A Well Deserved Visit

Well, lately my travels have taken me to Galt and Lodi! No, these are nowhere near Alderan or Tatooine... and no, these aren't the droids you're looking for. If the only reference you got there was "droids" and you're thinking "cell phone," then... nevermind. Actually I am in Northern California visiting my uncle Sam. He should never be confused with the other Uncle Sam who always asks for money, drafts teenage boys and shaves their heads, and points way too much. My uncle Sam is a peaceful World Traveler with a great sense of humor, and he has never, ever, sent me a tax bill.

Galt and Yoda... I mean Lodi (sorry) are towns south of Sacramento. Lodi is an up-and-coming wine appellation, and I was lucky and happy to visit some old friends there for dinner last night. It was a cook-out, so everything was grilled - even the fresh peaches! It was a slightly cool, breezy, perfect summer evening... a much welcomed change from the sauna otherwise known as "Washington, D.C." Galt is nearby, and not nearly as far away as Dagoba (I'll stop now), but smells of a different agricultural aroma, so I don't think they make wine. However, my cousin lives in Galt, and from what little effort I have expended to ascertain such a conclusion, I think he smells just fine. It's been a lovely time with him and my mom; I have even created an english muffin breakfast bruschetta! It's a quiet town, and I'm sure sure you can see stars, but I'm tired and going to bed. DC and SoCal friends may never have seen these "stars" of which I write, but just google them. Back east tomorrow. Think I'll do the english muffins with strawberries for breakfast... delicious!

A Traveler's Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for this wonderful gift of flight. May all Travelers reach their destinations safely and soundly today. May Your breath be the life in our wings, and in the end guide us softly home. Amen.

Lessons I Learned From My Dad

Lessons I Learned From My Dad

Feed others, and serve yourself last. Get out and walk; walking cures everything. Check your tires. Coach. Where you come from is less important than where you are going. Don't take things from hotels that don't belong to you. Consolidate. In case of death, natural disaster, or nuclear war, you may need to know how to clean the pool, turn off the water pipes, or fix the toilet. Stand up for yourself. Be aggressive. Practice. Take your commitments seriously. Be discrete. Take vacations. A person's skin color signifies neither value nor lack thereof. Enjoy jazz. Look people in the eyes. Take care of your health. Don't be late. Enjoy sports for the game, not for statistics. Possessions are not a measure of a man's worth. Be proud of the military. Dine out. Be your own man. Keep accurate records. If you buy a live Christmas tree and keep it potted and watered on your porch, you don't have to buy a new one every year. Call your mother.

Pregame Poem #39

Pregame Poem # 39
7 June 2010

“Be American”

An ode to a team dressed blue,
Red, and white – the chosen few.
They’ve followed their hearts,
Let’s have more than three starts;
Whatever it takes to make your way through.

You are the ambassadors of this great land.
It’s time that we all made a stand.
Remind the world who we are,
In every living room, every bar,
We determine the value of our brand.

From a challenge, we never will hide,
Anything’s possible when hitting our stride.
Lead the world, show the way,
No price we won’t pay
To return in the end with pride.

Ask not what your country can do,
Be bold, be brave, be you.
Eye of the tiger never fails,
With a will tough as nails,
Write history as the winning crew.

Equal are all men created,
Live your dream and never debate it.
Victorious will be America,
Not bad tippers from Iberia,
Be the best, whether loved or hated.

Right Now is the time to begin,
Show this team’s better than we’ve ever been.
What’s in me? Show the doubters,
Amongst horns, drums, and shouters,
Be American. Live the goal. Let’s Win!

Washington, District of Columbia

All Photos Copyrighted J. Mark Porter Photography 2010

Lessons Learned From My Mom

No, not "whatever". Open doors and give up your seat for a lady. Shakespeare is worth reading. Birds are wonderful animals. Teachers are special people who themselves have lots of homework. It's not appropriate to wear t-shirts with curse words on them, even if it is a Van Halen shirt. The people with whom you are sharing a meal deserve the respect of your attention undivided by a telephone. Eat a well-balanced meal. Speak a foreign language. Be modest. Earn your keep. Make-up does not make a woman. Be a defensive driver. Actions have consequences. Travel... just not in the middle of the back seat. Go to church. Cooking is a shared experience. Don't watch soap operas. Your grandmother outranks your best friend. Your best friend ranks pretty highly. Listening is giving. Consider the weight of your words. Say "thank you". If you're going to fail a test, do it without sarcasm. Apologize - and act - sincerely. Pursue your passions with vigor. Be careful. Character matters. Fighting does not make a man. Be there for the important moments. Forgive. Seek the truth. Expect excellence. Make yourself proud. Appreciate beauty. Let others shine. Strength is more than muscles. Be kind. Watch out for motorcycles.

Under The Influence - America and a Lenten Struggle

In the autobiography of the great American Fredrick Douglass, he painted vivid portraits of, not only slaves, but also some members of the slave-owning families and how the institution of slavery had deeply penetrated and changed lives. He also detailed how knowledge not only changed his life, but the absence of it for others made life noticeably, even if inexcusably horrible, more bearable. Point being, there are a great many influences in history and in life, and they oftentimes play roles that we do not seek and may not expect. 

 To add to that, there are those we may not even recognize. When I was much younger, my mom wanted me to spend less time with a certain friend. Her reason was that she feared he was a bad influence on me. To that I retorted perhaps I was a good influence on him and that he should not be deprived of such. I cannot remember the finale to that exchange, but I will always remember the concept. Truth be told, I’m sure we were both right, only she was doing her duty as a mother, and I mine as a friend. 

In any case, we as individuals like to think that we are in control, if not of the events of the world, then at least of ourselves and - ultimately - who we are; that may not be so. The term “under the influence” generally refers to a state of psychological and/or physiological surrender to a substance such as a drug or alcohol. Depending on the situation, a human is either impaired or accelerated toward or away from certain behaviors while under the influence. Basically, an added variable fundamentally changes human events. 

 If we look beyond the limits of chemicals, we will find that there are also people, events, ideologies, religions, weather, and institutions that also routinely influence our lives. Knowledge, conscience, perceptions, greed, duty, tradition, culture, and even ignorance control the paths of our lives as well. And, then there is love, or so I am told. These are all influences, yes, but to be under the influence there would need to be some kind of voluntary or involuntary surrender of control. Frederick Douglass was under the influence of knowledge. Hamlet was under the influence of revenge. General George Washington was under the influence of revolution. I have a feeling that Hitler was under the influence of several things, among them – intolerance. Martin Luther King, Jr. was under the influence of a dream. Clearly some of these predicaments need not be cured, yet others can be construed as Satan himself. 

Perhaps the only answer lies not only in nourishing the healthy addictions and extracting the malignant ones, but in identifying them and then dedicating to those of supreme value. In the season of Lent, Christians are reminded of when Jesus spent time preparing for His death by denying Himself worldly comforts. In this time He was tempted by the Devil in several ways, but He was revealed to be under the influence of a divine purpose. The purpose of a retreat or a fast is to clear and focus. In denying oneself of worldly and evil things there is liberation. In liberation there is clarity and opportunity to exert greater authority over human events. The problem with being under an influence can be that the human spirit is conquered, and in fact enslaved. In liberation, the human spirit can thrive, conquer, and indeed triumph. As a person, that may be the healthiest state. As a people, just as we have eliminated slavery and moved toward a "dream", we may all need to liberate ourselves to conquer the demons ahead.