Sam Shepard--What's Up, France?

Originally Posted Thursday, May 2, 2013

Every day now, I get more than several visitors who come to the blog from a Google search for Sam Shepard.  They are all in Europe, most of them from France.  What is up with that?  They land on the entry titled "Feeling Like Sam Shepard."  I get that.  But why are so many people in France Googling Sam Shepard?  I'm sure that this site is not what they were looking for. 

It is something what a new lawn will do for you.  Something--funny, amazing, profound?  I fumble for a word.  It is [insert cliche] what a new lawn will do for you.  I have one.  It went down yesterday.  It has been raining for days and will continue through the weekend.  It is raining right now.  How lucky can one man be?  The house has been pressure washed, the irrigation system repaired, some bad boards replaced.  I'm living in middle-class Shangri-La.  What more do I need? 

Well. . . I came across an article today that reports that Martha Stewart is on Match.com.  For real.  Here was my take-away from the article.  The author opines:

"But in general, when men and women get over 50, the odds of just bumping into Ms. or Mr. Right aren't in their favor. So the really committed ones go hunting where the odds are better, and that's online. Stars and celebrities are no different from anyone else. When they get over a certain age, they stop meeting eligible partners. If a woman does meet someone compelling at a party, she doesn't know if he's available or just wants to play. If she meets him at the office, it might be too complicated."

And this after having just put down new sod.  I thought that it would be like a chick magnet.  Shit.  It's always something. 

But this is what we have rather than adventure, I guess.  The days of exploration and escapades are behind us as a culture.  Even on Everest where people pay the best money for it, sherpas are rebelling.  Reportedly, they attacked three climbers near the top because they felt insulted.  I guess this is an adventure, too, much like going into a crack neighborhood to find a prostitute, but that is not the sort of adventure I am referring to here.  I'm talking about the pure, wide-eyed kind unblemished by the modern world.  You know--white guys going into the blank parts of the map and coming back to tell heroic tales of primitive peoples.  The sort of stuff I was raised on.  Kon Tiki, even.  Man against the elements.  Now that you can experience that all online. . . what's the point. 

Nope.  A new lawn.  I'm excited to lay down some mulch this weekend and maybe pot some plants and place them strategically around the patio.  I will play hooky from the factory tomorrow to take care of some other things, too.  I want new rugs in the kitchen and dining room.  I'm even picking up the mail now as it falls through the slot, discarding the junk and paying the bills.  I've done that one day in a row, but I'm hopeful for the future. 

Now its time to go to work.  All is well at the factory.  Yesterday was May Day, but the workers made not one peep about the work conditions.  Management is very, very happy.