christ returns to his loved ones
I look at the stone apostles
Think that it’s alright for some

And I wish that I was made of stone
So that I would not have to see
A beauty impossible to define
A beauty impossible to believe

A beauty impossible to endure
The blood imparted in little sips
The smell of you still on my hands
As I bring the cup up to my lips

No God up in the sky
No devil beneath the sea
Could do the job that you did
Of bringing me to my knees

Outside I sit on the stone steps
With nothing much to do
Forlorn and exhausted, baby
By the absence of you

c – 1997 Nick Cave

Quick Monday Catch-Up!

No, not this…

It’s just that I have to keep my eye on the clock here this morning. I want to get the laundry done before Sandra calls at 11AM to go over what we need to work on for the next several weeks. (On my “days off”.) (See yesterday’s post.)

But that reminds me! My favorite Q-following friend and I will, indeed, be taking a road trip to go have lunch with my birth mom! On my day off, a week from Thursday. (Also see yesterday’s post.)

We’re going to THIS charming town — wherein I was conceived in October of 1959:

Greenfield, Ohio

I wasn’t conceived here in this intersection downtown, though. I was conceived out in a field on a farm, at the outskirts of town. (When my mom was 12 and my dad was 14.) (I know. That explains a lot…)

(Again, we quickly re-visit me at age 13…)

My birth mom has only been back in Greenfield for a few years, though. For most of the time I’ve known her, she lived on a farm in Jackson, Ohio. But she now lives in one of those apartment complexes for seniors on fixed incomes.

I’m eager to see Greenfield again, though. I haven’t seen it in about 40 years. My (biological) grandmother, and my Aunt Dot and Uncle Jim used to live there, and I visited them there until they died.

I always had such a peaceful feeling in Greenfield. I found it sort of fascinating that it was the town where my spirit or soul, or whatever you call it, came into Being.

Anyway!

Then this afternoon, I have to head back to Granville, to a training session at the Agency.

And in order to make tomorrow not a complete day from Hell (tomorrow is the 10-hour-shift Tuesday), I decided to run all my errands after the training today, since I’ll already be there in town.

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Okay!

So here’s this. Not my favorite image from the event, but everything else I saw that I liked more, were videos.

From a few days ago, at the premier of the upcoming TV adaptation of Nick Cave’s fantastic novel, The Death of Bunny Munro — Nick Cave, and I’m not positive, but I think it’s the star of the series, Matt Smith:

(And I have decided to go ahead and move to London next month, because it’ll be a lot easier to be able to watch this TV series over there, since I don’t get SkyTV over here. And then, while I’m there, I’ll go ahead and order the “Up Jumped The Devil” milk jug, finally, because I won’t have to pay all that extra money in US shipping charges!! I just think this makes a lot more sense!)

Soon, this will be mine, in London

(No! I’m not delusional or on drugs!! I’m just really mindful about how I spend my money…)

(I’ll probably be living here — meaning, in the phone booth — so please feel free to come visit!!)

(And, yes, I’ll probably bring along my brand new retro boombox and play THIS, nonstop!)

(Sorry to be so “punny”! But if you do come visit, please bring batteries!! For the boombox…) (Hopefully, I can watch SkyTV on my phone. We’ll find out…)

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And speaking of TV!!

I’m super excited about picking up my new flat screen TV in town today. It will be so much nicer to have a TV in the family room that gets Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc., so that I don’t have to always watch TV in the kitchen.

I love my family room, and the old TV in there is only good for watching DVDs or videos. So this will be almost like having a whole new room to actually spend time in. (I am, of course, referring to when I move back here from the phone booth in London.)

My house is really old (124 years), and it’s decorated to suit an old house. And since it’s only me living here (and 723 cats), and almost nobody ever comes to visit me in the Hinterlands, I don’t use any rooms except the kitchen and my bedroom. And so the house kind of feels like a museum. It really does. Honestly. So I’m looking forward to a chance to spend more time in another room!! Yay!

A view of part of my family room, from last Christmas:

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Well, I think that’s enough for today!! I gotta get my notes together, etc. for my phone call with Sandra. And finish the laundry.

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world! (I will not be posting tomorrow, since it is Terrible Tuesday with the Ten-Hour Shift!!)

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

This CD is currently on the retro boombox in my bedroom! The first album from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers! (Titled, simply, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.)

I absolutely love this song. It totally takes me back to my wee bonny teenaged-girlhood and what life was really like back then.

“The Wild One, Forever”, 1976. Enjoy, gang.

“The Wild One, Forever”

Well, the moon sank as the wind blew
And the street lights slowly died
Yeah they call you the wild one
Said stay away from her
Said she couldn’t love no one if she tried

But then something I saw in your eyes
Told me right away
That you were gonna have to be mine
One of the strangest feelings came over me down inside
No matter what it takes
I’ll never get over how good it felt
When you finally held me
I will never regret, baby
Those few hours linger on in my head forever

Well it’s too bad but I want you
To know I understand
Yeah it’s been a long time
But I don’t mind, yeah it’s all right
I understand

Because something I saw in your eyes
Told me right away
That you were gonna have to be mine
And the strangest feeling came over me down inside
I knew right away
I’d never get over how good it felt
When you finally kissed me
I will never regret, baby
Baby, those few hours linger on in my head forever
And ever

c- 1976 Tom Petty

Best Day of the Year!

I spent that extra hour this morning, hanging out in bed, thinking about the dreams I’d had during the night. They were actually kind of incredible.

They were so visual and symbolic, that I can’t even really describe them. But my favorite one involved a 2-level home security system made from really delicate green plants and at the same time, it had to do with a new reality blossoming in my life — in the form of lilies of the valley. And one line from the Nick Cave song, “Lime Tree Arbour,” kept repeating in the dream:

“There is a hand that protects me/ and I do love her so”

And even after all that — I still got out of bed at 4AM !! (standard time). So I’m happy!

Plus!

My car insurance is up for renewal later this month, and I was thinking about “shopping around” for a better deal, but then just felt like I didn’t want to be bothered… and then my insurance company emailed me yesterday to say that my car insurance has been DECREASED starting this month!!

So I’m happy!

And JUST NOW —

I got an early Black Friday deal from Best Buy in my email, and I just now bought a new flat screen Fire TV (to replace my 25-year-old TV in the family room) for $58!!!! It’s ready for pick up today!!

So I’m happy!

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And here’s this!

What’s not to love about this??

From Jo Wood, on Instagram, from her book, STONED: Photographs and Treasures from Life with the Rolling Stones (2019)– Keith and Ronnie. I don’t know the date, but not only do they still have black hair, they still have hair! Yay!

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And here’s this —

A school yearbook photo of the girl who got sent to the Principal’s office because she was waiting out in the hall — after the final bell had rung for classes to start — for her best friend, Becky, to get there because they both ADORED Ronnie Wood, and the girl had bought Becky Ronnie’s brand new record, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, as a surprise for Becky’s birthday!!

(I was not much of a girl who usually played by the rules, and when it came to rock & roll, there were absolutely no such things as RULES!!)

PRINCIPAL: “Get to class!! NOW!”

THE GIRL: “But I’m waiting for Becky! I want to give her this!!”

PRINCIPAL: “I said, get to class!!”

THE GIRL: “But it will only take a minute!!”

PRINCIPAL: “Go to my office, NOW, and wait for me! GO!!”

Anyway! The girl! (Me, Junior High School , age 14)

EPILOGUE: I did, indeed, go to the Principal’s office, and I sat there and waited for him, thinking that the whole thing was so STUPID. However, it was not going to go down well if he called my mother, because I had just gotten off of 30 days of House Arrest — I’d gotten arrested for shoplifting.

Luckily, though, when the Principal finally arrived at his office, he had one of those really incorrigible 14-year-old boys in tow — wherein anything I might have done or said, paled mightily by comparison — and the Principal took one exasperated look at me and said: “Just get to class!!”

ME (secretly thinking): “Yay!”

And out of his office I scurried.

PS: Becky absolutely FLIPPED over her birthday present!!

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And here’s this!

From Ronnie Wood’s album, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, 1974, “I Can Feel the Fire” (Mick Jagger on backing vocals):

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Okay.

Well, I’m also happy because my best friends, Kara and Wendy, and I have sort of solidified a date to get together for dinner (in early December) and celebrate Christmas!! Yay!!

Not sure where, but I’m guessing it’ll be somewhere fun in Granville.

Granville at Christmastime

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Other nice news–

I spoke to my birth mom last evening. I hadn’t actually spoken to her on the phone for a couple months. But I haven’t actually seen her in over 2 years.

I invited her to come visit me for a couple days, but she has no transportation. My sister is getting knee surgery. So I’m waiting for my favorite Q-following friend to get back to me and let me know if she wants to take another little road trip with me — to go see my mom and have lunch! (She’s actually met my birth mom. She’s only the second one of my friends who has ever actually met my birth mom. And my birth mom and I have known each other for 40 years now.)

Me and Cherie, my birth mom, in a bar in Jackson, OH, in the late 1980s, I was visiting from NYC.

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On another happy note!!

Sandra and I spoke last evening, too, and we start back to work this Monday, at 11AM. Just to sort of quickly go over where we’re at on both projects. (Our play going to Off- Broadway, and that other really cool project that I can’t tell you about yet.)

Monday afternoon (tomorrow), I have to attend a caregiving training class at the Agency, specifically for caring for veterans who have PTSD.

But after that, Sandra and I will be working on Mondays and Thursdays. Yes! My 2 days off each week… (except if I make that quick road trip to see my birth mom…)

Who needs days off??? Not me!!

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Wayne sent me a really cute text yesterday morning (the morning after Halloween). He said:

“Bouncing around TV, caught a bit of ‘Who Killed Teddy Bear,’ a 1965 psycho thriller starring Sal Mineo. He’s a pervy guy, one scene has him walking around Times Square, checking out dirty book stores. Prominently featured: Naked Lunch and Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Your literary tastes are timeless.”

I thought that was so cool, but it was a little unsettling to be reminded that, back then, those books that inspired me so much as a writer, were once considered highly taboo.

(In fact, when Masquerade Books first published my book Neptune & Surf, in 1999, Barnes & Noble refused to carry it because of one of the novellas in it, “Gianni’s Girl”. They eventually changed their mind after the reviews the book got in London. For several years after that, they carried every single one of my titles. Now we’re back to bookstores not carrying erotica at all…)

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Well, yesterday was a rough day with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man.

I won’t go into the details, but he is really deteriorating, cognitively. I never know what I’m going to find now when I get to his house. All I can do at this point, is to keep showing up and keep doing my best to keep his mind engaged.

At least he’s still eating, so that’s good.

Today, I have my evening shift with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat. That’s usually relatively simple. We shall see.

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Meanwhile, I’m gonna enjoy my extra hour here.

Have a great Sunday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I posted this just the other day, but I’ll post it again, since it was the soundtrack for that cool dream I had last night!

“Lime Tree Arbour”, 1997, from the incredible album, The Boatman’s Call, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Enjoy, gang.

Slow Start, Today!

This will probably be a brief post because I am getting to the laptop a little late this morning and I have to head out soon to see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man!

BTW — We did, indeed, go out yesterday for sashimi & sake & fortune cookies (sake for him, and fortune cookies, mostly for me). We had a great time and he was not too cold. And we did, indeed, stop at the Nature Preserve on the way home and we just sat in the car and looked out the window. But it was still really beautiful.

And we have a new dialogue between us that goes like this:

HE: “Marilyn, you’re so nice.”

ME: “You’re nice, too.”

HE: “You’re much, much nicer.”

ME: “You’re nicer-est.”

HE: “That’s not a word. But you know what I think? You are the nicest.”

ME: “You’re nicest-er.”

HE: “These are not words!”

ME: “Yes, they are! I use the words in a sentence and you understand what they mean — so they’re words!”

HE (laughing but frustrated): “You know what I think? I think you’re nice.”

And this goes on and on and on, gang. But it keeps his mind engaged, which is so important.

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Here’s this!

From Hillbilly Talk on Instagram. (It’s such a great page. They post really early photos of the old famous Country & Western singers and you have to guess who they are. And SO MANY followers get it right! It’s so cool.)

Johnny Horton

And here’s the first Johnny Horton song that I really liked. I was 11 when I first heard it, on a record collection of hit songs by various singers from Columbia Records that I saw on TV and bought with my babysitting money — I loved Country & Western music and I especially loved story-songs. After that, though, I discovered a lot more Johnny Horton songs that I really loved.

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Yesterday ended up being so weird.

I set out the candy for the kids — and I felt kind of silly because I had bought SO MUCH candy and I thought I was going to have to throw most of it away.

But I put out a little table at the front door, draped it in a festive fall tablecloth, and set out a lit old-fashioned style lantern, and put all the candy in a big bowl that had old-fashioned monster-movie pictures all over it. (I’ve had the bowl forever. It’s more of a popcorn bowl.)

But it turned out that now, here in our tiny village, the kids go door-to-door trick or treating! They’ve stopped doing that thing, en masse, at the park that they have always done for the last 7 and a 1/2 years that I’ve lived here.

And since I have no kids or grandkids who go to the elementary school, and I don’t go to church here, and I don’t attend the Mayor’s board meetings (I don’t even know who the Mayor is, at this point). So I had no clue things had changed.

I was sitting in the family room (where my front door is), watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” and suddenly kids started arriving at the front door, taking candy, and moving on.

And then more and more kids. All in costumes, and some with their parents in tow.

And then MORE kids.

And I finally got up from the couch and looked out the window and kids in costumes were everywhere!! OMG. I was no longer worried about having too much candy, I was worried that there wasn’t enough.

By the time I was watching “Arsenic & Old Lace”, I wasn’t really paying attention to the TV because I was paying more attention to the candy.

The candy lasted for 2 hours, though. And trick-or-treating only lasted 2 and a 1/2 hours, so I did okay. But wow. It was just weird. And what was sort of freaking me out the most was that I kept wondering: Why did I know to buy so much candy this year?? Or to buy any candy at all?? I had no clue that anything had changed.

Anyway. It was weird. But I did enjoy hanging out on the couch with the many cats. I had tossed a few snuggly fleece blankets on the couch, so they snuggled in the blankets, not directly on top of me. So I have now solved that problem and I can once again hang out in my family room whenever I want to!

Not me, but almost…

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Well, long-time readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall that tomorrow is my favorite day of the year!!! Wherein, we set our clocks back and I get my hour back!!! Yay!

So I will have plenty of time to post here tomorrow, but right now, I gotta scoot!

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!

Regarding that old Columbia Records collection that I bought off the TV when I was 11– I absolutely LOVED this song!!

That collection was my first exposure to Marty Robbins, too.

I loved this song so much, that I would play the record, let a few lyrics play, pick up the needle, write down the lyrics, then put the needle back down on the record — until I’d copied all the lyrics to the whole song. I just loved this song so much. (This was upstairs in my room, on my little portable record player. My parents would never have allowed me to do this on the family stereo.)

Anyway. I loved Marty Robbins so much from then on. (And if you have ever read my novella, “Ribbon of Darkness,” you know that it turned out my birth dad’s wife, who was Mexican, grew up with Marty Robbins in the same town in Arizona, and they were life-long friends. So my birth dad knew Marty Robbins.)

“El Paso”, 1959. Marty Robbins. Enjoy, gang.

“El Paso”

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s Cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl

Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena
Wicked and evil while casting her spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love, but in vain, I could tell

One night, a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena, the girl that I love

So in anger, I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor

Just for a moment, I stood there in silence
Shocked by the foul, evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance, and that was to run

Out through the back door of Rosa’s, I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back, and away I did ride

Just as fast as I could
From the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything’s gone in life, nothing is left
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

I saddled up, and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me
Tonight, nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart

And at last, here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa’s Cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Feleena, I go

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting, I can’t let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa’s back door

Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I’m getting weary, unable to ride

But my love for Feleena is strong, and I rise where I’ve fallen
Though I am weary, I can’t stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

From out of nowhere, Feleena has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for
One little kiss, and Feleena, goodbye

c – 1959 Marty Robbins

Here’s hoping it’s all treats tonight!!

Unless of course, you’re trickin’ and you’re a lot older now and you just gotta have it… but that’s your business!

Okay!

I’m looking forward to this evening, gang. Mostly because I’m just looking forward to hanging out in my family room, eating (organic) pizza and popcorn, and watching old Halloween movies (you know, the kind that weren’t horrifically disgusting, trauma-inducing and gore-filled….)

“Arsenic & Old Lace”, 1944 — So much fun!!
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” 1966

Yes, I’m actually old enough to remember the very first TV-Network airing of that Charlie Brown classic!! (I was 6.) And, wow, was it fun!! I even remember my dad coming into the den for a moment, while this scene was playing, and he laughed and shook his head:

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Oh, and speaking of Halloween…

You have until TOMORROW (November 1st) to get that 40% OFF on all Halloween Picks over at Cave Things!

This means you have one more day (UK time, that is) to purchase me this, at 40% off, plus FREE — OOPS — Plus $7 trillion in overseas shipping — The “Up Jumped the Devil” Milk Jug:

And lest you forget — or have thus far refused to play it — here is that song again! One of my All-Time Top 5 favorite songs by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Up Jumped the Devil”:

(Includes one of my all-time favorite rhymes!! ‘Me’ rhymed with ‘hilarity’:

Who’s that yonder laughing at me
Like I was the brunt of some hilarity
Who’s that yonder laughing at me
Up jumped the Devil 1, 2, 3

c – 1988 – Nick Cave)

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Okay!

Here’s this.

One of my never-ending inspirations as a writer on Earth, however, I’m not crazy about the tone of this photo, but here it is anyway!

A William Burroughs Halloween in Lawrence, Kansas:

Oh, and here’s this!!

One of my many original Olympia Press treasures!! An original printing, from 1959, Paris, France, when it was mistakenly titled ‘The’ Naked Lunch. Mint condition.

My collection of original Olympia Press titles were all gifts to me from Richard Kasak, the publisher of the legendary Masquerade Books, back in the late 90s.

I have long ago lost track of how much this specific book is worth, but I’m not selling it anyway, so it doesn’t matter:

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And Ronnie Wood has a special collection of prints — Paint It Black — available for a limited time. It includes a Personalized signing of the print, just for you!! (And it’s not outrageously expensive, all things considered!! Each print is $1650, while they last.) (And if you want to get me the ‘Keith’ one, that would be really cool!)

Visit this LINK.

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Oh, and before I forget!!

Thanks to whoever is buying the Kindle edition of my novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home. Published in September, 2020. I thank you very much!!

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Well, yesterday.

Wow, gang.

I don’t even know how best to post about this without betraying anyone’s privacy, but my sweet client from yesterday’s shift, is really, seriously, going downhill.

I had not seen her in a mere seven days… but she had a stroke. On Wednesday. So the Agency had not even had time to alert me beforehand that everything had changed.

And still — wow, is that family the most loving family I have ever encountered.

I walked in to a situation that was drastically different from the last time I was there, but there was still that sense of love, of peace. It was just beautiful. And they have no intention of having her “institutionalized” in any way. A second daughter is staying there now, too, so that the family can be with her around the clock, even with caregivers and Hospice nurses there.

It was a very intense shift, and yet I left there with a profound sense of well-being and peace. The client and the family are just so loving.

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Well, I have mixed feelings about whether I should take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese client out for sashimi and sake today, or wait until tomorrow.

It’s really cold here today. Plus, with it being the holiday, a lot of people might be going out for lunch today and Peony Bistro is really small, and really popular even when it’s not a holiday.

I’m leaning more towards waiting until tomorrow, but I just don’t know. It’s cold but it’s also sunny, so the drive would be beautiful and he always loves that. And he loves the sake, of course!!

I guess I’ll just decide at the very last minute! (But he just gets SO cold, so easily. For instance, his furnace might be set at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and he’ll be wearing 2 shirts and a sweater, and then ask me to “please turn off the AC” because he’s freezing…)

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Okay, I guess I’m gonna scoot.

Enjoy your tricks or treats, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

A cute Halloween clip compilation set to “The Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, 1962. Enjoy, gang!

A great big happy Thursday to one and all!

If you listened to Phil last night, you know that there is a reason to start breathing again and be excited about “Christmas”…

(If you didn’t listen: RV, reset, NESARA, GESARA, worldwide, by end of the year.) He is supposed to go live again Friday at 9PM Eastern, with a Q & A about the RV. Buy silver (and gold) right now if you can afford it.

Replay if you missed it (direct link has more control over ads):

RV – October 29th, 2025 (1 hr 20 mins):

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Here’s this–

From Phyllis Stein’s Instagram page: Keith and Mick onstage, The Marquee, London, 1971 — isn’t that a beautiful shot?

Photo by Pete Smith

From Hillbilly Talk — Hank Williams:

And while we’re at it, here’s this from me — a demo made in my room in 1992. A song I wrote about Hank Williams. “Long Gone Train”:

BTW — lyrics are in all my videos, just click on “MORE”.

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Oh!

I forgot to post this yesterday because I was in a hurry! I love this photo!!

A photo of Nick by Susie. I think it is a hotel room in Arles, France (?):

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Today, I have a semi-long shift with that sweet woman that I just adore — the one who lives in the huge split-level home in the hills behind the Bryn Du Mansion (in the home that requires a map to find the bathroom).

Even though it’s kind of a long shift, and it will be dark (and raining) when I leave there tonight, I just love spending time with her. Her cognitive abilities are rapidly declining, but she is still just so peaceful to be around.

Before I leave here though, I need to do yoga because my new schedule is not giving me enough time to do as much yoga as I need to keep flexible. (I have to do a lot of lifting, carrying, physical support, etc., on my shifts.)

But other than that, I have enough time to do a little bit of writing today before I leave. (I hope.) (Oh, and Sandra texted yesterday and said that the piece she performed in on Sunday at The CENTER in NYC, was a complete success! SRO.)

Oh, and I got a very quick update from Wayne, who has a copy of the completed first draft of The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. He is always really busy this time of year, so it’s taking him a while to read it, but he said:

HE: “Quite fond of Aurora.”

That blew me away, gang, because Aurora Mayhew is easily one of the most regrettable characters I’ve ever created. And she is one of two truly detestable characters in this specific novel.

So I’m taking his comment to mean that the character is well written… (?)

Me, writing the 26-years-in-the-making follow-up novel, “Memoirs of Aurora Mayhew”. (I seriously HOPE I’m just kidding…)

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Excuse me for a minute, I need another cup o’ joe…

Okay! I’m back!!

OOPS! I meant: Okay, I’m back!!

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I’m planning to have a nice evening here tomorrow, gang.

In our tiny village (1300 people live here), the kids do not go door-to-door trick-or-treating. They go to the tiny town hall/park area across from our equally tiny City Hall, one block over from me, and have a party and get their candy there.

But they do wear costumes and walk down my street (and back) to get to the City Hall, so I’m going to set out a big bowl of candy “for the taking” and then hang out in my family room, eat popcorn, and watch the remainder of “Arsenic and Old Lace” and then “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” until the trick-or-treating is officially over.

It’s sort of like being part of the festivities…

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Posted by Ross K. Nichols, to his Patreon group:

The Lost Scroll of Moses (Shapira): Part 1 | Hebrew Voices (50 mins):

From Ross K. Nichol’s recent Sunday School class — I forgot to post this!

The Gospel Before Jesus (1 hr 14 mins):

From James Tabor —

This is GREAT. I cannot believe that Dom Crossan is 91 years old already!!! Wow, is he sharp!

John Dominick Crossan and James Tabor: A Rare Conversation on Rediscovering the Historical Mother of Jesus (1 hr):

Also this, promoting James Tabor’s other new book, Restoring Abrahamic Faith.

Jews, Christians, and Muslims–What is the Historic Abrahamic Faith? (1 hr):

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All righty.

Just a quick note … if you read the Variety headlines every day, wow, gang. So many of the huge entertainment companies in LA are tanking. Directors resigning, hundreds, if not thousands, of people getting laid off… (I wonder if this means that “entertainment” might eventually go back to being entertaining? I guess we shall see.)

Meanwhile, Fox is doing great… hmmmm. (Could be that people are preferring the bigger “movie”? I don’t know…)

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Okay! That’s it! I’m gonna scoot.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

Breakfast-listening music!! (This song is like a balm on my soul, gang.)

Another gorgeous song from the gorgeous album, The Boatman’s Call, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Lime Tree Arbour.” 1997. Enjoy , gang.

“Lime Tree Arbour”

The boatman calls from the lake
A lone loon dives upon the water
I put my hand over hers
Down in the lime tree arbour
The wind in the trees is whispering
Whispering low that I love her
She puts her hand over mine
Down in the lime tree arbour

Through every breath that I breathe
And every place I go
There is a hand that protects me
And I do love her so

There will always be suffering
It flows through life like water
I put my hand over hers
Down in the lime tree arbour

The boatman he has gone
And the loons have flown for cover
She puts her hand over mine
Down in the lime tree arbour

Through every word that I speak
And every thing I know
There is a hand that protects me
And I do love her so

c- 1997 Nick Cave

All Right, I’m Here!

Yesterday was actually kinda good, gang, but I had to keep reminding myself of that by the time I walked in the door last evening.

I am trying my best to “like Tuesdays” because otherwise, well, everything about Tuesdays now are not my favorite thing. And I don’t want to work against myself by having bad energy. So I am trying to find reasons to “like Tuesdays.” (My 10-hr shift days.)

I got an early start, which helped. I was actually able to run FOUR errands before I got to my clients’ home. Including zipping over to the post office to get a Certified Letter from my first husband, in Seattle. A letter that he sends every month now, and it really perks my spirits. He does this because he has very fond memories of our marriage (we got married in NYC, 44 years ago (!!) — I’m not sure how that’s possible!).

Anyway, I have very fond memories of that marriage, too. We were both young, trying to make it in NYC, and from wildly different backgrounds. (He, from Singapore, me, from Ohio.) Intense years, truly. NYC in the 1980s.

Anyway. He is 69 now and starting to have some mild “cognitive issues” which makes me a little wistful, gang. I want to try to speak on the phone with him more often, just to try to keep a better connection to his mind. However, he has a lifetime partner of over 30 years, who does not know he was ever married, let alone married for 9 years, so it gets tricky….

He was the man I was married to when we lived in the Camelot Building, near Times Square:

The photo I took when I was in NYC last November, in a hotel that was 2 blocks from the Camelot apartment building.

Well, I digress!

Yesterday was okay, all things considered. My attitude was good, my energy was good. But then SEVEN MINUTES (literally) before I was supposed to clock out and leave, my client suddenly started asking me to do a bunch of things.

I can’t say “no” because he is not able to easily do these things himself, and so that’s why I’m there. But, you know — do you have to wait until SEVEN MINUTES before I’m supposed to leave??? When I’ve been there all day??

I tried really hard to be empathetic and patient and just cheerfully do what he needed done, but by the time I got into my car, my mood was sort of tanking…. I still had to go to the grocery store and do all that nonsense. And I kept trying not to hate Tuesdays…

But that’s done and now it’s Wednesday, and I’m heading out here soon to see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man. So on we go.

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Okay!

This is what it looks like when I put the sheets in the laundry and then try to re-make the bed!!!

The cats absolutely love my bed

And, btw, the scroll over the head of the bed is that literal translation of the “Ten Words” (in English, we know it as the Ten Commandments), that I got from Ross K. Nichols recently.

It’s kind of an interesting thing to have in your field of vision at all times.

Even in its literal translation, there are still 4 out of the 10 that I managed to break with ease — and a couple of them, I broke quite a few memorable/colorful times…

Me, 13, enough said…

That 2nd Commandment, though, is one that has always eluded me — rest on the 7th day. As in, do absolutely nothing but light some candles, pray, drink some wine and then sort of peacefully enjoy all of God’s creations.

I can’t even imagine an entire day, let alone, one entire day each week, wherein I do anything that remotely resembles that. But it sure would be nice.

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Nick Cave sent out one of those Red Hand Files yesterday, wherein he answers 50 questions with either a Yes, No, I don’t know, or Go Fuck Yourself. This time, he answered 75 questions, and he had quite a few “go fuck yourself” replies. Plus a little koala bear emoji. And some other emojis and some great art.

I usually find these Q & A’s really fun, but yesterday’s were off the charts with “attitude”. Wow. You can read them HERE.

NICK CAVE – WILD GOD BY SEAN BW PARKER, 2025

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Oh, well, sadly, I gotta scoot now or I’m gonna be late.

Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this. Late-night-listening music!

2 songs I hadn’t heard in a LONG time.

One from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “I Do, Dear, I Do” 1997 (I think).

“I Do, Dear, I Do”

I wish you happy Christmas
I do, dear, I do
I wish for you the stars, babe
I wish for you the moon

You can sit, and you can drink your champagne
With your gibbering goon
I hope he’s being good to you
I do, dear, I do

Ain’t no ill wind blow your way
Wish that you will keep safe
Up there in your leather, babe
With your ivory and ape

Things down here are fragmented
In fact, they’ve exploded all over the room
I think everything’s a little off-center, babe
I do, dear, I do

You said, that to love me you must set me free
Now, that may all be very well
Still I miss you baby
More than words can really tell

Sometimes I cannot sleep
The greatness of my hate for you
Sometimes I cannot sleep
For I miss you

May your day be bright as the eyes
Of the girl that I once knew
May your sun be happy yellow, babe
And your sky be baby blue

I miss your manic scratchings
And your howling at the moon
Ten steps behind me
With your dustpan and broom

I hope you wish for me
All the things I wish for you
Health, hope, and happiness
The sun and the moon

Say hello to the one
Who really don’t have a clue
I’ll be calling you soon
I think I love you

I do, dear, I do

c – 1997 Nick Cave

And one from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ album, Into the Great Wide Open, “All the Wrong Reasons”, 1991.

“All The Wrong Reasons”

Trouble blew in on a cold dark wind
It came without no warning
And that big ol’ house went up for sale
They were on the road by morning
Oh, the days went slow, into the changing season
Oh, out in the cold for all the wrong reasons

Well she grew up hard and she grew up fast
In the age of television
And she made a vow to have it all
It became her new religion
Oh, down in her soul it was an act of treason
Oh, down they go for all the wrong reasons

Where the sky begins the horizon ends
Despite the best intentions
And a big ol’ man goes up for sale
He becomes his own invention
Oh, the days go slow into the changing season
Oh, bought and sold for all the wrong reasons
Oh, down they go for all the wrong reasons

c – 1991 Tom Petty