The Culture that has been here all the time

Since no one visits Jeanne and me (not even family), I feel like spinning a web and purring bait by my front door, and if someone gets close, snatch them in and enter into a nice conversation. My neighbor brought something for us (a sweater too small for her husband but may fit Jeanne), and I captured her and urged her to talk with Jeanne. I got her to stay a whole five minutes.

If I were wealthy, I could buy a lover even if she faked it. The song "Can't Buy Me Love" is a myth. If it looks like love, feels like love, and acts like love, who cares: It is love. I've seen many news articles about the advantaged men having multiple lovers, and even when doing something wrong and get caught, they seem to get away with it. Before I was scammed out of my liquid cash, I had numerous ladies telling me they would help me, even that they loved me before they even knew me. Now managing ok, but no longer with ample money available, the school of women circling me has vanished.

I met wealthy men with young wives after divorcing their long-serving spouse, even with young children in tow. This seems to be a fact of life. 

I refuse to divorce my wife of forty years because she can not be my lover; that act is not in me.

The wealthy man's song might be: 

These are favorite songs these days:

Yes, I have only had sex briefly more than a year ago with a FWB, and before that time? No sex for at least four years. What have I learned? I have learned that I can live without having a lover, even if it will not be a good thing. No lover will shorten my lifespan, leading to days when I am frustrated and creating an uneasy emotional atmosphere every day. It is not that I like this state of life, but it is because it seems I have no choice. Or rather, I have chosen to stay with my wife, who is ill and not able to have sex, and honor my commitment of 'till death do us part. I can not even go out on the prowel of the bars and clubs seeking a suitable woman to have sex with and leave my wife alone. That would only be a partial solution anyway. I would like an emotional connection to a lover, not just a brief encounter, even if the relationship is tenuous. Still, I would infuse all the love into the relationship that I can if I somehow find myself in a relationship.

History reveals that challenges to peace and tranquility are constantly nipping at humanity's heels; somehow, nevertheless, we seem to eek out improvements in the World, sometimes with significant human cost. Recent developments in the World seem to indicate that steps backward are being taken, and we are being tested again. I lived through the 1960s, and now I see improvements made back then slipping away. I voiced my opinion numerous times on Social Media Platforms, but I feel like a mouse screaming out a warning in a vast wilderness of ears that will not hear. I have no political power or a significant voice bestowed on me by notoriety or celebrity, so there isn't much I can do to have a positive impact.

If I can stir you, my blog readers know this as King Solomon wrote centuries ago, "There is nothing new under the sun." 

Plato and Aristotle on the Family and the Polis
John Hittinger
The University of St. Thomas, Houston
The question of the family is at the heart of many important political issues

EMPATHY LOST IS MORE THAN PARADISE LOST. What value is it to explore the Moon or Colonize Mars without empathy?  Are we presently here to serve and please the few and ignore the many?

If we are losing empathy, it must be that it is being eroded within the family unit. Perhaps we are at a point where humans no longer need the family unit, and dysfunction will replace well-balanced caring humans with cold calculating entities. Note, I am not saying this because we are threatened by AI (Artificial Intelligence). I am warning humanity, it seems we will find a way to self-destruct, and it may not be in some Science Fiction Novel set in the distant future.

Intimate Grooming is not just for appearances, it fulfills an important purpose. When considering a new lover who is a stranger to you, a subtle inspection of their pubic area can reveal if they have a health problem or an infestation of pubic lice. If you are a bold type, you can instruct them to undress and have a look. Admittedly, this can break a romantic spell, so think carefully before you plunge into this without considering the potential for a negative effect. 

From an aesthetic point of view, you may like your new lover to be as smooth and clean as a Greek or Roman statue. I admit intimate grooming as a practice together can be arousing too. People who can't make up their mind on the preference can experience a delay in intimacy if they had their lover remove all their body hair, then change their mind and decide they are more excited by seeing body hair.

Now you will have to wait for it all to grow back if you insist.

(Photos Public Domain)

Throughout my life, I must confess I have encountered many incarnations of the nine Muses of Greek and Roman Mythology. To be more accurate, their apparent mortal incarnations. They influenced my artwork, my songs, and my inherent ideology.

In the beginning, I was only aware of them in a vague sense derived from imagery portrayed in Pop Culture. I discovered the Nine Muses influence and inspire much more than music, song, and paintings. This was the result that I am a fallible mortal man. Thus, the view of a muse for me always had a sexual tension, always associated with a beautiful woman in my view. In recent years of reflection and contemplation, I have amended my vision of a Muse. The Muse I envision need not have a permanent sexual component. Still, the connection should be warm and loving.

The idealized Muse of my youth, with idealized physical beauty and perfect empathy, has been replaced with a more realistic person with greater internal beauty, having greater importance. She understands me in great detail, the positives and the negatives, and encourages me to be at my creative best.

My wife, whom I see fading away more each day, was exactly this Muse.

I hope this day doesn't morph into a Hard Day's Night. My wife was very manageable today, but I? I was (still) am a clumbsy bafoon. Drop things, forget things, I forgot to do things (clothes sat in the washer for hours), spilled coffee, dropped food, maybe I am at the beginning of dementia. Who will care for my wife if so?

My dogs got under my feet several times, but fortunately, Sunny Day, my cat, cuddled up to me. No, he can not replace the love my wife offered years ago, but I suppose he is doing his best. And at least I have him to keep me warm.

On a good day, my wife still walks around, eats, and drinks. On a bad day, she tends to fall. If I constantly watch her, she keeps walking, she keeps eating, and remains hydrated, we then have good days. I want as many of those as I can help achieve. Even on good days, I must change her, keep her clean, and ensure she is well. She no longer has the use of or understands language, but might watch a colorful TV screen for a few moments. Apphasia prevents me from communicating with her, so I do not know if she knows who I am or even has a lucid few minutes.

I love her, but wonder if I am in love with the old her, and just imagine that she is the same inside. She will laugh a little if I offer something she finds amusing. She will rebel if she refuses to do something like eat or go to bed. In the worst case, she will hit or bite me. I have trained myself to ignore this, and when she dumps her food onto the floor, there probably isn't a reason for it.

She likes stuffed animals and dolls.

Dear Future Lover,

I look forward to spending time with you doing ordinary things like a walk in the garden or on the beach; a ride in the farmland or the mountains; shopping together and cooking. Learning all about you and sharing all about me with you. Learning how to surprise you with a gesture or a gift.

The most important thing that I look forward to is how we will learn how to love each other in every way.

I will be open to your needs, and I know you will be open to my needs.

The past for you and me will only serve as lessons to avoid mistakes and lessons to do better.

It will be my goal to treasure and cherish you along with loving you with my whole heart.

Sincerly

Your Future Lover

GOOGLE AI: Humans have a fundamental need for touch, crucial for both physical and emotional well-being, fostering healthy relationships, reducing stress, and promoting a sense of connection and belonging. 

Humans naturally crave intimacy, which is crucial for well-being and involves feeling valued, connected, and understood, both physically and emotionally. 

I can hug and kiss my wife (not to be crass), but I can do the same with my cat and dogs. Long ago, I learned how needy I was when deprived of this when my second wife abandoned my son and me (she, an RN, thought he was going to die young with his heart defect).

My wife, with Dementia Alzheimer's and Aphasia, is leaving me once more on the shore of an unexplored island without the intimacy I need so very badly. Of course, I will take care of her despite this and not abandon her.

Intimacy can not be purchased in Walmart or on Amazon. I tried to do so online and was severely scammed (my stupidity, of course).

I am so glad I can express myself here on The Cage without former friends and family criticizing or condemning me.