Laundry day for me… So many people here… there seems to be a battle for the laundry carts and dryers.  I realize we are all rushing; some of the men seem to be talking about Super Bowl, I just want to get my clothes washed.  There a couple of ladies with their children and this one elderly lady who keeps smiling at me.  So I smile back.  As everyone is tuned into their own beat, I put my earphone on and wait for the clothes to wash.  Listening to the variety of songs from classical to metal; I decided to go to my car and get my notebook.  I came up with a story and this is what it is: Excuse me Ms. (or Mr.), I am doing a report on what people think I am listening to right now? Yeah, serious I did this morning while I did laundry at the Laundry mat down the block.  So I went up to a total of twenty-two people (yes, there were a lot of people, some outside waiting, others inside).  I only asked fifteen people; most of them spoke Spanish.  Keep in mind that I was wearing green shorts, flip flops, my Justice League T-shirt (for those who do not know who Justice league is: Wonder woman, superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Plastic Man, Hawk man, Atom, etc super Heros!!!) and my Batman cap. So my results and some of my comments were:

“No se, tu dime” (I don’t know, you tell me)

“Pues estas un poco pelon, so eso que se llama musica de Rap” (You are kind of shaved/bald from the head so how do you call it, Rap music)

“Well, I think maybe rock n’ roll”

“que tipo de pendejadas es esto, estoy lavando” (What kind of stupidity is this, I am washing)

“Pues eres blanco, gringo, como sabes Español?” (well you are White, gringo, how do you know Spanish?)

“I really don’t care to know or give my opinion sir”

“Puras de Banda” (only Banda hits)

“En Ingles me imagino” (In English, I imagine)

“Oldies homie, oldies”

“Alternative rock?”

“Lo que escuchcan los jovenes de tu edad” (what young ones your age hear)

“Cumbias para bailar” (cumbias to dance to)

“Rock and Roll, classics I hope?”

“Merengue para la Zumba” (Merengue music to dance Zumba)

And the last one said:

“Let me hear and I will tell you” So I put one ear phone on him and the other on me and he could not believe what I was listening too:

 Can you guess?  Take a shot at it… my homie new buddy almost had it when he said “oldies” and the other man got close to it when he said “classics I hope?”

It was classic tunes/music by Mozart and other fabulous composers.  So after that I waited for my clothes to dry and put it all in the car, got some of my DJ business cards and handed them out to all who I spoke with even the one that did not care to know what I was listening to and the one who claimed my question was stupid.  And I walked out and drove home.

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So I am walking in to Mc Donald yesterday before going to storage to clean it up and down and get my DJ equipment and a man with dirty clothes and strong body odor asks me for a dollar.  I told him I had no cash, but only my debit card.  He then asked me if I would buy him something to eat for he had a long journey ahead of him hitch hiking to San Diego.  I smiled and told him that was fine.  As I walked in and ordered he walked in to the restaurant as well and stood next to me.  There were other people in line and starred him down with faces of “what is he doing here?”

I ordered thinking of my dad, “egg Mc Muffin and a decaf…”  The man then sat down at a table as I waited for the food standing up.  I got the food and took him his, I sat at another table.  He was very grateful and told me, “God bless you.” 

While I was eating by myself and watching him enjoy his breakfast sandwiches, I got up and asked him if I could sit with him.  He said, “Sure.” I sat there and began to talk with this man. I asked him what he felt the meaning of life is.  He answered saying, “are you one them deep thinkers?” I said that I dabbled on thoughts and loved to observe people as my father would outside his store in downtown… 238 Second St. Calexico, California.  He then asked me about my dad.  I told him a bit about my dad and how he loved to help people when he could.  I told him how my dad would always give a buck or two to people living on the streets.  The man said then you have a heart of gold like your papa.  I smiled and then he went on to tell me how he never met his dad and how life has just been a @%*! (Crap) hole.  And how the meaning of life to him was not what he thought it would be; but that he got by and was thankful for what he did do and regretful for that which he could  not hold onto. 

I told him about my life, young daddy, young married man still in high school, worked my butt off, two beautiful gems, divorced, met a great gal, separated, married one of my great friends and now I am employed after seven months with other minor details.  Then he asked me if I knew what the meaning of life is? I responded to him what he said to me after I gave him the sandwiches: “God bless you!” He laughed and said, “I did not sneeze.” I then added, no silly rabbit, God.  He smirked and said, nah, that’s all fine and dandy in Sunday school times , but that @#$* (crap) did nothing for me then or now.  I said, “Isn’t it funny?” He said, “What?”  You don’t believe, but you still said God bless you.  He then responded, “I never said I did not believe, but that all that mumbo jumbo about God was not for me!”  I smiled and said, “Okay then, so you believe, so do I; I never said anything about mumbo jumbo or Sunday school, just God.”  He stayed quiet for a while as he took his last bite from his sandwich and responded, “I thank god for today and tomorrow, but don’t thank him for yesterday.” I took a drink from my lemonade and then said, “I thank god for yesterday, for it has made me more aware of today, and I thank him for today and look forward to tomorrow.”  He told me he had to go to the restroom and he got up. While he was away, I ate up my food. 

When he got back, he said he had to hit the road, “long journey, when you are hitching…” and he got his bag and backpack; he then added, “I did not get your name, but I seem to have met a great guy, struggling with life as I did, but I let go of it all, you are still trying… but do me a favor ease up on your gas petal, you’re gonna run yourself thin… I have learned to be free with what I am and what I will end up as.  No one knows and truly cares about all the little things, but what comes out on the big screen.” He laughed as I smiled, and then he said, “Thinking about what you said about your dad, I wish I would have had a dad like that.”  I thanked him and said my name is Mark and he said his name was Joe.  He opened the door and walked away.

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PADRES un programa de enfoque familiar el cual promueve la paternidad

responsable y apoya a los padres a tener éxito como padres y proveedores!

 Las Clases son Gratuitas!

Las clases estarán disponible entre semana, por las tardes y los fines de semana

Los componentes del Programa incluyen:

Grupos de matrimonios/relaciones saludables

Clases sobre la Crianza de los hijos

Programa de competencias Laborales

Clase sobre habilidades financieras

Oportunidad de introducción a un empleo

Se proveerá incentivos económicos!

De se la oportunidad de:

fortalecer los lazos de unión con sus hijos o de reconectarse

con su familia

Ayuda de profesionales

dedicados y consejería

familiar y de pareja estará a su disposición!

Para más informes y elegibilidad sobre el programa comuníquese al 760-482-2638

 Los fondos de este programa son proveídos por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos, Administración para Niños y Familias, Beca 90FK0001. Cualquier opinión, o descubrimientos y conclusiones o recomendaciones expresadas en este material son propiedad del autor y no necesariamente reflejan la visión del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanas, Administración para Niños y Familias de los Estados Unidos. Estos servicios están disponibles para todas las personas elegibles, sin importar raza, genero, edad, incapacidad física o religión.

Gracias,

Mark Peres
687 State St.
El Centro, Ca. 92243 760-482-2617

mperes@ivrop.org

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PADRES  is a family focused program which promotes responsible fatherhood and helps fathers succeed as parents and providers.

Classes are FREE!

Classes are available weekdays, evenings and weekends.

Take the opportunity to strengthen the bond you have with your children and reconnect with your family!

Program Components Include:

Healthy Marriage/Relationship Groups

Parenting Classes

Employability Program

Financial Literacy Skills Classes

Opportunity for Job Placement

Services for Mothers

Incentives will be provided!

 Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant 90FK0001. Any opinions, findings, and conclusion or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. These services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Help from dedicated staff and Couples and Family Counselor available!

For program eligibility and information: Please contact us @ 760-482-26387

Thank you

Mark Peres

687 State St.

El Centro, Ca. 92243

760-482-2617

mperes@ivrop.org

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‘Successful Aging Expo’—Saturday & Sunday, February 11-12, 2012 at the Town & Country Resort & Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley, San Diego.

• Free Entry
• Free Seminars
• More than 90 Exhibitors

For more info, please visit: http://www.utsandiego.com/aging-expo/

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Walking today

I realized how we can

Cannot think of going forward

If we think backwards

So much holding on to us

Or is it us holding on to so much

Listening to yesterday

In the whispers

Can bring nostalgia

But lead to a place of desertion

From your own reality

Songs that talk

To our unconscious

Reeling out the episodes

To dream the dreams

Forgotten…

Can’t walk into yesterday

Moving forward

Bygones be bygones

Drag not yesterday

But let us set it free

To be free indeed

No one is exempt

But we can resolve

The unresolved

By choosing to choose

Not in yesterday

But what is in front of us

Right in front of us today

Be it your education

Be it your love life

Be it your familia

Be it your friends

Be it your vida

There is no legal u-turns

To take today

They are illegal

Keep going forward

Let the memories flow

Down stream

But not you personally

Be all you are

By moving forward

In walking today

Never again in yesterday

By Mark Peres

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Sleep dear eyes, sleep

The night has come

There is nothing more to see

But the moon light

Which will shine

Along with the stars

For the creatures

That lurk within the time

But your eyes have seen

All they must for one day

Tomorrow they shall see

Yet again

That which was meant to be

For now sleep dear eyes, sleep

Let your mind rest

Upon the dreams

Filled with delight

Do not fight

Oh, dear eyes

Close now

Close for the night

And open wide

To the call of the sun

Rising for anew

Giving us all

Energy to burn

Sleep dear eyes, sleep

We shall see tomorrow

And embrace it well

For all we are

Must rest tonight

Good-night dear eyes

Good-night

Sleep well my eyes

And dream well

My mind

By Mark Peres

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Today is good

Mellow and fresh

Nothing to detest

Wondering what is on the mind

Of those I love

Wishing them greatness

As I just take my time

No rushing…

Yet thoughts do rush

within my head

From the day I wed

To my near death experiences

Worries and frets

Loss and gain

Pain and joy

Bills and new job

My father’s words and strength

My wife’s eyes and enduring patience

The love from my daughters

And the adventures lived by my son

Friends I see and those I have not

Moments taken and some lost

The family up north

In heaven, but those in N. Cali

My brother, where he be?

My sister running with scissors

What will come tomorrow?

I cannot know

But I can hear little Orphan Annie

Singing from the top of her lungs:

“The sun will come out tomorrow”

Until then,

I remain in my thoughtful and mellow status

Giving thanks for today

And for that which will be lived tomorrow

And all the strife and conquered moments

From yesterday that have led me

Thus far and to the next

Grace yourself with thankfulness

If not for yesterday

At least for this moment

For you are alive

By Mark Peres

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We let it

Don’t we

We let it

Get to us

That feeling…

Feeling of disappointment

Thinking all is perfect

In the creators grace

But taste the sour sweets

And bitter drinks

Birthed from this earth

Reminding us of truth

Not everything will be

As we plan it to be

Not even the way

You imagined your haircut’s outcome

Or those images taken

From that little device that flashes

And never under estimate

The power of people

To attempt to bring you down

Or even lift you up

From the ground

Life runs both ways

But it runs

Rarely walking

Those that walk will get there

But those that run

Often trample over

To get there first

I have ran and ran

And realize that the humble walk

They walk in trust that all

Is in his hands

And will with time

Even if it is the last breath

Will bring forth

The rational and reasons

For life’s great treasons

And beautiful mysteries

There is nothing better

Than places your bets on him

For it is written

That we will never lose

Even when it feels as if we are

For giving into those feelings

Of disappointment

Remember the Footprints:

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

Disappointment will come

And as those dark clouds pass

They will go away

By Mark Peres

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Life is no gimmick

But filled with them

Ready to catch you

Off your guard

To swipe your desires

And empty your pockets

All throughout life

There have been those

That wants to take

And leave you with truly

With nothing but junk

Be wise

Don’t believe all lies

That deprives you from life

Feel happy in your own skin

Don’t desire others

For we not know

What ordeals are within

Yeah we all want this

And we want all that

But in the end

Love what you got

Or some may correct me

And say “Love what you have”

Either way there is You

And then there is the You

You wish you could be

But what if you were that you

You wished you could be

Then miss thee you, which you are now

It’s not rocket science

We were all made with

Basically the same functions

Some more advanced than others

But some that seem to be

Are definitely not

Living above their means

To fit into a scene

That is not what it seems

Be real, be free, be you

And live to the beat of your drum

Not that of another’s dum dum

Let us never fall for lies

Or this and that type of gimmicks

We are more than another’s opinion

We are greater than what some

Feel our life should be painted

Be of good cheer

And smile as the sun sets

For it will rise again

By Mark Peres

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