Is There A Heaven?

That is the universal question we have all had at one time or another in our lives.  I would like to believe that there is a Heaven.  However, my common sense tells me that there is no Heaven.  I think that when we die, when our bodies cease to function, when the emptiness of death replaces the life that is in our faces; on that day there is nothing.  That when we die, our soul or whatever life force that inhabited our bodies for all the years we were alive; that spirit disperses into the endless vastness of eternity.

Of course it is nice to contemplate that some great reward awaits us for enduring this existence on earth.  I want to believe that there was a reason for my existence.  That my life had some purpose. I mean no offense to my friends who find comfort in religion but for me, I find the religious propaganda line that we exist for the "glory of God" and to "accept Jesus Christ" a fairy tale invented by man to control other men.  I've always believed that.  Even down to the point were Christians always refer to God as "the Lord" as in medieval times when real lords presided over serfs and justified their treatment of serfs with a promise of a better afterlife.  Sorry folks, I don't accept the precepts of any "man made" religion at all with perhaps the exception of what little I know about Buddhism.  Some of that eastern religion at least makes sense to me, some of it.

Smokey

We've all heard of the near death experiences in which an all enveloping bright light welcomes us into unconditional love.  Now THAT makes a lot of sense to me and I would like to believe that is what happens when we cease to exist in our human form.  Oh how I would LOVE for that to be our Great Reward for enduring this existence on earth.  When I think of unconditional love it is not something I associates with my fellow human beings.  Oh sure, we make friends during our lifetimes and even a few of us are fortunate in that we find someone we love during our human existence.  But let's be realistic, no matter how great the love or friendship, don't they all have conditions?  Sure they do.  The only "unconditional love" I know of is the love that we receive from our pets, specifically a dog.  Isn't it ironic then that "dog" spelled backwards is "God?"  When you look into a dog's eyes don't you see unconditional love?  I do.  Cats are good pets too but none of us can claim to look into a cat's eyes and see unconditional love returned to us, only a dog's eyes are capable of communicating that feeling.

Horace

At this time of my life, when I am rapidly approaching the end of this train ride called "My Life", I often think of what if anything awaits me when I enter my Eternal Sleep.  I know what I want to happen.  I want to see my pets again.  With them, during my life I did experience unconditional love.  I would like to see my mother and father again.  I would like to see my friends like Ron and Sal, my two Army buddies (Sal was in the Air Force actually but I met him when I was in the Army).  I would LOVE to meet my grandmothers, who I never knew when I was alive.  I also never knew my paternal grandfather; he died two years before I as born.  I bear a striking resemblance to him.  I am curious if our personalities are similar.  I also would like to meet all of my grandfathers, maybe there was a gay one (or two) back there during the eons that it took to produce me in November of 1941.

The way I see it, when I die it's all good.  Even if there is nothing and all is a void then I do have eternal peace.  As much as I enjoy life now and don't want to leave just yet, I do look forward to the day when all this comes to an end.  To me life is a constant serious of tribulations of just getting through.  Recently I have been somewhat depressed over the fact that two heartless frauds might actually be elected president and vice president of this country.  It is depressing enough that Romney and Ryan could actually be elected despite their obvious and blatant deceit and selfishness but what is even more depressing is that so many of my fellow human beings would believe their deceit.

My life as  is most others, has been one of survival.  At this time of my life I am barely surviving.  I just manage to pay my bills.  My weeks are punctuated with more frequent doctor's appointments to repair this 71 year old body so I can last a few more years on this earth.  Because of my old age, I am increasingly relegated to the corner of the room reserved for Senior Citizens, an object of irrevelence good only for whatever money or possessions that can be squeezed out of me before I pass on.

"Fuzzy"

Don't get me wrong, I've had a good life.  I haven't had to endure too many hardships.  In fact, for the most part I've had a good life in spite of the fact that I was born gay and lived most of my life the object of discrimination, hate, and danger.  I've had an easier time of it than most in my situation which I attribute to luck and my survival skills.  Life to me has been one of dodging potential pitfalls and trying to extract some measure of happiness out of it.

"Brad"

I've enjoyed most of my life but I can't say I've been deliriously happy all my years.  Oh sure, there were a few times when I was actually deliriously happy.  I can remember each one of the instances.  They were brief and they were with my amour of the moment, which was always another man.  Unlike the fellow in the video at the beginning of this post, if there is a heaven and I am met by my guardian angel, he better be a man.

Life's Lessons

Okay folks, here are a few nuggets of wisdom that I have accumulated since I made my debut as a newly minted young baby boy on this planet in November of 1941, one month before World War II..

I have listed these tried and true pearls of lessons learned in no particular order.  There are the lessons of life that I have learned in three score and ten years of my life so far. I guarantee you that if you apply these lessons to your life you may be just as happy as I am now.

• Aim high.  You might not always achieve your goal but you will end up a lot higher than you ever dreamed.
• Don't let the bastards get you down.  There will always be somebody who is jealous, envious or just plain mean who will try and bring you down.  Do not pay attention to them.  Pity their sad lives and go on with your life.
• Always, but always treat eveyone kindly and with respect, especially the elderly, children and animals.
• Never, but never attempt to get even or revenge.  It will always come back to bite you in the ass.
• Always do your best whether it be at your job, hobby or keeping house.  You will be rewarded many times over.
• Stand by your principals even if they differ from your friends, relatives and those in authority.  They will have more respect for you if you do and none if you don't.
• Always be willing to offer to help but not enable.  There is a difference.
• Be generous, even if others do not repay your kindness. 
• If someone doesn't like you, and there will be those, part company.  If you don't you will only continue to annoy that person and frustrate yourself more.  These people need to find their own path even though it's not with you.  Don't waste your time (and theirs).
• Always, but always question authority.  Just because someone is in authority doesn't mean they know more than you do.  It probably means they are slicker than you in getting to that position.  They are not smarter or nicer than you. 
• Don't fret over mistakes that you make.  We all make them.  Learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them.
• Be unafraid to state your opinion. Someone will always disagree with you whatever opinion you have.  That doesn't mean your wrong.
• Stand your ground.  Run only when you're outnumbered.
• Be happy with the body that you were born with and take good care of it.  Your kindness and generosity will outshine any bodily defects and make you more attractive than the most perfect model.
• Find the good in any bad situation you find yourself in.  Adversity will make you stronger.
• Be thankful for all the good things that you have in life.  Do not take anything for granted.
• Always remember that there are two kinds of people in life.  The Good People and the Weasels.  The Good People will always outnumber the Weasels.  The Weasels will never change so keep  your distance from them. The Weasels will only use you and discard you when there is nothing left.
• And finally, make the most of every day you are granted life.  We all are serving a death sentence.  While some of us live longer than others, we all have the opportunity no matter how long or short time we have on this earth to make a difference.  We are all given that opportunity.  Take it.

And that my friends is the Purpose of Life - making a difference.

Notice that I haven't said anything about LOVE.  Love yourself and others and they will in turn love you.  That's the way it works.  Don't waste your time hating.  It will only bring you down.  Love begates love.

Ron's Ramblings From His Rainbow Office

Time for one of those homemade videos that signify absolutely nothing but the enjoyment I get out of working in my home office.

This video I made a few minutes ago while I was multi-tasking:

• Updating my Find a Grave account
• Listening to Chris Hayes' program "Up!" on MSNBC

I usually work in silence or listening to Howard Stern on my Sirius Radio.  I like listening to Howard Stern when he is mocking the absurdities in our pop culture.  I don't like listening to him when he is on his Stripper/Whore/Hot Babe segments. That got old a LONG TIME AGO.  

After the removal of a cyst from my lower back (on my spine) yesterday, I'm still bleeding.  Bill told me the blood came through on my shirt (and tee shirt of course).  So he put another bandage on it and I'm good to go for another blood soaked bandage day.  I only had three stitches (to be removed two weeks from today) but that is enough to feel sore.  It seems my life is just one series of doctor's appointments these days.  That's what I get for teasing my Mother (while she was alive) about her seemingly non-ending series of doctor's appointments.  

I'm not sure what Bill and I have planned for today.  We'll probably go to Food Lion so I can see if they have chicken breasts for sale. I never pay regular price for chicken breasts, I always get them on sale. I rarely eat beef.  It's a funny thing about not eating beef for a period of time.  When you go back to eating beef whether it be hamburger or beef stew (I never eat steak), you don't realize how hard your stomach has to work to digest all that chemically induced meat.  

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous.  A cold front came in last night causing the wind to whip around outside now.  I'm not sure if I'll get my walk in today.  I always feel so much better after my daily walk.  The walk gets my blood flowing throughout my old body.  

I should finish my taxes today (or tomorrow) and transmit them to the state of Delaware and the IRS.  I hate doing my taxes. I always owe money, no matter how much I have taken out of my part-time job.  This year I had a flat 20% taken out and I still owe.  Obama made a promise during his presidential campaign that retirees like me wouldn't have to pay taxes on our part-time work.  So much for that promise.  It's not like I get a whole lot in Social Security or my bank pensions, I don't.  Just barely getting by folks but I have enough to keep me and Bill warm and secure here at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  

We're planning on taking our third annual Trip South in April.  The cost of that trip will deplete our meager savings (van rental and separate hotel rooms) but it is well worth it.  Who are we going to leave our money too?  I have twenty beneficiaries in my will set up, most of them my nieces and nephews down to the grand niece and nephew levels.  I never see them.  They might as well be strangers but at least I'm keeping The Money in the family.  

Bill is downstairs in his basement living quarters.  I can hear him playing his favorite polka tunes.  I'm up here in my wonderful home office (I love this place) updating my Find a Grave account with photos I took of graves at the Union Cemetery in Georgetown during a mild, sunny day last month.  There is another Find a Grave volunteer in this area who just happens to be gay, who also takes photos and posts the memorials to Find a Grave.  Both he and his partner act as a team.  I'm a solo act.  Bill goes with me to the cemeteries but he doesn't post anything to Find a Grave.  I'm in constant competition with my gay Find a Grave volunteer friends to see who can post the memorials and photos first to Find a Grave.  I love the competition!  It beats what most other gay guys do down here in Gayberry which is eat out, get fat and talk about other people.  I'm left that "lifestyle" behind me when my faux friend dropped me several weeks ago.  I decided then and there I've had enough. From here on out I do what gives me pleasure which is:

• Blogging
• Find a Grave updating
• Genealogy research and updating
• Cooking
• Walking
• Working part-time
• Watching my political shows on MSNBC
• Reading
• Writing my auto-biography
• Talking with my friend Larry on FaceTime
• Decluttering
• Photo organizing

Now this was a good Rambling Blog wasn't it?  Just the way I like it.

Enjoy Life!

The hot and muggies have descended upon us down here in Lower Slower (aka Sussex County, Delaware.) While there is enough bad news to go all around from the high unemployment rate, to folks who can't sell their homes, and the too many people without adequate health care, there is good news. It seems no matter how bad things get, some people will always find the good in life. They will always find the joy in just living and making others happy.

Previously, I posted a video of a young couple who took the non traditional route to making their entrance into the church for their wedding. No and, and I mean on one but the most absolute prude could fail to break into a face hurting big smiles when they see the pure joy in the bridesmaids and groomsmen as they boogie on down the aisle to Chris Brown's "Forever." Especially heartwarming is to see the beautiful bride make her sole entrance down the aisle to her waiting groom with a huge happy smile on her face. That is the way weddings are supposed to me, joyous events.

Recently my cousin Stevie Tipton took some time for himself to visit a bluegrass festival in Virginia. There he met blue grass star Jesse McReynolds, who is married to our cousin Joy (appropriate name) Tipton. He also met another blue grass star Rhonda Vincent. Check out the picture of Stevie and Rhonda. His smile says it all.

I've also included some pictures Stevie posted to his Facebook account of him celebrating his daughter's graduation. Now this is some dad.

Would that we all could embrace life like the young folks at that Minnesota wedding and my cousin Stevie Tipton. We are constantly bombarded with bad news that we're all going to do unless we do this or do that. Impeach Nancy Pelosi! Barack Obama isn't an American citizen. The sky will fall in if we have national health care. The terrorists are going to get us unless we keep pouring billions of dollars in that rat hole called Iraq.

When all is said and done, let us appreciate our best and brightest who are putting their lives on the line by protecting our freedoms to enjoy life. Don't listen to the naysayers and dooms days predictors. We are a wonderful country full of many people who know how to enjoy life. While we may not all agree politically, let us rejoice in that reality and be thankful that we are so fortunate.