Jorma's Thoughts Page: Thoughts From Hillside Farm

Last Update: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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June, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008 Hillside Farm, Meigs County

My friend Jerry was kidding me yesterday on the sparseness of my web entries of late. Indeed, it's sad but true. Before the kids were in my life, my tales revolved about sentimental escapades about me. I'm a sentimental guy to be sure, but somehow taking the time to write about these things has taken the back seat to being part of a family. Something will happen during the day and I'll be all fired up about writing about it... but then Izze and Vanessa will come home, or I'll talk to Zach and all the me, me, me stuff just seems to dissipate. Yep, Izze had her first swimming lesson last night and before she went to bed as we were waiting to see The Bucket List, she came over, kissed my face and said, 'Good night Daddy.' Does it get much better than that?

Tomorrow is my son Zach's last day as a fourth grader. I am going to D.C. next weekend to pick him up, bring him back to Hillside Farm and get ready for a trip to Hungary and Italy with him and the rest of the family. Does it get any better than that?

Somebody emailed me the other day and wanted to talk about Woodstock. Woodstock? Who cares? My son is almost ready for middle school... I can almost understand my daughter when she speaks. Let's talk about the Back Yardigans or Pinky Dinky Doo. This the intellectual fodder for today's hip parents. Motorcycle ride? I do that almost every day. My Dad would have loved to see me as a dad... so would Mom. I wonder if they would have had advice?

Hmmm....

Monday, June 23, 2008 Hillside Farm, Meigs County

I just got back from Cuyahoga Falls where I was privileged to be on A Prairie Home Companion with my friend Barry Mitterhoff. You know, there are many milestones in a man’s life and fortunately, as long as you actually stay alive, they keep on coming. I have been fortunate enough to have had many of them. My Father loved Garrison Keillor dearly. Dad was from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the humor of this show was tailored for him. In honor of Dad and these thoughts, I wore his old Rolex up to Blossom so there was a little bit of Dad with me on the stage that night.

I carry my loved ones who have passed in my heart and in my memory at all times… there is plenty of room there. A thought occurs to me though. George Carlin just died and I realized that he was only three years older than I. As we get older the mortality that has been with us since birth rides on our shoulder every day. That is just the way of things and it reminds me that every day must be made special and lived as if it were to be our last for when we are gone, only the memory will be left and that too will fade in time.

In my garage there are still boxes of Mom and Dad memory stuff, most of which I have saved for so long simply because it was theirs. As I look at the albums of old photographs stern faces from another century stare back at me with the intensity of their youth. Not only are they all long gone now, but almost everyone who knows who they are have taken that final journey also. I think I will prune the memory boxes again this week… All these things have a way of slowly drifting away and once they are gone, that is it. George Carlin is gone and his memory will fade too. I recall as I watched his most recent HBO Special, I did not find it as funny as some of his older ones. (Like George would have given a rat’s ass what I thought) As a fan, I get to have these thoughts. He sounded bitter and resentful. I no longer look for bitterness and resentment in entertainment. Such is life indeed. With a ten year old and a two year old in my life, I just look for different things these days.

Ray Charles said in his song, ‘Let The Good Times Roll,’ ‘You only live but once, and when you’re dead you’re done, so let the good times roll.’ My concept of ‘Good times,’ has obviously changed since I was younger and that is as it should be. We still need to let the good times roll.

Each of us travels wrapped in the current of the River Of Life. Sometimes when we are still alive we get swept into keepers or eddy’s. While we still live we have the chance to get back into the stream and continue our journey. When we pass we leave the flow and rest on the bank forever and life continues without us. After a while the flow leaves so far behind we are forgotten and that too is as it should be. The lives of my Grandparent’s times really mean nothing to me today and yet there are things I would know, but I never shall. That too is as it should be.

Our children will grow and, I hope, blossom. Our lives will be a footnote in their history. This is a good thing. Everyone has plenty to do living their own life without re-living some else’s. It is a beautiful day today. A gentle breeze is sifting through the leaves here at Hillside Farm. The sky is a light blue and fluffy white clouds make their presence known. It is an Ohio summer day and I love it. In this moment, all is as it should be. My Dad found George Carlin amusing. Perhaps they are chatting together right now. Perhaps not. All this is as it must be. You had a good run George. May we all be as fortunate.