So Far To Fall

by Thomas M. Pender

I'm reaching way back now.  This was written in the fall of my sophomore year in college.  I had just had a really short relationship with a woman, and was in mourning over that, but also angry that she'd rather party than be with a more sober person.  There was a mess of emotions, and they all came out here.  I don't make it a habit to go back and edit how I felt in the past, or else I'd clean this one up a bit.  Still, I do like the mess of emotions here a bit.  It's honest.  Everyone feels a mess of emotions after breakups, don't they?

  

My memories

Up in the clouds

You’ll always shine in my eyes

But for now

I’ll leave you alone

Leave you to your cigarettes

Beer and hangovers

And I’ll wonder “what if”

When I’m bored

What a thing to do

What a risk to take

So far to fall

And yet, I’ve landed on my feet

No guilt

No hard feelings

No worry

And when I look back—

And I will—

I’ll smile

And when you look back—

If you do—

Remember the laughter

Not the tears

Remember the tender moments

Not the harshness

And may we both find our separate happinesses

written by t. michael pender  11/10/85

©1985 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.

Sayings That Say Nothing Are Not Worth Repeating

by Thomas M. Pender

“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”

I came across this gem, attributed to British journalist Alex Hamilton in a 1978 radio broadcast, a few weeks ago.  I’d read and/or heard it before, but this last time, it struck me just how silly the “adage” is.

Sure, the phrase sounds cute enough.  It’s catchy, like Johnnie Cochran’s “If the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit,” but at least Cochran was making a point.  In this case, however, to “stand for something” means to defend a principle.  To “fall for anything” is to be overly gullible.  These two concepts have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.  A person who is easily swayed can still hold up a picket sign, and just because you never picket doesn’t mean you’re necessarily easily swayed.

Former New York Yankee catcher and manager Yogi Berra coined some nonsensical quotes – the most famous of which is probably “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” – but he was being comical on purpose.  Former President George W. Bush has delivered quite a few news conference foibles – one of my favorites being “Fool me once, shame on you . . . you can’t get fooled again” – but he was just being unintelligent.  What bothers me is when folks say or write something that makes absolutely no sense, but those who hear or read it think it does.

Don’t be a blind lemming.  Listen closer to what is being said.  Think deeper about what is being written.  Most importantly, as most responsible parents will teach their children, don’t repeat something unless you understand it!

Ten Popular Fall Rituals

by Thomas M. Pender

10) Late-night raking of leaves into the neighbor’s yard

9) Ignoring of chores . . . and phone . . . and spouse . . . ‘cause football’s on

8) Annual bikinis-for-sweaters drawer-and-closet swap

7) Hyperprogramming of TiVo for new season episodes

6) Earlier commutes for better parking spaces for shorter “brisk walks”

5) Return of the “warming the bed” flop-around

4) Baseball widows’ luncheons and barhops

3) Ignoring of church . . . and sleep . . . and showering . . . ‘cause FOOTBALL’S ON!!!

2) The kids-and-self-ready-for-school-and-work-a-thon

and

1) The immediate beginning of the nine-month wish for summer’s return

East Lansing Rain

by Thomas M. Pender

A true story from my college days . . .

I must be a poet to do this during a storm

                  God, I need to learn to play the guitar

                  And pull it out at times like this

But I lay a blanket by my window

And watch

The headlights the windshield wipers the lightning the thunder

I put on Elton John

And I smile

I hear screams

Happy screams and laughter

I peer into the gray rain

And I see a young man in shorts

Carrying his lover on his back and running

And he slips on the wet grass

They fall

Tumble over one another

And laugh harder

I hear curses

Angry curses and mumbles

I look into the gray rain

And I see a young woman in a wet and wilted dress

Carrying her books and her broken umbrella

And she slips on the wet grass

She falls

And the books scatter and the umbrella flies away

And she rolls on her back

And bursts into laughter

As the rain dances on her face

The rain slows

The rain stops

And the world that existed during the storm is gone

A shame

written by t. michael pender  12/28/86

copyright 1986 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.