Confidence & Courage

Like any man who succeeded by his wits,
he had his own sources of information.
-Bette Bao Lord

I recently finished an epic novel about old China called 'Spring Moon'. There were so many good lines. I shall share a clever tale that I took from the book that is quite inspirational for 'confidence and courage':

A tiger came upon a fox and was about to devour him when his meal shouted in a most regal manner, "Take care, my friend, do you not realize that I have been appointed the King of the Beasts by the gods? Should you touch even a hair of mine, they will punish you!"
The tiger roared with laughter.
"You could not be more mistaken, for I am the King of Beasts!"
"Then follow me into the woods and see if all the animals there do not flee from me."
The tiger agreed and trailed the fox. When he saw for himself that all the animals fled at the sight of the puny fellow, he bowed his head and slunk into the underbrush.
So sure was the fox that he continued on his way without a backward glance.
--Chinese Tale

Be sure you read this as a bedtime story to your little ones (nightly) until they 'get it'.

Twenty-five years ago today:

Friday, February 17, 1984

This past week was a slump in terms of sales. It's a bit depressing. During lunch I bought a puzzle book and a get well card for Chris. I had planned to visit him at the hospital; however, it just so happens that he was able to check out early this morning (?).

Once I arrived home Chris called to say he was in Alameda and suggested we go to see a movie.
"Yeah, I took a bus ride from the hospital to BART to Downtown Oakland where I applied for a couple of jobs at Grodins and Emporium," he said.
"You kept yourself busy!"
"I was at your Pac Bell building but I didn't see you come out at five," he said.
He further explained how he met an old Coast Guard buddy who is stationed in Alameda. That was where he was calling me from.

Before I knew it, Chris was at my place and we eventually left for Walnut Creek to see the new Mariel Hemingway movie called "Star 80".

We had a light bite at Round Table Pizza before the show. They actually 'carded' me for ordering a Lowenbrau Dark beer.
"Yuck, I hate dark beer," I thought. Why did I order it?
Chris ordered a Moosehead Lager beer. They didn't card him though.

Chris made me laugh when he explained how he was the only white person on the bus ride today.
"Did you sit in the back of the bus?" I asked.
It was fun rappin', jokin' as we drank our beers. Some girls gave us each a slice of pizza to try. That was sweet of them.

"Star 80" was good. (Just kidding) The movie was pretty shitty (to use Chris' adjective). That's okay. Chris and I still had a great time at the movies.
I drove Chris home where we parked near his house and 'fooled around' for a while.
It wasn't the first time I realized what an uncomfortable reality my car is when sharing intimate moments. We talked more until he went inside. I drove home and thought, "I should lay out in the sun during my Saturday day."