A Soulful Journey

  Irv and Seymour make a pact that the first one who gets to heaven will contact the other.    Unfortunately Seymour passes away some months later, but lo and behold, visits Irv in a dream.    Irv is so excited and has questions: Seymour, it's you? What's it like where you are?    Seymour says: it's beautiful here: rolling hills, big grassy lawns, I wander in the meadows all day, sleep under a tree whenever I like, and best of all, every morning and night there's a fifty-foot all you can eat buffet!    Irv says: that's what heaven is like? It sounds wonderful!     Seymour: Heaven? Who said anything about heaven? I got reincarnated as a bull in Wisconsin!     -Rabbi  Neal Loevinger   An engineer dies and goes up to heaven. At the Pearly Gates, St Peter says to the engineer "Sorry pal, you're not on the list. You can't get into heaven." The engineer says, "Wait a minute, I always donated to charity, my wi...

"The people or parties revolted against one called the "oppressors" and easily recognized as they seem to be the ones having all the fun."  - Woody Allen When politics is mistaken for entertainment or vice versa we are in danger.

“Two politicians fell into a deep ravine with steep sides. “We are trapped!” cried one.  “No,” said the other, we’ll just assume a ladder.”  - George Will It is nice to have an imagination but it should never take us away from reality.

"The extremes are logical - but absurd." -Murray Butler We would do well to heed this advice.  They may make sense while being totally untenable.

“The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has.   Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don’t know when it’s through if you are a crook or a martyr.”   - Will Rogers Must be time to start getting taxes together.

When a supporter gushed to Adlai Stevenson that all thinking people supported him, he replied, “Yes, but I need a majority to win.”   -George Will

Former Vice President Joe Biden once said: “ Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.” 

There is a fable about a hippo who fell in love with a butterfly.   He sought the advice of the wise old owl.   “You must become a butterfly,” the owl told the hippo, “and do it right now.”   The hippo was delighted.   He plunged back into the jungle, only to return shortly. “How do I become a butterfly?” the hippo inquired of the owl. The bird of great wisdom replied, “That’s up to you.   I only set policy.   I don’t implement.”   -R. Robert Cueni Advice is cheap.   Hard word is precisely that - hard work.   All change takes real effort and focus.   There will be roadblocks on the way but if you are determined meaningful change is possible.

When asked by reporters how he preferred to be addressed, Henry Kissinger replied, “I don’t stand on protocol.   If you will just call me “Excellency” it will be okay.” In these days when politics seems motivated by personal advancement and squelching one's opponents it is a sign of maturity to hold a sense of humor and remember that nothing lasts.  All is ephemeral.  So smile.

“Communists make electricity the way they make war - without worrying too much about the victims and by eliminating the observers.”   French newspaper after Chernobyl

“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” ~Aesop