F a t h e r L u k e ’s dot Blawg

I had a dream last night that I was looking at the cover a book I’d published. It had to be a dream, right? I’m about as interested in publishing as I’d be in sprouting feathers and dancing in the New Year’s Parade.

It was an interesting cover, it gave away the plot of the novel I’d written, so it had to be re-worked just a bit. I woke slowly in the splendid stupor of dream-land fame (the best kind of fame, really, as it requires no picture opportunities), and thinking what a really great novel it was that I’d written. Even though it was only in my dreams, it was a great mystery novel. I worked out a couple of plot twists before fully waking, and then I realized, in no way related to the novel I’d written, how many strong, fully functioning, honest women I have in my life.

Check out my links: http://www.fatherluke.com/links/ 

I don’t do math, so you work out the percentages, but look: Women.

Mostly women, anyway. Rough bastards all of them, wanting the truth above all else. Sacrificing nothing to be able live lives based in honesty, love, living creative, happy lives in worlds of their own making.

Them men I link are the same: Rough, honest, bastards, and sacrificing nothing, and living large, and writing clear, and hard about what hurts.

Hemingway said that. Write clear and hard about what hurts.

Bless all you magnificent fucks.
I love each one of you.

- -
Okay,
Father Luke

Office of the Governor
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
e-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov

Dearest Governor Schwarzenegger:

May I call you Governor Schwarzenegger?

As you are well aware, I am attending Truck Driving school. I say as you are well aware since it is happening in your state of “Cally For Nya” (wink, wink), and not much happens in California without you knowing about it, right?

I heard a story about you I wanted to check. Since we have become acquainted with each other in the whole Workforce-truck driving school affair, I feel it might be appropriate to approach you with a story I heard about you. Feel free to answer at your leisure. Here is the story I heard about you:

Down in Los Angeles there is a golf course which faces an old folk’s home. Some of these old folks are war veterans who have trouble with their bathroom functions, and so they wear colostomy bags. Some of them folks don’t stand on ceremony, and they just urinate where they sit.

One day these old folks were facing the golf course, and one of my cousins was getting ready to tee off on the first hole. I understand you drive a Hummer, Governor Schwarzenegger?  Well, my cousin said that you drove up and parked your hummer.

Then you got out with a bucket of golf balls and a golf club. My cousin was happy to see you. Most everyone I know yells loudly when they hear your name. My cousin said he was amazed to see you dump your bucket of golf balls on the first tee and begin hitting the balls like you were on a driving range.

WHACK!

Whack

whack

Governor Schwarzenegger was hitting balls all over the course. Then you simply picked up your bucket, got into your hummer and drove away.

I love this story, Sir. It so demonstrates what may be achieved when you really put your mind to it.

Again, I realize that this is an election year, and that an immediate reply may be impossible. But I shall await your response.

As always, do give my very best to that strong woman, your wife, the woman who stands behind the successful man, that would be you, Governor Schwarzenegger.

- -
Okay,
Father Luke

E-Mailed to Governor Schwarzenegger
Sunday, October 8th, 2006

I wrote the post below, and since then I have been thinking it sounds just like Mandy Evans. Mandy is in my links.

I’ve done a lot of things, Therapy for seventeen years, Recovery for eighteen plus years, self-improvement, all sorts of school, the Priesthood, marriage, living with someone, being homeless - - voluntarily and involuntarily… . Then I met Mandy. After I met Mandy I was happy no matter what I did. Even being sad I was happy. Being angry I was happy, but I got angry a lot less often.

Mandy will shift the credit for what she does somewhere else, but for one brief, shining moment I want her to get credit for what she brings to the world. I visit her site and find the peace I need when I need recharging.

I have many strong women in my life, and Mandy is among them. I’m happy she is.

Thank you Mandy.

_ _

Okay,
Father Luke

When I was in college years ago I took a public speaking course, and for my thesis I spoke on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I spoke at length about being happy. That’s what I wanted for myself when I grew up; to be happy.

It was a unique idea, and I got the attention of my audience.

I was nervous, but the material was well prepared, and I spoke from a true desire, and with an honesty, and with an open mindedness born of abandoning the world and finding what I might see of the world without any of my own notions about what it is.

I did well in the class, but it was just a public speaking class. It wasn’t pre-med or the bar exam. I spoke about how I saw happiness as being a choice. Perhaps not so much a conscious effort, but a choice none the less. People get tangled up in the blocks to being happy. There is a difference, from wanting something, and being disappointed by not having it.

When people get stuck they can become untangled if they remember what they wanted was to be happy, and just move into that. It’s an option.

So, whatever.

- -
Okay,
Father Luke

I sat down and read the entire Harry Potter collection.
I finished last friday.

I can’t wait for book number seven.
Can you?

_____

School is coming along nicely, thanks.
Figure in about a month I should have my license and
then I should be driving for some Trucking company.

Then I can go home.
Then I can move back to my Santa Cruz.

I’ve missed it. I’ve missed Santa Cruz.
I’ve met some interesting people since I left home,
and I’ve done some really interesting things. I’ll tell y’all
all about them in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
____

My little nieces watched as I held the entire Harry Potter collection,
all put together side by side, cover to cover, all 3340 pages,
all end to end like that. It made quite a stack.

There’s an analogy in there somewhere, I’ll leave it to you.

- -
Okay,
Father Luke