I watched her rise and fall over our sleepy little town. That dead rock in the sky, that shines over us all… Who knows the secrets here? Where? Where everyone pretends that nothing happens.

The warm salt waters of the Gulf Stream flow north from Mexico, along the eastern continental shelf, passed Cape Breton and beyond. Cold arctic air sweeps down over frozen tundra and bristles raised hairs on hunched backs, along Labrador and into the Northumberland Strait. Where these 2 meet is a spit of land that rises out of the Atlantic, just north of New York City, and is formerly known as New Scotland. It’s because of this; the north winds and the south currents that the conversations here are usually always about the weather…

To an outsider, it would appear as if nothing else goes on here but the weather. However, appearances are deceiving. Nothing is as it seems…

Reminds me of the old joke… A man from the city asks a fisherman, “What do you do around here for excitement.”

The fisherman smiles, ” In the summertime we fish and we fuck. In the winter, we don’t fish. “

I was looking for a lover.

Who could love me without guilt.

It started out so hopeful.

But shame had that house built.

I couldn’t get my feet set.

My eyes were never dry.

I gave it all. I’m standing tall.

No who or when or why.

“There are 32 ways to tell a story, and I’ve used everyone, but there’s only one plot, things are not as they seem.

Jim Thompson

The night was playing shadows.

The moon was riding high.

I was listening from under sheets.

Either I was tired, or I was shy.

The sounds came from the alley.

A desperate haunting moan.

I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming.

But I desired to be alone.

There’s a distant rolling thunder.

And a cool breeze foretells rain.

I wonder where the cat is.

And it’s back to sleep again.

The bad luck raised suspicions, on a path that was beat down.

No one dared to look within or see the wise men in the town.

It was happening for eons, as long as Grandad could recall.

Like a dark foreboding plank walk or a dream in which you fall.

Until the child spoke her words that, “Maybe somethings wrong with me?”

So we made a meeting with the Doc, down at the Family Psychiatry.

The doctor raised awareness and we all took a look.

Things are looking so good now, might take Grandma off the hook.

Now life is far from perfect however the family’s not so sad.

Looking in the mirror, not blaming blind luck, good or bad.

null

I was a boy when people asked me…

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

‘Unafraid.’ I thought.

“I don’t know.” I answered.

I just wanted people to stop hitting me. I just didn’t want to be afraid all the time.

I grew tall and people asked me.

“Why are you so angry?”

“Why do you drink so much?”

“I don’t know. ” I lied.

I am 58 years old and I am a father and I know what I want. To teach her and show her love and support her and be her friend… and paint and make films.

“I will tell story.”

Said I.

Dennis Mantin

Someone once said, “Someday it’s the struggles that you will remember with the most fondness.”

I’ve been reflecting on this, and when I am in those moments, dealing with incompetence or someone being difficult for the sake of being difficult… I come alive in both language and aggression. The things I say in those moments are truly memorable; and when success is achieved in this manner… I don’t think the others remember that with the fondness I do.

I don’t think I owned a computer before I was 40.

I was almost 50 before I had a cellphone.

I’ve been writing on my WordPress account now for 10 years. This is easy.

Writing isn’t hard. Editing and sending files in the correct format is insanely challenging for me because I didn’t grow up with this technology. I learned to type on an actual typewriter.

Copy and paste.

Drag and Drop.

Really?

People say this like I’m supposed to know, and I don’t.

The only reason I long to be wealthy is to know someone who can drag and drop for me.

By the way… this photo was taken in Ireland, and the colors formed naturally from ice particles in the air. Or that’s what the brochure says!