Billy Ray Chitwood's Blog, page 5
April 4, 2017
No Longer Relevant
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No Longer Relevant
Like lonely grains of sand transported by harsh winds and randomly rearranged into symmetrical peaks and valleys, so Time transports the hours, days, months, and years of Man into the peaks and valleys of Memory, there to dwell in Irrelevance of purpose, waiting for his ultimate destiny, moving with the wind through the joy and tears of his yesterdays, wistfully waiting, ruminating on myriad and arcane Mysteries of death’s new birth – to darkness, to another dimension, to be again without knowing if He once was.
There is so much to wish undone, so much to have accomplished, so much to cherish in those places of your life, yet, it is not lost on so many of us the now lack of relevance to our existence – inabilities, pains of the body and mind, forgetfulness, anger and self-loathing. But, then, we have still the passion to live and see another week, month, year, and we have that loved one who is the enabler, the one who smiles and dreams on into the tomorrows of life, not cowed by Time’s relentless passing…the one who brings to you soothing words that chase away for a time the demons that diminish twilight joys.
For me, there is a dear wife who loves me and caters to my needs. AND, there is my writing which keeps a young man wandering around in my body and mind…helping me to create books and characters of worth – at least, that is my consensus. Writing does something else for me. It keeps my mind active, keeps me away from the doldrums of self-pity and reviewing the past. As I’ve said many times, I still find pieces of me in and between the lines of what I write.
Although there might be times when I’m a ‘grain of sand’, irrelevant in the scheme of things, I have my devoted wife, my kids, their kids, and my Writing that keeps me a fair distance from those peaks and valleys.
One last thing, the books I write are fun in the drafting, in the editing and rewrites, and, I’m told, they’re a lot of fun to read. Many of the books are inspired by true events – mysteries, suspense, romance, memoirs, et al (14 books in all). NOW, if I only knew how to market them well, they would likely be well read. It’s my hope you will try one…each book is previewed on my website, along with some author comments and some book reviews. Please, try one of my books, read and review it on Amazon…good or bad. Readers, reviews, of course, are the life blood of authors.
Really, you Readers out there! You could keep me Relevant for a long time to come.
Billy Ray Chitwood – April 4, 2017
Please visit my website, preview my 14 books, author comments, and some book reviews:
Please follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brchitwood
March 30, 2017
Meet Lady Gray
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Meet ‘Lady Gray’
Our beloved Bengal cat, George, left us for animal heaven some months back after a twelve-year love affair. It was a sad and traumatic moment for Julie and me…we buried George under some trees on our property, and, each morning, we look out the kitchen window at his burial spot and say, “Hello, George, we love you.”
As though George’s spirit reminds us of our time together in some peculiar ways, he finally put an exclamation point on it all…
Before George passed away, a small gray and white kitten came several times to our house and looked through the windows. It seemed obvious to us that the two transferred some mutual affection. George was a declawed, neutered house cat and could not go outside so the two enjoyed and passed their furry feelings via empty space.
After George died, the gray and white kitten came often to our kitchen door. Julie gave her some turkey bits, steak leftovers, and, finally included on her shopping list some cat food and treats. Julie left each food serving just outside the door.
At some point, with soft coaxing, the kitten timidly entered the house, but left after a brief stay. Julie and I had different views on the kitten. Julie was sure the kitten had a home nearby, and we could not just arbitrarily adopt the cat…plus, Julie was still at an emotional level over George and did not think she wanted another animal pet. I took an opposite view: I didn’t think the kitten had a nearby home and genuinely felt she wanted our home as her home. Of course, we both were likely right – maybe she had a home but was cast aside…and, there were stray cats around
As days and weeks passed, the kitten continued her daily visits, and, with each visit, lingered around our property, came into the house on occasion and stayed a bit longer each time before Julie put her outside. Julie was also worried about the kitten having fleas or other ailments, likely having been abandoned either by her previous owners or simply had survived in the wild.
The young cat was accompanied on occasion by a larger black and white male cat. It was apparent that the gray and white female held dominance over the bigger male, not sharing her food with him, and giving us reason to believe the female was in season.
Julie and I had e-mailed and called neighbors to find out if they knew to whom the kitten belonged. We got no helpful information. In the meantime, there was concern that we were feeding ‘gray and white’ too much food because the cat was developing quite a girth…and, sure, we considered the fact she could be in a gestation period.
Finally, there came the day when ‘gray and white’ entered the house and did not want to leave. It was during this time that Julie and I came together in our decision to keep the lovely feline. Her personality was so lovingly tender and timid. We would open the door for her to leave, and she would back away. In short, we fell in love with the little critter…bloated tummy and all – we felt the big tummy could be from all the food Julie was feeding her.
We are picking her up today at 1:00 PM from the Vet Hospital, where she has been spayed, wormed, and inoculated to boost immunity. The Vet tells us ‘Lady Gray’ is likely one-year old or thereabouts.
Julie and I are excited about having this little beauty in our lives…
We consider ‘Lady Gray’ a gift from God…
Billy Ray Chitwood – March 30, 2017
Please visit my Website, preview my 14 books, read some book reviews and author comments.
Please follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/brchitwood
March 24, 2017
So, Tis An Author You Wish To Be
So, Tis An Author You Wish To Be
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So, Tis An Author You Wish To Be!
So, tis an author
You wish to be!
And, why, I ask,
Do you come to me?
Because, I write so
Much, you say,
So many pretty lines
Throughout the day.
True, it is my passion;
It must be so for you.
Yet, with fervent zeal,
Words at times flow few,
Bringing fitful malaise,
Wasteful lingering doubt,
A brain inactive and dull,
And depressing flameout.
I mean not to dampen
Your dream of writing
But there are few who
Will find it requiting.
Then, if you are like me
And write for the soul,
No matter the repulsive foe,
You have ultimate control.
©Billy Ray Chitwood – March 24, 2017
Please visit my Website, preview my 14 books, read some reviews and author comments:
Please follow me at: https://twitter.com/brchitwood
March 23, 2017
March 19, 2017
Finding New Love
(A Country Song)
Okay, call me dumb, ‘loony tunes’, or something more demeaning, but I have this impulse to share with you a country song I wrote some years back.
A dinner party was just winding down at our Arizona weekend mountain retreat, and we were feeling our oats. A dear friend of mine, Ray Morgan, gone now, but never to be forgotten, loved country music and could get teary eyed when some of our then contemporary C&W artists sung their sad ballads, a la Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Ernie Tubbs, and Hank Williams. Now, I loved country music but was more of a ‘My Way’ kind of guy, but this was Ray’s night…
Because I don’t pick guitar anymore (never did really well), I once sang a song a cappella on YouTube and it just didn’t grab its essence without those strings strumming and a piano accompanying it. So, I’ll be sparing you the ‘gift’ of my voice on YT. When you read below the words to the song, just imagine that great C&W artist, Tim McGraw, picking and singing the words in that sensitive, unique, and soulful way he has that echoes memories from the past.
Now, don’t be getting the idea that this is a great song, although I like it aplenty because it goes to the roots of country music – I think…
Now, if I’m lucky, some C&W artist will read the words to the song and want to record it. Well, I’ll surely make it easy for him or her. Just give me a jingle…he says with total lack of conviction.
I’ve written a number of songs over the years, some I think pretty darn good. So, from time to time, I’ll post one or two or three or four… just saying!
*
Finding New Love
In the middle of a love song
I fell out of love with you -
Dancing ‘neath a star-bright sky
I found someone new.
She was everything I wanted -
She was every dream come true,
And she got my heart re-started –
She got me over you.
*
And now I’m happy again –
My heart is singing again.
Ah, yes, I’m happy again
‘Cause now I’m over you.
*
I remember our young love
I recall all the pain…
I remember every time we cried
Every time we tried –
I saw our young love die.
We were so new at love.
We had so much to give,
But all the pain we caused
Made it too tough to forgive…
So, I’m sorry for hurting you
And I know you’re sorry, too…
A part of me will always
Be a part of you.
But, tonight, this star-bright night,
I’ve found a new love,
A warm and a true love,
A love that won’t die.
*
In the middle of a love song
I fell out of love with you
While dancing ‘neath a star-bright sky
I found someone new.
She was everything I wanted,
She was every dream come true,
And she got my heart re-started –
She got me over you!
And, now, I’m happy again.
My heart is singing again.
Ah, yes, I’m happy again
‘Cause now I’m over you.
©by Billy Ray Chitwood
I totally realize that this post and song is self-serving to the extreme, but, really, what else is new? Aren’t we all just a teensy bit?
Billy Ray Chitwood – March 17, 2017
Hope you will stop by my Website, preview my 14 books, read some book reviews and author comments:
http://billyraychitwood.com
Please follow me on:
http://twitter.com/brchitwood
Finding New Love
[image error]
Finding New Love
(A Country Song)
Okay, call me dumb. ‘loony tunes’. or something more demeaning, but I have this impulse to share with you a country song I wrote some years back.
A dinner party was just winding down at our Arizona weekend mountain retreat, and we were feeling our oats. A dear friend of mine, Ray Morgan, gone now, but never to be forgotten, loved country music and could get teary eyed when some of our then contemporary C&W artists sung their sad ballads, a la Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Ernie Tubbs, and Hank Williams. Now, I loved country music but was more of a ‘My Way’ kind of guy, but this was Ray’s night…
Because I don’t pick guitar anymore (never did really well), I once sang a song a cappella on YouTube and it just didn’t grab its essence without those strings strumming and a piano accompanying it. So, I’ll be sparing you the ‘gift’ of my voice on YT. When you read below the words to the song, just imagine that great C&W artist, Tim McGraw, picking and singing the words in that sensitive, unique, and soulful way he has that echoes memories from the past.
Now, don’t be getting the idea that this is a great song, although I like it aplenty because it goes to the roots of country music – I think…
If I’m lucky, some C&W artist will read the words to the song and want to record it. Well, I’ll surely make it easy for him or her. Just give me a jingle…he says with total lack of conviction.
I’ve written a number of songs over the years, some I think pretty darn good. So, from time to time, I’ll post one or two or three or four… just saying!
*
Finding New Love
In the middle of a love song
I fell out of love with you –
Dancing ‘neath a star-bright sky
I found someone new.
She was everything I wanted –
She was every dream come true,
And she got my heart re-started –
She got me over you.
*
And now I’m happy again –
My heart is singing again.
Ah, yes, I’m happy again
‘Cause now I’m over you.
*
I remember our young love
I recall all the pain…
I remember every time we cried
Every time we tried –
I saw our young love die.
We were so new at love.
We had so much to give,
But all the pain we caused
Made it too tough to forgive…
So, I’m sorry for hurting you
And I know you’re sorry, too…
A part of me will always
Be a part of you.
But, tonight, this star-bright night,
I’ve found a new love,
A warm and a true love,
A love that won’t die.
*
In the middle of a love song
I fell out of love with you
While dancing ‘neath a star-bright sky
I found someone new.
She was everything I wanted,
She was every dream come true,
And she got my heart re-started –
She got me over you!
And, now, I’m happy again.
My heart is singing again.
Ah, yes, I’m happy again
‘Cause now I’m over you.
©by Billy Ray Chitwood
I totally realize that this post and song is self-serving to the extreme, but, really, what else is new? Aren’t we all just a teensy bit?
Billy Ray Chitwood – March 17, 2017
Hope you will stop by my Website, preview my 14 books, read some book reviews and author comments:
Please follow me on:
March 11, 2017
Naive and/or Wise Observations
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Naive and/or Wise Observations
A – People who must have their lives constantly validated, politicians, for example, will ultimately become in absentia!
B – Politics was created to satisfy Beatific games!
C – Many believe that life is really simple, not meant to be so costly and Complicated by politicians.
D – Clashing IQs definitely lead to Demented behavior.
E – False and misleading media reportage becomes an Enemy of the people.
F – There is an increasing lack of Fidelity in the would-be leaders of the free world.
G – Too many gremlins of Graft and Greed occupy important seats of decision making for ‘We the People’.
H – Being an optimist, I believe Hatred will disappear when hell freezes over…
I – The road of good Intentions has pot holes on occasion.
J – Lady Justice is not blind but she does wear a blindfold.
K – Politicians are killing me ‘not’ so softly with their words.
L – It’s true! Love does ‘Trump’ all!
M – Ah, sweet Mystery of Life and love!
N – A great spaceman, Neil Armstrong, said: “ It’s a great thing for a man to walk on the moon. But it’s a greater thing for God to walk on the earth.”
O – Here is One quote I love (from Antonin Scalia): “God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools…and he has not been disappointed…. If I have any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”
P – We are Polarized in our beautiful country…but spring and summer is coming! Huh!
Q – I’m a Querulous lad! I want our country to work and get back its greatness!
R – I no doubt Rankle a few Readers with my comments…but, Really, that’s no reason not to buy my books at http://billyraychitwood.com .
S – Pardon my Silliness. It’s not hazardous to your health.
T – Is it not a Thrill ‘To gather’ some words ‘Together’ That Titillate your own emotions. Great Therapy, This writing business!
U – Following the same Thread of Thinking, I’m in Utopia when I get 5-Star Reviews!
V – This letter says it all about me, truly! Vagabond, I am! Some might like better ‘a hopeless hobo’.
W – Or, following that ‘V’ thought, some might like to call me a Wanderlust, a Wastrel, or Worse!
X – Now, this is true! I’m going to the Doctor next week and I will get an X-Ray…and maybe play a Zylophone! Okay, too much of a stretch…sorry.
Y – Another truth! My tomorrows and my Yesterdays are flying by!
Z – As in surprising, ‘Zounds’, I ran the alphabet! Can I hear from someone: “Zuper job, Billy Ray!”
Billy Ray Chitwood – March 11, 2017
Please preview my books, read some book reviews and comments by the author: http://billyraychitwood.com
Please follow me on: http://twitter.com/brchitwood
