Gleanings of a Returning Exile

Too Long in Exile

Too long in exile
Too long not singing my song
Too long in exile
Too long like a rolling stone
Too long in exile

Too long in exile
Baby those people just ain't, just ain't your friends
Too long in exile my friend
You can never go home again

Well that isolated feeling
Drives you so close up against the wall
Till you feel like you can't go on
You've been in the same place for too long

Too long in exile
Baby you can never go back home
Too long in exile
Anyway you want

Oh that isolated feeling
Drives you up against, up against the wall
'Cos you've been on the mainland baby
Been on the mainland, comin'on strong

Too long in exile
Too long people keep hanging on
Too long in exile
Too long like a rolling stone

And the wheeling and the dealing
All takes up too much time
Check your better self baby
You'd better satisfy, satisfy your mind

Too long in exile
Too long you've been grinding at the mill
Too long in exile
Man, I've really just had my fill

Too long in exile
You can never go back home again
Too long in exile
You're about to drive me just insane

Too long in exile, been too long in exile
Just like James Joyce, baby
Too long in exile
Just like Samuel Beckett baby
Too long in exile
Just like Oscar Wilde
Too long in exile
Just like George Best, baby
Too long in exile
Just like Alex Higgins, baby
Too long in exile

During the months I was exiled from my home, I had little connection with the outside world. On the average, I was able to bum one ride a week to appointments and pick up a few groceries. I had no access to newspapers or the radio. I did have a limited Internet connection until Bellsouth (the New AT&T) discontinued it and TV via Mom’s DISH. I learned from the TV exactly why I have spent so many years not watching it: the news programs seemed presumptive and obtuse. Only PBS and the BBC America provided me with any food for thought.

Quite a bit has happened since I began my exile last February. This evening I have spent a bit of time reflecting on the changes I’ve observed since my return to the world. Below are a few of my gleanings:

Alex: Alex has several self-inflicted cuts in his fir. I’m sure they’re self inflicted because he was not an outside cat while away. I’ve made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon for Alex to see his vet. I’ve not told him of the appointment; I hope I can get him back into his carrying case!

Gasoline: After I was able to afford to license my car and purchase insurance, I had a major shock: it cost me more than $40.00 to purchase about twelve gallons of petrol! What pissed me off the most was hearing on radio that the oil companies are (again) projecting record profits.

Mom: My mother remains in the rehab center south of Louisville and will not be returning home. She is purchasing a one-floor home in a duplex near my sister. She hopes to be able to move into it is early June.

A day or two after she decided to sell her house, three of four houses next to Mom put For Sale signs up in their yards. That’s not good for Mom and her sale of her home. Of course, with an estimated 2 million homes (including my own) facing foreclosure in the U.S. at the moment, the housing market just ain’t good.

Veterans’ Administration: The VA medical folks are treating me extremely well. Considering that I was without health insurance for almost four years and only saw a physician in the direst of circumstances, I have many needs. These include:

• Hearing loss in my left ear (I was a tanker in the army & all tankers seem to have hearing loss)
• Eyesight (my glasses are no longer adequate to read)
• Breathing (you know all about that)
• A multitude of allergies

The VA folks have also discovered that I have two potentially serious conditions for which I have more tests scheduled. I’ll not elaborate unless the tests come up with something.