Happiness is a strong cup of coffee to get the blood moving and the brain in gear. Thank you to my magic potion machine for delivering a cup of the hot steaming stuff with no delay. The functioning brain meant reaching for the clock would not be wasted. The clock is set for August 23, 1924 and the location is St Louis, Missouri. We arrive to pick up the story from the St Louis Dispatch in an article written by Roland Thomas.
He writes that the planets Mars and Earth were the closest today than they had been since August 18, 1845, and the closest since high-power telescopes had been constructed, coming within 34,630,000 miles (55,730,000 km). We know from experience that Mars and Earth would not be this close again until August 28, 2003.
As stories of men on Mars attacking the Earth are rumored, our alarm goes off, and we land safely on the couch. A text from Linda Hill comes through. It reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hap.’” Find a word that starts with “hap” and use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda Hill’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/08/23/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-24-2024/
Hap by John W. Howell © 2024
“Pretty exciting stuff.”
“Back then, it was.”
“When will it happen that Mars will be closest again?”
“Not till 2035.”
“Wow, that is a long wait.”
“Yeah, if you missed it in 2003, it sure is.”
“You going to watch it?”
“Humm. Maybe. I’ll be 94 then.”
“Oh, come on. With your VooDoo Ranger as support, there’s no contest.”
“I suppose you would call it the fountain of youth.”
“Well, maybe not the fountain of youth, but maybe the source of youth.”
“Or at least a haphazard conduit.”
“Well, we are happiest at the pub. Let’s go.”
“Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Okay, I call shotgun.”
“You got it.”
“Do we have a ladder to get up there?”
“It so happens that I’m prepared to give you a boost.”
“Don’t drop a senior citizen.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Fiction Favorites 
I’ll set my calendar. Though I’m expecting clouds. Seems to always happen around here. Too bad we don’t have telescopes that can see through clouds.
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That would be great. 😁
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I guess they would come when the planets are closest. 2035? I’ll keep an eye on the horizon, and a few beers in the cooler.
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That’s the smart way to do it. 😁
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I enjoy my haphazard conduits we well, Boss. And in that ride? Every seat is shotgun!
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Ha ha ha. Very true. Thanks, Pilgrim.
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You get the best Ubers.
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Dan keeps me well supplied.
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LOL Your banter is always so great, John. 🌺 And, I would ride in that uber!
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Thanks, Kymber. You would be welcome to join us.
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Wonderful! I’ll be right there! 🌺
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😊
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I’ve always wondered how folks got into raised pickups, and I’ve never understood why they are raised. A whim, happenstance? Whatever – great dialogue, John. Have a happy day. 🌞
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The original reason to raise a truck was for ground clearance in rocky areas. Then the racers did it so that monster trucks could roll over cars. The rest is history. Thanks, Gwen 😁
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Interesting, John. Getting in and out of that Uber truck would be a challenge.
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Especially after a couple of VooDoo Rangers.
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😀
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😊
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An interesting post John .. I will be 81 by 2035.. might make it might not who knows! “No dropping senior citizens” that sounds so much posher than ” No dropping Old Age Pensioners ” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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Ha ha ha. Well I’m 83 now, so I think you have a good chance. Thanks, Willow.
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you too John 💜
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😊
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Wow! Maybe you can find a nice ditch to park in for easier ingress and egress. Of course, that usually happens after the pub.
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Hopefully it won’t be full of water. Hard to see that after a few VooDoo Rangers. 😁
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haha don’t tempt me! That had me chuckling!
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So glad you like ti. Thank you.
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Can I ride in the back? I’m looking forward to a Voodoo Ranger. Isn’t it funny that people thought Martians were going to attack us? Especially since there is a lot of thought being given to establishing a colony there now that water has been found.
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I think there has been some hysteria about Martians in the past. Orson Welles did a radio broadcast about a Martian invasion and some thought it was really happening. That was in 1938.
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“Don’t tempt me.” Sorry, but if I had been boosting you, I’d have dropped you from laughing so hard. Keeping it positive–see you in 2035!
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Yes see you in 2035. I’ll repeat this post then. Thanks, Lois.
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This is interesting, John. Thanks for sharing about it. And, I certainly hope you were not dropped.
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He wouldn’t dare. He would lose his VooDoo Ranger ticket.
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A good reason.
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😁
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I haphazardly guess and believe you’ll witness it 🙂
Oh yeah! I’ll happily sit in the cargo bed! If more join me, we can get the party started earlier!
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Add some straw and we have an unofficial hayride. Kymber Hawke says she’ll go too.
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Yessiree!! Yeeee hawwww!
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😊
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I hope we both get to see in 2035!
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I would like that.
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Our son has one of those trucks. My wife has a difficult time climbing in, so he got a stepping stool for her. Life gets more complicated as we get older.
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I’m not sure having to step on a stool to get into a truck was a planned event in aging. Thanks, Pete.
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“haphazard conduit” 😄 Good one!
Plenty of those raised trucks around here.
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We don’t see many of them here. I would think the desert draws them in.
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Sure, seems to – popular mode of transportation, yes. Both my parents drove trucks. Perfect for pulling boats. 👍🏻 My dad’s preferred vehicle with a few added Harleys and Corvettes along the way. Boys and their toys!😁
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I had a hobby farm back in the 70s so of course I had a pickup. I finally got over that and decided fast, superior handling cars were more my speed.
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🏎️💨💨💨
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😊
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Be careful getting into that Uber. Someone could break a hip! (This seems to be my mantra these days.)
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Yes. Broken hips at my age are not a good thing.
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Mine either.
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Ha ha ha.
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Ha! Ha! I’d have to have a step ladder to get up in that thing. 🙂 What another fun historical event, John. Thanks for sharing. Let’s see…if I make it to 2035, I’ll be a mere 84. I think I’ve got this! 🙂
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I think you do too. See you there.
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oh, well done! 11 years. I’m not sure I want to wait 11 years. Surely it’s on tape somewhere…
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Ha ha ha.
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I’m not standing on one leg waiting for Mars. Who knows they may surprise us and arrive sooner. Like the truck.
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I think that is an excellent way to handle the situation. Who knows. Now that water has been found on Mars there may be a whole group of visitors. Thanks for the smile, Holly.
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I’m keeping an eye to the skies. I hope they are friendly. ☕️☕️
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I’m sure they will be friendly. 🥃
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Cheers 🍻 mate!
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Cheers, Matey. Arrrgggg
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🏴☠️
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🤣
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I did not have a telescope in 2003. I am going to have to wait until 2035. It was a fun story. I assume with Voodoo Ranger you mean the famous beer.
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VooDoo Ranger always means the famous beer.
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That is good to know
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😁
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I wish we would have such vehicles. These normal SUV’s are not as magic. Now i know why Arnie loved to stay in the USA. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks, Michael.
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Excellence in meeting the challenge, repeatedly! Well done, John.
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Thank you, Monika.
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I always enjoy your dialogues so much. Will I be around in 2035? That’s only 11 years from now, but when I look back at just the last 12 months and allllll that’s gone on personally, nationally, and internationally, I wonder what the heck life will be like then. I hope we will be HAPpy, wherever that may be.
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I will have to make 94. I share your question about weather that will happen or not. Thank you, Pamela.
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Love the last line and the Uber. Well done, John.
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😁
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I see you happen to have gotten rid of the header.?
Interesting about Mars. Man has always looked to the skies, for answers, and ends up with more questions.
Do Mars bars fit into this in some way?
Mars and Voodoo, quite the combo!
OX 🧟♂️🍻 OX
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I just forgot to load the SoCS header in. Man always comes up with mote questions than answers. I haven’t had a Mars bar in eons. I wonder how they would taste with a VooDooRanger? OX 🧟♂️🍻 OX🐖
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Lol!
Beer and chocolate?… A VooDoo Stranger!
🍩𝟀 + 🧟♂️🍻 = 😱🤞
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🤢X
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Hahahahahaha!!!
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🤣
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I’ll be ready to pop the champagne. Fights with Mars and earth? Oh now. You only live once, take the pick up and I’ll be hitchhiking expecting a ride, John. Of course bring a ladder 🙀😅😹
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We will pick you up for sure.
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A trusted pal from the ole days I can count on😉💗
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Ha ha ha.
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😉
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What a fun take on the prompt. Lol! That beast would need a ladder to get into. Enjoyed reading this piece about coffee, Mars and the senior citizen bit.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. There is more foolishness ahead too. Thank you. 😁
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