That Foot Tastes Good

“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soul:

But he that hath no guard on his speech shall meet evils”

Proverbs 13:2

Anyone who knows me well will tell you how often I speak out of turn, or say something obnoxious. My brother-in-law Richard will tell you first hand what I’m talking about (by the way brother, I’m sorry for that) when I met him for the first time. Part of my vernacular has always been to be humorous, or at least try to be. I catch a lot of flack from Jay but then again, that’s Jay. He’s smart and quick, and he’ll call you out on anything.

As some of you may know, I used to drive a taxi here in Orlando back when the kids were barely crawling. I truly enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. I did it for a few years, and had some repeat customers, but mostly I drove the tourists all over central Florida. I even took a family on a full day charter tour, including shopping in chic Winter Park, to lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Daytona Beach, to buying Coffee Mugs at the world famous Ron Jon’s Surf shop in Cocoa Beach. I charged them a flat rate of $50 an hour to go wherever they wanted. 280 miles and 7 hours later, I dropped them off at their hotel in Disney, and the gentleman handed me $500. It was the best single day I ever had.because that’s what I usually made in a week.

A regular annual event at Disney is Gay Days. It usually happens in the early summer. Disney has always been very gay friendly, even extending medical benefits to gay partners. They were one of the first companies to do so.

One night during the week long festivities, I was driving around MGM Studios, running a lot of “short runs” to and from the Disney Hotels. I remember it was busy and I was doing well that evening. I took a call for a cab at the parking area for MGM, and I arrived quickly to pick up my fare. It was a female and two males, and they directed me to their hotel. As we chatted up, I asked them if it was busy in MGM and the girl said yes. Then in all my great assumption I said, and I quote, “I have to tell you, you’re all very nice people when you come to town each year”. They looked at each other, puzzled, and said “what do you mean?” I responded with, “You know, Gay Days.” One of the guys said, “Umm we’re not gay.”

Awkward to say the least, the cab was much quieter after that, and I didn’t get a tip.

Random Fact # 1: New Yorkers make up half of all domestic visitors to The Walt Disney Resort.

P.S. I drove Bruce Willis to the airport from the Peabody Hotel with his publicist. Wow.

8 Weeks of Memories- Part One

Just Call Me “Snoopy”

“A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport:

But wisdom is prudence to a man”

Proverbs 10:23

Part of growing up is admitting you’re wrong, and owning up to past misdeeds. We all have skeletons, of course, and I’m no exception. My father will be the first to tell you I was a bit of a kleptomaniac growing up. I occasionally stole from stores we would visit as a family, and I remember once after stealing a pack of gum from TSS while I was with the Faxon family, dad confronting me in my bedroom upstairs with the pack of gum Mr. Faxon told him he would find in my jacket pocket. He was pissed to say the least, and I was embarrassed and ashamed. I was caught red-handed. It was a shitty feeling, indeed, but I would steal again.

As my thirties wind down, and I watch my children grow into the beautiful young adults they’re becoming, I feel such love and honor for them, and I would shield them from any harm at all, but even now, years after I’ve stolen anything, I know I would be quite disappointed if either of them followed that most unnecessary trait I once endowed.

I must, however, share one story of thievery, with an amusing ending. Looking back on it now, considering the party involved is now aware of the theft, and laughed with me about it, I feel I can say it was no big deal.

In 1988, I traveled by train to Colorado with Mom and Jason to attend Maryann’s funeral. It was a somber journey, as Dad was already out there, and her death was a shock to us all. I loved Maryann very much and most remember about her the ear to ear smile she displayed whenever she spoke, and the calm, loving demeanor that she exuded. I was fifteen, and having gone through grandpa’s death 2 years earlier only made it more saddening.

At some point during the stay at Maryann’s house, I found myself downstairs in Rebecca’s room alone, as she left for a few minutes upstairs. I remember tie-dye decorations and a huge stack of either beer or soda cans on one shelf, and other various accoutrements. In one corner was a small jewelry chest, and me being the snoop I was, went straight for the bottom drawer. Neatly lined from left to right, as if placed as provisions after a nuclear holocaust, was nine or ten pre-rolled joints. I had never smoked weed before, but I knew exactly what they were. I don’t recall being shocked or upset, only curious and impatient. Without haste I grabbed one and put it into my cigarette pack and quickly closed the drawer. It was deliberate. I don’t know what my immediate thoughts were right after taking it, only that now I was in possession of one marijuana cigarette.

I went back upstairs before anyone came down and the rest of the stay, funeral not withstanding, was uneventful. Without a flinch, after the funeral was over and we were leaving, by plane now, I successfully smuggled that joint on board an aircraft and made it all the way home to NY, through the airport, and to the house without so much as an eyebrow raised. As a matter of fact, it was a few days before I realized I still had it, and then I devised a stupid plan to smoke it. I guess my ultimate goal was just experimentation. I was fifteen, and some of my friends had smoked before, so I guess this was my opportunity to “be like them”.

One day, in the finished basement TV room of the Ridge house, I found myself again alone watching TV. I think I was in the same chair that grandpa was sitting in in the famous photo of him leaning back, with his arms locked to the back of his head, smiling, providing a warm seat for our dog, Candy. I took out the joint, and carelessly lit it, and in true Bill Clinton like fashion, finished that joint without holding in the smoke, meaning I was smoking it like a Marlboro.

The very nature of most joints, I believe is the smaller size, compared to conventional cigarettes, and perhaps that is why it smoked down quickly. There was indeed a cloud in the basement, but nothing that would scream “pot-head-lives-here”. Now the really amusing part. Mom came down about a half hour after I “smoked” my first joint. She asked why it was so smoky down here, and I responded without hesitation, “I think it’s the oil burner”.

She believed me. I’m sure in the day or so that followed, she had Dad “check” the oil burner, of course to no dismay. I was never questioned about it again.

Recently, in NY for Greg and Debra’s wedding, I finally had the opportunity, and more appropriately, the “cojones” to finally tell Rebecca the Joint story. After telling her the condensed version of what you just read, she and I laughed. By the way: that joint was the last thing I ever stole.

Sharing is Caring...

   In the coming weeks I'll be sharing some of my short stories from a mini-book I finished writing a few months ago. The book is called "Daniel: Hebrew; God is My Judge". It is a compilation of some of my experiences over the last 30 years. It means a lot to me, as you'll see, and I hope my friends and family will take the time to read and or subscribe to this blog, because nothing would be more gratifying than to share these stories with all of you.
   The phenomenon known as "6 degrees of separation" is intriguing to me. Before I was married, when Patty and I lived in Phoenix, we met some people who knew my Uncle Tom when he was in high school. They also knew my Grandmother. I mention this because I believe in the power that sharing experiences has on other people. I've learned so much about myself by absorbing what others do, say, and how they act around others, and I would be naive to think that in some way I didn't have that same effect on some people. We are all social in some way, some more than others, and anyone who really knows me knows that I enjoy meeting people and entertaining some sort of discussion, or at the least, a basic conversation.
   It is my hope, that by sharing these stories, I can allow someone to discover something about themselves they didn't already know, or inspire someone to share or confide. Communication is powerful. Even when it's done with adversity. I hope you'll all follow me into the world of sharing. Thanks, and God Bless.

Big Time...

   I've struggled with weight all my life, and I'm currently 40 pounds less than my all time high(guess all you want, I'm not saying..lol). I know what causes my weight gain, and it isn't always food. For years, I think I've had some metabolism issues, and I'm sure I have Hashimoto's Disease, although I've never been diagnosed. My wife has the ailment, as do some of my family, and following this link can shed some light on the symptoms and treatments.
                                   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimotos-disease/DS00567
   I watched a Discovery Fit&Health show about a 1000 pound man, who was bedridden, and I wept. He lives in England, has a full time staff of state-run attendants, and is about 40 years old. He admits an addiction to food, yet is ready for medical help to drop weight surgically. While the operation could remove 500 pounds, the fact remains, he will still have the desire to eat.
   The bigger issue is getting him to the hospital. The ambulances can only carry about 700 lbs. He needed to wait to see if there was a different way to transport him. I know my limitations when it comes to my weight. It affects my relationship with my family, and I know that I could lose the weight with the proper diet and exercise. I really feel for this guy, and I couldn't help but realize my troubles are nothing compared to him. I can still walk, climb, kneel, get off a couch, use the bathroom, shower, tie my shoes, get dressed, bend over, stoop, crouch....this poor guy is bedridden. He can't do any of that at all. He has 50% chance of surviving the surgery. I have a 100% chance of moving around tomorrow. Here's hoping this man gets all the help he needs.

God Still Loves Them.....

    Every Wednesday, I take my kids to church for Faith Formation classes, from 6:30 until 7:45 pm. We've been going for years, and even as a less than loyal attendee, I can admit with some pride that even though it's for the kids, I've learned quite a bit and do enjoy our priest's sermons. His name is Fr. Richard Trout, and he's a soft spoken, yet humorous, well rounded man of the cloth.
    What irks me is the texting, ringing phones, unnecessary chatter, and swinging of the rosary beads like bordello trash. But I'm not talking about the kids- It's the parents. I'm not kidding. It's quite annoying to see such a flagrant disrespect for the house of God, and in such abundance. It happens every week, and it's the same perps each time. I'm not going to rant too much though, because quite simply, there's not much that can be said other than "grow up"- take a hint from your better-behaved kids. You could all learn a thing or two about manners, not to mention respect. It's not that hard, shut up, sit down, pay attention, have faith. Oh, and leave the phones in your soccer-mom over sized SUV, because God prefers 'knee'mail to e-mail.
   

My Wife is The Air I Breathe...

    ONCE LOVED BY SHE

Many moons and suns have come to pass, a cloak of shame that shouldn't last,

A breath of heart to quell my pain, To not relive and grasp refrain.

It visits not when I invite, but at It's will when trance is night,

To carry hard from deed to Earth, no soothsayer along with birth. 

How run beyond this darkest Beast, to see at once a Spirit's feast,

To soar on air to feel no more, what gift abound from Evil's shore.

So long has come a forgotten stone, yet never stray from hardened bone,

An eye will welt from visions near, unwelcome shivers tore from Fear.

As passed these days whence rain has dried, no flower's bloom when dreams subside,

Once loved by She no strife is done, A mending light my day's begun.

My kin from thee my anchor's heart, an angry cloud obeys it's part,

Though never free from sleep's malign, Once Loved By She this world Divine.

How come my end though near or far, no fear is true from shining star,

Never hope shall fall behind, Once Loved By She, my world Divine.

10/3/2011

Glory

   After seeing it years ago, I forgot how moving the film "GLORY" was. It was, not surprisingly, quite more spiritual than I remembered. Matthew Broderick's portrayal of Col. Robert Gould Shaw led me on a journey of emotional reflection, not only for the lives men give for their country, but also for the abhorrent tragic embarrassment that was Slavery during the Civil war era. Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Andre Braugher, who are all amazing performers in their own rights, only solidified the difficulties suffered by blacks during that time.
    What I found most profound though, was the way Broderick's Shaw stood up for his men, not only for Glory, but for recognition. As much as the color of skin affected how he led his men,(references were made in his narrations, Letters to his parents, about his misunderstanding of black culture and comraderie), the color of skin was clearly not an issue when it came to his belief in the power of equality for those who wish to fight and perhaps die for their country. To give the ultimate sacrifice on the field of battle, to lay down your life, was by all accounts a badge of honor to not be refused to any man, black or white.
    Not to be undone by an amazing score written to instill pride, the film's focus on Shaw's driven persona and his honor of duty was well explained, and moving to say the least. This film has shown me once again, but with more conviction, how important celebrating diversity is. The closing scene showing Broderick and Washington rolling lifeless down a dune into a mass grave is chilling, inspiring, and imposing. In death, they both represent what was fought for. In the end, they were both side by side, equal, and remembered. God Bless all those lost to battle, their families, and may the Lord remind us by our inspired actions to never forget the ultimate sacrifice.

Inspiration from The Heavens

   For the last 4 nights or so, my son Danny and I have been enjoying the night sky as part of a project he's doing for school. Every night at the same time we look at Jupiter with binoculars(10x50) and observe the locations of it's 4 largest moons. Io(the only known planetary body besides Earth with active volcanoes), Europa(an icy wasteland, very reflective), Ganymede(a dark barren relatively smooth moon), and Callisto(second largest Jovian moon behind Ganymede, slightly larger than our moon). It's impressive even in modest binoculars to see them align with each other and revolve around our solar system's largest planet. The visible disk of Jupiter is rather boring in appearance in 10x binocs, but nonetheless is clearly defined by its flattened appearance due to a fast rotational period. Earth is 24 hours, of course, but Jupiter turns once on it's axis in a staggering 9 and a half hours.
   As my father did with me when he first showed me a lunar eclipse at 3 am one day when I was young, I enjoy sharing these discoveries with my boy. He's a great kid and understands and excels in the astronomical arts as I once did, and still do. It's a life long pleasure of mine, that I'm only too proud to share with him. My daughter's not that into it, but maybe someday she will be. I encourage anyone who's never seen this magnificent visual treat to pick up a pair of binocs or a telescope and check it out for themselves. Here's a pic of approximately what is seen in 10x binoculars. See Ya!!




Amazing.

   Hello. My inaugural post will be nothing short of informative. I'm Dan Luna. Father, Husband, truck driver extraordinaire, stargazer, occasional poet, lover of music, & harbinger of nonsensical randomness. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and rants and debates with anyone interested in what's pouring from my brain.
   I love communication, networking, sharing, entertaining, and discovering. I welcome any and all to do the same. Thanks, and God Bless.