Paradise, Paradise!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Paradise, Paradise!

November 22nd, 2013

Hello, Everyone,

       Today is a special day in my life - and the life of another as well.  Her name is Nancy (Shaw) - and Dear Nancy turns 81 today.  So, it is my wish that Nancy has the best 81st birthday of her entire life.  I told her that this morning - as we snuggled in her bed.

       That is really to say that every day should be the best day of that day in one's life.  Now, is that hard to imagine - and make happen?  I think we humans live like some other day is better than the day at hand; and that is one of the reasons we almost never realize PARADISE ON THIS EARTH.  We are taught that the current day is not important - related to some great wonderful day in the future; and we call that "great wonderful day" in the future, "Heaven;" but in not realizing the current day is every bit as wonderful as any other day, we spend a current day in remiss.  Now, don't you agree that is the truth?

       A long, long time ago, I had the good luck - or opportunity - or whatever - to realize that it is literally impossible for one day to be more spectacular than another because if I just look at each day, I can see that every day is really the same as any other day; and I proposed to myself that I would try to live my life like every day is just the same as any other day.  My role in life is to act like that; and then - presto - every day is Heaven and everywhere is Heaven.  It is as simple as that; or so I decided in my twenties.  In December, I will turn 72.

       I will not go into the disagreements I have encountered on that scale.  Let's just say that in attempting to "act out" Heaven everyplace and Heaven everywhere, I have met with some significant degree of dissent.  How dare I pretend this is Heaven?  It has gone that way a good bit in my life; and I have simply tried to maintain a cool and let the dissent role off my back like water on a rocky slope.  The key is to not let anyone else "rain on your parade".  Just ignore dissent and get on with living the way it seems all should live.

       Well, Nancy is one who came into my life very late.  She was 79 when we met - after the passing of a friend of mine - and her husband, Joce.  Oh, Nancy and I knew each other a few years before we "met," but after my friend, Joce, died at the elegant age of 88 last year, Nancy and I have joined together and have been together as brother and sister ever since. That which has been so special about this Nancy - and another Nancy I have known since the '70s - is that this Nancy and the other Nancy (Remmenga) have allowed me to act the same in their presence.

       In fact, I have lived with both Nancy's for a time as their "brother" - in spite of one having a husband who was also a good friend - and the other being a widow.  The first Nancy (and her dear husband, Rich) knew of my belief that every day should the same as every other day - and they allowed me to act like it in their presence.  I can't tell you how much the first Nancy allowed me to "be myself" and be like the brother she never knew; and this current Nancy is the same.  She, too, respects me and knows that her "little brother" or "younger brother" is no challenge to her; and that the key to having a good life is to simply act like it is worthy of being lived.

       The first Nancy - and this Nancy - and I have never had sex; and I won't have sex with either one because it would destroy the "simplicity" that bonds us all.  Perhaps one Nancy will meet the other Nancy and the two Nancys can embrace their "brother" - me.  Who is to say that won't happen?  It might; and I invite the two Nancys to meet and "act out" the simplicity that both have allowed me in life.  Indeed, what a lucky life I have had; but it is only "lucky" because I realized long time ago that it makes absolutely no sense to pretend that this life - and every day in it - should not be the wonderful Heaven that so many dream about - but never realize in life.

       But that brings me to a point.  Simplicity is as wonderful as any other "philosophical" or "spiritual" quality, but by itself it means very little.  To even practice simplicity, one probably needs to realize we are all one - and not one of us is any more worthy or less worthy than another.  That is where "Integrity" comes in - believing that the whole is holy and so is each part; and hey, I am - and my two Nancys are - simply three equal parts of the same whole.  Nothing could be more "simple".  Right? 

       And then, if we believe we are equally worthy, then the third wonderful "philosophical" or "spiritual" quality of "Innocence" becomes easy.  That is to say, one of us never imposes on the other; and why should one of us impose on the other if each of us is already "whole" as an equal part of the "whole"?  Tell me that!  See how "simple" it really is - or should be?

       Recently, I visited my youngest daughter, Melissa, in Georgia - where I used to live and Melissa lived with me for a time.  Melissa, too, deserves great applause for allowing her Dad to be himself in her life.  Not once have I seen my dear Melissa naked; but she has seen me naked almost all her life.  Melissa is now 35; but in truth, Melissa and I have been more "brother and sister" than Dad and daughter.  Brothers should not act like "husbands" to their daughters - and thus, it has been easy for Melissa and I to act as one; and it should be just as easy for any two people on this Earth to act as one.  Just forget the so called "traditional roles" so many of us choose to select; and get on with being either a brother - or sister - with everyone we meet.  Can it be more simple than that?

       Anyway, while visiting Melissa, I asked Melissa if she would be willing to take me to a wonderful place I visited on occasion when living in Georgia.  That place is one that used to be called "Hidden Valley" - which is a clothing optional resort northeast of Atlanta.  Melissa decided that she would not only take me there, but said she wanted to treat me to an early birthday by paying for a day and night there; and thus, Melissa "escorted" her brother (dad) to this place; and even walked about a little too.  After all, Melissa has seen her "brother dad" naked all her life.  So why should it be any different where all go naked - or can go naked?

       Be that as it may, before Melissa took me to this place once called "Hidden Valley," I wrote an essay about it; and I am including that essay below - just as I wrote it before visiting the now changed a bit "Hidden Valley".  Hidden Valley has not changed for me, however, except in name.  I will explain that in the article below.  But let me say how wonderful I think it is that people can "act out" the wonderful qualities of Innocence and Simplicity and Integrity that I have long believed to be essential to knowing this life - and any life - as Heaven. 

       P.S.  In my article, I wondered if the rule (law) about not taking pictures in Hidden Valley has changed at all.  It hasn't.  It is still a rule (law) that patrons take no pictures.  For me, that is like saying you may eat of the pie, but do not praise it for tasting good.  If people really believe they are right, it is stupid to prevent them from saying so - in this case, with pictures.  Are you listening, "Paradise Valley"?  Be proud of what you are!  Please don't keep it a secret!  Don't let your "patrons" dictate how it "should be" at Paradise Valley!  In the words of a Christian gospel, put your light where all can see it;  and benefit from the apparition.

       In conclusion, Happy 81st Birthday to my Dear "Sister," Nancy Shaw.  We are two - among quite a few probably - who have long ago realized that Heaven is not so hard - if we only realize it should be easy.  That is the key to knowing Heaven in this life or any other.  KNOW IT SHOULD BE SO!

       I leave you to my article that I wrote on the eve of actually visiting a place called "Hidden Valley".  May we all find our own Hidden Valleys and make them "Paradise Valleys".  It is so easy - if we just BELIEVE!

Gently,

Francis William Bessler

Laramie, Wyoming  

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Note:

See the previous blog - LIFE IS GOOD - for the article; but I will repeat the song - PARADISE, PARADISE - below.

Paradise, Paradise!

By

Francis William Bessler

Laramie, Wyoming

Written March 31^st, 2006

REFRAIN:

Paradise, Paradise – it seems so right to me.

Paradise. Paradise – can you tell me what it would be?

It’s easy, My Friend, to comprehend.

It’s Innocence, Simplicity, and Integrity.

If God’s outside, we must seek to please,

but if inside, we must be pleased.

It depends upon where we place our God

that determines how we will trod.
Refrain.

Innocence means not to impose,

not just to not be imposed upon.

It’s treating everyone like they’re Divine,

regardless of any wrong.

Refrain.

Simplicity means I should act the same,

regardless of who is around.

It’s regarding the Nature of which I am a part,

like no shame in it can be found.

Refrain.

Integrity means I am Part of a Whole

that is Blessed completely throughout.

If the Whole is Holy, so is each Part,

and the Whole is filled with God now.

Refrain.

So, with these three wonderful qualities,

Paradise is given birth.

It shouldn’t matter where I am.

So, why can’t there be Paradise on Earth?

Refrain (3).

                     Until next time, Adieu!

Your Bella Vita host,

Will Bessler

(Francis William Bessler)