The Woods were alive this morning with the sound of music. I took a less-trodden path and saw one of my favorite haunts full of picnic goods but no picnickers. I traveled on toward the cabins and lodge. The sound of laughing and water splashing told me folks staying in the cabins enjoyed the swimming pool.

As I entered I heard an old man say that they used to tell him if he was hungry let’s go to work. As I departed the lodge he was inspecting the wood door frames.

My colleagues across the state loved Giant City State Park. When SIUC hosted our meetings it was a holiday for them. The woodland beauty is compelling. The peace of listening as trees sway in the wind is intoxicating.

A Black Bear has been sighted 3 miles from my house. They are common in the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Perhaps they are like the armadillo who resided in Texas but migrated to Southern Illinois. Now you see them along the side of the road regularly.

‘Join us friends,’ Benny Bear beckoned. ‘We are going to have a fine July Feast,’ Benny B continued. ‘You see our friends have prepared much food and the tables groan under the weight of the Horn of Plenty,’
Benny observed.

‘How did you carry all the prepackaged guilty pleasures,’ Billy B asked? ‘There are beer cookies Oscar Mayer Weiners and Charles Chips among the enjoyments,’ Billy B laughed.

‘Bobby and Belinda told me of the picnic and the food left for us by some lovely humans,’ Benny said with a wide toothy smile. ‘It seems they were in a hurry to leave,’ he noted. ‘I hope they return as they left their shoes behind,’ Benny said as he chomped an Oscar Mayer Weiner directly from the plastic wrapping…

The temperature this morning is reminiscent of the first days of autumn. Cool days are the best days. Happiness resides in the heart of the comfortable. Unless you experience a burr under your saddle.

Burrs come in many forms. A co-worker can function as a burr. When you see them you are forced to put on charity. At times charity is an ill-fitting cloak. We want to believe…Lord help thou are unbelief.

We change. We are misunderstood. We grow. Life is learning.

When I was working I sought to make friends with my critics. When I heard a criticism I wondered if even I could be blind to my faults. I discovered that I was. We are closer together than apart.

We all love a picture-perfect day. We wonder why our social interaction can not be peaceful and burr-free.

‘War is over over if you want it War is over now.’ John Lennon

Is it picture perfect that we desire, or a platform for our idiosyncratic views and a few of the faithful to listen and applaud our musings?

The staff at Giant City State Park are nice. They wave at the old man when they see him. Yesterday I had a lovely conversation with a gentleman mowing grass when the downpour occurred out of nowhere. He sought shelter in the same as me. I enjoy talking to people.

I sought the deep side of the Pounds Hollow Lake as a kid. The solitude and quiet were refreshing. Little enables thought more than floating in the deep waters with your ears submerged.

Look at Billy B he has gone way beyond the rope of safety,’ Jane observed. ‘He appears to not have a care in the world,’ she said. ‘I wonder what he is thinking,’ Jane said.

‘I think he is looking for the Creature From The Black Lagoon you know that his cousin Gene has a Creature mask and the hands to go with it,’ Chet answered. ‘Billy B is a seeker and a philosopher,’ Chet said with a wink.

I wonder if he knows that we have Merlot sausages and hamburgers,’ asked Neva J? ‘Billy B loves sausages,’ she laughed. ‘He has been a loner and an introvert since his Dad left,’ Neva J stated.

‘I see you are back in the deep section,’ Creature said. ‘I have been waiting on you and want to show you my home,’ Creature continued. ‘Your contemplative personality tells me you are open to new thoughts,’ Creature postulated.

‘How will I breathe under the water on the way to your home,’ Billy B asked? ‘I have no gills,’ he said. ‘I have always wanted to see the aquatic world,’ Billy B noted passionately.

‘Let me touch your neck and you will have gills for the journey,’ C From The Black Lagoon said. ‘You will enjoy the trip,’ C assured Billy B.

‘Welcome Billy B we have been waiting for you,’ Mrs. C said with a welcoming smile. ‘There are other humans among us,’ Mrs. C said. ‘People like yourself that seek a world of peace,’ she observed with a nod.

‘My son I am so happy to see you,’ Dad exulted! ‘I wondered if you would come,’ Dad said. ‘I fell into the deep water years ago and found a home with people and Creatures who care,’ Dad said. ‘Will you tell your Mother that you have found me, Dad asked?

‘Before you were all races of humans and of Creatures living together in harmony, C said. ‘We decided to create our own society devoid of hate and ridicule,’ C said. ‘Hope is a powerful influence along with critical thinking and a willingness to swim upstream,’ C said with tears in his eyes.

‘I see children of all races playing together,’ Billy B said with amazement. ‘No one seems to be afraid or angry or bitter about their life choices,’ Billy B said joyfully. ‘Peace seems to be the order of your underwater society,’ Billy B noted.

‘Many of our residents are challenged in the terra firma world,’ Mrs. C said. ‘Some were rejected for their infirmities the color of their skin or station in life,’ she continued. ‘Here all are welcome as equals as God created us,’ Mrs. C said with conviction!

‘Where have you been Billy B,’ Neva J asked? ‘Your sausages have grown cold and the Merlot is almost gone,’ Neva J asked. ‘Chet Jane and I watched you floating in the deep end of the lake until we could not see you any longer,’ she said. ‘Have you a story to tell,’ she asked with a focus on his animated face?

‘Billy B has been to a land we have read about in books and personal accounts,’ Chet said. ‘He has seen the world as the Creator intended,’ he continued. ‘Heaven is on Earth only under the water,’ Chet informed.

As I sat in the Orpheum Theatre I reveled in the world of cinema. When Frankenstein was on the silver screen I was there. John Wayne did not take guff. Elvis Presley seemed to be having fun. The atmosphere was dark and cool. The real world melted away.

‘Smoke good,’ Frankenstein said with a smile.

‘I do not think Frankenstein or the blind man can see us,’ Billy B observed.’ ‘Let’s help ourselves to some cigars,’ Billy B continued. ‘The last cigar I had was a Charles Denby when Neva J was on vacation and I was the boss,’ Billy B winked.

‘We must leave the Cigar Lounge and see if we can find the lake that Frankenstein tossed the little girl into,’ Chet said. ‘Grab a couple of cigars for the road,’ Chet winked. ‘Here are some peasant clothes so we will blend in,’ said Chet.

‘Hey there I will join you fellows,’ Frankenstein said with aplomb. ‘Would you like to have a cup of tea before we go to the lake,’ Frankenstein asked? ‘There is some Shepards Pie left would you join me along with some Spotted Dick,’ asked Frankenstein also known as Boris.

‘Mr. Karloff your performance as Frankenstein is what you are best known for,’ Neva J noted. ‘I love you in every movie you are in,’ she continued. ‘What was Mary Shelley’s inspiration for Frankenstein,’ Neva J asked?

‘There may be a real Frankenstein,’ Boris noted. ‘He has been seen in the village,’ Boris K continued. ‘At times his wife is seen with him with an elaborate hairdo and a distinct laugh,’ he said with a grin.

‘Look who is sitting next to us,’ Jane proclaimed.

‘I need the cigars back for my after-dinner whiskey,’ Frankenstein said. ‘My Bride enjoys the aroma of the smoke,’ he laughed. ‘I am going to the lake and search for the little girl that I accidentally threw in,’ Frankenstein noted.

As Billy B Chet Neva J and Jane sat quietly in the darkened theatre Boris said, ‘I told you so…’

A dam has failed in Nashville, Illinois 50 miles from my home. Flash flooding occurred in many parts of Southern Illinois at the time of this writing. Heavy rain continues to fall.

I love rain and am enjoying the downpour today but feel for the poor people in the flood zones. Nature knows excess. We have experienced blistering heat torrential rain and the need for rain recently. Such is life and our pursuit thereof.

The occasional drink of an adult beverage can be enjoyable. An excess of five can be destructive. A great meal is wonderful and even some birthday cake. It is not your birthday every day.

‘Anger endures for a night but joy cometh in the morning.’

Strong political rhetoric is useful at times. When it becomes the norm we are in trouble. The demonization of those who disagree with us is an apocalyptic folly. The old adage that sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me is wrong. Words kill…

We sang a song telling us, ‘Be careful little ears what you hear.’ Little ears are listening to leaders who for political expediency aim heated hateful unfounded accusations at their opponents. There seems to not be an ‘Over The Top’ statement. The gentle manners of Christ have been traded for the Bar Room Brawl.

We shake our heads wring our hands and wonder why things are the way they are. We have placed cruelty on a pedestal. Kindness is considered a weakness. Good is bad wrong is right up is down truth is what you want it to be.

Science Fiction is not strange to us. We embraced the Looking Glass. The alternate universe seems alright if you do not look too closely. God kills one and saves another while we salute and march up the hill…

The rain continues…

It is a scorcher in Little Egypt. At one time in my life, I did not perspire. Now I do. We march forward with our heads held high. Like Gollum in R.R. Tolkien’s writings, we must protect the Precious.

Having been a churchgoer for most of my life I have determined the value of an oasis in the desert. It occurred to me yesterday that we must protect The Precious.

Marriage and fatherhood have been two of my core protection goals. Community is another. No man or woman is an island. Hope is found in our community’s eyes. I spoke with our wonderful church member who exemplified a life of protecting The Precious.

‘We must include Tommy L in our revelries,’ Jane said. ‘Often I see him sitting alone and looking lonely,’ she added. ‘He is a brilliant person he just needs friends who include him,’ Jane noted with a wide smile.

‘Tommy L is a fun guy who thinks deep thoughts,’ Chet noted. ‘His physical challenges sideline him for no good reason, Chet continued. ‘He has written an insightful book,’ Chet said.

‘Many think he has a learning disability while he is one of the smartest people in our class,’ Billy B agreed. ‘Tommy L is an introvert with a vivid intellect,’ Billy B continued. ‘He has been tutoring me in math for some time and has opened the subject to me as few could,’ he added.

‘Let us ask Tommy L to lead our debate team,’ Daryl said. ‘His rhetorical skills will be a Godsend,’ Daryl said passionately! ‘He reads constantly and is a repository of knowledge,’ he continued.

‘You want me to lead your debate team,’ asked Tommy L with some incredulity? ‘Well, I do have some ideas but I did not think anyone realized,’ Tommy L said. ‘I am pleased to join you would you like to come to my house tonight to prepare,’ he asked?

‘You have a lovely home,’ Neva J told Tommy L. ‘I especially love your library,’ she proclaimed. ‘I brought us some Merlot and notepads,’ Neva J said with a grin. ‘The tape of you speaking to the Lions Club is fascinating,’ she declared.

‘Mom is a professor at Southern Illinois University she taught me the value of reading since I was born,’ Tommy L smiled. ‘I was not permitted to feel sorry for myself for my physical challenges,’ he added. ‘Mom told me that the only escape from the physical challenge was to develop intellect,’ Tommy L said. ‘Hope for me has been reading,’ he said. ‘No one can take your thoughts from you,’ Tommy L said with quiet dignity. ‘I research everything that is said as truth,’ he said. ‘Mom taught me to respect myself and others will respect me, Tommy L said.

‘I think our thesis should be Hope Endures,’ Billy B said. ‘Tommy L is the embodiment of our argument,’ he continued. ‘We are guarding something wonderful and precious the autonomy of each human,’ he observed. ‘We live on the surface when the beauty of our lives is in the details of our existence,’ said Billy B.

‘My dear friend Abigail who many refer to as ‘One Eye’ is a talented woman,’ Neva J said. ‘She was an actor in Vaudeville,’ said Neva J. ‘Abigail and her husband were famous on the stage and knew all of the performers such as George and Gracie Burns, she noted. ‘She lost her eye in an automobile accident and fell on hard times and now is shunned by polite society,’ Neva J noted with tears in her eyes.

‘We are all broken that is how the light gets in,’ Chet observed. ‘The marginalization of those who seem different is our greatest sin,’ Chet said. ‘Profound talent is underutilized due to our bias and prejudice,’ Chet sadly noted.

‘In conclusion, President Roosevelt was one of our greatest Presidents from a wheelchair Hellen Keller taught us how to see while blind and Mother Theresa demonstrated what love is as she ministered to lepors,’ said Tommy L as he left the debate stage.

I thoroughly enjoyed having lunch today with Aaron Jonathon MJ Rob Melissa and Jennifer. We had a potluck after celebrating our church building’s 117th anniversary. Older than me. A great commemoration and a walk down memory lane of my 26 years there.

Rob gave a beautiful rendition of his first time at our church 43 years ago. He described how a congregant jumped out of his pew and came to greet him and make him welcome. This same person took an active interest in Rob and mentored him for a time. Rob reminded me of the precious beauty of our congregation.

Jennifer is a lovely lady. She reminds me of the genteel manners of the South. She likes my photos she has made a new friend of this old man. Her charm is pervasive. Everything she says and does is from a genuine caring person.

Melissa is a sparkling conversationalist. Her accessible demeanor and wit are inviting. She listens intently to what is said and demonstrates a real interest in the subject.

Aaron is a marvel. He is at home in every setting. His people skills are admirable. I wish I had been more like him at his age.

Jonathon is a people magnate. He never meets a stranger. He is a minor celebrity in Carbondale. He is a kind person who hurts no one.

MJ joined us for dessert as she was busy in the kitchen. MJ is sweet and unassuming. Her shoulder was hurting but you would not know by her angelic presence.

I must work harder for our little church. It is a jewel in Carbondale that must not be lost…

I was in the woods today. Sitting at a picnic table I heard a loud crash and observed a large limb occupying a space I had just walked through. Danger surrounds us we know not of.

Merrily we go along until we don’t. It pays to make every minute count. One man is dead tonight as he sat at a political rally. The gunshots appear meant for the Presidential candidate and former President. Violence is never the answer.

Anger begets anger and violence begets violence. Hate fuels our politics. We are a country of laws and diversity of opinion. That diversity of opinion must be respected.

Former President Trump is apparently doing alright in light of the frightening attempt on his life. President Biden is pulling down his political ads. This is not the time for politics it is the time for healing…

So we talk shake our heads and wring our hands and the kitchen is on fire while we paint the front door. It is somewhat difficult to see through the smoky haze as we climb into bed for a peaceful night’s sleep. ‘It will all work out,’ we say. ‘There have been rough times before,’ we say.

Some were crying some were afraid during the mele. I saw a gentleman say to the camera, ‘Fuck You,’ over and over again. It is the ‘Fuck You that is the reason we find ourselves in Armageddon dystopian mode…

I regularly read about Presidents and their administrations. Our public faith tells us that the President is endowed with superhuman qualifications once elected. We assume that whatever happens, the good is their doing and the bad is their fault. The minions are little more than paper and broom pushers.

I painfully realized that the staff at my beloved University were discounted and underappreciated. Presidents and Chancellors of the University stood up with their heads held high when success came. They were rewarded for the success of the institution. The people doing the work that created that success were forgotten or given platitudes. A Chancellor candidate told the search committee that I was a member of that staff was the ‘salt of the Earth.’ Even the Salt needs replenishing…

We were the great unwashed who were neither seen nor heard. A Board of Trustees member said we should be glad we had a job. A difficult pronouncement when you are the face of the University.

Success has many fathers failure is an orphan. If we want a professional staff we must pay them above poverty wage.

A Chancellor told me on occasion that faculty comes first then Administrative Staff and lastly Civil Service Staff. I wondered where this pecking order comes from.

The people who students interact with the most at my University are the Civil Service Staff. They are the people who bond with precious students many of whom are away from home for the first time. They are the kind human face of SIUC. They encourage the students to study and feed them when they are hungry.

When a loved and respected leader falters the Civil Service Staff picks them up. When a leader is honored the staff rejoices while they figure out how to make their paycheck stretch to purchase groceries for their kids.

The President of the United States does not do it alone and would be an abject failure without their staff.

The same can be said for the President or Chancellor of a university. Their ability often stops at their office door. It is the footsoldiers that implement the success.

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

After the rain, the heat has returned. I love rain. July is skipping along like a child out of school. I always had difficulty skipping. I wonder if kids skip anymore?

The girl in Eldorado loved twirling batons. It seemed that most of them had a baton and practiced twirling regularly. I marveled at their manual dexterity. I especially enjoyed it when they threw the baton into the air catching it behind their back and never missed a beat.

‘I have been practicing twirling, Jand said with a twinkle in her eyes. ‘I have been practicing all summer,’ she said. ‘I am going to twirl in a contest during Town And Country days in September, Jane noted.

‘For Town And Country Days I am going to wear my Lost In Space Robot Suit,’ Chet said. ‘There is going to be a Science Fiction/Monster show,’ he added. ‘I have the Lost In Space Robot cold,’ he grinned.

Did you know that the actors who portray Dr. Smith and Will Robinson are appearing in the main event,’ Billy B asked? ‘Dr. Smith has been making radio spots announcing his excitement for the Eldorado visit,’ Billy B said with aplomb.

‘Well it is a fun TV program but some of the aliens seem hoaky,’ Neva J observed. ‘I enjoy the show with a glass of Merlot,’ she laughed. ‘It appears to me that the show is based loosely on the Swiss Family Robinson, Neva J added.

‘The Wiz and I are going to dress as two aliens that Dr. Smith and Will Robinson encounter on Mars,’ Daryl said. ‘The costumes are realistic and frightening,’ he added. ‘This could be when we overcome the Lost In Space travelers,’ Daryl laughed.

‘Oh the agony,’ Dr. Smith proclaimed as the aliens approached him and Will. ‘Will…save me,’ he cried as he hid behind him. ‘When the alien squeezed him he collapsed onto the stage.

‘We are ready to go on for our part,’ The Wiz announced to the stage manager. ‘The zipper stuck on my alien suit and the maneuver was difficult,’ The Wiz continued. ‘Who are the aliens on the stage,’ he gasped.

‘I am sorry but the show has been canceled due to Dr. Smith’s fainting,’ Will Robinson announced. ‘I will be available for autographs shortly, Will Robinson continued.

‘Look at that flying saucer lifting off in front of the Orpheum Theatre,’ Jane uttered. ‘I think I will begin my twirling,’ she said.

‘That does not compute, Chet in costume said…