 By Samir K Shukla
There is a new clamor in the political world. Once again there is talk of starting another major political party. There is more than talk, there is effort. It is called the Forward Party. I’m not going to get into who is involved in forming this party. It may be a worthy effort but will end up as wishful thinking, possibly elevating fringe candidates in future elections by taking votes away from moderate candidates in both established parties. The problem is that the two current parties – the donkeys and the elephants, are so entrenched in the American political ethos, that an effort to attach a third critter to pull the wagon called America may drive the country further apart. Alas, the Forward Party will join the Libertarians, Greens, and myriad others into obscurity very quickly. Unless a new party defines specific issues, topics or agendas, goals worth pursuing, people will not be interested. Bringing a mistress into a troubled marriage won’t solve the troubles.  By Samir Shukla
The lovely summer is chugging along, now passing through sultry August. Heatwaves are crisscrossing the planet. Weather patterns are clearly amplified. Humanity continues its path for total planetary domination. Life goes on, while our little blue marble slaps us back into reality now and then. Right now, I’m sitting on my deck, about an hour before midnight, a soothing warm breeze is passing through the area. The night noises are keeping me company as I write this. A few thoughts cross my mind and help pass the time.  By Samir Shukla
I grabbed the flag from the closet and placed it on a pole on the deck. There was hardly any breeze. The flag hugged the pole most of this July day. The fireflies hovering about the yard in the late evening seemed like distant fireworks nudging the flag to flutter. That night, the stars and the moon goaded the wind and the red white and blue happily fluttered. An hour further a gaggle of stars sprinkled the sky, as if trying to outnumber the stars on the flag.  By Samir Shukla
On this morning in early May, the daylight slapped me through the blinds. I rose from the bed while a mini orchestra of cracking and snapping bones emanating from my body soundtracked the scene. I parted the blinds and squinted at the fiery day. The sun was already on its way around the block, waiting for my sloth-mimicking self to come join it. Come on dude, get moving. I stumbled into the bathroom for the morning ritual, thinking of the soon to be consumed hot cup of chai that is so essential to fully awaken the senses. While walking out, I smacked my elbow on the bathroom door rim and cursed my clumsiness while caressing the buzzing bone on each step down the stairs into the kitchen.  By Samir Shukla
Milestones and Markers Humans love marking milestones. Birthdays, Independence Days, family traditions, anniversaries. We ride the daily breezes with the ups and downs of life, the unrelenting roadblocks strewn into our paths by nature, by others, sometimes by our own stumbles, and we trek on, into the slithering, sliding and slippery alleyways of life. We persevere. These challenges make us stronger, more alert, seasoned, to handle the unknowns headed our way tomorrow or the next day. It’s called experience, but also it is innate in our species, the wily ways of getting through the day, not just surviving but thriving and moving forward. |
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