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Rod 4/16/04 Photo by Billy Iz
A Thought for Today
All life is imagery, but imagery is
seldom life. The moral is not to ‘get a life.’ It’s to imagine one for
yourself then make it happen.
WEEKEND FEEDBACK
Here are a few replies to letters featured in recent Flight Plans.
APPEARANCES: 5/17
Greetings, Rod ... yes ... your appearances, speaking and books, etc.,
etc., ARE a great way for those of us who have followed you for years to
convey and share stories with you. Luckily, being a part of the
Commonwealth Club appearance in San Francisco, I was able to meet you
again, meet other fans and just mingle with you ... like casual friends
should.
Anyone who reads/listens to Rod McKuen should make
all efforts to be a part of these wonderful occasions. It's great fun to
meet you and to learn more about you than appears in book or song. 'Tis
also a thought-provoking experience ... you're The Best. Sherilyn in
Atlanta
Dear Sherilyn, I had such a great time at The Commonwealth Club that I’m
thinking of doing the whole thing over again before the year is out. If
all goes well it will take place at The San Francisco Public Library
before the year is out. This time with Bellingham who is no longer under
the weather. As Ever, Rod
RE: MOTHERS DAY BOOK SIGNING
Thank you for making my Mothers Day terrific. I
have enjoyed your writing and most particularly your songs/music for
many years. The truth is I really can't carry a tune, but I sure love
singing along. There were times over the years when I did not have a
record player to play the albums and I am sure I took liberty at times
with the words, but my daughters heard me singing while I did my house
cleaning. In the car on day trips, and most likely from the shower. Then
I got a CD player and they got to hear your box set and the songs the
way they were meant to be sung.
I am pretty sure you realize how much I cherish my first grand child
Emily. I had her sitting on my knee while singing along to you singing
"My sweet Emily...." more times than I could count. It was such a thrill
for me to introduce her to you on Mother's day and have pictures taken.
I hope you don't think I am some stalker kind of fan. My daughter teased
me about that. We have seen so many stalker fans with my younger
daughter Jamiann's friends who follow Barry Manilow around. Gee, they
even follow him to Europe. You are very special to me. I am so honored
to have met you and have had my loved ones meet you, but I know my
boundaries and respect your celebrity!
Rod with Emily & Diane
The week before Mother's Day I got to meet Mickey
Rooney at a Boscov's Dept. Store grand opening. What a thrill that was
for me. I love all MGM/ Arthur Freed movies he appeared in. I loved Judy
Garland too. Meet Me In St. Louis is my favorite movie. Meeting Mickey
Rooney and his lovely wife Jan...who sings beautifully!
Thanks again for making my Mother's Day terrific! We took Emily for a
tour of New Your City. She was mesmerized! Love, Diane
Dear Diane, It was great to see you again. It reminded me of when we
first met . . . it was at the memorial service for Bobby Fryer a few
years back. Emily is a sweetheart. As ever, Rod
RE: UPS & DOWNS 5/17/04
"Besides if we didn’t have the occasional cloudy
day we wouldn’t appreciate the sunshine".
I went into my garden first thing this morning & the slugs have feasted
on my hostas & runner beans - so what, I'll plant some more! I have an
army of baby snails hiding in the clematis around my fences - just
waiting to follow in their parental footsteps in the garden that I've
spent the last four years taking back to nature - so what, the resident
birds can have a party! It doesn't matter. "Look around you and feel
alive, because that's what you are - the time to feel dead is when it's
too late". That's what I'm going to tell my 18 year old daughter today.
My beautiful 18 year old daughter who needs to look around this "good
green earth" whilst she's starving & self-harming.
So you see we don't have clouds in this house - just one big eclipse!
Never mind, it's a lovely warm sunny day - it'll defrost her too thin
body & make the dog wish his coat came supplied with a zip! Thank you
for your incredibly kind message. It made my already optimistic inner
strength even stronger! Definition of optimism:- belief that the world
is the best possible world. Luv from Anne in England
Dear Ann, Thanks. On a lighter note here is a sure-fire remedy for
getting rid of garden slugs. Set out bowls of beer where these pesky
varmints congregate. Slugs love beer, it doesn’t love them. 'Nuff said.
I just finished planting basil next to each of my tomato plants so that
those ugly horned green tomato works will not be coming around again
this year. It works every time. Again, keep your sunny side up.
Affectionately, Rod
WE INTERRUPT THIS FLIGHT PLAN FOR A GOOD LAUGH
This one comes courtesy of Kyletta.
ELEVEN
If you've read the e-mail going around about the number "11" for the
past few weeks, you will love David's response to it. Don't know who
David is, but his letter is hilarious! Make sure you read beyond the
Original Letter!
Original Letter:
The date of the attack: 9/11 - 9 + 1 + 1 = 11
September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2 + 5 + 4 = 11
After September 11th there are 111 days left to the end of the year.
119 is the area code to Iraq/Iran. 1 + 1 + 9 = 11
Twin Towers - standing side by side, looks like the number 11
The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11
State of New York - The 11th State added to the Union
New York City - 11 Letters
Afghanistan - 11 Letters
The Pentagon - 11 Letters
Ramzi Yousef - 11 Letters (convicted or orchestrating the attack at the
WTC in 1993)
Flight 11 - 92 on board - 9 + 2 = 11
Flight 77 - 65 on board - 6 + 5 = 11
Dave's response:
Oh my God! How worried should I be? There are 11 letters in the name
"David Pawson!" I'm going into hiding NOW. See you in a few weeks.
Wait a sec ... just realized "YOU CAN'T HIDE" also has 11 letters! What
am I gonna do? Help me! The terrorists are after me! ME! I can't believe
it!
Oh crap, there must be someplace on the planet Earth I could hide! But
no "PLANET EARTH" has 11 letters, too! Maybe Nostradamus can help me.
But dare I trust him? There are 11 letters in "NOSTRADAMUS."
I know, the Red Cross can help. No they can't... 11 letters in "THE RED
CROSS," can't trust them. I would rely on self defense, but "SELF
DEFENSE" has 11 letters in it, too! Can someone help?
Anyone? If so, send me email. No, don't... "SEND ME EMAIL" has 11
letters. Will this never end? I'm going insane! "GOING INSANE?" Eleven
letters!
Nooooooooooo! I guess I'll die alone, even though "I'LL DIE ALONE" has
11 letters.
Oh my God, I just realized that America is doomed! Our Independence Day
is July 4th. 7/4. 7+4=11! ~ Dave
PS. "IT'S BULLSHIT" has 11 letters also.
Monday I’ll be back with a new edition of Ask Rod. Sleep warm and play
safely over the weekend.
5/21/2004 9:31 PM PDST.
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