There’s a storm comin’
I have added a fourth page. It’s called About the author. It has a rather lengthy bio, but at the moment that’s all that’s on it. Over the coming week, it will be added to and redesigned.
thank you,
Jim McDonald
Gary’s words: nescience, grandiloquence & unprepossessing
My buddy Gary is an Astrophysicist, so when he gave me these words the first thing I did after I stopped laughing was look them up. WOW!!! This story is kind of long. Sorry, I try to keep them short, but I had fun with this one.
Gary took me to this, out of my league, party the other evening, because his girl friend couldn’t make it. That’s alright, because I’m between girlfriends right now anyway. Walking up to the door, he told me, “You might not know anyone here, but you should have fun. If nothing else, the food is always great.”
I’m dressed in my shorts, polo shirt and flip flops, well it’s a party. He’s dressed in jeans, button down shirt and tennis shoes. He knocked on door and we waited to be escorted to the gathering. After walking through the foyer and into the room I noticed women in gowns and men in tuxes. I immediately looked at Gary and he was already staring at me grinning at me from ear to ear. At least he wasn’t in a tux.
I’m not shy, so I accosted the first waiter walking by with a water and then went to the closest man I saw standing by himself and asked him, “What did he think of the game last night?”
He replied, “I’m sorry, but I’m NESCIENCE as to what you are speaking of.” I new right then, I was in for a long night.
Again, I looked at Gary, then turned back to the man and said, “The O’s beat Houston and Davis banged out two dingers.”
“Dingers? What ever do you mean?”
“Going yard, long balls, big fly, you know homeruns in baseball!”
“I know not of this game, baseball!” his indignation was apparent, then he said, “Sir, your attire is quiet UNPREPOSSESSING!”
I said, “Yeah I know, but what can you do?” I had no idea what he said, so I thought his GRANDILOQUENCE made him sound pompous and it reminded me of a politician.
Gary pulled me to the side and asked, “You want to go and leave these bombastic people in our dust? I was pulling your leg a little with this party. I also wanted to see how you would react. You don’t change much. That’s what I like about you”
“Thanks man. It’s easier that way, but I want to talk to her first.” Pointing at this very attractive lady. “Eat, then let’s go play some pool.”
North Carolina
Sitting at our local Starbucks in La Plata, MD., I noticed an elderly couple walk in, ordered some drinks and sat at a table. I’m an outgoing person and I’ll talk to anyone in earshot. They were too far away to say anything, so I just watched them, whenever I took a break from my laptop.
They interested me, so I took a break from writing and studied them instead. People watching is an unexpected pleasure I get, while I sit in the friendly confines of the air conditioned atmosphere.
I would guess they were close to the eighties, if not in them. She had her right arm in a cast, so he gently held her left elbow as he ever so slowly guided her toward the table. He made sure she was comfortable, before he went to get their drinks and napkins. I overheard him tell the barista, “Can you pour a little out of this one and put this much ice in it? This one’s for my wife.” As he said that he held up his right thumb and forefinger with about an inch and a half distance between them.
The barista said, “Of course. Hope you all are staying cool in this heat.”
“Yeah, we like coming here, because it’s so pleasant.” He took the drinks to the table and sat across from her using very calculated movements. I could tell almost every action he made was for her convenience. They seemed to be the same age, but it was apparent he had more life in his bones than she did. It was obvious he cared for her very much.
Every action she made was slow and deliberate, no wasted energy. I noticed from her gingerly movements, that she was either very ill or too old to move any quicker.
Finished with their drinks he cleaned and straighten the table as she sat. He then helped her up and before they headed to the car he took the time to push the chair in. When he was helping her into the car, that’s when I noticed they both had light blue shirts, tan pants and the same colored loafers. Both of them had the same completion, height, weight, hair color and they dressed a like. Were they that similar, when they met or did they grow that way?
By Jim McDonald
not yesterday
not tomorrow
only now
there’s only this time
not another day
not another hour
not another moment
only now
what happened
no today
no hour
no moment
no now
this time is missing
in yesterday
in tomorrow
this time is lost
no now
Past
I was stuck in the basement after watching a scary movie. Dad just called down and said, “Come up! Turn off the TV and light.” I turned the tube off and went upstairs.
Dad sternly said, “Go back down and turn off the light.” He wouldn’t let me turn the main light on, before I went back down. Walking down wasn’t so bad, but thinking about walking back up in the dark really scared me.
I walked to the lamp, slide my hand up under the shade and put right my thumb and index finger on the turn knob. Before turning the switch, I looked around for the monster. I thought maybe to peek behind the couch and move the coffee table out of the way first. Then quickly darkened the room and ran past the top step and slammed the door behind me.
Dad grabbed me with a big smile saying, “Good job son! You’re alright, don’t worry you’re alright” He hugged me so tight, that I could hardly breath. I felt so safe in his arms.
Present
Now I make appointments to be scared. A lady is going to stick a needle in the front of my jaw, then pull real hard till she has what she wants. A wiggly tooth, it’s hurts to bite anything, but I still don’t want her to have it.
Last night was my first board meeting at the local “Christmas in April” organization. It was cool, but it interferes with our monthly Charles County Writers Association Meeting. I feel honored to sit on the board, but I have so much to learn about writing.
Plans
Over the next week I’ll pray about the conflict and talk to a few friends. I have a feeling what they will say. The board is a prideful ego stature building process, while the writing is a pure love.
The Houseboat Poet 