Being 91

 OK, So I’m still 91 and kick’n. But why? Why am I still “kick’n”? I know, I know, I am not supposed to ask such questions. But still, with more frequency, I keep wondering, Why Am I Here?

But then, why are any of us still here? Life seems endlessly filled with tales of horror, mixed in with all that great fun, and those wonderful cocktails and dinners with loved ones.  

But my Aware life began when I was about 6, sitting in our front room on the floor, listening to the radio by myself. Oh and it happened to be around that December 7^th thing –you know, 1941, and some dude named Roosevelt was yakking to us about bombs and things being thrown at us in some far off place called Pearl Harbor.   Before that, all I had heard was Jack Benny and dudes like him trying to entertain us 6-year olds.  But that event seemed to spark humans all over the world. That War thing continued with lots of folks being killed all around our sorry-assed globe. But, that War also seemed to  (for little me) spell the beginning of Humanity’s Kill-Me Psyche. From then on, humans seemed to get off on the killing machines.  WW II, Korea, Vietnam, various Middle Eastern kills, the killing never really stopped, although it periodically slowed down.  Now we have The Russkies killing Ukrainians, Trump killing Iranians, Bibi killing whoever crosses his path in Israeli territories, annoyed Frenchmen screaming at their government, Sudanese blowing things up. And on and on.

And we are supposed to believe that Humans were invented by a peaceful and loving God(dess?). The unending killing machines being operated non-stop by Humans makes me wonder why anyone would believe that we are here for some loving and kindly purpose. We are supposed to worship and love this God that invented all of us killing machines?  Humans are killing little children, practically as we speak. Why?  Are Humans really this flawed and uncaring? Or are Humans simply uncaring, killing machines who believe it’s ok to gun down your neighbor, or your neighbors’ kids in some school.

Honestly, at this tender age of 91, I no longer understand what to believe.  I know, I know, I have loving relatives , kids, grands, even great grands who never even think of killing anyone. And my still weekly Thursday datenites at Steve’s lovely Brewery still provides me with the caring attention of our friends, and the caring staff at the Brewery. My good friends who appear every Thursday help to make my life a continued joy.   And seeing kids and grands laughing and giving me hugs still fills me with joy.

It is all a lot more difficult without the love of my life – my beloved Carol (71 years together) sharing the daily joys. But the joys remain.  I just wish we could get rid of all the killing machines, and play chess with one another instead of trying to shoot each other.

Yeah, as my long life begins to close out, I may not know how folks will dwell on it.  But, folks, please try and figure out some way to keep the laughs, the smiles from kids, the Cheers when we toast one another with a beer or glass of wine.  Maybe we should throw away our TVs and focus on one another nearby. Be nice to your neighbor. Don’t frown on that poor dude sitting by the side of the street cuz he has no home. Maybe give him something to help him live another day.

And the Trumpies??? Well, we need to get rid of them in a civilized manner. Yeah, don’t shoot them. Instead, vote them out big time.  It’s up to us to try to bring back civilized behavior folks. It is technically possible to be civil to one another, even if we disagree with one another.  Be nice to one another, even if it seems difficult. You don’t have to love everyone. But be civil to one another. Try. Otherwise, that AI thingie really will rid the Earth of everyone. And we do not want that. So cheers, folks, Have a nice glass of beer, or a fine wine, and smile.

Reality

What a lovely day. In the 70’s, dry, bright blue sky. Oh if only . . .  and I walk outside and sit in my lovely rocker on our porch.  And I am staring at a tree across the street. It is an old oak  tree. Its leaves are still a lovely green color, as Fall has not yet set in here.  And a bird chirps out, oh another one. They are enjoying the day also.

And I look out across the street and there is a house. It interferes with the surrounding loveliness, staring at me. And yet another one next to it.  They almost growl at me, as the birds chirp their songs, and the lovely trees sit there enchanting me.  And, as I gaze out, I begin to wonder . . . why are they here? Hmmm

And then a butterfly crosses my vision as it seeks to gain some food from the flowers in the nearby bushes.  And I wonder, do they know I am here watching them? Do they care?  And why do I care?  In some not very distant time horizon, I will no longer be sitting here. No I will join my loving wife who passed away last May. And will I then see her again? Well, No, that isn’t how it works. Cuz see, it does work in specific ways. Yeah, the trees will slowly turn a different color, and then their leaves will drift off into the netherland. And that butterfly will soon lose its liveliness and simply droop into neverland.

And that is called life.  Isn’t that strange? Things simply appear, dazzle the eyes of the watchful and then simply disappear. And we humans sit around and watch it all happen. Well, some of us watch it happen. Others are too busy on their phones trying to make themselves rich, or someone else poor.  It’s sort of like the trees changing color and then their leaves disappearing. Humans appear and disappear in the same way. And some are lovely creatures, and some are ugly of mind and body. But they continue to exist, as does everything on this globe. And why do all these things and creatures exist? No one knows. It is the great mystery called life. It arrives, hangs around for a while, some to dazzle and others to disappoint, and then it/they disappear. And no one knows why.  All kinds of explanations, but none make any sense. Why are we all here? Just CUZ.

But some of us pay attention and at least enjoy the dazzle for a brief term, even if we never have a clue why. Maybe that is the point. Perhaps there is no why. It’s all just some temporary fun for the butterflies and the humans.  So, we need to take a deep breath and enjoy it for our brief term here.

Oh. But then, in the midst of all this charming uncertainty, some dude invented something he called AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Hmm, what the hell is that?  What it is a system of something called electronics, only that system is intended to emulate the human brain, nay exceed the capacity of the human brain. Yeah, electronics that can outthink all the humans. Sounds great huh? Except  why is it needed? Becaude humans are deeply flawed critters who often don’t think? Yeah, that’s why. So, maybe these electronic AI dudes can make up for the deficiencies of humans and improve the lives of all humans. Yeah, that must be it. Hmmm does that seem too good to be true? Yep, Why? Cuz it is. Really, the reason this AI thing was created was because humans are so flawed.  Someone, or really some set of somebodies, decided that maybe humans could be replaced by these AI Dudes who have no flaws.

Hmmm

Wait a moment. If the AI dudes replace all the flawed humans, might they not replace ALL the Humans eventually, flawed or not?  Turns out, That’s The Plan. The inventors see a day when no humans will be needed to do any work. So, Humans will be unnecessary.  And “Life” on Earth will be All Pseudohuman AI Thingies.  And since humans will no longer be needed, the AI dudes would be expected to someone rid the Earth of these unnecessary creatures called Humans.

Scared yet? No? Well you should be, cuz that’s the plan. Yeah, you will no longer be able to sit in a cute rocking chair and listen to the birds and gaze out at the lovely oak trees, or the sweet butterflies. Nope, you will somehow be disappeared by the AI Robots. And I am sure they will be kind to you as they make you disappear.  Yeah, apparently that’s the plan. So, by by Humans. Now the AI robots will have to decide what to do with the butterflies. And do they really need those oak trees?? By by LIFE on EARTH.