Yesterday, a pretty good day. Had a burst of creativity while riding around to yard sales. Furiously writing in my notebook during bre. aks in ther action. What leads to these bursts in creativity? Sometimes, just a change of scenery, like. on this trip to Indiana.

Found a couple of books at one church sale, a great one on Buddhism and another one of the Hardy Boys, which I read for nostalgia and a laugh. This one has so many racial and cultural stereotypes that is is both disturbing and hilarious. And the writing! "Screaming crows," exclained Frank. "Jumping cows," Joe bellowed.  

I dreamed I was in a casino and about to place a bet, but suddenly realized what I would be risking if I did so. "I worked too hard for this money to throw it away." Some other people at the table, immigrants, were in a party mood and dressed up in a glitzy way, and expecting to gamble and win and become rich.

My own racial and cultural stereotypes? But it is true that people come to this country thinking that they are going to get rich quick and end up destitute and living on the mean streets of some city or the dusty streets of some dead-end town.

The casino kind of typifies the get rich quick mentality, and the blatant scam underlying the hype of the American dream.

As I have said before, dreams often address social and cultural, even political issues, not just personal and psychological issues.

I have been to a casino a few times and asll of the distractions designed to numb or kill your brain cells--the manipulation is so obvious.

Now don't get me wrong, I like free enterprise very much. John Cougar Mellencamp sings, "There are winners and there are losers, and that ain't no big deal..."  But it is a big deal for some. I'm familiar with that blase American attitude that he is depicting, because I am American. We are proud of being risk takers, but sometimes the price to pay is just not worth it.

And yes, we need government to make sure that the scam artists are kept in check--as much as possible. I say as much as possible because it seems that they are everywhere sometimes, like roaches crawling in and out of cracks in the walls. Witness the internet scammers and spammers.

"Ain't that Amerca, for you and me, ain't that America, it's something to see, ain't that America, home of the free, little pink houses for you and me."

I used to be a huge risk-taker. Not so much any more. I have learned caution in my sixties. Well, I suppose we all do when we get older. As my son says, it's a wonder I'm alive with all the car accidents i've been in. But I drive a lot more defensively today.

Caution is good, but it is also important to remain open to new possibilities. Both are true.

The sun is rising over the cornfields of Indiana! John Cougar Mellencamp--Indiana guy. I get where you were/are coming from.