Life By Timer -An Illustrative & Informative Sharing
By Staff Writer: Paganus Greybeard
We humans have this seeming need to think we are in charge of our
lives. In some small ways - in some small things - we may still be.
But for the main things in life - we have set aside our control to
that of the little black or grey box. It may beep - it may not.
It is the timer - and it is in ultimate control of our lives.
You don’t quite believe me? Come with me as I point out a few things
in our daily lives. But first - is the coffee ready yet? Did anybody
set the timer last night?
OK. Now that we have our first cup of inky black caffeine we can
get started. Let’s go get the morning paper. Let’s do avoid the water
in the driveway. The sprinkler’s ran last night. Only two of the
‘papers are here. And do watch out for the rosebush. It’s blossoming.
Pretty isn’t it? But that thorn was a bit sticky - wasn’t it?
Good. We are back inside where we have a cat waiting for us.
She is hungry and patiently waiting for us. She is very old - nearly 20
years in human years - and very set in her ways. She likes her snuggles and
cuddles in the morning. She also wants her morning munch. A spoonful of
something and a handful of dry kibble and she is good for a few hours.
The other two girls are up now. They are also waiting for some attention.
The Penny-Pup is sitting quietly watching all of this. It’s time
for her to go outside for her morning walkies. The birds are in
the feeder and scattering seed everywhere. Delightful little
feathered souls - but such messy eaters. Somewhere off in the
middle distance a crow is heard cawing about something. The owl
that lives around here is also heard. It’s a bit early for the
doves but we don’t want to be out here too long because they can
come early. Penny is snuffling something in the grass.
Something only her nose knows is there.
Back inside we open up the ‘papers and settle in for a few minutes
with the ‘paper and Patty who has decided you really don’t want to
read that article but would rather pay attention to her. You are
at the kitchen counter and you are in her space - her place.
Besides - the toaster just clunked and the microwave just beeped.
Your toast and warmed over whatever from the ‘fridge is ready. You
find a hot pad and set the reheated whatever-it-is out of the
microwave. You go get the toast out of the toaster and return to
find Patty-Cat staring at the re-heated whatever with a strange
look on her face. “You’re NOT really thinking of eating THAT are
You?” She seems to say. Sure. Why Not? Plop some processed
cheese goop on it and it’ll be almost edible. With a decidedly
disgusted flick of her expressive tail she hops down off the
counter with a mournful “Murr-roww…” and has a few bites of kitty
kibble. She’s not only ancient - she’s very vocal and opinionated.
She just does not like cheese goop. Now if it had been sourcream or
mayo - that would have been a very different story. But your
Paganus happens to like cheese goop from the glass jar. It’s good
on nearly everything. Especially leftover whatever’s from the ‘fridge.
Now that we’ve grossed out the Old Lady Cat with our recycled
‘fridge whatever’s we can come back down the hall to where the
computer is set up. It’s not connected to anything. Everything is
done to the floppy disc but it does do basic word processing rather
well. After we move “Little Bear” out of the chair we can sit and
‘boot up’ this beige box. That gives us time to go heat up the
coffee. A few numbers punched in and the microwave is zapping
away. After the beep I have warmed up caffeine. Patty is still
nowhere to be seen. I am back down the hall in time to watch the
icons flash in the little box in the centre of the screen.
Computer’s up and ready. Slip the floppy in and let’s get started….
We’ve typed and re-written and spellchecked. This little bit of
editorial submission is ready. We’re dressed. Disc is in the little leather
planner. But before we leave to go downtown we have a few more tasks here at
home. First we have to go walkies again. Penny knows her schedule. And so
does Patty who has appeared from seclusion. She’s sitting beside her kibble
dish. She’s old and slow and needs help to get to the main kitchen counter.
So a quick ‘lift up’ is in order. That and a fresh spoonful of something
that only be described as smelling like cat-food from the ’small can in the
‘fridge’ and she is happy again. The other two girls are asleep in their chairs.
No need to bother them. It’s time to get downtown and post this week’s writings.
The car is hot. We wait a few moments to let the A/C cool it down.
We are rolling when we are stopped by the first of several stoplights.
Parking lot is empty as we pull into the Downtown Library.
We grab our bag and planner, lock up and head on in.
We punch the button for the elevator and watch the circulation desk
as we wait. Upstairs we find our space and log in. We have only one hour to
get everything done. So we start by calling up the word processing
program and getting the document ready to transmit. We then open up the e-mail
account. After a quick copy, paste and save-to we have our document in
in the e-mail account’s composition folder. After we save it to the
drafts folder and run a last spell-check it’s time for the send button.
We can now check our e-mail. Nothing but ads and scams. Not even any
“aluminum siding’ from Sears or “live nude wives” from Pocatatello,
Idaho. Just not much at all today. We sign-out of the e-mail account and
go check the Forum. Not much there either. One of the Readership has
posted some photos of her cats. It’s a quiet Friday for everybody it seems.
Over on LiveJournal there is not much happening either. A few new
comments from some teen girls on life in general and some responses to an earlier
posting by a lady working long hours at her new job. It’s Friday. There’s just
not much of anything happening….
Except for the timer on the computer. It says I only have 15
minutes left. I quickly move on to a couple more sites for the weekly check. Still
nothing much on either Witches Voice or Mystic Witch’s Forum. I sign
out and go back to the e-mail account. Still nothing there either.
OK. No problem. I see I only have five minutes left anyway and
log-out. I need the time to get back across town.
I gather everything up, check for the disc and head on downstairs
and back out to the car. I again wait for the A/C to cool it down then
head back across town. This time I am headed for my weekly ‘hair’
appointment. I am a male with long hair. Very long hair. I make a very good ‘pagan’
at the Renaissance Festival. So I get it brushed, washed, combed and braided
weekly. On the way back across town I am again slowed down by the red lights.
But it is of no matter - I have time. I find a spot in the parking lot and slip
inside the cool shop. It’s good to get your hair done.
After I ‘hair’ I slip into the “Cybernetic Cafe” that is in the
same shopping center and do a fast 30 minute check of e-mail. Some
things I leave till this second session because they take too long
to do at the timer ruled Library. I again run through my list of
places, sites and accounts I need to check. Still nothing of much
from anybody. That’s good. I can head it on back home then. I
stop for the USA Today newspaper and get it on back in. It’s a hot
day and I do not want to stay out in the heat.
Penny’s waiting for me. We do another quick walkies and get back
in. Patty’s waiting for her ‘lift up’ to the counter. Another spoonful of
her smelly favorite for today and she’s ready for some snuggle and
cuddle time.
After some snuggle with Patty it’s time to get the afternoon
‘running & doing’ done. I don’t really have all that much to do -
just pick up the newspapers and stop by the “CyberCafe” to do a
fast e-mail check. I grab my stuff and slip out the door.
Traffic is quiet at this time of day. I stop first at the UPS Store
where I get most of my mail. As expected on a Friday - nothing there. I slip
on down the road to the “CyberCafe” where I find a short message from
the Mistress!! Cool! Contact is re-established - at least for the
momentary moment. I read she has received a certain package I had mailed
to her. This is very good news. I was more than slightly concerned
because I sent it U.S. Postal instead of UPS. U.S. Postal was better
priced. I send a fast reply and then check the rest of the e-mail.
Nothing much there. So I make a quick stop off at both MysticWitch
and Witches Voice. A few new things on the Voice that I do not have
either time to read or can copy down. I am at the “Cafe".
Can’t do any ’save downs’ at the “Cafe".
So I’ll have to wait till the Public Library.
I do a fast check of my ‘friends list’ on LiveJournal.
It’s Friday and hot in the western U.S.
Not much happening there either!
I make a quick stop at Stater Brothers for something to eat. It’s
summer and I have to really struggle to find anything I might even
want to eat. I find a frozen quiche at $2.39 and I just cannot do it. I like quiche - but
$2.39? Sorry - no can do. I settle for two banana’s and head on down the road.
I find the newspapers and head it on home.
The hour is late and the household is quiet. I am again - save for Patty -
the only one still up and awake. I am sitting in my chair, reading my
‘papers, and thinking. On the bottom of the weather page of the Los Angeles
Times there is the sun and moon dates and times. I note the date of the next
full moon. As sit there I am reminded that for the Ancient Celts, Norse and
the even earlier proto-civilizations there were no clocks, no timers. Not as we
know them anyway. You had the sun - which became Day/SkyFather Sun.
You had the moon which became NightMother Moon. You had the Seasons of
the Year which eventually became the Great Wheel of the Year. You did
have the smaller, more intimate cycles of life such as the growing
plants in the spring, the coming of the rains, and the appearance and
disappearance of certain animals. You had what became known thousands
of years later as the Gaia Cycles. Though at that time in human history
you did not call it Gaia’s Cycles. You were far too busy just staying
alive from day to day and season to season.
Patty comes by and wants a few more moments of snuggle. It’s an
easy request. I’m finished with the ‘paper anyway. On my lap,
curled up and dozing, is one of Life’s best timers. Patty knows
when it’s time to feed her. She knew when I was going off to work.
She would wait for me at the front door and quietly complain. She
would be waiting for me when I returned. She knows the patterns
and timings of this household. She is one of this household’s
familiars. My family does not quite completely understand or
accept that sort of thing - and I do not make an issue of it. But
Patty knows. Penny and the Girls know. After all - they are the
household familiars. And it’s time to go down the hall for the
night. Patty has gotten up and stretched. I get up from the chair
and she hops up into it and curls up into her sleeping ball.
I glance out the window. The moon is up. NightMother Moon is ‘on
duty’ watching over us all. For what it’s been worth - this day is
done and over….
Friday.
Lived by and for the timer.
How many timer’s did you find?
Remember - it’s not always the ticking or electronic clock…..
Anyway - that’s my Friday.
So how was your Friday - lived by the timer?…..
So thus it was - it was.
So thus it is - it is.
So thus it will be - it will be.
Remain Careful and Cautious.
Stay Safe and Secure.
Let the Lord and Lady - {Or Your choice of Deity/Divinity} -
Bless You and Keep You and Shine Their Light about You and Give You Their Peace.
Blessings Be.