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Since about 1954 or '55 when I was a Freshman or Sophomore in High School (can't remember which) I have entertained the possibility of someday becoming a successful writer. This came about because of the encouragement I was given by an English Literature teacher (Mr. Pabst). I figured that all the praise for my handed-in stories he gave me must amount to something. so I began to write and submit stories to popular magazines. With no success.
Several years later, after I was married and my wife and I had four children, I began to study writing and to write more seriously, and eventually I began to sell some poems, anecdotes, and a couple of fiction stories. But they were few and far between, extremely far between. So, after the first faint flush of success had worn off under the pressing needs and necessities of passing time, I came to realize that I was not a 'writer' but merely an imaginative working man who enjoyed dabbling in words, sentences, paragraphs, and all that hi-faluin' composin' stuff.
But I read a lot. A LOT. And I kept on writing, but not usually for publication.
After the computer revolution, I discovered a means of writing stories and storing them in digital form. Then came personal Websites, and Online Magazines... and Blogs.
So now I find myself at age 74, writing occasional stories and storing them on a website with my own domain-name, and entering personal thoughts (almost every day) into my daily blog.
But... know what? I still haven't given up. I still see myself as one day becoming a well-known author of respected novels.
Don't that beat all?
I will stop indulging in such dreams one of these days But probably not until I am dead and gone.
My thoughts have now shifted to another writer. He was once (I think) a good friend of mine; he was a 'cyber-friend' and we had never met face-to-face, but I recognized him many years ago as being a potentially great thinker, artistic writer, and talented poet. His writing surpassed mine in quality to an unbelievable degree.
But the fickle vicissitudes and unexplainable accidents so familiar to all of us, we frail human creatures, unexpectedly attacked him with a vengeance and visited upon him more than he could bear, and eventually weighed him down and down, until he finally gave up -- stopped writing.
I, not being him, can only guess as to why this was his choice.
But I wish he would march himself out to the end of the high-board, pause and stand poised there for a time, and then just heedlessly dive right in... and begin again.
That's what I wish.
Abraham Lincoln reportedly said: "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."
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TRIVIA
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
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HISTORICAL EVENT
While Heyerdahl's work was never embraced by most scholars, he remained a popular public figure and was voted "Norwegian of the Century" in his homeland. He died at age 87 on April 18, 2002, in Italy. The raft from his famous 1947 expedition is housed at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway.
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WORD FOR TODAY
auspices [aw-spis-ees']
noun
1. patronage, support, or sponsorship.
2. a favorable sign.
3. arranged or encouraged by (a society etc). This exhibition is being held under the auspices of the Arts Council.
auspicious [[aw-spish'-ehs]
adjective
giving hope of success. You haven't made a very auspicious start to your new job.
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
(born 7 August 1975)
Charlize Theron is a South African and American actress and fashion model. She rose to fame in the late 1990s following roles in the films The Devil's Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999). Theron received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003),
(born August 7, 1960)
David Duchovny is an American actor, writer, and director. He is best known for playing Fox Mulder on The X-Files and Hank Moody on Californication, both of which have earned him Golden Globe awards.
(born August 7, 1961)
Maggie Wheeler is an American actress, best known for her role as Janice on the TV show Friends. She appeared on the hit comedy Seinfeld in the episode "The Fix-Up", as one of Elaine's friends who is set up with George. She has appeared in many other TV programs, including Drake & Josh, ER, The X Files, The War at Home, Will & Grace, Jack and Jill, How I Met Your Mother and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
(born August 7, 1955)
Wayne Knight is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Newman in the TV sitcom Seinfeld. His other prominent roles include Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park, Stan Podolak in Space Jam, Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2, Tantor in Tarzan, Don Orville in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Zack Mallozzi in Rat Race, Mr. Blik in Catscratch, and Haskell Lutz in The Exes. He also appeared in JFK, Dead Again, To Die For, and Dirty Dancing.
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Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
--Winston Churchill
NASA TV
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