My friend in England reminded me of how precious memories are. Over the past 12 years, I have had the lovely opportunity of reflecting on many rich memories. Memories are a bit of a magic carpet too so many events in your life that when you were experiencing them…you may not have realized their profound significance in your life. Holidays are that way for me. After I return from a vacation I realize how wonderful it was. Indeed I enjoy the Holiday while I am experiencing it but I must confess that a third of the enjoyment is the anticipation of the event and a third of the event…and at least the final third are the memories.

Snapshots are the fabric of our lives. I can vividly recall Christmas in Chicago with my dad and mom. The Christmas Tree seemed to be ten feet tall. Bing Crosby sang White Christmas on the radio and Christmas Carolers came to our door to serenade us. Christmas has magic all of its own…as it changes people…for a season.

Birthdays are always special to me. I believe that I may attain 65…as it is Monday. Two of my best friends through the years shared the same month and day with me for our birthdays. I always look back…memories…and look ahead for what is coming down the road.

Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale began for me when I was 20 years old…but 2 weeks later I became 21. Married in 1978 and hired in the same year…it dawned on me that I was on the road to success… MJ’s birthday is on the 24th as is mine and we were married on the 24th. I enjoyed the television show ’24.’

When I look at MJ I see the blushing bride of my youth. Aaron’s first words were ‘Di Da’…and I still hear them. Jonathon learned at a remarkably early age to climb to the top of his crib and jump out onto the floor with a thud and a lusty giggle…he does not jump out of bed any longer…but he still has the giggle…

Christianity has been a constant throughout my life. When I became a Christian in 1969…I immediately gained 100 friends. Church life was a perfect fit for me. I loved to read the Bible…often by the little wood/coal stove that was just off our kitchen. It got so hot in the kitchen that the pages curled up. I wanted to be a minister…the words they said to hurt people made them feel better. I still want to help people.

My grasp of the scope of God’s love expanded when I began working at the University. I met and became friends with people from many nations. I learned that different is not bad…it is intriguing and interesting and stirred my mind and soul as to the awesomeness of my human family.

As with most of us, I have had friends and family pass away. What was shocking to me is how easily they are forgotten… except by their loved ones. Truly the journey is the reward. All that comes from the earth…goes back to its home. Memories live on…

“Hit the deck…you rubberneck…I hear mom calling to me…

We love to govern ourselves…but it takes a leader to fashion a path forward from many opinions. Or as we have seen yet again today…democracies are having a bit of a rough go of it.
The continuing fuzzy math of…1 for you and 2 for me has exacerbated to 1/2 for you…if you are lucky… and 10 for me. Unfortunately, we see this equation playing out in many arenas in both church and state. The 2-for-1 disparity we had come to accept…we had normalized it. When the multitude of the great unwashed suffer and are unable to both eat and heat their homes…strife ensues.

Power is arrogant and unchecked power is very arrogant. We have a pervasive penchant in this country to blame our economic woes on the poorest of the land. We are certain to give the important people of our organization a sizeable raise while we proclaim with downcast eyes that we wish that there was enough money to give everyone a raise. It is somewhat like gasoline prices that have gone down a little…now we feel good about the reduction…but gasoline is still very expensive. It is called conditioning.

My numerous explorations into the Giant City Woods over the past two weeks have caused me to reflect on the beauty of life and the shadows that hide it from our view. Or as Ratty said to Mole in the Wind In The Willows, ‘Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.’ Of course, I was not in a boat…but Ratty’s sentiment holds true for Woods as well. There is a sharing in Woods that is missing in the human family. The trees work together for the good of the forest. Rhetoric is not heard in Woods. Have you ever noticed that Rhetoric…especially Political rhetoric is taken for actual news these days? Woods have a natural order and the inhabitants of it are happy with the structure of life and abundance and they forgo the jealousy and envy and coveteousness of their cousins…the humans.

The Wind In The Willows is a perfect example of contentment among God’s creatures. Each of the characters has their own distinct personality but they appreciate each other and care for each other and work together.

Of course we can not all have a new red sweater…

‘I think a picnic is in order to celebrate Billy B.s’ Birthday,’ Jane said with enthusiasm! ‘Isn’t it a bit cold for a picnic?..it is October 19th and there are a lot of leaves on the ground,’ asked Chet as he buttoned up his woolen sweater. ‘Well, all the better…there will not be a crowd and we can make our own party,’ Neva J. laughed. ‘Yes…and it can have a Halloween theme since Billy B. was born just a week before the Holiday,’ Darryl added. ‘We shall wear our gloves and scarves and heavy sweaters,’ Neva J. said as she clapped her hands together.

Giant City State Park had been resplendent with all manner of colored leaves but the rain and the freezing temperatures have lessened their glow. The massive rock formations and the quiet, except for a fox running by with his tail in the air and the continuous knock…knock…knock of an ambitious woodpecker lent its natural solitude to Halloween reflections.

‘What flavor is the Birthday Cake,’ Chet uttered as he licked his lips in anticipation. ‘German Chocolate…it is Billy B.’s favorite,’ Neva J. answered. ‘Did you bring the Merlot,’ asked Jane. ‘I never go anywhere without it…as you know,’ Neva J. said with a giggle. ‘Let us build a fire in the fireplace in the shelter..we can roast marshmallows and cook hot dogs,’ Darryl proclaimed.

‘I remember how much Billy B.’s dad loved a picnic and he loved to take them in the fall…and even winter,’ Neva J. mused as she poured the wine. ‘Do you recall the year that we went to Karrel Park and our teeth chattered due to the cold,’ Billy B. asked. ‘Or how about Grandma Askew wringing the chicken’s necks and frying them for the celebration,’ Billy B. added. ‘I do not believe that I ever saw a more frightening event than your Grandma A. wringing those chickens’ necks…she swung them above her head and the neck just got longer and longer and then she would whip them like a bullwhip and the head remained in her hand while the headless body would run about the yard looking for it’s lost head,’ Chet said with a look of fear on his face.

‘I will never forget the look on your face when you asked me to tell you about the Devil…and it was Halloween…and I shined a flashlight on my wide grinning face and told you that I was the Devil, Neva J. laughed. ‘You scared the pee pee out of me…literally…and I still get chills when I think of how you looked and how I felt,’ Billy B. said with terror in his eyes.

As the sun set and the fire crackled…Jane said…’Let us all join hands and say…Bloody Mary…three times…I am told that she will be summoned by such a request…’

After the three utterances, it just seemed colder and more than time to leave…when Chet said, ‘You may release my hand now…you are squeezing it too tight…and when Neva J. pointed the flashlight on Chets’ hand…there was no one there…

‘I think a picnic is in order to celebrate Billy B.s’ Birthday,’ Jane said with enthusiasm! ‘Isn’t it a bit cold for a picnic?..it is October 19th and there are a lot of leaves on the ground,’ asked Chet as he buttoned up his woolen sweater. ‘Well, all the better…there will not be a crowd and we can make our own party,’ Neva J. laughed. ‘Yes…and it can have a Halloween theme since Billy B. was born just a week before the Holiday,’ Darryl added. ‘We shall wear our gloves and scarves and heavy sweaters,’ Neva J. said as she clapped her hands together.

Giant City State Park had been resplendent with all manner of colored leaves but the rain and the freezing temperatures have lessened their glow. The massive rock formations and the quiet, except for a fox running by with his tail in the air and the continuous knock…knock…knock of an ambitious woodpecker lent its natural solitude to Halloween reflections.

‘What flavor is the Birthday Cake,’ Chet uttered as he licked his lips in anticipation. ‘German Chocolate…it is Billy B.’s favorite,’ Neva J. answered. ‘Did you bring the Merlot,’ asked Jane. ‘I never go anywhere without it…as you know,’ Neva J. said with a giggle. ‘Let us build a fire in the fireplace in the shelter..we can roast marshmallows and cook hot dogs,’ Darryl proclaimed.

‘I remember how much Billy B.’s dad loved a picnic and he loved to take them in the fall…and even winter,’ Neva J. mused as she poured the wine. ‘Do you recall the year that we went to Karrel Park and our teeth chattered due to the cold,’ Billy B. asked. ‘Or how about Grandma Askew wringing the chicken’s necks and frying them for the celebration,’ Billy B. added. ‘I do not believe that I ever saw a more frightening event than your Grandma A. wringing those chickens’ necks…she swung them above her head and the neck just got longer and longer and then she would whip them like a bullwhip and the head remained in her hand while the headless body would run about the yard looking for it’s lost head,’ Chet said with a look of fear on his face.

‘I will never forget the look on your face when you asked me to tell you about the Devil…and it was Halloween…and I shined a flashlight on my wide grinning face and told you that I was the Devil, Neva J. laughed. ‘You scared the pee pee out of me…literally…and I still get chills when I think of how you looked and how I felt,’ Billy B. said with terror in his eyes.

As the sun set and the fire crackled…Jane said…’Let us all join hands and say…Bloody Mary…three times…I am told that she will be summoned by such a request…’

After the three utterances, it just seemed colder and more than time to leave…when Chet said, ‘You may release my hand now…you are squeezing it too tight…and when Neva J. pointed the flashlight on Chets’ hand…there was no one there…

A performer that I enjoy listening to used the term, A Lull Between Two Crisis. It is catchy and it is correct. The rollercoaster that is our lives consists of difficulties and then a respite…and then another problem. That famous Sage Tony Soprano told his son AJ while they were enjoying a family dinner…during the last episode of the popular HBO Series, that they were having one of the good times and that they should enjoy it. Of course, shortly thereafter his daughter entered the restaurant and the screen went black…leaving us to speculate whether a crisis was about to happen.

I was thinking about leadership…as I often do…and one leadership characteristic that is essential to causing others to want to willingly follow you is…courage. Without courage, there is little to talk about. As the Bible says, ‘Without a vision, my people perish.’ Manipulation is often mistaken for leadership. When a person who is in a power position can cause others to do what they want them to do and it is primarily for the benefit of the Power Player…they have been manipulated. The Vow, an HBO program about the cult NXIVM, had its first episode of the second season last night. This is a group where women were branded and forced into sexual servitude by the cult leader Keith Raniere. The Cults attested that they were teachers of Human Potential and Development. Well…we all want to maximize our human potential and development…do we not? This Cult appealed to movie and television celebrities and the rich and powerful and well-educated. It is amazing what the human brain will accept as truth if surrounded by a persistent lie and all those with whom you fellowship…assure you that the lie is true…

Often we fall into cults while we are seeking God and meaning in our lives. We want someone to tell us the way to go and the right path for our journey. Tribal bonds are extremely strong. Even after Raniere has been imprisoned…he still has dedicated followers.

Critical thinking is essential for our success. When we turn off our brains and placidly accept what a faux leader tells us we are a bit like sheep being led to the slaughter. Hannah Arendt wrote a book The Banality Of Evil where she conculed that the Nazi Adolph Eichmann was, ‘an ordinary, rather bland, bureaucrat, who in her words, was neither perverted nor sadistic, but terrifyingly normal. He acted without any motive other than to diligently advance his career in the Nazi bureaucracy.’

Another day in the woods was my pleasure today. Many of the leaves are holding on for dear life…others have released their grip…until next year. The cold and clear autumn air is inspiring and refreshing. The Creator’s Hand is firmly on the large wheel of our lives and is steering us to safe harbor and rest and renewal.

G.K . Chesterton said, ‘We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea…and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.’

It is cold today on the Writing Porch! Forty-eight degrees with a chill factor of 43. Fall is here. It is almost my birthday…my Medicare Birthday. If there are any of the Class of 75′ reading this they are thinking…mine too. I imbibed my usual two Grey Goose Dirty Martinis at Bartolinos’ Restaurant yesterday…for an early Birthday Dinner. Aaron bought my third traditional ‘Dirty’ that I only do on my Birthday. When I got up from the table I knew then…that the bartender had made them fully loaded. St. Louis has been my go-to City for my Birthday Dinner. As I walked about our Plaza Frontenac…which is my favorite Mall in St. Louis I saw a lovely Bentley on sale for just over a quarter of a million dollars…I came home without it. MJ and I did purchase two Memory Foam Pillows at Macy’s in the Galleria for $35 dollars each…they were original $140 apiece. What a Country as the Russian Comic used to exclaim.

Old Man Time is knocking on my door…I opened it and he came hobbling in saying that he needed a bit of a rest. I offered him my recliner and he promptly put his footrest up and began to snore. Later he awakened and asked what inning the ball game was in as he said that he could not see the fine print on the television. He asked me where the restroom was and noted that he preferred to never be too far from one. I promptly told him that I walked daily and took photos and blogged…and he smiled and said…’Keep it up…sonny…’

Old Man Time asked if I wanted to hear a story. I said that I certainly did. He told me that the only thing certain about life is change. He noted that in his younger days he had wanted to change the world…now he is simply happy to be in it. OMT noted that he had dear friends…some had died…and others had gone on a separate journey. He told me that he had been a Christian for the majority of his life…and it had been a marvelous adventure. The Old Man told me that the secret of happiness in life is to always put others before yourself…be humble…refuse to be manipulated by those who have their welfare in mind…and not yours.

Old Man Time said that I should pay attention to nature as it has a plethora of lessons to teach us about what life is all about. He went on to say that he enjoyed a little nip of Gin…and that it was good for his rheumatism. OMT said that I should never consider animals dumb…that most of them were much smarter than humans and that they understood what we humans were saying to them…and that they understood love…

OMT said that the journey is the reward and to never take anything or anyone for granted. Everything is a gift and we are deluded if we think that we earned anything by the sweat of our brow.

Old Man Time said as he hobbled out of my front door…’The poor and the hungry and those suffering…are you…treat them accordingly…

As Old Man Time walked down my driveway he called back to me,’

The next time I come…have some Gin…

A strange transformation has taken me in my later years. When I graduated from Eldorado High School in 1975 I could not wait to get away from my second Hometown. My first had been Chicago. I moved the morning after graduation. Now I can not seem to travel back to Eldorado enough times to get my fill of memories. The change occurred when I began to write fictionalized stories about my 12 years in the little town. The narratives are made up of a mixture of truth and fiction. They are based on happy times that happened throughout the 1960s.

‘You know…Kiddo…I think that we should start attending church…Grandma Askew says Armageddon is coming,’ said Neva J. ”I would like to come along with you guys…you know I have always been curious about spiritual matters,’ Chet said matter of factly. ‘I enjoy reading the Bible Story Books in Dr. Ferrel’s office,’ Billy B. added.

‘Well today is the Halloween Hike…but we will take our Bibles with us,’ Jane said. ‘I will bring my Bible with the handmade leather cover on it…Michael T. made it for me,’ Billy B. said with a smile. ‘I can not quit watching the news reports of the Russian missiles in Cuba,’ Neva J. said with a concerned look in her eyes. ‘Did you pack the wine,’ Jane asked with a laugh.

My goodness, it is dark today in the woods,’ Darryl said with some trepidation. ‘What did the news say regarding the missile stand-off, Chet asked. ‘Walter Conkrite said that the United States should prepare for war,’ Neva J. answered as she poured a glass of Merlot for each of them. ‘How could we have come to this…how could our leaders have been so foolish,’ Billy B. bemoaned.

Suddenly the woods was brilliantly lit with the whitest light that any of the hikers had ever seen.

‘Wake Up Billy B… the church is over and it is time to go home,’ Neva J. said. As they exited the massive red doors Jane said, ‘My God…it is all gone…

I was watching a documentary regarding a megachurch and its obsession with money and power and acquiring inroads with the elite and rich and powerful of the planet. Also, this church, and many others, seemed to not be concerned with members of their flock when they had been abused by clergy…including sexual abuse…but rather sought to cover up the wrong. Now please do not think that you know of whom I am speaking…as this sad indictment applies to many churches. There often is a love bombing and a feeling of family…until you cross the line and begin to question how the ‘Family’ does business…and who is left by the side of the road and marginalized and if they choose to leave the fellowship…forgotten…

The question is church a social club or a Power of Positive Thinking organization that can teach its members how to become rich…as long as they give of their labor…for free and…who will give of their money to facilitate a magnificent church building and a pastor who lives like a king or queen…until they do not have enough to live on themselves…or a class system for the elite and then the other folks who are the salt of the earth and good for menial work and servitude…

Church leaders who are accountable to God and no one else…are dangerous.
When the sparkle of gold is the goal and not the old rugged cross…we have a prescription for disaster. How is it that the Creator who fashioned our universe and all other universes…would be captivated and enamored with a mineral we call gold that we dig from the earth that he made?

Christian scripture assures us that the love of Christ passes all man’s understanding. ‘The Son of Man came eating and drinking (with others), and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners (including non-observant Jews)!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds (in the lives of those who respond to Me).’ Amplified Bible

Brock is Tarzan. He sent me a photo the other day where he was dangling from a high cable. He works across several states for a company that installs and oversees Zip Lines and other high wire fun.

Brock was born with adventure genes in our family. He is the youngest and I am the oldest of our paternal lineage. Brock is one talented fellow. He is impossible to beat at the game Cards Against Humanity…

We are planning on going to Maine next year and we already have the Air B & B. secured for next September. It will be great fun…and I hope that there is something to climb…

Each time we get together…a party ensues. The happiness of enjoying each other’s company is extraordinary. The famous philosopher Forest Gump’s mother said that ‘Life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you are going to get.’ ‘Life’ connected us with the best when we found Brock and Marcy and Jaime and Morgan and Jeb.

‘Tonight is going to be a great movie at the Orpheum Theatre…Son Of Frankenstein is screening,’ Chet said with a wink and a nod. ‘You know that I have a distinct weakness for Frankenstein,’ Billy B. proclaimed! ‘I did not think that the original Frankenstein was scary,’ Jane observed. ‘Yes…but we have not met the Son…yet,’ Neva J. bemused. ‘Mrs. Butler reminded me of The Bride Of Frankenstein, Darryl added. ‘She seemed a bit intense…and not easy to live with,’ Chet reflected.

October 14th was a big night in Eldorado as it was only two weeks to Halloween. The town was festooned with all manner of decorations. There were skeletons on the front porches and Jack O’ Lanterns abounded at every nook and cranny. Ms. Sybil was reading fortunes outside the Ben Franklin Dime Store and more than one Eldoradoian reported that they had seen her riding her broom through the night sky by the light of the full moon. School had let out early to give the kids a headstart on the Halloween Fall Jubilee…and spirits…of all manner…were high.

‘There is supposed to be a special surprise at the movie screening tonight,’ Neva J. said with a wicked smile. ‘What is it…will there be free popcorn,’ Jane giggled. ‘I heard that the mayor is going to dress up like Frankenstein and meander through the Theatre puffing a cigar and saying…’ Smoke Good,’ Chet laughed. ‘I bet it is John the Orpheum owner who will be the one in costume,’ Billy B. commented.

Sybil had moved down from the Dime Store and was now in front of the entrance to the Orpheum. ‘My goodness, you look nice Neva J. are you dressed as a witch…or do you always wear black and red,’ Sybil asked with a toothless smile and a haunting laugh. ‘I happen to like red and black…they are my favorite colors…but the pointed hat and broom are for special effects,’ Neva J. responded. ‘Be prepared for a Halloween surprise…something that you cannot imagine…something wicked and delightful and magical,’ Sybil said. ‘Well…the movie is already special by your presence,’ Darryl noted. ‘Yes…but I am only the Coming Attractions…the main show is inside,’ Sybil said and disappeared in a cloud that came down from the night sky.

‘Ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls…I have a special treat for each of you tonight…Mr. Boris Karloff will introduce The Son Of Frankenstein and answer a few of our questions,’ John the Orpheum Owner said as Boris walked out onto the stage. ‘Good evening my friends…I am most pleased to be with you for the screening of this wonderful movie,’ Boris said. He was dressed in a suit and tie and carrying a cup of tea in his hand. John brought out a stool for Boris to sit on. ‘John and I have been friends for many years…we go back to Dulwich Surrey, England…where we both were born,’ Boris continued. ‘I am traveling the midwest and am especially pleased to tell you that The Son Of Frankenstein was my favorite flick…thus far…it has a magic to it…that I believe you will find amazing and intriguing and at the conclusion of the movie I will answer your questions,’ Boris continued.

The flick…flick…flick of the film as it moved through the movie projector’s teeth…began. At the conclusion of the movie the house lights went up and there was Boris dressed in full make-up and the costume from The Son Of Frankenstein…and everyone in the audience…looked identical…

‘My God…we are all the Son Of Frankenstein…