‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.’

We live in prisons of our own making. Eyes are watching. Wear this kind of hat and that kind of shoe. Purchase a car that will impress. Buy more homes than you can afford. Introverts must become extroverts. Step outside your comfort zone into the forbidden zone. If you are uncomfortable in the banned zone act like you are not.

Introverts are closeted extroverts. We all should be extroverts the loud among us proclaim. Reach out to people who do not want to be reached. Wear the extrovert mask of excitement rather than the quiet mask of reflection and sense of place. There really is a square hole for our square peg.

Baby Boomers unite. You need a nice home and two nice cars. You need to golf. You must climb the financial ladder of success. Vacations are fun even if you are not into them. You kids must attend the best universities. Cocktails are fun. Cigars are enjoyable. Church is for people like you. The modern-day club of the elites. Preachers must not preach too long and not offend.

Poor folks are poor for a reason. Have they applied themselves? Are they self-motivated? Don’t they have a rich uncle?

The Sun is setting on our country. It must be the poor among us fault. The goal of Christianity is to be rich like Christ. This is what the preachers tell us. Christ owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the mountains. Jesus will make you rich if you pay your tithes. God has two camps of humans. One is damned for Hell and the other is special and select.

Weary eyes look out on a splendid world. How do I measure up? I do not fit the mold of many expectations. Let me be who I am…let me do me.

‘You are welcome here,’ Preacher told the Gay man. ‘I love you for you not a facsimile of you.’Preacher said. ‘The world has an abundance of cardboard cutouts of what is considered normal…do not be deceived,’ Preacher said comfortingly. ‘I watch the confusion and fear, it is not the expectation of the Creator,’ Preacher whispered.

This is the big one winter ends this week and spring begins. New life is blooming. Hope is a bright prospect. Warm weather and Easter promise. Daffodils and the hint of lilac in the air. Resilience returns to the old bones and they can live. The broken can be repaired voiceless can sing. ‘Let the weak say I am strong…let the poor say I am rich.’

I have seen many things in 67 years. Departments and organizations were quickly destroyed by layoffs. These weakened departments no longer able to perform their core mission were then privatized causing many to lose jobs. Wisdom and safety are inherent in long-term employees. When they are removed the institutional foundation crumbles.

Buds will soon become leaves filling bare limbs. Shade is under the abundant leaves of the trees in the woods. Brown grass is becoming green. Bears are waking from their winter slumber. The sound of the turtle dove is again heard in our land.

Chaos is the control word. Disruption that can not be reliably measured due to its rapidity and scope. Millions are in danger. Measles is on the rise. Take more vitamin A official tells us. Cut the phone lines to Social Security to save money…applicants must apply in person at a Social Security Office…close the offices…

Manic minds create manic policies. Nature is logical politicians not so much.

‘Come in and visit with me if you have mental anguish and anxiety,’ Preacher said. ‘God loves all his creation just look at the order and grace of nature,’ Preacher noted. ‘I am not afraid nor anxious, we will shelter from the confusion. Perfect peace is God’s plan,’ Preacher said.

‘Come in my friend I have not forgotten you, I have a sense of place and hope for your anxious mind,’ Preacher said.

‘A leprechaun is a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of fairy. They are usually depicted as little bearded men wearing coats and hats who partake in mischief. Wikipedia

‘Goodness who was that that ran by, Jane said with amazement. ‘It was a little person dressed in green,’ Jane added. ‘He had a red beard and threw me a gold coin as he passed laughing merrily,’ Jane giggled with delight…

‘Why that is Shamus our house Leprechaun,’ Chet said. ‘Shamus gets up early on St. Patrick’s Day he has a lot of stops to make,’ Chet winked. ‘Shamus visits several pubs a Guinness that he drinks ‘Down In One’ and then he guesses the weight of both women and men…he always guesses the lady’s weight much less than it appears for which they reward him with a big kiss,’ Chet laughed.

‘Shamus gave me a four-leaf clover after midnight,’ Billy B said. ‘He told me to wish for anything that I wanted today and he would grant the request,’ Billy B continued. ‘Shamus said that Harper would be by later today with the booty of gold,’ Billy B danced the Irish Jig.

‘Sure and begorrah I loved JFK he had the heart of an Irishman,’ Shamus said. ‘We visited often and he was a lusty devil but a fine leader,’ Shamus winked. ‘Joe Biden was a man of his word and loved we Leprechauns,’ Shamus said. ‘Joe promised help for Ireland and he delivered,’ Shamus noted as he line Danced with Harper. ‘Now Trump told me to visit him today and he would have a pot full of Gold for me in the Oval Office…when I went to retrieve it there was a gold-colored pot with gold-colored sneakers inside,’ Shamus frowned.

‘Sure and begorrah the President has a bit of the Irish in him as he tricked a Leprechaun from the old school,’ Shamus noted. ‘Tomorrow when he wakes up with my Yule Brenner haircut…he will understand that it is not good to fool Shamus…

The temperature has dropped in Little Egypt, which is Common for this time of year. Many have the sniffles. Health is a moving target. One eye is on emerging buds, and the other is on late snow. Life is quiet. Pleasures are small with a world of wonder inside them. We live on a little blue orb. When we star gaze, we time travel. Much of what we see has ceased to exist.

The ant is industrious. He lives in a colony. Humans do not enter his mind. He cares about the other ants. They work as a team. We are moving monoliths.

‘Let’s go to the Sunday Matinee at the Orpheum Theatre,’ Chet said. ‘The original Frankenstein is playing,’ Chet added. ‘Sundays are quiet at the Theatre with everyone out enjoying their last weekend day,’ Chet observed.

‘You know I feel like I am part of the Theatre on Sunday,’ Billy B told Chet. I am in another world of Frankenstein, Dracula, and Barberella, Billy B laughed. ‘Lost in John Wayne’s world and Moses parting the red sea,’ Billy B winked.

‘Often I feel lost in Eldorado,’ Jane said. ‘It has a lot of people and stores and the most lovely Christmas decorations along Locust Street,’ Jane happily said. ‘I am so small and the world is so big,’ Jane mused.

‘I love to watch the humans, they are interesting with their manic actions,’ Sam said with wide-eyed wonder. ‘They sit in buildings all day and watch movies at the Orpheum on Sundays,’ Sam said thoughtfully. ‘I wonder why they need additional input in their lives,’ Sam asked?

‘They take off much of their clothing and enjoy the Sun burning their flesh in the summer, then they cook their animals and eat them with barbecue sauce,’ Dave observed. ‘When they die their loved ones put them in a nice box and shut the lid and seal it…then bury them in the ground with a sculpted rock adorning the spot,’ Dave said with a wink. ‘They seem illogical but sweet,’ Dave said with a sigh.

‘Put it in drive and let’s head home…Alpha Centari is a long way and I told Marge I would be home for dinner,’ Sam said…

The winter is over and gone, but here come the storms. That is the reality of life in Southern Illinois. The wind is howling. Life is fun and danger wrapped up in one package. We live in the eye of a hurricane lulled by the quiet.

‘The clouds are frightening,’ Jane said. ‘They are black and purple with some green interspersed,’ Jane observed. ‘The cedar tree is rocking and rolling like a rag doll,’ she said.

‘There is a possibility of several tornadoes,’ Chet advised. ‘Basements will be welcome shelter today if you have one,’ Chet commented. ‘The storm safety advice of laying down in a ditch if a tornado is coming is hard to do when the ditch is full of water,’ Chet said dryly.

‘Reports of widespread damage and many deaths are coming into the newsroom,’ News Man said. ‘Millions have sought shelter from the terrible cuts of their jobs and the eliminations of their Social Security retirement,’ News Man continued. ‘Clusters of people now are homeless and hungry,’ News Man observed.

‘This safe room is the height of modern technology, right Elon?’ the President asked. We have a golf simulator that is like the real game, and are so far underground that the Storm will never touch us,’ the President smiled wide.

‘Follow me into the cave and you will be safe,’ Preacher said. ‘We will wait for the Storm to pass over and the Sun to return,’ Preacher noted. ‘Eat we have food for your hunger,’ Preacher said as he distributed fish and bread. ‘We are often forgotten but God has not forgotten us,’ Preacher comforted the assembled forgotten.

Clouds were on the horizon. There was much to accomplish. Groceries to buy and bills to pay. Kids to pick up at school. March Madness. Storm Warning flashed on the television. Baseball practice is in full swing, and the Cubs are doing well. A smell of smoke in the air.

‘What is that pop pop pop sound, ‘Son asked? ‘Is something hitting the house?’ He asked? It almost sounds like gunfire from a semiautomatic,’ Son said.

‘Peter Rabbit’ for $24, he is 32 inches tall,’ Grandpa said. ‘I love Peter Rabbit,’ Grandpa smiled. ‘I hope people will come to church on Easter, it is not the same with so many empty pews,’ Grandpa noted sadly.

Half of the Department of Education’s federal civil service employees have been dismissed without cause. The rules do not seem to mean much. No one will say no. ‘Is that low-hanging clouds…or is it smoke,’ Mom asked?

Easter Dinner was delicious. Family and friends are like a warm spring breeze replete with the smell of lavender. Daffodils are everywhere, the blooms on trees are inspiring, food is rotting around the world, where laid off workers were dismissed and hungry poor desperate people…starved…

‘Turn the AC on, Dad said it is hot.’ ‘I swear if the air gets any smokier, I just as well smoke my cigar in the house,’ Dad cackled!

‘Well I have a road map and a GPS so we should be covered for the journey,’ Dad said. ‘I used to love traveling at night until I became old,’ Dad continued. ‘I even have a Babbel Language Translator if we encounter the locals,’ Dad noted.

‘I am so tired,’ Mom said. ‘It seems we have been driving for days and the road keeps winding,’ Mom said. ‘We have passed many faces yet no one seems to know us,’ Mom, weary, observed.

‘Ahead a man is flagging cars to stop,’ Son said. ‘He looks tired and concerned,’ Son continued. ‘There are a lot of flashing lights,’ Son continued.

‘People are passing with blood on their clothes,’ Second Son said. ‘They look lost,’ Second Son observed. ‘I think there is death ahead,’ Second Son said.

‘Turn around folks, there has been an accident ahead…you do not want to continue this road, ‘the Policeman said. ‘A calamity of epic proportions,’ the Policeman said. ‘The dusty path a half mile back is the way to go…,’ He said.

‘It is quiet here, and there are few cars, but many are walking and singing,’ Dad said with a tear in his eye. ‘I feel like I did one Christmas when I was a child…peaceful and serene, Dad said.’ ‘I hear singing,’ Dad said.

‘Good to see you come in and rest,’ Preacher said. ‘We have food and drink, rest before the meeting,’ Preacher advised. ‘Keep your money I am your friend,’ Preacher admonished. ‘Remember…I was thirsty and you gave me water…,’ Preacher smiled.

The fashion is to be the loudest. The utility is words. The more words the better. The catalyst is lies. Lies have become a common currency. Reality can be changed through the power of false speech.

Russia is our sworn enemy. History reveals this truth. Academics study Cold War History. My friend Jo Ann Argersinger was an expert in the discipline. She did not get her Cold War understanding in a fortune cookie.

Two schools of leadership are in vogue. The School of who is the loudest and charismatic while the other is the Quiet Leader who practices giving the credit to those she or he lead.

The Invisible Leader is effective. The goal is to foster others’ success. The narcissistic plan of receiving praise for leadership is a bastardization of the word.

Narcissism attacks all that does not work toward the goal of inflating the leader’s ego. Mannic Leader measures success by his book of Praise, suberviance and obesiance. What is good for the servants is of little concern. Words have no connection with reality.

Classical music played on the phonograph. ‘Come forward and gather for a nice shower before you are taken to your quarters for a well deserved rest,’ Commandant said. If you work hard, you will be rewarded here…the fresh air will be healthy…

Silence was overpowering…the music played on…

Time Change is here again. Just when we thought we were out they pulled us back in. An hour disappeared in a moment. I will miss it until I get it back in the fall.

Folks who say they have been abducted by aliens experience lost time. They are driving down the road, and when they look at their watches, they can not account for missing hours. I am often caught in the missing time scenario, but no aliens involved—I do not think. Yesterday, I was a middle-aged man who could not spend enough hours on the job. There was always more to do and not enough hours to do it all in. Today I am old and reflective, as I groan when I stand up. I am a bit like the story of Rip Van Winkle who went to sleep under a tree and woke up years later. Where did the time go?

So it goes. Chess fascinates me. The game of Kings. A long strategy game. Not what is happening, the next move, but what happens three moves later. Time is useful in Chess. A memory for the past informs the future. When we forget mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them. It is easy to forget mistakes…

I have loved the Bible since I was young. Both the old and New Testaments point to the love of Christ. Time is fluid. A bit like the Ocean. Christ’s love for all humanity is a constant in a Time Change World.

Our lives are enriched by the stories that we tell around the campfire. We look up at the panoply of stars. Heavenly lights are brilliant as we put another piece of wood on the warming fire. Specks, we are in a massive home. How did we get here and what is our purpose? Is all Time playing like a flat vinyl phonograph record and we only know the Groove we are in?

‘Nothing is as it should be, someone is hurting us,’ He said. ”When I was a boy people knew their place and stayed in it,’ He continued. ‘We trusted our leaders and when they said we needed to go to war we went,’ He informed.

‘My brother died in Vietnam,’ She said. ‘No one seemed to care,’ She remembered. ‘President Johnson lied about the Gulf Of Tonkin incident to continue and widen the war,’ She recalled. ‘Both political parties lie to us,’ She observed.

‘There are not enough jobs for Americans while our borders are wide open,’ Neighbor said. I was behind an illegal immigrant in the checkout line yesterday and I could not understand what he was saying…they should be required to speak English in America,’ Neighbor said.

I am a legal citizen of the United States. The Citizen said that my parents were born here, and Mexico, where my ancestors come from, is part of America. ‘My parents made their living by picking fruit ten hours per day, seven days a week,’ Citizen said.

‘The rich bless us by creating wealth that trickles down to poor people, ‘Poor Person said. ‘I love the way the President speaks to we poor folks,’ Poor Person observed. ‘When he speaks I hear Jesus speaking through him,’ Poor Person said with feeling.

‘We live in an occupied nation,’ Preacher said. ‘Our message of diversity, equity and inclusion is spreading in our hearts,’ Preacher said. ‘They persecute me…they will persecute you,’ Preacher said.

‘My message is hidden from the wise and prudent of society and revealed to babes…never fear we are in this together,’ Preacher said…