I read something recently that Woodrow Wilson said. “I would rather fail in a cause I knew someday would triumph than win in a cause I knew someday will fail.”
I find it really interesting to look at the lives of those who influence others.  Those in power.
I have found those who carry the load are in so many ways like us all.  They have strengths and weaknesses.  Strengths are enjoyed while weaknesses invariably are exposed.  A mate of mine taking about ants or birds or fish (doesn’t matter really) used to say, “they are  just trying to hustle up a living like the rest of us.”
I feel the same way about people that are high up.  I used to have contact on a regular basis with a person who was the best in Australia at his sport.  He represented us at the Olympics.  For some reason I was talking about it with someone and they said, “you talked to him?”
Fair dinkum I regard it as one of the best complements I ever received when someone said to me “you treat everyone the same.”  It is something I know I do.  It does not matter how high and mighty someone is (their loss if they think it matters) they are the same as us. 
They enjoy what we enjoy.  They desire friendship. Often that is not forthcoming because others imagine (like the person above) they are unapproachable.
When I first arrived in Brisbane I used to play squash with someone who was a power broker where he worked.  I really appreciated those times as the person was willing to play squash against me and share with me.  They came to my farewell at work.  They did not have to but did and I was wrapped.
The point for me is it does not matter what level of society someone occupies.  Needs are the same.  Truth can be uttered by one in the most humble circumstance and one who rules.  Woodrow Wilson was the top of the tree.  Yet what he said is applicable no matter who said it.

I think the song says, “there’s got to be a morning after.”  Well it is the morning after. 
I know I slept well last night.  They reckon you get as fit as what you do requires.  Well I have not reached that stage yet.  I subbed last night at table tennis.  First time in a while.  I enjoyed it big time but right now is the morning after.  All I know is it can only get better as I get fitter.
There were a few shots that came back to me but it did not stop me from getting done.  And our team lost 6/5.  It was five all when I went to play the last game.  As Merril said “no pressure.” 
Anyway some one was happy.  I sort of take consolation in the fact I had not played for ages and made a bit of a contest of it.  Not against the first player I played though.  He was way good.  I am just grateful for the opportunity to play him.  Their third player was close.  That was my last match.  Lost it Three games to two.  The last was 11/8.
Someone from my team said they thought I had capitulated in one game but came back and won it. I do notice I have a tendency to be hard on myself which costs me a few points while I get over it.  I will work on it.
It was enjoyable.  Merril came up and we both had a chance to catch up with various ones.  I am subbing again next week at a different level.  I live in hope.
I got there a bit later than expected as Merril was sending a huge file.  The instructions said don’t leave doing it till the last minute.  Her experience shows me why.  The file eventually went but caused a little angst.  She had done it early.
It was nice having her on the sideline.  At one stage I told her “no more mr nice guy” but that didn’t help really.
So this morning after a good sleep I am raring to go for the day.  If raring is moving sloth like between activities then I’m raring.

Well today seems like it will be a pretty typical day.  I actually got up later than anticipated.  It was 4.25.  Hence the lateness of this post.  We go out early on Monday mornings.
But what awaits us for today is Merril studying.  She has to do a five-minute video on a topic she has been looking into.  Things have so changed since I studied.  Her course is all online which was not possible when I studied.  The use of video is done differently these days. 
I think I did get video recorded for assessment.  One result of seeing myself on video was to change my hair style.  How things have changed.  I had hair back then.  Anyway, I changed parted my hair.  These days it is parted in the middle and the part is getting wider and wider.
I must admit I admire the tenacity of some of the hangers on in the middle.  I imagine they are lonely.   Sometimes they must think they are waging a losing battle.  No sooner do they put their head up then they are mowed down at hair cut time.  So not only do they need to put up with that, they have only the memory of their friends. The memory of wind blowing in the hair.  Surrounded by friends all doing stuff together.  Them were the days.
Then friends disappearing.  Losing their grip.  Disappearing without so much as a goodbye.  Never hearing from them.  Being taken to the letterbox in a hope against hope that there will be some word. But there never is.  It is like they have disappeared forever.
But the hangers on continue to hang on until they don’t.  Their grip is tenuous at best.
I will not pine for what was.  The full head of hair of was a phase that is over.  It was over way early really.  Still I did not stand in the way of progress.  I use the term progress loosely.  How can regress be progress?  Still I will not get overly concerned.  I would like to hold on to what I have got.