The Steps You Take All By Yourself

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. ~Samuel Ullman

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Today I'm feeling old.  I've got the blues. I'm running low on enthusiasm, but just for today...

I hope. 

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THE ATARIS

"In This Diary"

Here in this diary,

I write you visions of my summer.

It was the best I ever had.

There were choruses and sing-alongs,

and that unspoken feeling

of knowing that right now is all that matters.

All the nights we stayed up talking

listening to 80's songs;

and quoting lines from all those movies that we love.

It still brings a smile to my face.

I guess when it comes down to it...

Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up:

These are the best days of our lives.

The only thing that matters

is just following your heart

and eventually you'll finally get it right.

Breaking into hotel swimming pools,

and wreaking havoc on our world.

Hanging out at truck stops just to pass the time.

The black top's singing me to sleep.

Lighting fireworks in parking lots,

illuminate the blackest nights.

Cherry cokes under this moonlit summer sky.

2015 Riverside, it's time to say, "goodbye."

Get on the bus, it's time to go.

*     *     *

But summer is long gone and yet also still so far away. I think I'll take a winter's walk... (Thanks, Lisa Leonard, for the inspiration.)

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THE WEEPIES

"Can't Go Back Now"

Yesterday, when you were young,

Everything you needed done was done for you.

Now you do it on your own

But you find you're all alone,

What can you do?

You and me walk on

Cause you can't go back now.

You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step,

The night will have no stars and you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get

But you and me walk on

Cause you can't go back now

And yeah, yeah, go where you want to go

Be what you want to be,

If you ever turn around, you'll see me.

I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else

But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself

And you and me walk on

Yeah you and me walk on

Cause you can't go back now

Walk on, walk on, walk on

You can't go back now

*     *     *

Our seasons have no fixed returns,

Without our will they come and go;

At noon our sudden summer burns,

Ere sunset all is snow.

~James Russell Lowell