BRAHMS 4TH

I was wounded during world war two. Patched up, I was ready to go back to the front. Somehow I was sidetracked and landed up at the home of a wonderful Belgian family and  Brahms 4th. was played.  I listened, transformed, uplifted, warmed, temporarily at peace. I play this piece often. I am 87 years old and plan to hear more Brahms before I die.

I must add a comment written by a "NEPHETULA" regarding Brahms 4th. I was blown over by this person's prose and excitement. Listen in:

This is my favorite piece of classical music! It flows - seamlessly - from one mood and image to another; it breathes, it almost sighs. It queries, it protests, it explains, and it laughs, all the while lilting up and down in a graceful but simple call-and-answer melody with wonderful dynamics. In the exposition, i can almost visualize some unknown hero or heroine's chest heaving while chasing (or being chased) and glancing furtively this way and that, while asking "Which way shall I go?"
I think "Nephetula" (whoever he or she is) and Brahms are going steady.

My extra favorite composers all start with the letter B. I list them in order of my favorites.
Brahms, Beethoven, Bach, Bartok and Berlioz. The B's have it but of course I have other favorites. Stop everything and go to Youtube and start listening.

REACHING EIGHTY PLUS

I AM EIGHTY SEVEN AND I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE. IN FACT I AM AS OLD AS I AM AND IT IS NOT GOLDEN. I INVITE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE WOES AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF US OLDSTERS -- IT SHORE AIN'T PRETTY.

WE TREAD WARILY, VERY WARILY AS WE WALK THROUGH OUR HOMES --- "WATCH OUT FOR THAT CHAIR, THE SOFA JUTTING OUT, THE TOY ON THE GROUND ANY OBJECT CAN BE PERILOUS" --- BENDING DOWN FOR ANYTHING IS A NO NO, WE USE THE SERVICES OF YOUNGER PEOPLE IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE OR USE OUR TRUSTY PICKER-UPPER.

LADDERS ARE FOR FIRE FIGHTERS AND YOUNGSTERS UNDER EIGHTY, EVEN TWO STEPPERS CAN BE HAZARDOUS --- WALKING UP OR DOWN STAIRS WITHOUT BANISTERS TO HOLD ONTO ARE AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE --- CHAIRS ARE DRAGGED, NEVER LIFTED.

HILLS ARE FOR ANTS AND ASSORTED ATHLETES BUT NOT FOR US. ANY HILL COULD SIMPLY BE TOO MUCH --- NO PATHS ARE SAFE WITH OUT TRUSTY WALKERS OR MOBILE CHAIRS, OR A GOOD SHOULDER TO LEAN ON.

OUR EYESIGHT LEVEL IS DOWN, OUR HEARING IS LOWER, OUR THINKING IS SINKING, OUR COPING HAS TAKEN A NOSE-DIVE -- WE TEND TO DROOL -- WE ARE EITHER TOOTHLESS OR RELY ON FALSE TEETH -- WE LOOK AWFUL CHEWING SO WE MAY CALL UPON FEWER VISITORS, BESIDES WE ARE GENERALLY TOO TIRED OR IN TOO MUCH PAIN.

ARE YOU STILL WITH US, MY MY, YOU MUST HAVE THE PATIENCE OF JOB OR YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS. ONE LAST WORD OR TWO AND WE'LL LET YOU NOD OFF. WAIT, WAIT, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE CONSTIPATION? ANOTHER TIME? OLD PEOPLE LOVE TO TALK, PARTICULARLY ABOUT
THEIR ACHES AND PAINS. THANKS FOR LISTENING.

IS SPITTING FITTING?

I'm looking at the fifth game of the baseball world series and even though I am engrossed in the game, one that looks like the Giants, (my favorite team) is going to win, I begin to see another pattern, a repeated pattern; the entire field is being decorated by pure, unadulterated spit and every player is guilty, a veritable deluge. Are the players unaware of the millions watching? Do they give a damn? Absolutely not, this is simply a rite of passage -- you play the fine sport of baseball and you water the field.

The managers are nervously chewing gum at 60 miles an hour and letting one watery stream fly every few minutes, double dipping so to speak. They must show leadership in the art, one that they are very adept in.

Then there are the old experts in the dying art of "tobacco" chewing. One can see one or two at the plate, a wad nestled in the right cheek, ready to chaw down once they are free to do so. This one time "manly" art is mainly passe now. But one that is not the manly art of unflinching or showing any pain once they are hit by an erring pitch. They take it and walk or run to first base.
They shake it off, not an easy task. That's all folks, see you at the San Francisco victory parade.

SOMETHING HAS BEEN ADDED

Women will do anything to bring out their "natural" attributes. Eyelashes have been made to look longer, breasts made to be smaller or larger, waists made to be smaller and bodies made to be taller, enter spiked heels.

Enter the American entrepreneur, always looking to make a buck or two. They have cleverly devised a way to make an inferior exterior blossom into a superior REAR AREA by adding a padding that adds the adding. This has women looking more bold and more men looking without being told. What else is going to be new to attach men to women like magic glue.

You can fool men only so far. The fake of course is exposed when the lady disrobes and her exterior is shown to be inferior.

THE TIME HAS COME

The time has come for me to pack my bags and stumble into oblivion. At 87 my body is no longer my buddy. We used to go steady but there comes a time and the time is now. We are born and start dying with each passing day. Like machines, we wear out and we are all mortal.

I have been married to a wonderful woman for 64 years. Like most marriages, ours has had ups and downs, but oh those merry-go-rounds that kept us tied like magic glue. I look back with the one good eye I have left and memories wash over me -- children three, grand-children four and great-grand children two in the prime of their lives and life goes on. Marcia, we have done well to create such gems.

But I tire now and must finish this story. Old age is not golden but one still has memories. Pain has entered into every pore and refuses to leave despite my pleadings.

Shakespeare said it like it is in his famous, "All the world is a stage" and I quote his last few lines.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventual history,
is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

I have willed my body, to science. Hopefully they will accept this wreck. On with the scalpels and the drills. "Now students look closely as I expose the brain and .................

I am ready. Ta ta and all that. It's been nice talking to you.

SOMETHING NEW HAS BEEN ADDED

Women will do anything to bring out their "natural" attributes. American entrepreneurs have been at it again. They have cleverly devised a way to make an inferior exterior blossom into a

superior rear area by adding a padding that does the adding. So what else is new to make men stick to women like magic glue? Men are transported into slobbering idiots when it comes to the opposite sex.

We have accepted longer eyelashes, larger lips, longer torsos that or more so (heels), narrow waists, wider hips, colored hair and the list is endless. We march blindfold into the chasm.

WHAT PRICE BEAUTY?

What dost thou do in the name of beauty? Most everything the ladies reply in unison. Let's break it down into categories, shall we? We shall.

HAIR: All hair must be removed from every niche and corner without fail with the exception of head hair (I'll deal with the latter, later.) Off with upper lip hair, nostrils, ears, face. chin, arms, under arms, and legs. Special consideration must be given for bikini wearers. Removing body hair is no easy task. There are so many tools of the trade, so to speak. A multitude is available. So many to choose from. All manner of creams, depilatories, clippers, razors, lasers, lotions, sprays, and body wraps. Specialty shops are ready to assist you with electrolysis treatment to painfully remove both your hair and your money.

SCALP: There are good and bad hair days. So many things can go wrong. Hair can be too short, too long, too frizzy, too curly, too greasy, too dull, too colorless, too flat, or just, je ne sais quoi. So many things must be done to make a bad hair day into a good hair day. Hair must be brushed, teased, washed, combed, ironed, shortened, lengthened, or dyed. There are a battalion of experts urging you to amplify your hair, to make your hair breathe, to shape your hair, to make your hair sexy, to make your hair shine, to change your hair color to blonde, red, brown, black, gray, purple, or a mixture thereof. Want a wig for that special occasion or for beauty's sake, no problem, just open your wallet.

EYES: Eyebrows too bushy or wishy washy -- trim eyebrow hair, color them, spray them, or circle eyes with some pencil device and do not forget the eyelashes for heaven sake. The final result brings out the true you? The real you? Go further and change the color of your eyes from time to time -- unbelievable!! The true eye is one left mainly alone, say I, but what do I know.

LIPS: Ah, the lips, are they kissable enough? Are they too thin? No problem, get them estrogen vaccinated every three months and presto, bigger, fatter lips at the ready. Too colorless? Choose from a zillion shades and remember to make sure they are glossy enough, sexy enough, lasting enough, standing out enough, and ready to be kissed day or night. Are they ready to marinate with your date?

HANDS: The hands must eternally look and feel young. Veins? Get rid of them. Don't forget the fingernails -- they must be pared, polished, pruned, or you are doomed. Choose from dozens of shades. Be inventive.

TOES: Don't forget the toes 'cause who knows. I know that pointy shoes and high heels are in vogue but play havoc with your feet by making making a mess of your toes, goodness knows. Let them breathe, give them space and they'll amaze.

Choose nail color that's not too garish, ones that can be taken to your parish or wherever.

BREATH: Bad breathe is a no no, one to be countered by sprays, mints, toothpaste and a good toothbrush. As a last resort, closed lips sealed tightly can be brought into play.

TEETH: White and only white is the color, the only color , the winning color. Brushing alone will not do it . Your dentist to the rescue, one who will have them polished, cleaned, scraped, and looked after in every way, including false teeth if and when necessary. Products galore in every store will keep your teeth shining as bright as a light. By the way, don't use your teeth to bite your nails, your nails will thank you and so will everyone else -- It is not a very nice sight by day or by night.

SCENT: Ladies, here you can use an ounce of perfume for a pound of money. There is no end of varieties -- a little dab, a very little dab will do you. Over-scenting makes no sensing. It's a powerful put down, one that will get you nowhere, so clear the air.

No need to trap innocent people in elevators, cars, trains, planes, restaurants, or gambling haunts. Go easy, go fresh. Use soap liberally.

DIET: Don't diet. Instead, eat healthy, eat wisely, eat regularly, don't starve yourself. Your body needs food not only to survive but to feel alive. Forget about being a size two, that absolutely will not do, please.

EXERCISE: Exercising like a demon won't remove pounds if it does not go along with a sound food regimen. A good policy is to not to overdo anything.

GENERAL: I advise all and sundry to do away with bright mirrors or floor mirrors. Ads and more ads call upon women to use their creams, unguents, and treatments to fight sagging necklines, drooping jawlines, stubborn liver spots, blemishes, freckles,

blotches, sunspots, on face, neck, chest, hands, arms and legs. The beauty ads scream for attention. Act now they blare from every source -- clarify, reverse, tone,and firm for a radiant you, a true you will make you look brand new they add. They are relentless: use more than one cream for your face, your body, every inch of you. Employ our diet programs, our lasers, our sure-fire plastic surgery. The clothes designers are out in strength. They busily design clothes for all the seasons. Styles so varied, so compelling, you are forced to feel that inside their clothes you should be dwelling. I say do not listen too hard. Don't be a follower, fight back. It's okay to add a little flesh, to use less rouge, to exhibit a natural face. a healthy face. No need to over-exercise. Try walking, running, skipping, dancing and a little romancing, all of which is kind of enhancing. Try aging, it's alright to get older. If you have stayed with me all this time, I salute you. Let me add a couple of things. Let us see the unadorned you, the real you, a product of nature, at least some of the time. You need not spend a fortune on cosmetics. Why not have torsos that are more-so, less bony, more tony.