The Lunar New Year kicked off on Feb. 10 with the Year of the Dragon. The holiday centers around the hope for good fortune and prosperity. Though celebrations last up to 16 days, only the first seven days are considered a public holiday. The celebration will reach its peak with the annual Lantern Festival in remembrance of one's ancestors.

The zodiac animal for the 2024 Lunar New Year is the Dragon, the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac. The last year of the Dragon was in January 2012, which marked the year of the Water Dragon. This year, however, will be the year of the Wood Dragon.

The majority of the content comes from some of my favorites of Year 22.

Poetical Journal ©by Bob Casey

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Mission: To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life

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PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated!
Any amount of donation is appreciated. To support, click on the link and scroll down. click here.


Please click here to go to the Amazon link to learn about my books.

Questions? Email me.

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VOLUME XXIII – Issue 1: Sunday, February 25, 2024 (270th Issue)

Welcome

I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe.

If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list.

The next Poetical Journal will be out March 31, 2024.

 

(June Issue) In early June, I had a tai chi conference at Mt. Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati. Much to our surprise the GPS took us on a unique route from the Cincy Airport (located in Kentucky) to our destination. It guided us to a small ferry which crossed the Ohio River, saving us 30 minutes of heavy traffic. We loved the experience.

...Opening Comments from Bob

This Issue: In recent years, the January issue of the Poetical Journal offered a summary of the previous year. In it I highlighted my favorite poems, pictures, jokes, and quotes. However, this year, the February Issue is serving that role. This year begins the 23rd year of publication. My favorite poems from Year 22 were The Snowy Bench, A Blip, and Moment. The vignette is brand new. The content came as a wonderful surprise in January in my P.O. box. The vignette is entitled A Postcard from a Friend.

Subscriber Residences: PLEASE let me know if your state, providence, or country is not listed in the demographic section at the end. There currently are subscribers in 27 states, 3 provinces, and 13 countries. See complete list near at the newsletter.

Next Month: The next issue comes out on March 31, 2024.

To become a friend on Facebook, click on this link.

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PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated! Any amount of donation is appreciated. To support, click here.

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(February Issue) The Utah Winter of 2023 was one of the snowiest in recent years.

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(March Issue) Located in Darrow, LA (Day 2 of the Mississippi Cruise).


Three Favorite Poems from Year 22

(February Issue) Comment: An allegory on a snowy bench.

(April Issue) Comment: A deeper poem. I personally have found that Stanza 6 is the hardest to reach
when experiencing what is described in Stanza 5.

(October Issue) Comment: On Facebook, I wrote a comment to a former 6th grade student of mine,
Kim Spencer, who has gone on to be an outstanding teacher. In my comments, I praised her photography.
During our exchange, she requested I use one of her pictures to create a poem. Above is the picture I chose,
and the poem I wrote based on the photo. You could have numerous interpretations of the poem's content.
Kim's picture was a perfect fit for it. Thanks, Kim.

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Vignette: A Postcard from a Friend

When I began this newsletter twenty-three years ago, I never envisioned what an impact it would have on me as well as others. In those early wild days of the Internet the subscription rapidly grew to over 20,000 subscribers. One of those subscribers was a young girl who quickly became one of my most faithful readers and contributors. (She lived in another country.) My wife and I became so impressed with her writing skills that we worked with a local university to obtain a scholarship for her if she so chose to take advantage of it. As often happens in life, the "stars did not align" for her to make use of that option. As the years passed, we continued to remain in contact despite many issues in her homeland. Over the last two decades, we lost contact UNTIL this January when I received a postcard from my friend who was traveling outside her country. That postcard hangs in my room as a reminder of the friendships that have developed because of the PJ over the years.

Despite the many challenges she has faced, when I check who has opened the newsletter, her name always appears as a faithful reader.

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Recommendations

(January Issue) Take advantage of the options around you to explore.

Please take a look at the online book and gift pages.

 

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(April Issue) Individual rebellion: Natchez has some truly gorgeous homes including Antebellum ones. But, I had to
choose this humorous one. The story goes that the woman who owned this house decided to put a few outdoor
decorations in her yard which the neighbors objected to. The city stepped in to try to stop her. Ultimately, she won the
case and in retribution has increased her display over years a hundredfold. To make matters worse, her home is now on
every tour bus route.

(May Issue) The snow is quickly disappearing on mountains surrounding Midway.

Quotable Quotes

(February Issue) “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck - The Dalai Lama

(June Issue) "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou

(July Issue) "No seed ever sees the flower." - Zen saying

(November Issue) “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” - Joan of Arc

(January Issue) "When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills." – Chinese Proverb

(June Issue) Over 39,000 Legos used requiring over 425 hours to build – displayed Kingwood Gardens,
Mansfield, OH

(September Issue) Georgetown, CO, a small mountain village. A popular tourist stop. It has been over
30 year since I visited there. It has tripled in size, many wanting to live in the mountain village environment.

 

A Bit of Humor

A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul

Let's Make a Deal (March Issue)

While perusing a curio shop in Texas, Harold's eye is drawn to the skull of a horse sitting on a high shelf. "Pardon me, but what's this?' he asks the shops keeper.

"That," the shop keeper replies. "Is the actual skull of Trigger, the horse belonging to legendary Wild West hero Roy Rogers."

"How much is it?" Harold asks.

"This little gem is $3,000."

Harold hadn't wished to spend quite that much, so he asks the shop keeper if she had anything cheaper, upon which she reaches under the counter and takes out a smaller horse skull. "This is only $500."

"Well, that sounds like a good deal," Harold replies. "Whose skull is it?"

"It's Trigger's skull from when he was just a colt."

Compliment of A Joke A Day

(August Issue) Silver Fork Lake near Midway

(October Issue) Guardsman Pass near Midway

(November Issue) We enjoyed the 3+ hour trip up Pike's Peak, CO, (14,115 feet) on the Cog Rail. (Sadly, our
son had to work.)

(January Issue - last issue of Year 22) Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, UT – Lumineria display

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Tai Chi Corner

February Issue: Some of my tai chi students celebrating homebound Irene's
93rd birthday. She entered my class in her mid 80s with a walker and within
weeks the walker was gone. Recent health issues has slowed her down.
Click here to locate the name of a tai chi instructor near you, or contact me
directly.

PJ Forum

If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please e-mail them to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. I personally respond to all. (When editing the comments for publication, I eliminate very personal comments and edit for spacing.

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Reader Demographics

States - AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, NC, ND, NY, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, and WI     

Canadian Provinces - BC, ON, and QC;   

Countries - Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, UK, U.S., and Venezuela.

........Changes to this section will be updated each month.

If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.

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Book Reviews

Blast Series: Review by Janice M. regarding Blast Book Four: . . . I loved the book.  There were so many ideas floating around in my head from your writings, and I understood everything you wrote about.  I saw the visions while traveling through the pages. Thank you for your inspiration. . . ."

General: JJG wrote: I've read Bob's "To the End of Time" trilogy twice, each time gaining deep and deeper insights into the human condition. The three small volumes hold their own as good stories but also provide a unique glimpse into a new religious paradigm. Would that it could come to be.

Specific Book: To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey

David from Utah: "The new novel, To the End of Time and Back is a skillful account of two lovers on an 'Epic Journey,' racing through time and history to learn life-changing truths. Their spectral mentor, Arundel, sends them through difficult travels, but their relationship endures and remains strong despite physical, and psychological stress. Powerful emotions such as fear, anger and happiness, combine with lust, pain and sexuality to help them learn. Written in verse form, the story is an epic poem, painted to portray the duality of mankind throughout dimensions of human history that is sometimes cruel and horrific. The reader will come to know and understand what is being described and will certainly enjoy the stimulating elegance of the story and the philosophy. A thoroughly enjoyable read that is certain to make you think."
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Jim from Mt. Vernon: "I finished your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was much easier to follow by having the whole thing in front of me, and reading as much as I wanted at a time. I felt pretty weary after bouncing around in time for many hundreds of years, but I was relieved to know that at least part of the world survived 'Armageddon'. What a feat you have performed."
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Kimberly from Ohio: "Well, Bob! I am rather blown away by your book. Finished it yesterday, and it only took four days, which means I was intrigued and wanted to know how the book ends. I'm a slow, deep reader and since my profession is writing and editing, I edit continuously as I read. Can't help it! But this book was worth dropping everything for and reading to the end. I admit to cynicism about your claim that it would change me, and I don't know that it has just yet but it won't be leaving my heart and head for a long time, and change could happen. I'm impressed that the book actually lived up to your claims for it. . . . I'm intrigued by this book because it rings so true, and I am therefore tempted to believe you actually were given the gift of this dictation. But if not and this is fiction, you have written one hell of a book, masquerading amazingly as non-fiction ... which is indeed one of the goals of fiction."
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An Ohio Reader: "WOW! WOW! WOW! I read it in one sitting and found so many things you wrote about 'true' for what I know and feel about past lives I've lived. Actually, the chapter about the Holocaust was something I couldn't bear to read–too sad and painful. (I've always felt that way about that period of history.) . . . it was very well done, Bob. Just beautifully done. I'm looking for the movie. . . I'm sure others will feel connected to this book just as I did. AMAZING. Just AMAZING. I couldn't put it down. There was so much anticipation with each chapter it hooked me from the very beginning. . ."
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Specific Book: Adelyn: An Epic Journey:

Ohio Reader: "In his book, Adelyn: An Epic Journey, Bob navigates the reader through a challenging journey in the time space continuum while exposing both the weaknesses and strengths of humanity. As Adelyn is exposed to the infinite love of The Source, the reader is challenged to understand how personal beliefs and actions often have more to do with cultural rather than spiritual influences. In a time and world filled with political anger and personal indulgences reading Adelyn offers the open-minded promise. It would make a great book study."

Specific Book: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts

Doug from Ohio: ". . . I was not prepared for page 116 Should have been because of the extremely personal nature of the entire book. Please understand that the unusual length of time to finish your book (especially for a binge reader like me) was because it screamed to be read thoughtfully in increments. For me that was 10-15 pages every weekend, often in quiet . . .Thank you for "putting pen to paper" and sharing your soul. Those of us who have followed Poetical Journeys will recognize much of the content. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to share part of your journey really feel a part of it."

Charles from Park City: "Hi Bob….I just picked up your The Tao of Momentary Thoughts.  It’s wonderful . . I love your book."

Ed from Seattle: The Tao of Momentary Thoughts: "I was smiling all the way through the reading . . .I think I will reread it again during the next week."

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PJ Online

To read some of the back issues of the PJ, go to here.

The next issue will go out on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Until next time - joy and peace,

Bob

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Bob Casey
Poetical Journeys
P.O. Box 319
Midway, UT 84049
bob@poeticaljourneys.com

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