The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner

Greeting from the lighter side…

The calendar reads Thursday, November 23, 2006… Thanksgiving Day. However, to the advanced spam filters it’s popping up as another installment of The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner. With all the trappings of an annual event that no one pays much attention to after it is over. I offer a few words.
>It seems to be nothing more than my ego talking to some, but nonetheless I’ll dedicate this year to Novalee Kay and Valerie. For some of you this may be a first, to others it’s just a recipe for a quick delete. Hopefully y’all enjoy it either way.

In the great spirit of American unity in this season of division and diversity I offer up a thankful pause to my friends and family. Being a descendent of the eastern band of Cherokee, the true founding fathers of the five civilized nations for which this holiday is celebrated. In remembrance of those people helping a few illegal immigrants to make it through a tough winter; I say to our illegal brethren this day “Los amigos buenos del día y la familia... ¡Acción de gracias feliz!”

Being from a promised land that keeps raising the stakes, making it harder to just get by, there are moments when some people feel nothing at all. Having their minds read by those looking down from the edge – a fact that only makes me stop to think we’re just painted by numbers. May we all escape the race for just one day and enjoy the ones we are with.

Another year twisting and turning around the only star that can’t be gossiped about or fall from grace. Things get complicated when we’re constantly tripping over the people ahead in order to be the next one closer to the end; with no prize for the most, the biggest, the best or the brightest. As the song once said “all good things must end someday”, I wish we didn’t have to go. Maybe it won’t be tomorrow… who would do all the shopping on the most important day of the year?

I just hope it’s not dark on the other side.

Until then,
I’m Jarvis.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner

Greetings and good day.
 
If you have not checked your calendar or a non-practicing American, let me be the first to wish you a happy Thanksgiving! With all the trimmings of fowl, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, and some fooze-ball comes another installment of The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner. For some of you this may be a reluctant first, and to others it may be worse than a reoccurring nightmare. Hopefully y'all enjoy it either way.
 
Einstein once said, "The more I know, the more I realize I don't know." I thought I was savvy once, a virtuous soul on a crusade to understand what it meant to be in the right. What it meant to catch a glimpse of truth or to transcend into a state of enlightenment. Now I know it is all a whisper through a curtain of eternity. There is a mystery of historic proportion happening on the outside of my eyes. The great thing about the view from in here is it's just me, myself, and I. a full house nonetheless.
 
To my fear the crowd was not laughing with me as I stood on the stoop telling a story of a life yet fully lived. What a sick and twisted thing life can be. work all the live long days to nurture friends, to love a family, and gain worldly possessions. Then we make it through this encounter
just to realize the hearse ain't gotta luggage rack and there might've been a few we forgot to tell goodbye.
 
Curse the joker as he hysterically laughs at us standing alone on edge of the eclipse with nothing more than ourselves to show for. The earth spins around, the sun never really goes down, and it's just an illusion in our mind that we are actually going somewhere. It wouldn't be that tragic if the
end of the road was nothing more than the beginning of a longer one. A position less reserved for a select few and more controlled in a manner yet refined, with moments of grace laid upon us through the good works done for others.
 
If it is God you believe in, or if it's Allah, Jah, Zeus, or Brahman you believe in, I don't care. Just believe in something other than the reproduced reality set in front of your eyes. Believe in something that cannot be touched, produced, bought, spoiled, corrupted, stolen, tarnished,
sold, or traded. Allow it to become you. Believe to the point that it gives you comfort. Believe in it so when the end is near there's at least something with you. This "something" is the only thing that can be taken along. In this season of giving thanks, I am grateful to have family and friends who will be there until those last days. but I'm really thankful that I won't be alone on the next road.
 
In 2005 I am thankful that friends got married. I am thankful that others have decided to get married. I am thankful that families are still strong and friendships continue to grow years after they were original forged. That healthy children were born to deserving parents. And with all that, I leave you with my best wishes for the many things you have to be thankful for.
Jarvis

The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner

Good evening, good morning, good golly…

It is that time again. Time to stuff our faces with turkey, watch football and wish elastic waistbands were cool. In keeping with tradition here is another installment of The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner … for some of you it may be a baptism by fire and to others it may reaffirm your fish-eye perspective of me. Hopefully y’all enjoy it either way.

What I’m thankful for this year…

I am thankful for Doug Wake. An endless well of humor and always holding out for love.
I am thankful for Canadian phonics. The only country where the plural of beer is beer. “Doug, how much can you drink? About 60 beer.”
I am thankful for Mike Mintenko bobble heads and 2004 calendar.
I am thankful for 40-hour workweeks and those who only have to work 40 hours.
I am thankful for 40’s. JBK that one’s for you.
I am thankful for Bone Thugs in Harmony. Also for JBK.
I am thankful for vices. DT and Bob that one’s for you.
I am thankful for JJ’s caller ID flashing “Therpa.”
I am thankful for Canada. “C-eh. N-eh. D-eh.”
I am thankful for swimming. Keeping a conversations going since 1994.
I am thankful for ESPN. Perpetuating the Stupid American syndrome since 1979.
I am thankful for butter-face women. Their bodies are always better.
I am thankful for the word “Juggle”. The only word in the English language with more meanings than Eskimo’s “snow”. (See “My Ode to Juggle”)

My Ode to Juggle

Not to many words in the English language carry such meaning than does the great descriptive word - Juggle. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines Juggle: to perform skillful tricks of sleight of hand with (balls, knives, etc.). This harmless word in the past has been linked to carney foke and Phish tunes. Now it has taken on a life of its own. If you have ever been on the UNLV Men’s Swim Team between the years of 1991-present, you will appreciate the twisted metamorphism of this simple word. It’s like a tiny little caterpillar blasting out of its cocoon, a multi-colored butterfly reeking of soiled pool water and imitation leather.

Juggle encompasses all parts of speech:
Noun: What’s up juggler!?!
Adjective: That dude is a juggling nightmare.
Verb: Damn I’m juggling.
Past tense verb: Damn I juggled.
Future tense verb: Damn I’m going to juggle.
Family Names: The Jugglers.

Typical swimmers conversation with appropriate translation…
“Dude.” Hello.
“Dude.” What’s up man?
“Juggl’n?” I’m doing well, how about yourself?
“Juggl’n.” Things are going pretty good, what about yourself?
“Chainsaws.” Money is tight; I’m getting my balls busted at work/workout.
“…really.” Really.
“…Yep.” Yes.
“N-U-Tees?” How bad?
“Huevos Rancheros.” My wife/girlfriend is really busting my balls.

Best wishes to all my friends out there and safe travels for the ones who are visit’n their keen. To all my friends and family members, I would like to give thanks for having you in my life and for the memories. There have been many a things to be thankful for this year and few to mention. Let the powers you pray to at night watch over you this day. May happiness fill your heart and hungers never touch your stomach.

Remember in this session of commercialized hype and melodramatic reality shows, don’t eat the yellow snow and avoid the man with a smile on his face and a lily in his pocket. Pick your friends wisely, pick your nose often, but its never wise to pick your friends nose. Set your hair on fire and punch a hole in the sky cause it’s a free world once you sit in your assigned set and shut up. Don’t play with nukes… they’ll ruin your day and suck the paint off your house and give your family a permanent orange Afro. So when you’re done with life, come on down to the coffee shop at the end of my universe -- we’re serving Spam cakes and Red Bull at noon on the eve of this daydream. Let them come and collect your bones another day!

Happy Thanksgiving 2004

Rock on Brother Beavis!
Jarvis

The Chronicles of a Lost Southerner

Come as you are, as you were,
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is your, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend as an old memoria.

Nirvana “Come As You Are”

“Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be.” That’s right people…come as you are. I’m thankful this year that we can do this – show up to our works, our parties, and our lives as we are. God bless the few who will cherish this privilege this strange year – and if you may, please step over the majority who forgot their gift. It may suck a great deal of the time but at least we get the choice to make it right. Or at least retire trying.  I’m still looking for my 40 acres and a mule, but for the time being it’s still a wonderful life.

“Here we are now, entertain us…” Don’t forget to tell the one you're with that you are thankful for them. If it is your lover, your wife, your friend, or your foe, tell them that you are grateful they made it our today. Time may be on our side but nothing will keep you here in the end. Cuz when it is over, how you gunna know how it ends?

To all my friends and family members, I would like to give thanks for having you in my life and for the memories. There have been many a things to be thankful for this year and few to mention. Let the powers you pray to at night (never an atheist in a fox hole…) watch over you this day. May happiness fill your heart and hunger never touch your stomach, let them come and collect your bones another day!

Don’t step on a crack jack

Cause it may break my mamas back.

Don’t you know man?

We all family here.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jarvis