MY INVISIBLE DOG

Yesterday I was up around 5, having got back home from Ottawa at 2 am, which in Eastern time is 5 am.

I had slept 3 hours, although I had gone to bed at 5am Eastern time and woke up at 5 am Pacific time.

I needed to get to work early as I had been away and n Montreal and Ottawa for 7 days, which in work hours is forever.

Later that evening, I checked my steps, only to note that I had only walked less than 900 steps for the day, after averaging over 10,000 steps a day on vacation.

My wife suggested I walk in the morning before work. I responded that when we are looking after my brother in law’s dog ( The Rental), or my daughter’s new dog, Marty, I am forced(required) to get in my steps, the benefit of walking a dog.

I announced that I will have to start walking my invisible dog.

Today is a beautiful sunny day, and the air is full of the aroma of sticky pollens; it is the bee’s knees. Buzz me buzz me baby.

Yesterday evening I went out around 8, and added 2800 steps, but the final tally of 3275 steps is still far below my vacation averages.

Why is this counting of steps important? An active body helps to maintain an active brain. I wrote a poem while walking last night. I was walking and listening to Charles Mingus - Let My Children Hear Music. I had read about it on a substack post.

THE TRUTH IS COMING

Can we handle it?

Don’t be afraid

The clown’s afraid too

I fear the truth is coming

Can we handle it?

They say invest in red noses

Hold a buttercup beneath your chin

Pick a number

Do you feel lucky?

The truth is coming

Can we handle it?

Will we rise to the occasion

Or fail to hold fast

In the face of fashion?

Are you brave enough

Did you save enough

Is hope on the menu?

Are you hungry

For tomorrow?

The truth is coming.

Here is my visible neighborhood cat.

From the notes on substack, I was referred last night to the following writers:

“Cultural critic Ted Gioia of The Honest Broker had some stark advice for college students: leave. “If you haven’t graduated yet, there’s still time to drop out of college. Don’t laugh—the most successful people from many colleges are the dropouts. Maybe you should leave campus before they hand you that diploma.”

But if you’ve already crossed the commencement stage, all is not lost. “You will have other chances to rebel in the days to come. And rebellion really is your best long-term strategy. So don’t work for the system—work outside the system. Don’t follow the rules—create better rules.”

Kareem Rahma, the creator of Subway Takes and Another New Thing with Kareem Rahma , echoes the DIY ethos. “Shoot first, aim later. Especially if you’re trying to break into entertainment. If you’re not out there generating your own ideas and executing them, you’ll be stuck waiting forever for someone to hand you an opportunity that may never come. You’ve gotta make your own. Do not wait! Write the script. Make the movie. Start the podcast. Whatever it is—just start.”

So this morning on my pre-work walk with my invisible dog, I started by listening to Mingus again. I rewound the track HOBO HO, and walked. I listened to Mingus recite:

THE CHILL OF DEATH - a recitation by Mingus.

“The chill of death, as she clutched my hand

I knew she was coming, so I stood like a man

She drew up closer, close enough for me to look into her face and I began to wonder: "Hadn’t I seen her some other place?"

She beckoned me to come closer, as if to pay an old debt

I knew what she wanted; it wasn’t quite time yet

She threw her arms about me, as many women had done before

I heard her whisper, "you’ll never cheat me, never anymore."

Darkness and nothingness clouded my mind

I began to realize death was nothing to fear, but something sweet and kind

I pinched to see if I was dreaming but failed to find bodily form. I then began to realize death had worked her charm

Taking myself of nothingness I chose a road to walk

I noticed death’s pleasantness with no one to stop me to talk

I remembered stories of heaven as I envisioned the glory ahead

Two roads lay waiting for me to choose them now that I was dead

One road was dark; I could not see clearly such its long stretched highway

The other road was golden and glowing, and shined as bright as day

And I did remember stories of pearly gates, golden streets or how—however those stories were told

I knew I’d reach heaven on this highway. If not, I’d have the gold

I took one footstep feeling safe and acting bold

Suddenly, I realized my mistake. My chosen road turned black, bitterly, and white cold

No longer was it golden glory, nor heaven that it's in

White hot flames were blazing; I saw the devil with his grin

I had taken but one footstep so I turned to hurry back

But there a sound more waited, not a door, nor a crack

Finally coming to my senses, I walked on to my hell

For long before death had called me, my end was planned

Planned but well…”

What shall I call my end invisible dog?

Lump came to mind, as Lump had been gone now for almost 2 years. Ah Lump, I thought as I walked into the low hanging tree branches, the place where the danger of writing and walking at the same time. Perhaps I should switch to chewing gum?

The end result of walking my invisible dog was I walked 1711 steps to start my day.

No injuries were sustained. This new post was completed. Now I have to get to work.

Don’t forget Canada Day is coming. July 1 at Lanalous is the site of LES GOODMAN SAVES CANADA (AGAIN).