Herkamer and Gertrude and the Double Bind Part 2

Herkamer's boss put him in a difficult situation when he would say, “Make more sales, but don't make more sales.” Of course it's the old double bind, and most people are unaware when they order them, but when Herkamer's boss said it this time, Herkamer decided to go see wise old Brother Hadley. Herkamer had just pulled into Brother Hadley's old farmhouse drive, saw Brother Hadley sitting on the front porch whittling and rising to greet him. Herkamer was just about to say hello when he saw Brother Hadley stand and say...

“Well now boy, it's about time you came around here again” as he chuckled and laughed. Brother Hadley walked over to Herkamer, grabbed him hard around the back, and gave Herkamer a squeezing hug that made Herkamer nearly lose his breath. “Son, how are ya?” Brother Hadley asked loudly even though he already noticed the trouble on Herkamer's face. “Not so good, Brother Hadley,” Herkamer replied and continued. “I have this trouble with my boss.” “Tell me about it, son” Brother Hadley said as he walked with Herkamer and pointed for him to sit down on the front porch.

Herkamer sat in one of the rockers and continued, “My boss tells me to do things and then not do the very same things. It's frustrating because it seems that I can never know which way I should go or what I should do or not do.” Brother Hadley listened, shook his head, and stroked his chin with his long brown spotted fingers and thumb. Herkamer continued, “I'm just exasperated, and thought maybe you could help me.”

Brother Hadley stopped rocking his chair, looked deep into Herkamer's eyes and said, “I believe if you wouldn't blow your balloon so tight, it wouldn't make such a racket when it busts.” Brother Hadley now had Herkamer's complete attention. He listened closely as Brother Hadley continued...

Stay tuned for the conclusion of the story tomorrow. Same Blog Spot. Same Blog Time. Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Herkamer and Gertrude and the Double Bind

Herkamer was having trouble at work. It seems that his boss could never quite make up his mind as to exactly what he wanted to do, and he would take it out on Herkamer. For example, his boss would say, “Herkamer, I want you to make more sales, but don't make more sales.” Or, he would say, “Let's start a new promotion, but I don't want anything new going on around here. Stay the course.” Of course, poor old Herkamer never quite knew what to do, so he would often be in trouble with the boss.

Finally, one day Herkamer's boss said as he was staring down at some papers on his desk, “Herkamer, I want you to go over there, but make sure you stay here because I might need you,” and Herkamer replied angrily, “What in the heck is that supposed to mean?” Herkamer's boss looked up angrily and responded, “You do as I say or you're fired, but don't you even begin to think that you will lose your job over this!” Herkamer bowed and shook his head as he watched his boss look down at the papers on his desk once again as if Herkamer wasn't even in the room.

Finally, Herkamer decided to visit his old friend Brother Hadley. Brother Hadley always seemed to have the right words for him, and Herkamer's wife Gertrude would often insist that Herkamer visit Brother Hadley when he was in trouble. Bother Hadley was an old country farmer who wore bib overalls that covered his large upper torso. He was deep country in looks, but also had a crooked nose that was from his part Indian heritage. Although he didn't look like much from a world view, the wisdom he possessed and the obscure doctorate that he held in philosophy were well disguised. Brother Hadley always knew what to say when times were rough.

Herkamer left work, and traveled down the old country road to the farm where Brother Hadley lived. As he approached the small, county dwelling where Brother Hadley lived, Herkamer saw him sitting on a rocking chair whittling on the porch. Herkamer stopped his car, open the door, and Brother Hadley stopped his whittling and stood to greet him.

Herkamer was just about to greet him when...

Stay tuned for the conclusion of the story tomorrow. Same Blog Spot. Same Blog Time. Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Until Lightning Strikes

Flashes across the sky illuminating settings that momentarily are unseen; Jagged bolts of electricity piercing the darkness with power to generate cities with magnificent displays of energy that when harnessed changes lives and moves people to places never before imagined; Lightning. One of nature's most powerful traits that demonstrates a person's small ability when compared, and until lightning strikes, many believe themselves to be something they are not and will boast in the same.

Life has its way of sending “lightning” into a person's existence. One moment everything seems normal, the job,the home, the spouse, the children, and all is happy until, that sudden news comes, that devastating report is read, that announcement is spoken, and everything changes. Accident, cancer, heart attack, lost, gone, missing, stolen, cheated, fired, laid off, divorce, and on and on the list is compiled of words that suddenly alter a person's path. Unrest is gained, worry is employed, and wrestling for a new position becomes the norm.

What is left when the lightning strikes in a person's life is that which is in their core. When everything relied upon is taken away in a flash, only that part which cannot be taken will be left, and a person discovers who they really are. Lose the material, lose the relationships, lose the matters in which one takes pride, lose every resource in a lightning bolt of time, and realize the character that remains is that which both the individual and the world needed to concentrate on all the time.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Restlessness

He can't sleep, and she tosses and turns. The bills, the job, the marriage, the children, the parents: They just cannot stop thinking about them. He tries counting sheep, and she reads until her eyes are blurry. No matter what method, no matter how hard they try, they just cannot get any rest. Their restlessness has taken over their lives, and now unless they take a sleeping pill or two, they can hardly function. How shall this be remedied, and where is the answer to the unrest within?

What if there was one source that knew there would be those restless times in life? Suppose that somewhere, someone knew there were going to be times where bills, marriages, children, etc. would be on the forefronts of people's minds, and if the troubled person would just go to this source, all the rest he or she needed would be received immediately? Imagine a person who not only would provide the much needed rest, but also would promise to give to everyone he loved sleep. What if all the heavy things in life could be laid down before him and never needed to be picked up again? One wonders, if such a source were found, would people actually go to him or would they choose to suffer instead?

Some may never know, and so their existence shall be sleeping pills at night, coffee or energy drinks in the morning. Over and over and over again the drudgery lives on, and the restlessness continues even though there is one who gives a promise to all those who labor and are so heavy laden. The wise person will seek for him, and finally find the rest within they really need.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Herkamer and Gertrude and The Boat

Herkamer sat watching a baseball game on television when a commercial appeared that said, “Why are you sitting on the couch when you could be out with your family on an exciting boat?” Herkamer couldn't answer that question, but the idea was now planted, and Herkamer took the bait, hook, line and sinker. Gertrude was working on a craft in the other room, so Herkamer got up, yelled out that he was going to the store for a few moments, and left out of the house.

He drove directly to the boat store where there were many beautiful brand new boats with all the accessories: Captain chairs, twin outboards, safety equipment, fish finders, etc, and the sign said, “Ready for the Ocean today!” A salesman asked him a few questions, told him a little about the boat, and Herkamer said, “I'll buy it!” That quickly, without any conversation with Gertrude at all, Herkamer signed the papers, took the loan, hooked the boat to his truck and began to drive it home. It was only then that he thought about Gertrude, so he began practicing his defense as he road home. “It'll be a family thing to do; we never get out, so this will get us out; I bought this for you because you love the ocean so much...” Then, he pulled into the driveway.

Gertrude heard the engine of Herkamer's truck and looked out the front window of her house. Her eyes widened, and fear covered her face. “Oh no,” she stated, “Not again.” She opened the door to greet him, and as he got out of the truck as though there was it was no big deal she said, “Herky, what have you done now?” “Um, “ Herkamer started sheepishly proud, “I bought a boat.” “Take it back,” Gertrude said and continued, “How many times do we have to go through this? You and I agreed to have a no questions spend limit when we got married of twenty five dollars. Did this boat cost you twenty five dollars? Did you forget how we agreed that if anything we wanted cost more than twenty five dollars we would discuss it first? Did you forget, Herky?” Herkamer bowed his head and said, “Um, I forgot, but don't you like it?” Gertrude said, “I love it. It's just the principle of the thing. We agreed, Herky. We agreed.”

Herkamer looked at the boat, then looked into Gertrude's eyes. He looked again at the boat, and he looked again into Gertrude's eyes. The eyes won, and Herkamer said, “Gerty, I'm sorry, would you mind going back to return this?” “No,” said Gertrude, “Let me go inside to get my purse.” Herkamer smiled as he realized there was no boat ride in the world worth as much as getting along with his Gerty. She rejoined him, climbed up in his truck to sit beside him, and they drove the boat back to the store.

Stay tuned for more Herkamer and Gertrude stories. Same blog spot. Same blog time. Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Almost

People hear and say the following all the time. “I almost bought this, or I almost went there. I almost told him, and I almost told her. The other day when the boss said...I almost quit, and when she did that, I almost did this.” It's amazing how many times people come close, oh so close, to actually acting, but limit themselves in the last moment because of the “almost” impeding.

One supposes that “almost” is a good thing if the effect would be damage, injury, imprisonment or death such as: “I almost broke this, or I almost fell.” Maybe it would be “I almost joined them, or I almost crashed.” Avoided recklessness certainly has its benefits, and those who almost venture here are definitely preserved. However, most of the “almosts” encase a ting of regret.

That investment, that house, that woman, that man, that adoption, that job, that car, that motorcycle, that opportunity, that move, and the list goes on and on as people make choices that may have been steeped in great reward, but now will never be known. The moment is gone, and the “almost” choice limited the potential for knowing for sure.

One fellow said, “almost thou persuadest me...”, and a person wonders where he is today. One step, one near step, an oh so close step, and now he has a very, very long time to think about when he “almost” made the choice.

The reader may wonder, “is this writer almost done?” Almost.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

Speaking Beyond the Grave

The vintage photographs of those who lived in the 1920's, 30's. 40's and 50's are stationed within glass cabinets in the midst of a high school foyer. Some were in the band, others played on the football team, and still others are in poses of laughter with friends. The mascot reflects memories, coaches faces invoke recall, and teachers march emotions to a heightened state. They speak beyond their graves, and those who listen carefully, hear them.

Most of these who were captivated by life, without regard to demise, and oblivious to an end, now sound the words, “it is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” Their words are ominous, and their direction is flawless. Their vantage point is with perfect knowledge, and those who look upon them live in continual cognitive content. Their standpoint must be observed as one's own destiny with their position is imperative.

Who shall hear them today? What will they say? Bend the ear closely to the glass cases which hold them. Still all the noises that surround, and carefully listen to their pleas. “Beyond. Beyond. There is a beyond, and that done now will determine your destiny. Beyond. Beyond. There is a beyond.”

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?