One of the biggest challenges in life is to develop the ability to deal with frustration; to tolerate disappointment, and to draw from such experience a positive result. Millions of people face disappointment every day. Friendships evaporate overnight, job promotions are extended to others, continuous efforts to connect with available women end in rejection and inner emotional turmoil. College applications end in polite; "Thank you for contacting us" rebuttals, neighbors become less hospitable over local issues, and children clash with parents over numerous issues concerning growth and maturation. People look to their local pharmacies for miracle cures, seek out skilled therapists upon which to share their numerous anxieties, or relate to close friends; sworn to secrecy; their doubts, sufferings, and apprehensive feelings about the future. Improvement comes about only through change; a realization that the status quo doesn't bring about the required results anymore. People have different viewpoints on change. Some fear it completely; some accept it conditionally; some embrace it completely; while others navigate along a path of partial acceptance until the day finally arrives when they become masters of the situation. People often misunderstand the actions of others, run away from responsibility, or find themselves in total isolation due to medical problems not discovered at an early age of their development. Change occurs in everyone's life to a degree. Frustration is the emotional barrier which motivates or defeats the personal desire for fulfillment. Compositions in this book deal with the challenges of life. Many roads are available. Some are traveled on more than others. Let us begin the journey.

Inside My Heart A Fire Is Always Burning

Book VBy Stanley R. From

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Stanley R. From
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4567-4668-1

Contents

Seventeen Ware Street.....................................................1Take Off The Handcuffs Please.............................................2Sorry I Have To Go........................................................3Not Guilty................................................................4Pessimistic Thoughts......................................................5Something Left Behind.....................................................6What Was Really Inside The Tube...........................................7A Bystander Wearing Old Clothes...........................................8The Right Path To Follow..................................................9A Circus Employee On The Highway..........................................10Meeting The Minimum Requirements..........................................11Additional Bleeding.......................................................12Ouch!.....................................................................13Almost Acceptable.........................................................14Unable To Come Home Anymore...............................................15Another Grim Reminder.....................................................16The Object Of Continuous Female Affection.................................17While I Was Away..........................................................18An Evaporating Friendship.................................................19His Arrow Is Always On Empty..............................................20Two Lights Ignite A Flame.................................................21Opposing Views For The Holidays...........................................22Chasing A Shadow..........................................................23Bowling: A Definition Of Life.............................................24The Season Was Over Before It Began.......................................25Fluid Less In Seattle.....................................................26Show Me Your Car Fax......................................................27Negativity: The Food Of Separation........................................28Five Traffic Lights Ahead Of The Crowd....................................29My Time Is Too Expensive..................................................30Painful Attachment........................................................31Raise Your Hand Up High...................................................32Auto Ownership: A History.................................................33Sixty One Years And Counting..............................................35Reaction Of A Devoted Yankee Fan..........................................36Don't Bother Me During My Coffee Break....................................37Another Day Inside The Tunnel.............................................38A House Goes Up In Winter.................................................39Location Of The Gas Tank..................................................40The Three "P's" Of Organizational Life....................................41Architects Of Manipulation................................................42Playing Taps After Dinner.................................................43An Eerie Resemblance......................................................44One Night Of Sin..........................................................45Love Under All Circumstances..............................................46Tears: Always Available If Needed.........................................47In Addition To Prayers On Sunday..........................................48A Security Breach At The Airport..........................................49The Opportunity For Stardom Summons Us Again..............................50Universal Bonus Check.....................................................51The Penske Experience.....................................................52Future Destination: Hollywood.............................................53Something To Hide.........................................................54His Pen (4/23/1616) Now Forever Silent....................................55Courtesy Of Lord Stanley..................................................56Irvington, N J : Just The Facts Please....................................57Feeding The Meter.........................................................58The Sandwich Generation...................................................59A Winning Philosophy......................................................60Adjectives In The Game Of Love............................................61Gaining An Edge...........................................................62As Time Goes By...........................................................63Death Visits Vancouver....................................................64The Gift Of Termination...................................................66Help Is On Its Way........................................................67A Risk Taking Cluster Of Humanity.........................................68The Menu Maker............................................................69Rewards For The Toll Booth Attendant......................................70In Search Of Redemption...................................................71Yes You Can Go Home Again.................................................72A Kiss From A Stranger....................................................73Television: The Ultimate Enemy Of Unification.............................74Dog Bites.................................................................75A Second Date.............................................................76A Picture Paints A Thousand Words.........................................77A Steady Dose Of Stress...................................................78Commitment: The Road To Disappointment....................................79Commitment: The Road To Success...........................................80Stories Of Endurance......................................................81Journeys Of A Foul Ball...................................................82The Transformation........................................................83Barking Pneumonia.........................................................84Complete Chaos On Route 77................................................85A Racing Pierogi Is Racing No More........................................86Upside Down Justice.......................................................87Separation................................................................88One Big Headache..........................................................89A Brown Carpet On The Water...............................................90The Messenger.............................................................91Among The Clouds The Sun Found An Opening.................................92A Sense Of Resignation....................................................93A Sense Of Vitality.......................................................94The Wildwood Flu..........................................................95Swinging For An Early Vacation............................................96VIP Treatment.............................................................97Dakota Traffic Jam........................................................98Shopping Cart Militia.....................................................99Distance Builds Additional Walls Of Isolation.............................100Initial Romantic Encounter................................................101Parting Company: Now Or Later.............................................102A Bear Market Fighting Reality............................................103Where Is My Puppy?........................................................104The Strangest Of The Strange..............................................105Leaving The Neighborhood..................................................106Signed / Sealed / Never Delivered.........................................107A Taser Gun To The Rescue.................................................108Gander Hospitality........................................................109Mutual Assistance.........................................................110Unique Dwellings..........................................................111Waiting In Line At Port Authority.........................................112A Pool Of Blood...........................................................113Almost: After Fifty Five Years............................................114Volcano Refugees..........................................................115Boredom: A Terminal Disease...............................................116Looking For A Sugar Daddy.................................................117A Soft Landing Is Never An Option.........................................118Fan Appreciation..........................................................119Back To Russia With An Explanation........................................120Katyn: The Flower Of A Nation Again.......................................121Falling Petals............................................................122From Obscurity To Alimony.................................................123Too Much Syrup Over My Pancakes...........................................125The Street Below Is My Safety Net.........................................126To Have Or Not To Have....................................................127Confidence Pills..........................................................128Only Clowns And Comedians Need Apply......................................129Having The Time Of My Life................................................130A Descent Man I Never Wanted To Meet......................................131Never Too Late............................................................132Our Daily Double..........................................................133It's Raining Again........................................................134What's Calories Got To Do With It.........................................135Father Time Always Wins...................................................136Written Words For A Grieving Widow........................................137A Living Witness To National Tragedy......................................138Body Augmentation Via Caulking Material...................................139For Snow Lovers Only......................................................140After America's Votes Have Been Counted...................................141A Seasonal Mixture........................................................142Just A Blank Piece Of Paper...............................................143A Chocolate Covered Cheeseburger..........................................144A Smaller Big Apple.......................................................145Season Ticket Moments Of Arrival And Departure............................146Cancellation..............................................................147When No News Is Appropriate...............................................148The Photo Says It All.....................................................149Too Much Love To Handle...................................................150Forgotten People..........................................................151Protecting Our National Treasures.........................................152Working At The Jersey Shore...............................................153The Street Sweeper........................................................154Generation To Generation..................................................155The Bow Wow Palace........................................................156A Casual Affair...........................................................157Social Evaporation........................................................158The Life Of Many Parties He Never Attended................................159Receiving The Love Of Many Women He Never Really Knew.....................160A Childhood Education That Fame Forgot....................................161Forty Years Later I Still Remember........................................162Too Hot In The City.......................................................163Welcome To The League Rook................................................164A Roommate In My Life.....................................................165Leaving Food On My Plate..................................................166The 26th Man..............................................................167Captivity To Celebrity Status.............................................168A Sweet Education.........................................................169Thank God For Dead Soldiers...............................................170Perfect Feet..............................................................171The Birth Of Money........................................................172Before The Rescue And After...............................................173The Bravest Of The Brave..................................................174A No Win Situation........................................................175A Gecko Named Stanley.....................................................176Carrying Herself Across A Threshold Of Non Acceptance.....................177Not Really Excited About Jury Duty........................................178Saying Goodbye To A piece Of History......................................179The Other Side Of The Coin................................................180Air Passenger Safety Compromised..........................................181A Missing Shopping Cart...................................................182Turning The Page On Abnormal Behavior.....................................183Wanted: One Good Roommate.................................................184Under The Influence Of Darkness...........................................185Falling Off Mount Olympus.................................................186Hope In Diamond Form......................................................187Helping Myself To Your Valuables..........................................188Searching For An Eye......................................................189A 1977 Dump Truck I Call Home.............................................190In Defense Of The Death Penalty...........................................191Destroying The Spirit Of Christmas........................................192In Search Of Victory: How Low Can You Go..................................193Self Appointed Peacemaker.................................................194Traumatizing The Neighbors At Christmas...................................195An Overdose Of Friendship.................................................196Canine Multiplication.....................................................197One Of Many / One Of A Few................................................198Holiday Approval Seeker...................................................199Irreconcilable Differences................................................200A Universal Happy New Year................................................201Even The Gifted Are Sometimes Homeless....................................202

Chapter One

    Seventeen Ware Street

    A senior citizen in her view could not believe her eyes
    Finding a friend in the neighborhood with whom to sympathize
    A call was made; uniforms were soon on their way
    When the dust had settled; an entire nation would have their say.

    A noted scholar with a friend found an obstacle to rest and relaxation
    Uninvited guests showed up to question his methods of entry according
    to his personal observation
    Built in anger rose to the surface as he identified himself with many others
    who had gone before
    Tools of submission were introduced as hostile spirits united to soar.

    The officer on the scene followed up on the sketchy details of the incoming
    call
    In his opinion on the incident trying earnestly to keep within boundaries
    proper and small
    Expected compliance to his inquiries was met with hostile "In Your
    Face" rage
    The hands of equal justice frozen on the barometer of equal opportunity
    gauge.

    The final question left health care removed from centre court
    The Chief Executive in his response; an out of control raging inferno to
    report
    The chief characters of this "Off Broadway" production acting with
    hostility in search of compromising clues
    A unique idea emerges; a friendly discussion over at my place sharing some
    frosty brews.


    Take Off The Handcuffs Please

    Getting together with a few friends on a Saturday night date
    My lady friend meanwhile decided to tempt fate
    Another engagement she had in mind for me
    Determining ahead of time my future social destiny.

    Upon hearing of the conflict smoke came out of both my ears
    My fit of anger was met with total silence in the absence of cheers
    She replied; "Times in the future will be available for you"
    "In the spirit of love to me and to me alone you must remain true".

    With reluctance picking up the phone to relate my tale of woe
    Those lucky fellas living independently these battle scenes they never get
    to know
    The pants living under this roof worn but by one
    Held in check completely under a strong woman's right thumb.


    Sorry I Have To Go

    Two generations on a trip together in search of a meal to eat
    The guest picking up the tab a most unusual treat
    Sitting at a table as the young waitress came into view
    After ordering our drinks a disappearing act without a clue.

    Her replacement a young man in the spirit of hospitality did his best
    Her removal from the scene quietly put to rest
    A lunch time selection no longer available for one
    The three of us eating the same food just added to the fun.

    Bad timing probably caused our initial company contact to go her separate
    way
    Our collective response was one of acceptance no anger did we display
    During our next visit may the hands of time work in our favor
    Her presence along with some good food our threesome may be able to
    savor.


    Not Guilty

    Filling out the forms to earn an impressive salary
    A change of mind memo in the hands of the new employer never to see
    Never telling anyone of the error the payroll office had made
    In exile receiving money at a six figure respectable pay grade.

    Over a fifty two month period the checks kept rolling in
    A routine operation for our smooth operator denying any connection with
    theft related sin
    Three crime fighting departments kept busy for nearly a year
    Over a long period of time Mr. Clean apparently had nothing to fear.

    In the new year ready to begin doing time
    Returning all funds collected in his example of white collar crime
    Thoughts of new opportunities while in confinement behind a fortress of
    cold steel bars
    The authorities who caught me he thought with a grin should count their
    lucky stars.


    Pessimistic Thoughts

    The sun never shines when cloud cover signals a continuing future of
    doom
    Rays of positive thoughts are never included where there is no room
    Both cultures and individuals are subjected to vicious personal attack
    Moments of optimism never appear to offer alternative routes to locate a
    positive track.

    Arguments are created when two or more individuals occupy opposing
    sides
    Words of anger clash with words of rebuttal in a growing ocean tide
    Once a boiling point is reached; violence may come to pass
    The end result; a life is lost or a serious injury that always seems to last.

    Energy should be utilized in the spirit of improvement in the book of life
    to turn over a page
    Seeing the light; an act of hope replacing darkness fueled by personal
    rage
    All surrounding bitterness heard by ear or noticed by everything my eye
    can see
    A small first step for improvement in my heart ultimately begins with
    me.


    Something Left Behind

    Many visits made balancing fear with realistic anticipation
    When we were finished my collaborator ready for an extended vacation
    "Tell me if it hurts"; he would always say
    My wallet became the true patient with every passing day.

    Unable to smile without showing off my advancing age
    Personal fear of getting started before becoming able to finally turn the
    page
    My son as my driver encouraging me on my journey as we advanced
    together slowly mile by mile
    Waiting patiently for the day; showing off my new addition with a joyous
    smile.

    On a Sunday morning moving briskly out the door
    Thinking solely about the day's activities and other things I had in store
    Suddenly a sense of emptiness took over my seemingly relaxing mind
    The most important aspect of my visual appearance I absentmindedly had
    left behind.


    What Was Really Inside The Tube

    The reflection in the mirror reflected a smile compromised instead of
    bright
    The box on the grocer's shelf promised charisma; a most hoped for welcome
    sight
    I brought my box of social improvement home ready to initiate a new
    start
    Taking out my toothbrush suddenly the unexpected broke my trusting
    heart.

    Using one hand; in vain I saw the gel
    Using both hands; no solution appeared to answer the opening bell
    Casting forth a look of resignation I peered inside the tube
    A large mass of emptiness stared back at me so rebellious and so crude.

    Every time I opened my mouth the problem was there to see
    Facing my future a look of melancholy always decorating my face
    throughout eternity
    Covering up my mirrors with burlap to negative reflections I firmly said
    goodbye
    A second opportunity in a box on another grocer's shelf became my rallying
    cry.


    A Bystander Wearing Old Clothes

    A high school student working on a class project approached the old
    man
    Please fill me in on events of your generation as best you can
    Concerning Civil Rights; "In the quest for equality did you add your own
    voice?"
    "Did you remain on the sidelines as a matter of choice?"

    Getting high on marijuana or opposing the war
    Perhaps holding your head high marching through the local recruiter's
    front door
    "Did your parents offer you values sacred and sane?"
    "Were you one to accept responsibility or just one able to point a finger at
    others ready to blame?"

    A look of guilt upon the lines of the aging process after a few moments
    came to rest
    "Our generation," the old man said, "Was composed of both the brightest
    and the best."
    "Contributing elements of distinction, insignificance, and smallness in
    scope."
    "Upon the shoulders of your generation now the echoes of the past will
    discover their new hope."


    The Right Path To Follow

    Changing diapers and baking cookies round the clock
    Wearing the many hats of a suburban housewife made up of the right
    stock
    The children call me mommy always at my side
    Slowly disappearing memories of what might have been sacrificing my
    personal pride.

    Carrying my laptop as I open the door to my company car
    Three years already on the job projected to become a rising star
    Increasing numbers of emails and contacts with no end in sight
    Continuing sounds of silence greet me upon my return home late at
    night.

    Continuing contacts leading me nowhere upon the latest singles site
    A recommendation from one lost in love truthfully telling me true
    happiness was here all right
    My principles never permitting compromise upon my social resume to
    the bitter end
    All those potential partners out there unwilling to refer to anyone of them
    as perhaps a newly acquired friend.


    A Circus Employee On The Highway

    A circus animal blended in with the road
    Escaping without major injury I have been told
    A senior couple sideswiped the elephant with their SUV
    Found hiding in the bushes when a veterinarian arrived to see.

    A broken tusk and a leg wound was all he found
    Receiving the emergency call the dispatcher did not believe the story going
    round
    The county fairgrounds was short one performer that Wednesday night
    Falling on top of the SUV the occupants never again would see the
    morning light.

    Church services are usually peaceful inside a believer's state of mind
    A Higher Power to the three participants was both merciful and kind
    When tranquility returned after everyone had had their say
    Fortunate to move on with their lives the following day.

(Continues...)

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