What a wonderful piece! And that opening photograph is just gorgeous. With all the awfulness in the news these days, this is glorious read. Thanks, Spike for being you!
Thanks! And thanks for sending me the uplifting Spike the Chicken book. Meant to message you sooner about that. Hopefully by now you have received my book.
I have no freaking idea how I came across your post. But it was delightful :-)
The smiles on Bob and you bring me joy! Maybe it's the age thing (58 here) but I'm really enjoying your musings. You are a delight :-)
Thanks!
I thought you might enjoy this Aldous Huxley quotation which I just stumbled upon the other day. Apropos to my BS.....
“It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humourless little prig. Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me. When it comes to dying even. Nothing ponderous, or portentous, or emphatic. No rhetoric, no tremolos, no self conscious persona putting on its celebrated imitation of Christ or Little Nell. And of course, no theology, no metaphysics.
Just the fact of dying and the fact of the clear light. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling, on tiptoes and no luggage, not even a sponge bag, completely unencumbered.”
Dr. Tenzer! (Autocorrect wants to make you Dr. Tender.) I have no idea how you found me either, but thank you for stumbling upon my substack. When I attended USF (class of ‘86), for some reason the entire class balked when we were assigned Aldous Huxley. What a shame. I could have used this quote forty years ago. But I’ll take it now, too. As it happens, I am sitting over here working on tomorrow’s installment, which involves still more self-reflection on why my mind has a tendency to go into the darkness. Your timing is impeccable. I will be printing this AH quote out and pinning it to the bathroom mirror. I really, really needed it. How delightful of you to share! Thank you so much. Also thank you for subscribing.
What a wonderful piece! And that opening photograph is just gorgeous. With all the awfulness in the news these days, this is glorious read. Thanks, Spike for being you!
Thanks! And thanks for sending me the uplifting Spike the Chicken book. Meant to message you sooner about that. Hopefully by now you have received my book.
Thank you, Spike I enjoyed this... I still think about Bob occasionally. Glad you have the comfort of such good memories. xo
Hiya Spike!
I have no freaking idea how I came across your post. But it was delightful :-)
The smiles on Bob and you bring me joy! Maybe it's the age thing (58 here) but I'm really enjoying your musings. You are a delight :-)
Thanks!
I thought you might enjoy this Aldous Huxley quotation which I just stumbled upon the other day. Apropos to my BS.....
“It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humourless little prig. Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me. When it comes to dying even. Nothing ponderous, or portentous, or emphatic. No rhetoric, no tremolos, no self conscious persona putting on its celebrated imitation of Christ or Little Nell. And of course, no theology, no metaphysics.
Just the fact of dying and the fact of the clear light. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling, on tiptoes and no luggage, not even a sponge bag, completely unencumbered.”
– Aldous Huxley
Dr. Tenzer! (Autocorrect wants to make you Dr. Tender.) I have no idea how you found me either, but thank you for stumbling upon my substack. When I attended USF (class of ‘86), for some reason the entire class balked when we were assigned Aldous Huxley. What a shame. I could have used this quote forty years ago. But I’ll take it now, too. As it happens, I am sitting over here working on tomorrow’s installment, which involves still more self-reflection on why my mind has a tendency to go into the darkness. Your timing is impeccable. I will be printing this AH quote out and pinning it to the bathroom mirror. I really, really needed it. How delightful of you to share! Thank you so much. Also thank you for subscribing.
Beautiful.
Thank you
I want a Bob
I enjoyed this so much! I’m smiling big at the memory of Bob’s time at the ranch. It was magical. 💜
I’m so happy you were part of it. ❤️