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Cleansing the Soul

Travellinbaen will never shy away from some political discussion, but lately politics has become more and more exhausting and less and less amusing. Following and trying to understand politics is important, just as its important for someone to dig the ditches, haul away the trash, and litigate against insurance companies. But when you’re finished with the dirty work, you ought to get cleaned up as soon as possible.

We brush our teeth every day to keep them healthy and white. We shower to ward off odor and disease. I think it only makes sense that we also take time out each day to cleanse the soul. For me, that means scouring the net for humor some days and ordering pizza on others. It means watching the sun set or the moon glow or beating up on Ole Miss in Xbox college football. More than anything it means watching a 17 month old and her mother share a belly laugh.

Having published about politics previously this day, I concluded a complete cleansing was in order. One of the most effective ways to engage in good personal soul hygiene is hieing off to a high altitude destination, like the Himalayas. But since Travellinbaen is Sittinathomebaen this week, I went surfing the web for inspiration. I came across a blog on books every man must read before he dies and another about the deeds we must all do before we die. I think the whole “before you die” part of these cliched lists gives them a few too many negative vibes, but I love the general idea. Setting them forth is a way of looking to the future with anticipation, which reaffirms faith, which cleanses the soul.

Anyway, here’s a short list of some things I’d like to do. Some are new to the list and some old, some grand and some attainable this month.

TB always wants to be going somewhere and right this moment I aspire to see mountains in Canada, monkeys in Costa Rica and Machu Picchu in Peru. I suspect the soul relishes a small measure of materialism and I’ll meet that need by saving money for a mid-life convertible. I’d like to re-read a couple of the novels I didn’t really appreciate twenty years ago like “Catcher in the Rye”, cruise all the way through “Don Quixote” one time, and stay closer to home with Alan Huffman’s book “Mississippi in Africa.” He being a friend-in-law, I really ought to take advantage of the rare opportunity to discuss a book with its author. I want to grow some flowers in the open spaces in front of my house and watch them flourish. I want to produce a patio tomato and pick it before the birds peck it. I’d also like to maintain an improving and more entertaining blog, without having too many mindnumbing political posts to mar the mission.

Ahhhh, all fresh and clean. Now to get on with crossing a few things off that list.

Anybody else out there got a list?