TomSinTn's Journal

 I sit here this a.m. with the 2'nd cup of raw caffine in hand as the glow of the computer screen cuts through the early morning blackness, the same blackness thats swells in my mind as I try to focus on what words to use that will convey the true meaning of a message about perspectives to any reader who might stumble across these bytes of cyber text.              (sounds cool so far...what do you think)

Suddenly my wifes deaf cat leaps from the warmth found on top of the computer monitor as my cell phone begins it's attention seeking dance around the desk top..........it's a text message from my son. What the hell? I never get text messages; has someone attacked the World Trade Center? No, but the letters spelling SCHOOL LOCKDOWN scroll across the tiny screen now appearing as big as a truck stop bill board.

Focus. No need to panic, right
Maintain perspective. But I still feel like a mouse trapped in a milk bottle.

I know they screamed focus inches away from our ears while our fingers were on the trigger and taught us just how crucial it was to maintain perspective when we were boys, but how do I do that right now? Was there a chapter left out of my training manual?

In retrospect................the bastards never taught that.

And just when I think I have everything in perspective and things couldn't get worse..............that incessant chime on the computer alerts me to the fact you've got mail !

 Yippee ! ! It's my daughter and the baby in Charleston !

Just what I need for perspective !

I click Outlook Express and the message unfolds full screen;
Don't want to cause panic but Hanna is rapidly approaching and just wanted to send a big howdy in case we have to go to the shelter.
Hope you have a fun weekeknd; Luv Sis 

Oh, dont' worry sweetheart, you're not causing panic;

but what about .................. HYSTERIA as thougts of Hugo and Katrina suddenly take control of what precious little gray matter I still have usable.
Fun weekend ? You and my grand-baby will be dining on beanie weenies in a shelter somewhere and I'll be spending it in intensive care at this rate!

Back at the ranch; I'm sitting in my house, fingers on keyboard. At least I know I have this in perspective.........right? But I hear no answer, just Pink Floyd and Brick in the Wall.
My gray matter turns from light dove to a dark charcoal as I begin to think, how many people who hear that song realize it can mean more than just rebellion against school or some political system?  How many folk that hear Pink Floyd today were ever blessed to have yearbook pictures taken standing beside guys whose names are actually engraved on some big gray wall, a 1/4 mi long wall,  in D.C. somewhere?

 

Perspective, ah yes perspective.

But not at all unlike the chief in charge of Mission Control Houston as Apollo 13 tumbled out of control through the depths of outer space while it spewed it's precious o2, I'll continue to sit here with fingers on keyboard focusing outside myself on what works properly so I can work on whats not. Not an easy task in todays hostile environment.

It's nearly time for lunch. My caffine cup's dryer than a powder horn. I've come full circle with todays study of perspective, but I'm still just as empty as my cup. I am still left with yet unanswered questions.

Is it my perspective or the worlds perspective of me?

Who said life is 20% tactile and 80% perspective? In this day and hour is it even posible to gain perspective?

Tom Terrific in Tn.