In the Clearing Stands a Boxer …
In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
“I am leaving, I am leaving”
But the fighter still remains
~Songwriters: Paul Simon / Annie Gawenda
A sort of pensive morning this sunshiny but cool winter day.
An online friend asked of us to give the one song that best describes us.
This is an easy one for me. The Boxer.
In a later performance of this song with Joan Baez, Paul added the verse:
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin even me
I am older than I once was, and younger than I’ll be, that’s not unusual
No it isn’t strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same
Oddly, this day also I heard from a few other old voices, and the melancholy swept over me in huge waves. How I thought my life was going to be far different than it was back then. Not that I am complaining. I am quite happy with the outcome in these latter years. But I sure had not seen this day coming from that viewpoint.
I started to send an ‘add me’ request to these old voices, then paused. That was then. It’s no now. I have nothing in common with that old life. So maybe I am indeed more or less different. And life continues. Still, a small part of me wants to ask them “How are you doing now?”. But I didn’t click the add me button. Some things are best remembered for what they were.
Photo: Jack Dempsy … a home town hero and world champion boxer
Rusty's Armory 
December 16, 2020 at 11:21 am
Good Day you…..
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December 16, 2020 at 11:49 am
And a good day to you too, lass.
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December 16, 2020 at 1:38 pm
I hate to be contrary, but…
maybe a message and not an “add me?” Maybe just the question? Or not. It’s no easy decision.
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December 16, 2020 at 1:51 pm
It wasn’t an easy decision in this particular case, but it was probably the better one …
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December 16, 2020 at 3:38 pm
I’ve always loved that song. Now I’ll think of you when I hear it…
😊
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December 16, 2020 at 4:27 pm
Wait, there has to be a song about a lovable curmudgeon ❤ 🙂 When I used to be on FB, I got a lot of requests from people I knew back in the day wanting to be my friend. None of us kept in touch and some of them were not my friend back in the day so don't try to be my friend now lolol. I went to a private prep school which my dad really could not afford, and most of them were from wealthy families and I was the girl from the other side of the track so never fit in and they didn't care. So no, no being my "friend" now. BUT, if someone from back in the day who was an actual friend found me here in the Twilight Zone, I might say yes to a friend request. On the other hand, my online friends are all people I never met and I like you all better 😁😋😍
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December 16, 2020 at 5:06 pm
Har! I have outlived most of my old friends and most of my friends now are online
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December 16, 2020 at 5:50 pm
So many of my friends have moved away or passed away. Those I’ve stayed in touch with don’t use Facebook (neither do I), but we do stay in touch via email or chat on the phone. COVID has put a stop to visits in person. As for online friends, many have faded away. I hope they are doing well.
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December 17, 2020 at 10:30 am
I moved from my friends and lost contact with most of them over the years. I am really bad at updatings … most of my friends today are online …
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