HOPE and STRENGTH

[Buster]

Tattoos anyone?..half price sale tonight only..get em while the needles are sharp...

 

[Steadygain]

WOW!..This story has taken a whole new twist....:blink:


You pretty much used up all the F bombs though..The rest of us would like to have a few too, ya know..

I love you man !!!!

Yeah, I finally got it all out -- -- and it's like the weight been removed.


Finally !!!

Goodnight all ---- heading home

 

[Buster]

WOW!..This story has taken a whole new twist....:blink:


You pretty much used up all the F bombs though..The rest of us would like to have a few too, ya know..

 

[Steadygain]

I'll end it here.

CB, Buster, and every other Member (or visitor) that was hurt by Lady.


It was TOTALLY 'MY FAULT' - Please know that.

Think about how 'incredible' your BONDS with her were over the years.

Think about how much she added to this site and every one of our lives.

There is no one like LADY - She stands alone and no one could ever take her place.


If anyone got HURT -- It's because of me and what I did.....

*********************************************************

After Steady finished Lady softened ....

Her demeanor totally changed and everything we came to know and love returned to life....

She walked back to the center of the room and sang:

Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun

​

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF 'US' NEEDS TO TOUCH HER...

LET HER FIND 'HAPPINESS' -- LET THE 'NEW DAY BEGIN'.


Goodnight all -- I'm sorry I messed everything up - I really am
​

​

 

[Birchtree]

Are ya'll speaking ebonics - it's getting heavy.

 

[Bluehenge]

I had never, in my entire life seen Steady look so gloomy. His pain was very real and it filled the room. The 'good' atmosphere changed in a split instance, as everyone was drawn into his broken and aching heart.

We felt for him - and waited to see if he could find it within himself to fill us in...

 

[Steadygain]

I was used to Steady’s mumbo jumbo –

Now as for you miss sassy pants .... oh my gosh...:nuts:

Well anyway we were all settling down and the atmosphere was good. It was one of those moments where you hope the people most central to you will genuinely acknowledge someone very incredibly dear to you as one of them...

...and in all sincereity ...that's one of the greatest moments we can know in life.


A large room illuminated from behind a wall ... and a lady stepped out to the center of the room ... paused for a moment and sang:

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
​

I was shocked when she appeared. It was a woman whose life I had largely destroyed - and because of me she was 'branded' in the worst way and essentially rejected and ignored.

Seeing her took the life out of me -- felt like the wind was knocked out of me -- and I didn't know how to respond. I could only hope it was someone that looked like her....

'Birch, who the hell is that'?

'She was a former Beauty Queen. My wife will give out day passes to various women to roam at will. She just walked into a room designed with perfect aucostics. The sign outside the door invites them to walk in and sing the song that is most meaningful to you'.

They could all see the blood drain from my face and the sullen hopelessness that gripped me.

 

[Steadygain]

I was offended when you called that crap a BEATLES LP???

And reason it was taken off the market...have you ever SEEN the majestic uglyness of those two in the buff??

Lets have a little respect around here for the Beatles and dump Charlie Mason.

Well first :

.... My nights are long ...as are my days... and in an eternity of eons... there is nothing ... absolutely nothing I could want more...

...than to quell your sorrows and the bitter pains of confusion

...and knowing I am the one to bear the responsibility of offending you..

...has caused me to lose any desire to eat ... and even after almost 2 weeks .. the thought of food remains tragically adversive... nor have I been able to sleep.. in fact I have lost all desire and there is no motivation

Second:
The reason the 'Beatles LP Cover' was taken off the American Market is largely for what I described. It's only because of their horse s**t attitude and whatever 'pure image' they were pretending to represent ....

...that the 'Beatles - White LP' was sold the way it was.

I totally - 100% agree with you - and I saw the 'real cover' back then. All the more I thought ... this piece of garbage was 'barred' -- because it would 'turn us into cannibals and make us sex crazed'.

Lastly my friend:
Mason (all stand and bow) - was in 'all truthfulness' the guy that honestly believed the 'White Album' had 'hidden messages of TRUTH' and swore up and down that -- he and his group were 'helpless' against it's power to influence and direct....

...so in a 'random thought' -- I threw it in -- as though 'It's power was in fact so real that it totally changed History -- and essentially replaced God and Government and everything else.

Anyway -- your words and wisdom -- are windows of light and having you here is like a breath of 'fresh air'.

Thanks for visiting man -- hope all is well.

 

[Bluehenge]

I was used to Steady’s mumbo jumbo – in fact we loved interacting this way, so were very used to playing off each other and loved the reactions we always got. People never knew what to expect from us and to be truthful, half the time neither did we!

I could see Nnuut churning things around in his head. He didn’t know if I was joking or not, so was looking a bit concerned. Birch noticed Nnuuts concern and as he didn’t want anyone concerned that Steady had brought a complete stranger into their midsts, he set the record straight. “These two have been together forever – since the dawn of time if you will. Never will you find a pair so complete as these two. Nothing will stop these two from fulfilling any given assignment because they know each other and look after each other with all their might. They are like me – would rather die than fail. So, do not be concerned Nnuut or any of you others because Steady would never have chosen Blue as his mate unless she had identical qualities to him. As you know him, so shall you know her.”

Steady and I were a little irked at Birch for spoiling our game, but we understood where he was coming from - that his safes and all they stood for - needed all of T1 comfortable with each other.

Birch needed Steady and I in the right frame of mind before we moved on and this was his way of getting our heads out of the clouds.

 

[Steadygain]

Burro your not the only one brave enough to post here. I gotta speak the truth...

SG, you need to do a little research, guy. I was offended when you called that crap "Two Virgins" LP a BEATLES LP???

Get your music history straight dude. "Two Virgins" was a Lennon/Yoko effort (a poor one at that) and nothing to do with the Beatles besides being on Apple records.

And reason it was taken off the market...have you ever SEEN the majestic uglyness of those two in the buff?? Nasty! You should find one one ebay and have a peek! ha ha.

Lets have a little respect around here for the Beatles and dump Charlie Mason.

Hey Brother -- man -- PEACE ....

Ya know -- make LOVE and not WAR ...

I'll catch ....your groove in a moment ..... but I can't leave Blue where she is right now....

...forgive me man .... seriously ... not trying to ignore you ... but.....


Blue - gave Steady a little punch on the shoulder....and said,

'We met at a big social Caymanbrac12 had last weekend for all those that have been a large part of his efforts to help his special breed of dogs...

....Steady and I just seemed to 'click' and the conversation rolled from one thing to another ....

...both of us have a very adventuresome spirit ....and we decided to go for something huge .... to push the limits and see what happens...

...so we met today for the first time...to test his GPS system... and up until this moment ... I thought we'd actually found this beautiful lake out in the middle of nowhere......

....so everything that's happened is totally new to me....

 

[FAB1]

I'm not sure what your problem is Burrocrat - and if there is anything I have expressed (or that Blue has expressed) in our present story that has in any manner offended you

Burro your not the only one brave enough to post here. I gotta speak the truth...

SG, you need to do a little research, guy. I was offended when you called that crap "Two Virgins" LP a BEATLES LP???

Get your music history straight dude. "Two Virgins" was a Lennon/Yoko effort (a poor one at that) and nothing to do with the Beatles besides being on Apple records.

And reason it was taken off the market...have you ever SEEN the majestic uglyness of those two in the buff?? Nasty! You should find one one ebay and have a peek! ha ha.

Lets have a little respect around here for the Beatles and dump Charlie Mason.

 

[Steadygain]

After a little -- 'good humored laughter' -- from everyone...

Buster gets up, leans his head back and howls like a wolf ... :nuts:

...then slaps my hand with a high 5 and says, 'Now the long version'.

'Well actually that was the long version'.

'The short version is'...

...'I'm sitting in the car ... window down at a drive through...

...she comes up -- gun in hand --- holds it against my head and demands me to unlock the car...

...so she gets in the back and holds the gun against the back of my head and tells me .....

'Give give me 2 days to prove myself ... and if I'm not everything you could hope for or dream of ... after 2 days ... if you for any reason whatsoever ... say 'no thanks' ...

...then I'll leave ....no strings .... no problems ... absolutely am totally out of the picture and you'll never have to deal with me again'...


....Sooo.. I thought -- hey that's cool -- I can deal with that...

and that was 28 years ago....

 

[Steadygain]

“To T1!” “To T1!” Everyone responded as we all clinked glasses.

Steady looked so happy as we all sat around chit-chatting, although the talk was mainly social...

Birch chimmed in, 'So how did you happen to find her'?

I chuckled and asked, 'Do you want the short version or the long version'?

Birch smiled, 'The short version'.

So I stretched out my legs, leaned back and said, 'The third dumpster from the left behind Macy's at the big mall. I drove out there to get rid of some stuff and when I opened the dumpster she'd inside living like a rat.'

I paused for a second to let that scene soak in.

'So I said hey you homeless tramp, you're too cute to be acting and living like a rat -- plus if any other guy had found you like this you could get hurt pretty bad - if not killed'.

'Well she glared up at me -- tells me to F off - and starts nawing on some scraps that were thrown in...'

Another brief pause....

'So I pulled her out -- took her home and told her the place was hers and I was her slave. Well she somehow believed 'everything' and while she's getting cleaned up -- I cooked up a good meal -- and haven't been able to figure out a way to ditch her'...

 

[Steadygain]

T1 had stockpiled the bulk of their abundance and had continued to live like average citizens.

We have no choice honey, because none of us ever wants to be defined and acknowledged by the wealth we have - instead of who and what we are.

Take CB for instance since you seem to have a more complete sense for who and what he really is.

If others see him as T1 - then that's all they see - it is like the worst possible cancer anyone could ever have. No one sees the 'man' - the inner being that makes him who and what he is. No one has the ability to be comfortable with him - to see him and know him on their level - because they don't know how to 'recognize him' on their level - as a man with a deep and wonderful sense of humor, as a man of immense integrity and character, as the heart and soul of everything deeply wonderful.

All they see is a 'god' - a 'king' - with endless wealth. The wide gap between us - and the rest - is NOT because of 'us' dear woman, it's because of them. They are the ones 'incapable' of allowing us to be 'real' to honestly have the freedom to be ourselves and let us share in the same level of 'comfort' they share with everyone else. AND - Nothing hurts more than that. It feels like we have been 'branded' and all they see is the brand burned into our skin and the scars that can never be hidden.

Look at Birch!!! Look at Buster !! Look at Nnuut !! But most of all - look at me. What you have seen and come to know is who and what we are. You are one of the very few that has ever given us the opportunity to be open and real - and so you see us (me) and know us (me) for who and what we are -- as people and personalities - for our character and traits - and all that makes us sparkle -- NOT because of our financial status.

But you are one of the rarest and one of the very few that has that ability. The overwhelming bulk of the population does not seem to have the capacity to see us and know us the way you do. We become either objects of worship and adoration in the hopes of us acknowledging them and 'rewarding them' - or we simply are viewed at a never ending source for others to freely tap in on -- from every entity on the face of the earth. Anyone, and everyone, with a heart wrenching story longs to make it known -- and that is all we ever know. It is like the worse cancer and all of us had to go through that stage at one point or another.

We care about who we are - way more than what we have - and that's why we live the way we do and blend in so well. For us - the Bonds of TRUE Friendship and of FAMILY - are far more valuable than the wealth we have stored in various places throughout the world. The wealth is simply a part of our creative financial planning - a reflection of a gift - but who and what we are is WAY beyond that 'gift' - and for us the NEED to be REAL and to be valued and known and appreciated for the inner and deeper characteristics and qualities that make us who we are --- that is what's most important to us.

 

[Bluehenge]

Being part of T1 and part of Steady’s world was amazing, as was what we represented. Nevertheless, it was perplexing how such a small percentage had accumulated all the wealth. Surely all of the United States working population had contributed to this economic expansion, so why had only those already wealthy benefited? It was appalling that middle-class families lost income and the number of people living in poverty increased, while the American Economy more than doubled and those at the very top saw their wealth multiply itself 4 times over.

I could feel all eyes on me as I thought things through. I wondered if the numbers somehow hid the obvious. Perhaps the immigrant population soared during that time and the number of people seeking jobs increased dramatically. Perhaps the number of immigrants bringing in relatives added to these numbers. That explained a part of it, but didn’t explain it totally because plenty of well-educated immigrants are in the higher income bracket. Whatever caused the problem was now irrelevant. What was important was the remedy. This must be where T1 was involved – but how?

I remembered the 20 safes we had passed and how Birch had described what was in just one of them and I figured the 19 other safes had equally valuable contents. Then I remembered that Birch had said it was one of 20 safes in this section of the cave. That meant there were more safes in other sections of the cave.

Suddenly it dawned on me: I hadn’t had a clue how enormous the income gap was between T1 and most of the population because T1 had stockpiled the bulk of their abundance and had continued to live like average citizens.

I felt proud to be part of this group, so I smiled in delight, nodded knowingly as I made eye contact with all who were gathered around the ornate table; picked my drink up and raised a toast: “To T1!” “To T1!” Everyone responded as we all clinked glasses.

Steady looked so happy as we all sat around chit-chatting, and although the talk was mainly social, I did learn that Buster helped build some of the inner workings of the locks for CB and that it was Nnuut who kept the records of the safes contents for Birch.

 

[Steadygain]

CB went over every single petroglyph.

Now, when Steady and I hold hands we have even more power because the circles take on never ending meanings that very few would ever know how to interpret.

Of course I'd know about the history of our group and the extents by which everything came into being -- how we had such huge control -- and the plans of shaping the rest of the global population in terms of both political and economic conditions to further our cause.

That Blue was received as fully as she was -- especially for CB to explain the petroglyphs AND to arrange the tatoo was more enormous than she could have began to realize in 'that moment'. That meant the others accepted her as 'part of me' - they trusted her as if she were me and regarded her in like mannner.

It would take awhile for everything to sink in -- but for now she knew we were T1 - and what that represents.

Blue was delighted to be a part of my world and seemed to fit perfectly with the others. We took a few minutes to walk and have some quality time and just reflect and allow our thoughts and feelings to flow. When she was 'good' and I knew it and could feel it we joined the others sitting in around a circular table with beautiful inlaid wood designs.

Buster looked over at Blue and asked her if she knew how to play 'Hi Low'.

Blue replied in a manner that clearly expressed she's willing and anxious to learn. 'Well, I would sure like to learn'. With her reply the others chuckeled in delight and smiled.

Birch interjected: 'We'll tell you something and you try to guess the answer. If you're too low we say 'Higer' ... until you guess the right answer. You get 10 tries -- and it's as easy as that'.

'Well give me your hardest and most challenging to start with -- then I can lay down and snooze with the rest'.

Nnuut crossed a foot over his knee - stretched back in the chair and put his arms comfortably on the arm rests -- brought his outstretched fingers together in a peak with his fingertips and gave the details.

'Between 1980 and 2005 the size of the American Economy more than doubled. Now during this period the bottom 90% of Americans saw their incomes drop by an average of $4,000 dollars annually.

During the same period T1 had their income jump by what %??

Blue started off with '17%' . Everyone gleamed and Buster grinned at her and held his thumb and finger slightly apart as a gesture and said 'A little bit higher'.

Blue said '30%' and everyone was on the brink of laughter. CB raised his thumb up - to let her go higher.

'100%' - Birch nodded with contentment -- higher. Blue gave Buster a slap on his arm and playfully mimicked him 'Just a tag higer'.

'150%' - She glanced over at me -- for a 'hint of confimation' -- 'Higher my love'.

'200%' -- Nnuut quickly spaced his thumb and finger and said, 'You're getting very close'! As though one more tiny step she'll fall off the cliff.

'250%' - We all said 'Higher' in unison --- feeling like kings.

'300%' - 'A tag higher mam' CB winked.

Blue looks over at Nnuut with a playful scorn 'You're really close'

'350%' 'Higher' Buster grins barely holding his thumb and finger apart.

HOLY COW!! - Blue's expression was absolutely priceless and all the more made the game everything we could have hoped for. 'You made over 350% !! My gosh how many guesses do I have'

'2 more' - Birch said, like a champ that's never lost.

'400%' -- Buster grabs his chest as though he's having a heart attack. 'My gosh - we're just men - not GOD'!!

'385%' - To which I immediately blurted out -- She gets 1 more guess for getting within 1% of the right answer'.

Blue could tell the 'hint' I gave -- even though no one else could have possibly detected it -- and with her last guess decided to play theatrics.

She jumped up and paced around the room -- like her life depended on it and exaggerated her uncertainty enough - to keep us happy and thrill us.

'384%' -- and we all stood and clapped. She was so excited -- ran from one to the other and gave everyone a big hug. CB picked her up and she looked like a little kid throwing her arms around his neck.

Then things were quiet - a tinge of awkwardness - as we sat and allowed Blue to digest what it meant to be in the TOP 0.01%. To be T1. To have extensive wealth 'quadruple' - multiple itself 4 times over - while at least 90% lose out as the American Economy more than doubled.

The secret was out. It who we are and how we live, and it's pretty much all we know. We're very at peace with that - and in a comfortable - yet humble contentment -- we gave her time to think it threw and waited.

 

[Bluehenge]

CB had a few words with me too. "Little Lady." He said. "You have a pretty good head on your shoulders and seem to understand Steady very well, so I don't have much to say to you other than to keep on doing what you’re doing.” “What’s that?” I enquired. “Be humble when making judgment calls.” “Will do.” I replied and as I went off to join Steady I thought “No wonder Birch appointed CB.”

 

[Steadygain]

CB went over every single petroglyph. By the time all was done, Steady and I understood and admired the power of our tattoos.

The most striking feature CB has - and by far his most notable worth -
would be missed at a glance or with just a brief encounter. Sure he has manly features - of exceptional masculinity. His eyes are intent and he's obviously no one to even teasingly push around. At a glance that's what all would see - he has a very solid demeanor - and this solidness in conjunction with his size and especially in his expression is something that wholly demands 'respect' - and the 'respect' you feel with him is unavoidable and largely consumes you.

It's NOT that CB tries to force this -- it's something that in the nature of who and what he is -- when you're with him.

His most striking feature, however, is his integrity and the enormous depth of his inner drive and his family committment. You'll never find a man that is more TRUE and more Solid. The more you're honestly in touch with him is all the more deeply you come to value his insights and opinion. It's not that he the smartest guy -- and it's not that he possesses an heir of being all knowing -- but it's the depth of his character - how immensely genuine he is - and him having no trace of being pretencious.

He is the kind of man that draws you in -- to his solidness -- and the more you're with him - the more you come to admire him and his bonds are so strong and valuable - they take on a 'weight' makes him irreplaceable.

He immediately took every negative feeling I could have and not only quelled my concerns -- but made me appreciate him being in my life with a brief sentence or two. 'Steady, we've got the DVD of your encounter with the Pygmies for you to take home. You'll never get old as long as I have anything to do with it - and forcing you to maximize everything keeps you young, vibrant, and healthy.'

 

[Bluehenge]

Steady and I weren't that surprised to see Nnuut again, but the sight of CB sitting at the table, surrounded by games did, and the fact that he was waiting on us piqued our interest. We grew excited and knowingly smiled at each other in delight.

CB beckoned us over, invited us to sit at his table and then passed each of us a cool, refreshing drink. While we enjoyed our drinks, CB explained that it was him that Birch had commissioned to create the locks on the safes and him that had created all the games in the room. He then got up and motioned for us to do the same.

CB asked Steady and I to take a good look around the room and then take it in turns describing what we saw. We started in one corner and methodically took it in turns to point out all the games that could be played. We also pointed out that at either end there was an obelisk and hieroglyphics adorned the walls. Steady and I were pleased with our observations, so were taken aback when CB told us we had failed to see the most important things. Naturally, we were very upset with this because we pride ourselves on our ability to work so well together and couldn't imagine how either one of us had missed anything. Puzzled, we asked CB to give us the opportunity to take a closer look around the room. He obliged and we began wandering around the room. "It must be something right under our noses." I said. "Yes, you're probably right as usual." Steady replied. Not ones to easily give up, unable to find anything new, we hung our heads in shame. To our amazement, we noticed a wide variety of petroglyphs on the floor. Excitedly, we grabbed each other's hands, gave little fist pumps and in unison blurted out our findings to CB. He looked relieved. "Very good." He said. "I can now let Buster and his entourage tattoo you both while I teach you the meanings of the petroglyphs."

Buster and his entourage were highly skilled in the fine arts, and excellent tattoo artisits. Buster told us to quit holding hands for a moment because that was where our tattoos were going and CB told us to sit down and be quiet while he went over every single petroglyph. By the time all was done, Steady and I understood and admired the power of our tattoos. Each tattoo was a circle that held either a partial or full petroglyph. Now, when Steady and I hold hands we have even more power because dependent upon how we join hands, the circles take on never ending meanings that very few would ever know how to interpret.

 

[Steadygain]

Birch stood unstirred and unimpressed in the background.

He was as tough as nails and held his responsibilities in the highest regard.

Birch explained that as captivating as the caves were, this natural environment was like a giant warehouse.

When Buster finished his 'intro' - Birch gruffed - rolled his eyes - and waved us to follow him.

Walking on to the next section of the cave Buster and I were giving each other high fives -- with the hoots and snaps from ages past -- and both of us exaggerating our walk just a tag -- to go with the moment.

Blue rolled her eyes a little -- and walked on close behind Birch, who went on as though nothing even happened.

The vault doors we were passing by were easily a hunded feet up and each door was 20 feet wide - with numerous locks and a series of spirals that spun to open the contents inside.

Blue was baffled - and in awe - gasped 'Wow'.

Birch responded without a thought, 'It's one of 20 safes I have in this section of the cave. That one has mostly gold bars - and some jewels.'

The rest of us are blown away -- cause he says it like, 'I've got about a dollar in loose change'.....

So we walked the rest of the way just starring at one huge safe after another until we rounded through a passage way and came to a big game room.

CB was sitting at a table -- cold beer in hand waiting on us. Nnuut had just finished swimming in the pool and was getting a massage from one of the Swedish ladies.