THE HOUSE
By Duncan
I want to begin this episode by discussing the home I will occupy for the next couple of days. “Yes, I’m living very high on the hog.” I had to look up the expression. "High on the hog" refers to a wealthy lifestyle or luxurious accommodations. It also has something to do with a pig.
I’m vacationing in a home that Zillow says is worth $2,600,000.00.
The map above gives you a good indication of why this property is so expensive. As my personal and very close friend, Susan Tibbs, with Tucker, might say,
“It’s location, location, location, Duncan. It’s on the water.”
Okay, anyone who knows me knows I can’t afford to live in this place. I have “friends,” and my pal Jim, my motorcycle buddy, is the reason for the season. Jim is very gracious with his invites.
We have spent many years and miles on the road together, riding motorcycles throughout the United States. I don’t know if life happened exactly like this, but I’ll make this story as believable as possible.
I moved to Florida in 2014 (that part is true). Jim came down to visit and see what caused me to sell my Wineberry-colored 1500 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and trade my chaps, goggles, and do-rag for a pair of Bermuda shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and my stylish Ray Bands.
He (Jim) realized he was missing out on a “Lifestyle.” So he started looking for property in Florida, where there are hurricanes, sinkholes, and old people pushing walkers. Never mind the five-minute-long traffic lights.
My friend then decided it would be “smarter” to rent rather than buy. He looked at the pros and cons of renting instead of buying. When you have money, all you have to do is say to yourself,
“How much money do you want to leave the children and grandchildren? All of it or most of it?”
(That part is perhaps me talking to Jim in the hot tub under the influence of a glass or two of the “Water of Life.” My apologies to the children and grandchildren. Or any other person I have just offended.)
Okay, let’s move on. Jim decided to rent this place for seven weeks and invited his family and friends to spend some time in Florida during the blistering cold of Indiana. As I have said, Jim is a very charitable fella.
I don’t want to be a pain in the butt and pretend I know how to live your life. I’m not a motivator or what some call a “Life Coach.” Or in some cases (That woman on the internet who always wants to tell me how to live my life.) I noticed some motivational articles online that I thought might be worth mentioning. Here I go, doing what I said I wouldn’t do. Advise on how to live life.
On a personal note. Back In December, winter came to Indiana. It turned cold. The days were overcast, with no sun for days and days. It was depressing. Without the sun, my attitude can be affected. I became withdrawn. I continued to receive calls at home from friends, and one day, one of my friends asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You're not your open, happy, bubbly self. What’s wrong?”
I relented, “Oh, people get tired of my over-the-top flamboyant me.”
“Duncan, we expect you to be over the top; that’s who you are!”
I dismissed the phone call. What does he know?
I hadn’t been out of the house in over a month. I had no desire to get out of the house. I wanted to stay in my cocoon. I realized I was hiding. Why was I hiding? What was I hiding from? I couldn’t think of a thing. So my reality was me feeling sorry for myself? Me trapped in my home? Is that all it is?
I had to talk to myself. Stop watching the news; stop watching other people live their lives on television. You need to live the life you have left. And so, a friend calls and says,
“How soon can you get your ass to Cape Coral, Florida? I’ve got a week open in the schedule if you want it! Come on down, I’m in this big house by myself. Bring a big bottle of Scotch! You will need it!”
Konstantin Kisin
I was searching YouTube and found Konstantin Kisin. (His picture above.) The event where Konstantin was speaking was a conference called ARC. I had no idea what ARC stood for, but this guy seemed an interesting speaker. So I stayed with him. I did have the remote in my hand, ready to bail if he didn’t hold my interest. I stayed watching the full fifteen-minute talk.
ARC: The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) is an international organization whose aim is to unite conservative voices and propose policies based on traditional Western values. It is associated with psychologist and political commentator Jordan Peterson.
Konstantin was talking to 4,000 of the smartest people from around the world—very important elitists and intellectuals. (They kept telling me how important the group of people in the room was; That’s my comment, not in the program highlights.)
The kind of gathering where they spend three days discussing how to save the world. Konstantin was out of place. He was making “fun” of them from time to time. Sometimes, his comments met with silence, a chuckle, and occasionally a polite clap.
As the fifteen-minute speech (or was it a comedy routine) ended, he said the following very slowly and distinctly to 4,000 attendees.
Get ready. I’m going to give you a motivational speech about living life. The words that meant the most to me came at the end of his speech. Here is what he said that made sense to me.
Konstantin: “Here is the most inspiring thing I was ever told.”
There was a hush in the crowd.
“NO! YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DIE. ALL OF YOU.
And when you die, there will be a gathering of people who love you and will say some words; the words will be meaningful and important words. They will put your body in the ground, then they are going to eat some food, and after that, they are going home to squabble over your inheritance. That’s it; we are all going to die. We have nothing to lose; make the best of life.”
So, I got in my “Mean Yellow” and headed for Florida, “Make the best of it!”
Another example of motivational words I can’t seem to get out of my head.
I’m sure, like you, I have several websites I like to read. One of my interests is a website called “The New York Social Diary.” I have been reading about the rich people in New York City for over 20 years. David Patrick Columbia is the author.
I normally read the “Diary” at about midnight before I fall asleep. I was almost asleep when I read the following story.
CANCER ALLIANCE LUNCHEON IN PALM BEACH:
Written by guest writer LEE FRYD
I normally look at the photographs to see what the women are wearing. Some are very stylish, some are over the top (really expensive outfits), some wear sexy outfits (I like those the best), and some are matronly. It’s interesting to see how the rich people live, dress, and interact with each other. I was going to skip the article, but for some reason, I noticed Fergie was the main speaker. What in the world would she have to say?
Do you remember a joke about men sitting around drinking, and one asked,
“I wonder what the poor people are doing tonight?”
“Hey, I’m reading the New York Social Diary. On the shores of the Caloosahatchee River in Cape Coral, Florida, I’m living in a two-and-one-half million dollar home.
Duchess Sarah Ferguson
I don’t follow Duchess Sarah Ferguson. I have nothing negative to say about her. She is simply not on my radar screen. But as I was reading, I noticed the motivational words she gave at the luncheon. And I was inspired by her comments. Let me share them with you.
The following was written by Lee Fryd:
She’s a natural. Speaking extemporaneously and extensively, she named many in the room — and her boobies! “This is Derick, and this is Eric,” she said, pointing to what we otherwise would have called “the girls.” The Duchess took off her jacket to show off her mastectomy restoration, the rainbow at the end of two cancers.
When she went under the knife for a melanoma, “the surgeon who did Derek met me at the hospital to do the reconstruction. ‘You’ll get two for one,’ he promised.” That hit home to this audience, many of whom feel it’s a waste of anesthesia to come out looking the same!
“I want to be a grown-up, but I never will be. I see my life as being on a playground because it’s all about attitude.”
'When you feel bad about yourself, go out there and do something for somebody else."
She continued, “Do it if you wish to do it. Laugh a lot. Live a lot. Dance a lot. Win a lot. Dream big, for your life will be small if you don't. Your aspirations should stretch the boundaries of possibility. Dreaming fuels grace and propels you toward greatness. Ground your dreams in reality. Take the practical steps necessary to turn dreams into tangible achievements. Dreaming without action is meaningless.
“I want you to get up from these chairs, go out that door, and say let’s live!”
And with that mic drop moment, the ladies at a Breakers ballroom filed out.
The Sniggerer, (Andrew, Duke of York) Cabbage, (Queen Elizabeth) and Fergie (The Duchess of York) Diana (Princess of Wales)
Her words knocked my hat into the creek. I hear her words simply saying, “Be yourself.” I have been accused of being too big, flamboyant, over the top. And it’s hard for me to dismiss the critics. I need to plead guilty, but not all the time.
When I look at “Fergie,” I don’t see a Royal. I see a flamboyant, over-the-top, big, beautiful, red-headed, sexy personality. I tend to relate to her shenanigans. After reading her speech at the Breakers Ballroom, I could not get her out of my head.
“I want to be a grown-up, but I will never be.”
I get it! I understand what she is talking about. That’s why I’m sitting in a 103-degree hot tub in Cape Coral, Florida, looking at the stars. "Salute."
