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Paris is so beautiful, that it’s emotional,
like the red tile roofs of Rome,
or the Kenroku-en gardens of Japan.

It’s a relatively large world.
Whenever you can fly over an ocean
you feel limitless, and godly,
like the world is there for you, on demand.

Speaking of God-like views, I’m headed
to Lisa’s (parents) Manhattan highrise again
this year for Thanksgiving—six, very-long days
from today—and I have to wait—but I can’t wait.

I’m starting to stuff things into my bag, like a turkey.
There are so many holiday things to do in Manhattan.
Things that invariably whip you up for a sparkly Christmas.
But these are only commercial attractions—planned distractions.

One frosty November-break morning, two years ago,
a tide of clouds had rolled in, like a trillion tons of cotton
candy had been dumped on New York city, overnight,
filling it up to the 42nd floor. It glistened there, below us,
in the klieg-bright sun, like Tiffany diamonds on cotton.

So, imagine that, then add a flock of geese, in military-like
v-formation flying just at the crest of the glitter, like dolphins
hopping in and out of the waves, as they passed above the
insignificant works of man. It took my breath away.

So, naturally I grabbed for my fancy phone with its super-duper,
high-res camera. The snaps did the glorious scene poor justice—
the majestic, wild geese came out as dots on glare.

I’m watching things carefully this year, not just the multicolor, cachet, window displays on Fifth Avenue and the decorations at the Chelsea Market (where Oreos were invented). I’m going to capture this year
—every intense, emotional second—with that most unreliable, 3D
gadget of all—Memory.
.
.
A song for this:
Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham
Merriam Webster word of the day challenge 11/15/24:
Cachet = a synonym of prestige
And I don't know
if I can do it

once steps were so fast and secure . . .
now as hollow as the footsteps to the shadow of heels

All those beautiful colors . . . blend to white water . . . falling apogee . . . the crashing culmination of what dreamt to me
A bevy of immigrants continually appear
Closer and closer they’re coming near
Now that they’re here;
Demanding rights as a citizen entitled to;
Housing jobs phone money
Stealing cars No ID Drivers license
  No car insurance or recourse
They are becoming a problem, a force

The refugee flow are camping along bike trails in parks by streams
California life is not what it seems

Even in the front of peoples homes
Take steal No apologies refusal to atone.
Home invasions knowing people there
They stay for days they don’t care

I was rattled by a group of ragged men who didn’t even try to hide their face
Whatever it takes to create their space

Robbery demanding money, car keys.
Hands up get on your knees
Rain snow cold and wet
They take what they can get.

Every day more are coming
Apartments Full No room at the Inn
Bad to worse This situation is A NO win
Bureaucrats did not stop to contemplation
California State our cities in damnation

The food banks are empty
No longer a state of plenty
Pharmacy’s medications empty gone
Drug companies ran out what’s going on?

Hospitals, emergency room 24 hour wait
Immigrants use as urgent care
Rashes flu common cold
Aches and pains from being oldy
While real emergencies people dying
To treat an earache children crying

Giving from the heart, it’s a start
Eat a bit lighter so you can share part
Winter Elements are brutal
Tents, tarps boxes, shelters futile

Giving we learn to make due
Blankets, gloves, scarves sweaters, too
Most of us have an extra or a few
Snow Coats we never wear share

Become a target if you just help One
They swarm, grabbing tell you have none
Enough for few not for many
Shoestring budget life, pinching Penny

What would you do if you were starving?


Inspired song
Where have all the flowers gone?
ByPeter Paul and Mary
Webster’s Word of the Day
11-13 bevy
There is a large group of people, or things, baby is usually used in a singular form, accompanied by the word of
11-14-25 rattled
Rattled is as in confusion or befuddled state that are broken down or worn
WORSE THINGS THAN DYING

I wander
among the living
unable

to believe
I am
dead

the living
haunt
my dreams

their tears
torment
me

trapped
in their memories
I scream

unable
to break free
from their grief

that holds me
prisoner
in their minds

I am at war
with time
forever dying
EXULANSIS

What’s the point of talking
When you are not my words even understanding
So I just walk away from myself
For I am alien to yourself
Are you not understanding
Or feigning a lack of understanding
Maybe you hate me or envy me
But I only love thee
When that love is not understood
A state of Exulansis, most misunderstood
I then do enter
Not because I want to be attention’s centre
But because you cannot me decipher
So here I feel like a mere cipher
And drift away forever
Your pity, I don’t seek ever
My mind is now faraway
With you all it can never stay
"Exulansis" refers to the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it whether through envy, pity, or simple foreignness–which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is a compendium of new words for emotions. Its mission is to shine a light on the fundamental strangeness of being a human being—all the aches, demons, vibes, joys, and urges that are humming in the background of everyday life.

The compiler of the Dictionary is John Koenig a video maker, voice actor, graphic designer, and writer. Born in Idaho and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, he created The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows in 2009, first as a blog before expanding the project to YouTube. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter.
 Nov 14 Nick Moore
Drab
Santa?
 Nov 14 Nick Moore
Drab
We do not know.
The ships’ captains..
Were, not specific
Enough.
But we do know.
That it tends…
To live in
Damp
Dark
Places….
Way up north.
a paranoid child's view
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