Today, the hills were almost alive with the sound of music. Sunshine and moderate temperatures brought many winter tourists to the woods. The simplicity of a flowing stream is lovely. Nature runs on its own clock, and we respond to its rhythms.

We seek the Sun. It brightens our mood. It lifts our spirits. The Sun’s rays warm us and give us purpose. Mossy grass greeted me at the stream edge. Soft like velvet and smiling at the light.

Life brings many surprises. We can not see the future. If we could the lottery would go broke. Joy and sorrow walk hand in hand. They accompany us back to our home. Voices call out to beware of this group or that person when the true danger is the voices calling out. We are malleable. Clay that never hardened. Our form morphs with experience. Laugh lines and crow’s feet…happy and dour we travel through the years. Years flash by like months and months like days.

Fable is nice warm and cozy. Our days are filled with the stories of others designed to placate our minds and make the time fly. Leaders rise up to add to our preferred stories. Stories of how we have been done wrong and who is at fault for our problems. Always popular including in the time of Christ when stoning was a pastime.

Trust issues plague us. One political leader arises and tells us not to worry we are fine and included and loved. The next shuns us and calls us evil…jails us for seeking justice…redefines justice according to his Doctrine…

We are hoisted by our own petard. The bomb we fashion blows us up in the process.

We wait for Godot. While we ponder the meaning of life others define its meaning for us. Later we sadly discover they did not know more than we did. They had ulterior motives…

The Red King looked out on his domain. He whispered in the ears of many people, telling them what they wanted to hear. Once he had visited a person they were never the same.

‘I saw him yesterday lurking in the road…when he saw me looking at him he smiled a wicked grin,’ He said. ‘He had a train of people following him with glassy eyes and slow of step,’ He continued. ‘His face was a semblance of human but not,’ He noted.

‘Mass firings are happening,’ She said with fear. ‘People who have prosecuted evil-doers are now being purged for their legal efforts. ‘Police were hurt and beaten with batons…killed traumatized…now are free,’ She whispered.

‘Listen only to me…I have the answers…I will take care of mine…be mine,’ Red King whispered in the ears of many. ‘We will dance together, ‘Red King smiled and winked. ‘All but me are wrong…fake news…Deep State,’ Red King laughed.

‘Red King stopped Medicaid…I voted for him…he cut my benefits…Mom has no other insurance she is on Kidney Dialysis…they told her not to come in due to lack of funds,’ He said. ‘My brother is told to quit or be fired…he is a federal civil service employee,’ He noted. ‘Civil Service Rules are being cavalierly violated by the Red King,’ He proclaimed!

‘Transexual folks are being shunned and marginalized by Red King…they are not recognized by his government…they need understanding not persecution,’ She said. ‘Black History Month has been abolished in Federal agencies,’ She continued. ‘Red King said yesterday that it was Diversity Equity Inclusion that was responsible for a plane crash…he said we must have our best in these jobs…does he mean white people.’ She asked with tears in her eyes?

‘Listen to me I have the answers… let’s dance while the fire burns,’ Red King admonished…