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Marcus Aurelius Antonius (121 – 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors (a term coined some 13 centuries later by Niccolò Machiavelli), and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calmness and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161. Meditations, the writings of "the philosopher" – as contemporary biographers called Marcus – are a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. These writings have been praised by fellow writers, philosophers, monarchs, and politicians centuries after his death.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Is this really the famous Pleiades star cluster? Known for its iconic blue stars, the Pleiades is shown here in infrared light where the surrounding dust outshines the stars. Here three infrared colors have been mapped into visual colors (R=24, G=12, B=4.6 microns). The base images were taken by NASA's orbiting Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft. Cataloged as M45 and nicknamed the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades star cluster is by chance situated in a passing dust cloud. The light and winds from the massive Pleiades stars preferentially repel smaller dust particles, causing the dust to become stratified into filaments, as seen. The featured image spans about 20 light years at the distance of the Pleiades, which lies about 450 light years distant toward the constellation of the Bull (Taurus).

Sitting and listening to,
a Singer, pianist,
who I heard while
watching an Asian Melodrama,
Raechel Yamagata.
I've grown to love her voice,
and started to listen to her.
She is an American, from the
East Coast.

Stepped in a puddle,
up to my neck.
I swore, many words,
and finally said, "Heck."

Why am I wet,
from neck to toe?
Was told anything,
could go.

What does that mean,
I said, wet, still again.
The water is now
over my chin.

The hole was deep,
narrow, but not wide,
and try as I might,
it was a cold ride.

I worked for awhile,
like a stranded goose,
unable to
get myself loose.

So, here I am,
in a hole in the ground,
trying to go to
my sweet, humble abode.

I can't sleep.
It's 4 AM.
Tested positive
for Covid.
Hip, Hip, Hooray,
I say. Just what
I needed. I am tired.
I'm concerned about
my wife, down in Memory
Care. I'm such a woos.
Want to be comforted,
by her but know I can't
see her. Life sucks,
sometimes. She did, test
negative. Now to call
those friends I saw the day before
I was diagnosed, so they can get,
tested.

I remember, when I was a young boy.
We had moved to Seattle, during the
"big war" or WWII. My father, God rest
his soul, had taken a job as an electrician,
at Todd's Shipyard, where they were
building, Destroyers (DD's).
I saw the launch of one ship. Don't
recall the name, but the launch was memorable.

After the War, we moved, from the housing
project, at High Point, in West Seattle.
Dad bought a trailer park, just off of Hiway 99.
I went to Showalter. He also built and opened,
an electrical repair/retail store, on 99.

I remember how much I liked to fish. Going by
myself, fishing this stream, rolling down the
hill to green meadows, then into the Duwamish.
The green was the former, Golden Arrow Dairy, which
today has become, South Center Mall.

Of all the things,
in this Worldwide,
the most precious are,
when you are by my side.

www.adriennehedger.com
www.facebook.com/HedgerHumor

When the high, winter winds,
brush the treetops, high,
takes me back, as a boy,
when I wanted to fly.

Flying, did happen,
but not on my own,
as I stopped taking lessons,
when we bought our home.

It is cold,
and dreary.
Why then are
my eyes teary?

Away you go.
away from here.
Stay you loose,
have a beer.

People I know,
are unlike me,
they are patient
and think free.

I was born,
a simple man,
with simple tastes,
living a simple plan.

I have learned,
through years, many,
the finer things,
in life, are plenty.

Do you understand,
as I try to say,
I'll love you always,
until I have gone away.

Dodging bullets,
yes, it's what I did,
my luck is all gone,
tested positive for Covid.