Waitin' for the Weekend

"Brotherly Love #1" by Clint Collide:

You can save time by pausing the video and right-arrowing through the pics.

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Lost America: Big Trains Rolling (1955)

As a youngster, your Head Trucker was fortunate enough to travel many times on some of the fine old streamliners before passenger service was all given over to Amtrak. Here is a classic film, intended for showing in elementary schools, about the complex operations of the railroads before passenger trains were done in by airlines and Interstates.  Notice the colorful paint jobs of the sleek diesels that were rapidly putting steam locomotives out of business.  Note also the beauty and the optimism of an America that is now long gone.

But this happy picture was not to last - for the times are always a-changing in human life. Who could have believed that in the next decade, Carol and Jimmy would grow up to despise the neat, tree-lined neighborhood they grew up in, denounce their parents as capitalist pigs, and demand to overthrow the Establishment and smash the system to pieces?  Where are they now, I wonder?

And the beat goes on . . . 

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Sunday Drive: Be Still, My Soul (Finlandia)

Police state?  Evil empire?  Amerika?  Or just a horrible dream?

My heart is heavy with grief at all that is happening in our country and being done by our country in other lands. We have come to the darkest chapter in our national history - and I fear that things will get very much worse before they get better. I am too old and weary to make a difference; all I can do is offer a song of hope and inspiration - a little candle in a deepening night.

David Archuleta sings the well-known hymn to the tune of Finlandia by Sibelius. There are other, secular lyrics which do not come to hand at the moment.

God help us all.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

"Lads from Other Dads #1" by Clint Collide: 

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Gay History in the Smithsonian Archives

Filmed in 2024, this video presents memorabilia of gay life in America before and after Stonewall.  Quite poignant.

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Sunday Drive: We Three Kings

 A favorite old Christmas carol, as performed by Clamavi De Profundis:

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Second Sunday after Christmas Day

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Waitin' for the Weekend

"Ride" by Vintage Photomontage.  A pleasant little video with a consistent theme, for a change.

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Happy New Year 2026

Does anybody really know what time it is?

In my foggy old mind, I've been trying to think what to say for the beginning of another year, how to sum up my thoughts and feelings at this turn in the road. Once again, I have been surprised to find that I already said all that as well I as could ever do. So with a few changes, I'm reprinting last year's post, for whatever it's worth.

The quiet days at the end of the year have always been a time of retreat and reflection for me.  This past year, a dark new era has begun, and the old certainties have gone out the window -- no one can be sure what will come next.  

The world has been in a parlous state all my adult life, what with wars and rumors of wars, crisis upon crisis, rebellion here, revolt there, and no end of foolishness among the peoples and leaders of the world.  And yet, at some points there has been greater hope for the future than seems apparent just now.

Somehow, I have lived through many years of light and shadow, joys and sorrows, ups and downs, to be a very old man.  And I have learned that nothing is guaranteed but change.  The currents of human affairs are always shifting, now quickly, now slowly, like the winds and the waves; the pendulum is always swinging to and fro.  

Human nature does not change; if it did, we would have become a different kind of critter long ago.  But the world around us is always in flux.  Moderation and balance, the middle way, is the best course to follow, but fools young and old are always chasing after something "new and different" - which soon enough they despise as "that old stuff."  So the old lessons must be learned anew by every generation.

Human life is a mixed bag, a game of skill and chance - win, lose, or draw, you have to play the hand you are dealt, and do the best you can.  Have fun, but don't be a prick.  Be honest, fair, and kind to everyone.  Do your part, don't leave a mess, and mind your own damn business.

That's it.  That's the wisdom of the world, in a nutshell.  Take it or leave it.  There are other, spiritual truths worth knowing as well, but you'll have to find those on your own.  (But beware of fakers and fanatics, who are legion.)

When I was a kid, I used to think it would be a fine thing one day to be old and wise.  Well, in a way it is somewhat satisfying to finally have seen through the world and all its illusions - to see things and people as they really are, not just what you imagine them to be.  

But at this late age, it doesn't do you much good.  Your body and your finances (unless you are exceptionally lucky) don't allow you to do much with all that wisdom.  And nobody wants to hear what an old man has to say.  So you just keep it to yourself, mainly, while you contemplate the view from the top of the mountain.

When you have lived into old age, you can feel the rhythm of time passing:  a river always flowing, a cycle of stars always revolving above our heads and the earth rotating under our feet.  Generations come and go; empires rise and fall; war alternates with peace; wisdom and folly, love and hate, poverty and plenty, life and death - the wheel keeps on turning, endlessly, regardless of our petty wants and wishes here on this little rock in the vast depth of the cosmos.  

A rather frightening picture, if we are not in tune with the Love that moves the sun and other stars, as Dante put it.  And that Love is closer than breathing, nearer than hands and feet - if you are willing to believe. And I do.

We can't be sure what 2026 holds in store for us; but no matter what comes or goes, we can each be true to the goodness within us, and do small things with great love - with gratitude for all the good things we have.  So here's wishing all my truckbuddies health, happiness, and peace in the New Year.  God bless you all.

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The Pork Boys Do Christmas, 2025

 At long last, M.P. has finally figured out how to send pics from his smart phone to my email address.  

As I mentioned the other day, this Christmas has been quieter and much less hectic than usual, without a houseful of M.P.'s family to feed.  So we have done less and done it when we felt like doing it.  We had a little Christmas buffet for just us two last Friday night in front of the Christmas tree - I'll try to add a pic of that here - with a tasty array of hors d'oeuvres, including homemade liver pâté, a creamy homemade cheese ball, some pigs-in-a-blanket, with honey-mustard and barbecue sauces on the side, and more cheeses, assorted crackers, homemade shortbread oookies, and brownies with chocolate-mint icing.   And some mulled wine to wash it all down.  All quite scrumptious, believe me when I tell you!

We had our Chistmas dinner on Sunday, the 28th, and oh was it good.  It began with our traditional Cream of Green soup (green beans pureed with green onions and parsley in a cream sauce) - it's much more delicious than you might think.  Next, M.P.'s famous Red Cajun Duck stuffed with jambalaya was the star of the show, as seen below, accompanied by braised baby carrots and pearl onions, fried turnip slices, and crescent rolls.  Alas, not until we had finished dinner did M.P. realize he had fogotten to set out the deviled eggs and Green Fluff!  The latter being pistachio pudding mixed with Kool Whip and mini-marshmallows.  It was all good, though, and we had it again last night, and will have it again tonight.  No problem!

Wish I could hand all my truckbuddies a plate.  Hope your Christmas fare was good, too.

Click to enlarge.

For desssert, we had what has become our favorite holiday tradition:  chocolate mousse cake topped with real whipped cream and cooked reaspberry sauce.  I'm afraid this picture, taken in a hurry at the end of our meal, looks rather pathetic.  But I assure you, it does not taste pathetic!  It's really a most delightful thing.  The portion size is small because it's so rich and filling.

We have plans afoot for our New Year's Dinner on Thursday, so check back later in the week for more pics. 

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Long-Term Couple: Elliott and Clark's Story

Two Alabama boys from my generation found each other in college back in the early 70's and have managed to survive and thrive together for the last 53 years, ending up as wealthy property developers in Northwest Florida.  A lovely story.

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Sunday Drive: Amazing Grace

'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The beloved hymn, sung a cappella by six Irishmen known as Celtic Thunder in 2010:

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of the

First Sunday after Christmas Day

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