His latest:
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, from time to time I go through my most recent pile of accumulated thoughts and ideas, and send out those that seem most worth sharing. They are not necessarily ideas for new Pot-Shots, although I realize many of them could be. Of course some are better than others, but I do claim that, as far as possible, they are all original, and not consciously copied from anyone or anywhere else.There are too many to fling at you all at once, so I will send them in batches. The first batch follows. Each item is numbered. So if you will give me the numbers of no more than 5 that you like best in this batch, I’ll tally the results and let you know the winners. If you want to share your reasons, or make comments on any of the items, of course I’ll be interested in anything you have to say.——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
1. A new study has found that we should have given more attention to some of the old studies. 2. I have so many secrets to be kept from so many different people, it’s getting harder to remember who mustn’t know what. 3. Don’t ask too much of yourself –you may already owe yourself more than you can repay. 4. Things don’t all get resolved in anyone’s life story –That’s why so many hope for a sequel. 5. They both wanted to die in bed,But it was a single bed,So they had to take turns dying in it. 6. I see by your ensembleThat you are a gay cowboy. 7. You have the power to change people’s lives — starting with your own. 8. First rule of dreaming:Every dream should have a theme. 9. Book title:LINGERIE FOR THE LAWLESS: THE UNDERWORLD AND ITS UNDERWEAR. 10. INCHISM: the belief in going slowly. 11. This is serious:I can’t think of any scheduled eventI don’t want to die before. 12. Question: The word “adit” (which one encounters mainly in crossword puzzles) means the entrance to a mine. But it is presumably the opposite, and from the same root, as “exit.” Why did “exit” stick around in our general usage, while “adit” practically exited altogether? 13. How I feel depends on the time of day, time of year, and time of life. 14. Better safe than sorry — but I’m sorry I have to be so concerned about being safe. 15. Who was that masked nanny? 16. I was stunned by the news that I had a concussion. 17. Permission to laugh. 18. Special thanks to God for making all this possible. 19. It takes courage to be me. 20. The announcement of my birth was intended as a joke –But nobody got the point. 21. It’s never happened yet,but at some point in the futureI hope to have a normal day. 22. To a true poet,long hair on noisy cattle becomes “flowing locks on lowing flocks.” 23. However long you wait,There is no guaranteeThat your patience will ever be rewarded. 22. Where there is no light,white is just as black as black. 23. They had their disagreements,But they did crosswords together Without one cross word. 24. Sometimes I’m glad I took my own advice. 25. Trouble doesn’t always tell me when it’s coming –It seems to enjoy making surprise visits. 26. I left no tracks, but even if I did,who would want to follow them? 27. You need take only one step towards tomorrow – it’s called today. 28. 100 things you should do before I die. 29. It took all my strengthjust to admit to myselfthat I’m exhausted. 30. Don’t ask me why I’m doing it – I’m doing it because it gives me something to do. 31. He’s still alive,but only because he hasn’t yet been ableto write a good suicide note. 32. An expert critic of drainage:A CONNESEWER. 33. Important safety information:Life is a dangerous place. 34. I can deal with the past, and even with the present, If the future would just go away. 35. Identity is an illusion –Nobody is really anybody. 36. All I want is to stay alive long enough to see good triumph over evil. 37. I’m not the only one to have these problems –There’s a big support group out there, called Humanity. 38. From now onIt will be the future. 39. All was going well, until Reality reared its ugly head. 40. Are you ready for disappointment and frustration?If not, proceed anyway – they are always ready for you. 41. Look how much has happened already –And, for all we know, the Universe has barely begun. 42. I asked God “Are you crazy?”and he said “Yes.” 43. It’s lonely here in my skull –If I make a hole in it, can you come in? 44. Some paperless currency is not worththe paper it isn’t printed on. 45. My only purpose in life may be to give a strange dog something to bark at. 46. International all-purpose protest movement:UNITED INDIGNITIES 47. I’m entitled to know the whole truth,but God seems to be holding something back. 48. TEDDY THE UNSTEADY –The bi-polar bear. 49. If you’re looking for an easy target, aim at human stupidity – It’s everywhere – you can hardly miss. 50. Life goes on until somebody dies,Then it still goes on – unless you were the somebody. 51. THIS IS NOT WHAT IT OBVIOUSLY IS. 52. If you take away enough pieces of the puzzle,you are left with nothing to puzzle you. 53. God refuses to tell me what I want to know,And there’s no one else to ask. 54. Being strong is half the battle –The other half is being well-insured. 55. The trouble is, I’ve never really been my old self.
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All the best,Ashleigh Brilliant
P.S. Thanks to those of you who have so far taken the trouble to read and comment on my 1967 diary. Your reactions have ranged from outrage (fortunately only a very few) to delight, warm nostalgia, and congratulations on my “courage.”