"What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" (Matthew XVI)

Today when I opened the newspaper to the editorial page, I found that the Sun-Sentinel published my November 20th blog, "Liberality". It took so long for them to decide to publish it, that yesterday I sent it to the Palm Beach Post. My timing is not so good. The S-S put a nice headline in bold letters over my article, "Liberalism is Good for the Soul". Now I don't know about that. I mean do we actually have a soul? When we die does it actually (if we're good) leave the body and rise up to Heaven? And I wonder where Heaven can possibly be since the Earth is round, the moon is round, all the planets are round, and the sun is really very hot and round. Astronomers now claim that the Universe began with a "big bang" and is still expanding. So where can Heaven be located? I know that when I die, I want to be buried with "OnStar" which will give me directions...assuming that I'm eligible for Heaven. And which moral code will I be using in my life? There is hardly any item of our Western moral code which is not held somewhere to be immoral; not only polygamy but suicide, murder of one's own countrymen, even of one's parents, finds in one people or another a lofty moral approval.

The wives of Fijian chiefs consider it a sacred duty to suffer strangulation on the death of their husbands. I know Rhoda will tender objections to this practice. One anthropologist finds that the Makololo women, on the shores of the Zambezi, were quite shocked to hear that in England a man had only one wife; to have only one was not 'respectable.' So too, in Equatorial Africa, if a man marries, and his wife thinks he can afford another spouse, she pesters him to marry again; and calls him a 'stingy' fellow if he declines to do so. Well, I suppose that it doesn't hurt to have more than one woman in the household to do the domestic chores. Such facts, of course, conflict with the Western belief that there is an inborn sense which tells each man what is right and what is wrong. But if I adopted polygamy, I'm sure Rhoda would leave and I'm stuck with one wife, anyway.

Harking back to the soul and Heaven, there are those who believe the soul never leaves the body. That, indeed, is loyalty--an important item in the Western moral code--but a little hard to swallow be there a Heaven.

To fair winds and calm seas.....

I'm getting rather concerned about the blog readers out there. You all must be either ill or very busy. It's been a while since I've gotten any comments, and I hope it's not because recent blogs have been somewhat dull. Usually comments come pouring in whether or not they make any sense or have reference to the particular blog. Anyway, for your information, Red Baron has never rejected a comment and they are immortalized in the book that gets published when there are enough pages to make a book. The next one will be "Pater Noster in Condoland, Vol. IV". It may take a while because there's about 150 more pages to go. Right now, I'm working on a dedication. I have some ideas about the dedication, but no decision is forthcoming. I've dedicated a book to my parents, to my kids, and to my wife. I'd dedicate a book to the grandchildren, but they're not old enough. Besides, I don't believe they've read any of my books. Perhaps they'll develop some interest in my "Memoirs" when they are 50 something. Right now I do understand their lack of motivation. If I'm wrong, I'll be amazed.

In six more days, we'll be going on a 10 day cruise, and both RH+ and I are really in need of a vacation. Just think--10 days without a phone call. Here, the phone doesn't stop ringing all day long. Another perk is that we don't have to make any decisions about what to do about dinner, and Rho will not have to cook or make the bed or do a laundry or wash the dishes or get the mail or use up gas on the car. By the time we leave she will have sent out all the Hanukkah and Christmas cards and delivered gifts to all the doctors' offices. Rho is efficiency personified. We usually bring the receptionists tins of cookies that we pick up in Costco or Wal-Mart. We'll be coming home on the 27th of December just in time to welcome the New Year. So far, our plans are to spend New Year's Eve at the Isle Casino with Mike and Helen Herbstman. Going out to dinner and a movie is no longer in our repertoire.

While we are away, I'm going to have to reacquaint myself with the "torn shirt" school of acting notably portrayed by Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in the role of Stanley Kowalski. Back many years ago when I taught Shakespeare to my classes, I used to do Hamlet's soliloquies by ripping my shirt into shreds. This tactic instantly turned the class into awestruck, jaw dropping attention; that is, after the laughter abated. The "torn shirt" school and method acting supposedly originated with the Russian Konstantin Stanislovsky. In Stanislavski's 'system' the actor analyzes deeply the motivations and emotions of the character in order to personify him or her with psychological realism and emotional authenticity. Using the Method, an actor recalls emotions or reactions from his or her own life and uses them to identify with the character being portrayed. And so when my next class begins on January 9th, I will be prepared to recite some of "Hamlet" using "The Method" and becoming Brando and Richard Burton, and Laurence Olivier, and Richard Chamberlain-- all at the same time!

"So good a lady that no tongue could ever pronounce dishonour of her." (Henry VIII)

I received an e-mail from California daughter, Bonny, that is the kind of email I prefer getting instead of jokes or boring articles I have no interest in. (See blog Thurs. Dec. 4). Since what she writes qualifies as a blog, I am making her a guest blogger and publishing her email as an example of what family and friendly emails should be like--that is, full of news.

Hello Dad! Just wanted to see how you are. I've read your blogs and you sound as if you are doing just fine. Don and I just got home from dinner from "Coco's", not bad but not good. I had a lobster sandwich. Please share this with Rh+, I'm not so savvy at this internet stuff, because I still find that after work and playing with my dogs, and shopping, cooking, gardening, and working on my art, and trying to keep a house in order among all the other stuff, taking care of "my guy", and my son, and the in-laws, and mom, I don't really like to be on computer. Only to be in touch with family. You.!! Sean came over last night, Dec.8th, a day after his 26thbirthday. Can you believe it? I invited mom over, Sean only had an hour in between his classes, and I managed to cook (within a half hour of getting home from work), filet mignon with Bearnaise sauce, carrots and red potatoes, and managed a chocolate bomb some kind of fancy dessert I just had to microwave, a little wine, and I pulled it off. Sean was full, Don did the dishes ( I love that guy), and I think Sean seemed fat and happy and left to finish his studies. ( I love that kid). Don will be in Santiago, Chile for a gig...Did I tell you that I love you? I will talk to you both before you leave for your trip. Hugs to Rh and kisses to you. ....Bonny

I had to renew my driver's license today, and it's quite a puzzle you have to endure. First of all you stand in a line that's painted on the floor. I don't know what happens if you put your foot over the line. Then a woman in one of the stations calls you up. She asks for your name and address, your telephone number and your date of birth. Then she instructs you to walk through a blue door--really--it's all blue. Before you go in your imagination runs rampant about what's on the other side, but you walk in and you see a bunch of chairs, and apparently you're supposed to sit there until you get a call for a number the first agent gives you. Mine was "B31313". After about 10 minutes your number is called and you are instructed to march to station six--there are ten stations. The agent then collects your driver's license and picture ID and instructs you to take the eye test. She said, "Read line 5" . I looked into the machine and all the lines were a blur. I went into temporary shock, figuring I wouldn't pass, and suddenly disembodied voice said, "Put your glasses on." I thought that was very wise, and so I did, and those letters on line five were a clear eyeful. I walked back to stations six, and the agent asked me a whole bunch of questions like was my license ever suspended, did I ever get caught DUI, do I take insulin for diabetes, etc. Finally she said to give her $21 which I thought was fair enough. Then she took my picture, and I tried to smile--but it was difficult. Then I was asked to sit in another room until my name was called. After about 15 minutes, someone called my name, I walked out of the room, and the agent handed me my new driver's license. The best thing about it is that it doesn't expire until February 2015! It really felt good that the Motor Vehicle Bureau was so optimistic about me. I'll be happy to give up my license in 2015. I'll be 91!

"It is always in season for old men to learn." (Aeschylus)

It's interesting to note now that whatever stores we go into there are a few scooters available for walkless people--though not really enough--scooters, not people. I see people in scooters everywhere--at the theater, in supermarkets, at the malls. I suppose this is getting to be the scooter capital of the world. I have my own little scooter now, decorated with Harley-Davidson stickers, and though I haven't had occasion to use it very often, when I do, several people have suggested that I look like Willie Nelson--my hair is long and I wear a bandanna and sun-glasses. I always respond that I AM Willie Nelson and then sing a few bars of one of his songs. It's fun being Willie Nelson. Perhaps one day, someone will ask if I'm Samson. I suppose that will make Rhoda, Delilah. Gosh, I don't know if I spelled that right.

I know. I know. I should be walking in water. Well, that will happen once we get back from our cruise. I promised RH+ that we'll give it another try since the calendar will be clear come January--except for Fridays when I'll be teaching "Hamlet" in the clubhouse, provided enough students sign up. I want a minimum of 15--although I'd love to have at least 25. I decided I'd give teaching Shakespeare another crack, but hopeful that I have the required energy to do it. Teaching "Hamlet" for an hour and a half is no easy jaunt in the park what with the teacher attempting to recite the soliloquys from memory in Elizabethan dialect--and getting students to read various parts decently. The course will be given every Friday from 3 to 4:30 for six to eight weeks at a cost of $37.50. Books will be given out gratis--either "No Fear Shakespeare" or "Shakespeare Made Easy." Each version has Shakespeare on the left page and modern English on the right page. I'm not sure this is the way to go, but we'll give it a try. Shakespeare is not hard to read--it simply takes careful and thoughtful study of the lines. The rewards that come with understanding are huge.

If you go to Barnes & Noble on the internet, type in "Memoirs of a Tail Gunner" under the category of "Books" you will find the following comment which I just discovered today. I don't know who it is, but bless him/her every day until the Messiah comes.

Anonymous
A reviewer
Reader Rating See Detailed Ratings
Posted February 15, 2008, 11:06 PM EST: Amazing. A must have in every household. Must be read by everyone associated with the military. The Author is a genius.

"The wind that blows, the ship that goes, And a lass that loves a sailor." (Anon)

On Saturday we went to the old Burt Reynolds theatre, now called the Maltz; probably because some zillionaire donated enough money to get his name on the marquee. At any rate we saw the second show of the series we bought and this play called "Sleuth" was as much of a stinker as "Noises Off". The program listed five actors but we only saw two during the entire performance which couldn't be more boring if the author tried to make it so. It was supposed to be a mystery, but there was nothing mysterious about it. The only good thing was a spectacular set. The prop master had to secure 500 props for the performance. I called the theater today and asked why there were only two actors and not the five that were listed in the program. The answer was "That was part of the mystery--there were only supposed to be two actors." So much for stupidity. It's running rampant at that theater. We have two more shows on our subscription: "Beehive" (?) and "Evita". I'm looking forward to "Evita". At least that was written by a sane person.

Today I went to the V.A. dental clinic to get what's left of my teeth, cleaned. The hygienist brought in a copy of my book to sign. She said that she and her husband read and enjoyed it. And so I was happy to sign it. When I got to the VA parking lot and finally found a space, I realized that I forgot to take my cane, and I had a difficult and painful walk from there to the entrance and the elevator. The cane really helps to take the weight from my left leg--which is a big problem walking without the cane Bobby, my son, thoughtfully bought for me when we were visiting in Virginia. We'll be leaving on a cruise a week from Wednesday, (Dec.17) and we'll be spending ten days sailing in the Caribbean. A cruise ship is really like a luxurious floating hotel. The problem with cruising is that you must eat what is served because it looks so good and there's a whole lot of it--it seems all day, what with breakfast, lunch, poolside snacks, dinner and late snacks. Also, the casino loves to suck up the money you haven't already used to pay for the cabin. We also bought three "excursions" for when the ship docks at various islands--way overpriced, I thought. There are also shows on the ship most every night and they are much better than the turkeys we saw in Jupiter. I think those shows really came from Jupiter. We'll be at sea for Chanukah and Christmas so it should really be a festive experience. Of course I won't be able to write any blogs until we get back on the 27th of December. Read a magazine.