(x = space)
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Missioning
(for Mandy Shunnarah)
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It’s Wednesday
And a hump day
Too many cases breaking out
Al-Qaeda talking up Afghanistan
Fires in California
New Apple phones
Unveiled there
I need shoes
More importantly a place to live
Local friends are helping
And good thoughts
Come from everywhere
Faroff family stands by
I’m eaten up with nerves
They eat me
Consume the calm
Like the noise above
That means I’m leaving
After many years
Too many jobs
That took up all
My energy allotment
Concentration
And my attempts to rest
And now
Semi-retired
Accosted with all that
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My heart needs fixing up
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This should not
Be all for me
Too many people
Have revocable need
I pray
Others help
With worldly substance
So much more than I have
But this should not be for me
In what I cannot do
It’s to put out fires
Help first-responders
Let go those
Who have no perspective
Build up health
Yes
It’s true
And I must ask
For all of us
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C L Couch
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Mandy Shunnarah has been writing about skateboarding and skateboarding—forthcoming book, Midwest Shreds: Skaters and Skateparks of Middle America from Belt Publishing (fall 2022). Hers is a positive, inclusive, encouraging voice.
https://www.offthebeatenshelf.com/blog
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Skateboard on Dry Lakebed
Photo by Kelsey Dody on Unsplash
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clcouch123 
September 15, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Yes, we need to put out the fires and quit feeding on the haters propaganda on both sides of the political divide! There is too much good around us to feed on the talking heads!
September 15, 2021 at 9:58 pm
Thanks for your encouraging response. There’s so much good and we can do and show more–and wouldn’t it be good for the heads to talk about that!
September 15, 2021 at 10:24 pm
Yes, they think there is no drama in good news, but there is just as much good drama as bad if they look.
September 15, 2021 at 10:38 pm
Yes, there are people, many people–maybe most people–who are doing well and trying to do well. How about the pundits leading off with these stories? I’m not sure–I mean, I wasn’t there–but it seems the stories about peace in Europe and in the Pacific after World War II probably did pretty well in what was then the media and the ratings. And the moon landing, which I was there as a child to see and hear, did pretty well by way of reaction and attention. And so many other accomplishments. They are large and small. We should elevate both kinds. Thanks again. I hope you’re having a fine week.