Dolly Parton’s final message was, My little butterfly wings are getting tired.’ When I read this, I wondered if she had long to live. We have wings to soar if we like. The decision is ours. When our wings are strong and vigorous, we ask what to do with them. We take them off and place them in a safe place to protect such a valuable asset. ‘I may need my wings one day,’ the Careful Man said. ‘Someone may want to borrow my wings and forget to return them,’ the Careful Man continued. ‘What will people think if they see me flying about with my pristine wings? They will be envious, jealous, afraid,’ the Careful Man concluded. ‘People will be asking to see my wings touch them, try them on,’ CM noted. ‘What if the government decides to tax wings?’ CM asked.

The Crows were talking in the Woods this morning. When the Old Man walked close, they chatted like magpies. ‘Well, there is the Old Man again,’ Claude Crow said. ‘He never seems to snap enough photos,’ Claude continued. ‘You will know him by the hats he wears,’ CC laughed. ‘He is a bit of a peculiar chap,’ CC observed. ‘He listens to Audible.com,’ Claude offered. ‘I would like a subscription to Audible.com for Christmas; it is a quiet time of year, and I want a hat like the Old Man,’ Claude Crow exclaimed. ‘I want a leather Outback Hat like OM wears in the winter months,’ CC said with satisfaction. ‘Then I will walk with him in the woods, and we will discuss world affairs,’ CC noted with a big smile.

So we are together again. There is much to do. What talents we have hidden in the closet or on the Earth are needed to help each other. In the tradition of a good horror flick, the monster is in the house. While we peer out our windows for danger, our enemy is behind us. We now pick fights with our best friends, neighbors, those who care about our welfare. We look for The Other rather than take responsibility for our mistakes. A childish, sophomoric name for those we want to demean. When a logical question is posed, the leader lashes out for vengeance, a pound of flesh to prove the point that the leader can do no wrong.

The days of Halloween monsters are here. Frankenstein will smoke a cigar with the blind man and smile, saying, Cigars are good.’ The Creature from the Black Lagoon will seek solace and understanding. Ichabod Crane will run from the Headless Horseman. We will sit by the campfire in the fall chill. S’mores, hot chocolate, and ghost stories.

‘Have you seen my wings, honey?’ I know I put them in the closet somewhere, McGee said as he slowly opened the closet door.