The Sublime Roundabout

I was going crazy. As surely as madness took Nemo, I felt myself slipping into a self-induced psychosis. I was no psychoanalyst, but I knew that some of the screws up in the old noggin were becoming loose. And I was scared. Nothing in life is worse than finding yourself in a situation that you can do nothing about. I was trapped - as trapped as any mouse in any cage. Oh, I could move about within the confines of the underground compound. They left me pretty free reign to do anything I wanted and go anywhere I wished. But there were always cameras following me, always guards just around the corner, always something to remind me that I was an honored guest, but one with very limited freedoms. I had taken to exercise, which at first seemed a good release of my pent-up energy, but later became as mundane and ritualistic as everything else here. Everything. Even my relationship with Janice, which was once so fulfilling, so pure, had become tainted by the intrusion of these men and...

Janice woke slowly, stretching luxuriously on the softness of her bed. There was something about satin sheets that made her feel like a princess. She'd never had had them in her own house - they were simply too difficult to keep looking good without an army of servants. Well, that wasn't a problem for her now. She smiled to herself at how her life had changed over the past several days. It was truly amazing how quickly and drastically things could change. From southeast Texas swamp land to very dry desert, from living a life as a professional nurse to now being revered as a queen... It is true - life did move fast. She was grateful, too, for the things that had stayed the same, particularly that her daughter and her son were with her. Then there was Michael. She loved him more than ever, but he was becoming moody and distant. That was understandable, she thought, based on the sudden nature of what had happened and how quickly he'd had to be brought up to speed. But th...

Woody juked the stick left and immediately felt the aircraft respond. He was made for this. He loved it like he'd loved his first car, his first girlfriend, his first everything. Each and every time he got into this helicopter - the Bell 412 - it was like the first time and his heart soared with his body above the clouds with sheer joy and exhilaration. He was in his element, master of air, machine, and destiny. He flexed his hands on the controls. That was one part that was not like the first time. When he'd initially received his training, back in the waning days of Vietnam - a place he'd never end up seeing - his hands had not seemed to tense up and lock up like they did now. He'd been flying for nearly 40 years and was not any closer to retirement. Woody had worked for the Garfield County Sheriff's Department for about two years. Before that he'd been flying sight-seers out of Las Vegas through the Grand Canyon, occasionally ferrying them back as far a...

Why call those random paths roads? Everyone who walks walks like Jesus on water. - Antonio Machado

The more I think, the less I see when I'm able to walk I'm queen of my world I let it rain on my skin I don't let myself down I don't let myself down just wanna be one with you wanna be one with you The more I think, the less I do when I'm able to talk I'm queen of my world I let it rain on my skin I don't ask myself why I don't ask myself why I wanna be one with you wanna be one with you all I want is to rock your soul all I want is to rock your soul all I want is to rock your soul and all I want is to rock your soul all I want is to rock your soul all I want is to rock your soul I feel closer to the clouds I'm touching all the highest leaves on top of the trees It's my desire's release we let it rain on our skin you're holding my hand I'm holding your life 'n I feel like I'm one with you I'm one with you and all I want is to rock your soul all I want is to rock your soul all I want is...

Every day I get in the queue (Too much, the Magic Bus) To get on the bus that takes me to you (Too much, the Magic Bus) I'm so nervous, I just sit and smile (Too much, the Magic Bus) Your house is only another mile (Too much, the Magic Bus) Thank you, driver, for getting me here (Too much, the Magic Bus) You'll be an inspector, have no fear (Too much, the Magic Bus) I don't want to cause no fuss (Too much, the Magic Bus) But can I buy your Magic Bus? (Too much, the Magic Bus) Nooooooooo! I don't care how much I pay (Too much, the Magic Bus) I wanna drive my bus to my baby each day (Too much, the Magic Bus) *[Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus Give me a hundred (Magic Bus) I won't take under (Magic Bus) Goes like thunder (Magic Bus) It's a four-stage wonder (Magic Bus) Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus I want it, I want it, I want it...(You can't have it!) Think how much you'll save...(You can...

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads - Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. - Doctrine and Covenants 136:28

The daily newspaper screamed the headlines: “Plane Crash Kills 43. No Survivors of Mountain Tragedy,” and thousands of voices joined in a chorus: “Why did the Lord let this terrible thing happen?” Two automobiles crashed when one went through a red light, and six people were killed. Why would God not prevent this? Why should the young mother die of cancer and leave her eight children motherless? Why did not the Lord heal her? A little child was drowned; another was run over. Why? A man died one day suddenly of a coronary occlusion as he climbed a stairway. His body was found slumped on the floor. His wife cried out in agony, “Why? Why would the Lord do this to me? Could he not have considered my three little children who still need a father?” A young man died in the mission field and people critically questioned: “Why did not the Lord protect this youth while he was doing proselyting work?” I wish I could answer these questions with authority, but I cannot. I am sure that sometim...

What would you say to someone in pain? Someone you love truly and deeply, someone from whom you would remove all pain, all suffering - if only you could? How would you comfort a soul grieving the loss of another? With all of the loss that has been around me of late, I have pondered these questions. How do I comfort a friend who has lost a loved one? How do I speak a kind word in season to my sweet grandmother who is missing her husband of more than sixty years? How do I tell my aunt how much the loss of her son, my cousin, means to me - and how much his life touched mine? Do I speak of eternity, seeking to sublimate existing woes into the perspective of forever? Do I say that sadness and pain is a purely mental thing that can be overcome with distraction, time, or self-discipline? Do I evoke the great philosophical masters, telling of how the experience of pain and loss is part of the human experience and therefore not to be shunned, but rather welcomed as the sign of continu...

An angel came from heaven And visited me here on earth. "What kind of daughter," he asked, "Would you like her to be at birth?" "Please, just let her be healthy," I said, with a wavering voice. "Let her be born with ease and peace; Yes, that would be my choice." So she was born and so began The most miraculous time of my life With her and my son together They blessed both me and my wife. The angel visited again When my daughter was about three Again he asked my desire, saying, "How would you like her to be?" "Please, let her be sweet," I pleaded "Like every good daughter should be. Let her light shine for our family And for all the world to see." So he took the light of the sun And put it in her eyes It's there for everyone to see Where God's own glory lies. "And now that she's eight," The angel spake again On another visit, later on, "Now how would you begi...

Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you'll be my girl Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you'll be my girl When I saw you walking down the street I said that's a kind of girl I'd like to meet She's so pretty, Lord she's fine I'm gonna make her mine all mine Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you'll be my girl When you turned and walked away That's when I want to say C'mon baby, give me a whirl I want to know if you'll be my girl Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you'll be my girl When you turned and walked away That's when I want to say C'mon baby, give me a whirl I want to know if you'll be my girl Hey, hey hey baby! I want to know if you'll be my girl Hey, hey hey hey hey, baby C'mon, baby now.....

Some lives are long Sending deep roots Spreading forth mighty branches Providing shade and shelter While reaching for the sun Others are quick Blazing across the sky Like a shooting star Leaving a glowing trail of glory But neither is more significant than the other For each leaves their mark On a world that will never be the same Return home, dear cousin And find there's the embrace Of those gone before And find in welcoming arms The peace and rest Of the Lord

Hey you ! out there in the cold Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me Hey you ! Standing in the aisles With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me Hey you ! don't help them to bury the light Don't give in without a fight. Hey you ! out there on your own sitting naked by the phone would you touch me Hey you ! with your ear against the wall Waiting for someone to call out would you touch me Hey you ! would you help me to carry the stone Open your heart, I'm coming home But it was only a fantasy The wall was too high as you can see No matter how he tried he could not break free And the worms ate into his brain. Hey you ! out there on the road Always doing what you're told, can you help me Hey you ! out there beyond the wall Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me Hey you ! don't tell me there's no hope at all Together we stand, divided we fall.