Tag: life

Don’t throw away all the memories*

Ian Hunter1 Comment

his wife was complaining about all his stuff in the attic

he reluctantly decided to go through all the old boxes

stuff that had been put away for years

obviously not needed but for some reason never been discarded 

he sifted through the contents of the first small box

a tin box full of foreign coins

memories of his traveling days flooded back

places he had visited on business trips and vacations

images flashed through his mind for each coin he touched

an old watch that no longer worked

it was of no value except it belonged to his father

he wound it up and it started to tick

he could hear his father’s voice again

he missed him so much

a notebook from many years ago

containing wish lists of things to do and places to see

they had written it when first married

he read off each item slowly

pausing to recall the joys of each achieved wish

trying to remember why some never happened

bunches of keys from previous dwellings

he held a front door key tightly

remembering opening that door many years ago

seeing his young children run to greet him

they are grown now with kids of their own

a big old bulky calculator he used in college

reliving the hours he spent solving problems with that

the stressful times of exams

he could remember all those long hours of study

he did find some bits and broken pieces

and a collection of old pens and pencils

he carefully put them in a paper bag

before closing the box

he had removed less than ten percent of the contents

over dinner that night his wife cornered him asking if he had cleaned out everything in the attic as promised

he hesitated before saying he had cleared some of it from one small box

she pushed him harder wanting to know why he was keeping all that junk

he insisted that it might be a small box of stuff but it contained a lifetime of great memories

she could see he was getting upset and gave him a big hug

whispering to him softly “I am so sorry, please keep your boxes full of memories”

he replied “thanks, I did clear some space for us to make a few more memories”

Einstein would be proud of you*

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I have always been a fan of mathematics

Equations for everything

How fast is Infinity

Calculate the square root of tomorrow

How many days until I get happy

What is the solution to the beautiful equation

Mathematics is the key to the universe

Some say beauty is defined

By divine proportions

A mathematical equation

Guaranteed to dispense dopamine

Be it in nature or of human form

A fine painting or a classic car

We all yearn for viewing things so beautiful

When things are not going great for you

Just close your eyes

Go on a virtual voyage

To your favorite place

With beautiful scenery

And cool companions

Enjoy their company

Stay there until you feel happy

Then dare yourself to come back

Open your eyes

Applaud yourself

Award yourself a grade A++++

You have just solved

The beautiful equation

Einstein would be proud of you

celebrating being in the race with a cup of tea

Ian Hunter1 Comment

I am awake early with an intense headache

incredible painful head splitting pressure

is this all a dream I wonder

I pinch myself to confirm being awake

the headache is still there

desperately seeking an answer to this sudden onslaught

It could not be a hangover

no recollection of any recent head trauma

I felt for bumps on my head but nothing unusual

maybe a change of environment might help

sitting on the edge of the bed- no change

standing up-no change

opening and closing my eyes- no change

moving from light to darkness- no change

I go for a pee- no change

the pain is still intense

I am starting to get anxious

this must be a serious medical condition

am I having a stroke

I look in the mirror and smile- no face droop

closing my eyes and raising both arms horizontal- no issues

talking to myself in the mirror- no gibberish

the pain is still intense

I reach for the pain releiving medication

I down a couple and hold my breath

hoping for instant reduction in the pain

nothing changed

desperately seeking answers

am I being punished for all my sins

is it a sign of impending death

are all my affairs in order

should I get dressed and look presentable

should I say goodbye to all my family and friends

will I live long enough to speak to them all

perhaps a group text would be more efficient

what should I say to them all

will it make them sad

how stupid I will look if I don’t die seconds after sending that message

suddenly the pressure is dropping very slightly

perhaps the medication is working

or maybe death is approaching fast

I lay down and decide to take deep slow breaths

accepting my fate with dignity

with each breath the pain subsides a little more

a few minutes later it is gone completely

relief washing away most of my anxiety

no longer seeking a reason or a cure

waves of gratitude flowing over me

I have been spared death, at least for the next few moments

what shall I do today to reward myself

will I still feel this gratitude for the rest of my life

or will it all fade away like the memory of a dream

best write it all down immediately

read it daily to remind myself how precious life is

time to celebrate with a cup of tea

I am still in the race

the human race that is, at least for the moment

Self meditate is better than self medicate

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I remember a time way back in my 30’s

Working long hours to support my family

Young kids and all the demands of home ownership

There was never enough time in the week to relax

Occasionally meeting with a friend for a drink and a chat

He listened to me babbling on about my busy life

Then he said something which shocked me to the core

You have become too boring

Your work has taken over your life completely

You try and devote the remaining time to your family

But you have hardly any down time for yourself

What do you suggest?  I asked

Take a day off and we will go fishing

I remembered fishing as a kid 

I had doubts that it was a good way for adults to pass the time

He insisted so we took a day off to go fishing

We did not catch much but it was a fun day out

Fresh air and nature all well away from the office

I went back to work refreshed the next day

Deciding to try another fishing adventure

Soon it became a weekly ritual

A necessary therapy for my busy lifestyle

Now I had a new rhythm in my life

Work/Family/Fishing

I enjoyed each one more than the old Work/Family

Strangely my performance increased too

I made better decisions at work and had more family fun times

Fishing was initially nothing more than meditation time

Then I became obsessed with being a better fisherman

Learning all about the science and technical skills of fishing

Catching a lot more fish as I applied this knowledge

As my fishing skill improved, my work and family life was more rewarding

It took me a while to figure out what was really going on in my life

Family and work was a constant stream of issues to resolve

By taking time away from them I was able to meditate

My subconscious was figuring out all the solutions while I fished

So next time you feel very stressed and looking for a better work-life balance

Hesitate before accepting the medication your doctor might offer

Put down that self medicating second drink

Don’t rush off to see an expense therapist

Buy a cheap fishing rod and self meditate 

Bus stop romance (2)

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Bus stop shady

 Sexy lady

Adult conversation

Gentle persuasion 

London life

Future wife?

Marry me baby?

She says maybe

He says its got to be us

She gets on the bus

she waves call me

He nods maybe

Jilted man walks home alone

Empty bus stop advertises mobile phone

Dentist speak

Ian Hunter1 Comment

I went to the dentist yesterday

Not to fix a dental problem

Routine planned maintenance with the hygienist 

Stacey is a very pleasant young lady

We started by chatting about our respective families

As she positioned me horizontal in the chair

I lost all sight of her pretty face

When she switched on her miner’s cyclopes bright light

I closed my eyes and surrendered 

My mouth was soon filled with suction tubes, mirrors on sticks and a super strong power washer 

The equipment made a lot of noise

Far too much to hold a conversation

But we had one anyway, throughout the whole procedure:

Stacey: did you have family visiting over the summer?

Me:  ug ger ga ga ker grah

Stacey: where did you take them?

Me: ugh gee ent to gag goo ged gra gee gan gace

Stacey: their pita bread is delicious, we love the mezza there

Me: gee guv kit coo

Stacey: how old is your grandson?

Me: gee gill ge gelve goon

Stacey: oh twelve is that funny age where they start to change into a teenager

Me: ges gee gi ga git goody

Stacey: where did you go on vacation this year?

Me: ge gen koo ahh gan gan goo geng gan

Stacey: did you see the northern lights in Iceland?

Me: go gi gas goo gla gee gut ge gaw got gata gawl

Stacey: oh those beautiful waterfalls, I saw your the photos on FaceBook

Me: ugh goan goo ga guc, ga gaw guh gy ge gife

Stacey: oh yes she is your social media queen, I am almost finished now, just one last rinse

I felt ice cold water gushing into my mouth like a fire house

My teeth don’t like extreme temperatures

The pain was instant

I closed my eyes tighter

Praying it would end soon

Stacey:  how are you doing?

Me: ga gow gawgu gake gy gee gaw

Stacey:  thats normal but it will all be done soon

The fire hose was turned off

The suction tube drained my mouth and half my internal organs

My teeth stopped screaming at me

She finished off with a rotating brush and gritty toothpaste

Then it was all over

A final mouthwash rinse and I was able to talk human again

Stacey: see you in six months, have a great winter

Me: you too, it was good to catch up

Soon I was back outside and walking towards my car

Making resolutions to floss daily 

So that Stacey has less need to power wash my molars

I decided to weigh myself when I got home

I must surely have lost pounds in plaque

Abi and friends make rain memories

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The day began with a heavy gray sky promising rain that would nourish the earth

The first droplets tapped gently on the window playing a soft symphony of nature

Abi pressed her face against the glass as she was eager to feel the cool drops on her skin

She was a curious little girl who loved to play and explore

She ran outside embracing the refreshing shower that kissed her cheeks

The scent of wet earth filled the air in an aromatic signal of awakening life

Puddles in the street formed mirrors reflecting the world above

Abi studied the images before splashing through them

Her laughter mingling with the sound of falling rain as she shattered the wet images

A group of children spotted Abi and quickly joined in

Their joyful shouts echoing through the neighborhood

They raced each other as they splashed in every puddle along the way

Each splash sent water flying in the air like tiny sparkling diamonds

The rain joined in the outdoor revelry and danced around them

A nearby old oak tree stood tall with its leaves rustling softly in the breeze

Abi ran to its sturdy trunk seeking shelter for a moment to catch her breath

She watched as the rain created a curtain of droplets at the edge of the canopy

A ladybug landed on her finger seeking refuge from the storm

Abi smiled as she marveled at its tiny red shell

Heavy rain was drumming against the roof of the old barn nearby 

She and her friends scurried inside to escape form the downpour

They were all laughing and shaking off the water like wet puppies

The barn was a treasure trove of forgotten memories and dusty hay

They built a fort out of bales as they settled in for a rain-soaked adventure

The storm raged on but they felt safe and warm inside

They played games and told stories of magical creatures that danced in the rain

The energy of the storm fed their imaginations and the tales got wilder

Eventually the rain began to lighten into a gentle patter

The sun peeked through the clouds casting a golden glow

They ventured outside once more to be greeted by vibrant rainbows arching across the sky

They splashed through puddles while squealing with delight

Abi twirled under the sky embracing the magic that had unfolded

The rain had brought them together to create a day filled with laughter and joy

The setting sun made everything glisten to heighten their awareness of the moment

They knew the memory of today would stay with them forever

Setting intentions

Ian Hunter1 Comment

its early morning

the sun is just about to rise

everything is quiet

a great time to sit and think

I start with an empty mind

setting my intentions for the day

trying to avoid my mistakes of yesterday

its not easy to keep everybody around you happy

sometimes those you love don’t meet your expectations

sometimes you don’t meet their expectations

disappointment can lead to frustration 

all you can do is try to be better yourself

and hope the ones you love be more forgiving

people often forget that life is just a transient thing

these times together will not last forever

they should be treasured 

I will try harder today

sunrise brings hope

how was your day

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Just before she left for the day

My wife gave me some advice

Try to be more romantic

So after a lot of reflection

I decided my life did indeed need more romance

I put a plan in action

I lovingly washed our bed linen

I caressed each dish from the dishwasher

I took the trash for a long romantic walk

I whispered sweet nothings to my laptop

I read a poem to my breakfast porridge 

I told my cup of tea she was really hot

I bought an expensive gift for my bicycle

I treated myself to delicious chocolates

I wrote the shopping list with red lipstick

I blew kisses into the mirror while shaving

I took an extra long shower

I made my underwear beg to be worn

I drove my sexy car to the store

I held the wheel really tight

I smiled at other drivers in traffic

I paused to look at every item in the store

I filled my shopping cart with love

I gently placed my groceries on the checkout belt

I thanked my car for waiting for me

I listened to  slow music all the way home

I carried the grocery bags over the threshold 

I sensually spread the tuna salad on my bread

I ate lunch very very  slowly

I listened attentively to every word spoken by the radio

My wife burst in and told me her day was a total disaster

She asked my how my day had been

I paused before saying “uneventful”

Therefore I am(maybe?)

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I write

therefore

I am

I think

therefore

I am

I think I write

therefore

I am a thinking writer

I write about lots of things

Therefore

I think a lot

Sometimes

I think too much

Leaving little time for writing

I think I should try writing without thinking

What would people think about my thoughtless writing

No reason to live if I don’t think and write

I will stop thinking when I die

But I might schedule posts on Cheeky Monkey well into the future

So that you can read my posthumous writings

I think that’s a great idea

Therefore I am not