Scenes from Out West

Something about Change

I am such a fool thinking each day nothing has changed.

I look over photographs I had taken years ago. And this

is that mountain in Colorado I told you about. See, no-

thing different here in thousands of years.

Wait, as I recall there was a stone right here to the left.

I almost stumbled over it as I stepped aside to get a

better shot of the summit. It may have dislodged some-

time between now and then.

Could be it rolled down the slope in a rainstorm. I swear,

20-years ago, on this same day in May, it was right there.

No, I’m not crazy or mistaken. Let’s go back down and

see if we can find it.

Chris Hanch  10-30-15

Scenes from Greece...

The Only Difference

The only difference between your city and mine

Is that I know exactly where I am. The hustle-

bustle of people getting ready for work in the

Morning is pretty much the same most anywhere

In any city. The only difference between your city

And mine is that I know exactly where I am. Today

In most cities of any size, it’s pretty much the same—

Busses, cars and trucks running in the streets ma-

king pick-ups and deliveries, getting to wherever

They are going, coming from wherever they come,

Tall buildings, fast-food places and frantic paces,

All pretty much the same. Stop and go, to and fro

Little variation in the flow, all alike as I see it. You

Have coffee in your city to begin your morning, and

I have coffee in mine as well. Only difference be-

tween your city and mine would be the name. And

I know exactly where I am. There are only two cities

In my country this year and every year where the

World Series is played, and I happen to live in one

Of those. And so, the only difference between your

City and mine is that I know exactly where I am. In

My city it is raining this morning. It may be raining

In your city as well. Your city’s team may not be in

The World Series, but it could still be raining there.

Your team need not have won the Pennant in its

League for the rain to fall. The only difference then

Between your city and mine is that the World Series

Begins here in my city this evening, provided the rain

Lets up. And too, I know exactly where I am. I guess

That pretty much explains the difference between your

City and mine, the only difference I can see between

You and me. And, you gotta love the hometown team,

Provided you know exactly where you are, and perhaps

Living in that other city playing in the World Series this year.

Chris Hanch  10-27-15

Something about Sunday

It is Sunday, a day of reflection and introspection.

I am not sure why. I suppose because it is the be-

ginning of a new week. Or is it because another

week in a lifetime has passed?

It appears as if Venus and Jupiter are side by side

in pre-dawn the sky, Venus appearing the larger

of the two even though it is not, a matter of per-

ceptive deception.

I look over photographs I had taken in Greece some

twenty-eight years ago. I am sure that the Acropolis

stands pretty much the same, even though over two

thousand years have since gone by since it was built.

I consider the cells in my body which keep me alive.

They are not the same cells of which I was composed

so many years ago. Since then, regenerated cells have

replaced the older cells which have given in to time.

You would think, given that cycle in life, one would grow

younger and younger each year. But alas, that is not the

case. I now have a new set of cells which have only served

to age me to this deteriorating state I find myself today.

And some of these newbie cells now grow hair from my

nose and ears, a phenomena which I did not experience

in my earlier years. Ancient ruins such as the Acropolis

don’t have to concern themselves with such things.

And I’m sure should Jupiter consider how much smaller

than Venus it appears to me from my perspective here

on Earth, it might tell me to take another look from Sa-

turn’s vantage point next time.

And you, dear reader, may be asking what on Earth

possessed me to even consider drivel such as this in

the first place. Well, it is Sunday, a day of reflection

and introspection after all.

And something in my aging molecular, cellular makeup

gave me pause. How else to explain this crazy life thing

anyway? And why in hell on Sunday, what’s up with that?

Chris Hanch  10-25-15    

Scenes and faces from here and there

What Grandfather Didn't Say

There is a faint scene from childhood which

Visits me this morning. I see my grandfather

Coming up the stairs. My brothers and I are

Spending the day with him because, I believe,

Our mother was in the hospital and my father

Had to go to work. I’m making up reasons as

I go along, because I am not really sure why

We were with him. I do know that grandfather

Rarely spoke to us. He was a stoic and silent

Man for the most part, and he died that way

When my brothers and I were very young.

Usually when we visited him, he would give

Us each a quarter and then send us off to a

Neighborhood store to buy ourselves some

Candy. About that I am sure. As he came up

The stairs, I do remember him looking up at

Us and faintly smiling, but I can’t seem to re-

member any words. I do know that words can

Sometimes leave a lasting impression on a per-

son, especially when you’re young. But should

You have nothing with which to continue the

Story, you tend to fabricate what comes next.

Funny, I don’t even recall the candy my brothers

And I may have bought that day. I do know for a

Fact, however, that in the 1950s a quarter would

Have gotten a lot. I figure, had grandfather said

Something memorable to us back then, this story

I am relaying to you today would have a far differ-

ent ending. Grandfather never raised his voice to

Us. I suppose we figured if we didn't behave, he

Wouldn't give us a quarter. Then again, we may

Have been frightened at what he really may have

Had to say.

Chris Hanch  10-20-15