These birds are a rare sight anywhere in the country. This one probably was hunting insects and accidentally flew down our chimney. The long scimitar wings and the little hairs around the beak indicated this was truly a nighthawk. Its shiny black feathers allow this hunter to quietly slip through the night airs easily. I had all the James A. Audubon bird books that I poured over at night just before closing my eyes. I released this little one back to the night since I had no where to keep a captured bird.
I was always torn by situations I had no control over. I was collecting everything I could to save in my junk drawer. This drawer held all my memorabilia which marked my time of youth. Frank and Dave were my best friends. I needed no other friends because it was just too hard to meet someone trustworthy.
I was always torn by situations I had no control over. I was collecting everything I could to save in my junk drawer. This drawer held all my memorabilia which marked my time of youth. Frank and Dave were my best friends. I needed no other friends because it was just too hard to meet someone trustworthy.
Everyone seemed intent on using me in their own despicable lives. I had become an object. I was safely away from the war. Frank would come to see me with Ellen in tow. He had been to SF during the Summer of Love. He finally married Ellen. The scene was alive in New Orleans with Be-Ins. Frank showed me his Ho Chi Minh sandals he constructed out of tire tread and linen cloth. He was making decisions in life I could not make. The University was still fixated in my mind. I managed to buy a pirogue from another Scout for cheap. This replaced the one I found in swamp and repaired with tar. The guys were moving on. I was perplexed as to the direction I should go.
That year, many things happened to me. I went to the Sadie Hawkins Dance with one of my girlfriends dancing to the Twilighters. One of the guys showed how to do the alligator which means jumping on the ground and wiggling around like a reptile. No thanks. I had been to a ballroom dancing class sponsored by my Mother. I could Cha Cha Cha like no other, as well as perform other classical dances. The only problem was finding a partner who could dance since no one else took dancing lessons.
That year, many things happened to me. I went to the Sadie Hawkins Dance with one of my girlfriends dancing to the Twilighters. One of the guys showed how to do the alligator which means jumping on the ground and wiggling around like a reptile. No thanks. I had been to a ballroom dancing class sponsored by my Mother. I could Cha Cha Cha like no other, as well as perform other classical dances. The only problem was finding a partner who could dance since no one else took dancing lessons.
I was listening to music I had never heard before. I was not long waiting for the evolution of music to begin in earnest. It was changing faster than I was. My songs were simple ballads that held little meaning for others. I was composing poems that could be set to music. The words were easy but the music was harder. Copyright laws prevented me from perusing a career in music. I suffered disappointment and defeat during these times. I lost many times at this wild game of life. I retreated inwardly. This alarmed my mother. She finally had me committed to the state hospital for depression. I was out in weeks.
I joined Fascin8ters and learned square dancing. I drove an older pickup with a floor shift. I dressed as a cowboy I made this look good. I met a girl who really liked me but the commute killed that relationship. The few times I went to the dances were significant but challenging. I learned square dancing because the scout master was a ritualistic square dancer complete with the clothes.
One of my scouting buddies invited me to ride along to Seattle on their annual visit to the Pacific Northwest. That was one long trip. We finally stopped in Salt Lake City and visited the Mormon Tabernacle which certainly opened my eyes to acoustics. The demonstration goes on even today. One of the guides drops a pin that can be heard anywhere in the building. They took us on a tour and lecture to familiarize us with Mormonism should we take a liking to the belief. It is all based on faith and a departure from regular Christianity. I had no religion since my parents let us decide what is true. I had beliefs but it was more of a Taoist kind of mentality rather than stand up Christianity which tends to be dogmatic.
Betsy was a big, nasty hurricane that swept through the Crescent city . It knocked out power thus refrigeration so all the frozen food had to be eaten immediately. Feasting in the dark was a novel way to spend your days while the cleanup took place. During the storm which happened late at night really shook the house. The nails were creaking and the winds blew down many of the live oaks that line Franklin Ave. We were really stranded for the time being. As the waters receded I managed to bike my way to the only ice house in the area . There were many people crowding the ice house buying up want was left of the ice stock. The scene was bizarre and disturbing. It was not orderly but chaotic. It was chilling to see people fighting over the last remaining supplies of ice in the hot blue sky to save their investment in food. The restaurants were particularly desperate.
I knew many smart people like Gary W. Charlie W. and so many others. Gary W. worked the booths out Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. He was caught up in the endless parade of people trying to earn enough to go to a decent school. Charlie W. had respect from the Physic dept. out at UNO. His little job was to run the observatory. This was just a tiny one built into the Science Bldg. roof. He invited me to come there one night to see Saturn. I still remember how the planet looked in the aperture . She was tilted on her side with the rings at a 45' angle. So tiny was this heavenly jewel it could have been a setting for a ring glowing the sunlight. I went to high school with these guys. Their minds were extraordinary just like everyone's.
I joined Fascin8ters and learned square dancing. I drove an older pickup with a floor shift. I dressed as a cowboy I made this look good. I met a girl who really liked me but the commute killed that relationship. The few times I went to the dances were significant but challenging. I learned square dancing because the scout master was a ritualistic square dancer complete with the clothes.
One of my scouting buddies invited me to ride along to Seattle on their annual visit to the Pacific Northwest. That was one long trip. We finally stopped in Salt Lake City and visited the Mormon Tabernacle which certainly opened my eyes to acoustics. The demonstration goes on even today. One of the guides drops a pin that can be heard anywhere in the building. They took us on a tour and lecture to familiarize us with Mormonism should we take a liking to the belief. It is all based on faith and a departure from regular Christianity. I had no religion since my parents let us decide what is true. I had beliefs but it was more of a Taoist kind of mentality rather than stand up Christianity which tends to be dogmatic.
Betsy was a big, nasty hurricane that swept through the Crescent city . It knocked out power thus refrigeration so all the frozen food had to be eaten immediately. Feasting in the dark was a novel way to spend your days while the cleanup took place. During the storm which happened late at night really shook the house. The nails were creaking and the winds blew down many of the live oaks that line Franklin Ave. We were really stranded for the time being. As the waters receded I managed to bike my way to the only ice house in the area . There were many people crowding the ice house buying up want was left of the ice stock. The scene was bizarre and disturbing. It was not orderly but chaotic. It was chilling to see people fighting over the last remaining supplies of ice in the hot blue sky to save their investment in food. The restaurants were particularly desperate.
I knew many smart people like Gary W. Charlie W. and so many others. Gary W. worked the booths out Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park. He was caught up in the endless parade of people trying to earn enough to go to a decent school. Charlie W. had respect from the Physic dept. out at UNO. His little job was to run the observatory. This was just a tiny one built into the Science Bldg. roof. He invited me to come there one night to see Saturn. I still remember how the planet looked in the aperture . She was tilted on her side with the rings at a 45' angle. So tiny was this heavenly jewel it could have been a setting for a ring glowing the sunlight. I went to high school with these guys. Their minds were extraordinary just like everyone's.
