THe Worlds Greatest Thief

"Hands Up!.....gimme your money!"........   These are the words of a robber.

"Oh my God!...My wallet has been stolen!"......These are the words of a victim of a thief.

The difference between a robber and thief is that the robber will confront you ..and takes what he wants.....the Thief...operates anonymously....you never get to see him....you just see what he has taken.                           ....................................................

     This past weekend I visited with my son in N.Y. At 22, he is so wonderfully full of the hopes, dreams and ideals that I once held for myself. He lives in the Greenwich Village area, known for its marvelous and mystic sub-culture. A lifetime has passed since I walked down those same streets. Back then the pavement resonated with the sounds of a young Bob Dylan, Joan baez, and Pete Seeger. Hair was long, the air scented with incense and marijuana. The coffee shops were cluttered with poets and idealists, chanting their words that was supposed to save this world. Reminders were made not to trust the older generation...that over 40 crowd who led us down a bad path.

    Once upon a time I walked those streets, sat in those same coffee houses. My pockets were filled with the innocense of my youth. I had a "million dollars" of time to spend.

   As my son and I walked down the streets, as we sat in the same coffee houses, the voices of my past came to haunt me. Trying to enjoy my sons company and fight off the frightening feeling all at once was a challenge to my soul.  The  faces and voices in the streets...all so young....arrogant with promise......just as I sounded way back then.

   Then I realized.....my pockets had been picked....my precious innocense gone!...removed by the worlds greatest thief....time.

and the song  I loved by that young Bob Dylan played loud in my head, only now, the words seemed directed at me...."once upon a time, you dressed so fine, you threw the bums a dime, in your prime, didn't you?  // People called and said "watch out doll, you're bound to fall, but you thought they were a kiddin' you. You used to laugh about, all the people that were hanging out, now you don't talk so loud, now you don't seem so proud, about having to be scrounging, for your next meal....how does it feel?  how does feel?  To be out on your own...like a rolling stone.    

  Time is strong....relentless......Even God does not have the power to turn back hands of time.

    Despite realizing how much had be lifted from me, how much of My Destiny had been clipped off.........The love and admiration that I have of my son was overwhelmingly...rejuvenating!

   Am now sewing zippers on my pockets!

May you all stay....forever young!         Marc :)