NUMBERS OF LIFE

A few weeks ago I received a ‘poem of the day’ titled “Living in Numbers”

composed by a contemporary poet.  I passed it along to a few others to enjoy.  For some reason it reminded me of something I had scribbled a while back in a notebook about numbers ruling our life.  Although this poem and the one I began differ, it comes down to one thing; our lives are nothing but numbers.

First and foremost our age is a number that changes yearly; of course some do not tell the truth about their age though.  Our birthday I feel is the first number series in our life.  We have a nine digit number we need to have memorized, our social security number.  This number is extremely important for so many different reasons.  We need the number when applying for employment; when I was in the military in the 70’s it was also my service number.  That number is requested when we apply for credit, opening a bank account and I needed to show my social security card when I applied for a new driver’s license.  The number had been my account number for the company who serviced my student loans.  The veteran’s administration uses this number for patients.  I never realized how important that nine digit number is. How about our pin number for our debit cards?  You better make sure you punch it correctly or be embarrassed as I have done many times. 

We have an address which usually has a number; our land line telephone and cell phone number and yes our zip code. 

I lived in a gated community; after six in the evening I need to access a five digit code for the gate to open.  Don’t get me started about the place where I utilize an off site storage area, yes I have an access code to get in there also.

Recently I took a telephone survey about my shopping experience in a certain grocery store.  It was based on a number scale. Why not an alpha scale? 

Numbers rule so it appears.

When you really think about it we are just numbers in our family.  I am child number three and wife number two.  My husband is child one and husband two.  Think about your own number in your family.

Since numbers seem to rule our life there are times I feel like a number; yesterday I felt like a zero; today I feel like number two. 

Be Happy or Miserable....Your Decision Which You Wantt to Be

A few days ago while looking through one of my old journals; I came across something I had penned a few years ago.  It was a take off on a Dorothy Parker quote.  I knew an older woman who drank martinis and one Friday evening at happy hour, I decided to recite the quote for her; but she surprised me as she also knew the quote and recited it along with me.

“I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host.”
― Dorothy Parker, The Collected Dorothy Parker

 A few weeks later, at happy hour, I saw this woman again; I recited for her my take off on the Parker quote.  We both got a big laugh out of it.

Coming across the quote promoted me to find quotes by Parker and send them along as the poem of the day.  On one particular web site I found numerous funny quotes by her.  I am sure I would have loved to have known Dorothy Parker; I think she had a great sense of humor.

Having a sense of humor is important.  One needs the release of a good laugh every now and then especially in the world today.  A few days ago I wrote in a poem about how it takes more muscles to make a frown than a smile.  Now I am not sure if that statement is true, but when I frown I feel exhausted all over; but when I smile I feel alive and full of energy.

People who can not take a slight joke, pun or riddle have my deepest sympathy.  They sigh in displeasure, stick their nose up in the air and give you a scornful look.  I can never understand why some people are just plain miserable. 

Reader’s Digest magazine has a section called “Laughter is the Best Medicine”.  I tend to agree; a good joke, riddle or pun that makes one chuckle releases pent up frustration from deep within.

As I read the Dorothy Parker quotes I found myself laughing vigorously at some and chuckling at others.  After five minutes I felt revitalized as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Recently I have found some funny quotes on cards posted to Facebook.  A few I have downloaded to keep handy for when I need a good laugh.

I wonder, if Ms. Parker were still alive today, would she be posting her humor on Facebook?  Would people appreciate her wit?  One of my favorite quotes by Dorothy Parker is the one about martinis.  Somehow I can relate to that; but it is not martinis for me but Cosmos.   

So have a Cosmo, or maybe you rather a martint, find something humorous to read and forget the problems of the world if only for a few minutes. 

One of my many mottos for life is this; laugh and others will laugh with you; frown…..you will be miserable alone.

I lift my Cosmo to you….cheers!

I enjoy drinking Cosmos

But no more than two

Three make me very woozy

And four make go WAH-HOO!!!

©Scottie-ann Murphy 2008

My Mind is Blank Today

For those who watch the show the Big Bang Theory, you all know Sheldon is a Mr. Spock fan.  Like Sheldon, I too like Mr. Spock, but the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy.  The other day, I felt like Sheldon as I looked at books in the used bookstore run by the Friends of the Library.  One of my goals for poetry month was to purchase a new or used book of poems.  Long and behold I found a used book; a book of poems written by Mr. Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.  I had no idea Mr. Nimoy wrote poetry; what a shock to find this book was his sixth one published.  I thought to myself “WWSCD” (What would Sheldon Cooper do?).  I decided that Sheldon would probably purchase the book; so I bought it.   I could hardly wait to sit down to begin reading the words penned inside.

The book served another purpose also.  Since April is the month we celebrate Earth Day, I done a small part by purchasing not only a used book but one made from recycled paper.

With National Poetry Month nearly half over, I just wanted to let you know my progress on writing a poem a day.  YES… I have kept up with this intention.  It is not easy to do at times especially when my mind is a total blank, but something will eventually pop into my brain. 

The other day I needed to make two greeting cards; one for a birthday and the other for a special event in a person’s life.  I enjoy composing my own card verse.  Sitting at my desk top with an open Word Document, my fingers just flew over the key board.  I re-read what I had written--no I mean what I typed; a bit of tweaking here and there for each one and the verses completed.  I hope the recipients will be pleased with their cards. Since I created these verses, I considered them as two new poems for the day.  Deciding I had done two, I felt I can skip a day if nothing whirls around inside my head.

Today, again, I sat with an open document in front of me; my mind blank.  I decided I should walk away from the computer, go out to the club, take out my notebook, have a few Chardonnays and perhaps something will come to me; it had worked in the past.  My only dilemma which club?  I thought maybe one that is sponsoring an afternoon karaoke; seems I always find inspiration at karaoke.  Not sure if it is the atmosphere, music or singers but personally I think it is the wine.

Gotta go now.  I need to check my club calendars to see who has karaoke on a Sunday.  Till next time…”live long and prosper”.

KARAOKE

I admit I like karaoke.  I enjoy going to a place that is sponsoring a karaoke to listen to the singers.  Singers are categorized in four groups; excellent, good, bad and terrible. (These are my personal listings.)

It does not matter what some people sing, if they are excellent and good, they are excellent and good; but if they are bad and terrible, they are bad and terrible.  Everyone wants to perform for their three to four minutes (depending on the song length) of fame.  There are many who try to be an Elvis, Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra or Loretta Lynn.  Then many singers just sing the same songs over and over again, never trying anything different.  I can predict just what they will sing before the first note of the song. 

It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a group of people who are enjoying an adult beverage and sing.   Some do not want to be in the first round of singers, but wait for the second round.  I believe they need a few drinks to muster courage. 

A few years ago, I wrote a few poems centered on karaoke.  The poems in my opinion, told it like it is.  How everyone vies for a few minutes of recognition.  One of the poems I dedicated to all those who dislike karaoke; these are the people who complain about karaoke being held at their favorite drinking establishment.  For the ones who dislike karaoke, they should stay home if they know it is karaoke night or go elsewhere.

Over the years I have been attending karaoke; it usually has been at either a veteran’s club or fraternal organization which I am a member.  Only recently have I ventured out to a bar to enjoy this activity.  Karaoke participants come in all ages groups from those in their twenties to those in their eighties.  You just never know what a person is going to sing.  You picture the person as one to do country and they surprise you and do Sinatra (the men) or Madonna (the women). 

In the past few weeks, I have become daring; usually I do songs by Connie Francis or Leslie Gore but have added Patsy Cline to my repertoire.  Change is good and one must always try something new.

I am not going to win any karaoke contests, although my husband has.  In fact there is one song we both argue over singing.  He usually gets it up to the disc jockey first. 

You ask which of the four categories I am in?  Well come out and hear me sometime and judge for yourself.

 One Person’s Opinion of Karaoke

©Scottie-ann Murphy

(Dedicated to:  Bill and Di Thompson of BiDi Fantastic Karaoke

and Jewell Newell of JNewellentertaiment  

April 19, 2010)

                       

Melvin wants to be called Melvis

    Darlene changed her name to Dolly

        And Amy thinks she is Annie Lennox

Wannabe Engelberts,

         Hank Williams,

              George Straits

                   Rebas

                       Patsy Clines

                           And Brenda Lees

Crowded at tables around the bar

    All vying for their four minutes of fame

            and fun

I sit on my barstool

    watching the evenings entertainment

A glass of Chablis in my hand

    With each sip I take,

       the better the singers do sound

                  Another night of karaoke

POETRY MONTH

April arrives on the coattails of March.  We bid farewell to all events and happenings that March provided in 2013 and look forward to all April has to offer.

Yes April is the month taxes are due to the IRS, but April does hold something exciting for many; the boys of summer have returned to the diamond and the final four games of college basketball.  .

April is also designated as National Poetry Month.  Thirty days to celebrate the literary genre called poetry.  This is one of a few blogs regarding poetry month that I will be posting. 

As one who writes poetry, I look forward to April each year.  I do my part to celebrate poets and poetry in different ways.  Last year, I actually had a goal to write one poem a day.  This was not an easy task to accomplish, but by the end of April I had thirty new poems of four lines or more.  Besides the composing a poem per day, I also sent a poem a day to those on my email lists; these poems ranged from Yeats, Burns, Browning, Poe to a few of the contemporary poets. 

This year I once again made my goals for the month.  I am sending a daily poem to those email pals (I do hope they remain pals after the month has ended).  Also I am composing a new poem each day.  No doubt somewhere along the way I will revisit a few of these and re-work them, but I plan to see this intention through to the last day of April.  I will keep you up to date on my progress in future blogs on this goal.  As I said, it is not easy with all the other commitments in my life.    

There are many who are not poetry enthusiasts; that is fine with me.  It is a form of literature one must get use to reading, or so I think.  I am not a fan of reading science fiction or western novels.  Everyone has their own taste in reading.  Poetry I find is quite different from reading a novel.  One must read a poem a few times, in my opinion, to find just what the author is conveying.

HAPPY POETRY MONTH TO ALL!

The following says it all:

: 

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

(A tribute to National Poetry Month—April 2009)

©Scottie-ann Murphy

Thirty days in April set aside to pay tribute

A month of honoring poets

And their creations

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

Celebrate

Attend a poetry reading….

Compose a poem of your own….

Each day….read a poem

By your favorite poet

Or….a different author each day

Pass out a poem on Poem in Your Pocket Day

To everyone you meet.

Let the world know POETRY is alive

Waiting to be created….

Composed….

And read.