Walter Nels Funk and his Joy Ride to Vermont

I've been a complete slacker when it comes to writing on my blog and am sort of sorry about that. A very unexpected and amazing thing happened to me last week that I am still in the process of processing but think that sharing the experience here will be good for me and of interest to you, especially if you believe that miracles do happen everyday and that our thoughts are powerful in making things happen.

It all started two weekends ago when a friend who I had been canoeing with asked "You never speak of your father much. What's the story?". Before I began to give my friend the abbreviated history of my father, at least what I know, I uttered his name and proceeded to tell the story. His story.

Walter Nels Funk was born on Halloween in 1942, enlisted in the Navy from 1960 to 1968 as a sonar tech and communications specialist. He served on a few different destroyers during the Vietnam War. At 20 years of age, he had already met and married my wild at heart mother who gave birth to me in 1963. They divorced three years later and the father - daughter relationship was severed. I think his spirit and heart were wounded and never fully recovered which is why he now lives in the small community of Ola Idaho, population 100.

And that was that, or so I thought, until I arrived at work last Tuesday and had a message from my dad indicating that he would be arriving in town in less than an hour and was looking forward to seeing me. WTF?

The last time I spoke with my dad was about 8 months ago and he didn't mention anything about a plan to come visit. Unexpected visits in general, is not a wise idea and ill advised, especially if you are driving all the way across the U.S. in an '89 Pontiac Grand Prix with valves made of duct tape to visit your first born child because you feel compelled to do so. More amazing is that had Walter been delayed and arrived a day later, I would have already been gone for three days and the connection would have been missed.

I'm thankful that I had the chance to see him and am certain that he is too. So with that, Funk out and enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. I intend to fully engage is perpetuating some joy and love into the world and hope you do the same.

Peace.

Words for the Music

Today's five minute creative writing exercise is actually song lyrics to one of my original tunes that I sometimes opt to share with complete strangers at open mic or coffee house gatherings. I am far more comfortable playing the tunes for my plants and furniture but need feedback on occasion to determine whether the song is a keeper.

I understand the importance of hearing a song in order to fully appreciate the potential, but for now, the lyrics will be all that I can offer you here. So without further adieu, a T Funk original for your consideration. I hope you have an opportunity to funk things up just enough to spread a little more joy in the world today. Have a great weekend and as always, Funk out!

The Flame

Where you are going will be where you've been
it's all the same place in the end
Words spoken are ideas uttered
sometimes in vain and then forgotten

But sometimes,
they make a connection and need no clarification

If one small push can put you over
then one good turn surely leads to another
One chance is all life requires
for one dream to be inspired

One spark catches another
and that spark feeds the fire's flame.

You probably haven't noticed that I've not blogged very regularly these past weeks, and if that disappoints you, I apologize. There has been a major construction project going on in my front yard that has managed to drain most of my patience right out of me and sadly, has also compromised my sense of humor. I fear that cynicism will soon kick optimism's ass and leave this Funk in a permanent funk, the likes I've never known before.

To counter the bad attitude that is trying to take over my emotional well being, I decided to review some inspirational quotes with hopes that my spirits would be magically lifted and I would succeed in turning my surly outlook on things into something positive. Instead, I found myself uttering negative responses to each quote which only made me feel worst!

For example: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us." ~ Helen Keller
Of course you couldn't see the door that had been opened for you, Helen. You were blind.

Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. ~ Aristotle
Pastimes and amusements probably didn't even exist during your day, Ari, so of course you would say that.

"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities." Aldous Huxley
Right, Aldo. Did you come up with this one as a result of the 'other activities' you pursued, like taking psychedelics or growing that alternative tobacco product in your father's botanical laboratory?

I'll stop there, dear reader, because I think I've made my point. The Funk is in a funk and needs to get out of it. Suggestions?

Be well, stay happy, and as always

Funk, out!

Where the Funk I've Been, What I Said, and Why You Don't Care

Okay, so I've been slacking on the public display of my innermost thoughts via this blog and am sorry to the few, but impressively cool, readers that have discovered my digital diary and want me to write more. I haven't forgotten about the 5 minute daily commitment to the creative writing exercise that is the source of inspiration for this blog, I've just been preoccupied with spring, planting my garden, and snapping photos of wild creatures. I thought it would be better to give my next entry some thought so that I might come up with something to pique your interest enough to keep you reading.

Last week was an interesting mix of weather, neighborhood drama, and high adventure and in the course of those seven days, I managed to offend a some people with the language I used and refuse to give up because they are not "politically correct", will make people uncomfortable, and will give people the impression that I am insensitive and un-diplomatic. That may be true but I say "Funk that!" There is a civil right called free speech and I intend to use it. Freely, and with conviction.

The offensive words and language that I am no longer supposed to use but do from time to time are as follows:

"I'm feeling quite gay today!"
"Whew! That mountainous hike really fagged me out."
"Don't be so niggardly with that (insert item name here) and give me some."

I'm sorry if people think I am being malicious when I use words that make some feel uncomfortable because I'm not. I'm only exercising my right to speak my mind in words that, for me, help express the way I feel or think about something. To take language away from me infringes on my civil rights and that, my kind and literate reader, is offensive.

Until the next time,

Funk out!

Slow Down! What's the Russia?

Hello dear, kind reader! Thank you for taking time to stop by to see if my five minute creative writing workout produces something that will elevate the level of joy you might, or might not, be feeling today. Whatever the mood you find yourself in, I assure you it will get better if you take a few minutes (along with some deep, cleansing breathes) and remind yourself that there is always someone in the world whose life sucks way more than yours does. I was reminded of this during my recent transcendental trip to Siberia.

I posted Vlad's picture to (with his permission of course) remind myself of how fortunate I am to live in a 900 sq. ft, riverfront apartment, and get to watch the huge bridge construction project that is underway just yards from my front door. I also wanted to post his picture to prove that transcendental travel is possible, regardless of what the naysayers say.

So before you start whining about whatever it is that has you in a funk, think of Vlad and his cardboard condo. You might also find inspiration in the words Vlad shared just before I snapped his photo: "The only difference between champ and chump is 'U'."

Have a great weekend and as always,

Funk, out!

Every Picture Tells a Story, Don't it?

In the interest of time, efficiency, and your preference to see an occasional image posted to my blog, I am foregoing my five minutes of writing today so that you, my dear and literate reader, can write your own comment (if you choose) about the image that was taken this morning, April 27, 2010.

Yeah, Vermont is a great place to live. Especially if you like winter for at least six months out of every year. The upside is that I'm sure there are a good number of people that are going to bust out the ski's today and funk things up just enough to spread a little more joy in the world and that, my friends, I can absolutely let myself be okay with.

Funk, out!

Meeting Shmeeting

Good, glorious morning to you, my kind and literate friends! I'm sure that you are anxious, as am I, to finish the tasks that we must complete before dismissing ourselves for home to celebrate Fryday's arrival. It's been a long week for some of us, and based on the number of meetings I've been required to attend this week, am amazed that I was able to accomplish as much as I did. My busy-ness prevented me from blogging yesterday and I'm feeling bad about that so today, I'll blog for ten to compensate.

What the funk was I doing, you ask? I was meeting and in fact, met multiple times this week. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely see the benefit of the weekly two hour meeting to give an oral report on the work you've been doing and the work that may not get done as a result of losing two hours of productivity for the sake of team building and interpersonal communication. At a time when we are being asked by our employers to do more with less, the time deduction factor of the weekly meeting gives the phrase "doing more with less" new meaning for me. I'm doing more with less because the mandatory meeting is taking the time I need more of to get the work done.

My beef that will later be fried today in swine lard?

I recently participated in a two hour meeting (in addition to the two hour weekly meeting) thinking that the session would result in a concrete, actionable proposal so that the need for a follow up meeting would be eliminated. I could scarcely contain my joy as I began thinking about all of the work I could accomplish! So, dear reader, you can imagine my reaction when I learned that another meeting has been requested so that we can review, again, everything that we accomplished in the previous meeting but this time, a four hour time allotment would be preferred. Are you funking kidding me?

I'm going to submit my presence at this next meeting by proxy so that I might preserve more time to spread a little more joy in the world while doing less of the work I so love doing. Does anyone second the motion? Meeting adjourned.

Have a cheerful weekend!

Funk, out.