When this stay at home period began

There seemed to be an element of surprise lurking

Fear became exponential as the unknown stalked

Change of routine was mandatory

New safety precautions instituted

Yet pockets of blessings resided in the corners

Of our new sequestered lives

Time seemed to be the new creation

One in which we could learn languages, games,

Renovate our house, explore, ‘Zoom’ etc.

Develop culinary skills,

Even reinvent our bodies

Exercise equipment to augment our muscles

Was a prerequisite

Forget raking leaves as a muscle builder

Sitting high on a recumbent bike

Or striding confidently on a treadmill

Would produce a well tuned ‘fighting machine’

And the smart apps that would lead us were limitless

Tried a number of them

Found one that was almost

A guarantee to turn the biological clock around

Religiously chased this dream three times a week,

Five times a week then seven

When on the dash of my bike the app flashed

‘You can achieve more health benefits if you ramp up you exercise to 300 minutes a week’

300 minutes a week?

The current pace tempted an early eternal entrance

Maybe this was a ‘transition’ app

Not to be opened before Christmas

Should probably leave well enough alone

And fix dinner

FXC frankxcameron.com Copyright 11/30/20

Hear tell mostly from girls even women

Of the joys, fun, pure delight

Playing with dolls growing up

Sexist though it may be, I understand

Not exactly sure why one would play with inanimate objects

But I suppose boys dressing up as cowboys seems the same

Thought ‘Barbie’ had retired

Seemed my offspring dabbled but then abandoned

Dolls particularly ‘Barbie’

But then she was resurrected by the pandemic

So much time to use

Even iPads and game consoles did not

Satisfy the urge for pseudo interaction

And with two day or even next day delivery guarantees

Facebook, Etsy, Amazon, eBay, etc., etc., could deliver

Copious amounts of dolls, clothes, houses, furniture

Filling up rooms, whole rooms

Yet, this is America lest we forget

The America with horses

‘Barbie’ needed a horse

The horse needed a barn

‘Barbie’s World was now festooned with gates, farm animals

And ‘Barbie’s Barn’

FXC frankxcameron.com Copyright 11/29/20

Wax and wane

Such an apt description of life

But never more so

Than in one’s latter years

Wait a minute?

Later years has a definite number

But that begs the first introspective question

Seemingly there is no rhyme or reason

To longevity

Known those who smoked until 81 before leaving

Others’ lives shortened in vehicle accidents

You read the same headlines

So how does one sense they are in their later years

A few indicators

You are now the eldest in a large extended family

Doctors visits now occur as frequently as a spring rain

Close friends slip away unexpectedly

Difficulty facing the mirror each morning

Even more resistance to accept the image

Grandchildren run circles around you

But now you cheer rather than chase

Alas there comes that quiet reflective moment

That moment your body sets you down

To rest and think

Forever is not really forever

And that’s okay

Love you

Frank X Cameron 11/24/2020 Copyright

frankxcameron.com

Actually 1492 or 1650 would do

Any number of older white men could tell you

That it was important to make a strong America a United States of America

So many had come from so far to procure religious, political, and financial independence

This is America, created by taking it from the Indians

The land worked by those enslaved

A devastating Civil War

And yet just as it has always been

So today these same goals are America‘s capitalism goals

No power on earth or within can’t stop us from achieving our goals

Though we are a nation of immigrants we resent and resist any more immigrants from coming into America

Women got the right to vote in 1919 but will always fight for equal rights

Persons of color no matter how “American” they are have always been discredited

These issues were true during the founding of America and are still bubbling in our political life today

Don’t really have any hope for change

50% on each side of the question

Let’s just pray!!

FXC 11/10/2020 frankxcameron.com Copyright