‘Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.’ Worry is not productive. It has been said that worry is like a rocking chair; you rock and rock and do not get anywhere. The land of what if is full of ideas. We dwell there due to the advice of our close companion, Mr. Anxiety. Mr. A has a lot of theories. If one does not fit, he tries on another. Mr. A is certain of one thing…the world is out to get him and his friend…you.

Mr. A knows his way around a conspiracy theory. He has it all figured out. When opportunity knocks, he hides behind the door. Mr. A knows that he is not ready and that it is probably a trick anyway.

We live in a time of Anxiety. Seeking to become better, we have become bitter. Another got the promotion we sought. There must be something medically wrong with us…We do not sleep well, and we are getting fat for no reason. The neighbor’s yard always looks better than our yard. Our new car soon became old.

We wanted to grow up, we wanted to make our own decisions. We were tired of others telling us what to do. What do I do now? We say. There is no manual or guide to adulthood. Our only close advisor is Mr. Anxiety. He works for free and for the pleasure of our company. Yet we now have someone to blame our troubles on. The poor among us must be at fault. How is it they have no job and no place to live, and little to nothing to eat? They must have come over on those little rafts from Haiti and been members of the armada that invaded our country. The President referred to them as ‘Shit-Hole’ countries. Gosh, we are glad we did not come from a ‘Shit-Hole’ country…and who decides which countries are of the ‘Shit-Hole’ variety?

‘See, I knew it if I had not been held back all of these years, I could have been someone, I could have been a contender,’ He said. ‘Every time I raise my head, someone pushes it back down,’ He said. ‘Mother told me to trust no one, and I did not yet look where I am at,’ He said.

‘I think it’s the Woke people,’ She said. ‘Those who always want to help the underprivileged and those who will not speak up for themselves,’ she said. ‘When I listen to one of them speak, I can not understand what they are talking about,’ She commented. ‘We are feeding the poor kids lunches and school and if that was not bad enough now we feed them breakfast when their parents need to get up off their ass and get a job,’ She said with fire in her eyes!

‘So the hungry kids should remain hungry,’ Preacher said. ‘The children must answer for the sins of the fathers is your anxious philosophy, ‘the Preacher asked. ‘When you were a child, you were poor and in need of help…a Woke person helped you,’ Preacher reminded.

‘The Walmart is full of fruit pickers on Sunday,’ He said. ‘They do not smile much,’ He said. ‘I lost my promotion to a Hispanic woman from out of state,’ He observed. She had more education and experience, but I had been with the University longer,’ He said. ‘I think the fruit pickers should smile more and be happy for all the opportunities we are giving them, He said.

A tornado has struck just outside Marion, and many homes have been demolished. Don Sol Mexican Restaurant is one of the first to step up to help in any way they can. ‘We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.’