Now

Lots of people have problems with the past.

They're haunted by it, stuck in it or forever try to relive it.

I'm with Oscar Wilde on this one.

"The one charm of the past is that ... it's the past" ... meaning it's not now.

I tell a lot of stories and a many of them are from things I've done. I've happened to have done a lot doing my best to take full advantage of this gift of life that I have. I do my best to exploit it, squeezing every single drop out to enjoy.

Like everyone else, there's bad shit in my past. Much of it was self-inflicted but a far share was instigated by others. Sometimes I'll tell those stories too as a way of making certain I learned the lesson because I sure as hell never want to do any of that stuff again!

Bill Berry, not the former drummer for REM but the other one, and I have had many excellent adventures that merit retelling. We have every intention of having many more.

Carlos wrote me yesterday from St. Martin to say there are growing rumors that Conner and I will be back soon and we're bring Hania and Sarah. He already knew we're returning because I told him so a few weeks ago. Conner and I have had many excellent adventures there, both famous and otherwise, and everyone is abuzz not because of what we've done, but because of what we might do.

I love summer. I love it even more than college football season. Summer's my favorite time of year ... you got your baby, got blanket, got your bucket of beer ... and I've had good ones and bad ones. What I remember about the bad ones is just trying to get through them. Several were in St. Martin where Carlos and Verna checked on me everyday and brought me jerked chicken. But I don't want to that again either.

Now this summer is what's exciting me!

Sarah and I kicked it off this past weekend by floating from the mouth of the ocean through the Back River to The Crab Shack where we had a lovely lunch and a better talk. We've got big plans to enjoy the hell out of this one.

Jimmy Buffett is running through my head. "It's the reason for living, that's what I'm given, I don't need no history lesson to tell me why ... I love the Now!"

I'm not big on when the past comes to visit me. It's just what was. There are some good stories to still tell but the rest is best left back there. I don't want to go back to it and I certainly don't want it come back to me. College was great but I'd die if I had to go back.

Seminary was a defining part of my life but they'd shit their pants if I wanted to return, which I don't.

My days as a "Professional Christian", President & CEO, political advocate, and such were key moments for me too but it would be pure hell to do any of them again.

I'm too busy anyway.

Living the NOW and loving it!