Pacifying a Disputatious Tummy -- Up to a Point

The late Satchel Paige, baseball pitcher, was perhaps better known for his aphorisms than for his considerable prowess throwing baseballs.

One of his rules for living went something like this: "If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts."

I've had a sour stomach since Tuesday.  It's sunny here on the patio and the chaise is a right comfortable place to lie down.

So here goes:

Chocolate ice cream.

Sea breezes.

Mountain streams.

Brubeck, Mulligan, Baker . . . .

Federer' s fluid style.

A real martini. (One olive.)

Montana's grace under pressure.

Kennedy's White House parties.

Sondheim lyrics.

Real vichyssoise.

The cubism of Picasso, Braque or Feininger.

Key lime pie.

Chicken at a pre-concert picnic on the grass.

Ansel Adams photographs.

Symphony orchestras playing Beatles music, especially Hey, Jude.

Barefoot in the sand at evening.

The Maine coast.

Porter.

The Oregon  coast, especially on the last good surfing day in October.

A president who doesn't sweat, once again extending the hand of compromise to. . . .

Jessie, fetch me the Tums!  Ol' Satch should have stuck to baseball.