The Dolphin

 

Your Monthly Magazine from Living Happy Center

 March 2012   

 

Carole Kane, Editor-in-Chief

 

Living Happy Center Writers Group:

 

Frank Clark, Maryann Hall, Glynis Hedley,  

Helene Herman, Dr. Brad Holway,   

Rev. Victor Langhorne, Dr. Arthur Lewin,

Joyce Magnavito, Josephine Pico

Debra Sanchez, Dimitra Savvidou 

 

www.livinghappycenter.com  

 

 

 

in this issue
The Year's at the Spring - Robert Browning
The Dogs - by Josephine Pico
Mending a Shattered Soul - by Carole Kane
There Is No Direction In Space - By Dr. Arthur Lewin
Traveling Through England - by Maryann Hall
Immigration - Dr. Brad Holway
Pleasant Exchanges - by Frank Clark

Dear Friends,

 

Welcome to the March 2012 issue of The Dolphin, featuring longer articles from the Living Happy Center Writers Group. Just as a reminder, you will receive The Dolphin  once each month.  During the rest of the month you will continue to receive your weekly Living Happy newsletter.

 

This month's stories are simply delightful...  A poem about Spring.  A fantasy about dogs.  A friend comforting her neighbor.  Thoughts about outer space and time.  Visits and a proper teatime in beautiful English towns.  A search for pleasant exchanges each day.  

 

We love to get your comments...  so please tell us your thoughts.  You can click right here to reach us:   The Dolphin: Comments 

 

Happy reading!

 

- - Carole - -

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Year's at the Spring
By Robert Browning

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;

lilacs

The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven-
All's right with the world!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dogs 
 

By Josephine Pico 

 

I had mixed emotions when I first saw Morgan. She would sit out by the bird feeder all day, talking to a Starling. Buddy would gaze longingly at her from his doghouse, but she wouldn't pay any attention to him. I told Buddy not to worry, the very fact that she kept coming around meant she was interested in him.

Morgan is a very pretty tri-colored Collie, slim and well coiffed with a long thin snout and perky ears. She wears a very expensive collar, but I have no idea where she hails from. Buddy is a Mutt who is part Golden Retriever, he is not poised or good-mannered, and hates to have his fur brushed every day. They really make an odd looking couple. I didn't want to kill Buddy's dreams, but I didn't think he had a chance with this female.  

 

The other day I was complaining to Buddy about how I hated to drive in fog. I said, "This fog scares me half to death." I was looking for sympathy from man's best friend, but I guess Buddy was in one of his moods. He told me if I was stupid enough to take a job 20 miles away at my age, then I shouldn't complain about the drive. Okay, I had two goodie treats in my jacket pocket, "Here Morgan, nice doggie!"

 

Yesterday, I stopped by the Garden to get some Chinese-to-go. Buddy and I always shared Chinese. Morgan, however, wandered over, gave it a couple of sniffs and mumbled, "Smells like something the cat dragged in..." I definitely will have to have a talk with Buddy about his lady friend's manners.

 

Buddy claims that since he and Morgan have been sharing sleeping quarters, she is making big demands on him. Morgan doesn't like the way he slobbers when he eats. She wants her own bowl now. When did this relationship get serious? Today, I fed Buddy in his new "His and Hers" dual dish. Let's see what he has to say about that!!!

 

It has been a few days since I talked to that Mutt. I'm pretty upset with him. Seems he got to flapping his lips to our neighbors that I have five color TVs in the house and he has one old black and white. Now he wants a flat screen color TV with picture on picture. I do believe that female is warping his mind, but Buddy yelps that he is in love and needs a few things. I think that Hound is losing it. He knows his dog house is too small for an entertainment center....

 

collie and golden retriever

I really don't think he should be airing his problems with the neighbors. Some of his demands are unreasonable. Did I mention his request for a heated pool and sauna??? Then there's that thing about his own freezer with Angus steaks; his own cell phone; the list goes on and on.

 

I caught Buddy talking with the neighbors again. Seems he conned them into going to the Pharmacy for him and picking up a pregnancy test for Morgan.

 

I went to brush Buddy this morning and noticed that there were lines drawn in the snow. Now, what are these dogs up to! Buddy explained that Morgan feels they each should have their own private place when nature calls. Well, I guess that sounds reasonable. "Whose place is that, out in front?" "That's Morgan's....a soft area with lots of grass." "That's cool! So your place is behind the shed in the gravel field...I can understand that, more of a male thing back there. What is this square by the shed?" "The Nursery!" What!!!? 

 

Last night they drove me nuts. They wanted to watch the Westminster Dog Show. I had to hook up a big TV, make popcorn, and buy them Cherry Cokes.  Dogs - most of them think they're people.

 

Buddy is in trouble with me again. He wants to have a puppy shower for Morgan this weekend at the Itchy Twitchy Humane Shelter.  Buddy said if one of Morgan's pups was fat and dumpy they were going to name it after me... did he think that would soothe my feathers?  grrrrrr....

 

My neighbor stopped by yesterday, said Morgan asked her to show me this Doggie Catalog. Morgan is thinking about ordering training pants for the pups... I'll give her training pants... she is already in hot water with me for running up my cell phone bill calling her mother.  

 

They must have had a disagreement last night, I had to get up in the middle of the night and tell them to shut up because they were disturbing the peace. Of course, Morgan had to get the last bark in. Whatever am I going to do when the pups arrive?????

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                        Mending a Shattered Soul                                               

Carole Kane 

 

 By Carole Kane      

 

The bells from St. Paul's and St. Catherine's and Regina Pacis and countless other churches showered their music over Brooklyn, the city of churches, gently calling the people out to worship.

 

And if there were no flowers on the block, and no trees, so what? The little girls in their bright Sunday dresses, their Mamas in big, flowered straw hats, and families strolling to church hand in hand, were beautiful enough. The old neighborhood was abloom with life.

 

Felice sat in his stuffy kitchen, windows closed against the happy street sounds, staring at his lukewarm mug of instant espresso.

 

Sunday morning. He used to love Sunday morning. Josie was always so happy after church! She used to make him a special frittata, four eggs and cut-up potatoes and peppers, fried just right in olive oil - thick and tasty. You could cut it in slices and eat it while you read the News.

 

And she used to fuss so much over him. Was his coffee okay? Did he sleep enough? Could she get him a pillow for his chair? And he would chuckle and tell her she was all the pillow he needed!

 

He put down the sports page, eyes brimming. Why was he alive? He had nothing now that she was gone. On top of it all, the foreman had reminded him last Friday of his retirement - one month away - as if he didn't know.

 

He shook his head sadly and lit a cigarillo. He was going to retire, and then what? He had always promised Josie they'd go to Italy to visit the family then. But now? Alone was ridiculous on a trip to Italy.

 

Eh, why bother to even think? He was empty inside. Empty of love. Empty of feelings. Empty of thoughts altogether.

 

"Felli, good morning. May I come in?"

 

He shifted in the chair and turned toward Millie's knock. She was early today, that woman. But it might be nice to have some company for a little while.

 

"The door is open," he called down the foyer. "Come in."

 

Her face was warm and rosy, and she smiled as she put a covered dish on the table, smoothing out her cotton housedress as she sat opposite him.

 

"Here. I brought something to eat. I thought maybe we could have breakfast together today, okay?" She uncovered the steaming dish, then ordered, "Put out that cigar! I hate to smell it while I eat."

 

He obediently stubbed it out.

 

"Thank you, Millie. I am glad you are here," he said, spearing a sausage. "I was just sitting here feeling sorry for myself."

 

He eyed the cup of old espresso he had made. "Would you like me to make you some coffee?"

 

She jumped up. "Let me make it, please? Your coffee is too strong for the morning. I show you how to do it."

 

The old-fashioned drip pot was bubbling in no time. She stayed for an hour. When she left, the apartment was straightened up; the dishes done; and lunch was on the stove. A good woman. Yes, a very nice woman.

 

Felice lit a fresh cigarillo and leaned back in his recliner. He felt a lot better than before.

 Adapted from "A Dream of Roman Candles" by Carole Kane

Available on Amazon.com Kindle;  

paperback to be released in April 2012 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

There Is No Direction In Space

      

 

 

 By Dr. Arthur Lewin

 

There is no direction in space, so maps can just as well be presented with the South on the top and the North on the bottom. And what is true of space must also true of time. There is no direction in time. We appear to be going forward, but is this really a going backward? Forward and backward on any line are equivalent, be the line representative of space or time, or anything else, for as Einstein notes we live in spacetime.

 

And so, yes, there was a Big Bang, but when that primordial explosion that birthed the universe reaches its ultimate, full expanse, will it then fall back in on itself, that is, implode. So is this, as some physicists believe, an oscillating universe?

 

Have you ever seen a film run in reverse? It makes complete, though reverse, sense. Is that what we will do when we leave this earthly plane? Wait in a Limbo until the universe falls back in on itself, in a reversal of time and spiritual earthfortune, and we come back from the ashes and repeat all that we have ever done but only backwards? By the way, which way is really forward, which backwards? Is this the reverse and that to come the forward? And have we lived before, and shall we live again, back and forth, forever and ever until the end of time and space, if there is an end to them, or are we dwelling in a whorl without end?

 

                                                                          Dr.  Lewin teaches in the
Black and Hispanic Studies Department  
at Bernard M. Baruch College, New york 
   
                                                                                    
www.readlikeyourlifedependsonit.com     
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Traveling Through England

 

 

  

By Maryann Hall    

 

Impressions when I first arrived in 1972   

 

Today I'm heading for Broadstairs, a resort on the coast up from Dover, with some friends.  Rather than describe the English countryside just think of New England and Pennsylvania.  We stopped for tea at a tiny village called Chilham, which couldn't be any bigger than one of our small shopping centers.  It was all Tudor houses, with flower gardens all over the village square.  And do they keep their gardens!  No matter where you go in this country, even in business areas, they keep a garden.  Roses were in full bloom.

 

Anyway, I had my FIRST proper tea which is tea, of course, and scones (which I find vary wherever you go - biscuit like dough with or without raisins) spread first with butter, then jam.  A coddled cream is then put on top.  HEAVEN!  I have never tasted anything to surpass it.  After that more tea and a regular dessert cake.  Proper English tea!  I skipped the cake to have an extra scone. 

 

When we finally reached Broadstairs, it looked quite like our Atlantic City, with the exception of the "white cliffs".  Now I don't have to go to Dover just to see them.  I had my fortune told by "Olandah, Clairvoyant, Palmist and Healer".   I had previously thought that I would be perfectly content with a little Tudor house with a bay window overlooking the ocean and, sure enough, Olandah told me that is what was in store for me.  (It never happened).  One more thing she also said was that I was going to travel (she was right there) and write a book (maybe not a book but here I am writing this).  I was quite thrilled over the writing part until my friend and I compared readings and found we BOTH were going to write one.  Maybe we will collaborate! 

 

Last night I went to Prince Albert Hall for a concert. What a treat that was; it also made me realize how much I miss my music.  (I had no radio or TV the two years I was in London). It was a combination of both orchestra and band.  To see the band conductor up there with his feet spread apart, back arched outward yet his body taut and both arms seeming to soar while bringing the music to us was something I could witness over and over.  I will always feel he did it specially for me that night.

 

I took a visiting friend to Oxford Street on a small shopping tour and she got a taste of the crowds - unbelievable! And traffic - murderous over here, as the pedestrian does NOT have the right of way. 

 

After reading a book called "Penmarric" I took my first trip to Devon and Cornwall where it took place. 

Lands End Cornwall
Land's End, Cornwall, England
cornishlight.co.uk 

 The whole book came alive for me traveling the West Country.  Devon was beautiful and green, but the northern coast of Cornwall, Land's End facing the Atlantic, stole my heart.  We went further up the coast to Tintagel and Boscastle.  I shot almost a full roll of film there and know I'll laugh, as they will all be of the ocean crashing against the cliffs or great big rocks jutting out of the ocean.  Would I dearly love to be there in the winter!  There was a lot of climbing (reminds me of Greece) but it was well worth it. Once you got to the top you could sit and look for miles around at either land or ocean.  What a sight was that!  I hated to leave.  This is what I find so positively wonderful about this country.  You have just about every type of terrain you could want at your fingertips, and because it is small in miles, you can get to it all with a minimum of travel  The only thing you might say was lacking would be hot, hot beach weather, but that's why the Brits adore Spain, Portugal, Italy.

 

It's the sky which still fascinates me - I never tire of looking at the clouds and blue, blue sky no matter where I travel here in this marvelous country.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

Immigration       

 

 

   By Dr. Brad Holway                                                        

 

It was a Friday afternoon and he was driving his Toyota.  He drove past a Thai restaurant, a Dominican bodega, a Korean greengrocers' and an Egyptian falafel parlor.  At the end of the block stood a mosque that had recently opened.  Joe didn't know much about Muslims but he felt an intense dislike for Islam and his blood boiled.  He turned the corner and headed for the house where the nanny who took care of his son, Michael, lived.  The nanny, a Russian woman of early middle age, handed the boy over to Joe.  Michael hugged the woman and took his daddy's hand.  They were off, headed toward home.  Realizing that they were short of milk, they made a quick stop at the local Pakistani convenience store.   


Joe pulled into his driveway and Michael jumped out of the car, greeting the Mexican gardener who came by and did yard work once a week.  The man's name was Carlos and Michael liked him.  Carlos had taught Michael a few phrases in Spanish; they exchanged greetings and a few laughs.  Carlos was just finishing up and Joe paid him for the yard work.  Joe turned the key and opened the door.  There was a message on the phone.  It was the voice of the Filipina receptionist who worked for the Indian doctor that treated Joe's octogenarian mother; she had called to remind Joe that his mother had an appointment next morning.  

 

Michael went to his room to play and Joe sat down in front of the television.  No sooner had he done so than his wife, Susan, returned home from her job.  Susan worked as the timekeeper in a Lebanese-owned clothing factory that employed about thirty women, mostly from Poland, Central America and the former Yugoslavia.  She was a bit late this evening, since she had stopped off at a Vietnamese nail parlor.  She carried a large bag of food from the local Chinese take-out joint; there was an unwritten understanding that Friday was take-out night. 

 

Joe woke up early the next morning to drive his mother to the doctor's office, stopping at the Albanian-run gas station to fill his tank.  When he arrived at his mother's place, the Haitian woman who came in to clean the place on alternate Saturdays was already busy with the housework.  The Jamaican homecare worker helped Joe's mother out of her chair.  The old woman grabbed Joe's arm with one hand and affectionately squeezed the Jamaican woman's hand with the other. 

 

After the doctor's appointment, Joe decided to take his mother out for lunch to lift her spirits.  He asked his mother what kind of food she wanted.  "Just some regular American food at the diner", the old woman replied.  Joe parked his car at the local diner.  The son of the Greek diner owner took Joe's mother's arm and seated her at a booth.  An Irish waitress took their order and relayed it to the Bengali cook behind the counter.  After Joe and his mother had eaten, an Ecuadorian busboy collected the dishes and cleaned the Formica tabletop. 

 

Joe drove his mother home.  Once he had taken leave of her, he turned on his favorite "conservative talk radio" station and listened to a rant about how immigrants were ruining this country.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

    

Pleasant Exchanges 

 

   

By Frank Clark 

On a street anywhere

It used to be, long ago, passers-by exchanged pleasantries on the street.  "Good Morning!"  "Good mornin to you."  " This is a delightful day, wouldn't you agree?"  "Yes, indeed."  No more, we're in a cellular world.  Most are intently looking at their cell phones and do  not acknowledge anyone.  In their own worlds.  A cyberworld.  Pleasantries are a bygone era. "Good mornin, Joe."  "Good mornin, Joyce."  "Such a beautiful day, wouldn't you agree?"  "Yes, it's a brand new day.  Fresh and new like all my bakery items."

 

"What would you like, Joyce?  I have fresh baked breads.  I know how much you like them."  "French, you know.  I'll have two loaves, Joe."  "There you are,  fresh for you.  Anything else?"  "There's a rich aromatic flavor in the air.  What may it be, Joe?" "It's our coffee.  A blend of Columbian and Brazilian.  It's freshly made, would you like a cup?"  "Yes, Joe, a large cup for me.  Sugar, cinnamon and cream, please.  Thank you, Joe."

 

"I want to savor its flavor and savor this day.  It's going to be a delightful day, wouldn't   you agree?"  "I agree, Joyce.  Have a delightful day."  All said in recitation by Joe.  He knows how much Joyce likes it.  Joyce leaves the market with much relief for Joe. She is a valued customer, although a little unnerving.  Joe says to himself,"Have a delightful day, Joe.  You know you agree."

 

Out on the street, Joyce thinks to herself.  "Today is a glorious day.  This coffee is divine.      I'm going to take a stroll along the walk and greet every passerby with "Hello, a delightful day.  Just maybe someone will respond back with a pleasantry.  I will make it my mission to resurrect side walk pleasantries.  I won't stop 'til I get a pleasant exchange.  Here I go."

 

"Here comes my first opportunity.  A young man smiling and carrying a newspaper in one hand and a cup in the other.  He will, for sure, greet me back."  As the blonde haired, blue eyed, handsome young man gets closer, Joyce notices.  "Well, its not a newspaper.  Must  be one of those compact brief cases.  Don't know why he is holding it, it doesn't matter, only a friendly pleasantry."

 

"Good morning, sir.  Coffee always perks your day."  "And busy bodies like you need to mind your business."  "May I ask what you are holding?"  "Yes, busy body, it's my tablet." Joyce to young man "A tablet?"  "Lady, you wouldn't know, you're not in the cyberworld.  But you're in another world.  Now, good morning and good riddance."  "Well, that's a start.  He did say good morning and good riddance.  I'll just remember the good."

 

Joyce continues to stroll.  "Hum, hum, hum.  Hum, hum, hum, hum."

 

"Oh, an outside cafe.  The smell of pastries and fresh brewed coffee is so inviting. Think I'll have a seat somewhere in here.  There's a lovely young couple holding hands and smiling. Oh, how I remember when.  A chair near them would be delightful. I'll greet them both."

 

Joyce continues to stare at the couple and says to them, "I could not help it, but I noticed the joy in your faces.  So touching, a special occasion?"

 

"Lady, we're consoling and reassuring each other that everything is going to be all right," says the handsome blue, eyed young man; and he goes on to say, "Breaking up is hard to do."  "We're just friends now," says the lovely, green eyed girl with bright blonde hair.  She has the looks of a young woman of Scandinavian descent, possibly Swedish.  He says "Lady, this is a private conversation.  Awfully rude of you.  Please move to another table way over there.  Also, mind your business."  Joyce leaves the sidewalk cafe and walks toward a nearby park.

 

There's three lovely children having a fun time on the merry-go-round.  They seem to have manners.  "Good morning, children.  See you're enjoying your time together in the park.  Out of school today?"  One boy says, "What's it to you?  Yeah, we're having fun. Just decided to take a day off from school."

 

Joyce to all three "Oh my, playing hookey from school?"  Dirty pink dressed girl says "Yeah, what about it?"  And the third, the smallest, a boy, says, "Kindergarten is boring. Tired of playing with wooden toys and those green and red plastic bricks.  I want an android.   Need something really challenging.  I can play all types of games on it.  Also, I want to be advanced to the third grade.  I'm too bright for baby care."  All three say to Joyce  "We don't know you lady.  Go mind someone else's business."  "Have fun with your play."  No manners whatsoever.  I will report them to "Miss Manners."

 

"Good morning, it's a delightful day.  Love your adorable puppy.  What's her name? I bet it's Twinkles."  "Lady, this ain't no girl dog.  His name is 'Butch' and he's a pit, a pit bull.  He doesn't, nor do I, care about what type of day.  Relieves himself, then back into the house.  Now be on your way."  "I'm so sorry sir.  Have a great day anyway."

 

"Hello little bluebird, sing me a song."  Bluebird responds.  "Please don't interrupt.  I'm texting a message to my bird friends.  Give me a minute, then I'll chat with you, Joyce." Text reads "coming yur way, fly away now."  "Now, sing me a song?  You have such a lovely tweet."  "I'm sorry, can't do it no more.  You'll have to pay for it.  All of my songs are now on CDbirdy.  It's only one dollar per song.  Got to feed myself now.  No one feeds the birds any more.  All on cell phones.  It's like we're not here.  Most never notice us.  All in their cellular worlds.  Again, it's CDbirdy and now on Amazone.  We did what we had to do."

 

Joyce moves on a feeling defeated.  She says to herself, "I will go on; this day is not over yet. I must hurry.  Need a deposit in before noon.  Good morning, Miss.  A great day for me and a great day for you?"  Teller to Joyce "No, lady.  There's nothin great about handling dirty money."  Joyce laughingly says "Maybe it needs to be laundered."  "Lady it's laundered all right.  We ain't called the 'Bank of Fools' for nothin."  Joyce, on her way out of the bank, says loudly "Everyone, it's a delightful day.  Savor the moment and be blessed today."

 

This is like a salesman knocking on doors.  So many no's and finally a yes, I hope.  I will be strong and will continue my mission.  Now, the supermarket. In the deli. " I'll have the hog head's cheese and a large carton of your seafood gumbo."  "Ma'am, need any crackers? They're on aisle six, right over there."  "Thank you for reminding me."  Hum, hum, hum.  Hum, hum, hum, hum.  Now to the check out.  This will be my last opportunity to express my joy to another.

 

Appears to be a young mom in line with three small children.  "Your children have such good manners at such a young age."  "Why, thank you ma'am.  It's important to teach them manners when they are small.  Most likely they will remember to use them the rest of their lives.  Children, this nice lady paid us a compliment.  Say hello to her."  "Thank you for asking," says boy of six.  "You're a nice lady, just like our gram," says rosy cheeked Mary Lou and smiling bright.  The tot in the basket seat.  "Michael, say hi to this nice lady."  Young boy with baby fat cheeks and tummy says, "Nice lady, nice."

 

Joyce to mother of three.  "How's mom doing today?"  "I'm fine.  A marvelous day.  Thank you for asking, and your name?"  "It's just Joyce."  Young mom replies.  "You're more than a name.  You have a heart."  And to the cashier, "Your day ma'am, how is it?"  "It's good, earning a living.  Every day is a delightful day, thank you."  Joyce to all in line "Indeed this has been a delightful day, and have a wonderful evening."

 

Joyce arrives at her home on "Pleasantry Way."  She opens the door and exclaims to Arthur, "Mission accomplished.  I finally got some pleasantries and it was just delightful." "Wonderful, Joyce.  Your persistence paid off."  "I know.  I believe I have turned things around to the pleasant side of life."  "You think so," says Arthur.  "I know so, I'm sure,"

 

"Arthur, can we snuggle tonight?"  "What's that?" said Arthur.  "You don't remember when?     I remember."  "Another night, Joyce.  I'm having fun already."  "You are, Arthur?"  "Yes, I'm playing with my PLAYmate."  "Arthur, I suspected you were doing something behind my back."  "I'm doing it right in front of you."  "You have no shame."  "Calm down Joyce, it's my new chalk pad.  A computer.  I'm in the cyberworld."  "We're in a different age, the information age."

 

"All you need is a computer,"  says Arthur.  "Does it give you a hug and a kiss?"  "No, Joyce, but you can watch a lot of that on the web."  Arthur goes on to say to Joyce, "Tomorrow, we'll go to the computer store and introduce you to the computer world  We'll get you a PLAYmate too.  Then we both will a have playmate to love and behold."

 

Joyce looking into her vanity mirror performing affirmations and saying to herself. "You have made today a delightful day.  Feel good about it and be happy.  You are wonder woman, for wonders never cease."  "Hum, hum, hum.  Hum, hum, hum, hum!"  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

See You Next Month!

 

We hope you've enjoyed our stories.

 

Stay happy,  Walk in the sunshine!  

Be kind to yourself and others!

Love your family!  Treasure your friends!

Play in the rain!  Splash in puddles!!

And give thanks !

 

The Living Happy Writers Group

 

Join Our Mailing List